I've had this Blog thing for ages and I know I don't update it anywhere as much as I should or would like to but I have yet to activate the switch in my head which makes me automatically think when something happens 'you know what I'll blog about that'. I'd guess that I'm like most people where my first reaction is 'Great! I'll put that on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram' but not in a blog. Why that is I'm not totally sure, maybe it's because I don't find updating it on my iPhone all that enjoyable or maybe it's the lack of time I spend sat in front of a computer with either the time or subject to update a blog.
There are some great bloggers out there who you can tell really love and nurture their blogs and use them as an outlet for their thoughts, and general opinions but I am a long way from that yet. I could probably fill pages of total drivel but not sure that's worth anyones time to read!
I'm going to try and make the effort to use this more to express thoughts etc initially from time to time and we'll see where it goes from there.
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
Monday, 11 February 2013
Things are Changing
Back in December last year I put a post on here that my devotion to all things Apple was waning fast, and since then nothing has changed. I've still got my iPhone 5 and to be honest it's got very boring! iOS is still the same look and feel (only a lot faster and a few more features) than the original version back in 2007 and from comments made on Apple blog sites there doesn't look to be much of a desire from Apple to change! There's talk of an iWatch - meh! and a faster iPhone 5S - meh! Will the iWatch have the contactless payment chip in it which the iPhone hasn't?
Over the last week I've gone into normal research mode which happens when I start to consider other options for things I use a lot during the course of each day - I've watched YouTube videos, read articles and my conclusion is that unless Apple produced iOS 7 with a completely overhauled interface I will be taking my hard earned £ and heading off to the nearest O2 store to get an Android phone! I had considered Windows phone however the lack of a fully stocked App Store means I'll probably give them another phone cycle before I seriously consider them! The thing I like about Android is it's configurability and customisableness and it's nowhere near as constrained and controlled as the iPhone! It sounds like fun!
So come on Apple - you've got a while to make improvements because I'm on a lengthy contract with the iPhone 5, otherwise I'm outta here!!!
Over the last week I've gone into normal research mode which happens when I start to consider other options for things I use a lot during the course of each day - I've watched YouTube videos, read articles and my conclusion is that unless Apple produced iOS 7 with a completely overhauled interface I will be taking my hard earned £ and heading off to the nearest O2 store to get an Android phone! I had considered Windows phone however the lack of a fully stocked App Store means I'll probably give them another phone cycle before I seriously consider them! The thing I like about Android is it's configurability and customisableness and it's nowhere near as constrained and controlled as the iPhone! It sounds like fun!
So come on Apple - you've got a while to make improvements because I'm on a lengthy contract with the iPhone 5, otherwise I'm outta here!!!
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
I almost forgot
If anybody reads this then hope you have a great 2013! Especially if 2012 was actually a bit pap!!!
New Year Resolutions
I personally find it very easy not to break New Year Resolutions simply because I don't make any - and this year is no exception! There are a few things that I will definitely attempt this year but to describe them as resolutions is a bit far fetched!
As out second child is scheduled for arrival next month I'm definitely going to have to make a lot of effort with our first daughter to make sure she doesn't feel left out as I fully anticipate that the new arrival will be the focus of a lot of attention! Also with the new arrival will come a lot more husband type responsibilities - I'm already thinking I'll have to double or even treble my input!
As for other things I'll probably try a few attempts to get fit which clearly won't work as I don't have the motivation! I'll also probably try and make time to keep the garden this side of being a jungle! We'll see!!!
As out second child is scheduled for arrival next month I'm definitely going to have to make a lot of effort with our first daughter to make sure she doesn't feel left out as I fully anticipate that the new arrival will be the focus of a lot of attention! Also with the new arrival will come a lot more husband type responsibilities - I'm already thinking I'll have to double or even treble my input!
As for other things I'll probably try a few attempts to get fit which clearly won't work as I don't have the motivation! I'll also probably try and make time to keep the garden this side of being a jungle! We'll see!!!
Sunday, 9 December 2012
Are they getting lazy?
Ever since Apple released the first iPhone I've been a faithful parishioner at the Church of iOS and updated my phone to the latest version - all except the 3GS. I've now got the iPhone 5 and after using it for a few months I can say that it's ok - not great but just ok! Yes it's fast, yes the screen quality is amazing however iOS is definitely getting a bit dated and has lost its wow factor.
As for the alternatives there's never been much option - I really don't like Android, although I picked it up pretty easily after using a phone running it for a few minutes after a while I thought it was clunky and felt as though it was just thrown together. As for the naming convention - Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean!!!!!!! Get lost!! I'm 37 not 14!
