http://www.lettuce.com.au A blog of thoughts and activities of Lettuce Systems en-us http://www.lettuce.com.au/blogview.aspx?id=Google_launches_Chrome1
As web developers and folks that increasing live in the cloud (including the use of our very own IcebergHQ) we both excited and nervous about a new browser in the market. As it is, we already have to test our solutions on IE6, IE7, IE8, Firefox 2 & 3, Safari across both Mac and PC.

So the thoughts of having to test another browser sends shivers down our spine, but on the flip side we like to see browser innovation, so anything that stokes the fire is worth the effort.

So why would Google bother to release a browser? Well that will be a hotly debated question, so here is our take. Our read is, there is a two piece strategy in place.

The Short Term Play
Taking a leaf out Apple's play book, Google (and its partners) are getting close to having an Android based phone in the market. While there will be plenty of application developers who will be developing specifically for the device, there will also be an army of web developers who will be developing mobile optimised applications for the device. They will need a desktop browser to test on.

Apple did the same thing, when the iPhone Web SDK was released, Apple released Safari for PC. I don't really think that Apple was really expecting to own the PC browser market, but rather they wanted to provide a reliable toolkit for developers to use and Chrome is part of that toolkit for Android.

The Long Term Play
As more and more services move to the cloud we are becoming more and more reliant on the old web browser. With the release of Chrome, Google are ensuring that it has some stake in the entry point to the web. Up until now, Google has had to rely on the innovation from IE, Firefox and Safari.

Google has been long friends with the Firefox camp, but its probably starting to realise that if they want to fulfill  the dream of an internet operating system, then it needed to stake out some turf at the front end.

So Google launching a browser that will eventually work across multiple platforms (PC, MAC, Linux, Mobile) will give them a reliable entry point so people can choose to use applications in the cloud no matter what device they have. While Microsoft and IE are not about to be displaced anytime soon, the release of Chrome does crack a shot across their bow.

Chrome going forward could be become any important component of the new genre of hardware called Netbooks, cheap lightweight laptops designed predominantly for accessing the internet. These devices are low in hardware spec and processing power but are cheap and typically have reasonable battery power.

Chrome could help us ween ourselves off the dependence we have on desktop operating systems and bloated desktop applications.

Further, when you team up Chrome with Gears, Google's offline browser technology and you are starting to see the inklings of a competitor to Microsoft Office. Now where we stand today, this technology is young and immature, but at the speed of Google innovation within a year or two I suspect we'll start to see the game become very interesting.

With Google having a browser option, they can own the entire stack (a very Microsoft strategy) of internet technology, allowing them to tune up and optimise Google Apps, Google Talk and GMail to name a few.

Lets hope they don't make Chrome too proprietary and also lets hope they leverage the good work that has gone into webkit (the rendering engine supported and open sourced by Apple) and the great work they have done on their mobile applications.

All of this, just when you thought the browser wars were over. Game on.

]]> http://www.lettuce.com.au/blogview.aspx?id=Google_launches_Chrome1 http://www.lettuce.com.au/blogview.aspx?id=iPhone_Apps_Part_11
I've given them all a score. The score is purely how much I value the application.

Twinkle
Twinkle is a Twitter clients with some extra functionality packed under the hood. Twinkle has a number of geo-location tools on board. As a twitter clients its very usable. If the geo-location tools could be tailored to just friends instead of the entire Twinkle community then I would be on it a lot more.

5/10

SugarSync
The iPhone application end of SugarSync is only one small part of a fantastic platform. SugarSync keeps multiple computers in sync with files. The iPhone version allows you to access that sync directory from anywhere allowing you view and even email the files to someone. I'm going to having a go at working from two different computers (home and office) so I look forward to putting SugarSync through its paces. At this point though, it does what MobileMe and Live.Mesh (and folder share) only dream of doing. Its seamless, fast and very easy to set up. Its also Mac and PC friendly.

9/10

MobileFotos
This App is an iPhone front-end for Flickr. I must say I think this app is fantastic. Easily and simply I can view my existing photo's as well as use the phone to upload photos to my Flickr account. Yeah I know the iPhone doesn't have the best camera, but so what.

9/10

Labyrinth LE
This groovy little game uses the accelerometer of the phone to provide a simple game of getting the ball bearing through the maze. Reminds me of my childhood.

5/10

Scratch
Is a faux record scratching app. Cute to show off with, but very little value after that.

3/10

Flashlight
Does exactly what it says. I used to use the blackberry a lot for this function (something the blackberry did well). Simple (even I could haven't written it I reckon) but it works.

5/10


Rotary Dialer
Is an old school rotary dialing interface for dialing phone numbers. No real value but great to show the baby-boomers and the older Gen-X's.

6/10


Evernote
I have every suspicion that this application is fantastic. I just don't run leopard yet, which seems to limit the capability. Once I've upgraded my Mac I will be sure to give this one another kick-over. It looks fantastic

?/10

Level
Who needs a 5 level spirit when you can use an $800 phone to level your pictures? Presuming this little app is accurate it works fantastic. I need to hang a mirror this week, so we'll see how it goes.

7/10

PhoneSaber
Pure gold ! No geek or star wars nut can live without this one. I'd hate to think how many iPhones this app has sold.

9/10

I'm going to do a secondary blog post. I've got a lot I still need to share...

