Knights Highlights

Jul 30 2012

Knights Highlights – July 2012

This is the last month I’m writing for Rare Breed Digital and Data Scout. Due to moving house & other commitments I’m toning down the throttle on my freelance career – for a while at least!

A Question of Cool

Coolness is now a commodity…

A New Job Description

How the race to the bottom has caused garage developers to take on new roles

Friend FRAUD

The problem undermining Facebook’s business model.

Look to Last Place

How last place can sometimes tell you more than than field leaders

Olympic Special

Considering everyone else is going Olympic crazy it seems pertinent to join them!

What would you do for a recommendation?

Just how do stores like iTunes, Google Play and Xbox live show you content that’s relevant to you?

Tagged Andrew J Knight, Data Scout, Rare Breed Digital

Jul 02 2012

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Knights Highlights

Knights Highlights – June 2012

All the Power in the World

What supercomputers truly mean for the future

Integration

A funky little picture explaining one element of Data Scouts offering

Mobile Application Development is a bit like… Football!

With the Euro’s happening I couldn’t not write a subject crossover, could I?

Ninten-do’h!

The impact (or lack thereof) of the indescribable Wii U at E3.

Supply and Demand

How the lack of supply constraints is leading to a race-to-the-bottom approach to mobile application pricing

The Third Way

Microsoft finally come neck-and-neck with Apple

The Invention of Innovation

More effort for less gains, the true story behind spiralling patents.

The Ultimate App for Stress Relief

In a busy week for tech news who is it that comes out on top? The University of Portsmouth of course…

Tomorrow’s World pt 1

Data Scout have a go at futurology

Tagged Andrew J Knight, Data Scout, Rare Breed Digital

Jun 01 2012

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Knights Highlights

Knights Highlights – May 2012

A welcome restriction?

Realms of the Haunting and a fearful young child.

Beyond SOQL and SOSL

Data Scout add their Fuzzy algorithm into their spring launch for developers to play with as they please.

Customer Focused

I’m not Raluca Cherciu, but I did receive that call…

Data Drain

Tu-me, tu-you.

Data Management in the Cloud

Data Scout discuss cloud based Data management.

Freedom to be exploited?

The sister article to ‘A welcome restriction?’ discussing just who has control of your digital life.

Information Governance

Data Scout share some top-tips for Information Governance for Salesforce.com

Rise and Fall

How the building of ‘freedom tower’ and the conviction of a terrorist is linked to random chat apps

Taking data plans from vision to value

Data Scout explain why businesses need master data plans!

That’s the way the cookie crumbles

Monstrous cookie laws are introduced to an industry that takes a blind eye.

The China Syndrome

A question most western companies will have to ask themselves sooner or later…

The Samsung Galaxy S3

A.K.A. cheapest looking phone ever!

The Smart Accessibility Awards

The Vodafone foundation launch a series of awards celebrating the best in apps for disabled groups.

Tagged Data Scout, Rare Breed Digital, realms of the haunting, Tu me

Apr 30 2012

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Knights Highlights

Knights Highlights – April 2012

This month I’ve started blogging for a second company, Data Scout. Their articles are more marketing and data-product focused than the mobile application development articles I write for Wooza (who have themselves become ‘Rare Breed Digital’).

A mobile a day keeps the doctor away

My imaginings of how mobiles can be developed to aid human health.

Data Scouts Data Restaurant

Purchasing several apps for different stages of a problem is like eating a five course meal at five different restaurants.

Data Scout’s Dictionary of Data – No.1 Salesforce.com ‘How to Guides’

The foundation stone of a series of articles for Data Scout exploring the best web resources on Data management.

Data Scout’s Dictionary of Data – No.2 Trust

How trusting relationships can sometimes lead to adoption…

Data versus Goliath

How small companies like Data Scout are taking on established played like Microsoft – and winning!

Does Freemium come at a Premium?

Wooza ruminate on the business model: Freemium.

e-Book Bother

Sneaky showing of The River in my professional work along with a review of the ‘agency’ model.

