Is It Made to Last?

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It is a commonly held belief that products that were made decades ago were ‘built to last’ and had a much longer lifespan than modern products and gadgets. It is incredibly hard to say whether or not this is true because it is generally based on vague anecdotes or memories about someone who has had a bag or a pair of shoes for 20 years followed up with the argument that they just don’t make quality products anymore. The technique of building things that will break quickly is referred to as ‘planned obsolescence’ with the idea that a consumer will have to purchase the same product again once it breaks.

A obsolete monitor only a few years old

However, planned obsolescence and the idea of ‘they don’t make em like they used to’ are both very old concepts and have been going on far longer than the digital age. In this quote from 1840 Alexis De Tocqueville wrote “I accost an American sailor, and I inquire why the ships of his country are built so as to last but for a short time; he answers without hesitation that the art of navigation is every day making such rapid progress, that the finest vessel would become almost useless if it lasted beyond a certain number of years.”

This type of thinking is very common in the technology industry; PCs in particular that were fast when they were bought become almost unusable in 2-4 years almost inexplicably. The same is true of a wide number of gadgets and technology and it could be because of the same reason that the ships weren’t built to last; because of the huge advancements in memory and computing power consumers could get a better Ipod for cheaper than their current one within only a few years.

It is not just technology that can suffer from the use of cheaper materials and manufacturing. For example, recently there was a large controversy over the use of faulty Upvc locks which have a structural weakness in the cylinder making them susceptible to manipulation and breaking from burglars. Awareness about the product was spread on mainstream TV and locksmiths in the north west are working very hard to find and replace all of these faulty lock systems.

Cheaper materials and manufacture do result in a lower market price for the items that we all want and can lead to many of us being able to afford items that would have been reserved as real luxuries only a few decades ago. However, as the Upvc locks show, this type of manufacture can occasionally result in a faulty product that puts people at risk.

Audio Visual Troubleshooting

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Audio visual displays are used everywhere in modern day life, from the humble analog radio to smart phones that appear in more and more people’s pockets. Public displays and shows have always been popular too, with continual high demand for high quality equipment, giving people the best experience available.

Pubs, clubs, village halls and many other places broadcast events to people in a more social environment than at home. These places often have their own in-house equipment to show events, such as the upcoming Olympic Games and the Euro 2012 finals. Equipment gets continually cheaper to buy as newer technologies come into play, enabling even small places to afford technology. Whilst they may not have the most up to date equipment, they can afford good quality gear to put on a show.

When it comes to televisions, there can be headaches for splitting signals and integrating a large number of televisions from one signal, e.g. inside a pub. Setting up equipment well is vital when dealing with any kind of technology, but trouble shooting can be difficult if a problem arises. If a problem should arise, you could spend hours trying to find a faulty section of cable or disruption in a signal. There are various ways to find errors in electrical equipment, one being the use of a test pattern generator to calibrate visual display signals. For problems in cables, multi-meters can be used and checked against other equipment.

Amplifier systems can be tricky to use

For music venues, large personal audio systems are needed to get the best sound out of a performance. Even the best performers can be hampered by bad sound, giving the wrong impression and stopping any success. Trouble shooting for these systems can be more troublesome due to the increased amount of wires and equipment involved. Where Tele-visual usually use a single cable for signal, audio equipment often has many stages of customisation, creating more chances to go wrong.

To help stop problems, or if you are not confident with setting up equipment, getting someone qualified is the best bet, but with a little knowledge you can fix problems yourself, saving time and money.

Selling Old Dvds And Cds – What You Need To Consider

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Many people have turned to selling their unwanted possessions for cash in order to earn a little bit of extra money as of late. It can certainly help to boost your bank account a bit and you’re bound to have loads of unwanted items lying around the house, from old clothes to CDs and DVDs you haven’t watched in years.

When selling CDs and DVDs though, you’ll need to think about a number of things, such as the following:

1)      Check the condition

CDs and DVDs that have been in your collection for some time now might have suffered slightly. You should always check the condition of the discs before you even think about selling them so that you know you aren’t selling ones that are in poor condition. Check that there aren’t any scratches on the surface of the CDs and DVDs and also play them for a few minutes to see for yourself that they don’t skip at all. It can be a good idea to take a dated picture of the CD or DVD’s surface for future reference should a customer get back to you claiming that they’ve arrived scratched.

Of course, if the CDs and DVDs are in poor condition you can still sell them, you just need to be one hundred per cent honest. Tell customers that the products aren’t in the best of condition and let them know that they still work – but only if they do!

2)      Make sure it’s legal

Selling pirated music or film is illegal, so if you’re thinking about doing it, don’t even bother. The online websites and shops that you can use to sell your CDs and DVDs will catch onto the pirated material and will inform the related authorities, and the maximum prison sentence is 10 years, or an unlimited fine so it definitely isn’t worth it.

