Inside View

Newsround Because You Asked

Photo of Sunday Times Front Page by @topgold.

I SET ASIDE 20 minutes to record a Sunday Newsround because today three people asked me why I'm no longer doing them. I explain why in the 10-minute YouTube [1] at http://youtu.be/uQzus2h56Yo and Audioboo [2] clip.

Sunday Times Newsround

Marking a Major Climb

Photo of Dylan the climber snapped with Lumia 1560.

WHILE MOST OF the voices I hear talking in audio journals describe major accomplishments ascending mountains, I am recording a major ascent in our local play centre as two year old Dylan hits the top of a six metre tall slide.

The final two metres are slick, requiring climbers to negotiate blocks on a 45 degree incline. It is a combination of physical strength, coordination and confidence.

Well done, little man Dylan!

When Teachers Talk

Markers used by two resident artists.

OUR SENIOR INFANT often recites information coming directly from her classroom teachers. Last week, we learned that you should not end a normal sentence on a note of inquisitiveness.

I respect that advice because nearly every one of my American cousins talk that way? You know, with a little rhetorical twist when they pause for breath? I'm putting the question marks in this blog post to hear how Soundgecko reads this post? [1]

When Teachers Talk

Distracted Driving Clampdown for Two Days

Screenshot of Garda Traffic Corps activity spotted on Lumia 1520.

IRELAND MOUNTS two days of clampdown against people who use their mobile phones while driving. And Waze is showing evidence of the activity on my Lumia 1520 screen (above).

Photos I Did Not Snap

Photo of Racoon by Mia.

WE HAVE THREE mobile phones in the house to give the kids an awareness of how the major operating systems work. As the above image shows, our young people snap things they want to keep or share.

Watching #typepadstatus as Service Resumes

Screenshot from @topgold's Nokia 1520.

LIKE THOUSANDS of other Typepad bloggers, I eagerly await resumption of normal service following a DDoS attack on the popular blogging platform. I have opened a Help ticket in the hope I can start accessing all parts of the service normally.

Wondering about #Typepad Network Resilience

Screenshot from many of my Typepad log-ins during five days.

I WATCHED my blog's webstats start to fade to nothing on Good Friday but then its entire support structure appeared to collapse during the Irish Easter holiday. Its slow return to form has me concerned for Say Media's network resilience.

Cortana Offline Commands

Screenshot of Cortana by @topgold on Lumia.

MY ADVENTURES WITH voice-activated commands using Cortana on a Nokia Lumia 1520 have started. I've made a short list of words it understands without the need for data services.

Suunto Ambit 2 on my Wishlist

Screenshot from @topgold.

I PUT THE world's best GPS watch onto my Father's Day Wishlist and then started letting the Suunto Google Plus Community push its updates to my phone because I know the combination of those two tactics will help me divert my fast food spending into the Suunto Savings Account. I figure I will have enough money for the Suunto after avoiding 117 takeaway meals.

So that means sometime around Christmas 2015 I'll have the funds for the $500 purchase and I think my well-telegraphed intentions will help nudge this health and fitness tracker into my Christmas stocking. It will be worth the wait.

Growing Up Multitouch

Photo of Evernote Notebook by @topgold.

WE HAVE TWO young children growing up in a media-saturated society. Because they are growing up multi-touch, I think they will be better, active citizens.