November 2010 - skunkworks - Skunkworks Site

Sony Center in Nairobi
by Felakut 09 Nov '10

09 Nov '10

Anyone who knws where sony center office are in Nrb. Thx

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Idea
by d test 09 Nov '10

09 Nov '10

Whats wrong with this idea ? i cant figure it out Assuming “Case A” peter is a usual guy he makes a standard salary and with his little earnings he can only wait for products to go on sale so that he can get some discount on the Ps3 he so much wishes to buy. “Case B” a retailer has had some stock for some time and he wants to make a sale but he is not confident that he will get enough sales. He is not confident that enough people will know about the sale. Both case A and case B need each other but there is no connection. Well case A and B should not worry anymore because the solution is here. On the other hand once in a while the seller makes a decision to make a sale for his product the main idea of this online business is to unite Case A and Case B, this way making the customer happy and the client too.

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NairobiTech Article on KDN, how true is this?
by Simon Mburu 09 Nov '10

09 Nov '10

How true is this article http://nairobitech.blogspot.com/2010/11/kdn-faces-wind-up-over-sh1billion-d… -- Simon Gatonye 0722993642 P.O. Box 75232 Nairobi - 0200

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Transport Integrated Management (TIM) System
by Glenn Sequeira 09 Nov '10

09 Nov '10

Anyone on the list with additional info on TIMS (budgets, timelines etc)? The info on the Ministry of Transport (http://tinyurl.com/395ja6y) and ICT Board (http://tinyurl.com/2w4g7bd) websites is sketchy. ~gms

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Another useless open source project story, unless you are NASA.
by aki 09 Nov '10

09 Nov '10

Well, if your are NASA than you know what you are doing. Showing the Wannabe world how things get done.... NASA also is developing its own cloud computing technology known as Nebula. Nebula is an open source project that the space agency will use for building shared services, storage capacity, and computing cycles to reduce its costs. According to a CIO.com<http://www.networkworld.com/news/2010/092910-for-nasa-an-open-source-cloud.…>story on the project, Nebubla will let users throughout NASA can unilaterally provision and manage IT resources for low-security applications on demand. Next year, IT will launch Nebula's platform as a service: a shared development framework, code repository and set of Web services that developers can use to deploy secure, policy-compliant software-as-a-service applications. NASA has spent more than $10 million on the project, but it will be another year before the return is clear http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/nasa-takes-cloud-computing-mars?… --- Saidia-Ohh-Saidia Apps Made in KE aka Mkate Nusu---

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MLabs manager position now open
by King'ori Gitahi 09 Nov '10

09 Nov '10

Hello all, � We announced the winners of the Mobile Application labs hosting bid earlier this year {iHub in Kenya, and CSIR Meraka in South Africa} We are now looking for a suitable lab manager for the Kenyan position.� Please forward the following link to candidates you feel would fit this role. � http://www.infodev.org/en/Article.606.html � Regards, � King’ori Gitahi For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. Nelson Mandela� -------------------------------------------------------------- Ovi Mail: Making email access easy http://mail.ovi.com

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ACCIDENTALLY SWALLOWED A CMOS BATTERY.
by Dave Kirirah 09 Nov '10

09 Nov '10

Hi, a few months ago my colegue accidentally swallowed a cmos battery and she is not a technician....I being a technical guy i adviced her to take a COLON CLEANING ENEMAS whea they flush out all content of ur intestines since she said she fears that that the battery hasnt come out by natural cause even after a week. So the next week on a tuesday she told me she did as i said and they managed to find the cmos...i told her i dont want it back but am glad she's ok.. Anywy after two three weeks , her body looks mavelous and her skin is so clean i dont know if it has anything to do with this procedure. Bt anywy, has anyone ever had this procedure done to them...because it looks like a good idea to flush toxins out of ur body n hv ur colon brand new.. If u hv, let me know if it hurts coz this gal cnt share anything with me..because i was the cause of all this battery swallowing incident.. <http://ezinearticles.com/?Colon-Cleaning-Enemas&id=428690> -- Direct your attention to the best... http://www.bigbang.co.ke/

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Taxes on Cell Phones
by Nawaz Bagha 09 Nov '10

09 Nov '10

Hi Folks, I intend to buy a Blackberry Storm off ebay for my personal use... Is anyone aware of what taxes I might pay when getting it from Posta Kenya? Has anyone ordered something like this before? -- Regards, NB...

