Archive for the 'Technology' Category
August 30th, 2010
About a year ago when I subscribed to the local paper the Nelson Mail, they also made mention that the paper could be accessed digitally too.
After registering and getting accustomed to the service, it all came to an halt once the “trial online subscription” ran out. They wanted payment not just for the physical papers delivered to my mailbox each week, but also another payment sub for the online version.
At that stage I thought one was enough so went with the newspaper print version.
Then about 6 months or so back I got wind that the local council, Nelson City Council that is………allow you to use this online resource as a part of your library card membership.
And I’ve been using it ever since, its great.
I discovered that thinking most everyone was aware of this, was an error in my judgment.
I have spoken to quite a few over the last month or so, and most were none the wiser such a resource existed, and that it was available to all Nelson City Council library card holders.
UK ex pats living in Nelson Bays can read the paper the day of publication, and in the format they are used
Over the last 10 ~ 20 years the Nelson Bays region has become much more cosmopolitan, and its not uncommon to hear US, German and UK accents every day while traveling in the area.
A service like this will be a boon to these folk so that they can, if they want, keep up to date with happenings back home and share in discussion with friends and family when next they talk on the phone.
Quite a few papers available actually......
My interest was piped again a few weeks back when I noticed the local council via their Nelson Life householder delivered print medium discussing PressDisplay again.
This time they were mentioning it as part of “Library Week”, where they were holding demonstrations in the library to show folk what it was and how to use it.
examples of current Editions avail. at 4pm today
The list of features is actually quite surprising
1] the layout is exactly the same as a print newspaper
2] for any overseas newspapers, you read them in their original languages
3] translation is available for most articles (into and out of English)
4] options are there to email or print articles (watermarks are inserted)
5] content search is comprehensive within a specific newspaper, or across selected, or all, newspapers. This includes classifieds, notices and adverts.
6] most New Zealand papers are online as soon as they are produced, in the format in which they are printed. This includes the Nelson Mail, and the weekly Friday produced Nelson Property Press
7] text can be enlarged, or headphones can be utilized to listen to an audio version of selected articles
The Papers online equivalents are available for 60 days from date of publication.
In fact its amusing to see that Flip-Pad app for the Apple iPad is actually going back to the future with their implementation of a newspaper /magazine style layout aggregation of social media mediums.
So if you are a NCC library card holder head on over to PressDisplay here.
Just enter your library card barcode number as shown above, and you’ll be in.
For further info…….
Ask at the Libraries or check our website www.nelsonpubliclibraries.co.nz
August 30 2010 | General and Nelson and New Zealand and Technology | No Comments »
August 29th, 2010
And it’s all because of Bill. In case you were not aware that’s the nickname of the Webb Ellis Trophy – the Cup I’m looking at below.
The same one that all those qualifying rugby teams from around the globe will be playing for next year in New Zealand at the Rugby World Cup 2011, with 2 official matches right here at our newly upgraded Trafalgar Park, in Nelson.
"Bill" & I yesterday contemplating his permanent move to a new home in NZ in 2011
Nelsons upgraded Trafalgar Park was opened officially yesterday morning, jointly by Nelson Mayor Kerry Marshall…..
World First in Nelson
……….and local Nelson Member of Parliament, Dr Nick Smith.
Official Trafalgar Park Upgrade unveiling - Saturday August 28th 2010
New Zealands RWC 2011 supremo, Martin Sneddon was also there, and mentioned “fond” memories of playing on the field back in the mid 1980’s, when as the skies got darker, cars were quickly assembled on the embankments, with all then turning on their headlights to assist with the completion of the game.
Martin Sneddon sharing a fond memory of Trafalgar Park.....
Whats World First?
Trafalgar Parks turf has been growing nicely thank you to the $7.4m upgrade, for the last 6 months on top of what is a world first for a Rugby playing field. Glass! Yes a bed of Glass.
Comparing the two "sands" - spot the Heinekens?
Underneath that green stuff is a base of crushed glass, no not as those science boffins know that silica is, I’m talking about real crushed glass.
Good drainage is the key
The chap from Opus joked that if you look at it finely enough you can make out the Heineken, Speights Old Dark and Tui bottles from their obvious respective colours.
Opus were the main project managers, working alongside many other local architects and suppliers. In fact this point was made loud and clear by Mayor Marshall who indicated the council had a massive preference to source the work locally wherever possible.
on a very non-Nelson type of weather day....
2,800,000kg of the stuff
While thanking the government for their $1.5m contribution, Mayor Kerry Marshall, mentioned sustainability as the cornerstone of the new Trafalgar Park upgrade where 2,800,000 kg of recycled glass was used to make the playing field, thats 7% of the total amount of glass accumulated in one year in the South Island.
He also mentioned the Cricket Pitch that was a feature in the middle of the old Trafalgar Park, had also been recycled.
Fittingly, 40 m2 of that dirt, including its foundation Waikari clay, (“best stuff to use for a cricket pitch” – according to Mayor Marshall) has been transferred up to Nelson Boys College, the birthplace of Rugby in NZ.
