My Blog and I

Audio Entertainment

2019-08-14T15:27:00.000+01:00

Commuting can be such a drag! Whether alone, cocooned in your car, or travelling with the masses on public transport; getting to work is not usually a happy part of the day.

Of course, there is the radio; but with so much doom and gloom in the world, who needs to hear the hourly, or half-hourly news bulletins.

I have recently taken to two forms of entertainment whilst travelling. Podcasts and audio books.

Podcasts

For the uninitiated, a podcast is series of broadcasts covering a plethora of subjects. Some produced by well known broadcast organisations, such as the BBC. Others are produced and presented by less known individuals.
In fact, that's one of the bonuses of a podcast; anyone can get in on the act and produce weekly episodes looking at their favourite TV show, or gardening, or politics or.... anything.

When I say anyone - I mean anyone. I have a podcast of my own; which is available to listen to right here.

The BBC use podcasts alongside their regular progamming; providing either additional elements to a show, or an extra outlet for extended shows. My favourites include "The Chequered Flag", their Formula 1 podcast. Or, there's "Kermode and Mayo's Film Review". This is broadcast on a Friday afternoon, but the podcast contains extra bits before and after the main show. It's almost compulsive.

Other podcasts are "No Such Thing As A Fish", produced by the QI Elves, and is look at totally useless facts. Funny as well as interesting.

Hollywood & Crime is a weekly series investigating a series or murders back in the 1940's, in Los Angeles.

The beauty of podcasts is that they're totally free; and you can download and listen to them on your phone.

Audio Books

My other, more recent discovery is audio books. I had heard of them, but not really investigated them in detail.

I decided to have a look at Audible, which is an Amazon company.

Here you can listen to samples and purchase and download the entire book for listening; using their app (or on your laptop).

Audio books are not cheap. Bearing in mind the production costs for a full, unabridged book, lasting upwards of 11 hours, they range from £2.99 to £20.

There are literally thousands to choose from.

"Mythos" read by Stephen Fry,
"Harry Potter and the Philosphers Stone" - also read by Stephen Fry
The Michelle O'Bama biography "Becoming"

The best way to enjoy Audible is through a membership plan. For £7.99 per month, you get 1 credit.

You can use this credit for any book in their vast library. They even have a guarantee that says if you don't enjoy a book, you can just return it. Plus, if you decide to end your membership, which you can pause at any time, then you keep the books you already have.

You also get 30 days to try, without any obligation - and keep the book that you get in your trial. It's a no-brainer.

Listening to podcasts or books, keeps my mind focused and I can progress the storyline, or learn something new.

What will you listen to next?

Lighting Up My Automation

2019-08-14T15:01:00.001+01:00

I am a huge fan of automation. I love using apps and services to make life just that little bit simpler.

Service such as Zapier or IFTTT, but there are other forms of automation. Those that use physical equipment.

I'm referring to the Amazon Echo, Google Home and Apple Home (through Siri).

Using these small, unintrusive, devices, it's possible to listen to music, find out information and connect to a host to different technology.

But - you don't need these. For example; I have a TP-Link HS100 in the hall, to which is connected a lamp. The plug has a companion app (called Kasa) and it's this where the magic happens.

It's possible to schedule the lamp to turn on through a regular schedule, set a timer for how long the lamp is on, see the total amount of time the lamp has been on, and, of course, turn the lamp on and off remotely.

One big benefit is home security. You can now control the lights to turn on and off to make it look as though there is someone home.

Want to add a caption to this image? Click the Settings icon.
Now - connect this to your Echo (or Home) and you have the ability to turn the lamp on and off with your voice....
"Alexa - turn on the hall lamp"; "Alexa - turn off the hall lamp"

Of course, the HS100 isn't just for lamps; you can connect compatible cameras (Kasa Cam) so you can view what's happening. You can set up routines; which will link lots of devices together - maybe a lamp in the hall, and another upstairs.
When it's time for bed, you can set the downstairs lamp to turn off and the upstairs one to switch on!

I also have a routine on my Amazon Echo. I just say "Alexa, bedtime" and the lamps downstairs turn off.

As autumn (and winter) approach, and the nights start drawing in, then why not get a couple of these devices so you can easily control the lamps in your home.

I love home automation; and I love the flexibility it gives me. If you don't already have it, this is a great way to start (and you don't need an Alexa or Google to make it work).

Disclaimer - This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from these links I will earn a small commission. This doesn't affect the price you will pay.

Earn Money With Instagram While You Sleep

2019-08-13T08:40:00.000+01:00

I know you’d love to drink your morning coffee and see the money you’ve just earned while sleeping.
This is what I'm now working to.

It sounds great, isn’t it? But how did I get here?

My passion for Instagram started 4 years ago. I was following @millionaire_mentor, he is the guy which inspired me a lot.

I started with small steps and almost NO INVESTMENT!

When I started, I knew nothing about affiliate marketing, how to create digital products or even how Influencers make money.

I still didn’t know how they got so popular. I was so fascinated by the fact that you can upload a picture and earn a sh*t ton of money.

I was actually spending more than 2-3 hours on Instagram and didn’t make money at all! (this thing needed to change)

So I started to search for answers. I started to look for Instagram opportunities.

It took me more than 1 year to learn exactly what’s working right now.

So, because I want to save your time and I would love to help you to skyrocket your Instagram and get passive income, I’ll tell you the secret.

Click here and discover how to earn $3000/month with The Influencer Playbook!

I’ve written a book... and more!

2019-07-27T16:24:00.000+01:00

Welcome to a new episode from Productivity Matters. It's been a hugely exciting few weeks and I wanted to share it all with you.

Excitement Level 10 - my first book has been published, via the Kindle Direct Publishing program.

I decided to try this, as my idea for a book came about quite quickly, and I didn't spend months and months writing it. It just flowed.

KDP is free to use, to set up paperback and Kindle editions of the book, and they take a relatively small cut of the sale. In fact, when I looked into it, there are a few ways to make money - so long as the book actually sells, of course.

1. The initial 70% royalty of the ebook
2. The initial 60% royalty of the paperback, after printing costs have been applied
3. A small percentage when anyone reads a page from a Kindle Unlimited download, or from Kindle Lending Library
4. I also get a smaller royalty when someone downloads
5. And, this one surprised me - if I sell the book via my Amazon Affiliate link then I benefit from an additional 4%

As I said, of course, the book needs to sell to gain any of this... so, what are your waiting for :)

Updated Website

I've also been re-building my website, which is due to be launched in the next few weeks.

I've been building it on Wix - which is given a hard time by some, but so far I've been quite happy with how it's gone.

It's very flexible in allowing all sorts of layouts. It's almost there, so watch this space for news of the launch date.

Mailing List

Finally, I've been working on building up my mailing list. Now; this isn't the easiest thing to do.

I've watched countless videos on YouTube about it, and everything leads to giving away freebies - or lead magnets.

Brilliant, I thought - I can do that. And I created a productivity guide to give away. I think it's quite a good guide. It has the basics for managing your to-do list, and other ways to remain productive, as well as short reviews on the apps and services that I use.

I sent emails directly to people I know and asked them if they'd like to know more about this, and those that replied positively, I added them directly to my email management system - more on that in a moment.

Those that said no, I marked as such and left them out.

I'm still working at it; and I've taken to heart the fact that it's not a quick thing to do... need to plod away for some time.

Chatbot

Also (I said I've been busy) I've also been playing with a chatbot creator - Chatfuel.

It's only playing at the moment, but you can now send a message to my Facebook page, and sign up for the productivity guide I mentioned earlier.

Here's the link to the chatbot: Give it a try - https://chatfuel.com/bot/prodmatters

ConvertKit

For my mailing list, I started with Mailchimp; but found the interface to be a little unintuitive; plus, I worked out the cost could become prohibitive in the future, due to the way they count subscribers. So I watched a couple of videos and set up an account with ConvertKit. It is much easier to use; and any questions that I've had have been answered relatively quickly, given the time difference.

ConvertKit allows you to see visual automation sequences, that have allowed me to not only capture subscribers and send them the free guide; but I also launched a mini course, via email, using the sequences - so, all emails are automated; you can see what's been delivered and, more importantly, those that haven't been opened. I set them up to send a week apart, so that I'm not considered spamming!
I actually integrated this with the Chatbot, using Zapier; so whenever someone signs up via the chatbot, they get added to the list in ConvertKit, and the automation in there takes over.

Keeping Busy

1. Keep Buffer full of posts for social media (Twitter and Instagram)
2. Launch the book
3. Update the website and get ready for full launch
4. Write more emails to be sent, via ConvertKit, to my mailing list
5. Create a chatbot, to drive more leads to my mailing list
6. Create new Zaps on Zapier, to manage new leads when they come in from chatbot
7. Write a script for todays show
Now; maybe I should only concentrate on one thing at a time. There's an awful lot of balls to keep in the air!

That's it for this episode.
I'm out of breath just thinking about everything I've been doing.
Links to everything I mentioned are in the show notes.
Thanks very much for listening, and until next time remember - Productivity Matters.

Equipment I use to make my podcasts:

Blue Yeti Microphone

Pop Filter

Professional Microphone Boom Arm

This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase from these links then I may receive a commission. This does not affect the price you will pay. Thank you.

Stream Wars!!

2019-07-26T10:57:00.000+01:00

Actually, I'm writing this from the view of two services

Amazon Prime Video and Netflix. However, this is becoming a packed market, with at least two new services due to be launched in the UK very soon.

ITV and the BBC are launching Britbox later this year, at the same time that Disney will be launching their Disney+ service.

However, until then, arguably the two biggest video streaming services today are Netflix and Amazon Prime.

So; how do they stack up?

Well; I subscribe to both; with the Amazon service part of my overall Prime subscription. For Netflix, it's £9.99 per month (and that's about to increase a little bit too!)
If you purchase only the Amazon service, it's £7.99 per month (but you do get 30 days free).

