Right. I’m supposed to write down some fancy news and that, aren’t I?
Are you sure? I mean it’s such a nice day and everything, and we could just go down the pub together and talk about Bakewell Tart recipes?
Any takers?
Fine. Suit yourself. Suppose I’ll get on with it then.
*sulks*
PLANES. NEEEEEEEEEE-OWWWWWW (AND SO ON)
It’s the 25th Sunderland International Airshow from today, and that means lots of people craning their necks up to the sky to view fast-moving aircraft. Let’s face it, if you’re there, your camera will probably be jammed up against your face all day, so why not share a few pics with the rest of the class?
Events organisation Sunderland Live has knocked its head together with sharing app Spontly to create the Sunderland Live app. Basically, the app enables visitors to check into events such as the airshow, invite friends, take pictures, fiddle with the filters and share them with other users. This’ll be the first big test of the app for Sunderland Live, who hope it’ll give people the chance to see events from all sorts of different angles.
It’s free to download, so pop over to iTunes and try it out if you’re heading over to the event.
YOU CAN’T LEAVE. SHE WON’T LET YOU
Interesting news from the vast dandruffy carpet of space now. Allow your mind to drift back beyond breakfast to the heady days of February, when dinosaurs roamed the earth and our ancestors were hugely excited about the Harlem Shake.
In this month, a smartphone-powered satellite called The STRaND-1 nanosatellite was launched into orbit. The nanosatellite was developed by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd and the University of Surrey’s Surrey Space Centre, and carried an 36-degree Android camera app developed by Gateshead’s Barry Gee. What pictures would it take? Would a smartphone-type device be able to withstand the tantrums of space?
All this was very exciting.
On March 30, however, the nanosat stopped transmitting.
Bah.
Ah, but here’s the twist in the tale. This week, signals from the satellite popped up again after nearly four months. The team will now run diagnostics and set about trying out some of the apps on board, but questions remain:
Did it go under a particularly long bridge?
Did it get accidentally logged onto BTOpenZone wifi with no one about to grumpily turn it back onto 3G?
Did it blow all its data allowance refreshing Twitter for updates on the cricket?
Of course, there’s a far more reasonable explanation. It’s clearly been whooshed into an alternate dimension of evil, only to return sentient and brimming with malignant visions and horrors. In which case, it’s absolutely essential that the project team keep Sam Neill the hell away from that thing. He’s nothing but trouble…
WE LOVE SCIENCE
Well, this is all very exciting. It’s actually only a few weeks until the British Science Festival unloads its van of discovery in Newcastle, and there’s going to be cool stuff for all sorts of folks to see and play with. The event itself runs from September 7 to 12, and it’ll feature eye-popping wonders on subjects ranging from stomach acid to dinosaurs, surgery, satellites, sports and even comic books.
For a full run down of the programme for the event, wander over here to gaze longingly at the pdf.
GO GO GO GO GO
News of re-brand for Ignite100 alumnus and Pinterest supercharging platform Pinster, which is now known as GoPixel. Pinster was the brainchild of Aamer Abbas and Peter Chang, who came over from Seattle to push the startup through the Newcastle accelerator. Here’s a quick chat with Peter that appeared on Betarocket last year.
Now, there’s already a GoPixel out there (it’s a web design firm in Colorado), so there’ll be a bit of a search engine battle on there. But “The Startup Formerly Known As Pinster” has also unveiled a few new features, including the ability to run campaigns through the platform, to pin from any device and to get more stats.
You can find out a bit more about the re-branded company (and its 30-day free premium trial) on its site.
SUMMER BEERS
All the early bird tickets have been sold out already (ha), but you can still get hold of the regular tickets for the Startup (Summer) Beers event at the Tyne Bar on August 22. For those who haven’t been to a previous event, it’s the opportunity to talk (and drink) with people involved with startups in the area, forge new relationships, and clean out the bar until heading out for a kebab starts looking like an acceptable option.
There will be a barbecue laid on by Ignite100, and Sendgrid are putting in some cash for drinks. Get over here sharpish and book your place.
ON BETAROCKET
Do you want people to be able to find your Twitter account or website by just taking a pic of your face? Ground Six has created facial recognition networking app Faceifi (Could Your Face Be Your Business Card?)
BLOGPOSTS THAT ROCK
Here’s why you should have a nap every day to make yourself a better person. Yes, there’s research there beyond “It’s TOOOOO WAAAAARM” (How Naps Affect Your Brain and Why You Should Have One Every Day)
Here’s something on how artists find inspiration, and how you might be able to trick your brain into working like it bloody well should have been three hours ago (How Masters Turn Stalemates into Creative Breakthroughs)
Intriguing. Erica Sandbothe has written a book for children aged 10+ which turns programming into some sort of wizardy fantasy novel. Follow the journey of Tagg as she seeks to become a Codecrafter and learn magical things (Programming is Magic Spells)
Creative Boom did a bit of a round-up of Newcastle as a digital and startup spot, and we got a mention because we left £3bn in unmarked notes in a secret spot next to the Cash Converters. Bargain, right? (Creative Cities: Newcastle-upon-Tyne)
I’d not really heard about the concept of “microaggression”, but I guess part of it is covered by the phrase: “My boss is an overbearing tossbag”. There’s a bit more detail in this article by Shanley (Micro-aggression and management)
HEY YOU…
Check out the latest technology events in the North East by dashing off to Tech Diary. NOW.
Remember, you can share your own news or list your event by emailing john@betarocket.co.uk. Why does it smell of antelope in here?
Headline pic by Kanu101, used under Creative Commons