Connector logging off

It seems like only yesterday I was writing my first post for this blog. In fact, that was almost a year - and 187 posts - ago.

Today I am relinquishing my role as a Stuff blogger, as I am moving across the newsroom to the Dominion Post where I'm taking up a web editing role.

It's been a fantastic ride. I feel like I'm taking away just as much as I gave - probably more.

The tech crowd is a difficult one to write for, but I always found it to be rewarding.

If there was ever an un-crossed "t" or un-dotted "i", I knew about it. I can safely say that writing this blog has encouraged me to always check things twice.

Review: Samsung Galaxy S i9000

Looks, functionality and speed: check.

If ever there was a credible reason to say "this phone is real competition for the iPhone", it is the Samsung Galaxy S i9000.

I've been using this handset for a few weeks now and I have to say that I have completely embraced it.

It's hard not to compare it with the iPhone, which may be a bad habit in reviewing phones, but the iPhone has certainly set a benchmark which a lot of others companies are struggling to meet.

The i9000's interface is smooth, lag free, easy and looks absolutely gorgeous.

The screen is a four-inch super AMOLED and it runs on Android 2.1, which, for those wallpaper junkies out there, means animated "live" wallpapers. I downloaded an awesome storm live background free from the Android marketplace and it really does look fantastic.

Is Crowdspring unethical?

The concept of crowdsourcing creative work has stirred plenty of debate in the design world, with many designers up in arms - but is it really unethical?

Crowdspring has attracted its fair share of criticism, based mostly on the way it does business.

It works like this: A Crowdspring client, usually a business, posts a brief for a design project and offers a cash reward.

Crowdspring users put their work in the running for consideration during the project's time limit, which is usually a week or two.

The client then chooses their favourite and to the victor go the spoils. To the losers... well... they get nothing. If at least 25 designs are submitted, the client is obliged to buy one.

Review: LG GT540 Optimus

If you are looking for a quick, stylish Android phone with most of the mod-cons which won't break the bank, the LG GT540 may be for you.

The pseudo-brushed metal case is, of course, plastic and seems to scratch rather easily. It is quite eye-catching nonetheless and the overall styling of the handset gives off a sleek, business-like feel.

It runs on Google's Android, version 1.6, and they have done a nice job on the user interface. I found the action of sliding between screens smooth and reliable, and didn't get a single crash for the length of my review.

Being an Android phone, it comes loaded with Google Maps, Talk, Calendar, Mail and such, which is handy for those with existing Google accounts which they want to sync with their phone easily.

It also comes loaded with an RSS reader, a video editor and a social networking service client, which allows the use of Twitter, Facebook and Bebo (shudder). User experience with these is fairly minimal, but functional.

An iPod goes under the knife

The original iPod battery, left, with its replacement

Opening an iPod has to be one of the most frustrating, time-consuming, enraging... and satisfying tasks a geek can undertake.

It takes dedication, persistence, skill and more than a little courage to take a sharp object to a device you probably bought for hundreds of dollars.

Apple don't particularly want you messing around inside there - they would prefer to do it themselves, or for you to buy a new iPod - so it's definitely not made easy.

My iPod Classic, bought in 2007, was beginning to show its age as the battery life slowly dwindled to an hour or so, at best. It also had a nasty scar across the click wheel from some rough handling.