Related photos about this here.
NZ's Oldest Rugby Club
I suggest fittingly considering their links to the establishment of the game of rugby in New Zealand.
One of the understated features of the new glass sand, is that in each of the coming 30 years (that’s how long the Mayor said it should last) any top-ups required to maintain the grounds “as new” can be completed with almost scientific precision. The reason why is that the original composition is documented so clearly its almost like a recipe out of a cooking book, so apparently relatively easy to top up / replace, and match the exact same grading of the sand particles.
Nelson Mayor Kerry Marshall, "Bill" and local MP Dr Nick Smith
Local Member of Parliament, Nick Smith mentioned in his speech that he believed Kiwi’s really hadn’t grasped the enormity of the coming 2011 Rugby World Cup. To highlight this he said it was the 3rd biggest sporting event in the world. To put it in perspective, he added New Zealand will probably not see an Olympic Games, and it was just as unlikely that a FIFA Football World Cup would grace our shores either.
....Game on!
So this World Cup will be, and quite possibly will stand in history, as the largest sporting event ever to take place in New Zealand.
Upcoming Matches at Trafalgar Park 2010
Nelson Bays/Marlboroughs own Mako’s have a few home games here this year.
Lets home they repeat the formula shown last weekend……………
Win or Lose - everyone can now see
where they beat last years defending champions, Canterbury, 27 to 25.
August 29 2010 | General and Nelson and New Zealand and Technology and rugby | No Comments »
August 19th, 2010
As if you needed another excuse to buy one. (needs to be an iPhone 4 or 3GS camera version)
Whether you are a Real Estate Salesperson or not, its not always convenient to get the best photo of a home potentially for sale.
I mean….. oftentimes when you are called to pop around for a visit, its at a time when the light isn’t the best to take a photo, at least a good one.
http://www.pictional.com/TrueHDR/Overview.html
Regular readers will know I have an interest in real estate photography with more than a passing interest in HDR and “blending.”
So I was quite surprised to learn that there is actually an iPhone app that will process an HDR type image – and do it all in-camera, ready for you to just upload that shot directly to the office, or immediately onto the web.
iPhone app TrueHDR
Even more reasons to go mobile if you ask me.
To find out more head on over to their site, where they also have a gallery of before and afters photos – I particularly like the one with the sun streaming through the clouds. (about half-way down the page)
iPhone owning Real Estate Salespersons will soon have no excuse, not even for a hastily taken listing photo!
August 19 2010 | Nelson and Technology and photography | 1 Comment »
August 16, 2010
Saw my first iPad the other day, chap was actually using it in the main street in Richmond to find out where a cafe was on Google Maps.
Must admit the graphics were pretty good, and for this type of device it looks like its time has come. Mobile Broadband has undoubtedly assisted this.
Now the 64 thousand dollar question is………………how does your blog look on the iPad?
Is it too big/wide?
Good news, so that you can see how an iPad user will see your blog on their device, head on over to the iPad Peek website and enter your blog address.
http://ipadpeek.com/
Hopefully if all is ok, then you’ll get a screen like the one above showing my weblog.
Obviously the constricted width that NZ real estate bloggers work with here in NZ via the Voices platform is an advantage because it plainly fits easily onto the screen.
SOURCE – http://ipadpeek.com/
August 16 2010 | General and Technology | No Comments »
August 14th, 2010
Remember this…
Proposed New Hangar
It was April earlier this year. The 80m x 60m building has only taken 9 months to complete.
Hangar now ready for business (click on photo to enlarge to monster size)
Well she’s all finished now and today was the official Opening, Official blessing and Public day all rolled into one.
Open Day was today
Just to complete the picture, a Mt Cook ATR72 showed up too.
Mt Cook Airlines ATR72-212A arriving
These are the planes from Air New Zealand’s Mt Cook Airline division that Air Nelson will now be performing maintenance on, and can only perform work because of the existence of this new hangar.
John Key and party arrives
The official ceremonies got underway when the official party arrived.
Nelson MP Nick Smith arrives late...
Local MP Nick Smith arrives.
the ceremony continues..
The blessing and official welcome continues….
Inside Hangar (click to enlarge / monster size)
And this is what its all about…
ATR was popular
The “not usually sighted in these parts” ATR72-212A was a popular choice for many of the hundreds of sightseers on the day.
ATR72-212A Information
On account of the new maintenance contract though, these planes will now become a more common sight around Nelson airspace.
Air NZ's Q300s lined up on a Sunday morning earlier this year
Alongside Air Nelsons existing 23 x Q300’s, Mt Cooks ATR72’s have now meant Air Nelson could employ up to another 30 aircraft engineers, a great boost for the local economy.
There were many extra exhibitors there too and quite a selection of interested sightseers meant a busy time for all.
