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PDP gaming accessories, worth a shot (or two)
As any dedicated gamer knows, you need to have 'everything just right' in order to get the most fully immersive experience out of the challenges you set yourself in console land.
Gone are the early days of the Atari 2600 and its fairly joyless joystick that would have been better employed as some kind of device for making the holes in homemade bagels.
Now , today, we expect better.
PDP makes a range of gaming accessories and we tried them out in advance of the festive season to get a grip on whether we could be doing better.
The PDP stands for Performance Design Products (we are told) and the company's focus and brands are different enough to warrant this story.
The firm concentrates on making predominantly wired controllers — but why use a wired controller?
- First, you never need to worry about replacing the batteries.
- Second, they're usually lighter.
- Thirdly, you're probably sitting close enough to your console (or PC) to be able to use a wired cabled device without any worries.
- Lastly, they're often cheaper.
The company claims to be the market leader in 3rd party controllers and one of its core units is the PDP Wired Controller for Xbox One & Windows. This gamer's tool comes with non-slip grips, textured triggers and shoulder buttons.
There's enhanced gameplay with vibration feedback (from dual rumble motors) and an audio control button located directly on the front of the controller, so you can adjust game and chat audio levels without interruptions.
The device has a 3.5mm audio jack for chat with friends and an 8-foot detachable cable. It is compatible with Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X and Windows.
In terms of use, we liked the device. It's lighter than the Microsoft unit that comes with your Xbox and for some games that kind of feels right, especially ones where you're doing a lot of walking, driving, riding or generally just moving forward… so think Assassin's Creed, Far Cry or perhaps even Tomb Raider.
Wired for sound, wirelessly
Also from PDP we looked at the LVL50 Wireless Headset for Xbox One.
Although we've played with some Sennheiser wireless cans which do have a 'virtual touch-based finger slider' volume function on the side, PDP has kept it simple, in a good way. These headphones have a volume dial, on the side.
This is superb for games that feature a real mix of loud and quiet moments such as Just Cause i.e. one minute you're sailing along listening to the lilting theme music as you fly a plane or use the wingsuit – and the next minute you're wreaking havoc by blasting out a township in a helicopter gunship… and now you can adjust your volume accordingly without getting up.
The microphone also has adjustable volume controls.
"This wireless stereo headset delivers dynamic sound through a pair of powerful 50mm High-Definition drivers. Hear your games the way you're supposed to and make sure your commands are received loud and clear through the flexible noise-cancelling mic. Make volume adjustments on the fly with convenient on-ear audio controls," notes the company, in its product materials.
The headphones themselves have breathable nylon-mesh over-the-ear cushions and an adjustable lightweight headband. It's better than some we've tried for long gaming sessions.
It works wirelessly with the Xbox One Console via USB dongle up to 40 feet and there's a battery life of up to 16 hours.
Overall… PDP's kit makes a lot of sense, the company appears to have taken the 'obvious' route to making its products likeable, workable and playable.
Skyroam Solis X 'smartspot' portable hotspot
Now that we have Wi-Fi at home and at work, good options for global cellular roaming and (for times when neither of those are accessible) we also have Wi-Fi portable hotspots too.
One would imagine that we might stop there, but no.
Skyroam has already produced the Skyroam Solis, but has now tried to go one better with the Solis X… this is not a hotspot, this is a so-called 'smartspot'.
What makes it smarter?
Well yes, it's still a Wi-Fi hotspot and yes it's still a power bank, but now (the new unit, Skyroam Solis X WiFi Smartspot ) is also a remote camera and smart assistant. That's smarter, see?
In Skyroam's trademark orange, the device still resembles a hockey puck and it is indeed no bigger than 'pocket-sized' as the promo material promises.
The power charge on this device is sensibly built longer-than-a-working-day to a full 16+ hours — when you want to suck some of that juice out, the Solis X has a 4700 mAh battery that works as a portable power bank to charge smartphones.
Virtual SIM
Skyroam's Virtual SIM (vSIM) technology connects in over 130+ countries and is shareable on 10 different devices. The device offers 4G LTE speeds across a wide range global frequency bands.
The vSIM term stands for Virtual SIM technology and is the proprietary cornerstone of the Skyroam brand. Founder, Jing Liu spent years engineering this technology to enable a virtual connection between any Skyroam product and local mobile data networks, without a traditional SIM card.
We tested it in Greece, the United Kingdom and the United States — we got the same level of good performance in every location, so there's no reason to suspect that it might be flaky elsewhere, unless you happen to be in some unknown corner of the planet.
Remote camera
The Solis X remote camera is 8MP with flash, wide angle view and self-timer to capture, record, monitor and live stream on-the-go. Users can control it through the Solis WiFi app.
There's also the Solis X smart assistant, powered by built-in GPS and IFTTT, so users can control or automate of apps and services from the Solis WiFi App and Smartspot with a tap.
"The Solis X was designed to enhance social, family and travel experiences for anyone who wishes to do more from anywhere," says Skyroam Founder and CEO, Jing Liu. "By expanding upon what Skyroam does best, we are enabling so many more consumers to stay connected with loved ones, stay powered on, stay socially engaged and stay integrated into their "smart" lifestyle with no geographic limits. We see Solis X as a platform and are excited to see how our customers will use their imagination to bring its possibilities to life in hundreds of new ways."
Users need to download the Solis Wi-Fi App, which enables the use of the remote camera, smart assistant feature and allows users to buy Wi-Fi and manage their hotspot.
At the time of writing, users can purchase the Skyroam Solis X Wi-Fi Smartspot at £179.99. No SIM is needed, users will need to register and choose their Wi-Fi plan (pay-as-you-go or subscribe).
This (ear)bud's for you: Jabra Evolve 65t
Okay, so let's start with a real world use case story to justify this product review.
I have been using a Huawei Mate 20 Pro to play my music on — and, as this smartphone comes with no headphone slot, I've been carting around the 3.5mm jack-to-USB-C connector on flights and while walking to meetings — looking after it carefully, in a little box.
One of the nicest things about the Jabra Evolve 65t earbuds set is that they come in their own little box, which is in fact smaller than the one I have been using to ferry about my pesky headphone cable.
Making the leap from cable-bound headphone duress to earbud freedom has been a revelation. Who knew shopping in Lidl could be done to the beefy grungey beats of Soundgarden as you drown out your fellow shoppers and the incessant beeping tills?
Now obviously I could have used ANY headphones to turn Clapham Junction's Lidl into a late 1990s Seattle grunge-fest, but the point is, I never bothered… basically, because 'traditional' earphones with cables are often just a little too much hassle.
The Jabra Evolve 65t is so convenient, so quick to Bluetooth-connect, so quick to put on pause (a quick tap on the right earbud does this) when you need to speak to a till assistant (or any other human being) and so high-quality in terms of build and sound quality, that shopping any other way simply doesn't cut it anymore.
Road testing
We tested Jabra's Evolve 65t on a flight from London Gatwick to Zakynthos. The passive noise cancellation technology worked well enough to block out most of the sound from the Jet2 engines. Users slide the earbuds into their ear canals and then 'rotate' them into the natural shape of the earlobe that they have been ergonomically built to align to.
Unless you have extremely strange ears, they should fit in snugly.
We also tested this unit on a conference call. The earbuds switch to auto turn-on as soon as you take them out of their case and the built-in four-microphone Ambient Noice Cancellation (ANC) technology worked perfectly. The caller at the other end didn't know whether we were using a telephone or not.
Jabra has built the Evolve 65t with enough oomph to power 5-hours battery on a single charge — and that ups to 15 hours with the pocket-friendly (Ed – I think they mean it's small) charging case.
The whole package ships with two extra pairs of silicon rubber earjels. This way you can fit them snugly into your headspace whether you have small, medium or large lugholes.
There's a Bluetooth adapter for PCs or laptops built without Bluetooth if you happen to have one… and there's a charging cable too.
The cable may, possibly, be the only shortcoming with this device i.e. Jabra has used the fast-obsoleting micro-USB port rather than USB-C… but hey, we've all got plenty of devices and cables with the old standard too, right?
Jabra Sound+ app
The earbuds themselves run Bluetooth v5.0 and users are encouraged to download the Jabra (free) Sound+ app from either the Apple or Google stores in order to keep the device firmware up to date.
In its bid to position the Evolve 65t as a truly UC-certified product (as in Unified Communications), Jabra has also included the ability to pair up to 8-different devices with the unit… there is also voice assistant support for Amazon Alexa, Siri and Google Assistant. The product is certified for Skype for Business, Cisco, Avaya etc.
According to Jabra, "With the Evolve 65t you can instantly connect to Amazon Alexa, Siri, or Google AssistantTM, allowing you to get the information you need – whether that be setting appointments, finding nearby events, having messages read back to you, or checking the weather."
More details from Jabra note that users can personalise the sound for calls and music. Users can tailor the sound experience with the customisable equalizer found in the Jabra Sound+ app.
We've used other wireless headphone sets before… and a few in-ear offerings too, but this is the best of the crop so far.
Prices for the Jabra Evolve 65t are in the region of GBP £200 at the time of writing… okay so they're not cheap, but this bud's for you.
Hangar 51 – the aviation, innovation accelerator
The aviation sector is a hotbed of innovation, according to the head of global innovation at the International Airlines Group (IAG), Dupsy Abiola.
While is seems obvious someone with her job title might say this about her industry, Abiola went on to convince me this might be the case by filling me in on Hangar 51, the startup accelerator run by IAG which gives startups an opportunity to work closely with people and companies in the aviation sector to see if their businesses could fit into the space.
IAG has several different businesses under its banner, including airlines, loyalty and logistics, and Abiola pointed out in some cases a business may have been tried and tested in another sector already, and some come to Hangar 51 to see if the idea has other use cases.
