For the first time, I’ve come across project management software – Huddle. Sure, it may’ve been around for a while, but when I stumble across new things, it’s good to share.

It’s a space where you can share documents and collaborate with people (specific people and groups) online who are working on the same project as you.

Huddle’s tag phrase is ‘connect, share and work better together.’ A place you can manage people, projects and information inside and outside your business – securely.

It’s like a big, secure chat room – and, it’s free to get started!

Here are the benefits of using Huddle:
* Unlimited users: Invite as many people as you need
* Discussions: Don’t ‘reply all’. Use discussion forums to brainstorm ideas
* Document creation: Create and edit Office documents online and on your desktop via Microsoft Office
* File sharing: Store, share and manage your files
* Project alerts and notifications: Assign tasks, auto reminders and iCal integration
* Whiteboards: Or wiki, share ideas and comments, easily work together on documents
* Document management: Automated versioning, audit trails and approval workflows
* Meetings: Integrated phone & web conferencing
* Custom branding: Customize your dashboard, homepage, emails, own URL
* Security: 128 bit SSL, control over who can see and read documents

Take a look – here.

An interesting blog at Mashable asks whether Facebook can make people instantly connect. Ori Brafman says with all the news about Facebook’s never-ending privacy problems and the exodus of angry users, has the real story been overlooked?

Specifically, is Facebook limiting people’s ability to actually, well, connect? Ori has done some research into the things that make people connect instantly.

He says, “From meeting someone at a work party to that special spark on a first date, instant connections aren’t just intense; they can have a substantial effect on the overall tenor of the ensuing relationship. Research has shown that teams that click tend to work more effectively together and couples that had love at first sight are more passionate with each other even after twenty years.”

Ori says that Facebook indeed does foster some of these connections, but there are specific factors, or accelerators, that trigger such connections. Read the whole mashable.com blog here.

Google has just released what might be seen as their answer to Facebook – Orkut.

It’s an online community designed to make people’s social lives more active and stimulating, by helping people maintain existing relationships and friendships with pictures and messages…sound familiar?

Orkut makes it easy to find people who share the same hobbies and interests as you, look for potential love connections or establish business contacts.

And, much like Twitter, Orkut has created a wide variety of online communities to discuss current events. It’s also a place to reconnect with old school friends and exchange information.

Who you interact with is entirely up to you. Before getting to know an Orkut member, you can read their profile and even see how they are connected to you through the friends network..

All you have to do is sign up through your Google/Gmail account – www.orkut.com



A big part of the digital revolution over the last five years has been in digital cameras used for producing content. Once a high-end camera used for TVCs (television commercials) or documentaries would’ve cost many thousands of dollars. Now, for just a few thousand dollars, you can buy a quality camera that shoots in HD (High Definition) and captures superb image quality with low noise and natural colour.

The Canon EOS 7D is one such camera that fits this description and is now being used worldwide for music videos, TV commercials and even in the production of TV shows and cinema.

A local film maker – Logan McMillan from Gorilla Productions – has been using the Canon 7D for the last 18 months and most recently won the V48HR Furious Filmmaking competition for the best cinematography for New Zealand.

Logan has used the 7D and worked with Tandem on numerous projects including the documentary he filmed and co-directed last year with Tandem’s Dave Dunlay – Ake Ake Kia Kaha, Citizen Soldier (the excerpt from that documentary is below). Logan is again working on another documentary with the team here at Tandem and it was while on location that Dave got this short interview with Logan about the joys of the Canon 7D:

Here’s a piece from last years Citizen Soldier Documentary:

When thinking site-search engines, the obvious one is Google, right? According to Geoff Brash from SLI Systems, Google is an excellent tool, but SLI’s searches go more in-depth.

Say for example you were looking for something really specific, like purple jellybeans, SLI’s search engine would no doubt be able to help you find them. They have developed a learning-based search and navigation technology for publishers, Ecommerce and corporate sites that Searches, Learns and Improves the user experience, making it easier to find really specific things.

Here’s an interview we had with Geoff Brash from SLI as part of Fresh Ideas:

Tandem produces commercials for local and national clients, and every couple of months an international project pops up. But nothing as adventurous as the commercials we made for the Flight of the Conchords.