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To Re-Invent the wheel? Why is it important for us to keep re-inventing, re-evolving. I also give you a project..
by aki 09 Nov '10

09 Nov '10

Many companies, investors do not think about the re-invention issue. Most VCs, Seeds, goodwill or angel investors or even partnerships will consider the impact of your work/product/solution. Does it have to be ground breaking? It has to be different.... *As a example of re-inventing the wheel is this:* -OLD WHEEL : Fascinating facts about the invention of the Wheel by Mesopotamian's in c3500 BC. http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/wheel.htm - NEW WHEEL : The brand OZ Racing is developed and manufactured in Italy. Pure OZ Racing Style, pure Italian Style. http://www.ozracing.com/car_wheels_brands/OZ%20Racing.aspx So with that simple example in mind, I'd like to have your attention for the words below. I list this project and is the property of the Skunks KE community. *Lets begin with what you are: * - 90% of us are all just end users of systems. Whether Developers or not, you are just that. So you know how to write scripts on linux, windows or mac? So what, so can millions of other people. - You know how to write C#, C++, CSS or HTML or JAVA? So what, you are no different from 90% of the end user market. - You know to configure Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris? Yeah, ok whatever. - You know how to create graphics or logos on photoshop? Yeah, good work but no one cares. - You know how to setup, configure, plesk, cpanel, asterisk etc? Again, so what. So does the rest of the world who taught you to configure these. - I know how to confirgure Cisco, Nortel, Juniper, Rad, Extreme Networks? Right, tell the world something new! While we all are at the mercy of what happens elsewhere it becomes our zone to improve, re-evolve and re-invent as much as possible. *The Project Idea:* We all know that the Mobile market is exploding with many demands and better handsets. We also know that Smartphones is just but a tiny market. What is needed is really a USSD type of application that is not handset dependent, thus allowing access that is not even internet dependent. *The Wheel:* Ohh, do I hear everyone running to Kannel? Or providers like clickatel? I bet you 90% of all SMS gateways are running kannel and so you know how to setup and configure? Great, your are just another user statistic in the picture of technology development. How many kenyan providers use this product? Ohh, am a kannel developer and I know how to do wonderful things on kannel. Rubbish statement, you are just driver of a nissan matatu that is an LHD model. The Kannel Wheel evolved for Kenyan and African Markets, developed and open for re-investment to any investors like eg Nokia, VCs, Seeders, Telcos, Partnerships : Let me not even fill in the details here..... *So what is it that am saying?* Gentlemen, Ladies. Mind not the language but I hope it brings out the point. There is so much to be done, we need to build and invite investments. Am still a hobbyist dev so I have enough time to kill study and time on various projects, so far there are 17 lined up enough to keep me busy for many many months. Are you still trying to be an end user in the name of not re-inventing or re-evolving? My plea to you in one. Please wake up from that end user sleep and do something. Each day that goes is a loss for this country in terms of investments, recognition. and technology development You are also letting opportunities go by as you stand and watch others from countries come up with simple and silly ways, yet they are getting somewhere. I can only wish you success with your projects. :-) Me thots and corrections welcome. Rgds.

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Speed camera that can check your seatbelt
by Joshua Twinamasiko G. 09 Nov '10

09 Nov '10

Good morning, While East Africa is yet to have speed cameras installed on highways (I stand to be corrected, but I don’t remember any fixed cameras along any East African roads that I have used, just the speed guns that traffic police officers use depending on their mood) Finland is deploying a camera that can detect your speed, whether you have a seatbelt or not, insurance and tax status and can send photos and call the police on its own. More here: http://bit.ly/cR071t The project website: http://bit.ly/aw0go5 Regards, Joshua Twinamasiko G. Managing Editor, PC Tech Magazine Published monthly by PC Tech Communications Ltd. t: +256 312 274 869 m: +256 774 143 720 / +256 701 143 720 www.pctechmagazine.com | www.pixelmagic.co.ug | www.joshtwin.com

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