3)      Check how much it’s worth

You might have CDs and DVDs lying around in your collection that are worth a fair amount without you even realising it. Always do a quick search online to find out how much you can sell your items for without ending up out of pocket.

4)      Choose your selling platform wisely

There are loads of websites that you can use to sell CDs and DVDs, such as eBay, Amazon, Gumtree, musicMagpie and many others. There are also bricks and mortar shops you can sell them at – shops like CeX are a perfect example. No matter what though, always choose a reputable selling platform and make sure you know your rights.

Selling your CDs and DVDs online is the ideal way to earn yourself some pocket money – do you have any other tips for prospective sellers?

Ways To Acquire The Best Domain Name For Your Website…

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There’s an incredible number of domain extensions now available, and we’re soon to see the release of ‘Generic Top Level Domains’ which will allow you have, for example, ‘iam.yourname’ as your website’s URL … pretty cool ‘eh? That said, however, with so many domain extensions and the like available to choose from, what actually is the best domain name for your website? We’re going to try and attempt to answer this question for you and make your life a little bit easier when selecting a domain.

Firstly, you need to think about the website you’re going to build and establish it’s purpose. In order to establish the best domain extension for your website, it’s best to try and secure one which has the top level extension of your country. For example, if you’re launching a domain name in the UK, your best bet is to try and obtain a .co.uk domain, or if that isn’t available, a .org.uk domain. That way, both users and the search engines are clear as to what your target market is in terms of geographic location.

Let’s say you already know the domain extension which you want; next step is to think about what you want the actual domain to be. Maybe it’s a company website and, in most cases, you’d be looking for www.companyname.co.uk which will usually be available to register unless someone else has registered your companies name as their domain. However, in some circumstances, such as when the website is being launched as part of an SEO campaign, you may want the domain name to include a keyword which you are wanting to rank for (known as a generic domain name). If this is the case…it may be a little bit more difficult to find a domain which is still available to register. However, fear not … whilst www.keyword1.co.uk may be registered … is it in use? If not, chances are someone has purchased it with plans to put it to use which have never materialised. In this instance, it’s highly recommended to check the Whois data for the domain to find out it’s expiry date and, around 90 days afterwards, keep an eye on UK Domain Drop Lists which detail those domains which have expired and haven’t been renewed … you never know, the one you want or a similar one may well pop up on the list.

Hopefully by looking at either company specific domains or generic domains you’ll be able to find a suitable domain to use, however the last question, and one which we see on a regular basis, is whether or not the length of a domain matter. In simple terms, we’d say not to consider this as a major decision factor. Whilst there has been the likes of the 3 letter domain study and similar, to show the value of 3 letter domains, it is pretty much only these which hold value and those with 4 and more are pretty much of equal relevance…and with all 3 letter domains now registered, you’ll probably have to pay quite a bit to obtain one!

All in all, always consider the domain extension when selecting the best domain and carefully think about whether you want a generic domain name or one which is specifically related to your company.

Is The Nokia Lumia 800 One Of The Best Business Phones?

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We’ve been using the Nokia Lumia 800 for a couple of weeks now and can quite honestly say it’s one of the best business  phones we’ve used in recent years! It was purchased by us from www.lyncstore.co.uk and quite simply, we’ll be getting more for the rest of the team! Having replaced a Blackberry Curve with the Lumia 800, we’ve absolutely loved the features and have absolutely no hesitations in recommending it!

Despite being touch screen, which is something I previously have never been a fan of, this doesn’t seem to affect the user experience of the Lumia. What was a little bit concerning was the battery life; it wasn’t brilliant and if I’ve been on a long journey and using the phone whilst I travel without being powered, I’d find that the battery could be almost empty after an hour or two…for a business phone, this isn’t good. However, what I did discover is a ‘battery saving’ mode which extended the battery life by a lot! Finding this was a real gem.

One main reason why we chose the Lumia was that it’s a Windows Mobile phone. It syncs in perfectly with our Microsoft Lync setup, which was something which was absolutely vital! For a phone which work’s with Lync, you can’t really go wrong with the Lumia 800!

Overall, it’s a great little device with some awesome apps and it sync’s perfectly with Lync. We’re already far preferring it to our Blackberry and can’t wait to get the whole team using them!

So, You Think You Don’t Need Mobile Phone Insurance?

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Where would we be without our mobile phones? Just a decade ago we were playing Snake and getting to grips with predictive text. These days, we’re playing Snake to be retro and sending video messages to our friends across the world. Smartphones have invaded our lives like no other device before them. From the youngest kids through to OAPs, everybody seems to have a mobile phone of some description in their pocket.

