Posting a picture from BlackBerry to Shrtmsg.com, App.net #adnBBhelp

I couldn't figure out how to get a picture uploaded into Shrtmsg.com from my BlackBerry Torch 9810 because when I tried the usual means for uploading to UberTwitter and other such social networking sites, it just didn't work.

The problem was that the choice for selecting the file for upload via a folder wasn't available.

When I clicked on the picture icon in shrtmsg, I was only given options to upload from:
- Camera
- Device
- Assets
- Pictures

Unfortunately, the pictures folder choice was the template pictures that come with the BlackBerry for use as desktop images.

First I thought I could solve the problem by creating a folder for my own pictures to upload from.

It was simple enough and I did that and it worked, but then the next few I tried just would not upload. I tried switching from the GPRS network to the wifi, but no luck.

I thought the problem might be image size so I checked the BlackBerry site to find out if it is possible to reduce the size of an image file in the handheld, but it is not.

I then checked the App Store and found a few options.

The first one I tried by Ice Cold Apps didn't work because it is only for uploading images so it set me back and I was facing the same conundrum I had been tussling with in the first place.

I then found another app, AutoResize, made by DRI App World, which allowed image size to be changed, and saved in a folder it generated called "AutoResize".

It still would not upload the picture.

I cleared the cache in the browser and it still didn't work so I also deleted the battery for a while.

After I reinstalled the battery it worked!

The picture is much smaller than the first one I was able to upload, so it will be worth continuing to experiment to see if I can actually use the original file size.

It's not ideal, but it is definitely a workaround, so to speak.

Also, this is not a recommendation for AutoResize because it keeps popping up an annoying message telling me that I haven't paid for it and it has expired, but I did pay for it.

Not sure what that is all about and wondering if the resolution was just to clear the cache in the first place and not reduce file size.

To be continued . . .

Clampdown on communications at cyber conference

The London Cyber conference hosted by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was a disaster for journalists.  

It was set up so that delegates and journalists could not mingle. Delegates could not go to the media room and media could not go to the areas where delegates were giving presentations.

The only people able to interact and report on proceedings were non-journalists.

This seemed ironic given that we had to provide passport details, pictures, letters from employers to prove our identities.

It was somewhat of a shock to find upon arrival at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster that not only were bags to be checked and a walk through a metal detector required, but that two security men with guns (big ones, not sure what kind) were overseeing proceedings.

The second shock was that the only refreshments available to news hounds were instant coffee, tea and milk. No food whatsoever.  The significance of this being that it meant journalists had to leave the premises in order to eat and go through the security search procedure again upon return.  This meant they were unable to watch all the proceedings.

The third shock was that the proceedings were only available to journalists via TV screen.  Some events were live streamed and others were screened on a 20 minute time lag, which made it very confusing to know what was happening and when.

There had been no effort put into trying to figure out how journalists could listen to side-by-side screens with different information broadcasting from them at the same time.

Panic ensued as the technology failed and limitations became apparent.

I immediately got a headache.

Interview rooms were available, but a list of delegates was not. The only people obviously in attendance were the speakers.

I was able to reach one person I wanted to interview through a contact in New York City who put me in touch. The other two people I interviewed got in touch via Twitter. I had sent tweets asking people if they wanted to talk to get in touch.

This is not an ideal way to do reporting. There were 900 delegates from 60 countries.

When I asked to book a room to do an interview, I was asked who I wanted to interview by the staffers. This was an inappropriate question. I should not have to say who I am interviewing, I should be allowed to book the interview room without any kind of explanation. I had to be escorted and so did the person I was interviewing.

It seemed like there were about 20 people involved in making this interview happen.

On On Day Two, @documentally told me I could get into the delegates area. I did manage to get into the area. The main benefit was free lunch.

Anyone of interest had left by the time I got inside.

The irony of all this being that the meeting was supposed to promote the idea of Internet freedom and collaboration.

I managed to do a story, a factbox and a video, so I did achieve something, but I feel I could have done much better and found some really interesting people to speak with had I known who was there.

I went for ½ pints with @documentally, @radiokate and @naeema afterwards.