chrisblunt.com

Toupix was my final submission for the BSc (Hons) MediaLab Arts degree programme. While I wait for the marks to be published, plans are afoot for the successor to Toupix, which I hope to release as a more viable user platform.

One of my concerns with Toupix was the user experience. As an experimental platform, the user interface was far from perfect, and due to the difficulties of the technologies employed by Toupix (this isn’t an excuse - they really exist!), network connectivity was often a costly and frustratingly slow experience. As part of the future development of the software, I hope to drastically streamline this experience, and improve Toupix’s social experience.

Development is currently in very early stages, as I am building a lot of code from the ground up. Again, I am developing for the Sony platform, and I hope I will shortly have access to some of the upcoming Sony phones (specifically the K800 series). I also aim to be quickly in a position to discuss the next version of Toupix (and other applications I have in development) with manufactuers and network providers.

Perhaps I must learn to blog quicker, as things are moving too quickly at the moment.

Somewhat ironically, despite my post-modernist ponderings for the Production of Space module, it’s amazing how the regimented time of economic space (that which was the principle antithesis of my Transience project) can so quickly destroy any preconception that I might be able manage myself effectively and with crystal efficiency - let alone relax post-University….

My business is now registered, and everything is almost ready to go - except the website (not enough time, you see). Meanwhile, I’ve been trying to arrange client meetings and getting some first projects on the move, as well as working on plymouthpixels.com (although most of the sales work there is being done by Tom!) and carrying out some much needed development work on HostManager. Version 2.0 is almost ready for alpha release, although Sync Services are presenting some problems. Something I need to look into is getting Sync Services to push out Core Data dates to iCal, but documentation on this subject seems a little bit lacking as far as I can see. A nice step-by-step tutorial would be perfect.

Through all this madness, keeping track of ideas is becoming increasingly difficult. I’ve thought about several mobile web apps that I really can’t wait to develop, and eventually release on the commercial world. However, the drive to get the business up and running (and the sudden and unexpected need to find a house!) has meant that these have had to be suppressed for now.

It is my intention to train myself, very quickly, in Actionscript 2.0 (is 3.0 out yet?), as it seems to be everywhere. In particular, my desire to learn it is so that I might develop Flash Lite 2 apps. So far I’ve liked what I’ve seen in this little Flash platform, and despite my dread of desktop Flash (timelines within timelines within clips with links…it’s just messy), it seems that Flash Lite 2 might give mobile devices the common, rich-media platform they need, providing I can avoid timelines. Although, I should point out I don’t yet have a Flash Lite 2 phone, so I’ll reserve judgement for now.

However, in the meantime, I’ll continue developing my Java libraries, in particular so I can rapidly prototype the applications I have in mind for the near-future…

Well, it’s over. I can’t say my final presentation of Toupix was a pleasent experience, in fact it was fairly soul-destroying. But at least it’s finished, and now I can spend time setting up my company, starting with tomorrow’s bank meeting.

Rather an melodramatic title, really, but it sums up how I (and I should imagine quite a few others) feel as the final presentation approaches. There’s just over an hour to go, and the final checks have been made. As it stands, everything seems to be working, which is worrying if not for the fact it implies something is destined to stop working in about an hours time.

Having just discovered three lecturers disseminating a morning’s work in the cafe (one whom is marking my presentation), a brief discussion led to identify success can, in fact, be achieved through wearing the correct fasion - Dolce&Gabbana seems to be in favour. Fair enough, although perhaps this could have been mentioned on the module brief. Alas, all I am able to do in these final moments is peruse the D&G site, and wonder how I might somehow drop them in my project. Perhaps a faux-sponsorship*?

Anyway, these pointless ramblings clearly indicate that my mind is full to the brim with the theories and interpretations of Toupix. All that is left to do is drown one more much-needed cup of tea and prepare for ‘the presentation’ to begin.

* To disclaim, D&G are in no way affiliated to, nor sponsor my work. Would be nice though.

Today saw the launch of a small project I have been working on in association with Tom Le Maistre. PlymouthPixels is a break-from-the-norm pixel-marketing site, offering a subscription-based service allowing you to advertise your business, organisation, website, or anything for just 4p per pixel. In addition to the pixel advert, PlymouthPixels also offer a range of additional services for promoting your business online, and driving traffic to your exisiting or new website.

While PlymouthPixels is an online venture, we are set to promote it heavily in Plymouth (UK) and the surrounding area. PlymouthPixels is available to organisations both large and small. PlymouthPixels also offers a special ’spotlight’ block, and exclusive and limited block of pixels that appear at the very top of the page. These spotlight pixels are separated from the standard blocks so that they stand out from the crowd.

Check out the site at www.plymouthpixels.com