Fuzzy Logic

I explain how Fuzzy Logic works, why it’s useful and how it helps Salesforce.com data cleansing.

Tactical Withdrawal

Would someone please tell RIM they’re better off gone?

The difference between Data Integration and Master Data Management

Saleforce.com data integration meets Roman aqueducts.

The Wettest Drought EVER

How the weather in the UK is surprisingly like what is happening in the tech industry.

Right First Time

The importance of getting products right first time. And then not ruining it. I’m looking at you Dark Souls Prepare to Die edition.

The Fast and The Spurious

Fast cars and data management (unfortunately the murderous ice-cream van owners didn’t make it into the final cut).

The Personal Touch

Ill, so very ill. And blinded. Blinded by my own reflection in the iPad3.

Why MDM is crucial to CRM success

FYI IDGIE!

Work smart not hard with your Data in Salesforce.com

A short, snappy article about why you should consider automating manual activity in a salesforce.com

Tagged Data Scout, Rare Breed Digital, Wooza

Apr 02 2012

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Knights Highlights

Knights Highlights – March 2012

iPad 3

HD Gaming and home entertainment hub… it’s the Xbox360! eh?

It’s all just a Game

How Pointless is the Mobile Application Development Industry? More so than you might think…

Mobile World Congress 2012 part 1

The history of the MWC and Nokia’s midlife crisis.

Mobile World Congress 2012 part 2

The lowdown from MWC and an app suggestion Onlive should listen too.

Swimming

A shocking family secret…

The Best Budget Apps part 1

Does what it says on the tin.

The debt busting Debt Buster

The first of two budget-time articles based on Wooza Mobiles fantastic debt busting app!

The Future, Sooner Than You Think

An explanation of just what 4G is as well as 0G, 1G, 2G and 3G!

Feb 27 2012

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Knights Highlights

Knights Highlights – February 2012

Capital Hypocrisy

My second article for the writing blog Fresh Ink. Including the original story DEATH! By popular opinion.

Cell Phone Symbiosis

The decline of networks and the effect on the wider ecosystem.

Europe Endless

Sadly not Kraftwerk related.

How are the VITAl signs?

PS Vita related article. See what I did there?

Invasion by the BOTS

iTunes app store’s ‘most popular’ lists may not be what they seem…

Loops of Life

My first guest article for the writing blog Fresh Ink. Including the second half of the first chapter of The River.

Misdirection Mayhem

A little story of something I tried to do with The River.

Patent Wars

Not so long ago, in several boardrooms quite far, far away…

The Internet is Dead

…

V for Very Naughty

That mask and a scary neo-terrorist group.

Tagged Apple, DEATH! By popular opinion, Fresh Ink, network decline, patent wars, PS Vita, Wooza Mobile

Jan 30 2012

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Knights Highlights

Knights Highlights – January 2012

Augmented Reality

Positives, negatives and a small idea for an AR app.

CES pt 1

The Consumer Electronics Show in LV, Near Field Communication and a man in a dated hat.

CES pt 2

A round up of the interesting tech from CES.

Death of a Plumber

A well know mustachioed man walks into a café, crying.

Gunning for Number One

I’ve got a secret, I’ve been hiding…

Jack of All Trades or Master of One?

What do Angry Birds, Unhappy Fish, Confused Penguins, Upset Flamingos and Perplexed Frogs have to do with evolution?

Let’s Look Again

A fresh look at some fairly negative news.

Pay vs Piracy

Die Die Die My Darling and Mobile Apps.

Proximity Detection Alert

All this technological wizardry at our fingertips – but there’s only really one thing we want…

Tagged Apple, Augmented Reality, communication, Consumer Electronics Show, Microsoft, Nintendo, RIM, Wooza Mobile

Dec 29 2011

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Knights Highlights

Why I’m Not a Poet

While I’m reading through The River for the umpteenth time, to get it prepared for its belated January launch, I thought I’d share something with you I found in an end of year clear out.

