Whilst i still have lingering privacy concerns with GMail's offering, i gotta say, they really have created an awesome product. For those who don't know, one of the 'features' of GMail, and ultimately the reason they can afford to give you a gig of free space is that they offer context sensitive text ads along the right hand side of all your mail. They have been doing this for a while with the normal google search engine, but it has never really worked very well in my context - the content is always very 'american'.

I recently received an email petition to stop all the crap that is going on in my home country of Zimbabwe (wish an email petition would help - it won't). Lo and behold, GMail came up with the following ads next to the email...

Safaris in Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls Holidays

Attractive Africa

The world's leading website on Zimbabwe

ZIMBABWEAN Ambassador to South Africa Cde Simon Khaya Moyo has ...

Visit Victoria Falls, the Zambezi Mana Pools, Matusadona

Our service & prices are guaranteed for holidays to Victoria Falls.

All Southern African hotels, trains tours & car rental for much less

Independent Zimbabwean daily newspaper. News and features.

That's really not too bad - almost useful in fact. Perhaps the day may yet come when i actually click on a banner ad....

I remember seeing this product on a "Beyond 2000"-style program...now they are actually shipping the things.


Compatible with Palm handhelds with Palm Universal Connector, iPAQ Pocket PCs h19/22/38/39/41/43/5000 series, Sony Clie handhelds, and desktop and laptop PCs. Unlike many small snap-on keyboards for PDAs, the Virtual Laser Keyboard provides a full-size QWERTY keyboard.

I want one!

Coolness Rating: 100%...



[Via Mike Gunderloy]

No, that isn't actually as rude as it sounds...well actually i suppose it is, but not for the reasons you are thinking of. Get your mind out of the gutter!

"Bluejacking" is the phrase that has been coined to describe the new cellphone viruses that are starting to emerge. Yup. Cellphone viruses. Those mystical beasts that we have all heard about in those terrified spam emails from our aunties but never actually arrived - although we always new it was inevitable that they would.

Since "patching" a vulnerability in a cellphone is infinitely more difficult that running a patch from your AV vendor, this could be fun. For the first time since getting my samsung e700, i am happy that it doesn't have bluetooth! :-P


[Update: Mobitopia takes a more cynical view on the Cabir virus]

“There are two opposing forces inside Microsoft, which I will refer to, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, as The Raymond Chen Camp and The MSDN Magazine Camp.”

How Microsoft Lost the API War

[Via Joel on Software]

GMail is expanding their beta testing and I have been given a couple of GMail invitations to give away to anyone who wants one. First come, first served.

I haven't had time to blog about the gmail system, although i have been meaning to. Suffice to say it is the best web based mail account i have ever had the pleasure of using, by far - and i have used a lot of web based accounts over the years.

Drop me an email if you want an invite - kevint at gmail dot com.

[Update: All the invites i had are used up, will update this post if/when i get any more]
[Update 2: I have some more invites - looks like they are expanding rapidly now, will probably go public very soon]

I am sure hardly anybody noticed, but my blogging activities have died right down in the last few weeks. This is because I have been a really busy boy.

Just to put those people who know me that I havent had a chance to tell yet into the loop:

After 5 years at CGS the time has come for me to move on to new pastures. I have resigned from my job to take up a contract position with De Beers. As you all know, 5 years in IT time is a very long time, and I have a lot to get through to prepare those that are taking my place at CGS, so I don't expect to have much blogging time in the near future.

Once I am settled in at my new position, I am sure that I will return to my normal blogging habits. Until then, if anyone needs to get hold of me, you can do so at kevint at gmail dot com.