Content management: rethought
29 June 05
I want to see a new kind of CMS: one that doesn’t have to tie into a huge database and one that’s easily portable onto another server, or backed up static onto a CD.
I’ve looked around but not found one I liked yet, so I decided to make my own. There’s a good possibility (at least at to start with) it will be free to use, so keep checking back, signup to my feed ...or email me to stay in touch.
You can see an early screengrab of the UI to hopefully whet your appetite.
Just showing off really
12 January 05
Two entirely new, major lines of hardware on the same day (the Mac mini and iPod shuffle), updates to seven Apple apps and the announcement of an entirely new one to take on no less than Microsoft Word.
Apple really are just showing off.
I reckon that the Mac mini is Steve Jobs (Apple CEO) trying his hand again at the commercially failed G4 Cube. In fact this is his third attempt at a box-shaped-computer, his first being the now ancient NeXT cube, created in his years away from apple.
Pictures
The man is obsessed with squares! And I quote: (from Wikipedia)
Oh well.... third time lucky?Stories about Jobs' demands for the [NeXT computer] factory and the cube are now legend, including the re-painting of the factory several times in order to get just the right shade of grey, and the institution of a series of time consuming changes to the production line so that the cube's expensive magnesium case would have perfect right-angle edges.
brits.co.uk 2005 #
3 January 05
Just launched another BRIT Awards website. I’ve been quite busy with this one for a fair while now. This is my fifth to date, this one being particulraly cool as it’s an entirely CSS layout with not one table in sight. Also it force-feeds IE pngs with graded alpha-transparency. PNGs normally have this anyway but good old IE manages to screw this up unless you jump through hoops to stop it doing so.
This useful article at a list apart was one of the better resources I found, however I ended up with my own variation on their theme.
All this just for neat rounded corners!
New Imogen Heap solo album and pre-release track
19 December 04
Continuing with the BRIT School theme, I today purchased a pre-release track from Imogen Heap's forthcoming album. She too is a former student, who I've run into on two occasions quite randomly...
First some background... soon after BRIT School she began a record contract with Almo Sounds (Garbage's label) and in mid 1998 released I Megaphone.
Coincidentally I won a copy of this album in a raffle at a showcase night in North London - bizarrely that event had nothing to do with her, the BRIT School, or me (other than my being there). Imogen was the first ex-BRIT School student to attain any serious commercial success and in my first year there, posters advertising I Megaphone, were all around the foyer and music department, thus how I found out about her.
The album was good but sadly didn't fair too well commercially.
Then in early 2000 I went to a Camden Falcon gig to watch two ex-BRITs bands: Horn a fantastic pop/funk outfit; and Lights, who had just been signed to Sony and who's drummer was in my class. Between acts I found myself sat on on a pool table, pint in hand, alongside Nick Sanett (a great musician and friend of mine to this day). Amidst conversation I noticed a girl behind Nick, sat alone, day-dreaming and staring out into the crowded bar. I thought I knew the face and asked if she was a certain Miss Heap, having recognised her from the old BRIT School posters. The ensuing banter revealed her indeed to be Imogen (she prefers Immi), and given it was nearly two years after the release of her not-so-successful album, I think she was a bit chuffed to have been recognised.
From what I could gauge from our conversation, this was a pretty low point for her. I'd asked if she was working on new material and she answered indirectly mentioning not even being able to pay her bassist, whom she said was stood at the bar (note to self: other bassists expect payment!). I also mentioned that I thought I'd recognised her whilst watching Glastonbury 1999 on TV, although she'd not been credited. It turned out she had been there as a guest vocalist for Urban Species on the Jazz World Stage. Anyway, so that was the first time we met.
Then nothing - for ages (off the radar as they say)...
...until mid 2002 when Frou Frou: Details was released on Universal. A fantastic album. Immi was half of Frou Frou, the other half being Guy Sigsworth, a great producer who'd worked in part on I Megaphone. Guy came to fame alongside Talvin Singh working with Björk's on her initial solo album.
This album was great, but sadly in the UK again didn't fair so well; though I hear the stateside response was a lot more positive.
Taken from The Dumbing Down Of Love - Frou Frou: Details More coincidences: an ex-next-door-neighbour and close family friend, Phil Lawrence, was actually at Uni with Guy. Apparently Guy wrote and recorded some music to accompany a film that Phil put together for the course. Also for what it's worth both Immi and I were featured in the 2003 BRIT Awards official magazine, both as previous BRIT School students who were now in the industry. Then nothing - for ages (again)...Music is worthless unless it can,
make a complete stranger,
break down and cry.
...until earlier this year (2004) when I was at the launch of iTunes UK, France and Germany taking photos. For a second time I ran into the songstress and proceeded to ask of her creativity's current whereabouts. It was then I learned of her new (present) solo album, over a year's solid work, all self-financed by her re-mortgaging her flat ...you've got to take her seriously. I even invited her to a Mandala gig, looking at the dates it would have been at the The Betsey Trotwood, our first ever gig with me using the laptop! Anyhow she didn't come - tut :) ...so that was the second random path-crossing.
All in all a lot of random coincidences - but what do they mean?
Conjecture... it would seem, going by the patterns of yore, things don't look too good for this record commercially. If there is a space-time recursion emerging, the new album (which is yet to find a label) will probably do okay and then I'll randomly run into Immi in about two years time when she'll be working on her album no.4, possibly back with Guy in Frou Frou!
I hope this doesn't happen (tho I would like to meet her again).
This third time around I hope Immi's über-intricate production style and emotive, quirky songwriting, finally get her the kind of acclaim she deserves.
Jamie Woon #
18 December 04
I recently played at the Marquee (now in Leicester Square) and ran into a old acquaintance from my BRIT School days. I'd always been partial to his songwriting and was interested to hear he's now running an acoustic night in London.
Anyhow I was more interested to hear that he's still songwriting and discovered he has a website and some songs available for download. Robots is a track I already knew and had always thought was pretty infectious but having heard it again I can't seem to eradicate it from my cerebrum - I recommend a listen.
Jamie Woon musicRobots - a beautiful, pining track, fantastic chords.
Cold Steel - a track recorded in 2000 at the aforementioned BRIT School, great guitar work.