Originals and Exclusives

They both boast their Originals and Exclusives. What's the difference?

An Original series or movie was commissioned directly for the service, whilst and Exclusive is where they have negotiated to be the only streaming services to show the title. It is highly possible to see and Original on other broadcast services - for example, The Bodyguard was made by ITV, but was shown on the BBC, and was then bought by Netflix. It's a complicated business.

Both Amazon and Netflix heavily promote their own 'original' tv series and movies; and whilst Netflix seem to have the upper-hand with some of their content, Amazon are right on their tail with some great offerings.

It's also good to see that both of these services have stepped up, in recent times, and 'saved' network series' after they were announced they were being cancelled.

Shows like Brooklyn 99 and The Expanse are two examples where they were picked up by Netflix and Amazon respectively, all down to fan-pressure.

Netflix, of course, has huge titles, such as Stranger Things, Black Mirror and a number of Marvel titles too (but that is likely to change when Disney+ is launched).

Amazon has the brilliant Mrs Maisel, Sneaky Pete, Man In The High Castle and Good Omens and many more great shows.

So, which is best?

So, back to the question I asked at the beginning?

Which is best?

It's difficult to answer, as they both offer so much.

I think Netflix might just 'win' based on the sheer volume of content available; but that will change when titles are removed in the coming months.

New services will be vying for your money; and if you're a Disney fan there is a whole load of new and exclusive content being made for that platform. As I said at the start, it's a busy marketplace, which doesn't look like it's going to quieten down any time soon.

Stock up on the popcorn.

Imposter Alert

2019-05-16T17:15:00.000+01:00

Introduction

Hello there.

Podcasting

Podcasting in the UK is on the rise. At least, that's according to Ofcom.

Who are Ofcom? It's the The Office for Communications; the regulator for the communications services that we use and rely on each day, in the UK.

They make sure people get the best from their broadband, home phone and mobile services, as well as keeping an eye on TV and radio.

They also oversee the universal postal service, which means Royal Mail must deliver and collect letters six days a week, and parcels five days a week, at an affordable and uniform price throughout the UK.

Another remit is to help to make sure people don’t get scammed and are protected from bad practices. This is particularly important for vulnerable or older people.

They also help to make sure people across the UK are satisfied with what they see and hear on TV and radio, and that programmes reflect the audiences they serve. We consider every complaint we receive from viewers and listeners. Often, we investigate further and we sometimes find broadcasters in breach of our rules.

Ofcom are independent, and funded by fees paid by the companies they regulate.

It appears that podcasts fall outside of the Ofcom remit, but that doesn't mean they don't keep a keen eye and report on findings.

In this case, a report from 2018, which found that, in the UK, the number of weekly podcast listeners has almost doubled in five years – from 3.2m (7% of adults aged 15+) in 2013 to 5.9m (11%) in 2018.

The increase is across all age groups, but the steepest growth is now among young adults aged 15-24 with around one in five now listening to podcasts every week.

- the most popular podcast genre is Comedy, followed by music, TV and film.

- Half of podcast listeners are under 35. While only 29% of traditional radio listeners are under 35, this rises to 49% for podcasts.

- Approximately 96% of listeners also listen to the radio each week, though live radio commands a much lower share of their total listening activity (48%) than adults generally (75%).

- Podcast versions of BBC radio programmes such as Desert Island Discs and Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review feature regularly in Apple’s iTunes podcast chart. TV broadcasters are increasingly interested in podcasts as a source of material for TV shows, or as an extension of established series (such as ITV’s podcast Love Island: The Morning After).

Starting Your Podcast

So, now is a great time to get into podcasting. What's more, because it's yours, you can do with it what you like. You own it. You can record to your own schedule and not answer to the regulators or senior bosses.

Plus - there is no age barrier to running a podcast. Young or old, everyone has a voice, and it can be quite cathartic to sit and talk; get things off your chest. It's like a self-service therapy!!

However, you do need to consider your audience. Content is king - you'll hear a lot about that when researching podcasts; simply because, without great content, you won't have an audience.
You need a reason to 'tune in'. Either download or stream the episodes.

You also need to get over the anxiety of talking to yourself. Which is, basically, what you're doing when you sit down to record. The anxiety that what you're recording isn't good enough, and even greater anxiety that nobody will listen.

Of course, if you don't promote your podcast, then no-one will know it exists, and you will end up with very few listeners; just those who fell over your podcast whilst browsing. But put in some serious promotion and the numbers will grow.

One of the biggest issues with podcasting, is PodFade. It's easy to get started, but it's easier to stop. Life gets in the way and you stop doing it.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of podcasts that start with great intentions, but fade into the background as the episodes dry up.

It's hard to keep going. You have to really work at it. I've missed publishing for a couple of odd weeks; and I felt really guilty. But who was I feeling guilty for? You? I doubt anyone noticed I wasn't there. I felt quilty for me.

The other point that might stop someone starting a podcast is because they don't think they'll be any good! To quote Zig Ziglar....

"You don't have to be great at something to start, but you do have to start in order to be great"

If you're thinking about podcasting; just pick up your mobile phone, download the Anchor app and record and publish.
It's all there, in your hand, and I highly recommend giving it a go.

Imposter Syndrome

Leading on from this, and especially the point about feeling inadequate to start a podcast, comes the subject of Imposter Syndrome.

This is a psychological term referring to a pattern of behaviour where people doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud.

This feeling of being a fraud is not uncommon. It has been estimated that nearly 70 percent of individuals will experience signs and symptoms of impostor phenomenon at least once in their life.
This can be a result of a new setting, academic or professional. Research shows that impostor syndrome is not uncommon for students when entering a new academic environment. Feelings of insecurity can come as a result to an unknown, new environment. This can lead to lower self-confidence and belief in their own abilities.

Certainly, this is something that I can relate to. When I start a new contract, there's always this feeling that

The Symptoms:
A lack of self-confidence, anxiety, doubts about your thoughts, abilities, achievements and accomplishments, negative self-talk, feelings of inadequacy, dwelling on past mistakes and not feeling good enough — these are all signs and symptoms of imposter syndrome.

The Cause:
Nature and nurture together create the tendency to experience feeling 'not good enough' or the Imposter Syndrome. However, the feeling remains latent until it is triggered by something external to us; something we react to; something that tips us into actively feeling not good enough.

Overcoming:
The first step in overcoming Impostor Syndrome is to acknowledge what you're feeling, and why. Start by keeping a journal. Whenever you experience feelings of self-doubt or inadequacy, write them down, and explain why you're feeling this way. Be as specific as possible about each situation.

The next steps are:
Step 2: Realise The Truth. ...
Step 3: Choose Someone To Confide In. ...
Step 4: Turn It Around And See The Gift In Your Imposter Syndrome. ...
Step 5: Set Goals And Expectations You Know You Can Achieve. ...
Step 6: Accept Where You're At And Revisit In 90 Days.

Thank You

I hope you’ve found this interesting.

Don’t forget to follow me where you normally listen to your podcasts.

Thank you very much for listening and until next time, remember, Productivity Matters.

Equipment I use to make my podcasts*:
Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/2R2am1N
Pop Filter - https://amzn.to/2OVMbQP
Professional Microphone Boom Arm - https://amzn.to/2P4EIio

How Seriously Do You Take Online Security

2019-04-26T17:20:00.000+01:00

I’ve talked about online security in the past, and thought that, following recent headlines, I’d do a follow up.

It seems that, on the whole, we’re not learning lessons and we are exposed in ways we simply can’t imagine. It seems to be a case of ‘it won’t happen to me’ attitude.

It’s strange, because you look after your house keys and the keys to your car/bike/van etc. You’ll lock belongings away safely; but it appears that, generally, we’re care-free when it comes to passwords.

National Cyber Security Centre

A recent study by the UK National Cyber Security Centre found that the most common password found on accounts that had been breached was 123456.

It was found 23 million times. Second most popular was 123456789, then “qwerty”, “password” and 11111111.

The NCSC study also asked people about their security habits and fears.

It found that 42% expected to lose money to online fraud and only 15% said they felt confident that they knew enough to protect themselves online.

It found that less than half of those questioned used a separate, hard-to-guess password for their main email account.

This last point is very worrying as your email is the one place a hacker could get access to everything! They could use it to find out all about you, then target scams specifically at you.

Take this real life example where a scammer convinced someone to part with thousands of pounds.

Because they had the password to the users email account, they discovered they're in touch with a builder about some work.

The scammer then emails you, pretending to be the builder, asking for money.

You pay. That’s it.

The banks take the stance, currently, that because you authorised the transaction; known as an Authorised Push Payment, then you’re liable and they don’t have to refund you.

It’s harsh, and steps are being taken to address this; but through taking care with your online security reduces the risk of this happening. The onus must be on us to take care with our money.

Another issue is that, apart from being easy to crack, it’s a fair bet that these password are being used for multiple accounts. So, if one of your accounts had been compromised, then the hacker can just use your username and password against other sites to see if they get a hit!

How?

So. How can you protect yourself online?

The first step is to use a different password for each online account you have.

This might seem onerous, but your online life is on the line and you need to protect it.

This will reduce the impact of a hacker accessing your accounts. Where possible, use different usernames too. You need to make it as hard as possible for the fraudster to get access to your information.

Password Strength

Using a different password is good. But, if it’s easy to guess; like a surname, maiden name, dogs name etc; then this will be easily found out by the fraudster and… BINGO!!

The passwords need to be hard to guess and there are a couple of ways to do this.

The simplest method is to come up with a phrase and create a password using the first letter of each word.

So, you might use the phrase “My favourite place in the world is at home with my family”. Your password would then be ‘MFPITWIAHWMF’

That’s a great password. Now, mix it up with some upper and lower cases. You could replace certain letters with numbers; for example replace the ‘I’ with a ‘1’ and replace the ‘A’ with a ‘4’.

Now you have ‘MFP1TW14HWMF’ (or ‘Mfp1tw14HwmF’) Maybe you can introduce some special characters - ‘Mfp1tw1&HwmF’.

