RobiNZ Personal Blog

Planning Time Out NZ 2021-22

Thinking about how to plan a summer which would involve multiple trips, lots of dates, heaps of information references, dependencies, and costs—all of which will change until completed—the solution was obvious. A travel map! I turned to my favourite 'need to plan some stuff, but don't know what' application: MindManager! In a single map I could brain-dump ideas, contacts, gather references, track media (like this post), look at timing and forecast/track budget. The topic parent/child structure of a map is superb for capturing all aspects of a trip. Extended Information Topic notes, signified by a note icon, can hold any... Read more →

OneNote for shared locked in shopping lists | COVID-19

I’ve been using Microsoft OneNote to help support my grocery shopping trips for a locked in relative. This notetaking app is part of Windows 10, available on the web, iOS, Android (free for smaller devices) & Mac. I already do my own shopping list on OneNote and over time had built up a comprehensive range of items. The list is not store specific (unlike many shopping apps) and item checkboxes act as a checklist to fill out before you go. With the COVID-19 lockdown I’m shopping for someone else who is not able to do their own. Having a shared... Read more →

Seeing Seattle

This departure was my first chance to see (apart from in design models) the airside changes at Auckland Airport. Although still in construction the finished parts look great and the new security/emigration area is much better. Via Hawaii, a good way to go Although about 15 hours total a stop-over in Hawaii, after 9 hours, made the flight to Seattle much more pleasant than the usual long-haul. The Hawaiian entry to the US wasn’t terrible but I found the ‘new’ machines, of which they seemed very proud, to be of little advantage. Nowhere near as slick as the Kiwi system.... Read more →

Kiva loan $1 billion!

It was cool to get this email today; Yesterday, Kiva crossed $1 billion in loans to students, farmers, women, refugees and so many more entrepreneurs around the world. This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without our passionate community of lenders, volunteers, partners, staff and supporters like you. Your dedication to creating a better world and your willingness to share Kiva’s mission powered this movement from day 1 to make this moment a reality. Here's how you helped make $1 billion in change! 931 Loans supported $23,420.00 In impact 67 Countries We’re looking forward to the next billion in loans, and... Read more →

Official Formula 1 app on Windows 10 PC and Mobile!

Shock, Formula 1 have rediscovered* Windows! There is now an official app, desktop and mobile, but wonder how it will compare with the brilliant third party PitlaneOne? Official Formula 1 app races onto Windows 10 PC and Mobile | Windows Central* There hasn’t been an official F1 app on Windows for several years. Nice to see it is both desktop and mobile, a benefit of the common OS and Universal App Platform? Read more →

Life in the future: Spotting B on the band

I'm walking Alfie, in damp wintry West Auckland, and a buzz on my wrist* lets me know exactly where B is cycling in Japan. I remember, and it wasn't that long ago, when this was science fiction. Isn't technology wonderful. Sent from Outlook Mail for Windows 10 phone * Latest toy is a Microsoft Band 2 Read more →

PitlaneOne: Brilliant Windows 10 F1 App (with instant updates!)

Ten minutes before the Canadian Grand Prix start I noticed Sebastian’s brilliant new PitlaneOne F1 app was showing an incorrect lap count on the live timing. The race hadn’t started but the counter showed Lap 2/70 (left). I grabbed a screen shot and at 05:50am (NZ Time) sent him (in Germany) an email. Just 8 minutes later, and 2 minutes before the start, the counter came right and I got an “I fixed it” confirmation email. Less than 8 minutes to log a bug (from New Zealand) and see the correction appear is a pretty fine response rate and the... Read more →

Kiva across the world

I love how a few clicks, and a few dollars, can help people around the world again and again. Just added 10 new Kiva loans, all funded from repayments of previous loans. My current loans support these categories If you want to try Kiva use this link: http://www.kiva.org/invitedby/robinz Read more →

Weekend Variety Wireless and Bing music magic

I really like the Weekend Variety Wireless “Outsiders” feature. Gerard Hindmarsh shares tales of Kiwis who have chosen to opt out and live, often alone, in remote places. There is an audio archive if you want to hear them but that isn’t what this post is about. The theme, a short instrumental piece, had been driving me crazy. I knew it but just couldn't place it. Took a while, ok several weeks, before I realised had the podcast (thanks for the podcasts Graeme) on my Windows Phone. Played the podcast, the Bing search in the same phone listened to it,... Read more →

TEDx Auckland 2015 Victorious? | #TEDxAKL @TEDxAuckland

My notes & photos from TEDx Auckland 2015. I only took the phone (for both notes & photos) and was sitting right at the back of the hall so my shots are a bit ‘distant’. The italics are the speaker profiles sent out by TEDx Auckland The bullet points my OneNote notes taken on the day (which may contain errors) and a few post-TEDx thoughts after. SIOUXSIE WILES Award-winning scientist Dr. Siouxsie Wiles describes herself as a microbiologist and bioluminescence enthusiast but to others she is “that pink-haired science lady”. She believes that playmakers like Lego should lead the way... Read more →