There’s a few kinks I have iron out, as the design was done on an old version of WordPress and moving it borked a few things. Perhaps I’ll take time out to overhaul it completely at some point… I think I have a couple of hours free in September, according to the diary.

If you tried to email me yesterday and got bounced, it’s because the server switch took a bit longer than expected. I’m still here. Honest.

The random thought for today is about online video. It’s been around for ages, obviously, but I’ve never been a fan. I can count the number of times I’ve visited YouTube’s homepage, rather than just following a link, on one hand, and have always been deeply skeptical of friends who go off to set up online video channels. I was sort of involved with one a couple of years back, and rapidly lost interest – what was the point with no viewers?

I’ve just finished doing a video feature for PC Gamer‘s next issue, though, which I’m quietly hoping makes it to the website too. And I know that the next chance we have to get a major traffic spike at LearnAsOne will be when Nerys and Steve start uploading video. I’m really excited about the fact that Response Network has the Flip which was donated to LearnAsOne, so that they’ll be able to film George’s reaction to the first cheque that gets sent over.

Which means that somehow, without me noticing, online video clips have become quite important to me. To the point that I’m noticing their absence from sites I write for like TechRadar. And I think it’s because of Twitter. Being constantly alerted to videos that might actually interest me – like Linsey’s preview of the HTC Hero this morning – is very different to the spammish emailing of comedy clips, which was all that ever seemed to arrive by email. Perhaps I’m just late to the party, and everyone else knew this before, but suddenly I’m very interested in online video reporting and want to do more of it.

Of course, there are some rules that sites posting videos should stick to (and many don’t). Like being able to embed their video files when linking to them. The fact many don’t is why there aren’t more examples of good videos in this post, and the opening HTC Hero vid is from a site I don’t work for, rather than one I do.

Do you still need the big one?

So I went ahead and got me an iPhone. And I’m just childish enough to want to test out the blogging software for it. Pretty good actually, even if I am still having a few problems with the keyboard. You can’t tell, because the auto correct is doing a fine job, although it gets confused if you put in one too many characters.

Never quite realised what I was missing with the App Store either. It really is more than just a novelty isn’t it?

–Update–

Right, now I’m writing from a proper keyboard (well, the Eee901 anyway) here’s some more random thoughts…

- Big downside is that now I need my netbook to be as fast and responsive, or else I’ll just stop using it. And that doesn’t make sense because the iPhone isn’t good for writing more than 140 characters at a time.

- Slightly concerned that without MobileMe I appear to have no security. All my passwords for Twitter, Facebook, this blog and more are saved into apps and autostart, but setting a PIN unlock is impracticable since the phone shuts itself off every 30 seconds, and remote wipe isn’t available unless you sub for MM.

- Related point, the battery life is crap.

- Switching to landscape view is inconsistent and occassionally doesn’t work where it should. why can’t I flip the screen for comfort when browsing the app store?

- Having problems with pairing my bluetooth headset, and it’s still too big for a phone…

But really, these are all very minor concerns compared to everything that’s good about it. I don’t use a Mac or iTunes, so will need to figure out a hack for getting music on there without going through VMware every time, but the speed and cleverness of switching to the screen you want to be on is brilliant. But there’s enough written about how good it is elsewhere, and it’s all pretty much true.

I can well believe it, having seen the state of small print magazines these days and the general trend for larger presses and newspapers to lay off staff in favour of freelances. What the report doesn’t mention, though, is average rates paid for freelance work – there’s lots of anecodotal evidence that these are falling through the floor (I’ve had to compromise with a couple of regular outlets recently). More work for freelances doesn’t necessarily mean there’s any more chance of making a living wage at it.

Cretalia, in the jacket, Bernard and their sister. Whose name I missed.

Lovely night last night at Ross Atherton’s (editor of PC Gamer) leaving party. He’s off to do exciting things in Paris. As it was also the first time I’d met up with Bath people since getting back from Zambia, obviously there were lots of questions about how it all went. Mostly the evening was spent deflecting questions – I won’t feel proud of the trip until we’ve actually raised some serious cash – but it did make me think of this story from the Economist, which I read while overseas.

The premise is that living overseas enhances your creativity. Sounds like a romantic notion cultivated by want-to-be Hemmingways, but psychologists reckon they’ve found a link. It’s a couple of weeks old now, as a story, and I only mention it because it’s rung very true for me this week.

I’ve written a lot since I got back – mostly laptop reviews for Stuff and finishing off bits and bobs for Gamer. (An aside – The Samsung X360 is awesome, by the way, although I don’t think I’ll be trading in my Eee 901 for anything else any time soon after its performance in Africa.) I’ve not had any time to work more on the LAO blog, or post much here. The thing is, while we were in Zambia, I couldn’t stop writing – I was exercising all kinds of journalistic skills that have lain dormant for a while and really enjoying work again. There are even – heaven forbid – a few short stories plotted out among my notes.

Now there’s a real danger of falling back into the same old routines again – working to deadlines, only writing for money, feeling exhausted because of the enforced early mornings which having a three year old daughter brings. This must be avoided at all costs – but it feels strangely hard.

One of Brendas stunning images from Simakakata

So, two new targets are set. First up, I need to help Steve actually gain some profile for LearnAsOne and raise the money we need to build the school in Simakakata. Secondly, I need to find a job overseas. I don’t think I’ll ever move as a freelance, it’s just too much of a risk.

Ironically, I use Plus.net as my host simply because the space comes free with their broadband package. One of their team actually created the Flickr Thumbnail Photostream widget which I’m using, and yet no-where in the release notes or forum advice does it mention you have to turn SSL on in their plesk control panel to make it work on a blog they host.

Still, all’s well that ends well. There’s a good walkthrough for using most of it here.