If you would like to see how we will be running our lives via computer in a wireless word, take a look at this: g.ho.st
It’s a virtual desktop, and in the not so distant future I’m pretty sure everyone will be using one of these things.
And do you know what? I like it, I like it a lot. And it is free.
Sign in as a guest and have play.
More about g.ho.st another time. Spooky, it is, seeing the future.
Back in May 2005, I wrote this post about the silent invasion by Chinese businesses of the area of Milan which is on my doorstep. Well, I have to say that things have changed, or rather evolved, quite considerably since I last wrote about this subject.
There are still quite a number of shops selling cheap clothes to those who run markets, but there are now quite a few other types of shop, and many of them are starting to take on the appearance of typical Italian shops.
For example, there are now at least four shops selling computer hardware and electronic goods such as Mp3 players and the like. And, in addition to odd Chinese brands, many of the products stocked in these shops are familiar names such as Acer, Sony, and LG, amongst others.
Next, we have the mobile phone stores, again, offhand I can think of at least four of them, including one newly opened shop.
However, the most interesting thing is the transformation which is starting to take place of the formerly cheap wholesale clothing outlets into smarter, more up market boutique type shops. OK, I can only think of one or two at the moment, but I’m pretty sure that this trend will continue.
Along with the clothing stores, there are now a number of reasonably good quality Chinese run jewellers selling well known brands. Yes, they could be copies, but I’m not so sure. Indeed, there is no reason why they should be really, seeing as it is probable that some of the more well known brands most probably sub-contract their production to Chinese producers.
There is also a perfume shop, which looks very Italian in style.
And the ever industrious Chinese are not doing too badly as a result of the evolutionary expansion, as I see plenty of youngish Chinese cruising around in very expensive cars.
There is a bustling Chinese community here, and it looks as though it will become stronger and stronger.
I was half expecting this transformation to take place, so it is very interesting to see it happening before my eyes.
Oh, and it is not just Chinese faces you see in these recently transformed shops, you may like to know.
It will be interesting indeed to see how things differ in another three years time, and if I’m still running this blog, and I plan to be, I’ll write another little update.
While I could be wrong, I suspect that the average workday for many, especially those working with technology, may now go something like this:
09:00ish Arrive at work.
09:05ish Have a coffee/tea etc
09:10ish Switch on computer
09:15ish Check and reply to work related email
10:00 am Log in to Facebook.
01:00 pm Log out of Facebook and go to lunch.
02:00 pm Return from lunch and go for a coffee/tea with your colleagues.
02:30 pm Login to Flickr – upload a few photos you took while at lunxh, comment on some other photos, reply to comments on your own photos.
03:30 pm Log out of Flickr and go for a coffee/tea with colleagues.
04:00 pm Return to desk. Check email and reply, but only if really necessary.
04:15 pm Log in to personal blog and write a post about the heavy day you are having at work.
04:45 pm Log out of blog and into Facebook to kiss, punch, message, and play games with your ‘friends’.
05:30 pm Log out of Facebook and into bank account to pay that electricity bill that you should have set up a direct debit for years ago.
05:50 pm Log out of bank and check Hotmail, Yahoo, and Gmail accounts. Reply to emails and comments left on your blog. Log into Google Analytics and Adsense.
07:00 pm Log off Google Analytics and Adsense. Switch off your computer and go home.
Of course, throughout the day you will have been answering the phone and thinking about the job someone employed you to do!
It’s a virtual world.
I have a tax payment to make, only I cannot make this blasted payment; which can only be made via a home banking system now; because my home banking system is not working properly. This is because just about everyone is trying to make tax payments today, because of today’s deadline. In case you did not know, the legendary F24 is a tax form which you use to donate money to the government. This form used to be made of paper, but now it is virtual, and all can only be accessed via computer for normal mortals such as myself.
You would imagine in the 21st century that someone somewhere would have ensured that IT systems are bolstered to deal with such ‘deadline’ loads, wouldn’t you? Well, I would. But this is Italy, and ‘unpredictable’ is the best word to describe the way in which things work.
Yes, I could have made this payment before today, but why should I have? I could also have set up an automatic payment for today, but because I am not convinced that the system will work, on account of the unpredictability of things here, I did not. Bad move, I know.
It is not even possible to go directly to my bank and have them make the payment, which, before some far thinking, not, politico changed the rules, was possible, and useful in the circumstances I now find myself in.
Oh well, you live and you learn, and become frustrated.
I shall have a go at making this payment later, or give up and pay the darned fine.
I complained about the wifi on my newish Dell laptop in a few past posts. The wireless signal used to drop so often that it almost became predictable. Well, I finally got round to checking out the Dell site and I found an update to the Intel wifi management software. This update has made a big difference. Now it’s impossible to predict when the wireless signal will drop!
Being a technology nut, I was interested to hear about the latest version of Windows, but after having heard more details, and after having become bamboozled by the myriad of different versions available, my enthusiasm has waned. In an ideal world I would use Linux or possibly Apple’s OS, but these operating systems just do not have the variety of software available that Gates’ creations boast. Although Linux does have some great software available, a lot of it does not have the polish of the Windows equivalents. This will change in time. Anyway, back to Vista. I actually saw a demo version running on PC in the window of a local FNAC shop. I say ‘running’ when in actual fact it was stuttering. The jerky movements did not really make me want to run in and upgrade on the spot, and even if I had, all those different versions would have confused me, so I would probably have gone off to check out which version would be best for me. This all means that I would not have come home with a shiny new operating system.
From what I have understood, you should only consider upgrading if you happen to have a new, high specification PC, otherwise you may have all sorts of problems with hardware drivers, lack of memory and a graphics card that will not be up to scratch. Really, I’m rather glad I got my newish laptop before Vista came along. Windows XP works fine for me and rarely falls over, unlike the previous incarnations in the Windows line. The only thing XP seems to fall down at is running games, which either run out of the box, or don’t, from my experience. I also have a Playstation 2, so PC games don’t really interest me any more.
By the time I get round to upgrading my Dell laptop, with its bouncy wi-fi, I’m sure I’ll end up with Vista, but until that moment, I’m going to stick in XP land. Vista does not really do enough that is interesting for me to try it out. The next incarnation of Windows should be much more interesting. I hope.
Via RSS: Blog from Italy's Feed
To get Italy flavour news and updates via Twitter, follow: @newsfromitaly 2300+ followers and counting.For those who did not know, Francesco Cossiga, who died the other day, was an Italian politician and one time President of Italy. Cossiga hailed from Sardinia, was a fan of John Le Carre and had earned himself the nickname “the pickaxe” owing to his no holds barred criticism of other Italian politicians.
As you may be aware, the generally tumultus world of Italian politics is in turmoil. The Berlusconi government is teetering on the brink of collapse, but what is really surprising, is that this collapse was sparked from the inside.
From spat to full-blown split. Silvio Berlusconi’s marriage of political convenience to Gianfranco Fini has ended in tears. Scorned lover Berlusconi even rejected Fini’s last minute attempts to kiss and make up and remain part of Berlusconi’s party of love. End of love in. Period.
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