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	<link>http://www.techcritic.co.uk</link>
	<description>British opinion, news and reviews for the latest technology and games!</description>
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		<title>File-sharing websites dropping like flies</title>
		<link>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/editorials/file-sharing-websites-dropping-like-flies/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/editorials/file-sharing-websites-dropping-like-flies/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:20:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrew Eldridge</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Editorials]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Copyright]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[File Sharing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kim DotCom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MegaUpload]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PIPA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SOPA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techcritic.co.uk/?p=1964</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[MegaUpload has gone. FileSonic too. Who’s next? Late last week, MegaUpload was taken down by the U.S. Justice Department, on account of copyright infringement to the tune of $500 million in lost revenue from pirated films, music and other digital media. And it appears that such action has sparked other file-sharing websites to act pre-emptively [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/MegaUpload_Shut_Down.jpg"><img class="alignright  wp-image-1966" title="MegaUpload_Shut_Down" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/MegaUpload_Shut_Down.jpg" alt="" width="184" height="104" /></a>MegaUpload has gone. FileSonic too. Who’s next?</p>
<p>Late last week, MegaUpload was taken down by the U.S. Justice Department, on account of copyright infringement to the tune of $500 million in lost revenue from pirated films, music and other digital media. And it appears that such action has sparked other file-sharing websites to act pre-emptively in an attempt to avoid a similar fate.</p>
<p>In the wake of MegaUpload’s legal problems, FileSonic has introduced the following message to their homepage, alongside blocks to the service: “All sharing functionality on FileSonic is now disabled. Our service can only be used to upload and retrieve files that you have uploaded personally.”</p>
<p>Uploaded.to has duly followed suit, albeit in a slightly different manner. In a move not dissimilar to the potential implications of SOPA, Uploaded.to is currently blocking access to any IP that originates from the U.S. As such, American users who attempt to visit the website are provided with the following message: “Not available. Our service is currently unavailable in your country. Sorry about that.”</p>
<p>The above actions undertaken by FileSonic and Uploaded.to also appear to have sent shockwaves throughout the file-sharing realm, which has caused several other big names to hop on the bandwagon. Fileserve appears to have mimicked the actions of FileSonic (that is: banning all third party downloads) and <a href="http://torrentfreak.com/cyberlocker-ecosystem-shocked-as-big-players-take-drastic-action-120123/">a number of other websites have tweaked their services, too</a>.</p>
<div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter" style="text-align: center;">
<dl id="attachment_1968" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 630px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/FileSonic_Message.png"><img class="size-full wp-image-1968 " title="FileSonic_Message" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/FileSonic_Message.png" alt="FileSonic_Stops_File_Sharing" width="620" height="326" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">FileSonic introduces a block on file-sharing</dd>
</dl>
</div>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p>File-sharing affiliate reward programs across the web, which reward users for uploading files for others to download, have also been heavily hit. Almost all have now been removed. The Facebook pages of certain file-sharing websites have also disappeared, and, according to Reddit, <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/orw9i/filesonic_gone_now_too_all_sharing_functionality/c3jk52s">user accounts have been deleted</a> as well.</p>
<p>MegaUpload, at one point, was the 13<sup>th</sup> most frequently visited website in the world, and whilst the aforementioned competitors were far smaller in size, they still heavily contributed to copyright infringement across the net. It’s interesting, then, that RapidShare, another notable portal used for the sharing of copyright-protected content has been <a href="http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20110106/16034212566/rapidshare-ruled-legal-yet-again.shtml">green-lighted by American courts</a> on more than one occasion, on account that the site not only removes infringing content when made aware of it, but also sports many non-infringing uses.</p>
<p>However, as a predominantly file-sharing service, it’s questionable what non-infringing uses, if any, RapidShare has when compared to MegaUpload or similar. Arguably all file-sharing websites operate a similar business model, so what makes MegaUpload any worse than FileSonic, RapidShare or, indeed, even the likes of DropBox, isn&#8217;t clear.</p>
<p>And with the shutting down or severe crippling of the above file-sharing services, it’s questionable whether the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) need actually be passed in order to adequately combat copyright infringement. At present, both SOPA and the Protect IP Act (PIPA) have been shelved by the American congress for further consideration, following significant protest across the internet last Wednesday – punctuated in particular by the &#8216;blackout&#8217; of two high-traffic websites, Reddit and Wikipedia.</p>
<p>Both SOPA and PIPA have been viewed by many as draconian measures, vesting far too much power in the hands of large corporations who would be able to obtain a court order to block access for American users to any infringing website. Granted, this would allow officials to effectively police the internet outside US jurisdiction, but with most large file-sharing sites utilising a .com address and operating via servers hosted in America, it’s arguable that the bulk of copyright infringement occurs under US jurisdiction anyway.</p>
<p>Perhaps the real victims, then, as those users who use these file-sharing services for legitimate purposes; to backup their files safely online. Fortunately, there are alternatives available: DropBox provides 2GB of free storage straight off the bat, with tiered pricing plans thereafter, and Windows SkyDrive offers a staggering 25GB of storage to all users with a Windows Live ID. That is until these services are targeted for copyright infringement, too.</p>
<p><span style="text-align:center; display: block;"><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/editorials/file-sharing-websites-dropping-like-flies/"><img src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/o0Wvn-9BXVc/2.jpg" alt="" /></a></span></p>
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		<title>Create YouTube videos on the fly, with screencast-o-matic</title>
