Daily Archives: 15/01/2008

Technology, US

The making of Star Wars…

When I was about fourteen I had a small book about the making of Star Wars; as I read it I remember learning for the first time how much effort went into making a movie.

Here is a great presentation that covers the same themes…

The Force Behind Star Wars: Turning Design Ideas into Reality » SlideShare

It’s worth remembering that Lucas dedicated years of his life to the project that he loved. ILM and Pixar have to be two of the most interesting companies in the world. There is a Horizon program from 1985 called “How to film the impossible” that is well worth hunting down about how ILM worked at the time.

Products, Technology, Uncategorized

Google to “open” Facebook…

2008 is supposed to be the year that Google takes on Facebook; there is the hidden assumption behind this statement that it’s not taking on Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and the whole mobile phone industry.

First, Open Social tries to move widgets and social network applications out from the individual network and onto the web.

Then the crystal ball watchers see that Gmail may offer Friend Updates. Gmail To Offer Friend Updates?

That’s a good start they’d then have a way of publishing status and a way of moving applications out of the silos, however the third leg of the stool is getting the information out of the various silos. And then Spokeo comes along…

How to Change the World: Reality Check: Spokeo

Products, Technology, UK

Social Networks in the UK

While visiting the UK a few years ago I was amazed that all everyone talked about (except for the weather and house prices) was a web site called friendsreunited.co.uk.

The point of that web site was to link up with old long lost friends; it seemed at the time that the country was doing nothing with it’s time except looking up ex-girlfriends.  Even my parents had created accounts which is massive.

TechCrunch UK  now reports that the country is hooked on Facebook…

TechCrunch UK » Facebook leads the rise of social nets in UK, but niche players have a window

Can someone please do a social study on why the British are so easily hooked on social networks? Is it related to tea consumption?

What happened to FriendsReunited.co.uk? Does anyone still use it?