She said: "It's a short space of time for them to explore the opportunities they might be able to have with businesses such as our own. It's the beginning of some really meaningful conversations that the entrepreneurs and their product teams can have about what it takes to be and scale within a group like ours and within and industry like ours."
The programme itself was launched in 2016, and is hosted in Madrid and Barcelona in collaboration with Iberia, Vueling and IAG Cargo.
The 10 week accelerator programme is designed to help startups develop their technology businesses, test them in the context of the aviation industry and potentially scale them globally.
The participants will then have a Demo Day where they can show their tech to those who matter – Abiola told me at least three or four CEOs from the various companies under IAG's banner attend.
The hope of the startups, alongside the input of senior professionals already in the sector, is the opportunity for further support and funding to help them grow their businesses.
Applications can be submitted under one of seven categories including airport operations and logistics, future of customer interaction, disruption management, future cargo logistics, sustainability, new products and services, and wildcard.
Abiola told me the programme gets hundreds of applicants that are whittled down to 10 – and the programme is picky.
So picky, in fact, she told me the programme is actually harder to get on to than it is to get into Harvard.
But the benefits seem obvious – while most accelerators boast facetime with people in the industry, Abiola claimed in many cases this may mean a few meetings or hours with people in a firm.
Hangar 51 allows entrepreneurs to work really closely with teams within the business, and they have access to people "from c-suite all the way down".
Of those who have been part of the programme over the last three years, five companies have received investment from IAG.
Businesses who have been through the accelerator in the past have developed technologies such as virtual reality for in-flight entertainment, a block-chain powered check in service and a suite of chatbots tailored to the travel sector.
But of course, there's something in it for IAG too – much like other accelerator programmes, it's an opportunity for IAG to keep an eye out for fresh technologies and see if the aviation sector makes a good use case for them.
Abiola said: "Over that 10 weeks we really road test their technology, incorporate into the business, see what value we can get from it, and devise a plan if its working of how we can take that particular technological innovation forward.
"Our aim is to, first and foremost, do mutual learnings and road test these businesses, and we expect that not everyone is going to end up working with us or is going to be a decent fit, but it's a good opportunity."
Applications for Hangar 51's most recent cohort are open until 2 August, after which 40 applicants will be invited to a pitch day on 3 September. Successful applicants will start the programme in late September.
Abiola summarised: "There are huge opportunities in aviation, it's crazy."
Sennheiser MB 360 UC: minimalist design, high-quality finish
People use headphones while they're at work, get used to the facts.
Now then, some of those people are call centre workers, some of them are air traffic controllers, some of them are telesales people and some of them have a job that inherently demands that they don a pair of 'cans' over their ears — we're not really talking about any of them.
We're looking at the kinds of businesspeople who would typically want to use headphones for Skype or other VoIP-based services — and we're also talking about the kinds of workers who want to be able to 'drown out' the rest of the office in order to get on with their own tasks.
This is the market Sennheiser is targeting with its Sennheiser MB 360 UC Active Noise Canceling (ANC) headphones.
Coming in at £168 at the time of writing, the Sennheiser MB 360 is around £100 cheaper than its big brother/sister unit the Sennheiser MB 660.
Before we look at the unit itself, let's consider what the company is saying about the way we work today and why this type of equipment might be de rigeur for a modern contemporary workplace.
The way we work
Sennheiser says that today, 70% of workspaces have transitioned to open plan, yet 63% of professionals claim loud colleagues are their greatest distraction.
"Our latest study shows that 29% of office workers use a headset when they need to concentrate", said Theis Mork, vice president of product management for enterprise solutions at Sennheiser. The office space per person has declined over the past 20 years and open offices are on the rise, making it harder for us to concentrate without being interrupted by our co-workers. Sennheiser's recent study shows that almost a third of office workers use a headset to concentrate without distraction."
Sennheiser says the MB 360 UC Bluetooth headset itself is a double-sided headset with ANC that connects to a mobile device and is optimised for Unified Communication (hence the use of UC).
That UC element is the fact that users can use the same headset for entertainment and work-related audio application. They offer a talk time of up to 25 hours and have pretty nice soft ear pads.
The ANC itself works well, it comes on automatically as soon as you power up the device. Sennheiser has used the right headphone body unit to put the power button in place, next to that there's a 'function' button and next to that there's a volume button.
The only complaint here is that we assumed users would need to hold the power button down to engage the Bluetooth connection (after all, the blue Bluetooth power light is next to the power button), but you need to in fact hold the volume button in to get Bluetooth docking to happen.
The function button performs different functions depending on which app you are using. For example, when using Spotify, the function slider takes you back to the start of a track or onto your next one. When using an online radio service such as Absolute Radio (which has around 10 stations playing different genres of music), the function button takes you between stations.
Smart ANC
The Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is smart, it constantly monitors the user's background environment for noise using Sennheiser's NoiseGard adaptive ANC technology to adjust the level of noise reduction in the headset.
There's a variety of connection points on offer with this headset. We've already mentioned Bluetooth (which appears to 'hold' its connection well to a chosen device even if you turn the headphones on and off), but there's also a Bluetooth USB dongle so that users can connect with PCs and laptops that may not have Bluetooth.
There's also a 2.5mm (inserts into device) to 3.5mm (standard headphone jack) analogue cable, should users wish to go retro and cable themselves to their device.
There are two built-in microphones and the device works well on Skype and indeed when connected to a smartphone for calls.
Bluetooth bother
The only real gripe here is that switching between devices can be a little troublesome when doing so using Bluetooth. Moving from iPad to a Windows PC was easy enough, but getting the headset to be recognised again by the iPad afterwards (even with the PC powered down to ensure the Bluetooth radio was off) wasn't quite as seamless.
As always with Sennheiser (full disclosure, I've been a fan of this company since the 1980s when I first got a pair of the old yellow foam headphones that used to be produced), the sound quality is rich and lustrous. This is the kind of quality that makes you want to sit with Spotify and play some of your favourite tracks to see how different they sound when you can hear instruments and parts of music or voice that you'd not picked up on before.
BakkerElkhuizen UltraBoard 950 Wireless Compact Keyboard
The BakkerElkhuizen UltraBoard 950 Wireless Compact Keyboard is difficult to pronounce and requires a full lung-full of air to say in one go… but it's a piece of kit that stands out for a number of reasons and this is the story of why.
Before telling you about some of the features and feel… let us (well, me) explain that I have two desks.
At desk number one I work with a Logitech K780, which is a great keyboard as it allows me to switch between 3-different Bluetooth sources at the touch of a button.
At desk number two I work with a wired version of the BakkerElkhuizen UltraBoard range. I like the 'clack clack' of the keys a lot, they're almost reminiscent of the sound of a Commodore Pet back in the day, but without the harshness… and the keys have a nice 'travel' about them to let you know you've actually hit them.
The only shortcoming of BakkerElkhuizen UltraBoard in the wired version is that it is connected to the machine you are connected to, obviously.
Wireless Bluetooth freedom
Thankfully, BakkerElkhuizen has got around that problem with the BakkerElkhuizen UltraBoard and it's gone one better (two better, in fact) than Logitech because it allows the user to connect up to five different Bluetooth devices at any one time.
Doing so is pretty simple: the user hits Function (highlighted in blue as Fn) and then hit the Bluetooth symbols on keys 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5. It's then a simple matter of pairing with each device you want to connect to using the Bluetooth CONNECT nipple on the underside of the keyboard. The user can then switch between devices very simply using Fn 1, 2 and so on.
In practice, this worked just fine between Windows and Mac OS/X and the keyboard was able to switch between the two in a matter of seconds. Mac OS/X shows a "connected" logo and "connection lost" logo on screen — Windows, on the other hand, shows nothing (unless you open up the Bluetooth devices menu to check that the keyboard is connected), but it works regardless and you can type between two machines fairly fluidly.
Specs & stuff
In terms of other specs for this device, the unit itself is specifically designed without a number pad (this is bad for ergonomics, apparently… and unless you're an accountant you probably don't really need one) and has an 81/82-key wireless keyboard with 4 hotkeys for fast and easy working with figures, Home, Mail, PrtScr (print screen) and NumLock to PC (Mac system does not support the 4 hotkeys).
As mentioned, it can register up to 5 Bluetooth hosts and power comes from 2 x AAA Ni-MH rechargeable batteries, charging via Micro USB cable.
If you're hell-bent on living a wired life, there's even support for USB with a cable to connect a PC via micro USB cable.
Cross-OS platform support by holding Fn key and "W" key for PC or "A" key for Mac, although most functionalities appeared to work fine without this switch.
A final note on the ergonomic factor, Microsoft research has suggested that an active computer user's fingers can travel up to 32 kilometres per day.
As WhatMobile noted here, "The benefits of removing the numeric keypad leaves you with a compact keyboard. The major advantage of this design is that you can place your mouse closer to your body, which means you will not have to reach as far to use your mouse. Because you can keep your arms alongside your body, the discomfort you feel in your hands and wrists all the way up to your shoulders will decrease."
Let's see how true that is, we shall look for the benefits and hope to enjoy it.
Going native on Google Chromebooks
Where's my desktop gone? That's the obvious immediate first reaction for any Google Chromebook user.
We road tested a Lenovo Chromebook 11 500e (Robo 360) and an HP Chromebook x360 11 G1 EE (Snappy) to 'go native' on the Chromebook experience and assess the upsides and downsides of life in the rather more virtualised world (when compared to Windows, Mac OS/X and Linux desktops) of life on Chrome OS.
Let's dive straight into first impressions and key usability factors for users that have never been exposed to the degree of essentially online (although a lot of them work offline, as we will cover) tools and apps that exist on any Chromebook.
Initial look and feel
The 'auto-on' function that drives a fully powered-down machine to start-up once you open the clamshell cover seems to make a lot of sense. The Lenovo machine sports this function, the Dell one still requires a punch on the power button.
