Gestalt Communications

Lab tests galore, news and features

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-12-05T17:44:18+11:00

The second half of November and the start of December have been very hectic. As well as working three days a week as an IT Manager I’ve been filing a stack of stories.

At ITNews, I broke a story about Telstra laying off all contractors over the holidays.

Over at ITWire I pushed out a bunch of other stories.

Telstra increases data allowances for free
Wikileaks is the future arrived early
TV vs Computer - computer wins!
Router modding with DD-WRT
ViewSonic ViewTab - iPad killer or pretender?
Galaxy Tab goes on NextG
Businesses are investing in backend, not client says Gartner
Gartner says PC shipments under threat
Review - PADACS Rubata Keyboard Case
BoM delivers new iPhone app
Review - MyNetFone brings VoIP to iPhone

Between those, I’ve managed to do a couple of Lab Tests for Australian Macworld as well as more instalments of my monthly iPad column.

iPad: The external brain
Lab Test: Prints charming
iPad: FileMaker is Go!
Lab Test: Jacks of all trades
Lab Test: Internet on the move

Finally, I’ve done some work for Government Tech Review.

Profiles, case studies and reviews

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-11-12T14:52:15+11:00

It’s certainly getting busy. In the publishing world, everything pretty much stops through the second half of December through to January. However, monthly mags don’t always take a month off so the production schedule for the December or January issues usually have shorter deadlines. That means that while December and January are quiet, October and November are extremely busy.

At the moment I’m working os features about end-point computer management, profiles and case studies and another lab test - this time on portable hard drives.

Some recent updates

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-10-31T22:23:34+11:00

It’s been a while since I last posted but I’ve been quite busy with several business trips, plenty of articles and some contract work as an IT manager.

As well as several features for Australian Macworld covering mobile Internet, travel tech, printers and the new Microsoft Office 2011 I’ve done several stories for ITNews including Five reasons to run iOS 4 for iPad, Fuji Xerox goes consumer, challenges channel and participation in an online forum during the recent Australian election.

Over at ITWire, I’ve also published several stories including:

Windows Phone - Lucky 7?
Review - Kodak Pulse Digital Photo Frame
Gartner says Android to dominate smartphone market
Google Priority Inbox - auto-sorting the sheep from the goats
Review: Toshiba Portégé R700
Global Mobile data traffic nearly triples in 1 year

In print, I’ve also written stories for Government Technology Review and CRN. Government Technology Review has a feature on PC Lifecycle Management (see page 36 of the Issue 2 PDF) and a case study that will appear in Issue 3 soon. For CRN, I took a look at the state of Windows 7 a year after its release.

Lots of Apple updates, Toshiba, routers and more

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-08-01T19:29:20+10:00

I’ve been a busy boy of late. Since returning from my European study tour, I’ve been writing a number of interesting stories. Some have been straight news and others have been features. Both are the sorts of work I’m really enjoy doing. Here’s a run down of some of work that can be found online.

ITWire:

iPad accessories wrap - cases and a stand
iPhone 4 Antennagate - more distorted reality?
Toshiba celebrates with new models and tablet
Intel's silicon photonics to revolutionise computing
Apple releases new trackpad and 27-inch display, updates Mac Pro and iMac
Which iPhone 4 plan is best for you?
Apple gives Safari extensions
iPhone 4 calendar scramble
iPhone 4 accessories tax

I’ve also written a feature for a new publication called Government Technology Review. I can;t say too much as the issue I’ve written for isn’t out yet but you can head over to the website and check out the inaugural issue.

As usual, I’ve also written my monthly columns for Australian Macworld. The site was recently revamped and given a new, more Apple-like look.

This week, I’ll be getting started on my next feature for Australian Macworld on photo printers, my iPad column and some other work that’s a little bit of a secret.

I’ve also been registering a new domain or two for another little project I’m planning to start up as well as giving my other project, Netbook Mojo, some much needed attention. While I’ve been launching myself as 100% self-employed I’ve had to put some other tasks on the backburner.

Finally, I was interviewed for a story on the iPad by experienced The Age scribe John Mangan. The story can be found on The Age’s website or in today’s (Sunday, 1 August 2010) issue.

Back after a break

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-07-09T14:15:06+10:00

I’ve been quiet over the last three weeks or so as I’ve been travelling around western Europe on a study tour. One of the things I got to do is take a Panasonic Lumix TZ10 camera with me for the ride. Given that I’d be shooting photos within museums under low light with no flash as well as lots of outdoor stuff in bright sunshine, this seemed like a good way to give the camera a decent test.