We had a call from Creative Sounds – a production house in Ireland – who were working with Another Planet Entertainment, a company based in the United States which was promoting a FOTC tour. Creative Sounds was charged with the role of making commercials for the tour so, naturally, they contacted Tandem – a New Zealand-based production company – for a Kiwi male voice artist.

The commercial was promoting “New Zealand’s fourth-most popular guitar bass digi-bongo acapella rap funk comedy folk duo – Flight Of The Conchords” tour in the US.

After putting forward a few voice samples, Toby Ricketts eventually won that job. Here’s the commercial:

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And while we’re in a Flight of the Conchords mood, check out one of their most-popular clips on YouTube. It’s had over 11-million hits.

In 2008, it won the APRA children’s song of the year, and now a new accolade – the New Zealand Post Children’s Choice book award.

So, what makes Craig Smith’s children’s book and song The Wonky Donkey so popular? It might have something to do with this little question – What do you call a donkey with only three legs, one eye, likes to listen to country music, is quite tall and slim, smells really bad, gets up early in the morning and hasn’t had any coffee, is always getting up to mischief but is quite good looking?

A…. spunky, hanky panky, cranky, stinky dinky, lanky, honkey tonkey, winky, wonky donkey – of course!

Catch the interview we had with Craig this week, as part of our Fresh Ideas section:

Craig doesn’t just make content for children. He recorded part of his album, 45 South, at Tandem Studios. He has also signed to another book with the song Willbee the Bumblebee. That’s due to be released in October 2010. In the meantime, stay entertained with The Wonky Donkey:

One of the recent talks at TED was with Adam Sadowsky whose team was in charge of building a massive Rube Goldberg machine for OK Go’s music video – This Too Shall Pass.

Adam tells the story of the effort and engineering behind their labyrinthine creation that quickly became a YouTube sensation.

Michael Brown’s Finding the Field has made it through to the second round of the Next Top Spiritual Author competition.

In spite of this competition, aimed at landing a traditional publisher, the printed book is available now, through www.findingthefield.com. The Order Now button takes you directly to the right page on Amazon Books – the only way to get a copy until Michael signs up with a traditional publisher.

You can of course download free podcasts of the book – recorded at Tandem – by clicking here.

Michael has already received some good feedback from readers. Here are some typical comments:

“Up to page 83. Can’t put it down! What a ripper! Congratulations.”
Allanah James, New Zealand

“I sat and read it in one sitting. It is wonderful and will touch a lot of people I am sure.”
Jenny Finlay, Canada

“I loved it!!!!!”
Andrea van Heerden, Australia

“I’ve read no other books that I found to be so profound and compelling.”
Toby Ricketts, New Zealand

“It is really well written! There is so much in there! I will read the book a second time.”
Bjoern Hofmann, Switzerland

“This book is exquisite!”
Deb Stanaway, New Zealand

To vote for Michael’s book – click here. If you voted for Michael in Round 1, voting will be swift and simple (one click on Voter Login). If you didn’t, the system will ask you to register first (click on Voter Registration).

Serena is leaving What Now? so they’re looking for a new host – and one of the finalists is using social networking to help spread the word.

Christchurch-based Cassie Baker started the group on Facebook just two days ago, and already she has almost 200 followers.

“I started it so that my Facebook friends with children could join and support me,” Cassie said from a primary school she was just about to perform at.

Cassie’s been touring around the country with The Duffy Theatre – along with her friends Greydon and Rob – on Duffy’s Big OE. Through her work in primary schools, she is also spreading the word about being in the final top six for the presenting role. “I’m always thinking of other ways, other than the internet, to spread the word, so I’ve been physically telling the kids to vote for me too,” she laughs.

Hundreds of people from around New Zealand have applied for the role, but there can be only one that fills Serena’s shoes.

She’s unsure which week she’ll be trying the role of presenter out – so stay tuned, and in the meantime, you can follow her group on Facebook – Cassie Baker in the TOP 6 to fill Serena’s shoes on What Now!