		<link>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/editorials/create-youtube-videos-on-the-fly-with-screencast-o-matic/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/editorials/create-youtube-videos-on-the-fly-with-screencast-o-matic/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Dec 2011 09:34:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrew Eldridge</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Editorials]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Create Video]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Editing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Record]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Screencast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Screencast-o-matic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Video]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[YouTube]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techcritic.co.uk/?p=1924</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[YouTube is chock-full of tutorial videos, gameplay demonstrations and video blogs, most of which are recorded via a desktop program such as Sony Vegas, or Camtasia Studio. These programs allow you to both record and edit footage from your computer, offering remarkable control over the process, but sport a rather hefty price tag to boot. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>YouTube is chock-full of tutorial videos, gameplay demonstrations and video blogs, most of which are recorded via a desktop program such as Sony Vegas, or Camtasia Studio. These programs allow you to both record and edit footage from your computer, offering remarkable control over the process, but sport a rather hefty price tag to boot.</p>
<p>And so what happens if you can’t afford to buy such software? Well, you could turn to free open source alternatives, such as <a href="http://www.camstudio.org/">CamStudio</a>, but really you need look no further than to the internet.</p>
<p>Screencast-o-matic is one such service that operates through your web browser, using java to record your screen for you. It can pick-up your microphone, too, should you wish to also record audio, and videos can be uploaded directly to YouTube.</p>
<p>It’s certainly one of the easiest methods of video creation out there, and there’s no download required – assuming you already have java installed. Screencast-o-matic is also cross-platform, since it’s nothing more than a browser extension, meaning that it’s available for Windows, Mac and thus, theoretically, also Linux; a significant benefit when compared to desktop software.</p>
<div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter" style="text-align: center;">
<dl id="attachment_1925" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 603px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Screencast_Start_Recording.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-1925" title="Screencast_Start_Recording" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Screencast_Start_Recording.jpg" alt="" width="593" height="72" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Recording is simple, as shown</dd>
</dl>
</div>
<p>Recording a video is a simple affair; simply click the “start recording” button that’s available on the front page of the website, drag the recording box to your chosen size, don’t forget to set your microphone volume, and then hit Alt + P together. This will start the recording process, and screencast-o-matic will record for up to fifteen minutes in a single take.</p>
<p>Once you’ve finished, simply tap the Alt + P combination again to stop recording. You’ll then be presented with three options: upload to screencast-o-matic, upload to YouTube HD, or save as a video file on your computer. Up until this point, this service doesn’t require an account. However, if you wish to upload your video to screencast-o-matic, then you will need to sign-up. Fortunately, if you are so inclined, it’s free.</p>
<p>Opt to upload to YouTube or to save the video as a file on your computer, then, and you’ll be presented with a slew of options for rendering your work. It’s worthwhile noting that you cannot actually <em>edit</em> the video through the free version of this service, and so if that’s what you’re looking for then you’ll probably want to download the file to your computer and edit elsewhere.</p>
<p>As mentioned above, you will not require an account, or need to pay anything upfront, in order to record video using the screencast-o-matic service. However, if you opt to use the service in this way, i.e. for free, then a watermark including the website URL will feature in the corner of your videos. Should you want to remove this, simply sign-up for a premium account and pay the required $12 per year fee (approximately £8) – a low cost, given the simplicity of this service.</p>
<div class="mceTemp" style="text-align: center;">
<dl id="attachment_1930" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 307px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Screencast_Recorded_Video.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1930   " title="Screencast_Recorded_Video" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Screencast_Recorded_Video.jpg" alt="" width="297" height="219" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Available export options</dd>
</dl>
</div>
<p>Paying for this service will also entitle you to a number of <a href="http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/gopro">other useful features</a>; the ability to download the screencast-o-matic software as a program, which can be used outside the browser, various editing tools, advanced recorder controls and also the removal of the fifteen minute time limit for videos.</p>
<p>The editing tools (of which the full list can be seen <a href="http://screencast-o-matic.com/channels/c6irbHVnT">here</a>; but include transitions, crop, overlay and resize) are unlikely to be of the same depth or quality as those found in a dedicated video editing suite, e.g. those mentioned at the beginning of this article. However, they would certainly be more than enough for the average user, who wouldn’t require the extensive list of tools available in one of the aforementioned desktop alternatives.</p>
<p>You can try screencast-o-matic for yourself by visiting the following website: <a href="http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/">http://www.screencast-o-matic.com/</a>.</p>
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		<title>How to find graduate PR jobs</title>
		<link>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/guest-post/how-to-find-graduate-pr-jobs/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/guest-post/how-to-find-graduate-pr-jobs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:07:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Guest</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Guest Post]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Graduate PR Jobs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[How To]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Job]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Job Search]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public Relations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Search]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techcritic.co.uk/?p=1907</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Whilst graduates have a range of employment opportunities at their fingertips, finding a job that is both suitable and desirable requires some effort. One of the main areas of interest for graduates is PR recruitment, but how can you find PR jobs? The first thing to remember is that general job hunting skills will apply [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Public_Relations_Dice.jpg"><img class="wp-image-1910 alignleft" title="Public_Relations_Dice" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Public_Relations_Dice-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="216" height="143" /></a>Whilst graduates have a range of employment opportunities at their fingertips, finding a job that is both suitable and desirable requires some effort. One of the main areas of interest for graduates is PR recruitment, but how can you find PR jobs?</p>