It's important to play around with your settings A LOT to make sure everything is set up the way you want it. For example, you might want to disable WiFi when the machine is in sleep mode (why would you leave it on?) because it is default set to on and will drain your machine unnecessarily until you turn it off.
Offline is always going to be a leap with an essentially-online-connected machine, but so many of the core Google apps work really effectively when offline including Gmail, which (obviously) requires an Internet connection to sync again if you have performed any delete, send or file actions while offline.
A focus on Gmail
Remember, Gmail offline is going away and has now become part of the core Gmail app itself — the best way to set this up is to open Gmail offline and get redirected to the optional changes and settings you will need to accept and opt in or out for in Gmail itself.
So what about saving emails? How can you keep a record of important transactional communications? It's a simple enough process achieved by clicking the 'download message' option from the three-dot drop down menu on an actual Gmail itself.
The file generated is an .eml format and this can be opened again by simply dragging it into your browser when running Gmail (if you've saved it on the desktop of a 'traditional' machine or a USB disk for example).
Saving a mail in and out of Google Drive isn't quite as straightforward because Google Drive doesn't appear to support the opening of .eml files without the use of a third party plugin. Google told us that it was happy with the EML, MHT Viewer with Drive tool, which you can add as an extension to Chrome or use from within Google Drive itself as shown in the image here (right).
Other impressions
We initially thought that the right click touchpad function on the device we tested was broken (probably the result of it having been tested by several sausage-fingered journalists before it got to us, right?)… but in fact, there is no right click option on the Chromebook.
This quick 52 second YouTube video will show you the three ways you can still perform a right click for additional 'on screen' menu (also sometimes called the 'context menu') options when using any Chromebook.
For the record, those three methods are:
- A simple double finger tap on the Chromebook touchpad.
- Hold down the ALT key while 'left' tapping (actually, tap anywhere, there isn't any right click, remember).
- Connect a mouse and use the mouse's right click key, which is supported by Chrome OS on Chromebooks.
In term of other thoughts… Miniclip Pool appeared to play slower than on an Android smartphone or an iPad. Or was it really? The app is really targeted at smartphone users, so it may well not 'stretch' fully to an 11-inch screen usage.
Alongside the Lenovo unit, we also tested an HP Chromebook which has a prettier shinier case and practically the same functionality all-round. But, when both arrived… and we only had time to really set up and road test one unit, somehow the Lenovo machine seemed like the more appealing option. Could that be down to HP's legacy as a Windows player harking back to the days of WinTelPaq (Windows, Intel, Compaq)… remembering that HP bought Compaq? That's the only logical reason we can come up with.
Google for Education
Google had initially reached out to us for product tests as a result of its recent focus on the Google for Education initiative. Google is announcing new partnerships and features for Chromebooks to (hopefully) help educators and schools improve the learning experience.
What kinds of things has Google done to make learning easier then? The firm points to admin management, deployment options, accessibility features, input options and a number of quality apps that exist for educational purposes.
The new Chromebooks features include visual aids, stylus support, voice typing and audio support.
New partner features include Texthelp's Read&Write: the literacy toolbar offers additional support for ENL learners, dyslexic students by reading out loud, researching assignments, and proofing written work.
Soundtrap is an app that can nurture student voice through music, podcasts, language, literacy training Plus, teachers can assign lessons through Google Classroom. Kami lets you annotate Docs and PDFs, making note taking using a stylus and the web much smoother.
More on Lenovo
Some extra feedback on the Lenovo unit as this was the one we concentrated on (sorry HP!). The classroom-resistant full-sized keyboard includes a sealed touchpad which claims to be able to resist liquid spills of up to 1.39 cups (330ml). We didn't test that function, but we got the message… right then students, no beers larger than 330ml while working okay?
Lenovo also says its machine is drop-resistant up to 29.5″ (75cm) – roughly the height of a school desk. Again, no school desks were available to help validate this claim at the time of testing.
Both Chromebooks feature 360-degree hinges, two-way cameras and both offer options for on-screen writing. Battery life is similar on both at around 10 hours (ours wouldn't quite pump out that time scale), which is supposed to be enough to cover an entire school, or indeed office, day.
No HDMI port was available on either machine, which seemed like a shame.
Overall, the move to always-online is somewhat inevitable, yet few people you meet in day-to-day life appear to be sporting a Chromebook from any manufacturer. It's worth having a go and seeing how quickly you can get used to one of these devices because the overall experience is positive and you may soon forget the fact that you wondered where your desktop was… if you like your Android phone, then you'll probably like a Chromebook.
Online in the Smokey Mountains with Skyroam
It's 4am and I'm a nice 'conference-style' hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.
The hotel has provided WiFi included with the room – of course it has, you wouldn't expect anything else – but its 4am and I'm awake with jet lag and i can't find the keycard with the password on it.
Come to think of it, I got in late and had been awake for hours… even if I could sign in to the hotel WiFi, I honestly don't remember my room number (for the login credentials) and it's not writen on the phone next to me.
Thankfully, I decided to accept an invitation to review a Skyroam.
This little orange hockey puck is a go-anywhere Internet device that powers up in just a few seconds. I had pre-loaded the password into my phone before I left London, so I powered up and was connected quickly. For someone who is self-employed, being able to connect while on the go is hugely important.
Testing the device further… my wife (hello Mrs B) had extended our trip to Nashvile for SUSECON 19 by booking three days in the Great Smokey Mountains in Dolly Parton's hometown, a place called Pidgeon Forge.
WiFi hotspots on mountain trails are few and far between (actually, they don't exist at all), but I was able to connect with the Skyroam and check on my football team's win in the Championship over the weekend.
The Skyroam Solis device claims to be able to provide 4G LTE Internet connectivity in over 130 countries. Up to five devices can be connected simultaneously and the unit itself doubles up as a 6,000 mAh power bank.
It's a contract-free service that offers three different subscription plans – 24 hour day passes, a monthly plan or pay per GB. The device itself can be purchased for £135 or rented at £9 per day. The device's management app works on both iOS and Android. More UK and EU details are listed at skyroam.com/uk.
Virtual SIM: vSim technology
One of the more interesting aspects of the device is apparent once you open it up and look for the SIM card — and there isn't one. Skyroam is actually built with vSim 'virtual SIM' technology.
According to Skyroam, "The vSIM sterm stands for Virtual SIM technology and is the proprietary cornerstone of the Skyroam brand. Our Founder, Jing Liu spent years engineering this technology to enable a virtual connection between any Skyroam product and local mobile data networks, without a traditional SIM card. This innovation breaks down traditional barriers for international travelers who have been forced to SIM swap across countries, accept roaming fees, or use pricey but limited options from domestic carriers."
In terms of specifics, vSIM is a software replacement to the physical SIM cards that have been a core element in the mobile ecosystem for many years.
The log in experience is easy and – once home in the UK – it was easy to connect to the Skyroam and use the Solis app in my home office even with my Hyperoptic network running. From power up to log in it takes about a minute.
One key benefit (that the company doesn't appear to have shouted about) is that the device could allow users to login to their online banking services securely when traveling in hotels.
If there is a criticism to be levied at the Solis Skyroam it is the fact that data will expire if you don't use it, which is a great shame. How nice would it be to be able to load up 10 GB of data and know that you had a mobile office to run around the world with that much data to drink on. Change your subscription plans Skyroam and then you really would change our lives.
Do we need an 'app' for mindfulness?
Software application developers will always be looking to create the next big thing (Twitter etc.) and come up with a killer app to forge their name in history.
So what's trending next?
A recent BBC television documentary by Dr Chris and Dr Xand Van Tulleken investigated mental health and stress — currently linked here — and suggested that apps which promote mindfulness could help those of us who want to slow the world down… and perhaps even get off it altogether.
What is mindfulness?
Wikipedia defines mindfulness as the psychological process of bringing one's attention to experiences occurring in the present moment, which one can develop through the practice of meditation and through other training.
Mindfulness itself is thought to be derived from sati, a significant element of Buddhist traditions.
The UK NHS pages on this subject note comments made by Professor Mark Williams, former director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, who says that mindfulness means knowing directly what is going on inside and outside ourselves, moment by moment.
"It's easy to stop noticing the world around us. It's also easy to lose touch with the way our bodies are feeling and to end up living 'in our heads' – caught up in our thoughts without stopping to notice how those thoughts are driving our emotions and behaviour," said Williams.
Williams also notes that another important part of mindfulness is an awareness of our thoughts and feelings as they happen, moment to moment.
An app, or device
So given this trend (albeit an ancient practice now presented as a trend), do we need an app (or perhaps even a device) to help us achieve mindfulness?
We downloaded 'The Mindfulness App – meditate' from the Apple app store for iPad in the hope that it might do what it says on the tin.
Despite its 4.6 out of 5 stars ***** rating, this is app is basically just a selection of intros to meditation speeches that appear to be almost entirely delivered by chilled out sounding probably 40-something American female 'specialists' who would all no doubt like you to buy their book.
The full speeches (or monologues) are only available with a premium membership, so we didn't bother.
There is a neat timer function that allows you to start your mindfulness session and opt to listen to a looped soundtrack of the beach, forest, rain, stream, waves or nothing… and this is nice.
Breathy & deliberately monotone
Users can opt for the above with or without the breathy and seemingly deliberately monotone American lady telling you to 'find your presence and notice the breath in your nostrils' as needed.
As an additional comment on this story (and something of an experiment), we tried the mindfulness techniques using a set of Jabra Evolve 80 headphones with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology as reviewed here on Computer Weekly.
Switching on noise cancellation appears to be a good thing.
It cuts out the planes coming into Heathrow and allows the user to really focus on the relaxing sounds. In fact, simply turning them on with no sound is also a good idea as it helps to shut out the world and perhaps puts you one step closer to inner peace.
As Buddha said, "To conquer oneself is a greater task than conquering others."
