I've just been browsing some of Loic Le Meur's Qik videos that he mentioned on Twitter (yeah yeah, I had a sneaky peak today). 

Qik allows you to "Stream live video fast to the world. Right from your phone".  The quality therefore, isn't great, but I tell you what it's not half bad either.  I can see how this could be really useful - news and events, mainly.  I'm not entirely sure how they do it live yet, I'll have to have a play this afternoon when I get more time, but I'd love to be able to see footage from world events as they happen being reported via streaming mobile video.  Or in those hard to access places.

So far, it looks like people are using it in place of where you would normally use a video camera, ie, interviews, recording talks etc, but I think it'll come into its own if enough people are using it when the next world event happens, especially if there aren't any camera crews around to catch what's happening.

I'm signing up, and I'll let you know how I get on.

How frustrating.  I was rather hoping that Loic and VinVin were arseholes so that I could continue ranting about Seesmic indefinitely.  However, after dinner tonight it turns out they're bloody marvellous and I feel a bit bad about being so cutting in my review of Seesmic.  Don't get me wrong; I stand by my points on the functionality and lack of response to feedback, however their passion and enthusiasm for their product and community is rather catchy - so they've won a bunch of brownie points from me.

Dinner was held at the Coach & Horses on Greek Street, Soho, and was not bad food for a pub.

Watching everyone Seesmic-ing (Seesmicking? Seesmiccing?) pretty much constantly throughout the evening was amusing, if rather nerdy - it was over dinner afterall...  There were a host of the usual Seesmic users there, as well as some high profile web types like Suw Charman, Hugh McLeod, et al.

After dinner, Hugh did a rather long speech, about, well all sorts really.  At one point I thought he was going to end with the American national anthem.  He didn't, but I'm pretty sure that's only because someone else had started to do a speech by now.  That bit was slightly random, and quite scary in my sober state of being :-)

So, all in all a very pleasant evening with some charming people, and a big thanks to Loic for welcoming me (and even sitting next to me during dinner, he must be a glutton for punishment) and Dean and Sizemore for the invite.

You can see all the photos from the night, here.

Look, aren't we cute?

Yesterday I had a 3 back to back meetings with industry friends.  Turns out my lunch was the great (or great great) grandson of mister Cadbury himself.  He said he couldn't get me any free chocolate though, so I'm not sure how impressed I should be.  Super chap.

Then I met Jamie Riddell for coffee, and swiftly realised I need to do some detailed research into architecture and build in Second Life, which I'm going to get stuck into tomorrow.  Something I've been wanting an excuse to do for ages.

Then I met Richard Sambrook for a catch up, as we've been "chatting" over the wires for a few months now, and it seemed the next logical step.  It was lovely, and good to discuss my (lack of) giving up social media for January.  I have been pretty useless at it, but I am still going strong on Facebook and Twitter at least, which is rather pathetic, but also the two I most wanted to.

Today, I've been invited to dinner on Thursday by Mike Atherton who some of you may recall was very rude about the Chinwag Party last year.  It really pissed me off at the time.  The invite has actually come by way of the lovely Dean Whitbread - so I'm probably not going to be set up ;-) 

The reason I've been asked to dinner is to meet the Seesmic crew, so I get the chance to feedback and they can also no doubt give me their thoughts.  I'm really looking forward to it.  I'm going to take my camera too, and blog about it of course.

Wish me luck!  Oh, and if you don't hear from me after Thursday night, it was Loic and Mike who murdered me.