Jan 21
Current TV: Embedded with Imogen Heap
Posted on Thursday, January 21, 2010 in Me
Current TV were ‘embedded’ with Imogen Heap as she launched her latest grammy nominated album ‘Ellipse’.
Jan 21
Rogue States release debut single ‘Lights’ 8th March
Posted on Thursday, January 21, 2010 in Me
Rogue States – Lights (8th March on Half Chapter Records)
A band shaped by experience, classic pop and restless minds, Rogue States arrive uniquely accomplished; a breakthrough act with a debut EP fit to rival any “third album classic” you care to mention. The Birmingham four piece (David Wright, Michael Clarke, Steve Clarke, Stuart Baxter Wilkinson) supported Razorlight on their March 2009 UK tour, forming a close friendship with then drummer Andy Burrows in particular who subsequently paid for the recording of the band’s debut EP. A quietly monumental collection of extremes: tenderly intimate and shudderingly epic, a calming respite and rousing call to arms, the lonely ache of doubt and the surging joy of a crowd pleasing anthem. From the lightness of Surrender’s questioning to the reinvigorating groundswell of Lights; from Faultline’s powerful whisper to Kings Of The Ghost Town Mile’s rallying cry.
The Lights EP will be available worldwide from iTunes on 8th March 2010.
http://www.roguestates.net
Jan 17
Time to upgrade: iPhone 3GS vs Nexus One
Posted on Sunday, January 17, 2010 in Me
I've spent the past 2 weeks struggling with the pros and cons for the Apple iPhone 3GS and the Google/HTC Nexus as I'm overdue an upgrade!
I've finally decided on the iPhone 3GS – I wrote down some of my reasoning to help me make my decision.
iPhone
Pro: Tons of apps, always the first platform people will develop for and many of the services/website I use already have iPhone apps, only a few have Android apps.
Pro: HUGE user-base so lots of free tech support and less bugs in general as the user base is demanding of fixes.
Pro: The ability to jailbreak an iPhone removes many of the limitations.
Pro: True multitasking achieved if jailbroken.
Pro: Buying it on a contract means you can get handset insurance with your operator – it's £12 on Orange (twice the cost of normal insuarance!) which is a little steep, but over the past 10 years I've needed to claim 3 times, so I think it's worth having.
Pro: It's already a great phone – they can't make subsequent models *that* much better!?
Pro: Free wi-fi from any BT Openzone hotspot in the UK – almost means you won't need to rely on 3G in city centres etc.
Pro: I can get a 3GS for £89 on a 24 month contact for £35 per month with 600 mins, 500 texts and 'unlimited' (750mb) data. (Total monthly bill is £47 with insurance).
Pro: The touch keyboard is reputed to be better/less cramped than the Nexus and I have BIG fingers!
Pro: It has multi-touch (when you pinch the screen to zoom in/out) and the Nexus doesn't.
Con: Without jailbreaking multitasking is limited to 2 Apple apps running at any one time and 1 3rd party apps – from what I've been told.
Con: You're one of 'those people'!
Con: The new model will be out in June and will super-seed the 3GS leaving you feeling somewhat inadequate. (Phone envy is a horrible thing!).
Con: You're tied to a long-term contract. Nexus One Pro: It's not an iPhone!
Pro: Android can do some clever things, including true multitasking.
Pro: The phone is more powerful than the 3GS (but will you really notice this?)
Pro: You're not one of 'those people'!
Pro: Multiple homescreens can be very useful (iPhone only has 1).
Pro: Google's apps are integrated better with Android than with the iPhone – some features are lacking in the iPhone.
Pro: I love Google and use lots of their products, A LOT!
Con: The price – £330 is a lot of money, regardless of whether it's sim-free. You'll probably need to sign a long-term contract to get a decent mins/text/data plan?
Con: If it breaks – will you have to ship it back to the USA to be fixed? How long will this take? What will it cost? Can you survive for weeks on end without this type of device having come to rely on it whilst it's being repaired?
Con: Even if you get separate handset insurance you won't be able to get a next day replacement as you do with 'Orange Care' insurance.
Con: There are already major concerns in the US with the 3G – problems with the Nexus switching between 3G and 2G and not returning to 3G even if signal is available.
Con: Userbase is small and although a larger percent are very geeky, this means less general knowledge out there.