<p>The first thing to remember is that general job hunting skills will apply to all forms of employment, whether they are in a specific industry or not. Finding graduate PR jobs is done in the same way as any other form of job hunting, although there are certain ways you can improve your chances of success.</p>
<p><strong>Pick your ideal job</strong></p>
<p>The first thing which should be considered when looking into PR recruitment and PR jobs is over what sort of employment you want to undertake. PR jobs can include anything from PR Associate Directors to PR Account Juniors and even <a href="http://www.mediarecruitment.co.uk/freelance/" target="_blank">Freelancers</a>.</p>
<p>Deciding what type of role you want to undertake within the PR industry is therefore the first step in finding the perfect graduate PR job. Make sure that you consider all of the skills and qualities which are needed for these different roles and select the one which is most suited to you.</p>
<p><strong>Use agencies</strong></p>
<p>The easiest way to find the best graduate <a href="http://www.mediarecruitment.co.uk/" target="_blank">PR jobs</a> for you is to use specific agencies. Whilst there are a number of recruitment agencies available, some of these will specialise in certain areas and industries, such as media, and can therefore help you to find PR jobs.</p>
<p>It is always worthwhile using the more specific agencies as it will guarantee you are only offered job opportunities relevant to the career you want. This will ensure that graduates work in an industry relevant to their qualifications and skills, helping them to find a job that is both desirable and suitable.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PR_Success_Key.jpg"><img class="alignright  wp-image-1914" title="PR_Success_Key" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PR_Success_Key-300x266.jpg" alt="" width="216" height="192" /></a>Online recruitment</strong></p>
<p>Of course, with the world going digital, finding a job doesn’t have to be done in purely traditional ways. A number of recruitment agencies will now offer their services online, making the job hunting process far easier and more convenient.</p>
<p>Looking for PR recruitment online has a number of benefits and is an easy way for graduates to look for the best PR jobs available. Not only will they be able to view multiple jobs at once but they will also be able to look for these jobs at any time of the day or night.</p>
<p>Internet access is available for pretty much everywhere these days so geographic location will not limit your options and will give job hunters the most convenient form of job hunting there is. This means that graduates can have the best possible access to PR job listings, especially if they use online recruitment agencies.</p>
<p>These agencies provide users with consistent access to jobs in the media industry, with intuitive search functions helping to make the job opportunities displayed more focused and relevant. This will help to reduce the time spent looking through listings, giving graduates quicker access to opportunities which are relevant to them and their skills.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>This is a guest post by Carlo Pandian of <a title="Media Recruitment" href="http://www.mediarecruitment.co.uk/">Media Recruitment</a>, recognising that PR is rapidly becoming big-business within the graduate job market, particularly the technology sector.</em></p>
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		<title>Today’s Google doodle is a robot-themed adventure!</title>
		<link>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/news/today%e2%80%99s-google-doodle-is-a-robot-themed-adventure/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/news/today%e2%80%99s-google-doodle-is-a-robot-themed-adventure/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:19:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrew Eldridge</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[23rd November]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Daniel Mroz]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Google Doodle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Robot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stanislaw Lem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Cyberiad]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techcritic.co.uk/?p=1899</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Google doodles are great, aren’t they? Back in June, I wrote a feature for PC Pro detailing – in my opinion – the ten most iconic Google doodles to date. But after today’s effort, I think we may have a new contender for the coveted #1 position. Visitors to Google on the 23rd November will [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter">
<dl id="attachment_1900" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 523px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Lem_Google_Doodle.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1900" title="Lem_Google_Doodle" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Lem_Google_Doodle.jpg" alt="" width="513" height="187" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd"></dd>
</dl>
</div>
<p>Google doodles are great, aren’t they?</p>
<p>Back in June, I wrote a feature for PC Pro detailing – in my opinion – the <a href="http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/367969/the-ten-most-iconic-google-doodles">ten most iconic Google doodles</a> to date. But after today’s effort, I think we may have a new contender for the coveted #1 position.</p>
<p>Visitors to Google on the 23<sup>rd</sup> November will no doubt have noticed the robot-themed interactive epic that replaced the traditional multi-coloured company logo. And, intended to mark the 60<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the first publication by sci-fi author Stanislaw Lem, today’s doodle is most certainly the most elaborate yet.</p>
<p>Through the doodle, users accompany an oddly dressed character (presumably Lem) as they come face to face with a giant robot. There’s a challenge in the style of a broken calculator that needs to be completed before Lem can continue. Other puzzles also feature.</p>
<p>After a lengthy but enjoyable visual story, this particular Google doodle reveals a message indicating that the art work on display was inspired by Daniel Mroz’s illustrations for a series of short stories published by Lem – The Cyberiad.</p>
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		<title>How to: check the technical details of your blog</title>
		<link>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/tech/how-to-check-the-technical-details-of-your-blog/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/tech/how-to-check-the-technical-details-of-your-blog/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 20 Nov 2011 12:43:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrew Eldridge</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[binarycanary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blogging toolkit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[downforeveryoneorjustme]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[google search index]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ismyblogworking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[report]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rss feed]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[statistics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[technical stats]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[web host]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wordpress]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techcritic.co.uk/?p=1872</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So. You’ve researched a suitable domain name and registered it, sourced a viable web host and purchased their services upfront. WordPress is installed on your little corner of the web, and you’ve already begun blogging. That’s great. But what next? Well, now it’s important to accurately assess the performance of your blog; as page load [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>So. You’ve researched a suitable domain name and registered it, sourced a viable web host and purchased their services upfront. WordPress is installed on your little corner of the web, and you’ve already begun blogging.</p>
