I have tried various products like – Evernote, Gnote etc. to store notes which I needed to access quickly . But was not really impressed.
Google came to the rescue . A lovely solution which is mobile friendly with an app and the data stored in Google Drive so that it can be accessed from anywhere
Another money saving App for UK Mobile users. I have been using this for more than an year. Calling 08 numbers from mobile phones are never included in the allowance. This is a brilliant way to get around it with an additional feature of this company waiting in Queue for us.
This company was featured in the Dragon’s Den once.
WeQ4U is a FREE Android/iPhone App and Service that puts you through to UK 08 numbers for FREE, without queueing.
Mobile users save approx. 30p per minute on their 0800, 0845, 0844, 0843, 0870, 0871 and 0872 calls
with WeQ4U, whether they encounter a queue or not, so it saves you money and time.
Not got Android or iPhone?
To use it, Just dial 0333 5432111 and enter the number of the call centre you wish to reach. We’ll dial for you, and connect you to the call centre. Once you’re in a queue for an agent, just press 9* to disconnect your phone from the call – that’s 9* to wait off hold.
WeQ4U calls are included in your regular phone minutes, just like 01 or 02 calls, whether you use landline or mobile phone
This extension adds a button to Chrome that lets you seamlessly pushes links, maps, and currently selected text and phone numbers to your Android device.
HulloMail is a visual voice mail solution which is available in UK, USA & Ireland. I have been using this from it’s initial days. Can’t praise enough !
If you have a smartphone, you should give HulloMail a try . It’s feature rich compared to the normal network voice mails . And many features are FREE !
In US – Google Voice may be better , but in UK – I couldn’t find an alternative better solution.
Very handy when you travel abroad – There is an option to divert all calls to voice mail and the voice mail can be picked from abroad using Internet via the App or on the computer plus the voice mail will be emailed as an attachment to you .
The app can be installed on iPad & Other Android Tablets as well !
I am not sure whether some networks in UK charges these days to retrieve voice mails. Earlier retrieving voice mail were outside your calling allowance on some networks. HulloMail was a way to get around this issue as well !
Download for Android, BlackBerry and iPhone, it’s free.
How It Works !
HulloMail is activated during the registration process as a conditional divert – meaning your calls are sent to HulloMail, rather than your standard operator. It sounds a bit complicated, but all you have to do is activate the service when the app prompts you, and you’re good to go! From this point, HulloMail will answer your incoming calls if you are not available.
Then you can listen to your messages however you prefer! Use the app, check your email, or give your HulloMail number a call if you still prefer standard voicemail methods. Ultimately [and most importantly], you are in control.
With the FREE app you get these features:
View, play and manage your voicemails in the app
See contact details and photo
Setup personal voicemail greetings from the app
Receive alerts of new messages via Push Notification
Receive alerts of missed calls when your phone is off or no network coverage via Push Noticiation
Send a copy of a voicemail to your email
Share a voicemail and a Hullo via Facebook directly from the app
Record a short voice message, a ‘Hullo’, to send to friends, family, yourself as a memo or as a reply to a voicemail
Screenshot of the app on my phone is below
I have not used the paid service yet but With the PAID app, you get the features above, PLUS, a SmartVoicemail™ 1 Year Subscription, which gives you:
Ad Free Service
Individual Greetings – Greet each contact with a personalised recording
Copy to Email – Automatically send every voicemail to your email
Share via Email – Share messages via email from the app
Access Control – Anti-hacking measures to secure your voicemails
Quick Reply Options – Reply by email and SMS from within the app
SMSBackup+ – Another Brilliant App on Android which is a feature iOS users are missing . And It’s FREE . I have been using this for over an year now. Simple, Flawless & Very powerful !
One of the reasons – I can’t move away from using Android as a phone.
Automatically backup SMS, MMS and call log entries using a separate label in Gmail / Google Calendar.
It is also possible to restore SMS and call log entries back to the phone (MMS not supported yet).
Remember to enable IMAP in Gmail.
They have recently added Whatsapp Chat messages backup also into the application. Including Media as well .
With this app you can have your emails / sms / whatsapp all in one place. In your Gmail . I find it really easy to search for stuff .
Install this app. Set it up and forget about it . It will do the hard work in the background so that your information is not lost if you lose your phone or change phones / upgrade ROM or anything else. This is better than Apple’s iCloud also in my view.
Went for 4 hours of Snowboarding @ Chill Factore, Manchester yesterday(15th December 2013) . Got a brilliant deal – £23 for 4 hours with snowboard & boots hire included.