The review can be read at ITWire

Piles of stories this week

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-06-08T13:25:46+10:00

It’s been a wicked busy week. Here’s what’s come out over the last few days from my desk.

Energy Australia wins bid to create $100M Smart Grid, Smart City demo
WWDC 2010 - iOS4, iPhone 4 and more from Steve Jobs
Android war fires up - LG and Sony Ericsson with new models
Bill Shock - how about some common sense?
Apple vs Adobe, Flash VS HTML5 - battle is on
Lexar Echo ZE - easiest backup ever
iPad Camera Connection Kit - for more than just cameras
An insight into Steve Jobs and Apple
GoodReader for iPad - fills the missing file system gap
Windows Phone 7 - Microsoft's Brave New World
Office 2010 - taking care of business?

And that was just for ITWire.

At ITNews, I wrote Bing Maps released down under and iPhone 4: an upgrade or an iPhone for the rest of us?

Over the next few days, I’ll be working my way through LCD reviews, my monthly iPad column and some other product reviews for Australian Macworld as well as some corporate work that I can’t quite talk about yet.

What's happening as June starts?

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-05-30T19:49:08+10:00

It’s been a very busy couple of weeks as I’ve written a couple of essays that were course requirements for my current studies. All that;s left is one exam, a study tour and a report of the tour and I’ll be done.

Over the last week or so I’ve written several stories including:

Guide: Choosing the right plan for your 3G iPad for IT News
Analysis: Did Apple make the wrong bet on the Aussie dollar? for ITNews
An iPad column for an upcoming issue of Australian Macworld
A feature for CRN that will appear in print in a few weeks

The big news of thew week has been, of course, the launch of the iPad. I’ve been using one since just after the US release as I imported one rather than wait for the local release. I must say that it’s been far more useful than I expected. For sure, it has some limitations. I’ve not yet found a word processing application and the screen is very reflective. However, it’s so fast to start and easy to use that it’s become my main note-taking device when at press events and in meetings.

Within media circles, there’s a lot of uncertainty. APC and Australian Macworld already have their magazines distributed in iPad friendly formats but whether or not the newspapers are successful in getting people to buy what, until now, they’ve given away for free remains to be seen. The only thing I can be reasonably certain of is that unless newspapers add lots of value to the content behind the paywall, people won’t spend any money. News is a commodity now.

Next week, I have a very full dance card with REMIX running in Melbourne. This is a Microsoft event focussed on all things web.

I’ll also be doing some interviews and attending a seminar on Thursday at one of my old alma maters, Swinburne University. The topic will be Journalism in the Digital Age.

Lots of things on

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-05-18T15:19:06+10:00

Another busy week or two.

I was quoted in this iPad story published in the Sydney Morning Herald. Unfortunately, my surname was spelt incorrectly in the print version but the online version has been corrected

I’m currently writing my monthly iPad column for Australian Macworld and working on a feature for CRN magazine. That’s meant lots of reading and interviews.

Last week, I was in Sydney for the business launch of Microsoft Office 2010 and an announcement by Skype about their new multi-point video conferencing product. However, the big news there was that Windows 7 isn’t on their development roadmap for mobile devices. Those two stories can be read on ITWire by going here (for Office 2010) and here (for Skype).

Next week is the annual CeBIT nerd fest in Sydney. I think I’ve been to every CeBIT event held in Sydney but I’ll be missing out this time as I’m too busy extricating myself from my full time job to take the time.

Upcoming Features for Australian Macworld

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-05-04T18:58:57+10:00

I’ve just updated my list of upcoming features for Australian Macworld. If you’re a PR agency or vendor with a client that has a product that you’d like included in one of these stories please use the contact form to get in touch with me.

Displays for the August 2010 issue

I’ll be looking a external displays to connect to a Mac. Anything bigger than 22 inches. Review products need to provided by 10/06/2010

Portable routers for the September 2010 issue

For this lab, I’ll be looking at portable, personal routers that can use a 3G SIM or modem to share an interent connection. The devices need to be able to operate without mains power. Review products need to provided by 10/07/2010\

Photo printers for the October 2010 issue

In the digial age we all accumulate lots of photos. But there are still times we want to print them to share. Review products need to provided by 10/08/2010

Desktop speakers for the November 2010 issue

With huge displays comes the need for serious sound. This month I’ll be looking at the latest and greatest computer speaker rigs. Review products need to provided by 10/09/2010

Week of 26 April 2010

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-04-29T20:59:06+10:00

It’s been a busy week.