August 14 2010 | General and Nelson and New Zealand and Technology | No Comments »
August 11th, 2010
Being the sunshine capital of NZ the day to day meanderings of the sun are very important to us locals. In fact, we haven’t lost out too many times lately.
More often than not, its one of, if not the main reason why someone moves here.
Along with a re-jig of their website, Australasian franchise group LJ Hooker have just launched a new Real Estate iPhone app.
And not just any little app either.
TPE – The Photographers Emphersis (sample screen)
I’ve shown many times here the benefits of online sunshine/sun direction climate aids like Gaisma.com, The Photographers Emphersis (above), the US governments Solarcalc and who can forget, the sun shader button on Google Earth.
All great stuff for real estate buyers when it comes to finding out which direction the sun rises, falls, its angles and how much daytime sun there is, at any time of the year.
It would seem according to their blurb, mobile help is at hand when it comes to answering the “which way is north?”*** question.
They are going to be bundling a like program, “Sunlocator” with their iPhone app download.
So – at this stage if you are an iPhone owner, and want to check it out, head over here.
*** that’s what it is for us down under, northern hemisphere folk will be asking “which way is south?”
August 11 2010 | Buyers and Nelson and New Zealand and Sellers and Technology | No Comments »
August 5th, 2010
Curb appeal will never have been more important than it will become soon.
Why?
Property Info Screen
Well, because Augmented Reality apps like the one officially just released by CBA will allow potential home buyers to find out all the For Sale info simply by driving down a street, and aiming/pointing their mobile phone (obviously for it to be situationally aware of its location the mobile phone would need to be a GPS enabled one) at the home.
Click pic to see video.....
Currently this Augmented Reality Real Estate application for Home Buyers is in Australia only, and would appear to be an iPhone only app, but surely soon they will be here in NZ too, and really open up some possibilities.
SOME PROS
Buyers can drive straight to a suburb of their choice, and then down streets of there choosing and immediately get comprehensive data on their phone, not only of FOR SALE properties, but like the above video demonstrates, comparable pricing of recently sold neighbouring properties.
Like the Internet, the property has the ability to be virtually viewed 24hrs a day.
For Real Estate buyers looking in areas like Nelson, Tauranga, Queenstown….holiday / lifestyle / convention type towns….anyone in town on a short trip (read not the time to ph and make a viewing appt with a Real Estate person) can in less than 30 seconds find out as much as they probably want to know at that stage. Plus they don’t need to find a pen & paper to write it down, just send the info / link via email to themselves and it will there when they get back home.
SOME CONS
Homes that present non-positively from the street make notice a reduction in viewings.
Agents less in control of viewing (“prepping the property”) times.
If iPhones apps are already being used in Emergency Rooms, then apps like this one are sure to be “basic kit” for tomorrows Real Estate property purchaser I’d say.
August 05 2010 | Buyers and Sellers and Technology and photography | No Comments »
August 4th, 2010
Seems there is certainly a debate going on about this stateside, a recent Activerain post on this topic has logged over over 200 comments already.
Virtual Home Staging is best described as…..well actually its best shown…….
Lounge - before
and then
Lounge - after Virtual Home Staging
Second example here is of a bedroom…….
Before - before - empty
and
then
Bedroom - after Virtual Home Staging
and one more….
Flat sized Room - before
and then after…
Flat / Unit type Room - after Virtual Home Staging
Ok, so that probably gives you a better idea of what it is about, more than just words alone.
But is it wrong?
I have noticed in a few, like the middle set of bedroom shots, they have added some extra wall mounted lights, which when you arrive at the home and notice aren’t there….would give rise to concern.
Should it matter? How many times do people buy the home with the furniture in it. I’ve only ever had it happen twice. So you are only buying an empty shell anyway? Besides all of the developers of those highrise apartments in Auckland or Wellington already do it in their “concept” shots of what your new apartment would look like anyway.
The post on Activerain however pointed out some significant others that would be of a concern.
Its author, US Realtor Greg Nino, takes exception to the fact that once the photos on the MLS were viewed, then a subsequent later personal inspection made a startling discovery.
In his words, “In person, the house looks like hell. The carpet is disgusting, the walls have dents…..etc…etc”
Apparently the “Photos have (had) been digitally enhanced to better visualize the amazing possibilities.”
Greg, the articles author, does make the point though, that the above “disclaimer” about digital alteration was “under agent remarks (not viewable by the public).”
Unless the photographs / advertisements were very very clearly marked as altered/enhanced, then in a place like here in New Zealand they would more than likely find themselves falling under the classification of false advertising. Its obvious that by being so overdone, that first experience when you open the door to show the prospective buyer around is disappointment, and let me tell you that is no way for a potential purchaser to commence a home inspection/showing. So if the walls have stains on them, and wallpaper is falling off, “No” you can’t digitally alter this in your listing photographs, you must show it as the buyer would see it on a personal visit.
PHOTO CREDITS / www.interstaging.com
August 04 2010 | Buyers and General and Sellers and Technology | 5 Comments »
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