But what would you do if your mobile phone was lost, stolen or damaged? Without mobile phone insurance from www.mobilephoneinsurance.com you’re going to have to do without your phone until your contract is up for upgrade or fork out a large chunk of cash to replace your old phone. With most smartphones retailing at £200 upwards that’s a lot of cash to part with.

Mobile phone insurance on the other hand could cost as little as £10 a month and will give you total peace of mind that your phone will be replaced like for like if it is lost, stolen or damaged. Most insurance companies will have a replacement phone with you within 24 hours until your claim has been settled ensuring that you can stay in touch with your friends and your colleagues.

If you really love your phone then you won’t mind spending a little of your hard-earned money on mobile phone insurance. Whilst you might lose some of the data held on your phone (although even this can be backed up these days) you will have a brand new phone in your hands without a matter of days if your claim is successful.

The increase in mobile phone usage has also seen a demand for mobile phone insurance and more and more companies are offering comprehensive insurance packages for a relatively small outlay each month. It also means you need to be careful when choosing your mobile phone insurance as there are scammers about who will take your money, but very rarely pay out on a claim. Read the small print!.

Before signing any mobile phone insurance agreement, make sure you understand the terms and conditions and if you don’t show the agreement to somebody that does. It’s pointless paying monthly for insurance that isn’t worth the paper it is written on. Very often it is worth choosing an insurance company that your mobile phone carrier recommends or to take out their insurance as this will usually be underwritten by one of the larger insurance companies.

With today’s constantly evolving mobile phone technology and the busy lives we lead, it’s no wonder we find it difficult to function without a mobile phone in our lives. Make sure you always have yours nearby by taking out a good mobile phone insurance policy today. There are many companies offering good and affordable insurance and all for the price of a couple of cappuccinos!.

They’re small, they’re round, but what are golf balls are made of?

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It’s probably not something that most people have ever considered, but if your idea of fun involves walking through beautifully manicured grounds gazing upon some of the best scenery that Britain has to offer, while enjoying a competitive game with friends, then you might just have wondered how a golf ball is made – and what on earth is inside one?

The game of golf has changed considerably over the years, and so indeed has the equipment used to play the game, including the balls. And while golf balls themselves may seem small and insignificant, the popularity of the sport means that the market for golf balls is worth many hundreds of millions of pounds in the United States alone. So how exactly are they made?

The majority of balls these days – roughly about 70 per cent – are made up of two main sections, a solid rubber core and a thermoplastic outer shell. But how do you take rubber and plastic and create a golf ball? Well, the first thing to do is get a solid block of rubber – this will then need to be heated in order to make it malleable so it can be shaped into a sphere. It is this rubber sphere that forms the centre of the majority of golf balls, and there are a considerable number of rules about what form it can take.

The outer layer of the ball is made either through the process of injection moulding or compression moulding. Once the moulding process is complete, the manufacturer will need to make sure that the surface of the outside of the ball is smooth enough. Any defects are removed before the ball is given a coat of paint – usually white. It will then be stamped appropriately and given a final clear coat to make it more hard wearing and to ensure longevity.

Professionals use three-piece balls, which are made up of an outer shell, a layer of rubber threads and then either a solid core or a liquid or gel core. The dimples that you always see on the outer shell of a golf ball are what help it to fly through the air, spin on impact with the club and keep its shape in flight.

Golf balls are changing all the time and companies are finding new ways to manufacture them. Advances in technology have lead to golf balls that travel further and also travel straighter. As a result there are people in the golfing world that want tighter restrictions placed on what professionals can use during competitions, to prevent the sport from becoming too easy.

Coaching Skills Assessment

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A great tool for coaches has to be the coaching skills assessment that is available at www.memycoach.com it will help to determine your sill level in coaching. An important part of any coaching program is the ability to be able to determine the level of skills you have to be able to help each client in different areas of their life. Coaching is a constant learning curve with each individual client.

Coaching skills assessment will also help you as a coach to build upon any areas that may need more some fine tuning. Clients will have more confidence in your coaching abilities if as a coach you are assesses on your skill levels at regular intervals. One of the traits in a good coach is the ability to accept that in some areas of coaching you may need to diversify into specific areas where the client needs to focus.

Taking Part In Coaching Evaluation

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One of the most important parts of a coaching programme that is often overlooked is the evaluation of the programme. It is important to have the coaching client know what ROI the course had for them. A short series of questions in the form of a questionnaire at the end of the coaching course or as part of the final exercises on the course itself will return an excellent coaching evaluation. This type of questionnaire, although simple and integral to the course is enough to give the client an insight into the ROI the course has given to them.

