Got Net?

Over at Frame Digital we've been working on a new tool to create embeddable google maps using photos from Flickr users. Its one of those often touted mashups, its designed to be easy to use and we hope it will be useful for people who can't create these sort of things themselves. Its got loads of features, such as multiple map creation (registration required) custom photo dimensions, color palettes, map size, the list goes on.

There's a few tools out there that already do this sort of thing such as mapbuilder.net and MyPicsMap, but we think MapFlickr has some different features that make it stand out. If you want to see more Google map toys, Mashable has a great list.

The best way to understand it is to use it, head over to imapflickr.com and have a play. Just remember, your photos need to have geolocation information added to them before it will work!

My company blog finally went live the other day, with various articles I've written. There's a bunch of techie stuff on there as well as some more corporate information about what we've been working on.

A couple that I wrote:

C# and Flickr API integration
Code examples and a demo showing how to authenticate with the Flickr API using C#.

Using CSS sprites
Javascript-based rollovers are dead - CSS sprites are much nicer - good read it and find out why.

Hopefully somebody will find them useful
 

Calling technical support lines and being vaguely technically minded can be a bit of a head-smashing-against-the-wall-exercise at times. Calling a tech support line and having to spend a hour while the guy on the helldesk steps you through whatever script prompt comes up on his screen "is your computer/router/toaster turned on? Can you see anything on the screen/LEDs/wall?" Etc etc" can be infuriating. Its even more of a pain if you have a pretty good idea what the problem is, but can't fix it yourself and just need somebody at the other end to press a reset button somewhere.

My personal favourite is pressing buttons on an automated telephone menu system for 10 minutes, only to get through to a completely random department and having to painstakingly explain my problem in broken English to somebody on the otherside of the world working on an outsourced helpline in Wonga-wonga land. Not that I've got a problem with Wonga-Wonga land or anybody that lives there. I might even visit it sometime.

Scott Hanselman has come up with a solution - Fizzbin (read the full article here). A secret codeword between support helplines and customers that skips the first hour of nonsense and gets straight to business. This sounds like a great idea (probably more so because I just like silly sounding words)The next time I call a support line I'm hoping the conversation will go something like this:

Tech: What's the problem?

Me: My computer won't start, but I think I know wha..

[interrupted by Tech at this point, impatient sigh from me]

Tech: Ok, can I check your computer is on, and you can see something on the screen?

Me: Sure, my computer is on, it says "Fizzbin" on the screen

Tech: [perking up a bit ]Oh, ok. Whats the problem?

Me: Can't be sure, but I can only see my system drive, and the second hard drive isn't showing, I had poke around, and I think the drive is screwed, its been playing up recently

Tech: No probs, you are probably right, we'll send you a spare, and a free mousemat just for kicks.

Me: Cool, thanks for that. Fizzbin.

Tech: Fizzbin. (hangs up)

Occasionally if my internet or TV at home screws up I have to call the Sky support line, who are usually pretty on the ball and I think would enjoy skipping the basics and heading straight for problem. Compared to calling a Dell support drone they are a breath of fresh air. Bring on the Fizzbin experiments. :)