Archive for August, 2008

US Open 2008

August 24, 2008 3:01 pm

Spent some time in Queens today, watching practice games in preparation for this years US Open.  James Blake and Rafael Nadal were spotted warming up for this weeks start.

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“Pseudo” CellarTracker IPhone/IPod Touch App

August 16, 2008 11:59 am

I love to access my cellartracker data when at the wine shop.  The only problem is that the data connection on my Windows Mobile phone is slow and there is no Wi-Fi for my IPod Touch to connect to.

So, I have been downloading my various lists via Excel, printing them and then taking them along.  I don’t like paper and wanted to get my database on my IPod Touch somehow.

I happened to be scrolling through the Apple Apps store and came across this cool little $1.99 application called “CSV Touch”.  CSV, hmmmm.  I know I can export data to CSV, maybe this app can pull it in and cache it?   YES IT CAN.

So, I purchased the app, went to http://www.cellartracker.com/ow.asp?ExcelDownload to find out how to export to CSV, then realized I can create them on the fly with the following:  http://www.cellartracker.com/xlquery.asp?table=List&User=<your_login>&Password=<your_password>!!!  Be sure to add on &Format=csv for the proper CSV Export.

So I pointed this app to these custom URLs and BAM, it cached my entire wishlist, tasting notes and other lists.  You can select the columns to display so it doesnt get too clogged, when you click on an item, you can see all the data.

Obviously, if you have an IPhone (with v. 2.0 firmware), it will work even better as you can update on the fly without need for a wi-fi hotspot.

Anyway, if you have 2 bucks to burn, download it from the Apple App Store (Search for CSV Touch) and give it a go.

I hope this helps some of you out there who cannot get access to cellartracker while shopping, it will certainly help me!!!

More info about CSV Touch can be found here:  http://www.ozymandias.se/Ozymandias/Home.html

Since it is a CSV database, you can use it for anything!

Slow Motion Lightning Strike

August 11, 2008 5:43 pm

This is very cool.