Getting back into content creation...

Well, last week I wrote about the demise of DroneLab, and I decided (in my head) that I was going to start trying to write down some of the nuggets of wisdom that I've picked up over the last ten years of working on one product. 

However, I find myself with only fifteen minutes today to actually sit down and dedicate to this post, so this will be the first in a series of 'surgical strikes'. The way I figure it is this - if I can do fifteen minutes a week, then perhaps there's a chance I can actually start getting something out that's actually worthwhile at some point in the future. 

Besides, there are other things that I've been up to in the last five years, and some of them have been measurably more successful and perhaps more worthy of exploration that certain software based endeavours. 

One of the battles of being a so-called 'entrepreneur' is the constant need to come up with something that is 'worthwhile', but also something that pays the bills, and the two are not necessarily intrinsically compatible with one another. It also needs to be something that you want to work on, and again, that's fairly critical to making it have worth and, crucially, staying power. 

Change is one of those things that is constant, whether we like it or not, and, as a fellow entrepreneur (if you're reading this) you need to be ready for it to arrive and ready to adapt to it when it hits you. 

I suppose that's where a certain degree of 'horizon scanning' needs to come into the equation, so make sure you're doing that. 

That's not much in terms of wisdom for one day, but it is what it is, and it's a beginning. 

Testing embed code with non-secure element... ...which Blogger automajically updates with the https version. Curiouser and curiouser.

Back to Antarctica?

Seems our Antarctica Map is still in demand...

Here's a preview, which is running on DroneLab (it's one of our demo datasets, which shows how satellite data can be used in the application.



Data is from the LIMA project, total file size is around 192Mb, so quite small compared to the majority of datasets that we're throwing around from most drone applications.

The Coldest Journey App

Available to download now on both iOS and Windows Phone, The Coldest Journey app has been developed to connect you straight to the latest news from the Ice Team in Antarctica.

Featuring detailed maps, live GPS tracking and the latest metereological observations directly from the ice, the app also features photography, video and blog content from the expedition.

Here's what people are saying about the Windows Phone version of The Coldest Journey App:

Nicholas 4/3/2013

One very well done app for one awesome journey! Tracking data, photos, blogs, twitter feeds...all in one place; beautifully presented! Works perfectly on my WP7.5 device.

The Coldest Journey iPhone App is also available from the App Store.

Both apps also feature the latest news from Twitter along with a page that tells you all about the expedition, as well as the all important 'donate' button that takes the end-user to a page about Seeing is Believing, a global initiative to help tackle avoidable blindness.

Here are the latest reviews for the iPhone version of the app:

Cool ★★★★★
by Hannahbannana787 - Version 1.1 - May 10, 2013 

Fascinating! Puts the challenge into perspective. -34 degrees. Yikes!

Love it ★★★★★
by Harriet83 - Version 1.1 - Apr 26, 2013 

Good luck guys. Love the app!

Brilliant ★★★★★
by Harry willerbt - Version 1.0 - Apr 26, 2013 

I love this app. The information is clear and immersive. The blog feeds from the ice really make me feel like I'm there! Keep up the good work guys. You can do it! 

Mister ★★★★★
by Kc burger - Version 1.0 - Apr 2, 2013

Great app, brings all the info, pics, data together in one place. Good luck with the journey.
Nice App!

Well crafted ★★★★★
by Saganfan99 - Version 1.0 - Apr 2, 2013

All the right info just where you need it. Works nicely on the big iPhone 5 screen. It would be nice if the photos could auto-rotate and enlarge to use the full screen. Great first release though!

Cool ★★★★★
by Dabawal - Version 1.0 - Mar 19, 2013

Slick App. Makes you feel like you're there, minus the frostbite!

We'll be continuing to update the app as the Ice Train makes it's way across the continent.

For more news about the expedition, or to make a donation to Seeing is Believing, visit http://www.thecoldestjourney.org »


Download The Coldest Journey App

The Coldest Journey app is available for iPhone & Windows Phone.

Tap (or click) on one of these badges to get yourself connected to the last great remaining polar challenge.


The Android version of The Coldest Journey will be coming soon!

LATEST NEWS :: The map is still available on the Coldest Journey website, but I'm afraid that the app has now been put "on ice".

The Coldest Journey iPhone app was featured in The Guardian's 20 best iPhone and iPad apps this week »

The Coldest Journey app was developed in collaboration with iOS & Android developers The App Chaps.

The Coldest Journey app for Android

The App Chaps are also in the middle of building an Android version of The Coldest Journey app.

If you're a "'droid head" and you'd like us to email you when the app is available for download then pop your email address in this box here:

Please let me know when the Android App is available!

We promise not to spam you, or use your email address for any nefarious purpose. We're not like that. We're decent chaps.

Google+

Welcome, one and all.

So, Ben Mawhinney has started a new business.

I'm going to do what I've always enjoyed the most, which is digital marketing.

So, welcome, to the temporary holding page for modeeight.com, which is what came out of the random word generator and also happened to be available as both a .com and a .co.uk

I've registered the company Mode Eight Ltd.

I've found some premises and I'll update my contact details as soon as I've got all of the necessary domain and email forwarding set up.

 Until then, watch this space.

 I predict exciting times ahead as we set sail on our new, digital adventure!

 p.s. The logo is, unfortunately, also only temporary - I used the lobster font because I know how much @stevekomodo loves the lobster. I'll get round to doing a proper brand exercise once I've sorted everything else out.

Ben Mawhinney likes websites that are all about...

This is why you should never rely on external services. When they stop supporting something all your links disappear.

Spotify is one of the best things in the world, ever.

Tinkering with Spotify this morning while the boy sleeps. Quite impressed that he can sleep through this...

****Ben's Awesome Playlist****

...and here's the live kitchen playlist that's playing right now (at the time of writing).

Ben's iPhone in the Kitchen

...et voila! I can add tracks to the playlist from my laptop and they queue to play on the iPhone. Premium accounts are awesome.