Josh Mehlman

For some time, I have been trying to find a case for my iPhone which provides a degree of protection for the screen. I have been known to put the phone in the same pocket as keys or coins and would prefer not to crack or deeply scratch the display. But for some reason, almost all iPhone cases are only concerned with protecting the back of the phone, leaving the more delicate screen vulnerable.

I don’t get it.

But after a lengthy comparison of iPhone cases online and at a local retailer, I found one which seemed to fit the bill: the Belkin Light Protect Rock (or LightProtectRock), also known as the Shield Flex, for 40 bucks.

First off, let’s clarify why you might need to protect the iPhone screen.

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Marketers often say that men find shopping for clothes frustrating and alienating. It’s almost as though the entire process was designed for women, if you believe the stereotypes.

Some very clever online businesses have sprung up based on this premise, making it easier for men to find clothes they want without having to go through an embarrassing ordeal.

I’m not like that, generally. Over the years I’ve found a few good shops and clothing labels that usually have stuff I like that fits me, where they don’t have crappy dance music at eardrum-bursting volume and where the staff are helpful and unpretentious.

Most of the time.

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Gosh, it’s been a busy week; been doing so much I’ve hardly had time to self-promote about it. Outrageous.

The last issue of Nett with my mug on the editor’s page came out last Friday, including my interview with twin brothers Brian and Vincent Wu, founders of clothing retailer Incu.

The best interviews to do are the ones that defy your expectations. Plenty of small business owners aren’t shy about telling you how great they are, which gives you plenty of material for the story, but leaves you feeling a bit cheap and dirty at the end of it. Not these guys! You definitely don’t expect successful fashionistas to be friendly, humble and modest, but Brian and Vincent really are and I’m sure that has a lot to do with their success.

Over the last year, Incu managed to land a coveted deal: the rights to distribute UK brand Topshop in Australia. Considering how many Australian women buy from Topshop UK online, this is very big. The guys from Incu also told me exclusively about their plans to (finally) open an online store next year, and once again I think they have exactly the right approach.

I’ve also been doing some exciting news stories for ZDNet on stuff like telecommunications tenders, state government IT policies, how bad state governments are at looking after our personal data and ERP consolidation projects.

Aside from this, it’s all been about making clients happy by meeting their insane deadlines, finding somewhere to live and even showing up at the odd IT industry Christmas party. Phew!

Banks are often criticised for being super-responsive when interest rates go up, wasting no time in passing on these rises to customers, while being considerably more tardy and relaxed about lowering their rates when the Reserve Bank does.

Technology vendors aren’t hugely worried about interest rates, but most tech is bought and sold in US dollars. When the Australian dollar was doing badly, local prices went up. The Australian dollar is in a very strong position now but local prices have mostly remained static.

Does this spell profiteering? In a competitive market, vendors wouldn’t be able to get away with it…

Here’s a piece I wrote for CRN: The great Australian ripoff.

Here’s a write-up I did for CRN on six leading iPhone apps developed by Australian companies. Mobile apps are a booming area worldwide and, without resorting to parochialism, Australians are doing some really good work and in some cases leading their fields.

Speaking of mobile, here’s a quick story I wrote for iTnews about local firm Digislide scoring $18 million in funding from UK investors. Digislide makes pocket-sized video/data projectors, which are just astounding. I’m not that old, but I can remember when the smallest video projector was the size of a large suitcase and had to be carried by two people.

But is it at all surprising that Digislide had to go overseas to get the money?

It seems there’s always a story if you scratch the surface. Yesterday systems integrator Data #3 had its Annual General Meeting and MD John Grant announced – among other client wins – that the company had won four contracts with NBN Co, the company set up by the Federal Government to manage the rollout of the National Broadband Network. Nothing exciting, just some office PCs, networks and software.

Client win stories are usually very, very dull. People in the industry care because they want to know what their competitors are up to, nobody else is bothered. But in this case, the good people at NBN Co were quite surprised to find that Data #3 had announced this win. And there are some interesting questions about it being a closed bid, when the government is committed to open tenders for all its IT procurement.

OK, that was quick! I’ve posted my first freelance story for iTnews: Government on track for $1bn ICT savings: Tanner.

Soon after it was elected the Rudd Government asked UK public-sector efficiency expert Sir Peter Gershon to examine how the government and public service used information technology. This review, completed in August 2008, estimated the Government could save about $1 billion over four years just by rationalising its ‘business-as-usual’ or day-to-day IT spending. All this, apparently, without having to fire lots of people or reduce the number of IT services or the quality of delivery. (The Gershon review also cures warts and reunites long-lost lovers.)

This hasn’t gone without hiccups: Gershon estimated the Government would save $140 million in the first year, which turned out to be more like $109 million in reality. But with round one already in train, the government is pressing ahead with round two.

If it all works, in about four years’ time, the budget will be $1 billion leaner. Or $500 million at least, because half the savings will be put back into more IT stuff, which will generate more efficiency. Before you know it, the whole of government IT will be run on a couple of recycled desktops running Ubuntu!

Another day, another publication ‘restructures’ its team, another journo goes out into the world trying to earn a living on nothing more than his wits.

This website will serve as my online portfolio and first point of contact for information on my freelance work, how to contact me and what I can do for you.

I’ve been blogging for nearly a decade on various defunct and still-existing sites. This blog will tell you all about my professional freelance work and thoughts on the media, technology and business landscapes. There will probably be a fair amount of pimping and self-promotion; don’t say I didn’t warn you.

If you’re after more personal, political or plain silly thoughts, head over to my vealmince blog.

I’m sitting here at the dining table with the radio burbling away in the background, looking out at the garden and thinking, this isn’t such a bad way to earn a living. I wonder how long that will last…