Gmail Gets Themes
Posted by Ronan | Filed under customize google, technology, web 2.0
Finally.. Gmail gets themes.
Shiny new themes that don’t kill Gmail - like stylish.
Log into gmail and Click Settings.. there you will find Themes - pick your favourite (shiny is my current fav). I’m sure it won’t be long until the user community can contribute and add new themes.
Thank you Gmail
Progress - Irish Rail style
Posted by Ronan | Filed under random
What is progress ? Well according to the dictionary:
Movement, as toward a goal; advance.
That sounds great but the definition doesn’t give any inkling on how to measure the rate of progress. I found the above image as way of measuring progress (as an engineer I’m all about measuring and calculating) but I’m finding that actually measuring progress is a very hard thing todo, especially when other parties are part of achieving the Attainable Goal. I’m at step 1 sometimes Step 2. I think Irish Rail said it best - ”We’re not there yet but we’re getting there”.
Tags: random
EnterpriseStart program (week 4)
Posted by Ronan | Filed under ireland, startup
This weekend was a change from the other weekends - more focused on IP and management. Michael Weldon, a patent agent, came to talk to us about protecting our ideas. He comprehensively covered the pros and cons of patents. He has a really good slide explaining the timeline of the patent process; from priority dates, to pct, to final submission.
Stephen Hughes from Enterprise Ireland came in and spoke about preparing for the European market. He dealt with preparation need in meeting potential customers (home and abroad) and described some very simple steps to ensure a successful meeting:
o Research to know your customer’s business and industry issues
o Bring appropriately tailored presentation and materials – minimise Power-point
o Know who you are meeting – and what they do
o Check time and location of the meeting
o Clarify expectations ahead of the meeting
o Demonstrate client references and domain expertise
o Send an agenda
Most of which is common sense, but still you could overlook these
For the meeting itself
o Understand what your expectations are from the meeting
o Agree with your own colleagues objectives and structure
o Listen before you ask questions
o Offer solutions
o Don’t leave without agreeing next steps/action points for both parties
o Agree time scales (and keep to them)
The other thing he stressed is “Do research!” I couldn’t agree with him more on this. If we look at the mobile sector it’s clear where you should target first and where you should leave alone. For example, Italy has one of the highest mobile penetration, whereas France is one of the lowest!
Naomi Birdthistle from UL came to talk about Managing a Start Up and Ethics - it was interesting but I didn’t take too much away from it - this partly my fault - I was suffering from a bit of flu and not feeling the best. The UL theme continued with Tara Dalton from Stokes Bio came in to tell the story of how Stokes Bio was conceived and spun out of the University. What a story and so close to home.. Well done to all involved. We can only hope for similar success.
Tags: Enterprise Ireland, EnterpriseStart, IP
Something Funny with Digiwebs Latest ‘Offer’
Posted by Ronan | Filed under broadband, concern, ireland
When the tags ‘Great News’ and ‘Christmas has come early’ are used in an email from your broadband provider you think… well this must be some fantastic news, something to get excited about !
If you are with Digiweb and using the Metro service you’d be wrong. Here is the advert
The package I was on was 35 yoyos a month for 6Mb, 30gig cap (which is reasonably priced - except for the cap, which sucks). So the advertisement leads me to believe I’m being upgraded to 8Mb (but with the 30gig cap).. yahoo! BUT WAIT! I read the small print - I have to pay an extra 5 euros for this.
If I continue paying the same price, 35 euros, my equivalent package is DOWNGRADED to 5Mb with a 20gig cap. - so how is my current Metro Broadband “got faster”?
Digiweb, you’ve been great - I’ve even blogged how great you were in the past - but this is pushing me to change as soon as I can.
I am not alone on this either.
Tags: broadband, digiweb, shame on digiweb
Irish Software Awards 2008
Posted by Ronan | Filed under awards, innovation, ireland, news, software, startup
I was at the Irish Software Awards yesterday evening. I didn’t think I’d be attending for a couple of years but when Enterprise Ireland kindly invited, I couldn’t say no. I met quite a few CEO’s, developers, VC’s, startups, spinouts, Angels and other well connected people. It was a surreal experience - completely different to academic conference meet-ups. I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it!