… and, no, sorry developers, he didn't need an app for that.
Adonit PhotoGrip for smartphones with tripod, Bluetooth shutter & remote
In the age of the selfie (and the accursed self-stick), what more could the average smartphone-toting photo addict really need?
Longer arms perhaps?
How about an international language app to translate the word "cheese" into 200 langauges?
No, it's none of these. What we really want is something that makes our smartphones look, act and feel more like an actual camera.
This appears to be much of the thinking behind Adonit Photogrip, a multiuse phone grip designed to transform a smartphone so it can be used just like a camera.
Nokia of course did something like this with the Nokia Lumia 1020 – image linked here – which did the phone a good surround, but was proprietary to that model alone and was expensive and heavy.
Camera not-so obscura
Adonit has previously been known for its stylus manufacturing. The company now comes forward with the UK launch of Photogrip, a means of wrapping a casing around any smartphone so that it can be converted into a mini tripod. It is accompanied by a Bluetooth shutter and (and this is the cool bit) a camera remote (so you can make the shutter close while you sit away from the device) to help create group shots.
According to the makers, the Adonit Photogrip allows users can comfortably hold their phone out in front of them with one hand to perfect that selfie with ease thanks to the grooved grip mark, avoiding any accidental slips and resulting cracked screen.
Photogrip can be positioned upright for self-standing portrait mode, allowing users to FaceTime, live stream on Instagram or perhaps and watch videos.
The detachable Bluetooth shutter remote can be used up to 10 metres from the phone whether it be on the Photogrip's mini tripod or self-standing mode. There is no timer required, so users can just click the remote when they are ready.
There's also a mini precision stylus included to help with photo editing.
Jasper Li, CTO for Adonit has said that the Photogrip has multiple uses and is one of the first offering a stand, everyday handgrip for peace of mind as well as the tools to take portrait shots and edit swiftly for ultimate shareability.
The Adonit Photogrip is compatible with iOS 5.0 and above and Android v4.3 and above.
The Bluetooth connection requires v3.0 and the device will work with any phone from a minimum size of 4.5″. In addition, the Photogrip includes a carry pouch, neck strap and features a charge capacity of up to 20 hours, with the allowance to snap up to 72,000 photos.
Inspect-a-Gadget opinion
Okay what did we think of this? Actually, it's one of those 'darn, I wish I'd had this ages ago' type of gadgets… the remote Bluetooth 'clicker' being absolutely the coolest thing about it. Perhaps not just for getting group shots, but if you're the kind of person that likes to climb up a mountain and sit perched with your other half on the edge of some remote escarpment, then how would you be able to get a snap of that kind of thing if nobody else was there?
Having spent an entire youth setting 'auto-shutter' self-timer and balancing cameras on top of rocks and such like and then running around the front, this is an electronic answer to that problem… and it comes with a tripod… and it comes with a casing unit to stop your phone getting damaged. The product is robust and feels tough, it fits all the Huawei phones we tried it on (several sizes) and it would appear to fit 'any' smartphone, although one imagines there must be some that it doesn't especially if you already have your own casing around your device. You can also use the Adonit Photogrip to prop your smartphone up (portrait style) in self-standing mode on your desk. Say cheese please.
The Adonit Photogrip is available from Amazon and Adonit for £44.99


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Time Travel 1977 Mexico-USA: Brokedown Chiapas, Giggle Bordello, Busted on Burpin' Street…
…continued from previous
March 1977
The back road from Agua Azul to San Cristobal de las Casas through Ocosingo is nothing spectacular, but a pretty enough drive. This is the area that will be ground zero for the emergence of EZLN (Zapatista Army of National Liberation) and 'Sub-Comandante Marcos' in a few short years, resulting in being 'liberated' by them on New Year's Day 1994. But for now it's a dusty backwater, as far into the outback as you can get in Mexico, deep in the jungle. Unfortunately our bus breaks down before reaching the city, so we all have to get off, and find alternate transportation. Fortunately it breaks down not far away, so finding something else isn't too hard.
San Cristobal de las Casas
San Cristobal is just the opposite, and a revelation to me, high in the highlands, in that here is a part of Mexico JUST LIKE GUATEMALA–almost anyway. A slang term for Guatemalan is even 'Chapin', from 'Chiapas', or at least the same common root wood. S.C. in fact seems precisely like the westernmost outpost of a highland region that starts just west of Guatemala City and includes Quezaltenango and Huehuetenango as the other major population centers.
Like them, it too is surrounded by dozens of interesting villages, many of which specialize in a specific craft, though the city itself handles most of that. Since I didn't buy much in Guatemala because I like to travel light, and since the Mexican peso has now devalued, I'm getting serious about the idea of trying to commercialize some of these products, so now's the time and this is the place. There's some Guatemalan stuff from across the border here, too, so I can still test some of that merchandise, besides the little bit that I sent by mail from Guatemala itself.
If I'm in business now- sorta' kinda' maybe- then Oaxaca's next on the list, and sure enough, the new devalued prices seem much better. As long as I'm just buying a little of a lot of different things, then no one will ever know the difference for Customs purposes, right? At least the demonstrations and bus-burnings of a couple months ago are now but a memory, so Oaxaca can be enjoyed without the threat of street disturbances and the high crime that often accompanies it. It's nice, and nearby Mitla is a source of handicrafts. I'm good.
As in many places, in Mexico all roads lead to the capital. So avoiding it becomes almost a rite of passage, even if it means detours. One way to do that is by skirting the Sierra Mazateca, and then on to Veracruz, via Tuxtepec. In those mountains to the north are two other branches of Mexico's Indian population, the Chinantecs and Mazatecs, reputed masters of the same mushroom just encountered in Palenque–and Mississippi. Here is one of Mexico's wetter climes, a veritable cloud forest…
…but not Veracruz. Here it's warm, even hot. and it's a pretty classy old colonial city, too. Of course the tourists here are all American, or Canadian, so none of the sophisticated witty banter of the Europeans. Here guys tend to talk about sex… and whores. They talk me into going to Monterrey with them.
Monterrey's not far from the Texas border, so attracts some of that element, border-hoppers who want to see a bit of the interior. Of course Monterrey is not especially exotic, but they DO have whorehouses, so a couple of American guys talk me into checking one out, a fancy one. I stay long enough to watch the girls actually come out and make their appearance, en masse but that's about all. This is a fancy place- $25 a pop! ("they like to make it last"), so feinting and bluffing is all part of the game. It's almost surreal. I'm trying hard not to laugh…
These are the days of hitch-hiking, as some sort of a righteous principle, kind of like sharing a joint, but sharing a ride instead. Of course with only $24 to my name I don't have much choice. I already spent all my money on goods. And hitch-hiking is not always fun and games either, especially in southern Texas. For one thing, it's a different culture down here, and hitch-hiking may not be a part of it. For another, populations tend to be very spread out the farther west you go, so less possibility of a pick-up.
Anyway I get out of Laredo okay and make the connection at San Antonio no problem. But for some reason I've been waiting at a little town called Schulenberg for hours, and it's starting to get old. Finally I figure I should go and at least check the bus schedule for the Hell of it. $24 won't get me home, but it'll get me closer than I am now. So I walk from the Interstate into town, pack fully loaded, mind you. I check the bus schedule, buy a Coke, drink it, re-adjust my pack to better distribute the weight, and then start walking back to the highway, since there's no bus for hours.
I neglect to throw away my Coke can because I'd have to set my pack down again to do so. Big Mistake, because a cop is watching the whole sordid affair. He arrests me for littering. I sh*t you not, hauls me before a judge right then and there, in Schulenberg, TX. The judge reads me the riot act about traveling in Mexico where all kinds of mean nasty ugly things happen (but at least they don't arrest you for littering), then finally fines me $21.
Then the cop takes me not only back to the highway, but back to the highway on the edge of town. At least it's the other edge. Well, I guess it worked, because I got a ride this time, and never had another problem making it back home to my little cabin in the woods. It's a good thing, too, because I got the screaming sh*ts from that burger I ate in Laredo. I traveled all over Mexico and Guatemala with no problem since one bout at the beginning, then I get diarrhea the minute I step back into the States. I guess that's poetic justice.

subset: commoncrawl


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Iron Man 3 Rakes In Over $1 Billion
Iron Man 3 Rakes In Over $1 Billion
It's official: Iron Man 3 is a hit, to the tune of over $1 billion.
After a mere 23 days in theaters, Iron Man 3 has raked in over $1 billion at the box office. This puts it in pretty phenomenal company. Marvel Studios' only other $1 billion-grossing film to date was the massively successful Avengers, and Marvel's parent company Disney can only boast four non-Marvel films in its entire history that have broke the $1 billion mark.
The most impressive aspect of all of this is that Iron Man 3 made its worldwide debut two weeks before it was available in the United States. International box office returns are undeniably important, but if a film is to be a major success it also has to prove a hit domestically. Despite having only had two weeks to do so, it's safe to say that Iron Man 3 has done well at home, having pulled in over $300 million domestically so far.
What does all of this mean for you? Unless your paychecks are signed by Disney, probably not much. We can expect the current glut of big-budget superhero movies to continue for the foreseeable future, and Robert Downey Jr. is now worth far more than his weight in gold for any studio, but otherwise the success of Iron Man 3 won't have much affect on the common man.
However, it does raise an interesting question. With The Avengers and Iron Man 3 - Marvel Studios' last two major films - both breaking $1 billion at the box office, what is the ceiling for how well these comic book movies can perform? When Avengers proved a huge hit we expected that to be an anomalous performance, but Iron Man 3 indicates that maybe all of Marvel's films from here on out will be capable of pulling in box office returns larger than many nations' annual GDP. Now the question is: Which hero will be the first to top $5 billion?