The other player in the market, although quite a bit lower in he usage market is Windows phone. As an Apple appreciator I guess that there's the thought 'I love Apple stuff therefore I cannot like Windows stuff' however this for me has just been completely disproven with the introduction of Windows 8. My brother in law has sung it's praises for ages and I've never really taken much notice until recently. At this moment in time I think if I was asked would I leave Apple and iOS for Windows 8 I would probably say yes! One review video I've just watched on YouTube summed it up quite nicely, in iOS the way things work is app centric so to update your status on Facebook you open the Facebook app whereas Windows 8 seems to be task centric. Instead of updating a specific app you update your general status and then choose where to update it, all the apps work together. Yes there are some in iOS which do this - iPhone and Instagram to name two however the aren't many more. For me when I post a photo I would like to be able to open the photo in Camera Roll and choose where it goes, select for example Facebook, Twitter and Flickr from the menu and off it goes rather than having to upload specifically to each network one at a time. Yes there probably lots if apps which I could download to do that however I want the OS to do it.
Overall I think, possibly like a few other people, that Apple is getting lazy, their products look and feel amazing but using a device is more than that - its about the user experience and how many clicks and swipes it takes to do something not just how thin it is! I just hope for the next release to iOS or iPhone I see Tim Cook stood on a stage describing improvements in user experience rather than constantly describing how gorgeous something is. Am I considering switching from iOS to Windows 8? Yes I am, will I switch from iOS to Windows 8? Probably not!! Although the 4G promise from O2 is become a little more interesting!
As for the alternatives there's never been much option - I really don't like Android, although I picked it up pretty easily after using a phone running it for a few minutes after a while I thought it was clunky and felt as though it was just thrown together. As for the naming convention - Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean!!!!!!! Get lost!! I'm 37 not 14!
The other player in the market, although quite a bit lower in he usage market is Windows phone. As an Apple appreciator I guess that there's the thought 'I love Apple stuff therefore I cannot like Windows stuff' however this for me has just been completely disproven with the introduction of Windows 8. My brother in law has sung it's praises for ages and I've never really taken much notice until recently. At this moment in time I think if I was asked would I leave Apple and iOS for Windows 8 I would probably say yes! One review video I've just watched on YouTube summed it up quite nicely, in iOS the way things work is app centric so to update your status on Facebook you open the Facebook app whereas Windows 8 seems to be task centric. Instead of updating a specific app you update your general status and then choose where to update it, all the apps work together. Yes there are some in iOS which do this - iPhone and Instagram to name two however the aren't many more. For me when I post a photo I would like to be able to open the photo in Camera Roll and choose where it goes, select for example Facebook, Twitter and Flickr from the menu and off it goes rather than having to upload specifically to each network one at a time. Yes there probably lots if apps which I could download to do that however I want the OS to do it.
Overall I think, possibly like a few other people, that Apple is getting lazy, their products look and feel amazing but using a device is more than that - its about the user experience and how many clicks and swipes it takes to do something not just how thin it is! I just hope for the next release to iOS or iPhone I see Tim Cook stood on a stage describing improvements in user experience rather than constantly describing how gorgeous something is. Am I considering switching from iOS to Windows 8? Yes I am, will I switch from iOS to Windows 8? Probably not!! Although the 4G promise from O2 is become a little more interesting!
Sunday, 18 November 2012
Northern Countryside
I may have mentioned it on here previously but back in 2007 I moved to live in London, it was something I always wanted to do and am really pleased I did - to be honest I'd recommend it to anyone. Then back in 2009 after meeting my amazing wife and with the impending arrival of our daughter we moved back north! London has so much to offer which at times I really miss - however there's something up North that I don't think I could now ever do without - the Northern Countryside! I know other areas of the country have some amazing and spectacular wilderness and countryside but there's something about the woods, moors, hills etc in the North I absolutely love. Not sure if it's the colours, the variety of trees, the terrain or a hefty amount of bias but I'd urge anybody to head North and into the wilds!
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
What's the point of them....?
There a few things that I see in everyday life that I really cannot see the point in or work out why people would bother with. Most recently, and probably because I spend a lot of time in traffic, I've realised that I really cannot see the point of 'Baby on Board' signs and stickers in the back of cars! What difference does it make to me if you've got a baby on board? I still have no intention of crashing into you whether you've got a baby on board or not! I personally have got a daughter who I drive round with in the car and having a sign telling everybody would make absolutely no difference at all!