The big winner was Changing Worlds - it’s been a great week for them!
Feeling really tired after a hectic 3 days - Thank God for weekends!
Tags: changing worlds, irish software awards
Microsoft BizSpark
Posted by Ronan | Filed under innovation, ireland, software, startup, technology, windows
Finally Microsoft has come up with something useful for cash strapped startups - BizSpark.
I attended the Digital Media Island meetup last Thursday were Microsoft launched it - it looks pretty cool.
Microsoft® BizSpark™ is a global program designed to help accelerate the success of early stage startups by providing key resources when they need it the most:
- Software. Receive fast and easy access to current full-featured Microsoft development tools, platform technologies, and production licenses of server products for immediate use in developing and bringing to market innovative and interoperable solutions. There is no upfront cost to enroll.
- Support. Get connected to Network Partners around the world — incubators, investors, advisors, government agencies and hosters — that are equally involved and vested in software-fueled innovation and entrepreneurship who will provide a wide range of support resources.
Visibility. Achieve global visibility to an audience of potential investors, clients and partners
As a Microsoft BizSpark member, you’ll be tapping into a rich, vibrant ecosystem of peers, partners and support resources around the globe, helping you grow and succeed. Microsoft BizSpark is the quickest way to get your Startup fired up.
You just need to prove you are a startup ( Get EI, University etc.) and get a load of stuff for free (except you have to pay $100 on exit).
Get the guide here for more info.
Well done Microsoft. ( It’s not often I say that )
Tags: BizSpark, Digital Media Island, Microsoft
EnterpriseStart program (week 2)
Posted by Ronan | Filed under Uncategorized, startup
Eamon Ryan from Practical Business Solutions (PBS) came in to talk to us on Friday Night. His presentation was really good and highlighted some of the key things that makes a successful business plan (and ultimately a successful business) . What’s been hammered home is the number 1 asset in the company is YOU! What I took away from his presentation were
Distinguish your product, do the market research, see what’s out there and identify their strengths and weaknesses.
Understand your Value Proposition - What do you offer, what is the real benefit and what pain does it address for your customer. What is your competitive advantage?
When trying to sell something to a customer - do your homework, research the company, understand their product and try understand where their pain comes from. You’ll probably have to look beyond their technology/services to find their real pain. Understand and the customer is Key.
The second half of his presentation was on the business plan. The business plan is not just for the bank manager/EI/VC it’s for you.. A business plan that will help you get to where you end up (not necessarily where you intend to go). It should be based around your Value proposition.
Austin Ryan from AMCS came in at 9ish to talk about his company - wow - what a story. Established in 2003, now employees 45 and with a turnover of 5.1M euros. I liked his presentation on a couple of levels.
- Technology. They use loads of different technology, RFID, GPS, GSM, GIS, SQL etc etc. I understood exactly what they used, how it works and how it connects together. The technologist side of my brain was satisfied however I was here for business so my business (small but growing) part of the brain was curious.
- Business. They looked past all the technology and placed themselves as the one-stop-shop solution provider. Whatever the customer wanted - they got. AMCS heal pain for their customers and their customers make more money in a monitored efficient way. Win-Win.
Saturday - Alan Carey from Carey and Associates (business consultants) came in and talked to us on the legal aspects of setting up a business. Basically there are 100 and 1 legal aspects to consider when running a business, if you handled them all at the one time your brain will fry and you’ll lose the will to get out of bed in the morning. But different legal things kick in at different times: pre-startup, startup and when your up and running (contracts, t&c’s payments etc.) If you prioritise, but yet keep the other 100 things in mind, and systematically go through them they won’t seem so daunting.
Shane McAllister from Mobanode came to talk about his experience for the past year of being a business. The presentation was slick and he communicated his product/idea very clearly. He knows what Mobanode is able to offer and to whom. I think the presentation wrapped up the weekends other set of presentations (even though it was a last minute thing for him). Shane has done tremendously in the past year - he is generating revenue, he had some of the sales with events last year and is looking to get more. It’s something to aspire to.