You still need to create separate passwords for all your accounts, but if you make them memorable, then the difficulty in remembering them is reduced.

This is quite difficult to articulate on a podcast, so don’t forget to read the transcribe on my blog; details in the show notes.

However, you probably have lots of online accounts. There’s all your online shopping accounts. Financial accounts. Your email account (or accounts). Your Netflix or other streaming service login. Your social media accounts too.

I’ve checked, and I have 286 different accounts. Not all of them are used regularly; but they are all accounts stored somewhere online.

Of these, only 6 of them have the same password. I really should take a look at those!!

How do I do it?

I use a password manager, called LastPass. There are others on the market, such as Dashlane and 1Password; but I’ve been using LastPass for years and have been very happy with them.

LastPass is cross-platform, so I can use it on my MacBook, iPhone, or anywhere else I access the web.

When you create an account, you set up an access password - this should be a hard-to-guess password, as it’s the only one you’ll need in the future. It’s so important (and secure, not even the guys at LastPass can retrieve it) that if you lose it, then you’ll lose access to all your passwords.

The next time you log in to one of your online account, LastPass will ask you if you want to store this in your vault. If you say ‘Yes’, the username and password will be stored securely.

The next you go to the login page, LastPass will recognise the site, and will prompt you to select the details from the vault. Simply select the details, click login and you’re done.

Now, you’re going to set up a brand new account and you reach the field that says ‘Enter password’. Instead of using your usual string of letters, you can now ask LastPass to generate the password for you. I’m not going to talk through all the steps, but at the end, your new account will be stored in the vault, and all is safe.

LastPass also gives you the space to store images; so you can create Secure Notes, with passport information, driving licence information etc, and store images of your current documents. All safe.

In an emergency, (if your passport has been stolen) you can access these easily, wherever you are.

Another great feature of LastPass is the ability to store credit and debit card information; along with your address details. The next time you shop online and need to get your card (which is in your wallet, in the kitchen, and you really can’t be bothered to get up) then use the Form Fill functionality to retrieve the necessary information and your purchase is complete. You can set additional security against these; so that you have to enter your LastPass password to access them - adding an extra layer of protection.

Housekeeping is a breeze and you can take regular Security Challenge to test your password strength. You will be told how old your passwords are, and in some cases, LastPass will automatically update them (for certain sites) with just one click. It’s a real timesaver.

It’s definitely worth looking into, and there’s a link in the programme notes to get you started.

I have literally scratched the surface of password security, and it will take a little effort to get your house in order. But, it must be worth it, to know your information is secure and away from the prying eyes of the fraudsters.

Two Factor Authentication

There is one further level you can go to secure your passwords; and that is 2FA - 2 Factor Authentication.

This is being offered by more sites now, and means that access to your accounts are only available when you have the password and a physical entity at the time of logging in. Your mobile phone is probably the key here; although it could be a token too.

When you log in, you’ll use LastPass as usual to pre-populate and send your login details, then you’ll be asked to enter another piece of identification, generated on a device you physically have with you. This way; even if the hackers get your detail, they cannot access your account.

You still need to be vigilant. Password managers won’t save you from accessing ‘dodgy’ sites and entering your information.

Try Before You Buy

As I mentioned, this is a subject close to my heart. It seems the simplest thing to do; but it’s amazing the number of people who, at the very least, don’t use separate passwords.

Click here to try LastPass free for 30 days, and after that it’s approximately £30 per year. I think that’s very reasonable for peace of mind. You can even take advantage of their family plan, for up to 6 people, for about £36 per year. True value.

Don’t become a statistic. Don’t be one of the 15% who aren’t confident in online security.

Take the first step and see how LastPass can help you.

Thank You

I hope you’ve found this episode interesting.

If you have any questions about online security or anything else, then please get in touch via Twitter @prodmatters

Don’t forget to follow me where you normally listen to your podcasts.

Thank you very much for listening and until next time, remember, Productivity Matters.

Equipment I use to make my podcasts:

Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/2R2am1N

Pop Filter - https://amzn.to/2OVMbQP

Professional Microphone Boom Arm - https://amzn.to/2P4EIio

Try LastPass free for 30 days - LastPass

If you purchase from these links then I may receive a commission. This does not affect the price you will pay. Thank you.

Setting Healthy Goals

2019-03-01T17:21:00.000+00:00

Intro

Hi there.

I’m Julian and I'm really pleased that you've chosen to download and listen to this episode. Or maybe you haven't downloaded it.

Maybe you’re streaming it directly.

Whichever way you’re listening, I really appreciate you taking the time to listen to little 'ol me!

If you're new here, then welcome to the Productivity Matters podcast.

On this episode, I’m going to take a look at the NHS, setting personal goals

Are you ready?

Let’s go...

The National Health Service

It’s been a bit of roller-coaster time lately. I recently changed jobs, moving from the excitement of working at MediaCity, to the not so exciting NHS (that’s the National Health Service, for those of you outside of the UK).

The NHS is a huge, unwieldy beast of an organisation, responsible for health and social care for millions of people, throughout the UK. Just to give you an example, during 2017/2018, there were over 23 million visits to the Accident & Emergency departments. And it’s completely free at the point of use.

This normally means that anyone registered with the system, available to legal UK residents regardless of nationality, can access the full breadth of critical and non-critical medical care, without payment. There are some exceptions such as eye-care, dentistry and prescriptions, but these are heavily subsidised, so are cheaper than private providers.

It started 70 years ago, in 1948, and now employees around 1.2 million people.

Approx 80% of the NHS in England is funded through general taxation and National Insurance contributions, which are made by employees, employers and the self-employed. A much smaller proportion is collected through patient charges, as I mentioned, for things like prescriptions and dentistry.

To put these numbers into perspective, the total cost for running the NHS in 2017/18 was £125 billion…. equivalent to about $163 billion!

The proportion collected through the National Insurance contributions accounted for £24 billion - about 20% of the total cost.

In Scotland, Ireland and Wales, the health service is a devolved matter, so those governments can decide how much to spend on health, from the block grant that they receive from central government. One important difference is that they do not charge for prescriptions - so patient care is completely free.

Whilst the NHS is a much derided organisation - there are many people who complain about many aspects including lengthy waiting times for consultations and surgery, lack of beds in hospitals, and closures of clinics around the country.

As with all taxation and government spending, it’s a very hot topic, and one that I’m neither inclined, nor qualified, to talk about in any detail. Like most people I have my own opinions and it’s my personal belief that without the NHS, the country would be in a much poorer state. Maybe that’s because I have had many personal interactions with them, over the years, and I’ve never had cause for complaint. Much the reverse actually.

Episode 9 of this season, at the end of January, I published an episode about my experience with Diabetes (link in the show notes) and the care I’ve received has been second to none.

When my dad was very ill, they pulled out all the stops to save him; literally transferring him, in an ambulance, about 200 miles, to another hospital, for a life-saving operation.

This doesn’t take away the very real issues that are affecting the NHS - doctors and nurses are under increasing pressure, and it’s more than a regular occurrence that routine operations are postponed due to the lack of beds being available.

However, if we only had private care available, then the state of health and wellbeing in the UK would be in a very grave situation - pardon the pun!!

So, why have I given you this basic insight into the NHS? Do you know something? I don’t really know… just wanted to share a little background on one of the largest institutions in the UK.

The small part I play is within NHS Digital - the national information and technology partner to the health and social care system. They’re working, through technology, to help transform the NHS.

Goal Setting

It’s important, when going through tough times that we remain positive.

Don’t focus on what you don’t have. Don’t focus on what you wish you had.

Focus on what you DO have.

Of course, you want things, and having targets and goals are all credible things to set yourself. Indeed, without them you’ll be stuck in a rut.

It’s important to review goals.

Without goals you lack focus and direction. Goal setting not only allows you to take control of your life's direction; it also provides you a way of checking whether you are actually succeeding.

When you start your goal setting process, you need to start with careful consideration of what you actually want to achieve.

It’s important to also remember that goal setting is an ongoing activity. You don't just set a goal and forget about it.

Life happens and sometimes you need to review the goals. Remember to keep checking that you're on track, and make regular time-slots available to review your goals.

It’s very important that you're motivated by your goals. They must be important to you, and you need to know that there is a value in achieving them.

What are your priorities in life? Set goals that relate to them. If you’re not careful, you could end up with too many goals; which means spreading yourself too thin and unable to achieve them.

Make sure there is a sense of urgency around achieving your goals. Not so much a 'can do' attitude, more of a 'I must do this' attitude.

Your final goal may not change, but the plan you have put in place to achieve it could change quite significantly, which is why it’s important to have review sessions with yourself.

Stay focussed and take the bull by the horns. That’s a strange saying isn’t it? Why would anyone do that?

Why would you grab the bull by the horns? I’ll tell you why. It’s because it is dangerous.

It means doing something difficult in a brave and determined way.

So, that’s what I’m going to do.

Review my goals and aim high.

Equipment I use to make my podcasts:

Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/2R2am1N

Pop Filter - https://amzn.to/2OVMbQP

Professional Microphone Boom Arm - https://amzn.to/2P4EIio

If you purchase from these links then I may receive a commission. This does not affect the price you will pay. Thank you.

Making A Podcast

2019-02-15T01:00:00.000+00:00

Intro

Hello? You there? Ah! Good.

In a recent episode, I talked about the irony of how many podcasts there are about making podcasts - then realised that this might be a good idea for me too!! I mean; it fits in well with my raison d'etre.... ooh la la!!

So, on this episode, I’m going to talk through my experience of getting this podcast made, the ways in which I promote it and if it's something you're interested in, then just do it!

The Reason Why

I've always been a keen listener of podcasts. I've subscribed to many over the years, and they've been getting ever more popular. All of the big broadcasters have broken some of their programmes into smaller chunks, or segments from the main programming.