Source: IGN
As much as I love Marvel and these films I've got to admit that The Avengers has likely already hit that ceiling. Until ticket prices rise again I don't expect Disney to shoot for anything far beyond $1 billion.
Nice. I still haven't seen it due to...strange circumstances.
Oh well. It was a great run while it lasted, and overpaid or not, Downy Jr OWNED the Tony Stark persona.
It's nice to see Iron Man 3 doing pretty good (great, in fact), but I think you're setting the ceiling far, FAR too high. Even when adjusted for inflation, only one film has yet to pass the $3 billion mark, and not adjusted at all there are only two films that have gone past the $2 billion mark. Even the Avengers has only gotten $1.5 billion.
Let's not set the bar too high yet. Let's set the bar lower to $2 billion.
Well he did say the suit was of a gold aluminum alloy.
To be fair though, Iron Man was practically the poster child for Marvel Studios and their movies, with Robert Downy Jr. coming in really strong as Tony Stark. When the other heroes have only had cameos in other movies before hand (and This being the 3rd actor to play the Hulk in as little as what, ten years?), or at most a single movie to their name, the one name any studio is really going to want is the most consistent one.
That's Iron Man, and that's Mr. Downy Jr.
I do hope nothing really breaks this up though, as it would be a total shame. They've finally seemed to nail an actor for the Hulk, and a great one at that for Banner. As a major fan of Norse mythology, it be bloody hard as hell for me not to see more Thor and his actor is pretty darn good with the role too. They have a consistent and strong lineup of actors that are really, really, good in the roles they play. To see all that break down would be... well, it would be sad, to say the least.
Well according to some sources, whilst Downey may not be letting his pay go down, he is apparently fighting for his co-stars to get a pay raise.
Some food for thought.
I must congratulate Marvel Studios and Disney for making history yet again. The fact that Iron Man 3 proved itself in both the domestic and international market is something to behold. That said, I'm hoping that future Marvel/Disney movies will do just as well but I'm doubtful everyone will break the $1 billion mark. As long as they're putting quality product out there, I'm sure it will do well. But to expect it to be that massive of a money maker is setting one's expectations too high.
Also, Marvel/Disney need to sign back Robert Downey Jr. ASAP. I'm sure that after IM3 and the Avengers take on the box office, they can afford to bring him back. Having to replace him will complicate matters and I honestly cannot picture any actor that can fill those shoes let alone one that is willing to take that task on.
Wow! If that is the case, more power to him. Plus with Avengers and IM3 making that much bank, its safe to say the studios can offer up a better paycheck to the actors and folks behind it. Time to pony up, Marvel/Disney. I know you're trying to recover from mistakes like John Carter but don't screw the pooch on the goose that is laying golden eggs for you.
Well, it's a good gesture, but one that needs credence beyond "an insider". If it's true, well...good, because there isn't a single actor/actress playing an Avenger that I don't like in their role. Which is just uncanny given how picky I am about performances.
At least for the quality of work they're producing, they deserve more equal pay.
We all know Robert Downey Jr. is a method actor.
Thus to play the role of a billionaire playboy philanthropist, he must BECOME a billionaire playboy philanthropist.
Using some of your leverage to make rich friends a little richer isn't really what I would call philanthropy.
Downey got lucky he got in on the ground floor and is in a position to negotiate a new contract while he has all the leverage (all the others are still on existing multi-movie deals, deals many other good actors would love to have signed despite the "lousy" pay BTW).
I am afraid this will lead to Capcom syndrome.
"We expect the next Resident Evil to sell just as much copies as COD, we took great care into making sure it has all elements of everything that is popular in it"
So rather than try to make a good Thor movie (the first was Okay, but you could do way better) they end up making the same type of movie over and over regardless of character all aiming for the 1 billion $ rather than making good movies that make a solid profit.
If they can both focus on continuing to make good movies, taking their time with them and getting people that understand the source material they are working with (keep it away from Michael Bay by god!) then I don't see why the string of success should not continue, barring bad horrible luck of course, sometimes a movie just comes out wrong no matter what.
That's good news!! Marvel is hitting the spot with their movies!! Great news! Now I don't have anything to worry about when they decide to make their own Daredevil film... a trilogy, hopefully.
I wouldn't be so sure. With their Superhero movies making ridiculous sums of money, they'll only invest more money into the movies. As the invest more money, they'll want to see more of what made them so much money in the first place and take creative control away from the writers and directors. Most likely, they'll try retreading the same material too often and invest too much money until the current superhero movie boom busts.
...sorry to be that guy who rains on your parade, but I can't help but see the signs of the bubble bursting soon. =/
Hm... I'm still positive about this! ^^
Send that to Thor and Blackwidow as to why Downy gets the big increase in wages in his new contract. Dont even know why Blackwidow actress is even moaning, she isnt even staring in her own movie yet. lol
I actual like marvels way of making movies. There films are not over the top big budget, but at least the budget is on the screen. You get films with huge budgets and you have no idea where the money went. The new WWZ movie supposedly cost $200 million and i have no idea why.
Well it was my favourite Christmas movie since Die Hard, so well done them.
I'm just hoping the giant bunny with the suggestively placed arms clears up at the next Oscars.
Best supporting actress. Aw Yeah.
Iron Man 3 is a good film, I like it.
Does this mean I can start getting my hopes up for the Deadpool movie, now. Is it even still a thing?


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Have you ever dreamt of flying? The Edge Coaster at the Crown Regency Hotel in Cebu fulfilled that dream of mine! Some people told us it was more exciting to try it at night so Frida and I went for the night shift. We witnessed the view of the entire Cebu City at night filled with bright lights. There was this lever which allowed us to take control how tilted the ride ought to be. We definitely went for the maximum tilt. I wanted to maximize the experience of course. Found myself and Da screaming as we circled the entire building. The ride felt like one suicidal act. =) It was one super ride!
6/24/2012 12:25:03 pm
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6/24/2012 12:25:39 pm
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All about the traveling Queen who wanted to share with the world the little and great discoveries that have brought her joy.


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Borneo Adventure Holiday Mountains and Jungles
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, South-Eastern Asia, Asia
"Monkeys, jungles and mountains – discover the best of Borneo on this adventurous 12-day tour."
The third largest island in the world and home to a huge array of wildlife and unique ecosystems, Borneo is a bucket-list destination for any nature-loving traveller. Trekking through tropical rainforest, white water rafting, mountain climbing and getting up close to monkeys at the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, this 12-day trip gives you the chance to experience all of it. Along the way, you'll meet locals from indigenous villages who will introduce you to their culture. From peaceful beach resorts to camping in the jungle, this trip offers a real mix of adventure, excitement and relaxation.
Setting off from Kota Kinabalu, your adventure begins with a thrilling white-water rafting excursion along the Kiulu River. Spend the next few days discovering the dense Indonesian jungle before you begin your ascent to the peak of Mount Kinabalu. After an exhilarating climb, head back to the jungle (keeping your eyes peeled for proboscis monkeys, elephants and crocodiles along the way) before hopping on a river cruise to a nearby orangutan sanctuary. Spend your final few days relaxing at a beach resort, visiting a tropical island or exploring an adventure park if you're still bursting with energy!
Borneo is world renowned for being home to orangutans, yet over the past 60 years the Bornean orangutan populations have declined by more than 50%. Part of the reason for this is that the orangutan's rainforest home is being destroyed, with their habitats decreasing by over half in just two decades. Pioneer Expeditions has been working to combat these issues, working in support of HUTA and Chester Zoo to create Orangutan Bridges in Kinabatangan. So far they have already installed 20 of these platforms, as well as a wildlife-watching platform at the Danau Girang Field.
Pioneer Expeditions also seeks to support local communities. They have implemented a variety of projects to introduce sustainable water facilities in villages by using rainwater collection and storage tanks. This creates jobs for locals who maintain these facilities, whilst also ensuring families have access to clean water. They also lobby politicians in the local areas as a means of enacting change and improving life for local farmers and school children. In addition to these measures, Pioneer Expedition also works with locals as guides, food suppliers and accommodation owners, to ensure that money goes back into the local economy and sustainable tourism is practiced in the region.
Arrival: You'll be met on your arrival at the airport and then transferred to the centre of Kota Kinabalu. For your first taste of the new culture, you'll have dinner at a typical Malaysian restaurant.
Rapids and Relaxing: An exciting morning of white water rafting on the Kiulu River is followed by a more relaxing afternoon. Enjoy a BBQ lunch then hop on a bike and cycle to the campsite in the Kiulu valley.
Exploring the Forest: After breakfast it's time to start trekking into a very remote area of Sabah. It may be a little humid as you journey deep into the jungle, before finally reaching Kampung Sinasang village. Set up camp here and enjoy dinner with the village locals. The trek continues on day 4 as you travel to the next village. There are stunning views along the way and lots of friendly locals who are keen to say 'hello'.
Mount Kinabalu: Trek until you reach Nabalu, where you'll be met by a bus transfer to take you to Kundasang and your hotel, which has amazing views of Mount Kinabalu. The next day, it's a 7km climb up the mountain to reach a mountain hut on the slope of the mountain, where you'll be spending the time.
Rise and Shine: There's an early wake up call, as you leave the hut at 3am to trek to the summit, arriving as the sun rises. You may be tired, but the spectacular views are worth it. Head back down and take a bus to local hot springs, where you can relax your tired limbs.
Animal Excitement: It's time to see some animals! Next stop is Kinabatangan Wildlife Reserve, where you'll see monkeys, and hopefully also orangutans, elephants, gibbons and crocodiles on a sunset river cruise.
Monkeys Galore: Wake up early again to head out on a sunrise river cruise and watch the monkeys as they rise from their slumber. After breakfast, transfer to an Orangutan Sanctuary in Sepilok, where you'll arrive in time for the afternoon feeding session.
