THIS BLOG HAS MOVED

....yes that's right, I've jumped ship to WordPress...sorry Blogspot....

Please visit http://ruralphloggings.wordpress.com/

Cheers,
MC

Viigo - the best mobile app ever?

If, like me, you are beginning to think that owning a Blackberry feels like playing second fiddle to all those lucky souls with a spanky new iPhone, then you might be pleased to learn about an all-singing, all-dancing application called Viigo. Before I go on, no they are not a client of mine, I just happend across the application whilst reading Blackberry Cool which has covered it significantly. Now I am actually doing a bit of research into it, Viigo appears to be a lot more than just the RSS aggregator that I had previously assumed. Well, it is just an RSS reader, but it turns out it's a rather fancy one at that. Collating news, views and blogs across myriad channels of interest plus weather, podcasts, stock info (anyone actually use this function that seems to be on every phone manufacturer's list of launch apps??) and the usual collection of social media outlets, it is actually a great one-stop-shop application that happily keeps me entertained for the hour-long commute that I put myself self through twice a day. I'm not going to write a long review as I haven't the will nor the time, however I would encourage any fellow BB-ites to download it (it's free) and get stuck in.

The enterprise functionality is quite intriguing too so I might come back to that in a later post.

On another note, because I haven't posted anything for ages I've been thinking about the best way of making time to post - I might start drafting posts on my BB in the morning (between Viigo sessions obviously) but ideally I'd like some kind of mobile blogging app I think - know of anything that actually works? Otherwise I might have to save for a netbook....eurgh

I also have some new technology arriving soon which is rather exciting - although I am pretty sure it takes me into the realms of geekdom - some network attached storage (NAS for the uninitiated) from Western Digital - My Book World Edition 1TB. I've been after some for ages so I am pretty pleased. Will let you know how I get on with it anyway.

A client of mine once famously said, "I mean, who has a terabyte of storage in their house?? I do but hey my kids are GEEKS!"....that was 4 years ago though and I think having a terabyte now is not unusual. If you add up all the storage in your house I bet you get close...(Sky+ 40GB, PS3 40GB, USB drive 250GB, PC 120 GB, MacBook Pro 120GB, old laptop lying around 40GB, NAS 1TB, assorted memorgy sticks, cards etc 12GB...!)

Lastly, I borrowed a marco lens from my wife's very kind godfather who works over at Canon - here's a couple of snaps from the shoot (it's a 60mm Canon EF-S similar to this one) - the calrity you get with a decent lens never ceases to amaze me - I'm still using my old Canon 350D body (a paltry 8MP!) but stick a good lens on it and it's like a £2,000 upgrade....:




Watch out for them others now!!

New Wheels on The Way!!

Today's exciting news is that I have picked up my Evans Cycles Ride2Work voucher and sold off my old bike. New bike just around the corner!!!

The Ride2Work scheme encourages commuters to ride their bikes part or full way to work. Once your employer is signed up you can choose up to £1,000 worth of bike, accessories etc which you pay for out of your pre-tax earnings and don't pay the VAT. If you are a top band tax-payer this means effectively paying about £500 for a £1,000 bike! A fantastic bargain if you are after a new bike because you can afford something a little nicer and don't have to 1) pay up front or 2) take out credit with a finance company.

The wife is about to do likewise so keep an eye for us zooming through woods near you soon!

Watch out for them others....

UPDATE: Ordered my new Trek Remedy 7 which should arrive this week - cannot wait

Ruuuuubbish

Sad to say it but Twitter and work have taken over my life!!! ARRRGH! 

Read a blog today about a guy who had deleted his Twitter account (cool bog about a new website - check it!) - I'm nowhere near that yet but it got me thinking about how much is too much? At what point do you say, OK OK I better stop this sillyness, get on with life.  Thing is, I really enjoy reading stuff about stuff - it doesn't necessarily have to be about tech or PR or anything, just interesting.

Since the last post (about a zillion years ago) we have been to Nice and to Canada and I am due in Nice two more times before March 10th - once for a client event and once to go skiing with friends a Limone Piemonte on the border of France and Italy.

We've also had SNOW and lots of it - great fun and more on the way. Typically we came to a grinding halt but I don't have too much of an issue with that - as long as there are phones and a broadband connection we can carry on.

Tomorrow night is poker night - I am defending my crown as MSOP (Maidstone Series of Poker) Champion - big money stakes and an MSOP bracelet at stake...ooh yeah. Will post some photos this weekend.

Also getting a new bike through the Evans Ride2Work scheme - huge savings to be made!! 50%!! Poss a Specializd Enduro....exciting

Will write again soon but in the meantime, look out for them others in those TREACHEROUS conditions...

M