But it's the independent podcasters that are taking over the airwaves (or should that be bandwidth). There's space for everyone, whether you want to present all encompassing drama or investigative journalism on a weekly or monthly basis; or if you are short-form presenter, with the ramblings of your mind on a daily basis.

Do you have hours to talk, or just a few minutes? It doesn't matter. There's no right or wrong length for an episode. There's no scheduling to fit into. You just need to get whatever you want to say 'out there'.

And you can do it by yourself, Solo style, like me; or you can present with a friend or a bunch of friends. Invite guests to discuss their passions - that's also another way to promote your podcast.

Getting Started

Now, it can be a little daunting. There are so many places vying for you to publish your podcast. Where do you start?

I started with Anchor. It's a free service that not only publishes on their own site, but also syndicates the feed across multiple other publishers. This means you only need to upload once, and as long as it meets the criteria (which it usually will do) then it will automatically feed to Apple Podcasts, RadioPublic, Overcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts etc etc etc...

This particular podcast is available on 11 platforms. And, of course, the more platforms you're on, the broader the audience.

Equipment

Another consideration is the equipment to use.

Anchor provide all the tools you need in their mobile app - available on iOS and Android. You can record, edit and upload all from the one device. It's a good way to get started; and is quite simple too; if a little fiddly.

Just by using the microphone that's part of your phone, you're good to go. Now - it may not be the best sound quality; but there are plenty of podcasts where this is how they do it; and in some cases, make a feature of it.

If you want to make more of a presentation, then you'll need a microphone and computer - either a PC or a Mac (or laptop equivalent). There are a multitude of microphones available and this episode is not a review - you can find reviews elsewhere; but popular models are the relatively inexpensive Blue Snowball, to the Audio-Technica AT2020USB (and upwards).

I use the Blue Yeti; which I bought after only a couple of episodes. I based my decision on cost, as well as the functionality and ease of set up; i.e. there isn't any - just plug and play. It's a USB microphone, so I don't need additional power.

As a desktop mic, it easily picks up knocks and even the taps on the table - which is why I now suspend the mic from an arm, to reduce this annoying interference.

Another reason I like the Blue Yeti is for the headphone socket, so I can hear myself directly and can check sound levels easily.

Software

If you're using a laptop or desktop to record, there are a couple of free options to capture your recording. Audacity is great to use and not too complicated (and this can be used on Mac or PC), and if you're using an Mac, then Garageband is ideal.

You can record what you want, and then edit as required. Making a podcast isn't quick. Whilst the end result, for me, is usually around 10 to 15 minutes, it can take an hour to record and edit; then edit some more. But, I like to think it's worth it?!

If you've never done it before, it can be quite daunting talking, in essence, to yourself. And unless you know what you're going to say, there could be a lot of 'ums' and 'ahs' and you could find yourself repeating words - which you won't know until you listen back.

Once piece of advice is to talk slowly. Give yourself time to think; but importantly, you can edit out much of this later.

If you are capable of talking on the fly then that's great. You might find you need bullet points, to prompt you as you go. Some may find the need of a full script is better.

That's what I do. I write a fully fledged script and then use it as a base. It needs care, to make it sound natural when talking; and that comes with experience and some practice.

Sounds Good

So, you have a microphone. You've loaded the application to record. You have script.

How do you make it all sound good?

First of all, make sure that the space you're recording in isn't an echo chamber. Unless you have access to a proper recording studio, then you're likely recording at home.

One of the issues is that of an echo. Take the curtains out of a room, and you'll notice how much your voice echoes. You probably wouldn't notice having a conversation with someone, but listen back to a recording and you'll soon realise how empty it sounds.

Curtains help to deaden the sound. You need to do the same. Some people sit under a duvet. I actually prop pillows up in front of me, to help.

Another, non-essential piece of equipment, is that of a pop-filter. This sits over the microphone and helps to prevents the 'p' and 'b' popping sound as you talk.

Now, practice what you want to say. Speak in your usual voice. Be natural. And when you do this check the levels on your recording software. You'll notice some green bars flashing as you speak. The louder you get, the further up the range they go, changing colour through amber, then red.

Red is bad. It's too loud and will sound distorted to your listeners. You need to remain in the green area - so you'll need to adjust the input levels (also known as gain). And you need to speak in your normal voice to make sure you get it right.

Once you're happy - press record and off you go.

Recording

Now, you can either record the entire podcast in one go, or, and this is what I do, record in sections. It makes it easier if you make a mistake and helps with the editing later. But, it's a personal choice; and you might want to experiment to see which is best for you.

The more parts you make, the longer it will take to edit; on the other hand, if you record in one go, then you'll either have to re-record the entire thing again, or take a lot of time editing.

Editing

OK. You've finished recording. Congratulations. That wasn't so bad, was it?

Now, save it. Before you do anything else. You don't want to suddenly lose everything.

Now you need to listen back and cut out all those mini stumbles, the 'ums' that you didn't know you were saying and those often repeated phrases, that are a habit, and don't sound too good in a broadcast.

Publish

Once you've done the editing, and you're happy, then upload the file. Here you can also add the show notes - the information that your audience will read about the episode. On the main Anchor website you can choose to schedule the episode to be published in the future. This functionality isn't available via the app.

You're almost there.

Promote

Your episode is waiting to be published. Now you need to promote it. There's no point spending all the time writing, presenting and editing your podcast, and then not tell anyone about it!

So, where do you go? Instagram and Twitter are two of the best places, and if you have Facebook, then there too. Search out the hashtags to use, that will get your post noticed. Experiment with different ones - your audience will probably change as you do; so you'll get heard by more people.

I create specific artwork for each episode, based on a template, that I update each time. It makes it quick and retains a sort of brand image. I use Canva (which is free) for creating the artwork, and I use Buffer to schedule posts so that they automatically post at relevant times to the audience. There is a future episode about this; so remember to follow this podcast.

You might want to use other tools to help promotion, such as Headliner, to create a short trailer. It's also free to use, and adds an element of professionalism to your podcast.

Artwork created. Buffer loaded with posts to advertise your new episode; at a time to coincide with the release of the episode on Anchor. Now, you just need to wait.

But - even when your podcast has been released, and people are listening to it, you still need to continue to promote it.

It's a big world out there, and the audience is ever growing and changing. So don't sit still. Keep promoting, try various hashtags to see which ones work the best and get the bigger audience. Try posting at different times to see which works best.

Remember, your audience is global - so whilst your sleeping, others are awake and reading your blog, tweets, instagram posts and listening to your show. Notice how I've also embedded a player into this website, so making listening even easier for my audience.

Making Money

Making a podcast is enormous fun. Whether you're doing it for pleasure, or whether you have a business you're promoting. You just have to do it.

It's about consistency. Putting out content on a regular basis, to build a following. Tell your friends and family about it. Don't be shy. And listen to feedback. Take on board any constructive criticism to help improve your episodes.

Monetisation comes later. If you're doing it to make money, you'll have a very long wait on your hands. I recently started a 'Paid Listens' programme with RadioPublic. It means a small pre-roll advert and then on-with-the-show. For every 1000 listens I will earn a whopping $20 (that's only for those listens via the RadioPublic app) not the other podcast apps. This is not a get-rich-quick scheme.

If you are after the money; then you'll also need to look at other avenues, such as a blog, with advertising, or getting your show sponsored. Again, this needs numbers; although Anchor does have a sponsorship program, but only if you're in Canada or the USA!

So....

Do it for love.

Do it for your audience, but mostly,

Do it for you.

Thank you very much for listening and until next time, remember, Productivity Matters.

Equipment I use to make my podcasts:

Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/2R2am1N

Pop Filter - https://amzn.to/2OVMbQP

Professional Microphone Boom Arm - https://amzn.to/2P4EIio

If you purchase from these links then I may receive a commission. This does not affect the price you will pay. Thank you.

When I Grow Up I Want To Be a YouTuber... What?

2017-08-24T08:45:00.001+01:00

My youngest son has recently decided he wants to do what every 11 year old wants to do - be a 'YouTuber'.

Is that a accepted noun these days?

YouTube, for those of you not versed in the world of online entertainment, is the Google owned video sharing website where anyone can have their place in the video world. Like a blog; only visual. With moving images and sound. Known as a vlog (video log!)

The world of YouTube contains hours and hours (and hours) of material, some of which is quite interesting and useful, and others which is purely inane. Unsurprisingly, it's the inane that catches the imagination of the masses, and consequently makes 'stars' of the performers and presenters!!

Since it is completely free to use (with the potential to earn money from advertising) it is easy to get involved.
I have my own 'channel' which I haven't contributed to for years. Indeed, most of my videos are set to 'private' so that only I can see them. It makes for a great storage library of home movies!

My son also has his own YouTube channel, called Mini Tube (Click to go straight to his channel). He has some great ideas; and, if I'm honest, I enjoy helping him put them together, film them, edit them, publish and promote them.

Now, don't get me wrong; it's light years away from being a revenue earner - he needs to build his subscriber base, and get the views up.
Surprise, surprise; there are videos, on YouTube (where else) about how to do this!

There are plenty of children with their own channels; and I am more than aware of the concern around online safety. It's something that I discuss with all my children on a frequent basis. I don't want to make them paranoid about it; but they need to understand the issues around being online.

All of them have grown up in a digital world; they have been exposed to it since a very early age, so it would be useless to stop Jamie from taking part. So long as he knows the limits and understands the issues.

So, our journey has just started, and we are learning how to make the best videos and increase views.
He would be so excited to know that you have seen his videos, and even subscribed to his channel. Each one gets a little better, from a content perspective.

You can watch his latest video below.

Diabetes - My Story

2017-02-05T18:57:00.001+00:00

This story starts many years ago; but came to a head in the summer of 2016.

Although I felt absolutely fine in myself, I had one major complaint.

I was constantly needing a wee! Whilst this had been going on for some time, it took a visit to Bournemouth for me to finally take action.

It wasn’t possible to complete the journey down the motorway without me needing to stop for a ‘comfort break’ at least twice. Then, at the beach, I’d be back and forth from the loo every couple of hours! Not to mention ‘disappearing’ when at the house.