I’ve worked on the next few bits of my 20 part series on the History of the Mobile phone for Gizmodo

Published a story on the iPad in the Enterprise for ITNews

Published my first review for ITWire - it’s of the Eee PC 1005. It won’t be the last story I do for ITWire.

I was commissioned to write a case study for a corporate client. That’s been an interesting project and lots of fun. Can’t say too much as the work isn’t done yet but I really enjoyed talking to the subject as they had a great story to tell about business intelligence software.

It's iPad time

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-04-22T14:46:12+10:00

As a writer, publisher and uber-nerd I love playing with shiny new toys. So, it was with a sense of duty that I scoured the planet for someone who’d sell an iPad to me in Australia without asking for a kidney or piece of liver in return.

I must say that it is a nicely made piece of hardware although it’s also very hefty. 700 grams is still, in my view, too heavy for a dedicated reader.

So, the next couple of days will see me writing about the iPad for a couple of publications.

Week of 19 April 2010

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-04-20T09:10:51+10:00

This week’s work

the next five parts of a 20 part series that will appear online at Gizmodo
finishing up a feature for Australian Macworld
more iPad stories
briefings with some enterprise vendors as I continue to invest in this part of my journalistic portfolio

Random thoughts: Some of my colleagues have been debating whether they are writers or journalists. It seems like a pointless debate to me but has made me think about my craft in a deeper way. As I embark upon a freelance career, I must make a commitment to do work that extends me and makes me better at what I do
Site of the week: Freelance Folder
Current Reading: Still going on Reformation (A Very Short Introduction) by Peter Marshall as well as various magazines that I’m trying to get a feel for before pitching work to them.

MacMan Column This Week

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-04-21T09:00:00+10:00

Garry Barker is practically a Melbourne institution and his MacMan column has been THE reason many people buy The Age on a Thursday. Garry’s currently on leave and I’ve been asked to sub in for him for a week. Stepping into such large and respected shoes is a touch daunting so I hope up to the task.

My column will appear in The Age this Thursday in the Green Guide supplement. I assume it’ll show up on line in the fullness of time as well.

History of the Mobile Phone Series

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-04-19T21:17:35+10:00

Gizmodo is one the best geek news and views sites on the planet. The Australian editor, Nick Broughall. is a mate of mine and he asked me to do a 20 part series on the history of the mobile phone.

Part one appeared today at http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/04/mobilemodo-gizs-historical-look-at-the-mobile-phone/

Some recent stories

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-04-18T21:00:35+10:00

Some recent articles of mine.

CRN Magazine

Maranatha Christian College solution accesses all areas: Case study: A wireless system that earns top grades.
Managed print: Fix the doc and prosper: Generating documents eats away at companies’ margins in an insidious manner. Intelligent solutions can bring it all under control.
Analysis: Apple makes enterprise play: Direct sales push at the big end of town
Opinion: Unlocked iPads could spur grey market: CRN studies distribution options for the much-hyped device.

ITNews

Analysis: A dozen reasons not to buy an iPad: Why you should wait for the next version.
Greens: Filter issue is too hot for election year: Senate constipated.
Apple shoots for the big end of town: Attempts to woo enterprise customers.

Tech Talk Radio

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-04-17T19:26:58+10:00

On Monday 15 April 2010 I was on Tech Talk Radio, a community radio show in Melbourne. I was there mainly to discuss the iPad although the discussion was far broader.

You can read a full set of show notes and links to the full audio of the show and an abbreviated podcast by visiting this site. If you’re only after little old me, I come in about half an hour into the show.

Week of 12 April 2010

anthony@gestaltcommunications.com — 2010-04-12T22:56:07+10:00

This week’s work

first five parts of a 20 part series that will appear online at a major online tech site
a case study for CRN Magazine
a large feature for Australian Macworld
a column, filling in for a regular, at The Age and pitching them a feature
various iPad stories
various briefings (some that will directly lead to stories, others that are networking opportunities)

There’s more on the go but they’re the highlights. 3D TV looks to be an ongoing trend that’s going to feature strongly in tech this year.
Random thoughts: the social networking thing is clearly important but finding a way to use it commercially is a big challenge.
Site of the week: Freelance Switch
Current Reading: Reformation (A Very Short Introduction) by Peter Marshall