ItsDevelopmental - content + technology + people

Dilbert on employee engagement

Video: interesting discussion on Murdoch, Microsoft and Google

What if Google inserted artificial named anchors into web pages

Great post on a Google patent that could change the way we design/SEO web pages.

Presentation: top 100 tools for learning

Top 100 Tools for Learning 2009

View more documents from Jane Hart.

My pictures from CIPD conference 09

Travelling heavy to the CIPD conference

I'm on my way to the CIPD conference in Manchester and I have a very heavy bag. Why? Because it is full of the kit I need to be connected.

I think I am making the case for buying an iphone but I thought I would share what I have with me and why.

1 My work laptop

Reason for having it with me: Useful if I need to get on the network while I am out of the office. But, because of its wireless security settings I find it hard to get onto some networks. Not much good for conferences. I work from home so have to have it with me for that - it is fine for that.

2 My personal laptop

Reason for having it with me: No security issues so can connect to most networks, has a web cam and is generally more powerful than work PC. But, it is a monster so heavy. I am increasingly using web based comms such as Google for work so I can use this PC more and more although I wish I had bought a lighter one (Mac!).

3 Nokia N95 mobile phone

Reason for having it with me: This acts as my camera as well as phone. Has crap web interface and connectivitty is patchy (it's on 3). I use Dabr as twitter client but it is not great.

4 Blackberry

Reason for having it with me: Use this as my work phone and email device. I have to have special permission to get web access and have not yet got this enabled. Would be useful to have a phone and web access for work purposes.

I haven't weighed my bag yet but it is bloody heavy. I wish I had one mobile device and possibly a laptop if the mobile device didn't have a keyboard. I guess this will come but big corporates (like my employer) are tied into deals with providers and their kit so it takes time to change things.

I just wish I had bought an iphone and smaller laptop.

Security concerns with signing up to wifi on trains

I'm sitting on a Virgin Train train to Manchester and my 3 dongle is giving me rubbish connections. So, I opt for the T-mobile wifi - which I have to pay for.

In order to get this service I have to provide credit card details, email address and mobile phone number.

This made me feel uncomfortable as we are packed in to this train like sardines. I looked around and the person behind me can see my 15" screen as can the person sitting next to me.

The sign up form for the wifi does NOT obscure your credit card details as soon as you type them in which means anyone sat around you with reasonable vision could see your details.

Added to that I had to get my card out of my wallet and balance it on my lap. Very safe.

Maybe there is a much safer way to do this. If so, let me know!

Who is spending what on online marketing

Interesting post over at Social Media Explorer. I can't afford the Forrester research mentioned but the post shows how little is currently being spent on social media marketing (in the US).

Worth following Social Media Explorer for more on this. Author Jason Falls is on Twitter.

What online is doing for music - a more accurate picture

Thanks @adders for linking through to this great post on revenues from music and what goes where and who gets what. Contrary to popular belief, and I am accepting here that the research is accurate, the people who are currently benefiting from music production (and have been for the last few years) are the artists.

This despite all the noise that online is killing music, which we know it isn't. Online might be killing publishers' profits (old world businesses) but that is what is going on for all those in the wider world of publishing.

These stats should act to encourage musicians.