|  November
-
December 2002
It's nice to have just completed projects
for familiar Sound Ideas clients, and to be working
with some again in the near future, such as Chain Bridge
Honey Farm, Marshall Meadows Hotel and Montane. Recently
completed projects include a site for Willow Wear, The
Helicopter Emergency Safety Group, Gymnastic Express,
Bio-Health Solutions and Stop & Shop Ltd.
Over
the next couple of months we'll be getting our teeth
into or completing exciting new web site projects for
the European School of Management, Dave Miller Ltd.,
D B Security, Halls of Heddon, Rural Property Services,
the Samling Foundation, Northern Enterprise Limited,
Polar Krush, Greys of Alnwick, Centaur Tipping Services
and Northern Heritage Productions.
It's
been a great year, and I'd like to take this opportunity
to wish all clients and visitors a very merry Christmas
and a happy New Year!
 September-October
2002
The run up to Christmas is always a busy
time, and our 'To Do' list is a long and interesting
one. We're launching the new Shark
Group web site (right), as well as Cantonese versions
of most of the Centaur
Group sites, including Fantastic
Sportsbets (below). Also launching any day now are
brand new sites for Northern Enterprise Limited,
Willow Wear (equine equipment), Gymnastics
Express, Biosalve and iProbus. Recent
additions to the Sound Ideas portfolio include sites
for Classic Ceilings,
Wagtail Press
and Midas Studios,
not to mention the Robin
Hood Inn, Woodley
Field B&B, and School
Gate Books. Oh - I seem to have mentioned them after
all.
 Exciting
new projects taking us into the new year include sites
for two local primary schools, a car importer/dealership,
the National Resource Group for Golf, The Samling Foundation,
Halls of Heddon Garden Centre and Earth Balance 2000,
amongst others.
July-August
2002
Phew - it's hot, and I'm not just talking
about the weather. After a short break in the Lake District,
we've come back to a full schedule of exciting media
development. What's in the pipeline? Well, Shark Group
will have a lovely new web site soon to reflect their
rebranding and updated image across their range of hi-octane
performance clothing. Also, regional funding body Northern
Enterprise Limited will be getting a shiny fresh look.
Also, local history production company Hartnell Video
are working with Sound Ideas to launch Northumberland's
first interactive DVD feature - other details top secret
at present! Other near future work includes sites for
Equine retailers Willow Wear, Wall Garage, Huggins-Haig,
Holland Property Development, Classic Ceilings, Berwick
Regeneration and Montane.
Recent
launches have included Capricorn Mohair (www.capricorn-mohair.com)
and Kate's Kloths (www.kateskloths.co.uk).
Fantastic Forecasts and their holding company Centaur
Group have recently launched several sports betting
related web sites, including www.fantastic-forecasts.com,
www.fantasticsportsbets.com
and www.ownyourownracehorse.com and www.centaur-group.co.uk.
Centaur Seminars will be launching soon, along with
a sports related corporate hospitality web site.
Local
entrepreneurs Peter and Susan Moore continue to go from
strength to strength - their business Supply Teachers'
Co-operative has recently expanded and become the STC
Consortium - new site now live at www.stcconsortium.co.uk.
 May-June
2002
Nicer weather, a new office, and lots of
exciting things to do. Also, we've finally got round
to establishing (or should I say re-establishing after
what seems like 3 years, but is in fact just over 3
years) the Sound Ideas multitrack recording facility.
Now based around a Macintosh rather than the original
Atari (showing my age - or at least that of my antiquated
previous system) and just lovely for the odd sound project.
Well perhaps not that odd.
Current
projects include work for School Gate Educational Book
Company, Capricorn Mohair (shopping system), Fantastic
Forecasts (Chinese translation of site), Roseden Farm
Shop (shopping system), Earth Balance, Montane (new
range), The Robin Hood Inn, Iona Art Glass (updates),
Enviroquest and Knitting Online (knit one, Perl 5).
Oh and a couple of rather exclusive B&Bs in the
Tyne Valley. Mmm.
 March-April
2002
Sound
Ideas is audited and approved by the National Association
of Approved Internet Services (NAAIS). NAAIS endeavors
to provide Internet based businesses with a level of
business support that has been lacking in the new media
industry, and has filled a long overdue gap in the accreditation
of Internet Service Providers and web designers in particular.
Check out their site at www.approvedinternet.com.
January-February
2002
Sound
Ideas Webcam now operational - click
here.
 A
very happy new year to you all from Sound Ideas. We're
already involved in many new projects at the start of
2002, and web sites are in the pipeline for a number
of Northumbrian hotels and guest houses, including the
Percy Arms in Otterburn (pictured right). There are
also new developments for a number of coastal businesses,
including charter boat and river cruise clients who
wish to take advantage of European Fisheries grant support,
available through Business Link.
Also,
to keep in with the oceanic theme, existing clients
Swallow Fish
and the Berwick
Shellfish Company are upgrading their Sound Ideas
sites to include online transaction and secure payment
functions - clearly a fish e-business.
Northumbria-Larder
continues to grow apace, thanks to the pioneering efforts
of their management team which includes the Northumberland
Cheese Company's Mark Robertson, and of course their
new web site. Also kicking up a storm is Stan Pike,
whose recent IntenseFitness
site is snowballing interest in his Kettle Bell products,
and orders are streaming in from all over the world.
