The Eric Wroolie Blog

Overpass Experiences

Nike+ API Revisited

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One of the highest traffic posts I get on this blog is the brief post on accessing the Nike+ API with C#. I’m pretty proud of that post, but I don’t keep up with how the API works.Running Shoes

The Nike+ API is not published, so it’s not public.  It can change at any time.

If you are interested in the Nike+ iPod API, there is a much more up-to-date blog you may want to have a look at.  It’s called Running Tracker.  I’ve been subscribed to the RSS feed of this site.  They’ve created a cross-platform desktop application to examine the data stored with Nike.  I know about their API changes through Running Tracker.

If you have come to this site about the API, by all means, use the code if you can– but also check out the Running Tracker site as it is more up-to-date on the subject than I have been.  Their application doesn’t use C#, but it might be able to help you out with more information.

Creative Commons License photo credit: marksteelenz

What Twitter is becoming

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I enjoy Twitter.  It’s easy to update.  The low character limit, rather than being a hindrance, encourages people to start using it who would never think of started a self-serving blog.  It’s easy to put off a quick statement without having to think too much about it.  I find I update Twitter far more than this blog.

I’m getting lots of followers.  This is good for the ego until I look at who they are.  On any given day, I will get a few email like the following:

SomebodyYouDontKnow is following you on Twitter.
Followers: 300
Status Updates: 121
Following: 1421

Now, I ask you . . . how can someone follow the status updates of over 1400 people?  How is it even possible?  Why would someone want to do it?

I get two or three of these type of followers a day.

I’m also seeing a lot of articles on the web titled “How to increase you followers in Twitter”.  It’s like the new SEO.  There are people now calling themselves “Social Media Consultants”.

I suspect that people follow thousands of people so that those people will in turn follow them.  It makes sense I guess– you send more mail when you want to get more mail.  However, there is just something spammy about this.  Maybe they are looking for the top spot in the Twitter stats.

Twitter is not like Facebook where you have to give permission to people so they can see your status.  You can search all tweets (unless the author specifically selects to option to make it private)– so there is no reason to follow 14k or more people. 

A few years ago, I kept getting contacted by SEO charlatans saying things like “I can get your company in the top 10 on Google.”  It was a ridiculous statement.  I asked if they knew what my business did or what keywords I wanted, but they didn’t. 

I now soon expect to be told, “I can get you 20k followers on Twitter. ”  But who wants that?

Why I would never host with Re-Invent Technologies again

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A couple of years ago, I bought some web-space from a company called Re-Invent Technologies (http://www.re-invent.com/) for some ASP.Net web space with SQL Server hosting.  I paid for a 2 year contract. 

I didn’t realise they had set me up with the dreaded auto-renew option.

About six months ago, I migrated my site to a dedicated server because I had converted it into PHP.  I knew the Re-Invent contract was due to run out anyway.

I noticed a few weeks ago that I had been charged for another year of server (about £60).  I never received an invoice or an email notifying me this would happen.  The last correspondence I had from the company was two years ago. 

So, I sent a polite email to them explaining that I didn’t use the webspace anymore.  I said that there should be no traffic coming through and that I did not get an email notifying me of the new charge.  I also, in an effort to get them to be more responsive, thanked them for the service and said I would recommend them to others.  Could they please refund my money, or at least the money for the rest of the year from now?

What I got back was as follows:

Hello

Notices are sent automatically to the email address on file about 2 weeks prior to billing.  Customers are responsible for maintaining their current contact information.

To cancel your account you would need to log into the customer portal (NOT control panel)  and click on the account cancellation link on the left.  This is the only means of cancellation as per the hosting contract.
Refunds are given only if the cancellation is within 15 days of the renewal date, as per the hosting agreement also.

Thank You

Re-invent Technologies LLC
http://www.re-invent.com

Now, I know they are not legally required to refund my money (not sure about this, actually)– but if they wanted me to host my .Net stuff with them in the future, they would have.  They could have been a little more client focused in how they dealt with this issue.  It is not signed by a person.  There is no one I can talk to.  They have not addressed my genuine issue of not getting the emails or the invoices.  There is no empathy at all in this email.  Even if it had said, “I’m so sorry, our policy is that we . . .” whatever, it would still suck, but it would soften the blow.

So, I would NOT recommend this company.  They blew it.  I’ve paid them money to host with them, and I can’t even talk to anyone.  I’m a little annoyed.

So I’m posting this for anyone who is Googling Re-Invent. Anyone who is doing a little research before hosting with them, I am giving you warning.    In fact, let me just include this for SEO: “Re-Invent Technologies Review”.

I’ve hosted with lots of companies.  When I’ve had issues, I usually get a ticket back with someone’s name on it.  This was a legal response.

My Review of Re-Invent: Very poor customer service.  They got my money this time, but they will NEVER get another penny from me. 

There.  I feel better.