High Ropes: Take a trip to the Rainforest Discover Centre, where a canopy walkway gives you a unique few across the forest. Spend the night in a small beach resort, where you can simply relax by the pool.
At Your Leisure: After a packed few days, you're free to decide what you'd like to do for your final day. Choose between visiting a tropical island, an adventure park or a wildlife park. Alternatively, just chill at the hotel or pop to the city to pick up some souvenirs.
Home Time: After an exciting week of trekking, wildlife and the outdoors, it's time to head back to reality. Take a transfer to the airport to catch your flight home.
Rate Conditions
- The price shown is a 'from' price per person
- Click 'Ask a Question' up above to speak to the operator directly about this tour's availability, departure dates and costs
- Most meals
- Accommodation in hotel, lodges and camping
- All transfers in private vehicle
- English Speaking Guide from days 2 – 9
- Mountain guide for Mt Kinabalu
- Tours with services of English speaking guide
- Rafting equipment
- Kayaks
- International flights
- Meals other than mentioned
- Immigration fees
- Personal expenses
- Optional tours/activities
- Tips for porters
- Any other services or activities not mentioned in inclusions - if in doubt, click 'Ask a Question' up above to chat to the operator.


text: Panahi's niece accepts the Golden Bear for Best Film on his behalf [Reuters] I have had occasions to reflect on the fate of what we can now call a postnational cinema, a proposition not so outlandish in the heightened age of transnational globalisation. The idea is based on a conception of national cinemas, or any other national cultural movement, as predicated on national traumas. The leading Iranian film-maker Jafar Panahi's newest film, "Taxi", which just garnered the top prize at the Berlin Film Festival, pushes the idea of any national cinema even farther into the hinterland of European film festivals. It opens new frontiers of wonder as to the future of art and its relevance to the collective fate of a people in whose name these festivals brand their prizes. As the prize was announced in Berlin, high-ranking cinema officials in Tehran denounced the festival for being too political, while Panahi himself retorted that no one was more political than these officials, as BBC Persian pitted the two positions against each other and thus dragged the top film prize even further into its politics. Win for freedom of speech This politicking, of course, does not have to wait for Iranian officials who were not happy with this prize. "In a win for freedom of speech tonight," as Nancy Tartaglione, the international editor for website Deadline, put it, "Iranian director Jafar Panahi was awarded Berlin's Golden Bear for his latest movie, 'Taxi', despite being banned from film-making in his home country and not being allowed to travel abroad." Berlin film fest lends focus to global protest Panahi is indeed one of the most globally celebrated victims of censorship and the wanton tyranny of the state in which he lives. He is also a world-class film-maker. But have these two factors now crisscrossed to generate a third space where the making of national cinemas is no longer plausible? The best evidence I can offer to elaborate this point are two diametrically opposed reviews of Panahi's "Taxi", one in English by Kevin B Lee of the highly influential Indiewire praising this film to the moon, calling it "a unique cinematic masterpiece", and another in Persian by Iranian film critic Mohammad Abdi for Iranwire politely but severely criticising it, dismissing it as "having problems from the get-go". Lee considers it "an essential film of the year, if not the decade", praising it as "thoroughly exciting, entertaining and ingenious work of cinema ... to the company of all-time greats". But Abdi has a drastically different view. "Almost all the actors, including Panahi, act astonishingly badly," he says. He considers the dialogues of the film "sloganeering, designed to give information to foreigners and not integral to the characters persona". A good parody The film, Abdi believes, could have been a good parody, a joke, except it is not. Film critics of course are all entitled to their opinions and do in fact invariably disagree on the quality and significance of a film, though perhaps not quite as drastically. But the issue is not just the difference of opinion between two film critics. The issue is something far more serious. Panahi's 'Taxi', as I see it, benefits from every potent technique with which he is known and praised - particularly his uncanny ability to thrive on that strange combination of fact and fantasy that I long ago termed 'factasy'. While Lee might indeed see something in the film that merits the label "a masterpiece", Abdi makes a very persuasive case that it is fraught with political pamphleteering - and when that happens, for the benefit of the film-maker's German and European audiences to whom a more subtle Persian prose and cinematic poetry would be entirely lost, then, alas, art has categorically collapsed into not just political counter-propaganda but much worse, into anthropology. Panahi's "Taxi", as I see it, benefits from every potent technique for which he is known and praised - particularly his uncanny ability to thrive on that strange combination of fact and fantasy that I long ago termed "factasy". But that particular matrix of film-making has been entirely exhausted and done to perfection by Panahi's own mentor Abbas Kiarostami in, among other films, 2002's "Ten". Panahi fails to push the idea anywhere farther than Kiarostami has already done. Cinematic innovation In the absence of any cinematic innovation like the ones we see in Panahi's real masterpiece "Crimson Gold", the film does indeed collapse into political pamphleteering, especially in that awkward moment when the leading Iranian human rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh begins repeating almost line by line his legitimate political denunciations of the Islamic republic - for listening to which we really need not have bothered one of the national treasures, and masters of world cinema. Something terrible is happening to Iranian cinema when one film-maker favoured by the government, Majid Majidi, is given a multibillion dollar budget to make a biopic trilogy on the life of the Prophet Muhammad, while another is censored and sentenced by the same government and has to struggle against unconscionable limitations when making a film, risking his own cinematic legacy and integrity. Panahi's latest films are watched, praised, prized, or else criticised on a lopsided analytical grid, within an asymmetric and distorted hermeneutic circle, skewed in its cinematic concepts, cockeyed in its aesthetics. People praise him, confused between their political solidarities and their cinematic judgement. Panahi is not the only or the first film-maker to make a film while incarcerated. Yilmaz Guney, too, directed his masterpiece "Yol" from jail - though he gave detailed instructions to his assistant Serif Goren to do the shooting. But as a magnificent Kurdish film-maker of unwaveringly progressive politics he had the advantage of a much simpler technical capacities. Panahi's is a different world and the new technologies of representation that digital camera has enabled come as a mixed blessing, when they make it possible for film-makers like Panahi to make "films" while banned form making films, send it to festivals like Berlin and receive accolades, and from there to circulate it around the world, all rightly to celebrate Panahi's political courage, as it slowly dawns on us that when watching these films we may also be looking at the dying flames of a once glorious national cinema. The decline and perhaps even fall of a "national cinema" does not mean magnificent film-makers will no longer come around in that nation. Jean-Luc Godard once famously said: "Film begins with DW Griffith and ends with Abbas Kiarostami." May Iranian and world cinema continue to end with the kind of films Kiarostami tirelessly makes. Hamid Dabashi is Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University in New York. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy. SOURCE: Al Jazeera ABOUT THE AUTHOR Hamid DabashiHamid Dabashi is the Hagop Kevorkian Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. @ HamidDabashi Politics Europe Middle East Iran Cinema


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Mid-South Healing Rooms
The Mid-south Healing Room partners with the vision of the International Association of Healing Rooms (IAHR) in our region is to establish healing back into the body of Christ according to Mark 16: 17-18 (And these signs shall follow them that believe: in my name they shall… lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.) With the uniformity and accountability of the IAHR model, our healing team is here to facilitate the vision by praying for the sick and ministering the healing word. Our focus is the presence of Holy Spirit working through us to heal the sick.
Mid-South Healing Rooms at the CityGate
Every Monday evening from 7:00pm – 8:30pm
*Use covered entrance on the south side of the building.
Contact Ira and Francine by calling them at 901-378-6351


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Regular price
$ 44.00
Women's Chef Coat with square mandarin collar, hidden snap buttons, pen pocket on left sleeve, side slits. Fabric 65% polyester 35% cotton. Available with long or short sleeves from T0 to T6. (see conversion chart)
Can be customized with the concept: 1 stripe along front yoke. Available in 24 colors. Custom apparel ships within 1-2 weeks.
Men's Model: Firenze
* Please allow extra time for embroidery items. (This includes, logos, text, collar flags etc ...)
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Bell, Shanker Are Named To Board for 'Channel One'
Whittle Communications, sharply criticized by educators over its commercially sponsored "Channel One" news show for schools, last week announced an advisory board for the program that includes Terrel H. Bell, former U.S. secretary of education, and Albert Shanker, president of the American Federation of Teachers.
Mr. Shanker, who has been a vocal critic of "Channel One's" advertising and content, has indicated that he will not act as a "promoter or endorser" of the daily program.
"I continue to have strong reservations," he said in a letter to Christopher Whittle, chairman of Whittle Communications. "But I am nonetheless accepting this position because it is important to expand the use of technology in the schools."
Mr. Bell, who served as President Reagan's first education secretary, will be paid a fee to serve as chairman of the 12-member "council of advisers," although the amount was not disclosed.
In an interview, the former secretary said that, while he, too, has some reservations about "Channel One" and its advertising, he believes there is a need for a "telecommunications network for American education."
"We have been very slow and not very aggressive or imaginative to use the technological marvels that have emerged over the past few years," Mr. Bell said.
As for the commercials, "I'm hoping they will have an educational message of motivation for students," he said, as did some of the ads that ran during Whittle's seven-week test of the program last spring at six junior and senior high schools.
Although many education groups have objected to the advertising, Whittle is signing up schools nationwide and hopes to have 1,000 in place for the program's March 5 launch. In exchange for showing the program, complete with commercials, the schools receive a satellite dish, video recorders, and television sets for virtually every classroom.
Mr. Whittle's appointment of an advisory board filled with top educators and business leaders is an attempt to quell criticism, some observers said.
"It is difficult to serve on a board like that and not have it seen as an endorsement," said Scott D. Thomson, executive director of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, which has opposed "Channel One" because of the inclusion of commercials. "I think their names will be prominently used in advertising pitches."
Other members of the advisory panel include Lamar Alexander, president of the University of Tennessee and former governor of that state; Alex Haley, author of Roots; James Harvey, author of the federal report on education entitled "A Nation at Risk"; Matina Horner, retiring president of Radcliffe College; and Janelle Leonard, director of technology training for the District of Columbia public schools.