I arranged to visit the doctor, had a chat, and he took some blood, for testing.

One of the tests was for the level of hbA1c in my blood.

This is the technical term for glycated haemoglobin; in other words, how much sugar is attached to the blood cells.

In normal people the figure is 42mmol/l (millimols per litre) or below.

The reading for my hbA1c was 102!

There you have it.

The answer to my problems.

I have Type 2 Diabetes.

Within a week I visited the nurse, and she spent a long time explaining all the symptoms and side-effects of diabetes, the do’s and don’ts, along with what we would be doing to reduce the effects and, more importantly, reduce that large reading.

There are many symptoms of diabetes.

For me, it started with the constant urinating… let’s qualify what I mean by constant. I was going to the loo every 2 hours! On average, 10 times every day! However, there were two other major effects; that of lethargy and extreme thirst.

I was frequently tired, had difficulty staying awake at work (not good) and driving long distances was a trial; not least because I’d need the loo.

The nurse prescribed Metformin, a diabetes drug, which I’ve been taking twice a day. I was advised to exercise, and lose a little weight. I should add that I wasn’t massively overweight; in fact, when she first saw me, her initial reaction was “you don’t look like someone who has diabetes”!

Ain’t that just typical!

Along with all the advice, I was given a glucose monitoring kit, to check my levels on a regular basis.

The one thing I would say about checking glucose is that whilst it gives a good indication, the results are transitional. It is just at that moment in time.

Sometimes, I’ve had really good readings, and other times, I can’t work out why they’re high!

For those that don’t have experience of diabetes, or know anyone living with it, describing it is not something that can be done quickly; but I’m going to try and sum it up.

We have blood cells racing round our bodies, providing energy and nutrients as needed. When we eat, the sugar gets absorbed into the blood stream, and gives us the energy we need.

Right?

Well, in a normal person, yes.

With me, the sugar couldn’t get absorbed into the blood cells. It was knocking on the door, but the cells wouldn’t let it in! The consequence of this is not only could I not get the energy that I needed, but the sugar levels were building up with nowhere to go.

OK; they did have somewhere to go - out. In my wee! And because I was going so often, I would feel thirsty, so I would be drinking more, which as you can now see became a vicious circle - I needed to wee again!

Once I started taking Metformin, the blood cells ‘unlocked', allowing the sugar to enter, therefore increasing my energy levels and reducing my need to wee. What’s more, this change happened virtually overnight. It was amazing.

As you may have gathered, apart from the medication, managing diet is one of the key aspects to controlling type 2 diabetes.

Sugar is the ‘enemy’. By that I refer to glucose; added sugar. Food made with sugar.

Sucrose, the natural sugar found in fruit and veg is not bad, but must be controlled.

The other ‘baddie’ is carbohydrates. These turn to sugar in the body, so reducing carb intake is very important. Vegetables that grow underground are not as good as those over-ground. Bananas and pineapple are very high in sugar, but berries are much lower.

It’s been a complete re-education and I’ve been very careful to watch what I’ve been eating, allowing myself an occasional treat.

I bought a cross-trainer, which I've been using daily for the last 3 months, and not only has it raised fitness levels, and I’ve lost a little weight, but this has helped to reduce my latest reading to an encouraging 53. F

Another benefit is that the cross-trainer isn’t just for me, so fitness levels at home are increasing all round!

How long have I been suffering with this?

I think it’s been about 7 years!!

I say ‘think’ because quite honestly I don’t know! I thought it was all normal! It crept up on me; but the more I look back on my symptoms, the more I realise that’s what it must have been, all along.

Having read information about diabetes, it can take up to 10 years before it’s diagnosed. Diabetes is not specifically hereditary; so you can't use that as a guide. Certainly, in my case, none of my family has ever had it. So I can't 'blame' them!

I consider myself lucky.

Knowing what was causing my symptoms was a major factor in feeling better about myself.

Thankfully, being type 2 means I’m not dependant on insulin. With a controlled diet to keep my sugar intake to a minimum, and daily exercise, I can honestly say that my life has changed for the better.

Just imagine:

I can sit through a film at the cinema without needing to nip out.
I can drive without worrying about needing the loo.
I can make it through the day without fighting to stay awake; especially after meals
I’m eating healthier.
I’m feeling fitter.

It's not just about the diabetes.

There are some other major factors to consider. There is an increased risk of heart attacks, kidney failure and loss of sight. Not to mention the threat of amputation, due to damaged nerve endings!

It can be quite scary stuff.

Diabetes is a silent killer.

Over 4 million people in the UK are known to have diabetes*.

It is thought there are another 549,000 adults with undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes*

Are you at risk? If in doubt, get a blood test. At the very least, my advice is watch your weight and your diet.

There is masses of information on the internet; https://www.diabetes.org.uk/ and http://www.diabetes.co.uk/ are two of the sites I often refer to for information.

Do you suffer from diabetes? How are you managing? What do you do to control the impacts?

*Source: from January 2015 diabetes.org.uk

Review - Assassin's Creed: The Movie

2017-01-03T08:04:00.000+00:00

So, this afternoon I went to see Assassin's Creed. I must confess that I've never played the game, and knew little about the story; but this wasn't a bar to enjoying the film.

It's a well thought through plot, which can be a little confusing at times; however, this is more than made up for by the action - the death toll is incredibly high, and whilst it's rated 12A, I wouldn't recommend this to young ones - it's far too intense.

Michael Fassbender gives a great performance as the reluctant Assassin, along with Marion Coutillard as the scientist who persuades him to go back to the 15th century. Jeremy Irons is the 'baddie' after the prize for his own ends.

At times a little drawn out; some parts dragged on a little too long, and the overall running time could have been reduced by 10 minutes.

However, the action and the stunt work are fantastic to watch; and the sequence with parkour (free running) are brilliantly portrayed. You know they'll escape, but you constantly wonder how?

My main criticism is about the sound. The music (if you can call it music) was extremely loud - or maybe I'm just getting too old!!

It's no Oscar winner; and as I mentioned, some of the plot is a bit disorientating.

If you are a fan of the game, then I doubt you'll be disappointed; by all accounts it closely resembles the main storyline of the franchise. If you haven't played the game, but want to see some good old fashioned action set pieces, then give it a shot.

My Move To Apple from Android

2016-06-17T22:06:00.002+01:00

I recently took the plunge and decided to jump into the world of Apple!

This is my story...

I have been quite strong in my feelings towards Apple products and services in the past. I always felt that it was a total lock into their ecosystem, and once in there would be no going back.

I prefer the openness of Google, which is why I've been an Android user for the last couple of years. Before that, I was quite immersed in the world of BlackBerry.

However, one day, a few of weeks ago I made a decision. I decided to buy myself a MacBook Pro.

Yes, I know it was a dramatic decision; but I needed to get a personal laptop for work, and as much as I wanted to use my Chromebook (which I still love, by the way), it just wasn't up to the task at hand.

I knew I didn't want to buy a Windows laptop; I've been burned many times before with the endless updates and sluggish performance; not to mention virus checking!

That left me with one viable option. Apple.

Now, don't get me wrong. I have never been anything less than complimentary about their design. Beautiful machines.

I was only concerned with their walled garden approach to the environment.

However, it was pointed out to me that most of what I do is “in the cloud”, so really, what's the issue? I could continue to work the way I want, without being restrained by a closed ecosystem.

So it was, one Saturday afternoon when I went to our local Apple store and bought a MacBook Pro. Why the Pro? Why not the Air; or even the MacBook?

Simple - I needed an HDMI port. That was it. The new MacBook as no external ports; and the Air doesn’t have the HDMI.

MacBook Pro - First Impressions

I found the learning curve from Windows OS to be quite steep. To begin with, the keyboard layout is different, and there are many other nuances. You could argue that the Chromebook keyboard is also different; but the controls are the same as a Windows version.

My muscle memory is learning to adapt to the changes and I no longer use CTRL+C etc to copy and paste. I also like the on screen view of the various keyboard views, which has helped to find certain characters.

Regardless of the layout; the keyboard is one of the best I've used - just the right amount of travel, and with the back-lit keys in a dim room, there are no arguments from me.

Overall, the build quality is phenomenal. The aluminium casing just reeks of quality and the retina screen is clear and bright.

Trackpad gestures are also very useful, and the multiple desktops allows for a more organised working environment.

Swipe in from the right and notifications are presented.

All in all, a very pleasing and polished experience.

Transition from Windows complete, I then thought about moving from Android!

Going All In

I knew I was setting myself up for ridicule. As I mentioned earlier, I have been quite vociferous in my feelings about the Apple “world” and changing now would only serve others the chance to make fun of me. I have even said, in the past, that I’d never have an iPhone!!

Well. Never say “never”!

Here's the thing. I'm big enough, and ugly enough, to admit I may be wrong.

Two weeks after buying the MacBook, I went back to the store and bought an iPhone 6s!!

I should add that I was quite very nervous about it. I like the way that Android gives freedom and flexibility to set the phone up how I like. Using widgets on the home screen and quick actions to get things done, not to mention a first class notification centre. How would I cope with being told how to use my phone?

To prepare myself, I replicated an iOS screen on my HTC one m8. I removed all widgets, moved apps out of folders (well, most of them) and cancelled all shortcuts. I then continued to use my phone.

Surprisingly, I didn't miss the widgets and found I could navigate quite easily.

Still, nerves nipping away at me, I headed for the store. I questioned the sales guy, told him my concerns and he blew them away.

Totally. I mean, I know he's in sales, but that was incredible.

10 minutes later, phone in my hand, I was heading home to get it set up.

iPhone - First Impressions

Two weeks on and what's the verdict?

Well - set up was a breeze; at least the phone part. The installed apps automatically updated, Siri switched on and I was busy downloading the apps I need to use my phone efficiently.

The major sticking point was in setting up email. This was not as intuitive as I had hoped.

