Google Keep

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

Recommend  Android users to try this

Google Keep on Computer — https://drive.google.com/keep/

AndroidAppStore

 

Quickly create, access and organize notes, lists and photos with Google Keep. All your notes are automatically stored in Drive

WeQ4U

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.

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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

http://youtu.be/2sqxl5ockXk

 

HulloMail The Best Voicemail Solution

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 !

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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.

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How It Works !
hullomail-howitworksdiagram

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

hullomail_Screenshot

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
  • Longer Voicemails – Up to 5 minutes in length

HulloMail Main Features Video on Youtube

SMS Backup + for Android

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 .

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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.

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Video Review of the App

 

LastPass – The Last Password you have to Remember

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.

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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.

Some alternate products to LastPass are  KeePass1PasswordKeeper , Clipperz

Why use LastPass?

Save as You Go

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.

CBBC HD, CBeebies HD, BBC Three HD, BBC Four HD & BBC News HD are live now on Freeview, Satellite & Cable

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 HDCBeebies HDBBC Three HDBBC 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.

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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

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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 .

Courtesy – http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/aboutthebbc/posts/CBBC-HD-CBeebies-HD-BBC-Three-HD-BBC-Four-HD-and-BBC-News-HD-to-launch-on-Tuesday-10-December-2013

Vonage Extensions App

I just downloaded a FREE app from Vonage that lets me make international calls from my Android at the same low rates as my Vonage home calling plan. Now I have the freedom to make calls from anywhere.

Lets me make free calls according to the vonage plan using Wifi / 3G or even Local Access Number which is fantastic

This is the much awaited real Vonage App if you are a subscriber. Lets you extend the Vonage plans to be usable from your mobiles too!

Apps available for Android and iOS.

Some useful features below.

Make high-quality calls over Wi-Fi in areas with poor cellular coverage.
Avoid roaming fees by calling over Wi-Fi when travelling abroad.
Save your cellular minutes by calling over Wi-Fi or 3G/4G.
One-touch dialling from within the app, using your address book.
Access your account right from the app to check your Vonage voicemail and set up call forwarding.

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Cheap hosting with mysql stored procedures

Was looking for a cheap or free hosting for my new project.

Found a free php / mysql hosting service – 000webhost.Com

Quite handy. Setup the database migrated tables and data. But realised there’s no support for stored procedures which is a must for me.

Then the hunt continued. I think I have got a reasonable solution with stored procedure support . HOSTGATOR

Going to purchase it tonight.

Trust Me I’m A Doctor – Must Watch

Last night’s bedtime watch was Michael Mosley and team’s Health Documentary..

I am a big fan of Michael Mosley. Brilliant presenter.

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The following link shows different issues covered in the programme.

Shows the steps to perform in different situations like if someone is choking / drowning / performing cpr etc. Everyone should see this. It could save the life of your dear ones.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01dgd9c/features/issues

 

Trust Me I’m A Doctor Epidode 1 on Youtube  

Trust Me I’m A Doctor Episode 2 on Youtube