<p>That’s great. But what next?</p>
<p>Well, now it’s important to accurately assess the performance of your blog; as page load times, the presence of an RSS feed, and other vital data can all make a difference when it comes to getting Google to index your hard work. And in truth, that&#8217;s why we&#8217;re all blogging. It&#8217;s for the audience. If you&#8217;re a tech-savvy person, you could discover all this data manually. But why dedicate more time and effort to a task than it’s worth, especially when there’s a service out there that’ll perform this same job faster, and for free.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>How to get checking</strong></span></p>
<p><em><a href="http://www.ismyblogworking.com/">Is My Blog Working</a></em> is the web service in question, designed to provide you with server stats, markup, security and performance data for any blog you throw at it. As an example, here’s the data provided when you search for <em><a href="../">TechCritic.co.uk</a></em>:</p>
<div id="attachment_1873" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 586px"><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TechCritic_Blog_Stats_Is_My_Blog_Working_Com.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1873  " title="TechCritic_Blog_Stats_Is_My_Blog_Working_Com" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TechCritic_Blog_Stats_Is_My_Blog_Working_Com.jpg" alt="" width="576" height="503" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Report generated by IMBW</p></div>
<p>As you can see from the screenshot above, the report created by IMBW is divided into sections. The first section, dubbed ‘important stuff’, is incredibly useful for assessing your blog’s position in the Google search index, as here you can check for the presence of a robots.txt file and an RSS feed. Fortunately, if you’re blogging with WordPress, then this should already be taken care for you – but it’s important to check nonetheless.</p>
<p>Below this, you’ll find the technical details. Important stats here include the homepage download size – where smaller is better, search engine wise – and also the content ratio, where you’ll want a larger percentage if possible. This section is also useful if you’re attempting to discover what theme a rival blog is running. However, this feature will only work if the blog in question has installed the theme as standard, without modification. Also, some older themes simply cannot be discovered in this way.</p>
<p>To the right, you can see features supported by your blog and web host, and also a trio of further web apps (HTML verification, feed validation and HTTP header checks) that’ll test other aspects of your blog for you. Be warned, though, although these further reports are easy to read, the actions required to fix any potential problems raised by them may be complex.</p>
<p>At the very top of the report, you will also find the description of your website and a collection of keywords that you have used. This is particularly useful to ensure that you’re capturing the right audience through a Google search, and also to make sure that changes you’ve made to your WordPress blog have been reflected online.</p>
<p>IMBW also provides a bookmarklet which will allow you to quickly access the service by dragging any website to it. This could certainly come in useful if you begin to use the service regularly.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>How to go compare</strong></span></p>
<p>For further statistics about your blog, you could also look towards the <em><a href="http://www.binarycanary.com/">Binary Canary</a></em> service, which will allow you to compare the speed and size of your blog against larger websites; such as Google, or Wikipedia. You can also submit your own choice of website as a comparison.</p>
<div id="attachment_1874" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 573px"><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TechCritic_Binary_Canary_Stats_Data_Com.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1874 " title="TechCritic_Binary_Canary_Stats_Data_Com" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TechCritic_Binary_Canary_Stats_Data_Com.jpg" alt="" width="563" height="392" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Report generated by Binary Canary</p></div>
<p>Signing up for an account with <em>Binary Canary</em> will grant you access to a dashboard full of performance monitoring options. Opt for a free account and you will be able to monitor five websites at a fifteen minute frequency – more than enough for the average blogger.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>How to get an answer</strong></span></p>
<p>Finally, if you’re having difficulty connecting to your blog, but are unable to determine the cause, then you could try <em><a href="http://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com/">Down For Everyone Or Just Me</a></em> instead. The premise of this service is simple, it’ll check the domain of your choosing to see whether it’s available. This service doesn&#8217;t offer stats, granted, but it&#8217;s still a useful tool to add to your blogging toolkit.</p>
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		<title>Bonfire plugin adds IM to Twitter</title>
		<link>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/news/bonfire-plugin-adds-im-to-twitter/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/news/bonfire-plugin-adds-im-to-twitter/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:18:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrew Eldridge</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bonfire IM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Facebook vs Twitter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Instant Messaging Twitter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Josh Russell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Networking]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twitter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twitter Plugin]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techcritic.co.uk/?p=1865</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Twitter is already a very active social network. Updates are pushed in real-time, users can ping messages back and forth through the use of mentions (or @ replies, as they’re known) and Twitter even accommodates sensitive communication, through the use of direct messages. It could be argued that Twitter is overly saturated with conversational tools, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Bonfire_Screenshot_1.jpg"><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-1866" title="Bonfire_Screenshot_1" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Bonfire_Screenshot_1.jpg" alt="" width="330" height="206" /></a>Twitter is already a very active social network.</p>
