"sendRPCDone" now known as "Suggest_apply"

Oct 11, 12:05 pm in Technology

I discovered today that Google has changed the function name this time from “sendRPCDone” to “Suggest_apply”. Having looked closer at the new javascript file at http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1&hl=en it seems that it has changed quite a bit. There seems to be some new fun stuff with JSON objects as well.

A quick fix to the old ac.js like this will get the results back, kind off.

window.google = new Object();
window.google.ac = new Object();
window.google.ac.Suggest_apply = sendRPCDone;

However, they’ve also changed the array structure so that keywords and number of results now comes in the same array in consequent elements. So greater code changes are probably required as the changes in the new ac.js file suggest.

This is what the Suggest_apply response looks like.

window.google.ac.Suggest_apply(frameElement, "k;", new Array(2, "kmart", "4,280,000 results", "k n", "3,850,000 results", "k swiss", "17,400,000 results", "k n filters", "1,860,000 results", "k lite", "10,900,000 results", "k lite codec", "3,690,000 results", "k n air filters", "1,580,000 results", "k g", "310,000 results", "k lite codec pack", "3,090,000 results", "klove", "4,060,000 results"), new Array(""));

I guess there are other response formats too such as a jsonRPCDone and maybe also the old sendRPCDone format. I will try to figure out how to trigger each response (url parameter flag). Comments on implementing Suggest_apply and the other potential new response formats are welcome.

Comment [2225]

The next quite probable thing

Oct 10, 11:52 pm in Business

What is the next technology innovation that will open up a new field of opportunities for businesses and start-ups to capitalise on? Well, who cares? It is not only a very speculative question but also extremely difficult to get right. The ones who have got it right usually have had an unflawed logic and more importantly a lot of luck or the clout to create at least part of that prosperous future. A more, if not as sexy, approach is probably to look at businesses that will provide services to those next big things. Yes, here come the tents, pans and pots to the gold rushers again.

John Battelle’s book The Search about Google and the search industry just gave me such an idea. In the book Batelle describes a scenario where our search history is analysed and merged with our TV subscriptions (such as TiVO) to allow advertisers to plug downloaded TV shows with highly relevant commercials. The key point that Battelle points out is that this will change the fundamental economics of TV advertisements. It will turn TV into a new sales channel rather than just a marketing channel. Increased conversion ratios could make the economics viable enough for even smaller firms to use TV commercials. In addition to the scenario described by Battelle several other channels that will be more and more based on interactive services and moving pictures and hence suitable for tailored TV like commercials. Video on Demand services replacing DVD/VHS rentals, multimedia mobile phone messages, online games etc. all of these services will in one way or another be viewed by audiences with a known customer profile or even well described individuals driving the validity of Batelle’s proposed new TV commercial economy. The number of conversions should go up.

Provided that the above development starts to happen there will shortly be an increased demand for production of small and specialised moving image commercials. Who’s going to make all of these? The budgets of today’s commercials are starting to build up to small movie budgets. Does today’s production houses have the flexibility, nimbleness and desire to produce small and cost effective commercials? What about a production house working with a skeleton crew, fast cost effective digital production techniques and re-useable media assets to provide professional adverts at a minimum of lead-time? I think this can be a very interesting and lucrative area over the next 10 years.

Comment [4074]

What is "One more thing..."?

Oct 5, 02:51 pm in Technology

Apple has according to MacCentral this week sent out invitations to a special event in San Jose next week (12th Oct). The invitation says “One more thing…” So what is it?

Lately there have been reports about a last update to the PowerBook line before the Intel machines arrive, new iPods and of course something video. A Powerbook update is probably due and following the success of the Nano and the new design there is probably more iPods in that form factor to come.

But are they of the gravity that Apple wants to announce it at a special invitation only event? Usually, when Jobs uses the words “One more thing…” it is for something significant. Like a new product. like video.

What if this is the launch of Apple’s much anticipated entry into the movie distribution business. iTunes are already letting users browse for music videos and trailers as well as playing them in iTunes. The MacMini comes with a DVI output so that it can connect directly to a new television set in HDTV. Apple by now have a large loyal customer base that are just waiting for Apple to put them in awe again. If next week’s event indeed is about video I think there could be two scenarios unfolding with some common parts.

The commons

I guess there are a range of factors why this should not be happening right now. Bandwidth would be the first one. How many people can download multi gigabyte files in a reasonable time today? Sure there could be a scheduled service that let’s you download during the night etc. but then it’s not really Video on Demand.

Serving the Mac user base

Doing something really cool for everyone else

There seems to be some technical challenges to be overcome before movies are going to work smoothly and be attractive for normal customers. Bandwidth issue, remote control, processor requirements to play full screen HDTV/mpeg4 movies. Apple may have worked there magic again or are they are building up to it and the release next week is a “just” a new generation of Wi-Fi enabled iPods – now that would still be way cool.

Connect at a Hot Spot to Apple Music Store, play it over an Airport Express to your home/car stereo and Sync and share files wirelessly and so on…

Well, it’s always fun to speculate. However, if they release anything of the above be sure to find me beating down the door at my Apple Store.

Comment [673]

RAW Uploader Drop Script

Oct 2, 03:54 pm in Photography

To simplify the task of uploading RAW and JPEG images taken in the RAW/JPEG combo modes I’ve developed a small application that does it for your whilst populating the IPTC metadata fields.

When shooting in the RAW/JPEG mode I’ve found it quite cumbersome to go through the whole card uploading process as my camera puts both file formats in the same folder. The uploading breaks down in to a series of manual repetitive steps.

  1. Create a new directory in my Pictures directory
  2. Copy across all files from card to new directory
  3. Append static meta data
  4. Sort on extension to seperate out the jpgs from the RAWs
  5. Create JPEG directory and copy across filtered JPEGs
  6. Look at pictures

Surely, this could be easier done by say… my computer. Using RAW Uploader I just drop the picture directory from the card on the desktop icon and I’m done. Directory creation, jpeg sorting and metadata population done!

The script, RAW Uploader, creates a new unique directory in your picture directory and copies and splits RAW and JPEG files in to seperate directories. (Copying JPEGs first so that you can start reviewing your pictures whilst the RAW files finishes copying in the background.) The script also populates the IPTC metadata (Name, Copyright Notice, Email, Phone) whilst uploading so when they appear in your image browser you’re ready to go.

It is as easy as that. I’m providing the script as-is and you can go ahead and make changes to it as long as you share your new version.

Go ahead and download it here: RAW Uploader v1.0b

So far the script is very low tech and not fancy. There is for example no user feedback unless you don’t want to launch the Console.app.

Wish list:

I would of course be really keen to get feedback on the script. Let me know how it works in your workflows and set-ups. I’m using a Nikon and have hence not been able to test it on the Canon cameras yet. I’ve included support for .CRW and .CR2 files so it should work. – Well, let me know.

Comment [790]