I can only think that these signs are just a different way of saying 'I'm fertile - look at me!!!'.
I can only think that these signs are just a different way of saying 'I'm fertile - look at me!!!'.
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
Flickr
Although I'm not great at it or profess to understand all the fancy terminology about f stops and aperture etc, taking photos is something I love doing and do quite a bit of.
Up until recently I used my Nikon D40 as my main camera and used to take it everywhere - I'd then get home, upload the photos I'd taken onto the computer and upload the ones I liked and thought were good enough to Flickr! Then I'd sit back and watch the views increase slowly and maybe the odd comment would appear! At this point I would put anything I thought made what I perceived as a 'proper' photo onto Flickr and more family, silly type of photos would go onto Facebook or maybe Twitter - that way I would know friends and family would see them.
However, recently I have changed in what I do and have now found myself using Flickr less and less, to the extent that my pro account expired last week and so far I haven't bothered renewing it! I think I found that the photos I put on Flickr did not reach out to the same volume of people that uploading a photo to Facebook, Twitter and now Instagram does. I personally think that photos are there to be shared with and seen by as many people as possible! With my Flickr photos I can almost guarantee they would have 2 views from my Dad and Phil - other than that not many - until I linked my account to Facebook!
I'm also finding that I'm rarely using my D40 and instead rely on my iPhone 5 as my main camera. Although it won't take as good a photo as my D40 does it's portability and size mean I don't need to carry a backpack everywhere! Then the fact that from my phone I can upload a photo to any of the photo sites after having tweaked it makes it easier!
I really hope this isn't the end of my journey with Flickr because I like it, however I certainly think that it is no longer the main place for uploading my photos to as with the other areas the audience is potentially a lot larger as we already have a link by being a follower, friend or having something retweeted!
Up until recently I used my Nikon D40 as my main camera and used to take it everywhere - I'd then get home, upload the photos I'd taken onto the computer and upload the ones I liked and thought were good enough to Flickr! Then I'd sit back and watch the views increase slowly and maybe the odd comment would appear! At this point I would put anything I thought made what I perceived as a 'proper' photo onto Flickr and more family, silly type of photos would go onto Facebook or maybe Twitter - that way I would know friends and family would see them.
However, recently I have changed in what I do and have now found myself using Flickr less and less, to the extent that my pro account expired last week and so far I haven't bothered renewing it! I think I found that the photos I put on Flickr did not reach out to the same volume of people that uploading a photo to Facebook, Twitter and now Instagram does. I personally think that photos are there to be shared with and seen by as many people as possible! With my Flickr photos I can almost guarantee they would have 2 views from my Dad and Phil - other than that not many - until I linked my account to Facebook!
I'm also finding that I'm rarely using my D40 and instead rely on my iPhone 5 as my main camera. Although it won't take as good a photo as my D40 does it's portability and size mean I don't need to carry a backpack everywhere! Then the fact that from my phone I can upload a photo to any of the photo sites after having tweaked it makes it easier!
I really hope this isn't the end of my journey with Flickr because I like it, however I certainly think that it is no longer the main place for uploading my photos to as with the other areas the audience is potentially a lot larger as we already have a link by being a follower, friend or having something retweeted!
Blogging
If you look at this blog you'll notice that I write something, then leave it for ages, then write something again and so on and so on. However recently I've decided to make an effort and use it a lot more - therefore the potential for me to fill this full of drivel has increased and so I apologise now for some of the bilge I spout. Most of what I put on here will be written without thinking it through and also without any kind of planning so it may not even make sense.
The key thing is that I'm going to try and give it a go!
The key thing is that I'm going to try and give it a go!
US Election
It's just after midnight and I'm sat here watching the UK coverage of the US Election and I have to admit I don't have a clue what they are talking about but it's still pretty interesting - I'm sure if I stayed up all night I'd begin to understand it, but that's really not going to happen.
From my point of view which is based on the very limited things I've read and watched I think I would have to put my preference with Obama. Then again some of the things I have heard suggest there are issues especially for young people with regards to jobs, houses etc in the USA but I suppose changing a country the size of the US in four years is a pretty tough thing to do. I really can't see that Romney is the best alternative vote - just don't go for a coalition - they're rubbish!!
From my point of view which is based on the very limited things I've read and watched I think I would have to put my preference with Obama. Then again some of the things I have heard suggest there are issues especially for young people with regards to jobs, houses etc in the USA but I suppose changing a country the size of the US in four years is a pretty tough thing to do. I really can't see that Romney is the best alternative vote - just don't go for a coalition - they're rubbish!!
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