<p>Updates are pushed in real-time, users can ping messages back and forth through the use of mentions (or @ replies, as they’re known) and Twitter even accommodates sensitive communication, through the use of direct messages.</p>
<p>It could be argued that Twitter is overly saturated with conversational tools, but <a href="http://www.bonfire.im/">Bonfire.IM</a> would disagree.</p>
<p>A multi-browser web plugin, Bonfire.IM cleverly adds an instant messaging element to the <a href="http://www.twitter.com/">Twitter</a> service, as an alternative to direct messages. The IM service operates in a very similar fashion, requiring both users to be following one another, but once that’s out the way, Bonfire.IM closely resembles the Facebook Chat that we’ve grown to love.</p>
<p>If a mutually following Twitter user is online, they’ll show a green light next to their name. Clicking on said name will then initiate a conversation tab on the bottom of the browser, akin to the Facebook style, with no need to navigate away from the Twitter web page.</p>
<p>There’s no hiding the fact that Bonfire.IM closely resembles Facebook Chat, but Bonfire.IM’s Founder Josh Russell happily embraces this fact, even describing the service as <em>“Facebook chat for Twitter”</em>.</p>
<p>The introduction of this service will certainly help to eliminate some of the ‘chat clutter’ that affects the social network, evident when two people you follow are having a long-winded public conversation together through the use of @ mentions. This would be reliant on both individuals adopting the service, though.</p>
<p>There has also been much speculation about the value this service could provide for social networking accounts maintained by businesses, who could offer customer service support directly through Twitter; privately, and in real-time.</p>
<p><em>“We’re building Bonfire to service as many people as possible, and we have that in mind when considering every feature,”</em> said Josh Russell.</p>
<p>The launch of Bonfire.IM comes at a time when Twitter are in the midst of rolling out their new ‘Activity Feed’ – a real-time update service that allows you to follow the actions of your fellow users, including a list of people that they’ve recently followed and any tweets that they’ve added to their favourite lists.</p>
<p>Again, this feature appears to be very similar (at first glance) to Facebook’s news feed. As such, Twitter, through corporate development and third-party plug-ins, looks set to tackle the social networking giant head on, in the war of functionality and features. As for how successful they’ll be, only time will tell.</p>
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		<title>Steve Jobs&#8217; technological contribution inspires charity</title>
		<link>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/news/steve-jobs-technological-contribution-inspires-charity/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/news/steve-jobs-technological-contribution-inspires-charity/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 05 Nov 2011 14:20:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrew Eldridge</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[4S is 4Steve]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Apple]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Golisano Children's Museum of Naples]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pancreatic Cancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Steve Jobs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[T-Shirt]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techcritic.co.uk/?p=1852</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Faerber and Oberdorster &#8211; the pair behind 4S is 4Steve Apple fan or not, there’s no denying that Steve Jobs was an innovator when it came to technology. Described by many as a ‘visionary’, Jobs was largely responsible for the success of the Apple brand and the development of the multimedia tools that we take [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="mceTemp" style="text-align: center;">
<dl id="attachment_1854" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 324px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Final_TShirts_4S_is_4Steve.png"><img class="size-full wp-image-1854 " title="Final_TShirts_4S_is_4Steve" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Final_TShirts_4S_is_4Steve.png" alt="" width="314" height="232" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Faerber and Oberdorster &#8211; the pair behind 4S is 4Steve</dd>
</dl>
</div>
<p>Apple fan or not, there’s no denying that Steve Jobs was an innovator when it came to technology. Described by many as a ‘visionary’, Jobs was largely responsible for the success of the Apple brand and the development of the multimedia tools that we take for granted today; the iMac, iTunes, iPod, iPad and, of course, the iPhone.</p>
<p>In memory of the man, his vision, and to help promote the discovery of a cure for the pancreatic cancer that ultimately led to his death, a tribute website has been setup cleverly titled <a href="http://www.4sis4steve.com/">4S is 4Steve</a>.</p>
<p>Selling t-shirts embroidered with the ‘4S is 4Steve’ slogan, in a variety of colours, all proceeds are split between two relevant charities; firstly for the ongoing research, patient support and advocacy for a Cure for Pancreatic Cancer, and secondly to promote children’s education through exploration and discovery in the soon to be opened Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples, Florida.</p>
<p>Since its launch on the 14<sup>th</sup> October, a day before the global release of the iPhone 4S, 4S is 4Steve has received much attention. And following demand, there are currently four t-shirt variations available for purchase, each also sporting a different quote from Jobs. Orders placed within the US cost $22 and international orders ring in at $30.</p>
<p>Amicably, 100% of the proceeds gained through the sale of t-shirts will be donated to charity, making 4S is 4Steve an entirely not-for-profit venture. And with <em>“paying tribute and giving back”</em> as the website motto, it’s easy to see why.</p>
<p>The pair behind the creation of the website, Shayne Faerber and George Oberdorster, are both iOS app developers. Faerber launched <em>“Mall Maps”</em> developed by <a href="http://www.medlmobile.com/">MEDL Mobile</a> back in 2009, whereas Oberdorster is the founder and CEO of <a href="http://www.unstoppableapps.com/">UnstoppableApps.com</a> and hopes to release his first app concept onto the store early next year. The issue of pancreatic cancer is also particularly relevant for Oberdorster, as his father was diagnosed with the same disease only five months ago.</p>
<p>The initial aim of the pair is to raise enough money to purchase eight iPad 2’s for the children’s museum, set to open in February 2012. After this, any further funds can be donated to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.</p>
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		<title>GTA 5 trailer lands. Rumour mill works overtime</title>
