iPod Touch just got better : almost a PDA now!

iPod Touch just got better : almost a PDA now!
iPod Touch just got better : almost a PDA now!
iPod Touch just got better : almost a PDA now!
iPod Touch just got better : almost a PDA now!
iPod Touch just got better : almost a PDA now!
iPod Touch just got better : almost a PDA now!
iPod Touch just got better : almost a PDA now!
iPod Touch just got better : almost a PDA now!
iPod Touch just got better : almost a PDA now!

Up to recently, the iPod Touch was just lacking too many features. But it just got better: when loaded with version 1.1.2 of the firmware, you can now edit your calendar and contacts directly on the iPod. If it had notes and/or todo lists with that it would be the hell of a good PDA.

Now, I think I need to get one. Christmas sounds like a good excuse ;)

Thank you to Mike Penny for the photos. More from Mike:

It IS cool, and I have to say the only reason I bought an iPod Touch is because of the calendar & diary features. I was not going to buy one that I had to Jailbreak. There are as yet - at least as far as I can see no other applications that work on it, but I am looking. There aren't even any games on the iTunes site that work yet.

Las Vegas Junkie

Las Vegas Junkie
Las Vegas Blvd from the top of the Stratosphere. The strip is at the far left after the curve on the blvd.

Here we go again: I barely haven't recovered from my last trip to BlogWorld in Vegas a couple weeks ago and I'm already planning to go back to Las Vegas, this time for Pubcon.

At this point I'd almost have to wonder whether I'm not just making excuses for going back to Vegas over and over again. But honestly I don't!

Truth is... I don't really like Vegas. I don't gamble. Not a cent last time I was there. And I'm not that much into night life. I haven't even been to the strip last time. Worse: the perpetual slot machine sound at the Hilton last time made me explicitly pick a different hotel this time (although the Hilton is a darn good value if you want to be near the conference center.)

PubCon was great. Vegas around it... bah... Actually, one cool thing I did last time is go up the Stratosphere which was really worth the view. Best Vegas attraction if you ask me!

Now I realize I still have to check out some more stuff before issuing a final judgment! ;) This time I'll try to see at least one of those world famous Vegas shows and check what they're all about. And if that's not enough to make the whole "Vegas again" trip worthwhile, I'll also take a little trip to the Skywalk nearby...

Quote of the day - Funeral

Quote of the day - Funeral

No matter how rich you become, how famous or powerful, when you die the size of your funeral will still pretty much depend on the weather.

The 5 stages of marketing

The 5 stages of marketing

Tonight we came to the conclusion that there are actually five stages to mastering the art of marketing:

  • Level 1: You don't know about marketing. You are a happy marketing target.
  • Level 2: You understand marketing. You're starting to think you'd better be marketing than being marketed at.
  • Level 3: You master marketing. You realize you now have the power to manipulate people and they don't even complain about it (cf #1).
  • Level 4: Steve Jobs.
  • Level 5: Jesus.

Grounded in France

Grounded in France
Frederic Legrand - COMEO / Shutterstock.com

I was supposed to fly to Seattle today... but thanks to Air France flight attendants and one of their >:XX strikes, I'm litterally grounded in France... It's been 4 days now! :-/

Of course I wish there were other options for flying non stop from Paris to the west coast, but I'm afraid there aren't a lot. I even suspect the flights that have been canceled are precisely the ones with the least competition available. Bast>:XX (I mean: sensible capitalists! :|)

Anyway, here's a couple of things I learnt while canceling my hotel and domestic flight reservations:

  • Orbitz will charge you $25 when canceling an hotel reservation (more than 24 hours in advance) whereas canceling at reservation made directly with the hotel would generally be at no charge. On the other hand, booking through Orbitz oftentimes gets you a better rate. So it's a close call...
  • Canceling a hotel within the last 24 hours prior to arrival can be super expensive. You need to try and cancel as soon as possible.
  • Canceling my $186 flight with United from Seattle to LA cost me $100 charged by United an $30 charged by Orbitz. The remaining $56 credit is valid for one year but is going to be a pain to reuse (no automated procedure).
  • Had I waited to actually be in Seattle before booking that flight (i-e: booked it tonight), it would only have cost me $20 more ($207 total). I think I'm done with booking domestic flights way in advance.

Still, I really really should find out how to not rely on Air France any more... 'coz you know... they made their point: they're just unreliable! :-/