Got this deal through their members newsletter via a friend at work . I went with Greg & Liam who are far better than me in snowboarding.
I was really nervous to go as I had not done snowboarding for a while. I was really worried whether I will be asked to leave the slope but I saw many others whom I think were far worse than me 🙂 I have been to Chill Factore earlier this year with my brother for a taster session – But that was just on the nursery slope.
I have been to Snowdome in Tamworth and Swadlincote Ski Slope & Snowboard Centre in the past but Chill Factore is far better than these two. Swadlincote has got a dry slope but Snowdome and Chill Factore have got snow. Trying to build up the expertise to go for a winter holiday in the Alps 😉
The equipments, lifts, quality of snow & slope were all better here compared to Swadlincote and Snowdome.
Didn’t take the camera with me . So don’t have any photos or videos of me snowboarding(rather falling) . Including some photos from the net . It’s far better than these photos in my opinion.
I didn’t have any fall in the first 90 minutes but later had two really bad falls while trying to experiment a bit more. I am glad I was wearing a helmet. Got a very stiff neck today though 🙁
Took it easy as I wanted to enjoy and go home happy.. Didn’t try any more experiments. Snowboarding in real snow is far better. Can gain speeds and also control and stop when required. I am not sure if I will ever go back to dry slopes again.
Below is a video by Chill Factore on Youtube
How do they make the snow?
The snow is made from compressed air and water, which are blasted into a chilled atmosphere. On hitting the freezing air temperature snowflakes are formed. This process takes place every night producing a fresh covering of 5mm ready for snow buddies the next day.
Fact: It snows every night in Manchester!
The composition of real and artificially produced snowflakes is the same; the physical difference can only be spotted under a microscope. However whereas real snowflakes take hours to form, artificially produced real snow takes just seconds, meaning everyone can enjoy the amazing slope all year round.
Stats & Facts
Chill Factore boasts the UK’s longest real snow indoor ski slope at 180 metres.
The height of the building is 45m. The main slope starts at 40m at the top widening to 100m at the bottom.
The area covered by snow is 10,200 sq m. This equates to around 1,632 tonnes of snow, based on a snow depth of 40cm. The compacted snow density is 0.4 tonnes per cubic metre.
An average of sixteen tonnes of snow is produced per day.
The indoor temperature is a steady –1.5 degrees C.
Maximum capacity on the main slope is 180 people.
More than 500 jobs have been created at Chill Factore with around 260 people employed in the ski section alone.
2010 winner of Manchester Tourism ‘Access for All’ Award.
LastPass is a brilliant tool which I have been using for more than one year now . I have shown this to few of my friends and they are all very keen users now.
Thought of writing about this earlier but just now managed to remember about it. This tool or similar ones are a must these days when we have logins to many different sites – Some trusted and Some dodgy. I no longer have same password for more than one site. And I don’t need to remember any of the passwords.
I have purchased the premium service which costs me $1 per month . We use this in our family . No need to remember any more passwords . Form fillings have become so easy and accurate.
Premium Service is needed if you want to use it on mobiles and tablets. On PC / Mac it’s free. With free account you can still use Lastpass via a browser and see the passwords stored on a mobile / tablet.
Highly recommend for everyone to try the free version to start with . Lets you import passwords stored in your browser which is insecure in my opinion.
Download and setup with LastPass in minutes. Once you’ve created your account, LastPass prompts you to save new sites as you browse – so you’ll never lose another password.
Hassle-Free Login
After saving a website’s username and password, LastPass will autofill the login when you return to that site. No thought, no typing, no work required – LastPass does it for you.
Centralize Your Data
See all your accounts and passwords in one easy-to-use “vault”, where you can edit, delete, and organize your stored data. LastPass syncs automatically, so you’re up-to-date, wherever you are.
Streamline Online Shopping
Set up a Profile for each credit card, family member, billing and shipping address. When you’re registering for an account, or ready to complete a payment, select the Profile you want, and complete the form in a single click.
Take it On The Road
Need to check that bank statement before you board your flight? Upgrade to LastPass Premium for unlimited use of our mobile apps for complete peace of mind, wherever you are.
Record Your Most Important Information
Create secure notes for credit cards, insurance cards, memberships, WiFi logins, passports, driver’s licenses, and more. Store the information you need to keep safe and private.
Backup Sensitive Documents
Attach documents and images to your secure notes. LastPass backs up your files automatically, so you always have a secure, digital copy.
Share Accounts – The Right Way
Send logins for shared accounts to friends and family who are fellow LastPass users. Keep passwords “hidden”, and delete when needed
Generate Long, Strong Passwords
The LastPass password generator appears when you’re creating an account or updating an existing one, so you have unique passwords that follow best security practices.