		<link>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/games/gta-5-trailer-lands-rumour-mill-works-overtime/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/games/gta-5-trailer-lands-rumour-mill-works-overtime/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:24:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrew Eldridge</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Assumptions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Game]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Grand Theft Auto 5 Trailer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GTA 5]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GTA V]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Launch]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Release Date]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RockStar Games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rockstar North]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rumour Mill]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trailer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techcritic.co.uk/?p=1837</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Early last week, Rockstar gripped gaming headlines with the promise of a trailer for upcoming sandbox action title, Grand Theft Auto 5, sparking incessant debate about the location and storyline in the process. The trailer finally launched yesterday afternoon, and the rumour mill has been working overtime ever since. The distinctive ‘Vinewood’ sign atop a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Grand_Theft_Auto_5_Niko_Bellic.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1838" title="Grand_Theft_Auto_5_Niko_Bellic" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Grand_Theft_Auto_5_Niko_Bellic-300x167.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="167" /></a>Early last week, Rockstar gripped gaming headlines with the promise of a trailer for upcoming sandbox action title, Grand Theft Auto 5, sparking incessant debate about the location and storyline in the process.</p>
<p>The trailer finally launched yesterday afternoon, and the rumour mill has been working overtime ever since.</p>
<p>The distinctive ‘Vinewood’ sign atop a hillside was depicted clearly in the trailer, leading many websites and blogs to report, quite understandably, that GTA 5 would be returning to the fictional state of Los Santos, first seen in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.</p>
<p>And with the location locked down, attentions turned to the rest of the footage – where things began to get interesting.</p>
<p>A number of seemingly familiar faces appear; the trailer appears to be narrated by none other than GTA 3’s <em>Claude</em>, and at one point a homeless man can be seen holding a sign requesting food, who bears a remarkable resemblance to GTA 4’s <em>Niko Bellic </em>(pictured above).</p>
<p><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Grand_Theft_Auto_5_Tommy_Vercetti.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1840" title="Grand_Theft_Auto_5_Tommy_Vercetti" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Grand_Theft_Auto_5_Tommy_Vercetti-300x160.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="160" /></a>As ever with these guestimations, though, there’s often more than one interpretation. The older gentlemen proposed to be <em>Claude</em> could also be GTA: Vice City’s <em>Tommy Vercetti</em>. Comparing the two in the screenshot (pictured right, IGN) it’s easy to sway either way at this point.</p>
<p>Arguments have been pitched for and against the return of <em>Vercetti’s</em> character, with the principle dispute surrounding the voice used. That said, people change and perhaps the same voice actor, Ray Liotta, couldn’t be sourced, or perhaps he rejected the role himself. It’s still too early to say, quite frankly.</p>
<p>In older news, <a href="http://www.hiphopgamershow.com/2011/05/cj-returning-to-gta5-also-motionscan-being-enhanced-hhgs-5111/">HHGS</a> reported back in May that Christopher Bellard, aka <em>C.J. </em>from GTA: San Andreas, may be working on GTA 5. Quite how his character may feature remains to be seen, but <a href="http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-11-02-the-first-grand-theft-auto-5-details-revealed">EuroGamer</a> would have you believe that GTA 5 will feature three playable protagonists: <em>C.J</em>,<em> Vercetti</em> and <em>Bellic</em>. So there’s that.</p>
<p>Also, desperate fans have even gone as far as to dissect individual frames, in the hope of discovering extra information. One such instance has already been circulated by <a href="http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=450665">NeoGAF</a> where it has been suggested that the release date features in a scene concerning the sale of a house (see below). 2405 can be seen on the road, which has been speculated to represent a 24th May 2012 release.</p>
<div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter">
<dl id="attachment_1843" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 310px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Grand_Theft_Auto_5_Release_Date.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1843" title="Grand_Theft_Auto_5_Release_Date" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Grand_Theft_Auto_5_Release_Date-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd"></dd>
</dl>
</div>
<p>Rockstar are yet to release a press release, rendering all of the above entirely speculation at this point. And until such a time, perhaps it’s best to watch the trailer for yourself and come to your own conclusion.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkkoHAzjnUs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkkoHAzjnUs</a></p></p>
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		<title>What else can they add to iPhones and HTC Phones?</title>
		<link>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/guest-post/what-else-can-they-add-to-iphones-and-htc-phones/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/guest-post/what-else-can-they-add-to-iphones-and-htc-phones/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Nov 2011 10:21:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrew Eldridge</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Guest Post]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Electronics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HTC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iPhone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Next Generation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Smart Phone]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techcritic.co.uk/?p=1821</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you can remember the days when mobile phones let you phone people and not much else then you too probably find yourself wondering from time to time just what manufacturers could now do to add yet more features onto them. Now that the likes of iPhones and HTC models have cameras, GPS, internet access [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/iPhone_4_Facetime.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1827 alignleft" title="iPhone_4_Facetime" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/iPhone_4_Facetime-119x300.jpg" alt="" width="119" height="300" /></a>If you can remember the days when mobile phones let you phone people and not much else then you too probably find yourself wondering from time to time just what manufacturers could now do to add yet more features onto them.</p>
<p>Now that the likes of iPhones and <a href="http://www.ebuyer.com/htc-smartphones">HTC</a> models have cameras, GPS, internet access and games is there anything else left to add-on? I sat down and had a think about it the other day and came up with these ideas, some of which are perhaps more plausible than other.</p>
<p><strong>A Projected Screen</strong></p>
<p>A developer I know tells me that this one is actually on the way, although I am not sure if it will be in the Princess Leia type of way I have in mind. I sometimes find even the biggest phone screens too small to enjoy games or videos. What if the screen could be projected onto a wall so that it becomes a giant image without any loss of quality? The only problem I can find with this one – apart from the small matter of finding the technology to make it happen – is with trips to work by public transport. Can you imagine the walls and roof of the carriage of the train you travel on being filled with a bizarre mix of Angry Birds / snaps of the office party / sports results and such like?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>The Phone You Can’t Lose</strong></p>