All of the coaching evaluation questionnaires can be tailored to suit all the different businesses and niches that are relevant to each of your coaching clients. By making the coaching evaluation actually part of the course rather than maybe asking for feedback after the course has ended, helps not only the client, but also you as the coach.

Five Smartphone apps which every snowboarder needs

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Snowboarding trips take meticulous planning. What is your ski chalet like? What is the resort like? Will it snow? With today’s technological advances and the increase in pure unadulterated laziness, phone applications, or as the cool kids call them, ‘’Apps’’ are a huge benefit to us. As an avid snowboarder (working at a UK Ski holiday company) and an avid geek, I have compiled my top 5 Apps for snowboarding, from weather reports to piste maps to trick guides.

Want to access snow reports for Alpe d’Huez from Aylesbury? Need powder reports from your armchair in Stafford? There certainly is an App for that.

Ski Tracks Core Coder £0.69p

If there is a daddy of snowboard Apps, then this is it. By simply putting your phone in your pocket all day, you can track everything from speed, to vertical drop to distance covered. This has been made by geeks, for geeks. One of its coolest features is being able to add photos to your tracks, virtually ‘photo-blogging’ each run you do. You can post this to facebook and show all your friends what you have achieved. Or not achieved if all you have are pictures of the Folie Douce…

It is battery friendly and tracks you without the need for data roaming or phone signal. You can take and receive calls while you go and even listen to music without interrupting the tracker.

No more of this:

“Bro, I was going, like, 60ks on the black run!”
“No you weren’t bro…”

The age old bragging rights argument can now be settled. 69p well spent on an easy to use app that will give you all the snowboard stats you ever need.

iTrailMap Big Air Software (Free)

Pistemaps to snowboarders are like compasses to Scouts. You can’t be seen without one and to a newbie, they make no sense. As many of you know, pistemaps in resorts are free and involve unwrapping a broadsheet-sized bit of paper to navigate your next route. Combine the flimsy paper with high winds, snow and gloves and you have a recipe for disaster.

Big Air Software have come up with an app, which allows you to download a map for practically any resort in the world in seconds. You can plans routes without phone service or data roaming and the GPS service makes tracking your runs a doddle. Just don’t drop your iPhone off the lift scrambling to get it out your pocket when wearing mitts…

Rome SDS 100 Day Tracker Perry Hill (Free)

100 Day Tracker is a digital snowboarding journal perfect for anyone who rides a lot as we all know that it can be easy for the days – and sometimes seasons – to start to blur together. Created in conjunction with Rome SDS, one of the coolest brands in snowboarding right now, the 100 Day Tracker can record where you rode, how the snow was, the people you rode with, any new spots you rode and any new tricks learned. You can also take and save a photo-of-the-day and a video-of-the-day.

Shop finder allows you to locate the closest Rome stockists in your area, and ShredTV lets you catch up with snowboard movies on the move. Probably best to stick to the chalet WIFI for this though, as it works off data roaming.

It’s a free app, so get involved and in my opinion, worth it for the ShredTV, which has some great clips on there.

Ski Webcams  Burrotech Free

As a child, I remember the only access to webcams, was waking up at the crack of dawn, and putting on the German TV channel RTL. You see, before 8am programs started, you had the opportunity to get a one minute clip of every Austrian and German resort. You couldn’t choose them, you simply had to wait and endure the soothing sounds of German oompa music until your resort came up.

A thing of the past it seems, as you can now access webcams any time on your iPhone and iPad. Ski Webcams offers very detailed webcams of 100s of resorts across the world – without the oompa music.

Those lucky enough to have an iPhone 4S or iPad 3 can view in HD, and the rest of us can view highly detailed, near live images. This is a vital app if travelling to the lower resorts, as it allows you to pick ski areas in advance, and those going last minute as you can check before you book.

This app is ad-supported, but a paid version is available on the app store if you hate the ads rolling across your screen.

Snowboard Tricks 2012 Transworld Japan £2.99

This is Snowboarding for Dummies in a nutshell. This is claimed to be a snowboarder’s ‘how to’ guide, and it does exactly what is says on the tin. A complete library of tricks awaits you, from a simple Ollie, to backside rodeo 540s.

Although I wouldn’t personally try a backside rodeo 540 following instructions off an iPhone, the instructions are clear, concise and simple to follow. Pictures taken by professional snowboard photographers accompany the description, and the instructions are written by a selection of pros that perform them as well.

You can watch movies in slow motion by simply tapping the screen, which does help, and having step-by-step instructions makes the process easier. As a precaution (I can’t afford to be sued) please don’t try this without any proper instruction or guidance. Reading a Haynes car manual does not make you a car mechanic, likewise with this app; it does not make you a pro!

What are your essential apps for skiing/boarding ?