Perform an Audit
Run the LastPass Security Challenge to check your progress, and identify areas where you can continue to improve your online security. LastPass also alerts you to weak and duplicate passwords as you’re logging in to your accounts, so you can generate new ones immediately.
Add Another Layer of Security
Recommended by industry experts, multifactor authentication adds a second login step when signing in to your LastPass account, so that your account is even more safe. Select one of the many multifactor authentication options we support to better protect your personal information.
I have just checked and it works great. Can’t believe I was watching Iggle Piggle in Standard Definition 🙂
What a lovely Xmas present from BBC.
The launch of CBBC HD, CBeebies HD, BBC Three HD, BBC Four HD and BBC News HD in time for Christmas means you’ll be able to watch more festive treats in the highest quality from the comfort of your sofa.
Electronic Programme Guide channel numbers
This is where you will be able to find the new HD channels in EPGs:
CBBC HD
CBeebies HD
BBC Three HD
BBC Four HD
BBC News HD
Freeview HD / YouView
73
74
105
106
107
Freesat HD
607
608
147
148
212
Sky HD (HD subscribers / non-subscribers)
613 / 633
614 / 624
115 / 210
116 / 211
570
Virgin Media
710
711
163
164
604
Advice on picking up the new HD channels
If you have Freeview HD or YouView your receiver may pick up the changes automatically, but if not then you will need do a retune. Digital UK’s TV retune website gives advice on how to retune. Freeview HD and YouView viewers can check which new HD channels they can expect to receive using theDigital UK coverage checker. Once you’ve entered your postcode, take a look in the ‘channels’ section.
If you have Freesat and you do not pick up the new channels automatically, you may need to put your digital box or TV into standby for 30 seconds and then switch it back on again. If the channels are still unavailable then carry out a ‘Freesat channel retune’. Full instructions can be found in the manual for your digital TV or box. Further help with retuning can be found at www.freesat.co.uk or by calling the Freesat customer support team on 08450 990 990.
If you have Sky, you should not have to do anything. If you do have a problem receiving any of our channels, you can try turning your Sky set top box off at the mains, waiting 30 seconds and turning it back on again. If that doesn’t resolve your problem you can find more help atwww.sky.com/helpcentre.
If you have Virgin Media the new streams should appear automatically. If you do have a problem receiving any of our channels, you can find more help at Virgin’s website.
You can find detailed technical information for all BBC channels and where each appears on satellite, including our new HD services through our satellite reception advice page .
Getting an Open Ear Bone conduction technology Headphones for Xmas . I always hate wearing Earphones.
Should be great for running and outdoor activities .
Another product which is nearly half price in USA compared to UK. Was planning to treat myself with this for Xmas but my younger brother is getting this for me . Will be a lovely present. Chuffed !
AfterShokz Bluez open ear wireless headphones combine the convenience, reliability and performance of Bluetooth wireless connectivity with the comfort and safety of open ear bone conduction technology to provide consumers with an entirely new way to stay connected. Unlike conventional Bluetooth headphones and earbuds that use the eardrums to transmit sound, Aftershokz Bluez headphones utilize patent pending bone conduction technology to deliver sound through the listener’s cheekbones to the inner ear. This enables anyone using them to make/take phone calls and stay connected to both what they are listening to and the outside world – from warning sounds outdoors while walking or driving to a nearby colleague in an office setting.
Most bluetooth devices are designed for use in one ear, but AfterShokz Bluez sit comfortably in front of the ears and provide listeners with a stereophonic sound experience. The innovative and elegantly simple design of AfterShokz Bluez open ear headphones is built around a beautifully designed, highly ergonomic, extremely stable, one-piece warparound headband. The open ear design and the light weight of AfterShokz Bluez make them extremely comfortable and stable, even when used over extended periods of time.
AfterShokz Bluez open ear wireless bluetooth headphones deliver the safest and most comfortable way of staying connected on the planet
Product Details
Bluetooth wireless connectivity.
Open ear bone conduction technology.
Make/take phone calls and stay connected to both what you are listening to and the outside world.
Playback time: Up to 6 hours at low volume.
Charging time: 3 hours (using included micro USB to USB cable)
Technical Details
Speaker type: Dual suspension bone conduction
Compatible Bluetooth Profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HSP, HFP
Wireless Range: 10 m / 33 ft
Battery: Rechargeable 250 mAh Lithium Ion battery
LED indicator for operation, low battery and charging