 November-December
2001
First Class Music, the major new CD-ROM music
resource developed by TEEM, with Jason Thompson as the
main designer and developer, is finally complete and
due for release in the very near future. Over a year
in development, the CD is a very comprehensive learning
resource for Key Stage 2 children. It contains 22 structured
lessons, all with many activities and intuitive feedback
and assessment, as well as worksheets, video and over
2 hours of high quality audio. Several hundred advance
copies have already been sold to Singapore, and the
early signs are that this much anticipated CD-ROM will
be very popular in schools, with a home version due
for retail release in the new year.
Stan
Pike, a Northumbrian blacksmith and local celebrity,
is having the Sound Ideas treatment at the moment. More
details about his site makeover soon. Others in line
for the same revamp-work are Northern Heritage Gifts,
Almost Unwearoutable and Yfriday - currently making
waves with the release of their single, available now
in Virgin and HMV stores nationwide.
 August
2001
Most of the summer has been spent quietly working for
regional multimedia development group TEEM on their
ambitious update to the popular, and previously Macintosh
only, First Class Music. The PC CD-ROM is almost finished,
and more news will follow.
Recent
web site developments completed, or nearing completion
include projects for the Berwickshire and North Northumberland
Coast European Marine site, pictured above (www.xbordercurrents.com),
wildlife artist Rod Sutterby (www.rodsutterby.co.uk),
folk musicians and publishing company Stonehouse Music
(www.stonehousemusic.co.uk)
and a new eShop for Prior Analytics, who are agents
for GoldMine and related software products.
Current
developments include work for an exciting new Golf related
web site (top secret at the moment I'm afraid), Thermal
Solutions (manufacturers of highly specialised heatsync
products), Minibitz Direct, Fair Game & Northern
Game, and Exley Brothers. Further details when available.
Winner
of the Sound Ideas Competition!
All you had to do was answer this simple question and
and you could win a complete copy of System Suite 2000
by Ontrack! The complete suite of products to PROTECT,
FIX, and TUNE-UP your PC. Question: Which Sound Ideas
web site features an animated character called Albert,
who skis, plays golf and rides a bike? The answer
was of course Almost Unwearoutable - and the winner
was Mrs Jean Trellis of Bethnal Green. Well done. Please
stop emailing me now.
Jason and Dave - celebrating the
successful launch of the CD-ROM |
June
2001
This month saw the official
regional launch of the Health and Safety in the workplace
CD-ROM, produced by Sound Ideas for Northumberland College's
Highgain Consultancy.
Pictured
right are Jason Thompson and Dave Baker who authored
the CD-ROM. The resource is aimed at students with learning
difficulties, and takes the user through 11 modules
covering the whole range of Health and Safety issues,
from first aid to occupational health. The CD is now
in sale priced £175.00, and forms the basis of
a basic Certificate in Health and Safety qualification.
Click here to
hear a Radio Newcastle feature on the launch of the
CD-ROM.
May
2001
The very popular Almost Unwearoutable Sock Company
web site is to feature in a new children's book for
age group 7-12 called
Whizz Kids. This series is an in-depth look at computer
related subjects - the next four titles are subject
specific website directories Weird Webs, Cool Games,
Music Mania and Free Stuff. More details as they become
available.
(April
2001) Work in Progress
Lots
of interesting work being developed right now, including:
Amble Boat Company; Berwick Regeneration Partnership;
Berwick Coastal Site; American Direct; Revive Youth
Project and Mission through Music.
News
on the two CD-ROM projects which Jason has been involved
in. The Health and Safety in the Workplace one is now
completed, with a very positive reaction from the client,
and a standing ovation at the product launch!
The
First Class Music project is happening right now, with
a completion deadline of September meaning a very busy
summer for Sound Ideas.
(March
2001) Sites Completed Recently
Sites
completed recently represent a diverse range from the
regional business community.
- Roseden
Farm Shop (www.roseden.com)
Quality
meats and tasty homebaking products.
- Technical
Academy
(www.techacad.co.uk)
A site re-design for this provider of apprenticeship
training in the engineering and manufacturing industries.
[January
2001] Recent Updates
Outdoor clothing company Montane (www.montane.co.uk)
gets a brand new look to complement their new product
range.
Two
major CD-ROM projects well underway - one for Hi-Gain
Consultancy at Northumberland College, developing a
CD-ROM version of their much acclaimed Health and Safety
in the Workplace resource. The other is a project Jason
is working on for TEEM with Paul Slaughter to create
an updated version of their First Class Music 6 disc
set. More information as it becomes available.
On
a more European theme, Dutch singing duo Mavin &
Priore (www.mavinandpriore.com)
have a shining new web site, which boasts some RealAudio
and Video content. Mmm! Real good treat!
[January
2001] Web site updated
Sound Ideas web site gets a long overdue update - we've
been meaning to get this done since Summer 2000.. The
content has been sharpened up and now it's easier for
visitors to find out about what we do, and see many
more examples of our work.
[Autumn
2000] Newbiggin
by the Sea Site
Development has begun on the Newbiggin by the Sea community
web site. At the moment, we're working on content -
getting a timeline, diary of events and some pretty
spectacular panoramas sorted out. Details of further
developments will be posted here as they happen. If
you're from Newbiggin and would like to contribute,
please contact me at info@newbigginbythesea.co.uk.
[August
2000] Recent sites
It's been a rather hectic year so far, with no sign
of things letting up in the near future. Fortunately,
all of our clients are lovely, patient people, who would
much rather wait just that little bit longer for something
extra special. It all seems to have come at once! Anyway,
the latest bunch of sites to hit the net is:
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