Monthly Archives: January 2010

Up the river

Posted on January 31, 2010 by

Rowan’s put a few photos up as well – we spent a great day on the Whanganui river yesterday. I’ve enjoyed the river road for years, but this was the first time on the river itself. For me one it … Continue reading →

Posted in NZ Business | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Oh Telecom XT – you were doing so well

Posted on January 29, 2010 by

Pathetic. It’s time for an update to the Telecom XT network map. From the communications I can glean that the latest map looks something like this: Spotty means you can’t guarantee that you’ll be able to hold on to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet Business | Tagged | 5 Comments

Is there a point to NZEdge?

Posted on January 29, 2010 by

I struggle with NZEdge. They mean well for New Zealand, but I often feel they are disconnected from reality. It’s owned/run by Brian Sweeney and Kevin Roberts, but it seems to be operated as a one man band by Brian. … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet Business, media | Tagged , | 5 Comments

My take on the Apple iPad

Posted on January 29, 2010 by

Everybody seems to have written about the iPad. So here is my take: 1: I will get one. 2: I’m not sure whether to get the wifi model when it comes out in March in the USA or to wait … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet Business | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Locking in customers with Xero and Heaps

Posted on January 29, 2010 by

It seems to be an emerging meme – comments in the post about Kiwibank’s Heaps and BNZ’s Xero Personal are worried that banks will create lock-in using personal financial management products. This comment is typical: Ben Lilley January 28, 2010 … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet Business, NZ Business | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

No cheques sorry L V Martin

Posted on January 29, 2010 by

Dear L V Martin & Sons Hi I’d really like to pay your invoice. Unfortunately I don’t have a cheque book – not for years now. Please put on your invoice at least one alternative method of payment. Many thanks … Continue reading →

Posted in NZ Business | 4 Comments

New BNZ banking system is coming

Posted on January 27, 2010 by

Internet Banking Login, originally uploaded by LanceWiggs. It looks like BNZ is creaking forward into the modern era with a new banking homepage. Of interest is not so much the re-skin, but the “We’ll be adding great new features to … Continue reading →

Posted in NZ Business | 5 Comments

How to win customers back – the 4 difficult steps

Posted on January 27, 2010 by

How long does it take to bring back a customer that has had a series of bad experiences? And what do you need to do to get them back? In Simon Grigg‘s case – about 8 years, and a heck … Continue reading →

Posted in NZ Business | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Why is the Kindle sold in Zimbabwe, East Timor but not New Zealand?

Posted on January 27, 2010 by

I’ve written before about Apple’s poor attention to international people – those that travel and live in multiple countries. It’s one of the reasons that I am trying not to get too excited about the forthcoming tablet. The tablet appears … Continue reading →

Posted in NZ Business | Tagged , | 16 Comments

Enrolling in Budget’s Fastbreak is Easy!

Posted on January 26, 2010 by

Actually – No – it is not. Making people print out a PDF and mail it back to you to register is no longer acceptable. It has not been acceptable for years. Avis does a bit better, as does Hertz. … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Sikuli Script

Posted on January 24, 2010 by

Project SIKULI, originally uploaded by LanceWiggs. Cool – here is a really simple way to write scripts – for OSX, Windows or Linux. (Download.)  From MIT comes Sikuli script, where you just take screenshots of the buttons that you want … Continue reading →

Posted in NZ Business | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Independent makes me mad

Posted on January 22, 2010 by

Each week I read The Independent, and each week some articles in it make me mad. This week I’m writing about it. Sadly none of the articles are online yet. Air New Zealand and the Commerce Commisson The News The … Continue reading →

Posted in NZ Business | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

That’s why I chose Yale

Posted on January 22, 2010 by

Amazing. Could any institution in New Zealand dream of doing something like this? They walk the line between sincere cheese and self deprecating irony beautifully.

Posted in NZ Business | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Leave me alone Gareth Morgan

Posted on January 19, 2010 by

Well done GMI. If you follow a recent advertisement for Gareth Morgan Investments and do the 10 Second test promo (five questions), click on “I’m not convinced – Tell me more” then you’ll get the screen above “Leave me alone” … Continue reading →

Posted in NZ Business | Tagged | 3 Comments

Air New Zealand is the best – here are some reasons

Posted on January 15, 2010 by

A selection of reasons why Air New Zealand won the Airline of the Year in the Air Transport World magazine awards. Most of these refer to posts made here over the past three years, and the overarching reason is simply … Continue reading →

Posted in Air Travel, NZ Business | Tagged , , | 12 Comments