Con: Google are already being criticised for poor user support – HTC, Google and T-Mobile all seem to be sending users in the US to each other to sort out problems – will one of these companies take responsibility for user support? In the end I've decided that whilst the iPhone isn't as exciting as the Nexus, is the safer option – it's tried and tested by millions of people. Whilst Android itself is brilliant (Steph has the HTC Hero and it's great), the jury is still out on the Nexus hardware, despite it's features being applauded. And whilst I could go for a HTC Hero or another Android phone (although the choice on Orange is limited) right now for what I need, what I want to pay and what is easily available, the iPhone seems like the best option. I'm also keen to stay with Orange as I've been a customer for 10 years (which may entitle me to a loyalty discount!), plus the fact I have magic numbers (free calls to other nominated Orange users), 2 for 1 cinema tickets, and the best 3G coverage in the UK (if you believe them!).
Pro: HUGE user-base so lots of free tech support and less bugs in general as the user base is demanding of fixes.
Pro: The ability to jailbreak an iPhone removes many of the limitations.
Pro: True multitasking achieved if jailbroken.
Pro: Buying it on a contract means you can get handset insurance with your operator – it's £12 on Orange (twice the cost of normal insuarance!) which is a little steep, but over the past 10 years I've needed to claim 3 times, so I think it's worth having.
Pro: It's already a great phone – they can't make subsequent models *that* much better!?
Pro: Free wi-fi from any BT Openzone hotspot in the UK – almost means you won't need to rely on 3G in city centres etc.
Pro: I can get a 3GS for £89 on a 24 month contact for £35 per month with 600 mins, 500 texts and 'unlimited' (750mb) data. (Total monthly bill is £47 with insurance).
Pro: The touch keyboard is reputed to be better/less cramped than the Nexus and I have BIG fingers!
Pro: It has multi-touch (when you pinch the screen to zoom in/out) and the Nexus doesn't.
Con: Without jailbreaking multitasking is limited to 2 Apple apps running at any one time and 1 3rd party apps – from what I've been told.
Con: You're one of 'those people'!
Con: The new model will be out in June and will super-seed the 3GS leaving you feeling somewhat inadequate. (Phone envy is a horrible thing!).
Con: You're tied to a long-term contract. Nexus One Pro: It's not an iPhone!
Pro: Android can do some clever things, including true multitasking.
Pro: The phone is more powerful than the 3GS (but will you really notice this?)
Pro: You're not one of 'those people'!
Pro: Multiple homescreens can be very useful (iPhone only has 1).
Pro: Google's apps are integrated better with Android than with the iPhone – some features are lacking in the iPhone.
Pro: I love Google and use lots of their products, A LOT!
Con: The price – £330 is a lot of money, regardless of whether it's sim-free. You'll probably need to sign a long-term contract to get a decent mins/text/data plan?
Con: If it breaks – will you have to ship it back to the USA to be fixed? How long will this take? What will it cost? Can you survive for weeks on end without this type of device having come to rely on it whilst it's being repaired?
Con: Even if you get separate handset insurance you won't be able to get a next day replacement as you do with 'Orange Care' insurance.
Con: There are already major concerns in the US with the 3G – problems with the Nexus switching between 3G and 2G and not returning to 3G even if signal is available.
Con: Userbase is small and although a larger percent are very geeky, this means less general knowledge out there.
Con: Google are already being criticised for poor user support – HTC, Google and T-Mobile all seem to be sending users in the US to each other to sort out problems – will one of these companies take responsibility for user support? In the end I've decided that whilst the iPhone isn't as exciting as the Nexus, is the safer option – it's tried and tested by millions of people. Whilst Android itself is brilliant (Steph has the HTC Hero and it's great), the jury is still out on the Nexus hardware, despite it's features being applauded. And whilst I could go for a HTC Hero or another Android phone (although the choice on Orange is limited) right now for what I need, what I want to pay and what is easily available, the iPhone seems like the best option. I'm also keen to stay with Orange as I've been a customer for 10 years (which may entitle me to a loyalty discount!), plus the fact I have magic numbers (free calls to other nominated Orange users), 2 for 1 cinema tickets, and the best 3G coverage in the UK (if you believe them!).
Dec 27
Today’s dinner currently being brewed by @essitam!
Posted on Sunday, December 27, 2009 in Me
via Gravity