<p>Do you remember that old joke about the golf ball with so many alarms and signals on it that it couldn’t ever be lost or stolen? A golfer shows it to his friend, who is blown away. “Wow, where can I buy one of those things?” he days. “Dunno mate, I found this one the other day”. There are programs for helping recover lost phones but what about one you couldn’t lose in the first place? I would like to suggest that phones could have a grip sensor which only allows the owner to hold it. If it senses a different set of fingerprints it goes hot and starts squealing. Hang on, what if you wear gloves though?</p>
<p><strong>Solar Panels</strong></p>
<p>I used to have a solar powered calculator at school and could never work out why it used a battery as well. Anyway, I had hours of fun putting my hand over the solar panel and seeing it switch itself off. It was certainly better than listening to the teacher droning on about maths. Of course the processing power of a calculator is miniscule compared to that of a smartphone although with continuous advancements in the energy field I wouldn’t rule this one out completely.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/HTC_Desire_HD.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1830" title="HTC_Desire_HD" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/HTC_Desire_HD-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="192" height="192" /></a>A KITT Phone</strong></p>
<p>If you remember Knight Rider then you know what I am talking about here; a smart phone which lives up to its name. It could give you advice and of course use the GPS and augmented reality to keep you out of trouble when you are deciding where to go. It would have a choice of cool voices and would it be too much to ask if they were to project the head out into the world while it is talking to you? With the introduction of Siri Apple’s new speech parser perhaps we are heading that way.</p>
<p><strong>Control Your Life</strong></p>
<p>This last one is a bit scary really. What if your phone could control everything in your life? When you go to bed you say to it what you need to do the next day. While you sleep it makes reservations, checks maps, looks at road conditions and even programmes your burglar alarm for the time you are going to be out, in fact this conception is already a reality and was recently introduced by ADT Security. It might even let you make a phone call if you ask nicely.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>This guest post is by David Samuel, an electronic media consultant, with over 10 years’ involvement with some of the world’s leading electronic retailers. David’s awareness and market intelligence make him one of the best equipped experts around. While specialising in <a href="http://www.ebuyer.com/store/Computer/cat/Laptops" target="_blank">laptops</a> David’s knowledge covers a wider spectrum of consumer electronics.</em></p>
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		<title>Interview &#8211; Rob Shoesmith&#8217;s iPhone experiment</title>
		<link>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/featured/interview-rob-shoesmiths-iphone-experiment/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techcritic.co.uk/featured/interview-rob-shoesmiths-iphone-experiment/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:25:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Andrew Eldridge</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Editorials]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Apple]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Apple Store]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Covent Garden]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Interview]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[iPhone]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MEDL Mobile]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PR]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rob Shoesmith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social Experiment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techcritic.co.uk/?p=1800</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[By now, regular readers of TechCritic will be well-versed with the name ‘Rob Shoesmith’. The PR &#38; Marketing expert recently completed a ten-day experiment, waiting in line for the new iPhone 4S, where he couldn’t spend a single penny of his own money. Instead, he had to rely on donations from various companies, in exchange [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>By now, regular readers of TechCritic will be well-versed with the name ‘Rob Shoesmith’.</p>
<p>The PR &amp; Marketing expert recently completed a ten-day experiment, waiting in line for the new iPhone 4S, where he couldn’t spend a single penny of his own money. Instead, he had to rely on donations from various companies, in exchange for promoting their brand during his stay.</p>
<p>Rob’s experiment was designed to test the global pull of Apple products, and considering that over one-hundred-and-fifty companies offered their goods and services to help, it’s fair to say that the Apple brand is a considerably powerful marketing tool.</p>
<p>Now just over two weeks on, Rob’s fully recovered from his experiment, and I’ve managed to secure a detailed interview with him about his experiences, which you can see below.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Q&amp;A with Rob Shoesmith:</span></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/image_4.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1804" title="image_4" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/image_4-224x300.jpg" alt="" width="224" height="300" /></a>1. Did you encounter any logistical problems when it came to setting up for the experiment? Was it easy enough to get your gear down to London, and was setting up outside the Apple store a problem?</strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">RS:</span> “To be fair it wasn&#8217;t too bad. I had my own PA from <a href="http://www.mylifestylepa.com/">My Lifestyle PA</a> who offered 16 hours of their time. The owner of the company, Emma, greeted me at London Euston train station and helped me to transport all my kit to the Apple Store in Covent Garden.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>2. You pitched up a tent for ten days while waiting for, what would soon be released as, the iPhone 4S. Was it a disappointment to receive this instead of the iPhone 5, or was there another purpose to the experiment?</strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">RS:</span> “It was all about doing the experiment for the fifth generation iPhone, which the iPhone 4S actually is. In terms of purpose, it was such a great way to connect with new companies, people and media and to gently promote some of our existing apps.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>3. The British weather is a bit temperamental at the best of times. How did you handle the cold and the rain?</strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">RS:</span> “It was freezing at night! Thankfully I had the use of a <a href="http://www.musucbag.com/en/index.html">Musuc Bag</a>, which kept me relatively warm. I still found it a huge challenge to keep warm at night and it certainly opened my eyes to how hard it is for the homeless.”<br />
