From the monthly archives: February 2012

Introducing a NEW QR Generator

By On 23/02/2012 · 3 Comments · In qr

When people ask me which QR generator to use, I usually suggest Google Charts. However, recently I’ve become dissatisfied with its limitations, so I’ve decided to write and release my own QR encoder.

I’m still looking for a catchy name for it (suggestions welcomed) – so for now it’s called “QR Generator PHP”.

It’s

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Command Line Backup for DVDs

By On 22/02/2012 · Leave a Comment · In linux

This is a quick tutorial to show you how to rip DVDs on a headless server. That is; one which only has command line access.

The documentation for MakeMKV is available. It’s a bit sparse. It also doesn’t have many of the features of the GUI.

For example, the GUI allows you to select [...]

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Dave Winer is Wrong About Hackdays

By On 21/02/2012 · 1 Comment · In /etc/

Dave Winer is totally off base when he says “Hackathons are how marketing guys wish software were made.”

Perhaps it’s different in his part of the world, but over here, hackdays are fun!

All the hackathon / hackdays I’ve been to are, essentially, Scrapheap Challenge* for software people.
*Note to Americans, Junkyard Wars [...]

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Data Protection and Twitter

By On 16/02/2012 · Leave a Comment · In /etc/

As Twitter now have a UK office, I thought I would see what data they hold about me. Thanks to the UK’s Data Protection act, it’s really simple to request the information.

I wasn’t expecting a whole CD’s worth of information – like Facebook provides users – but what I did get surprised me.

[...]

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1971 – Bananas

By On 12/02/2012 · Leave a Comment · In Woody Allen Challenge

I’m watching all of Woody Allen’s films in chronological order.

After his previous films, it’s hard to see why anyone would let Woody Allen make another comedy. I’m glad they did! “Bananas” is the first truly funny Woody Allen film. Right from the start it contains gags which – amazingly – make you [...]

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1969 – Take the Money and Run

By On 12/02/2012 · Leave a Comment · In Woody Allen Challenge

I’m watching all of Woody Allen’s films in chronological order.

Take The Money And Run has a promising start. A faux documentary with some excellent gags. But it leaps around the story with no real regard for the viewer.

It’s possibly the first “mockumentary” and, as such, is a trail-blazing piece. But as [...]

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Video From GovCamp #ukgc12

By On 10/02/2012 · Leave a Comment · In mobile, politics

The lovely people from UK Gov Camp have put up some of the videos from the barcamp.

Here’s me chatting about mobile and the WordPress Mobile Pack.

UKGovcamp 2012: WordPress & mobile (Sat 21st, 2pm) from Steph at Helpful Technology on Vimeo.

See my blog post about the day.

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Tropo Voicemail Transcription Service

By On 06/02/2012 · Leave a Comment · In mobile

I’ve been using Ribbit Voicemail ever since SpinVox died. Sadly, Ribbit has croaked.

So, how to get my voicemails transcribed and have MP3s emailed to me?

Enter Tropo!

Tropo makes it simple to build phone, SMS and Instant messaging applications. You use the web technologies you already know and Tropo’s powerful cloud [...]

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