Google Developer Day 2007 – London

Today I attended Google Developer Day in London and now I’m actually sitting on a train on my way back to Birmingham, typing on my laptop using my 3G datacard outside my flat for the first time since I got it. Its great it sometimes actually manages to pick up a 3G network, but mostly relies on GPRS which is a little slow but it works.

Anyway back to the reason for tis post. I got to London about 11am. Got a little Google goodie bag at the registration, mouse mat, pen, notead, sweets, silly putty??, well it was free so who cares.

First on the agenda was the introduction, mostly talking about Google Maps API and KML and launching Google Gears. Look it up, but mostly its just a tool to allow you toview web pages offline, use them as normal and then sync them back up when you get online again.

After that I went to four sessions, first Google Gadgets. There just like Yahoo widgets, but I might consider having ago at developing ojne considering the user base that iGoogle has plenty of people to target.

Second was a talk on Google Earth and KML, the technology that lets you add your own content on top of Google Earth. Overlay pictures on the ground, add in location descriptions and even your own 3D models. Some great examples and it did get my interest forwhat could be possible with it.

Next GData API talk. Most interesting to me working with Google Calendar and www.GooSync.com. using the Calendar API. Anyway we did get to talk with a Google Developer and find out they are trying to do APIs for Gmail but no time frame for that still. Also tasks are being considered for Google Calendar but still no idea when if at all.

Finally there was the talk on developing for mobile, which mentioned the best way to develop for the multitude of different devices, to use defined standards such as xHTML and keep it simple. Great, will do.

Then we got a live web cast from the US for Google’s Keynote speech. They taked alot more about Google Gears, and seem to make a big thing about it. Also one of he Google founders came on and talked about a load of weird stuff about replacing developers with AI so the internet could write itself, I think it was meant to be a joke. haha.

At the end we all got to goto a jazz bar across the road that Google had taken over and got free drinks so it was a good end to the day, shame we had to leave to catch the train back cause more free drinks would have been welcome.

Discworld Books – The Colour of Magic

Recently I have started reading the Discworld novels with the insane aim of reading them all from start to finish. If your not sure about how big a task that is check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discworld.

Well thats a total of 36 books to get through, and as of now its 1 down 35 to go! I finished the first book The Colour of Magic.

I’m glad I have got round to reading these books because they are very enjoyable, I remember reading a couple when I was younger and enjoying them. Its a very unique world that Terry Pratchett has invented, a Discworld that sits on the back of 4 giant elephants, standing on the shell of a massive turtle drifting though the endless infinity of space.

The first book centers around Rincewind the failed Wizard. He meets hapless tourist Twoflower and they set of on a sort of adventure around the Discworld trying endlessly to avoid getting themselves killed. Now this is easier said than done when everyone seems to be out to get you and your traveling with a tourist who has no understanding on the term danger and insists on selling everyone insurance.

I love the character of Rincewind as I grew familiar with him when playing the Discworld game for PC several years back. Its a great character, generally useless but very adapt at getting into trouble and quickly escaping. A failed wizard because his head is occupied by a single great spell thats been hiding in his mind and scares all other spells away so he can never learn any new magic.

The story in this book actually continues into the second book, The Light Fantastic which I’ll read soon enough. The story is left on a cliff hanger so to speak that I’d like to know the conclusion to.

Anyway The Colour of Magic gets a full 10 out of 10 for being a great introduction to the Discworld universe I recommend you read it if you get the chance.

10/10

Oh My God! Futurama!! is.. Oh My God!!… back!!!! Oh My God!!!!!!

I can’t believe it!

I’m so happy I could cry…………….. Futurama is coming back!!!

I dunno how I missed this news as it was a few months ago it turned up, it should have been headline breaking news on all the major news channels but I guess some how I must have missed it, guess I must have been in the kitchen making a sandwich at the time.

Anyway in a sec I’m going to give you a link, your going to really want to click on it, but try to calm down and prepare yourself first. The link is to a Interview with the legend of all gods of animation that is Matt Groening!! He talks about the Simpson Movie a bit, which by the way is going to be pretty good I think, but mainly he mentions another little project he happens to be working on. That project is none other than four, yes I said “FOUR”, direct to DVD Futurama movies! The Simpson’s only get one, but Futurama, one isn’t enough, they get FOUR!!

The first will be released in December 2007, perfect to fit in my stocking, and even already has a title:

“FUTURAMA: BENDER’S BIG SCORE” (2007)

The other three, well I dunno, but they should be out soon after hopefully. The other good news is that Comedy Central has got the rights to take the movies and turn them in 16 regular episodes. They plan to add new stuff and re-jig it a bit to make it fit into episode format so should be worth watching.

Anyway, I have to go and jump around like a littel school girl until December so if you could excuse me I’ll see you later. Oh I almost forgot, you thought I had, forgot, but I didn’t, almost, but not quite, the link to the interview and also some others to related Futurama stuff. Have Fun!

Link to Matt Groening Interview

Link to IMDB Futurama Movie Page

The Champions!

Brilliant, we finally have our trophy back from the Blues. I can’t believe we had Arsenal to thank for it today. But if they hadn’t have done it for us today it might have gone close, going to Stafford Bridge is a difficult game, and playing West Ham on the final day of the season, well normally, fine, easy game but when they are fighting tooth and nail for Premiership survival its gonna be tough. So I’m glad its all over already.

This season we certainly deserved the title, the team was strong all season, and played brilliant football. The best is that its still a young team and with a few more additions over the summer there is endless potential.

Manchester United

06/07 Premiership Champions

A Disaster Class of Footballing Misery.

A big night in Italy that required a huge game from all players involved, unfortunately only 11 players turned up and showed how it should be done. I can’t blame the United player though, AC Milan are the best there are and when you come up against them and all their players are fit and fresh having not played a game for a week then you realistically have no chance. Having worked hard to secure a win at the weekend to almost clinch the Premiership and with hardly any spare players to call on United went to Italy with a make shift defense and a team of player not fully fit.

Against Milan this wasn’t the best of situations. Milan were truly great, every time United had the ball half the Milan team were on him like a flash before he could blink. We just couldn’t keep up with their strength, pace and quick passing. Our best chance was to hold out and defend for all we were worth but with a patchy defense we had no chance.

In that sort of form Milan are guaranteed to beat Liverpool in the final, even though they are a good team they won’t be able to compete with a Milan team that can have a rest between now and the final where as Liverpool have more Premiership games to play and third place in the table to play for.

We still have enough in us to win the league and Cup double I’m sure of it. When we meet Chelski in the Cup Final they will have played just as many games as us and will have no advantage over us as Milan did. A double season will be a huge achievement against the riches of Chelski so we should be proud. Getting to the semi of the Champions League was also a huge achievement and something to build on for next year. A few top quality signings during the summer, add some depth to the squad and we will be sorted. Roll on next years Champions league Final!

Champions League Semi Final 2nd Leg
	3-0 (5-3)
Kaka 11 Clarence Seedorf 30 Alberto Gilardino 78