Sure, setting up my Gmail account was simple, as was my work Exchange account. The issue came when setting up a POP3 account for the Cub group I run. That was, and still is, troublesome. I never get notifications about my emails, they just appear as read… So if I don't check regularly then I miss them. Not really acceptable. However, until a change happens; and I’m not hopeful of one in the near future, this seems to be an age-old problem, I'm learning to live with it.

From an app perspective, it's no surprise that 99% the apps I've used before are available and in that respect there's no change.

Battery life. Much has been written about the iPhone being wall huggers. That it's not possible to go very long without charging. I have to say I don't find that to be the case. I'm not a light user, I also don't play games, but I have found to be able to go a day without plugging into the mains.

Conclusion

Am I pleased to have jumped onto the iOS bandwagon?

I was more than interested to hear the announcements at WWDC16. It seems there's some good stuff coming.

As for now. It's still early days and it may be a little while longer before I'm totally comfortable, but each day that passes brings me closer to a resounding “Yes”.

Review - Sony SRS X11 Personal Audio System

2015-12-24T13:00:00.000+00:00

I recently purchased a Sony SRS X11 bluetooth speaker system. In fact, I got two of them, since they came as a pair. That's not a normal retail package, so I took advantage when I saw it; especially as the cost was only half again for the second unit.

There are many bluetooth speakers on the market, all of varying cost and quality. I chose these because I have a good history with Sony product, and whilst they may not be the cheapest, you can usually be sure of a quality purchase.

OK - let's have a closer look. As you'll see from the pictures, it's tiny. But don't let that put you off. This pumps out 10w of music.

This cube is 61mm in each direction, and weighs just 215g. The battery will last up to 12 hours on a full charge. The build is solid, with a rubbery texture on the top and the back, with a plastic underneath. The grills covering the speakers look and feel like metal. Overall, this feels like a quality product.

On the reverse you will find a stereo mini-jack input (if you use this, then you don't need to pair using bluetooth) and there is a micro USB terminal for charging.

The top of the unit contains the controls; the power button. Press and hold to set the unit into pairing mode.

The volume buttons are on the right. There is also a button to initiate hands-free calling, using the built-in microphone. Music will automatically cut out when a call is in progress.

It's simple to set up - just power up (the first time will automatically set the unit to pairing mode), search for the connection on your device. Just select it, and the pairing will be complete.

You may have spotted the Near Field Communication (NFC) icon on the top. Tap this with your NFC enabled device and it will automatically switch your bluetooth connection on.

Now, when you play anything on your device, the audio will output from the speaker. Magic.

One great feature is the ability to daisy-chain two of the units together. There are two modes available. Either create stereo sound, or double up, and put each device in a different room. Now, so long as they are both within the bluetooth range, you can play the same music across a wider area. Ideal for a party!

Also included is a lanyard that is useful for hanging the speaker; maybe on a branch, tent pole, or just on a door handle.

So - how do they sound? It isn't hi-fi. It's not tinny; there is bass, and the volume can be turned up fairly loud (although, of course, distortion will appear at the top!) If you're looking for pure quality, then you'll need to spend more than this! However, for general listening; playing Spotify playlists, it's ideal.

Review - Star Wars : The Force Awakens

2015-12-21T14:23:00.001+00:00

There has been so much hype for this movie, the pressure on the production team must have felt like a lead weight.

JJ Abrams took the helm; after much discussion. He admitted that he was tired of doing sequels, but thankfully Kathleen Kennedy persuaded him to sit in the directors seat for this one. I'm so glad he did, and as a self-confessed fan of the originals, Abrams said this was a film for the fans by the fans.

When the casting was announced, we knew we would see Han Solo, Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker again, along with the newcomers for a new age. Daisy Ridley (Rey) and John Boyega (Finn) are both terrific in this episode; it's incredible to think this is the first full-length feature for Daisy.

Before I saw the movie, I was careful not to read any reviews that might "give the game away" as I wanted to learn it all as the story unravelled. So, no spoilers here either.

If you remember seeing "A New Hope" when it was first released in 1977, then you won't be disappointed. It's no secret that this is not a complete "green screen" experience. Full size sets were built (including a Millenium Falcon) and apart from 2000+ CGI effects, there are real life explosions, actors in full body costumes and a totally real feel to the movie. It has soul, it has magic and.... it has the music of John Williams.

Williams, who scored the original, has once again married the action with music perfectly to bring mood to the party. From the opening chord, to the final note, the master of movie music has done it again.

What about the returning characters. All now aged by 30 years (since the end of Episode 6 - Return of the Jedi), Harrison Ford looks like he's having a lot of fun (notwithstanding his ankle injury during filming) and brings Han Solo back to like with the wit, charm and sarcastic humour we know and love.
Carrie Fisher, as the now General Organa, brings that feisty attitude she also had in the original trilogy.
C3-PO and R2-D2 also return (indeed, C3-PO is on fine form) and the new robot BB-8 bring a higher level of 'cuteness' than R2-D2 ever could!

Mention must be made of the other "newcomers" to this franchise, as Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Domnhall Gleeson and Gwendoline Christie are all great.

Finally; here's something I learned the other day - Daniel Craig is also in this movie. Whilst shooting "Spectre" on a nearby soundstage, he took the opportunity to pull on a Stormtrooper uniform.

His official designation is JB-007 and whilst you don't see his face, his voice is recognisable during a scene with Rey.

I loved this movie. It had the right amount of humour, plenty of action and whilst it's possible to see this as a stand-alone story, there were more than enough references to the past to pull this well and truly into the fold. This is "classic" Star Wars.

And the best part - my two, teenage, sons, had the biggest smile on their faces when the music started. Priceless.

Social Media and Me

2015-12-08T12:00:00.000+00:00

or.. Why I don't use Facebook?

I recently received exciting news from a friend, via a message on WhatsApp. I replied directly, congratulating him. I later learned that the same news had been shared via Facebook. Of course, here many others posted their messages of congratulations. Along with the inevitable "Like" thumbs up.

I don't disagree with the sentiment, but I do wonder how impersonal it is. Surely it would take just a few seconds extra to send a personal, private, message to say "well done", or "great news".

It's a small gesture, but I believe today we are so wrapped up in social media, to the extent that our lives are broadcast in the moment. Please, don't get me wrong. I have been guilty in the past of posting photos of days out, birthday messages etc. I still post on Twitter; but if it's to someone in particular, then I send a Direct Message to them, and them alone. Or, I send them a text message. Maybe even an email.

Social media is terrific for sharing; but it gets quite impersonal. Monotonous even. The same people, day in, day out; posting photos of their days out, dogs, cats, achievements, children's achievements...

I totally understand that it's exciting to tell everyone some good news; but what happened to the personal touch. The days when the "bush telegraph" took over and the news spread via telephone - I think it was called gossip. Now; it's instant...out there, in your face...

I'm not completely anti social media; it has its uses and I do use it; I post occasionally to Instagram, but use it mainly for following people and interests.
I also use Google+, mainly for the communities. Again, I don't feel the need to post all the time.

I don't 'do' Snapchat; I'm not their target demographic and I don't use Foursquare (does anyone, anymore?)

So, I'm happy with my life outside social media, just dipping my toe in every now and then. I certainly don't feel the need to post my daily lives to all and sundry - those I want to know, I tell.

And if I send you a personal message, directly, it's because I value you as an individual.

Amazon Prime v Netflix

2015-11-23T20:00:00.000+00:00

Not a day seems to go by when someone, somewhere, is giving their views about which streaming video service is best. So, I thought, why not me too!

In the name of full disclosure, I am an Amazon Prime member; although I don't have a vested interest in the company, I just give them my money!
My Netflix subscription is courtesy of a gift, for a year, so I've had the opportunity to use both and give my considered opinions.

Amazon Prime and Netflix are just two of the many streaming services, giving you the opportunity to tune in and watch at your convenience. There is a big differentiator in that Amazon also have their own Fire TV (box and stick) that you can plug directly into your television to watch. Bizarrely, you can download a Netflix app to the Amazon TV; as well as YouTube, BBC iPlayer and more.

For the purposes of this post, I'll concentrate on the services and not the hardware - a review of which I have previously written.

Television

Let's start with television. In each case, both offer a wide range of programmes and in both cases they have their own "Original" series.

Amazon has "Transparent", an Emmy award winning series, along with "Red Oaks", and the new "Man in the High Castle".
Amazon have their Pilots season, where, as a viewer, you can vote on programmes that you'd like to see made into full series. Amazon are investing heavily in their own productions, and this is a terrific way for them to make something that we, the audience, want to watch.
To great fanfare, they also announced they are creating a brand new series of Top Gear, something which I think will ensure more people sign up for Prime.

Netflix are also investing heaving, and also have their own selection of Original programmes, notably "Orange is the New Black", "Daredevil", "House of Cards", and the new Marvel series "Jessica Jones". Their catalogue of television programmes is very extensive indeed.

With the ability to vote on your favourites to be made into full series, then Amazon wins this round.

Feature Length Fun...

Moving onto movies. This is where I believe Netflix has the upper hand. Their selection of films appears to be non-exhaustive, unlike Amazon, which, whilst they have an abundance of films, doesn't seem to offer quite the selection. I do think this is partly to do with the way Amazon organises its library, which makes it difficult to find something. According to the filter criteria, there are over 1500 films currently, (and over 1000 TV shows) - so there is definitely something for everyone.

However, the on-screen navigation makes it easier to find on Netflix, so they win this round.

Bonus Point

There is one extra feature that is only offered by Amazon Prime.
The ability to download and watch offline. When this was announced, Netflix immediately stated that this is not something that their customers would be interested in - as streaming is so straight-forward today, and it would mean helping people to free space on devices! Really? Personally, I think they're wrong.
Having the functionality available to download a film or TV show, for me, makes this a winner.

Amazon gets an extra, bonus, point.

How much?

Last, but certainly not least is the cost. This is where it really gets interesting.