Unfortunately I won’t be able to make next weeks presentation - as I am attending the Irish Software Association Awards where there will loads of companies to meet. So the next round up will be from sides.
Tags: AMCS, Carey and Associates, EnterpriseStart, Mobanode, PBS, Practical Business Solutions
undercover work over for a year
Posted by Ronan | Filed under random
I didn’t get a costume for the Halloween party last night so instead I wore slightly quirky clothes (odd jacket and a t-shirt with a turtle humping a hamburger ) and a badge. When people were asked me what I came as .. I flashed the badge..
Undercover Pries
Tags: badge, Halloween 08, undercover
in darkness - let there be light
Posted by Ronan | Filed under innovation, random, technology
wow - the hour goes back and BAM it’s dark at 5.30! I cycle a lot and past experience tells me - darkness and cyclists doesn’t go hand in hand. In fact cyclists and traffic, regardless of light conditions, are locked in a never ending war. Often the cyclists win the battle by scooting past traffic and jumping lights, other times traffic wins, like the occasion last Friday when a white van trying to pass a car turning right squeezes me into the curb and knocking me off.
So what can we cyclist do to be more visible? Well wearing bright luminous jackets with reflectors is a start, having lights is also a must, but there is something missing that will make drivers notice you and give you the space you have the right to occupy. I started searching around the various sites for the answer (secretly hoping not to find it). I’ve found it here at the James Dyson Award. Reactiv by an innovator Michael Chen.
The jacket uses an accelerometer that senses movement to change the colour of the LEDs in the back from green (accelerating) to red (braking). It has amber LEDs in the arms which are activated by a tilt switch behind the elbow. These light up when the arm is lifted, indicating the cyclist is about to turn.
It should be for sale by Christmas .. if you come across it - please let me know!
Tags: cool, cycling, darkness, dyson, innovation, reactiv
EnterpriseStart program (week 1)
Posted by Ronan | Filed under startup, technology
Over the next 6 weeks I’m going to blog my experience of the EnterpriseSTART programme run in LIT. Well week one is over and here is a brief summary.
Donncha Hughes introduced the program, the EAC and what we should expect to have at the end of the course. After the introduction we did a short exercise - explain your idea to your neighbour and get them to share it with the group. This really makes you focus on what you have and how to communicate it effectively .. i.e. it ensures you have a good pitch that other people can understand in 30 seconds.
Jerry Moloney from Enterprise Ireland gave a talk about EI in the Shannon area and how it funds entrepreneurs - ok - so I’ve seen/heard this presentation in various forms and with having quite a bit of interaction with EI in the past year there wasn’t much new material here (for me anyway). For others I’d say it was a valuable presentation.
Our TTO kept asking us - who is your team? who would you like to have onboard? At first we thought we could do this by ourselves and dismissed the question on occasions. Over time it became clear we couldn’t do it alone and so we started to identify our weakness and find someone to fix it. Graham Royce gave a good presentation on the entrepreneur and re-iterated this sentiment with a really good example. Sir Fredrick Henry Royce. Royce was an engineer with an idea to make cars (better). He teamed up with Rolls, a guy with loads of money, and Claremont who was the business brains behind what became the luxury car manufacturer Rolls-Royce. Royce couldn’t have done it alone - he needed people around him to make his idea into a commercial one. It made me think - does the combination of money, business and engineers make a winning team ? I hope so.
The presentations from Gramham on the competitive advantage and opportunity really struck a chord, especially after a conversation I had with Shane from Mobanode (a cool company based in the Enterprise Acceleration Center) this week (more on that conversation at a later stage). Opportunity is everywhere and comes in many different guises - you just have to look and grasp it. If you take an opportunity and your fortunate to get your company up and running - maintaining advantage is a never ending process - one of many processes that entrepreneurs must do concurrently.
The day was wrapped up with an interesting case study presented by Brian Kelly from Calibration Technology.
To be honest, I was a little unsure what to expect, who I’d meet and what I’d take away from the EnterpriseStart program and yes it’s only week one but I’m looking forward to week2. The program has even turned up a couple of interesting people that could utilise/complement our technology.
Tags: EnterpriseStart