Also serving are J. Richard Munro, president of Time Warner Inc., which owns 50 percent of the Knoxville, Tenn.-based Whittle; H. Ross Perot, the billionaire Texas industrialist; Kenneth Rossano, chairman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's subcommittee on education; Joseph Scherer, executive director of the National School Public Relations Association; and Frederick W. Smith, chairman of Federal Express.
Meanwhile, a commercial-free competitor to "Channel One" began airing last month over Ted Turner's Cable News Network.
"CNN Newsroom," a 15-minute news show for students, is transmitted over CNN at 3:45 A.M. Eastern time, to be recorded by school officials and played later to students.
While "CNN Newsroom" contains no commercials, schools must rely on their own video equipment to record and play the program. CNN is providing a daily curriculum guide for teachers, which is being distributed electronically by X-Press and the GTE Education Network. Mr. Turner has encouraged cable operators to provide free hookups for schools and to donate video recorders and television sets where possible.
"CNN Newsroom" is similar in style and substance to "Channel One.'' Both programs feature young news anchors and fast-paced news reports geared toward a teenage audience. The CNN program draws on the network's worldwide news resources. CNN said it expects about 1,000 schools to use the program this fall.
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M2M Marketplace
$200 Discount on the Well Researched Doc.
The Well Creative Consulting offers Chamber Members a $200 discount on the Well Researched doc. It is a new consumer research offshoot that identifies trends specifically within the Canadian marketplace through analyzing big data. Learn more here http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/the-well-creative-consultants-expands-national-footprint-with-new-consumer-research-arm-and-first-big-data-omnibus-research-report-585741451.html
Halifax Chamber of Commerce


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Well it's all very exciting...
The path has survived the weird winter weather, and visits from Gertrude and Henry the 8th left only a few trees toppled in their wake. Now the River Braan has subsided to normal levels the path has resurfaced and the riverbank installations remain intact.
Work on a new section of path has been carried out and a handy wee measuring wheel has informed us that it is now 3.57 kilometres in its entirety. With teams from SSC, Black Horse Finance Group and The Princes Trust all set to join forces with our resident team of international volunteers, we are sure to see further improvements and developments to the path over the coming months.
photography & book
Photographer Dave Hunt has spent time onsite, capturing the path in his lens. Dave's photos appear on this site, and will be included in the poetry path book we hope to have published over the coming months. Profits from the book will go back into the ongoing development of the path.
new installations
Renowned sculptor Géza Sallai and 6 sculpture students from Budapest will spend four weeks living and working onsite this August. They will focus on creating new interpretations of poems, possibly including those by Chris Powici, Kathleen Jamie, Elizabeth Rimmer, Brian Johnstone and Richard Livermore.
brown signs
While we are very fond of our quirky poetry path signage, we suspect the local authorities would frown if they appeared along the verges of the A9. To keep them happy we have gone down the official route with its complex array of hoops and hurdles. As a result we have been granted permission for brown Scottish Tourism signs that will direct visitors from the A9 to the poetry path carpark. Surveys are now under way to obtain exact costings for this.


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New Show: The COATHANGERS
Lost count on how many times I've brought The Coathangers through. These energetic ladies of Atlanta have truly polished their sound over the years and it's amazing how seasoned they've become. The Coathangers' newest album, Larceny and Old Lace (suicide squeeze) comes out June 7th.
video for Hurricane:
Friday, July 15th, 2011
The COATHANGERS
@ Bryan St. Tavern
Dallas, TX
$7 for 21+
$10 for under
on sale later this week.
This entry was posted on May 9, 2011 at 6:08 pm, filed under News.
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Ampeg BA-210v2 2 x 10'' 150W RMS, Single 15'' Ported, Combo with Scrambler
Ampeg's BA-210 2x10″ Bass Combo delivers classic Ampeg tone and performance-driven features in a powerful 450W design perfect for keeping up with a full band. The ruggedly portable design provides a true 60-degree sound reinforcement monitor angle for added clarity on stage. The BA-210 features Bass Scrambler™ overdrive plus flexible tone-shaping and stage-ready features in a powerful 2x10″ combo.
Classic Ampeg tone
- 450 watts RMS power
- 2x10″ Ampeg Custom10™ speakers
- 1″ HF tweeter
- Ampeg Ultra Hi/Lo tone shaping
- Legacy Ampeg preamp with 3-band EQ
- Bass Scrambler™ overdrive delivers SVT grind (footswitch optional)
- True 60° sound reinforcement monitor angle
- Dedicated XLR balanced line out
- Independent effects send and return
- HF mute defeats horn for a rounder, more vintage tone
- Extension speaker output for powering additional cabs
- -15dB input pad for active basses or additional level control
- Aux input for playing along with smartphone or iPod
- Headphone out for silent solo practice
- Road-worthy 15mm poplar ply construction
- Protective all-steel amp chassis
- Impact-resistant black metal corners
- Durable double-thick Ampeg Classic black Tolex®
- Lightweight, portable design
- 48.0 lbs / 21.8 kg
Why buy from Melody Music Shop, LLC?
Located in Bloomington, Indiana, Melody Music Shop strives to maintain a diverse, high quality inventory along with exceptional customer service. We carry a wide range of instruments and accessories, including new and used guitars, band and orchestral instruments, pianos, amps, sound systems, and so much more!
With certified technicians on staff and a century + of experience between them all, you can rest assured any instrument you purchase from Melody Music Shop LLC is in the best condition possible! Our ENTIRE STORE is maintained at 50% humidity year round per manufacturer's stringent requirements. All items will be packaged carefully to ensure their safe arrival. Guitars will have their string tension lowered and packaged to manufacture specs or better. Melody Music Shop LLC guarantees quality products, fast shipping, and top-notch customer service!
Please contact us if you have any questions!
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Items purchased from our store will ship out within 1 business day of receiving payment. FedEX Ground or Home Delivery, fully insured, will be used for shipping instruments and large items. Items over $200 will require a signature. Accessories and other small items will be shipped via USPS Priority Mail.
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These are the learning outcomes for the Character and Environment design module.
1. Demonstrate a comprehensive and critical understanding of the issues relevant to character design in various contexts.
2. Demonstrate a comprehensive and critical understanding of techniques and methods appropriate to the chosen area of design.
3. Act autonomously in the research and synthesis of visual materials to support and inform the creation of original concepts.
4. Critically evaluate and defend your own work in the context of contemporary practice.
5. Explore, critically evaluate and implement the appropriate skills relevant to the creation of character design.
6. Operate ethically demonstrating critical understanding of the issues governing good practice.
7. Demonstrate an independent and reflective approach to personal and professional development.


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The Huawei Mate 9 was released in late 2016. This review is smidge late but, it's the Huawei Mate 9. It is a true successor to it's predecessor the Mate 8 and the former competition of the fallen Note 7. The Mate 9 gives you familiarity and beauty all in the same package. How about we start with the most important feature…That stunning 5.9 IPS NEO LCD screen. While most would agree that 1080P is kind of weak for screen of this size; however while Quad HD or even the new 2:1 screen would make this screen mesmerizing. The 1080p is a marvelous addition! It is a strategy that while most question Huawei's decision with this resolution, you should know it will reward you after owning it. It has stunning viewing angles and excellent sun visibility. I personally was not expecting that from a LCD panel, watching movies and reading articles would be a delight. The 1080p resolution helps in a particular area that's a major priority as well, that Battery. Yes, that 4000mah monster battery along with the 1080p screen is like fried chicken and Cajun French fries…. Perfect…. They really compliment the phones endurance. Lasting for 6+hrs of SOT with heavier usage and nearly 2 days of battery life, that's rare among flagships these days. So with that, we cant exclude the awesome Hisilicon Kirin 960 processor. It is also is a close competitor of SD 820/821. It works like a well oiled machine. It makes you wonder if without the heftiest of emui 5.0 (which I will get into a few), how fast this processor could really go. I have thrown one game, one power intensive app after next and this thing refuses to slowdown. Moving on, I could go on about the processor for days! So on to MLA, Machine Learning Algorithm, which assists the phone in staying as fast as possible. It also learns how you use your phone to serve you later. This is important as with time most devices can and have lost speed. MLA prevents this by adding 20% smoothness, 20% graphics boost and 50% improvement in the system over time. Despite I'm discussing this rather late in the review, let's discuss the body of the phone. If you've used a Huawei Mate 8, you'll recognize much of the design language used on the Mate 9. Huawei didn't create much of an external update for the new phone, but it's still a well-built handset. There's a full metal unibody design. This feels premium in the hand; yet very familiar to the Mate 8 . However, there are very slightly curved edges on the front and back of the phone. It helps it to sit in the hand better than the Mate 8 did. It measures 157mm x 79mm x 7.9mm, making it a very similar size to the iPhone 7 Plus . While that is weird that the iPhone screen is smaller, Mate 9 is way more screen. In fact, it looks like it shrinks the screen of the iPhone. Moving on to EMUI 5.0… Nougat 7.0 is practically rewritten and hidden. Seriously, Emotion UI 5 is based on Android 7 Nougat software and is a Lighter skin than the previous. They've added an app drawer after popular demand for it in previous versions. There are lots Huawei-based apps, but they're quite useful. Apart from the international and Chinese version, everything is similar except the USA version gets the Amazon Alexa App. That is awesome until you get to fact that it's unfortunately not embedded in EMUI at all. It's less like a google assistant and more like when Cortana was brought from Windowsphone to Android, kind of just there really. However, it is useful when activated and shows off possibilities of what it can do in the future. Well to sum up the experience of the UI, it's not stock, Android and it's really not going to be at this point. What it is however, is something different and will in someways require adjusting. Now drum roll please…. On to the camera. One thing that didn't come from it's predecessor is the lackluster camera. This camera Is no iPhone camera, but you are getting a camera with Awesome dynamic range, good OIS for recording video among a few other bells and whistles. The dual-lens Leica-branded camera from the Huawei P9 which has a 20MP monochrome sensor, and a 12MP color one. So Great news and ehh news the wide aperture mode is impressive, but will only work for some shots (mostly dayshots on some ways assists camera).
