If Google is going to be at the center of our digital and online lives, they need to get a lot better about their support organization and how they handle account issues. Check out this story by Mark Ghosh for an example of what happens when things go wrong. What if you woke up tomorrow and your Gmail, Orkut, Docs, Reader, Google Checkout account was gone? ¶

Asleep at the Wheel of Creative Destruction. Umair Haque’s thoughts on venture capital and the current crisis. ¶

Dear MobileMe / Me.com, I really think you’re swell. I’ve been dreaming dreams of sync since my first Handspring, and you are the best I’ve used. Two things would put you over the top. First, the notes application on the iPhone is handy, but please sync this to a quickie app on Me.com so I can put stuff in and out of notes easily. Second, and this is a stretch, I know you don’t like to-do applications, but I also have an inkling you could do something that would make me stop using paper and pen for to-dos. And synchronize it. With love, Matt. ¶

Jan
28

Filed under: WordCamp | Tags: WordCamp (118) | January 28th, 2009

WordCamp Roundup

This month there were three WordCamps around the world: WordCamp Las Vegas, WordCamp Indonesia, and WordCamp Whistler. Here’s what’s coming up in the next two months. Asterisks indicate WordCamps I’ll be attending:

WordCamp Higher Ed NorthEast – February 2, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
WordCamp Paris * – February 7, Paris, France
WordCamp Germany * – February 14, Jena, Germany
WordCamp Education Vancouver – February 19, Vancouver, Canada
WordCamp India * – February 21-22, New Delhi, India
WordCamp Miami – February 22, Miami, Florida, USA
WordCamp Denver * – February 28, Denver, Colorado, USA
WordCamp NOLA – March 18-19, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

WordPress.org plugin directory just reached its 4,000^th plugin! I declare January 28^th our official “Thank a Plugin Developer” day. To celebrate take a look at the plugins you use and love, visit the author’s site, find their contact form, and drop them a note. (Or Paypal!) ¶

WordPress creator Mullenweg is many bloggers’ best friend – USATODAY.com. We got some nice press in USA Today in an article by Jefferson Graham, pick up a dead tree copy today if you can to check out the article. ¶

10 Must-See Videos on WordPress.TV. ¶

January 25th, 2009

Snow sculptures at the Stowe Mountain Lodge, around the Curtis Swenson art studios and West Branch Gallery, and dinner with newlyweds Zoe and Andy.

This album contains 77 photos. See more albums.

The Blogging Software Dilemma. On this day, 6 years ago, WordPress was conceived in the comments section of this blog. Hat tip: Mike Little! ¶

January 24th, 2009

Andy and Zoe’s wedding in Stowe, Vermont.

This album contains 131 photos. See more albums.

If you check out the WordCamp San Francisco site you’ll see that registration is open and we’ve already announced some great speakers: Matt Cutts, Tim Ferriss, Philip Greenspun, Doug Hanna, Tara Hunt, yours truly, Andy Peatling, and Steve Souders. (More coming.) It’s going to be a killer event. Mark your calendars: May 30. ¶

Jan
23

Filed under: Video | January 23rd, 2009

Dubai Timelapse

A month or so ago I got a tilt-shift lens (Nikon PC-E Micro Nikkor 45mm f/2.8D ED) and one of the first things I wanted to try was interval shooting to make a stop-motion like tilt-shifted video like these awesome ones from Australia photographer Keith Loutit. Haven’t quite figured out how to make them look that cool yet but here’s one of the first efforts, taken from the Burj Al Arab looking down at its car entrance at night. Watch how the lights come in and out of focus, and how fast the cars are at the intersection. The video is available in full HD if your computer can handle it just toggle it in the top-right and go full-screen.

Big thanks to Michael Pick of WordPress.tv fame for doing all the video magic here.

January 21st, 2009

Setting up some new audio equipment with Matt Rotunda of Pitch Perfect.

This album contains 15 photos. See more albums.

Albert Lea government launches new Web site. Hat tip: Using WordPress city saves $19,000. ¶

January 19th, 2009

A little bit of sightseeing around Indonesia before I had to leave.

This album contains 98 photos. See more albums.

January 18th, 2009

Second day at Jakarta, Indonesia WordCamp, dinner, and then signs from a wedding. Guest photographer: Kristin Amelina.

This album contains 150 photos. See more albums.

January 17th, 2009

First day of WordCamp Indonesia in Jakarta.

This album contains 130 photos. See more albums.

Jan
16

Filed under: Automattic, WordCamp | Tags: wordpress.tv | January 16th, 2009

Tune in to WordPress.tv

Today we’ve switched on WordPress.tv, a new space to geek out and learn about all things WordPress.

WordPress.tv is home to tutorials for both WordPress self-installs and WordPress.com to help you get blogging fast and hassle-free.

We’ve also aggregated and organized all that awesome WordCamp footage from around the web, on WordCampTV. There you’ll find videos and slideshows of presentations made by Automattic employees and other WordPress gurus, plus interviews I’ve done with the media and fellow bloggers.

Tune in regularly for fresh content and updates to the WordPress.tv blog.

As always, community comes first. You have a say in shaping the future of WordPress.tv. Just drop us a line and let us know what you’d like to see added next.

The blog platforms of choice among the top 100 blogs. Spoiler: It’s WordPress with 32%. I predict if the same survey is run in January 2010 we’ll be between 40-50%. What do you think? ¶

January 16th, 2009

Arriving in Jakarta driving through traffic, arriving at the Dharmawangsa Hotel, and on Apa Kabar Indonesia TV show with Tina Talisa.

This album contains 76 photos. See more albums.

Matt Mullenweg is one of PC World’s Top 50 People on the Web, Inc.com’s 30 under 30, and Business Week’s 25 Most Influential People on the Web. More »