Amazon - £79 per year. For that, not only do you get access to a large library of films and TV, but you also have Amazon Prime Music, unlimited next day delivery, unlimited photo storage and, if you have a Kindle, access to the lending library too.
If you're not already a Prime member, you do get a 30-day free trial before they charge you.

Netflix have a range of options; starting at £5.99 per month, for standard defintion video; up to £8.99 per month for HD quality and multiple screens.
Again, they offer a 30-day free trial before they start charging.

Bear in mind that Amazon charge the entire year in one go; whereas Netflix charge on a monthly subscription basis. This has the added benefit that you can stop at any time, without penalty, and also upgrade/downgrade at any time.

Conclusion

So there you have it. A (brief) look at two of the major streaming services available in the UK.

There are plenty of others, that may, or may not, meet your needs.

Comparable in cost, on an annual basis, for me, it's easy. Whilst I can see the benefit of Netflix, and its simpler-to-use menu structure, as I'm already a Prime member, and therefore taking advantage of the other services on offer, all for an annual fee of £79, then that makes the most sense.

Star Wars - The Saga Is Back

2015-11-17T14:00:00.000+00:00

There is much anticipation for the new episode in the saga - Episode 7; The Force Awakens.
Much has been written.
A lot.
A complete smorgasbord of information about the making of the film not to mention the theories about the story and the characters.

At the end of April 2014, we were treated to this black and white publicity shot, as the cast were announced. This was the first time we officially found out that Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill would be reprising their roles - and the excitement was palpable, as you could see them here, with the new generation of Star Wars cast.

The cast announcement of Episode VII - The Force Awakens

It was in a cinema, far far away (OK, the Gaumont Cinema in Bournemouth) when I first saw Star Wars, Episode IV, A New Hope, when it was first released in 1977. I remember seeing it as a 9 year old and I totally remember the opening scene, as the Star Destroyer entered overhead. The sound was startling and so were the images. I, along with millions of others, were witnessing the birth of something special.

Ever since that day I have been fascinated with the technology used, not only in those early days, but also how they achieve the effects in the latest films. I don't just mean Star Wars; but cinema as a whole.

I remember reading about how the lightsabers were created, how blue screen was used to shoot models of the various vehicles and the stop motion animation used too. Compared to today, it was so antiquated.

Star Wars was a turning point in cinematic technology. Indeed, Industrial Light and Magic; the special effects company, was created especially for Star Wars - it has since gone on to be a powerhouse in movie magic.
In fact, much of the technology was invented to make Star Wars. The computer controlled camera, that allowed for multiple runs, to rehearse, the sequences. There was the matt-painted glass, amongst others, the scene where Obi-Wan was turning off the tractor beam - in reality he was just a few feet off the ground; quite unlike the supposed metres high that it appeared in the film.

One thing I haven't been too keen on is the various versions of Episode IV that have been updated. The first cinematic release didn't have an Episode title; that came later.
As did additional elements that were digitally super-imposed - such as the creatures as Mos Eisley spaceport. All added when the technology became available. Call me a purist - but that kind of ruins the sentiment made of the original.

The more recent episodes (1 - 3) were less "real" and made using almost pure green screen. That is, much of the scenery was digitally imposed after the main shoot was over. Personally; I think this was a shame. Whilst there should always be room for creative licence; asking the actors to work in a plain environment I think somehow hurts them. The same can be said the the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films. Epics in their own right, it adds extra pressure on the actors.

However; notwithstanding all this technology; I also concede that without it, we wouldn't see the spectacular space dog-fights and effects that are so entertaining.

The Force Awakens is the 7th episode; continuing 30 years from the end of Return of the Jedi. We know that Han Solo and Chewbacca are back, as are Leia and Luke (although they haven't featured too much in the trailers). The scene is set for an explosive return for one of the most famous ~~soap~~ space operas of all time.

I, for one, am very excited...

Review - Amazon Prime Music

2015-11-15T19:23:00.000+00:00

There are a number of different streaming music services available; from Spotify, Google Play Music, Apple Music and Amazon.

As a member of Amazon Prime, when this launched I was more than interested in finding out more.

Lots has been written about Amazon Prime, and the benefits that are bestowed upon you; to recap, they are:

Unlimited Next Day Delivery
Prime Video - Up to 15000 movies and TV shows to stream (including Amazon Originals)
Prime Photos - Unlimited photo Storage
Prime Early Access - 30 minute early access to Lightning Deals
Kindle Owners Lending Library - Over half a million titles to borrow on any Kindle device

Finally, Prime Music.

Over one million tracks available to stream / download, with no ads.

What more could you ask for. Admittedly, the music available is not as extensive as Spotify or Google Play et al, BUT, and this is the point - that’s OK.

There is a huge back catalogue, and recently added albums include the latest from Little Mix and One Direction; in fact Amazon recently announced a deal with Universal Music Group, introducing artists such as Katy Perry, Maroon 5, The Weeknd, Ellie Goulding, and Jessie J.

For me, Amazon Prime Music offers the right balance, as I am quite happy with the selection available and the features also available.

There are hundreds of pre-determined playlists; of course you can create your own, you can skip tracks whenever your want, and it's completely ad-free.

I like the fact that their x-ray feature displays the lyrics to the songs (where available), which is an extension of the x-ray offered on their video offering.

With Prime Music, it’s possible to create playlists, change the order tracks within the playlists (something I was surprised to find lacking on Spotify), you can download tracks to your device (and select the location; internal memory, or external SD card - again, something that I wasn’t able to achieve on Spotify).

All of this is synchronised with the cloud, so your playlists can be accessed from all your devices.

If there is one feature I would really love, it's gapless playback, if not also cross-over.

So; as an Amazon Prime member, for the grand total of £79 per year (just £1.52 per week) you get ALL the above. If you have the Amazon Fire TV and/or the TV Stick, then you have a sublime entertainment experience.

What do you think? Do you have a favourite music service?

Cubs - The Start of a Great Adventure

2015-09-02T20:00:00.000+01:00

Are you at a loss about something for your son to do; outside of school?

Is he driving you mad, just sitting in front of the computer all evening, and not doing anything creative? Does he take part in sports? Does he have interests?

Are you looking for something to do, that takes your mind away from work? Maybe you have skills of your own you'd like to share.

Next year, Cubs celebrate their Centenary. 100 years of Cubs, around the world. From the age of 8, through to 10 and a half, boys (and girls) enjoy a really eclectic mix of education, action and adventure.

My personal story began back in 2008, when my oldest son, Ethan, started.

Scouting, in general, has seen a steady resurgence, and when my oldest son turned 8, he joined our local Cub pack. As a parent who never went to Cubs or Scouts, I really didn't know what to expect. At all. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see the programme, and the activities the boys got up to.

I first helped out when we went on our annual camp. The "main event" in the Scouting year, I was amazed; totally blown away by the organisation and preparation that goes into making a Scout/Cub camp successful. You could liken it to a a small army - everything is brought to the site, and when we leave, it's as though we were never there!

It was very hard work, but extremely rewarding. The boys had a fantastic time; and not an electronic device to be seen. I was hooked. I soon became a more regular helper at the weekly meetings, and at the following camp, I was invested as a leader.

Almost three years ago, I took over as Akela. The leader of the pack.

Why is Akela the name for the Cub Leader?

If you didn't know, Lord Baden-Powell, the creator of the Scouts, was friendly with Rudyard Kipling, and so asked if he could use the characters from The Jungle Book as names for the Cub leaders.

I get such a buzz from seeing the boys grow and develop; and, as they get older, move on to Scouts.

Running a Cub pack is no mean feat. I have the most amazing team in Shere Khan, Baloo and Bagheera; as well as three Explorer girls, who turn up each and every week to help run the meetings. The parents get involved too.

There are plenty of badges to earn; from Personal Safety to DIY, Cooking to Pioneering and Digital Citizen to Hiking and the great outdoors. There's something for everyone, and it's an education too.

I've not even started to scratch the surface about what Cubs and Scouts is about. There is so much; run by an organisation that I'm proud to be a part of.

If you are looking for something exciting and rewarding, where you get out just as much as you put in; where your son or daughter will learn new skills, increase their confidence and make new friends, then contact your local Scout group to see if you can help.

You won't regret it.

Take a look at the Scouts website for more information

Pocket - How I Save The Internet

2015-07-19T12:18:00.000+01:00

How do you consume your news? Do you buy a traditional newspaper? Do you just read the free newspaper on your daily commute?
Or, do you use your phone, tablet or PC to read the news?

I rarely read a newspaper; but I do read the news on my phone; each morning, as I wend my way to work, I flick through feedly and find articles of interest in my curated news feeds. I also use Flipboard for more in-depth articles of interest. When I find something I want to save for later, I add to Pocket. This is how I "save the internet".

It's not just feedly. It's possible to save articles from almost anywhere; especially by using the "share" feature, I select Pocket, and away it goes.

The next time I fire up the Pocket app on my mobile, or the site; all my saved articles are ready to ready to read.

Once I've added tags, I can then select tags to read, see where the videos are, or pictures. Articles I want to keep handy I mark as favourites, others, when read can either be deleted for good, or simply archived.

Saving the internet has never been so easy.

Do you use Pocket? Is there some other way in which you save articles for reading later?

New Tech - Episode 6 - Fitbit Fit

2015-06-24T21:04:00.000+01:00

I will start this post by telling you that I am not, repeat not, a fitness fanatic.

It's been years since I went to the gym, or took part in any organised fitness activity. I don't run. I haven't been swimming for ages. In fact, the only exercise I do is walking.

For a while I've been contemplating losing weight, and thought I'd get myself a pedometer - measure how far I walk, in an effort to concentrate my mind.

You can track various attributes such as steps, stairs,
calories burned and more...

Then I heard about Fitbit. I did some research. Thought about it. Continued my walking and thought some more. There is a range to choose from, from the small Fitbit Zip, to the top of the range Surge.