<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/image_5.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1806" title="image_5" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/image_5-300x224.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="224" /></a>4. The public response to your experiment seemed pretty positive. Did you meet any interesting characters as a result?</strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">RS:</span> “Yes plenty! The thing with London is it draws in such an international crowd of visitors. I must have spoken to over 2,000 people easily whilst I was in line. I have made some fabulous new friends and made some great new business and media contacts.</p>
<p>The silver-fox UK TV personality Philip Schofield even popped over and said hello! It was a pretty surreal experience to say the least, but old Phil is a top bloke and was really interested in hear about my experiment.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bellydancingbarbie.com/">Belly Dancing Barbie</a> a belly dancer from Edinburgh who even flew down to visit and got me doing some dancing to increase my energy levels.</p>
<p>I even had a supporter of the <a href="http://www.medlmobile.com/appincubator">App Incubator</a> come down and pitch me his idea for his iPhone app! He was so passionate about his idea he left work early to come and see me.&#8221;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>5. You had a lot of wacky ideas for your experiment; I remember discussing the use of gnomes in particular to help generate involvement with the community. Did this work out?</strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">RS:</span> “Unfortunately not. About a week before the experiment took place I distributed them off around London but a lot of them were thrown in the bin by overzealous council workers, who couldn&#8217;t see that it was a bit of fun.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m firmly of the belief that you have to try an idea, and if it doesn&#8217;t work it’s just one of those things. A lot of people doubted me even being able to complete the experiment. I&#8217;m not a person who just talks the talk! I like to execute an idea and if it doesn&#8217;t work out, well, so what? At least I tried and I&#8217;ve learnt something from it.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/image_2.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1808 alignright" title="image_2" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/image_2-300x224.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="224" /></a>6. I understand that you were quite taken back by the homeless situation in London?</strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">RS:</span> “Yes. If I&#8217;m being honest, before I went down to London I used to ignore the homeless people asking me for a bit of loose change. Camping out on the street for so long opened my eyes massively to just how hard it is for these people!</p>
<p>Admittedly I had good quality equipment and was fed by restaurants in the area, but even I found it incredibly tough being outside for so long!</p>
<p>On my first day I met a homeless chap called Terry Partington who had been on the streets for around 3 months. It would be awesome if your readers could follow Terry on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/TerryPartington">Twitter</a>. I was really surprised to see him pull out a Mac Book laptop. He has managed to keep hold of it, and it was his life line to the world he desperately misses.</p>
<p>Just before the end of the experiment I gave him a laptop bag that was donated by one of my sponsors. Terry was just carrying his Mac around in a carrier bag and it would have been heart breaking for the winter rain to have damaged it. I gave a lot of the products I was donated to him and other homeless people I met throughout my 10 night camping experiment.</p>
<p>He is really interested in technology and is looking to study digital imaging to help him get off the streets! I now consider him to be a great new friend. He helped me adjust to life outside with very little sleep and helped me take some photographs and filmed some YouTube videos for my <a href="http://www.robshoesmith.blogspot.com/">blog</a>.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>7. And you&#8217;ve setup a just giving page to help tackle the problem, right?</strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">RS:</span> “Yes I&#8217;ve set up a just giving page to support a homeless shelter. People can donate at the following link:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/iphone5experiment" target="_blank">www.justgiving.com/iphone5experiment</a>”</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/image_6.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-1810" title="image_6" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/image_6-300x224.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="224" /></a>8. Thanks to the mass media coverage, many people in the UK now know your name. What tips would you give to someone thinking of undertaking a similar experiment?</strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">RS:</span> “Go prepared! I thought I was fully prepared by having the support of over 150 companies, and yet I still found the whole experience incredibly tough to get through! The lack of sleep was a killer and I was nearly forced to call it a day through sleep deprivation under a doctor’s advice, so I would highly recommend doing an experiment with a group of people and remember to pack your ear plugs. A supply of energy drinks is also a must!”</p>
<p><strong>9. Now the experiment is over, we&#8217;re all waiting with bated breath. What&#8217;s next?</strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">RS:</span> “I will be jetting off to Dubai on a holiday to unwind, courtesy of flight comparison website <a href="http://www.directflights.com/">Direct Flights</a>. They got in touch on around day 2 and when I was feeling very cold at night I pictured myself on a warm peaceful beach. The holiday on offer definitely helped me get through to the end!</p>
<p>After that&#8230; Who knows! I&#8217;m a person with lots of ideas and I&#8217;m very open to suggestions for new experiments to take part on. As things stand I have around 4 or 5 ideas I&#8217;m seriously thinking about. People can follow and suggest ideas to me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/shoesmith81">Twitter</a>.”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/image_3.jpg"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-1812" title="image_3" src="http://www.techcritic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/image_3-300x224.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="224" /></a>10. Lucky you! Now c&#8217;mon, Rob. Tell us. We&#8217;re all dying to know. Did you have to pay for your iPhone 4S in the end?</strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">RS:</span> “MEDL Mobile the app company I work for were very kind and purchased the new iPhone 4S for me.”</p>
<p><strong>11. Oh, and one last thing. I&#8217;ve just got to ask, how was the bog-in-a-bag to use?</strong></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">RS:</span> “It was pretty good actually! I only had to use it the once. It was around 3:00 AM in the morning and the toilets next to the Apple Store were locked and I had a &#8216;I gotta go&#8217; moment and I hid myself under a wall and did the business. All I can say is that it was pretty grim!”</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>And that&#8217;s it. A big thank-you to Rob for the interview. I, for one, can&#8217;t wait to see what else you&#8217;ve got planned!</p>
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