When I left school I started an Art and Design Interdisciplinary course at Leeds college of Art . The course wasn’t right for me & being the rash guy I am, I dropped out after five weeks (the first person ever to do so, I think). To tell my tutor I was leaving I secretly left this in her pigeon-hole and never returned.

I need to be free
Not rooted like a tree
As for me fee
I’m sorry to moan
But I’m stopping my loan
And that is why I’m ending ART COLLEGE!

The briefs were bad
This made me sad
I’m an artistic lad
Driven round the bend
I will no longer attend
And that is why I’m ending ART COLLEGE!

Models, I made one
Friends? I made none
So I’ll make myself gone
It was as bad as GCSE work
Making me feel a right berk
And that is why I’m ending ART COLLEGE!

Creativity & Thought were unused
Imagination, by bad briefs, abused
Yet I’m leaving unbruised
My confidence remains the same
No longer will I create anything lame
AND THAT IS THE END OF ART COLLEGE!

Daisy, with all her beauty and wisdom, found my copy of the above travesty of a poem and wrote me this in return – sometime later.

To Andrew, my dear
Your poem is queer
But it is a great thing to hear
It’s the cutest around
And it makes me so proud
That you had the guts to end ART COLLEGE!

I wish you all the best
And every success
(I don’t miss the mess)
Hope you get what you deserve
You sure have the nerve
And that is why you’ll like the REAL WORLD!

You are due a bit of fun
So, to Greece, for the sun
I’ll even buy you a bun
Anything to make you smile
If only for a while
You need to to survive in the REAL WORLD!

We picked the right life
I’ll soon by your wife
So you can live without strife
We’ll have each other to hold
Until we are old
So together, let’s go live in the REAL WORLD!

The world was probably a better place without either of these poems. But these, along with the thoughts of my tutors face as well as the retrospective knowledge that leaving was the right thing for me, make me smile.

Tagged Art and Design Interdisciplinary Course, Art College, Leeds college of Art and Design, Poetry

Dec 28 2011

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Knights Highlights

Knights Highlights – December 2011

2011 and beyond!

My take on some futuristic technology – including a little gem from The River

Data Danger

BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, Carrier IQ!

Profitable Protests

A topical commentary on how disorder can be orderly when it comes to balance sheets, profit and sales.

The Dark Side

Jailbreaking, crack and pirates.

The Mobile Christmas Challenge Part 1

A lonely soul, bereft of money, receives an altruistic text from a loving network.

The Mobile Christmas Challenge Part 2

Our hero continues his quest to have a great, electronic, Christmas.

The Ups and Downs of 2011

My take on a few of the more interesting apps and games in 2011

Windows Super Store

Microsoft make a bold statement, but can they match the high levels of expectations they’ve laid out?

Tagged 2011, Christmas, Jailbreaking, Piracy, Protests, Windows, Wooza

Nov 14 2011

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Knights Highlights

Having just received ‘The River’ manuscript back from my excellent proof-reader, Claire, I’m becoming devoid of time for well, nearly forever.

In the near future I’ll have difficulty keeping this blog up-to-date with regard to anything but ‘The River’ developments. Any other articles on the state of the mobile industry, career stuff, life in general and other murmurs will have to wait for now as I manically review what I’ve received, continue my Open University course, keep up my two freelance jobs, play with my family and oh, yeah – do my full-time role.

In the meantime one thing I’m doing with this blog is making it a central point for all my other internet activities. In the future if you click the category ‘Knights Highlights’ it’ll take you to all articles with links to other things I’ve done online.

Below I’ve backfilled my online presence. This article will be updated at the end of November and then a similar article will be created once a month.

Click the article name and you’ll be sent across the wild web to its location as long that site owner keeps it there…

Cross Platform Platformer

What really gets my goat with ‘connected’ gaming.

Damaged Finger

Old art on Elfwood – was moderators choice.

DNA Transcription

Old art on Elfwood.

Energy Core

Old art on Elfwood.

Flash in the Pan

The end of Badger, badger, badger?

Let’s Ogle Google+