Archive for March 2005

BaseCamp

This is the software I’ve been waiting for: BaseCamp – a simple way to manage projects effectively. Tried some of the open-source ones out there, they seem to have lots of extra features that I don’t need or want, and will require more time to get used to. Besides, Basecamp is so much more: usable. Although I would prefer to have an open-source version so I can host it on my own site, but with open-source projects, getting something of the same quality will be a long time away. No doubt there are open-source BaseCamp clone projects being started on SourceForge as I speak! (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery)

Vancouver tech companies being gobbled up left and right

Yesterday came the announcement that Radical Entertainment (a Vancouver game programming company) has officially been acquired by Vivendi-Universal Games. It seems that all the smaller Vancouver game companies have been snapped up by bigger ones – Relic Entertainment (makers of Homeworld) was acquired by THQ Inc last year, and Rival Studios was acquired by RockStar Games (makers of Grand Theft Auto).

A few days ago, Apple Computer snapped up SchemaSoft, a Vancouver company that specializes in file format-conversions, and services. They are just a stone’s throw from my workplace, in Yaletown. A former co-worker works there, and I bet he’s pretty pumped up being an Apple employee, being a long-time Mac devotee and all.

Last week, Vancouver based Flickr.com was bought out by Yahoo. A few months ago, Creo was bought out by Kodak. Notice a trend? I wonder when the company I am working for will be bought out ;-P