]]> http://www.lettuce.com.au/blogview.aspx?id=iPhone_Apps_Part_11 http://www.lettuce.com.au/blogview.aspx?id=A_deposit_turns_out_to_be_a_deposit1
Sorry Optus for falsely accusing you of 'taking and not returning' my iPhone deposit. On closer inspection of my credit card statement I now realise that Optus did refund my deposit.

I falsely took the statements of the customer service representative as true. The young representative in the call centre after conferring with his boss told me that it wasn't a deposit but rather a fee. It was this communication that lead me to the rant and making a complaint directly to Optus.

So once again, my apologies.

]]> http://www.lettuce.com.au/blogview.aspx?id=A_deposit_turns_out_to_be_a_deposit1 http://www.lettuce.com.au/blogview.aspx?id=How_do_you_interpret_the_word_deposit?1
Now that I've got that off my chest, let me tell my story. I, like thousands of other Apple Fanboy's, was very excited when the Australian release of the iPhone was announced. I spent a lot of time (like a jack-rabbit) jumping between the three major teleco's looking for iPhone related information.

Optus were the first to announce they would be stocking and supporting the iPhone. In what I thought was an attempt to gauge the level of demand, they quickly launched a Pre-Order Deposit on their website where you put down your details and $50. That I had no problem with as I was keen (an understatement) to get my hands on an iPhone.

It was clearly sold as a Deposit and fully refundable. Given nearly every other context of deposit in the financial sense, I assumed it would be offset on my first bill / payment I made at the store (if I was going to buy my phone).

Well... My first bill has arrived and the $50 is no-where to be seen. I had another billing enquiry so I rang Optus only to find out that it wasn't a deposit but rather a once-off fee.

I've lodged a query with Optus, so lets hope, but I don't like my chances. On this issue I'm concerned Optus, has been misleading, deceptive and practiced what I would constitute bait advertising.

I wait and will be happy to stand corrected. Come on Optus, don't blow two years of brand loyalty and otherwise admiration. The ball is in your court.]]> http://www.lettuce.com.au/blogview.aspx?id=How_do_you_interpret_the_word_deposit?1 http://www.lettuce.com.au/blogview.aspx?id=Hisbiscus_Holiday_Park_is_live...1
Core to this site is our SaladBowl CMS platform and our CRM IcebergHQ.

In this site we wanted to build something that was:

• Bright
• Fast
• Google and SE friendly
  
• CSS Compliant
• Easily maintained
• Flash free but still use some groovy AJAX
• Mashed nicely with Google Maps

Check it out and let us know what you think.

http://www.hibiscusholidaypark.com.au/]]> http://www.lettuce.com.au/blogview.aspx?id=Hisbiscus_Holiday_Park_is_live...1 http://www.lettuce.com.au/blogview.aspx?id=We_love_nice_words_about_us.1 mention must be made for these guys' commitment and continued improvement
throughout the program (which is saying something 'cause they were great
to start with ...) I'm sure we're only just seeing the surface of these
guys (get it?) (God, I'm witty). Boys, expect a call to help with next
year, if not before hand (infact Angus, looking forward to lunch next time
I'm down).


Thanks Justin. We love you too.
]]> http://www.lettuce.com.au/blogview.aspx?id=We_love_nice_words_about_us.1 http://www.lettuce.com.au/blogview.aspx?id=Global_Roaming_Rates_for_Mobiles1
Well after a recent trip to Europe (and in fairness I was using a 3G Data Card) the bill was a staggering $1600 for 4 weeks worth of surfing. And let me say I wasn't surfing that much (I was on holidays and not working). Its unbelievable in this time and age to think that network access could cost that much.

Now before the local telco's jump down my throat about the transfer pricing etc etc, let me acknowledge this is a global problem of not enough competition in the mobile space that creates this extortion, but lets just say our local friends aren't doing enough to help. Its Grand Theft Mobile.

And as for the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association well you equal FAIL. Chris Althaus, I guess as a lobbyist we should expect you to blast the report, but you don't exactly contribute much to the debate do you?

Come the Teleco's world wide, don't make us hate you.

Article from The Age
]]> http://www.lettuce.com.au/blogview.aspx?id=Global_Roaming_Rates_for_Mobiles1 http://www.lettuce.com.au/blogview.aspx?id=Lettuce_survives_MEGA_pitch_day1
Its been a busy and nerve racking couple of weeks preparing both the final parts of the software and the presentation and true to the charter of MEGA, we've spent a lot of time refining our business model.

In the end, we didn't take out any prizes or invited to participate in the Sydney pitch day but that's alright by us.  In the end we were extremely happy with the experience and the performance we put in. We also place high value in the feedback received from the panel. Thank you to all the judges who have given up their time to be on the panel.

Congratulations to PlanItMe for taking out pitch of the day. We think you have a great idea and look forward to seeing where it goes.

Also stand-outs for us were Artabase and 1440 Productions. Hotness on both their respective fronts and great folks too boot.

Also a big thankyou must go out to Justin Brow and the crew that put the MEGA program together. I would hate to think of the number of planes he's been on or the number of nights on the road, but from everyone at Lettuce we salute you for the work you've done to bring the crew this far.

Long live the MEGA.

]]> http://www.lettuce.com.au/blogview.aspx?id=Lettuce_survives_MEGA_pitch_day1