Most photos taken look and show awesome details. Like I said earlier, you really see the cameras shine in daylight. Low-light is good, but I have seen better (cough OnePlus 3). It's tossed together with plenty of loveable modes Bokeh, HDR, 360 Mode etc. However, like I said it's a vast improvement from the previous models and maybe with a update or two the camera could be awesome. This is my opinion of the camera and with this department it's all about perspective and what pleases your eyes. You see from some of the samples what I mean. So to conclude this lengthy and somewhat late review, Huawei truly created a monster of a phone. There are some small things here and there but nothing to deter you from purchasing. Like I said at the beginning, this phone was brought out at a time where we were shaken by the downfall of the Note 7. While it doesn't come with an S-pen, the same build quality or even details (I.e. the camera, screen resolution or user experience aka Samsung UX ), this phone will heal your heart where the Note 7 sort of broke it . With that in mind, you have to understand that Huawei phones come with great prices and unique looks; There not for everyone. I repeat the experience in software and certain features may steer you away. However, I tried out my first Huawei device which was the Mate 7, it was love from there but that's not gonna be how you feel. So my suggestion is to try it out , you can't go wrong this phone .
https://youtu.be/vnm0m6K1Ozw 4k video samples
https://youtu.be/SVVH3B1OAXI rear 1080p camera samples
https://youtu.be/ngbtFzzLfiI more camera samples
https://youtu.be/SVVH3B1OAXI rear 1080p camera samples
https://youtu.be/ngbtFzzLfiI more camera samples
Post in the comments below what you think of it. Pros? Cons? Middle Ground?


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Well if it is teatime and you are reading this post you might want to stop and come back later because I am going to be talking vomit.
I was always sick in the car as a child. My parents joked that there wasn't a lay by I had left a carrier bag of sick in south of Watford Gap. This confused me as a child because we lived in Garston which is right next to Watford and I had no clue where the gap in Watford was... it was only many years later that I realised Watford Gap was an entirely different place to Watford (around 67 miles North to be exact), just don't tell anyone okay!
For all of those who are either not from the UK or like me and useless at knowing where things are A is Watford and B is Watford Gap. And look Milton Keynes is on there, which is where I live now!
So when Top Ender was born (Top Enders Birthday is just after Christmas) I was hoping that the be-sick-in-a-lay-by gene skipped her. Her first long journey in a car was great (we went from point A to the East Coast, see where it says Cromer? Move down a tiny bit and you have where my Nan lives) and we even managed to get to Bognor Regis (South coast) without incident!
In fact my story doesn't start until a few years later. After we had discovered that Top Ender does have the gene that causes emesis just by looking at a car that has been on a long journey...
Technically it was after Christmas but don't spoil it by letting on right?
For Top Enders Second Birthday we went to Disney Land Paris. All three of us were so excited and we traveled by car to Ashford (Kent!) in daylight (helps stop people being car sick don't ya know) and stayed in a hotel before driving the short distance to the Euro tunnel the next morning. Top Ender was delighted to be on a train and spent most of the two hour journey awake.
She did manage to fall asleep about a 15 minutes before we got to Disney Land Paris and was really grumpy when she woke up until she realised where she was.
Anyway cutting the long rambling story short we had a great holiday with highlights including The Genie getting a bit hands on with me on Main Street (and Robin Hood did the same in a Restaurant), Daddy being abused by Pluto and me knowing that Its a Small World was going to be important one day...
So on the last day we knew to be careful with what we ate because we didn't want to be sick on the train on the way home. All day we were great, we made sure not to eat sweets and not to drink too much and we were ready as the train pulled in to get on and to be on our way home.
And Everything was fine.
Top Ender was having a bottle of milk. She still liked to have a bottle when she went to bed and we were trying to keep the routine as much the same as possible. Top Ender cuddled up to me and had some milk whilst Daddy and I carried on talking about things that have since been forgotten (by me at least).
There were other children in the carriage, but Top Ender was the youngest. This fact isn't important until later, so remember it.
A few minutes passed between Top Ender drinking her milk and what was the most disgusting shower I have ever had. Top Ender turned to me and threw up all over me. I was covered in what ever food her stomach had partly digested and regurgitated milk.
The sound in the carriage was so quiet it was deafening. We cleaned up Top Ender, and me and the seat, and the table and a bit of the window (as a couple of parents looked on fondly remembering when they too had to deal with chunder covered everything and commented after I apologised that it was okay, they remembered the times they had dealt with similar situations) and as our bags were with us we were able to partly change clothes so we didn't smell of sick and look like a pot of cottage cheese.
Remember I mentioned that Top Ender was the youngest in the carriage? This is where is gets important.
For the rest of the journey we sat in some spare seats in the carriage where the older children couldn't see us. It was as the smell permeated the small space that they all started to complain to their parents about it and about Top Ender having caused them this issue.
"Next time we will go by Plane" said Daddy.
Which we did.


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General Advice
Sometimes, finding the answers you need can all be achieved with a friendly chat.
At Just Move we are here to help with any questions or queries you may have about the Property Market.
We are all experts in our fields, backed by many years of experience, so there is rarely a scenario we haven't come across. We pride ourselves in being knowledgeable and approachable, so if there is anything you need, please call us, email us, or come and visit us for a friendly discussion.
Residential Sales
Selling residential property is the core of our business; subsequently we are extremely talented at it. Using a combination of cutting edge marketing, expert local knowledge, unrivalled marketing materials and exceptional online presence, we are able to achieve the best possible price for each and every property we sell. Take advantage of full colour press advertising and listings on all the major property portals including Rightmove and Zoopla, as well as full colour floor plans and high quality A3 brochures. Accompanied viewings are available to all of our clients. And our professionally trained staff are extremely flexible to meet the busy schedules of you and your potential purchasers. If you would like to see just how different our service is, contact us today.
Residential Lettings
At Just Move we have experienced and dedicated staff solely focused and committed to the lettings market. Our specialist team provides you with a personal contact with their sole purpose being to market and let your property.
Our goal driven professionals understand that letting your property is not a 9 till 5 job. Our energy and commitment is paramount in ensuring your property is let to the right tenant in the quickest time.
Take advantage of the same cutting edge marketing as our sales team, including listings on all the major property portals; Rightmove and Zoopla as well as full colour press advertising. Erdington's rental market continues to be vibrant, and the changing trends of clients' demands necessitates that specialist companies like Just Move provide clients with services that stay abreast of the competition.
It is thought by many that property auctions are only for bargain hunters and investors, in actual fact this couldn't be further from the truth.
Sale by auction can enable the best possible price for a property to be realised within a defined timescale, and if handled correctly it can be the most effective method of sale. By bringing together all the prospective purchasers, auction sale ensures that the property being sold achieves the best price possible whilst reducing the risk of a sale falling through in challenging market conditions. Some estate agents never promote selling by auction and may even put you off the idea. Generally it's because they can't or won't offer auction sale facilities. But at Just Move we are proud to say that we can!
It's often thought that buying or selling property by auction is complicated and risky and should only be attempted by experienced property investors, developers or builders. However, auctions are a popular way for many people to move home, find a DIY project or a buy-to let investment.
The Auction Process Made Simple –
You will need to register your property at least six weeks beforehand to have it included and allow us time to market it. Once the marketing of your property begins, we may receive offers on it before the auction. These will be forwarded to you straightaway. Sometimes these are unrealistic and we will advise you accordingly if the offer is significant. If your property is sold before auction, it will be withdrawn once contracts are exchanged.
Prior to the auction date we will discuss about setting a reserve price, which is the minimum price you want your property to be sold for. This figure is confidential and will not be disclosed to anyone.
So if your property hasn't sold on the open market - for whatever reason - then the auction route may well be the answer you are looking for. They are ideal for residential, commercial and land; probate or executor sales; properties in need of modernisation or repair and properties likely to attract competition from buyers.
Once you've decided to sell we can provide you with a full auction appraisal to find out what price you can expect to achieve, the likely timescales and costs involved.
At Just Move we are proud to say we can introduce you to an adviser from the Nottingham Mortgage Desk Ltd who can offer in house advice on a comprehensive range of mortgages from across the market. This is something that not all Estate Agents offer, but we feel it goes even further to show how customer focussed we are. The Mortgage Market can be a real minefield, so having your very own mortgage expert here at Just Move means you can relax and have peace of mind knowing that they will look for the most suitable mortgage deal for your circumstances.
We will charge a broker fee of between £195 and £595, payable on application. The amount we will charge is dependent on the amount of research and administration that is required.
Nottingham Mortgage Desk Limited is an appointed representative of First Complete Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.'
Help To Buy
Help To Buy is a government scheme which could make getting on to, or moving up, the housing ladder more accessible. It helps existing home owners and first time buyers purchase a home with as little as 5% deposit. To find out more, contact us today!
The intricacies of purchasing and selling property should always be looked after by a qualified property lawyer, ensuring that every aspect of your transaction has your best interests protected. Our conveyancing experts can make sure that all of the legalities of your property transaction are covered, helping your sale or purchase move forward as efficiently as possible.
Whether you are buying or selling, our efficient conveyancing solutions will make sure that your transaction goes smoothly, whatever your circumstance. Our lawyers will provide you with regular updates, enabling you to concentrate on the other important aspects of moving home.
We are proud to say, that just like all of our other services, Just Move can provide your conveyancing at an EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE price, whilst still upholding all the values that are important to us and you; excellent customer service and complete peace of mind.