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Lightning review of LouderVoice for Android

cgarvey — Fri, 22 May 2009 17:29:14 +0000

Below is a very brief review of the new Google Android application, by LouderVoice.com, which allows you to browse, search and write reviews, much like on the main site. They’ve included some basic location-based features, such as the ability to automatically set the location of a given review from your phone’s GPS, and to search for reviews in your current location.

Here’s a quick video tour:

Rated 4/5 on May 22 2009

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LouderVoice review tags: loudervoice for android, loudervoice, android, g1

Decisions for Heroes review (TuesdayPush)

cgarvey — Tue, 19 May 2009 12:30:20 +0000

There’s a wealth of web applications addressing all sorts of needs. With the focus, these days, on all things social media and social networking, specific vertical markets are often left behind.

Today, sees a reversal of that trend as Robin Blandford, of ByteSurgery, officially launched Decisions For Heroes, after a lengthy and exhaustive beta period. Robin also works in the vertical market the site is aimed at, rescue incident management, which brings a wealth of experience to the application. Not content with that, Robin worked with large and small rescue operations during a beta phase to make sure the application covered the incident management practices of a wide audience.

Incident management is more about recording, with a good level of field-specific detail, a given incident and to then be able to analyse trends in that data at a later date. Decisions For Heroes allows users to record rescue incidents, keep track of certification, some basic resource management, built in communication and notification, manage non-rescue incidents (such as training and events), and all in an easy, and clearly well-researched UI.

Take the Decisions For Heroes tour to get a more complete run down of the application’s capabilities. Price plans start from €40 which might seem expensive for a web application, but not when you break it down. It’s not €40/user, for a start, and when you examine the man hours spent on recording and reporting, you’ll find significant time savings with Decisions For Heroes.

Robin has spotted a way a web application could help a life-saving vertical market, has built a fantastic application, has involved plenty of field-expertise (aside from his own) and delivered an absolutely fantastic solution for the market. If you look at the video and tour, you’ll see the level of detail has been well thought out, and that this is not a thrown-together application done on the cheap.

Congratulations to Robin and ByteSurgery, for delivering!

Buenos Aires Grill quick review

cgarvey — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:23:13 +0000

Buenos Aires Grill

If you’re a steak fan, then you’ll want to try out Buenos Aires Grill! I’m a chef’s nightmare in that I like plain food, and I like my meat well cooked. However, I’ve found that you can pretty accurately judge a restaurant by the way it presents well-cooked meat! Whether your a bleeding or burnt steak fan, you’ll enjoy the steaks here, and it’s worth a visit.

Price was reasonable for the good quality food, selection was fairly refined (and greatly reduced if you are not a steak fan!). For a ball park figure, it was roughly €40 per head for a 3 course meal + coffee.

The restaurant is off the beaten track somewhat, so it’s easily overlooked, but it’s only a 2 minute walk across from Captiol on George’s St., Dublin, beside the new Radisson hotel.

Service was efficient but somewhat unprofessional, bordering on awkward. As we were there early there was plenty of waiting staff, and 2 girls practically tripping over themselves to help us. They were all very friendly, and very efficient, don’t get me wrong, just lacking a bit in communication skills and some etiquette (like let the last person finish eating before asking would we like dessert).

The other big caveat that needs to be mentioned is that they haven’t got their liquor licence in order, so can’t serve wine, or any alcohol. It didn’t bother any of us, but many like a nice wine to compliment a nice steak. I believe this is temporary, but it’s worth noting none the less.

The atmosphere was nice and relaxed, no blaring music, and a nicely aired room with adequate lighting.

All in all, we were all very pleased with all of our meals, especially the quality of the steaks. Full marks for the food (quality anyway, if not selection), and price. Reduced marks for lack of alcohol (and a slight reduction for the service professionalism).

Rated 4/5 on Dec 17 2008

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LouderVoice review tags: restaurant, grill, argentine, steak