Kate Jones, Campbell Newman run out of babies, fetes; visit us!

It seems that the election battle for the seat of Ashgrove (where our office is located) is continuing to simmer away as both candidates (MP Kate Jones and Queensland-Premier-Hopeful Campbell Newman) accepted our invitation to spend some time with our team and have a go at our Peer Presentations.

Those of you who follow this blog will be familiar with our Peer Presentations and their weird ability to draw interesting people to come along (Woz was our first big "get") ... so it's probably not surprising that, when we recently contacted both candidates and reminded them that neither had ever actually visited our business (after operating in the area for 10+ years), they both jumped at the chance. And why wouldn't they ? We're good fun, right?

We spent about an hour with each candidate (not at the same time - could have gotten a bit awkward); told them a bit about our industry; and presented a few new things that we have been working on ... particularly in the fields of platform-agnostic mobile applications for business, and Search Engine Optimisation / Social Media.


Kate and Campbell in turn both initially gave us the boilerplate schpiel about how we're an extremely important part of the economy etc, but then both seemed to realise that we're more relaxed environment than that and things went a little more smoothly (read: informally) thereafter.

They both answered some pretty hard-ball question flung at them from our own team of professionals, and posed some equally insightful questions themselves.

For what it's worth - and regardless of your political affiliations - both Kate and Campbell are extremely personable, highly intelligent, and had some great points to make on how they plan on making our state and local electorate better places (Kate was more locally-focused, while Campbell focused on state-issued). We appreciate their time and hope they both come back to visit us before and after the next election.

Special thanks to our great friends Paul Holstein (Brandrally), and Steve Jewell (Australian Moneymarket) for taking part as well.

It was great to - once again - have the opportunity to expand the reach of our humble Peer Presentations to include others.

Coachbuddy Soccer iPad App Released Globally

We're proud to announce that we have just released yet another new commercial app into the iTunes App Store.

The app is called "Coachbuddy" and Creative Intersection have partnered with its original creators (developed for Microsoft Windows a few years ago) to create an iPad version featuring the most highly sought-after features of the original.

Using Coachbuddy, a parent (or anyone for that matter) can track a player's movements around the field during a soccer game, including the player's interaction with the ball ... and at the end can review a comprehensive set of statistics to help understand performance and fitness etc.

An unlimited number of games can be stored and retrieved.

The free version is a "taster" and limited to 5 minutes of play at a time.

Click here to view the app in the Apple iTunes App Store.

Steve Wozniak (Woz) visits Creative Intersection

The Creative Intersection Team had the great privilege of spending a couple of hours privately chatting with co-founder of Apple Computer, designer of the first personal computer, philanthropist, and Uber-geek, Steve "Woz" Wozniak and his charming (and formidably intelligent) wife, Janet.

We regularly have "Peer Presentations" at our office where we all take turns to show off something cool or clever that we have discovered (or invented) recently ... and so a couple of months ago when we found out that he would be coming to Australia, we thought we would ask Woz (via his agent) if he would like to take part.

Steve "Woz" and Janet Wozniak with Creative Intersection's Development Team

Yep - we just asked. Pure and simple. Didn't think we'd hear back from anyone at all.

After a few emails back and forth, Woz emailed us and said yes!

The venue was suitably spectacular too - being on the 77th Floor of the Q1 building. At sunset. Thank you Queensland for showing off for us.

Over the course of 2 hours, sharing some drinks and finger food, Woz regailed us with numerous tales of his time working at Apple, his fascination for numbers (he has owned the most amazing "collection" of phone numbers), his Fusion-io IPO plans, and many other stories of his life in the hotbed of Silicon Valley's tech intrigue and hijinx.

And, of course, because of our own passion for web-connected iPhone, iPad, and Android applications, we talked with Woz about his thoughts on mobile devices, business applications, and "The Cloud".

Too many other stories to tell here, but let's just say that if you ever mis-dial a certain airline reservation line and are connected with someone who sounds like Woz pretending to be a travel booking agent ... it probably *is* Woz. Don't let him take your booking! (BTW: If he does, he'll tell you at the end that it's him and the booking isn't real).



We were inspired, awestruck, and humbled that Woz and Janet gave so generously of their time just to hang out with us and talk "geek" ... just because we asked nicely.

Only problem is: Who do we invite to our next Peer Presentation ?

A Day In The Life of Creative Intersection (timelapse)

We thought you might get a kick out of seeing our team working - in timelapse - on a major project rollout earlier this month.

As most of our regular clients know, we use a collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach where programmers flick work to designers and testers - and vice-versa.

This provides us with a robust and efficient way of creating and maintaining development projects of all sizes and in virtually all realms - including Web applications & Web-enabled services, iPhone/iPad, Android, Windows Mobile and standalone Mac/PC applications.

The clip can be viewed in full High Definition (1080p) so you can soak up all the timelapse goodness.

The board in the background shows the tasks needed to be completed for the project, and who is working on each task at the time.

iPad App for small business (Click N Colour)

We are proud to announce the release of our latest iPad app project into the App Store with, and on behalf of, our partner Debbie Neale of Click 'N' Colour.

The first version of the app (released last weekend) is free, and is followed up with a "Premium" version and subsequent in-app purchases for additional artwork.




The concept is to colour in Debbie's fantastic designs (which she has been selling via her website and directly to schools and other institutions) via the iPad interface.


New and exciting designs will be added continually and can be purchased from inside tha app by its users as single designs at Tier 1 rates (AUD$1.19), or packs (full alphabets etc) at various other rates.

If you have an iPad, download the free version right now and have some fun!

Click here to view Click 'N' Colour in the App Store.

Creative Intersection MD on Sky News Business panel

Creative Intersection MD, Ian Exaudi, has taken part in a panel discussion on Sky News Business Channel's "Technology Behind Business" program on the topic of "Online Presence for Small and Medium Businesses".

Other Expert panel members included Tim Reed (MYOB) and Tony Palmer (C4).

The main point is that the majority of SMB's do not have a website .... but you do not need to be an "online business" to enjoy some of the benefits of having a website, and there are many ways to "dip your toe in the water".

Check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCtz7Ey4c08&t=43s




Of course, if you would like any assistance with getting your first business website up and running (or improving an existing one), give us a shout on 1300 853 868 or visit our website (http://CreativeIntersection.com).

Website for Businesses to Help Each Other after Floods

We have launched a website to let businesses help each other by registering their available desk space, storage, and other facilities/services.

If you are a business owner please consider registering your details so a business that has been affected by the floods can find you.

http://SaveABusiness.com.au

Free Office Space to Businesses Affected by Qld Floods

Here at Creative Intersection, we're fortunate to be located high and dry in the elevated parts of Ashgrove (49m above sea level), so although our own homes may be under some threat our office is safe.

We have an office big enough to accommodate an additional 4-5 people, and plenty of Internet connectivity.

We even have a few spare computers that we can let you use until you get back on your feet.

Not much in this world is free, but to help do our little bit, this really is being offered FOR FREE!! (we'd like to think that if we needed it, someone would help us out in the same way).

So - if your Brisbane business has been affected by the recent floods and you need a dry office with Internet connectivity from which to run your business .... please contact Ian Exaudi on 1300 853 868 and we'll see what we can do.