Now, that's a little over the top, but the Zip wasn't enough (even though it's exactly what I was looking for in a pedometer).

I opted for the Fitbit One. It's a small device that can easily fit into a pocket, or clipped onto a waistband using the supplied clip. It tracks a number of things:

Steps (that's the obvious one)
Floors climbed
Distance walked
Calories burned
Sleep

There's even a little plant that grows or shrinks based on how active you are!

Used in conjunction with the app (available on iOS or Android) and the web interface, the entire Fitbit philosophy is about getting fit, losing weight and keeping fit.

The website dashboard is where you go to log your food and drink. There is a database of almost every food type, as well as ranges that can be purchased from supermarkets. You can also scan the barcode on the packaging and most of the time it finds it. This is a little hit and miss, there have been a few occasions where my food isn't recognised. It's not a major issue, but it would be nice if the database was kept up to date.

The Fitbit dashboard shows how you're doing
against the targets you've set

At night, slip the Fitbit One into a sleeve and wear it on your wrist. Set it going as you fall asleep and it tracks how soundly (or not) you sleep.

It's an activity monitor in reverse, recording times when you wake or are restless; and giving you an efficiency rating of your sleep.

Should you go running, cycling, roller-skating, play tennis; or any other physical activity, then you can set the timer off again, and it will record it as active time.

As I mentioned right at the start, I am not a fitness fanatic; however, using my Fitbit One is driving me to better my tracking scores each day. Increasing the number of steps I do, watching what I eat and seeing it all reported on the website. For the very serious, for a premium, you can get a whole host of reports - the first week is free, to try them out; and they are very detailed.

If you so desire, there's also a whole community to join in with, and compete against! This isn't something I do, but I can see the benefits. The website also hosts a great forum, for asking all sorts of questions.

Overall, my Fitbit One has seamlessly become part of my dress code, and I am often joked at for scanning barcodes and capturing my eating habits!

The last laugh will be on me, as I reach my goal.

Do you use a fitness tracker? How has it helped you?

New Tech - Episode 5

2015-05-24T19:49:00.001+01:00

I like tech, and whilst I can't afford to buy new tech on a regular basis, when I see a potential, value-for-money opportunity, then I will grab it.

I did this with the Amazon Fire TV, and wrote about that here.

When the Amazon Fire TV Stick was announced I was intrigued; so I bought one. Why? Well, I love the main Fire TV - it's used almost everyday, both for Amazon Prime content, but also for BBC iPlayer. The kids enjoy playing some of the games too.

So, why get the Stick version? Well, since the Fire TV can only be watched on one TV, and it's not always convenient to watch when I want, having a second device, means I can access the content in another room.

Why not a second box? That's a good question, but I suppose it comes down to cost. The new Fire TV Stick is currently available for £25; so doesn't break the bank. Also, the stick is small, and doesn't need a table top - so, it's ideal for a wall-mounted television.

It's so simple to set up (although the one downside is that you must have a dedicated power supply - the USB port on the TV isn't powerful enough!) This is a shame, but not a showstopper.

So, I plugged it into the HDMI port, connected the power cable and within seconds I was asked to select the language, enter the password for my network and away it went. Since I purchased it from my Amazon account, I was asked if I wanted to use my account on the stick, and then the setup was completed.

The included remote is different to the one supplied with the main Fire TV box; it's not quite as sleek, and there is no voice search (although you can do this via the free Fire TV app, available from Google Play, or App store).

With 8Gb of flash storage, to download apps or games, and a dual core processor, this small stick is not sluggish.

As well as BBC iPlayer, there is Demand5, Vevo, Netflix, Vimeo, Sky News, BBC News and much much more.

Performance was as expected; no buffering, and the picture quality is excellent; as is the sound. The selections played flawlessly and as it's a cloud based service, it knew the last point I'd watched an episode of a programme, and asked if I wanted to resume. You can also see photos or videos stored in your Amazon Prime cloud storage.

The question is, should you get one? If you have an Amazon Prime account, this is a no-brainer. And having the TV Stick means you can easily move it from room to room; take it away, use in student digs etc.

For me, this is the best way to get the most value for money from my Prime account, and at just £25 (the current offer; normal price £35), means I can consume even more Prime content.

Fab!

My Top 10 Reasons To Buy a Chromebook

2015-03-01T18:09:00.000+00:00

Much has been written about the reasons to own a Chromebook. There are many. I bought my first Chromebook at the end of 2014 (it's an Acer C720 and you can read my review here). However, I spent a long time researching these mini powerhouses before I took the plunge. My one regret is that I didn't do it sooner.

With, on average, 2Gb RAM and a 16Gb solid state drive, not only is a Chromebook easy to use, but it's quite fast too.

So, what does a Chromebook have to offer that makes it a must-have?

1. Living In The Cloud
We all, well most of us anyway, spends 90-95% of our time online. That's it, we use the internet for most of what we do, and rarely install applications. If this is you, then a Chromebook will be just the ticket.

2. Relatively Cheap
Unless you're doing graphic design, you don't need a £1000 MacBook, or an £800 Windows laptop. You don't even need a £400 laptop. The Acer cost me £180.

3. No Software Licence Costs
Microsoft are well known for their licence costs, and whilst they do offer cut-down versions from free; with a Chromebook you get access to the full suite of Google Docs, Sheets, Slides included, as well as all the updates...

4. Talking of Updates
ChromeOS (the operating system on the Chromebook) is updated for Free, on regular cycles. This means that whenever new functionality is made available, it's delivered to you fast and free. Plus - software updates on a Chromebook are so quick, you probably won't even notice.

5. Virus Free
Getting caught by a virus is practically unheard of with a Chromebook. So, no anti-virus software to slow you down.

6. Simple Set Up
When I bought my Chromebook, it was out of the box, powered up and ready to go in less than 10 minutes. All you need is a Google account and you're done. If you've already been using Chrome as a browser, then your browser settings are synchronised automatically.

7. Great Battery Life
My last laptop would be good if it lasted more than 3 hours without needing a charge. My Chromebook has lasted me a whopping 8 hours away from the plug socket. Chromebooks are renowned for their battery life

8. Offline Access
One point that people make is "sounds good, but you need to be connected to the internet for it to work". That isn't strictly true. There are many apps that work offline, including Docs etc, and even Gmail has an offline counterpart. When re-connected, everything syncs automatically.

9. Easy to Replace
With most of your documents and photos in the cloud, should anything drastic happen to your Chromebook, it's simple enough to replace. Turn on, log in and everything* is there. Magic!

*Everything that's in the cloud - any locally stored documents might be lost!

10. Chromebooks in the Market
Most manufacturers have entered the Chromebook market, from Acer to HP, and Dell to Samsung - so with 1080p screens, others with larger screens, ALL of them run the same version of ChromeOS (although you can choose from 3 flavours - Developer, Beta or Stable)

As I mentioned at the beginning; I've been using a Chromebook for personal and business use since December. My Windows laptop is gathering dust.

There really is no reason not to think about a Chromebook as your next portable laptop device.

Do you agree with my reasons? What were your reasons for buying a Chromebook?

Review - Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

2015-02-09T17:21:00.000+00:00

I’ve had an Amazon Kindle for quite some time - almost 4 years.

When I first got it, I was a little apprehensive. I love books. I love the smell of fresh pages, and the tactile feel of holding the book. I have always been a reader; with a broad range of genres.

I was concerned that I wouldn't have the connection that I love. I worried that holding a piece of plastic would take away from the pleasure reading a book gives.

I was wrong.

However, this applies only to the Kindle device (and other specific e-reader) as the screens are designed to make reading easy and less of a strain. Using the Kindle app on a tablet or laptop does not have the same “je ne sais quoi”! The glare from a high definition screen or monitor makes it hard work, and less of a pleasure.

The Kindle itself offers a matt screen, which means it can be read in strong sunlight without glare. It also means, like any other real book, it needs light to be able to see the words. It’s not backlit, so is useless in the dark.

Roll forward a couple of years, and Amazon released the Paperwhite.

Similar in size, this has a touchscreen (for turning pages and accessing the menu and settings) and an adjustable backlight. This means that books can be read in any light, at any time.

I upgraded to the Paperwhite during an offer period, and it was simplicity itself in setting it up. Indeed, it arrived already assigned to my Amazon account, so all I needed to do was turn it on and login to the wi-fi. My books were instantly available.

I set up my “collections”, which act like a folder system, organised however I like. I have one for unread books, and the others are set up for authors, or genres. You can add books to as many collections as you like. Of course, once I've read a book; I remove it from the “unread” collection!

With Wi-Fi turned on, you can access the store, and if you’re a Prime member, there’s a wealth of books available to “borrow”. Which means that you can read one book per month, for free, before returning it. You don’t have to return it, but you can’t borrow another until you do.

There’s a whole host of settings you can adjust; from font size, to brightness and orientation. There’s also the built-in dictionary and the ability to find more about the characters in the books.#

With Wi-Fi switched off, the battery lasts a good few weeks (depending on the brightness setting) but this isn’t affected too much when it’s turned on.

The reading experience itself is quite pleasant. As I mentioned earlier, the matt style screen means the pages can be read in any light condition, without the glare reflecting (and also not seeing myself reflected in the screen!)

Whilst reading, it’s possible to see how far into a chapter you’ve gone, how much is left to read, and, this is quite clever, how long is left in the chapter or book - I guess based on how quickly you turn the page? I’m not completely sure what algorithm is used to calculate this, but at least it’s possible to see if there’s enough time to read to the end of the chapter.

Of course, one of the major benefits of an e-reader, is the ability to carry numerous books with you. This is a boon for students, who can have all their text and reference material in one place (and saves on heavy bags) but also for people like me, who may want a change from the current book, depending on mood. Need something light and humerous - dive in and find a comedy. Murder mystery - where’s the Agatha Christie section? It also means that I can pre-purchase books and have them ready and available.

Whether an e-reader is right for you, depends on how much you read; but I can guarantee that once you use one, you’ll wonder how you managed without.