The Dropp

Even Apple Uses Microsoft

Ross — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 16:46:29 +0000

Turns out that on the day that Steve Jobs makes the news for talking about all the bad points to do with it’s competitors some staff are still in preference to using Microsoft Word to do their quotes on. I guess Apple Ink just doesn’t cut the mustard for some…even if they’re Apple’s advocates. I still love Apple though.

Apple Also Uses Microsoft

Where does the check in end?

Ross — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:50:46 +0000

There’s been a lot of discussions of late about Facebook Places and if it’s going to be the Foursquare and/or Gowalla killer. Well with new start-ups like GetGlue are we soon to be drowned in check in hell?

I’ve played around with Foursquare, and when I remember to do so, often check in. I’ve also started to use GetGlue and can see a real benefit in both for Businesses looking to engage with potential customers. But is the danger that it develops into a saturated market where the noise of advertising and getting your business noticed through clever and eventful campaigns means that they becomes yet another stale means of modern advertising? What will be the next new phase? Will it be having your heart rate, breaths per minute and blood pressure tracked and put of whatever the next phase of social media becomes.

We all remember the story of a Woman from Georgia being tracked down by a journalist based on her search terms. How will this translate when you’re whole social media interaction starts to be centred around Facebook. From my user account people can currently tell: What I did on the weekend (Facebook); How I slept last night (Sleep Cycle); Where I am and have been (Foursquare); What I’m watching, listening to, eating, thinking (GetGlue); How far I’ve run and for how quickly (RunKeeper Pro).

Time obviously will tell who will emerge the victor when all is said and done. I mean who would of seen Facebook coming out the water when MySpace was first launched. Surely it all started with Friends Reunited?

Well I guess social media is a modern version of the music genre where fashions come and go, styles and attitudes can live on forever, and from one will always come another. We have a clan mentality and will always align ourselves with something that we feel represents ‘our’ brand. I guess for the moment 500 million people feel that’s Facebook.

I guess the bravest thing to do would be to check out of social media…but were would the fun be in that.

We’re wanting people to get involved (aka We’re Hiring Developers)

james — Thu, 20 May 2010 16:41:26 +0000

Hello fellow creative types.

We’re currently looking for some talented individuals to come and join our band of merry men.

Were in the market for a middleweight, all rounder who already knows their stuff.

The following are a must!

Python
A strong knowledge of Django
MySQL
Git / Subversion
HTML / CSS
Javascript and jQuery
Experience in a Linux environment and comfortable in the shell.
Basic Photoshop
Basic Flash

Desirable but not essential

Know how to deploy Django in a fastcgi environment (with either Lighttpd or Nginx)
Experience with VPS’s
Fabric
Postgres
GeoDjango
Actionscript 2/3
PHP

If you fit the bill then please get in touch. We have a number of very creative projects over the next 6 months and need people to come and get involved with the development of them.

Oh yeah…and we’re offering between £25K to £35K depending on experience.

Great new game on YouTube

Ross — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:58:09 +0000

There’s quite a new and interesting way to pass the lunch time using Google’s new Transcribe Audio tools on YouTube. Just watch a video clip and turn it on and see the hilarious version of the speech that it thinks is being spoken.

To active roll over the CC (Closed Caption) option in the bottom right corner of the player and choose ‘Transcribe Audio’! Winner….

Not what was said!!!

Surgical Precision

Ross — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:17:02 +0000

Following on from the health concious tip we have recently finished out latest Flash website for US company Lee | Stafford. We were asked to come up with a groundbreaking design concept to help them position themselves as a market leader in medical marketing and communications.

Using the Double Helix of DNA as a design element throughout the site we built an enaging interface using Flash’s new 3D funtionility. Pulling in social media content from the likes of Twitter and Flickr to create a personable experience and insight into the company.

New CS5 UI

Ross — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:50:58 +0000

Well wouldn’t it be nice if you could skin your Photoshop UI. Here’s an amazing example of one that I would love to use. You wont believe how it was done. Click here to see the making of

Shhhh. Time for Tea

Ross — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 09:44:04 +0000

We’ve been a little quiet on the blog front of late. That’s because we’ve been all in a state of slumber while working on our dreamy latest Flash project which has just gone live. Make a cup of tea, sit back, explore, and relax. All the beautiful illustration was done by McFaul Studio.

http://www.silencetea.com/

Inspiring Projects in Computer Arts Project

Ross — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:45:50 +0000

We’ve made it into the latest edition of Computer Arts Project (issue 125). Be sure to grab a copy and check it how we wreck it. Yes my little bambino.

Vodaphone Taxi GP

Ross — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:45:22 +0000

What a great idea for an online game, with real life data, utilising social media in an engaging and innovative way That’s a podium finish for Vodaphone for this one.

http://taxigp.vodafone.co.uk/

WWDC 2009

Ross — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:25:22 +0000

With hopefully a whole host of exciting news being announced today at Apple’s Keynote speech. Items expected to be launched include the new iPhone as well as Snow Leopard OS X.

The speech starts at 6pm UK time and can be followed here

http://bit.ly/ifqJP