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My Ultimate Workstation

Tue, 18 Aug 2015 00:28:34 +0100

I’ve always dreamed that one day I would have the chance to build myself the ultimate workstation, you know, those kinds you get to see in Sci-Fi movies but never in real life. I guess it’s because only geeks or ‘Hackers’ working for the government are allowed to do have them because they cost so much to get already equipped but I believe one day at a time we can all get the chance to own our very own or build it from scrap; so I did some digging online and I found all the components needed to start such a venture. For those of you who aren’t technical I’m sorry but for those of you who will know what I’m talking about, here is my ultimate workstation list. Most of these components will have to be bought abroad and shipped to your location, especially if you’re in Africa. It’ll surely take a while to find and put it all together but I guarantee you, once it’s done, you’ll have a workstation with a processing power like no other. Work, gaming and data storage will never be the same again!

Would you spend $11,000 on this phone???

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 16:29:29 +0100

Send in your comments. I really don't know if i would even if i had the cash.

• PROS

24/7 personal concierge. Impressive, premium design. Durable sapphire display. High-end specs. Loud front-facing speakers.

• CONS

Obscenely expensive. Thick and heavy. Sluggish camera.

• BOTTOM LINE

Have almost $11,000 to spend on a phone? The Vertu Signature Touch is arguably the best Android smartphone money can buy, thanks to its luxurious design and incredible perks.

Talk About Bending The Rules:

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 16:26:44 +0100

Arubixs has designed a flexible screen phablet dubbed "Portal" which slides into a dual-strap arm cradle that extends about halfway up the forearm from the wrist. It seems equal parts brilliant and ridiculous.

"Current wearable offerings and even the new Apple Watch are just too small to text on or do anything really practical," Arubixs founder Brandon Mairs told me via email. "This (Portal) is not just a wearable. It's a smartphone you can wear. So when the phone is not in the cradle its just a thin 6-inch smartphone that's flexible, water resistant, and shatterproof."

Arubixs claims its 6-inch TFT display is also scratch-resistant and reinforced by a flexible Kevlar exterior. It has 2GB RAM, a total of four cameras, 64GB of storage, a full suite of sensors, NFC, Bluetooth, LTE, wireless charging and a proprietary 3,200mAh flexible battery. The processor is yet to be determined. Portal will run a skinned version of Android and respond to touch, gesture and motion-based commands.

CVheck out the link to watch the 'Portal' being put through it's paces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFQl-PiTJSg

Got a Passport?

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 16:23:26 +0100

BlackBerry never intended for the Passport to be a phone that everyone would want to buy, but it’s clearly got a lot of people excited. It’s already sold out at two online stores and has taken the number one spot in Amazon’s unlocked phones listing. According to BlackBerry CEO John Chen, more than 200,000 Passports have been ordered since the device launched on Wednesday. That figure isn’t in the same ballpark as the iPhone 6, but it’s undeniably impressive for a device from a company that appeared to be crashing and burning. And it’s already sold better than the Amazon Fire phone.

What is it that’s convincing people to buy the Passport? Is it the fact that BlackBerry sweet talked Amazon into letting them ship the phones with their App Store pre-installed? Is it the massive battery and crazy endurance it provides? The QWERTY keyboard? Maybe it really is that weird square screen. Reviewers have been saying how good desktop websites look on it and how awesome the extra space is for productivity apps. BlackBerry was aiming the Passport at hard-working business types, and so far it looks like they hit the mark.

5 Things You Need To Know About Windows 10:

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 16:20:33 +0100

1. Windows 10? What happened to Windows 9?

Microsoft wants us to think of the latest version as a fundamental change to how Windows works, and the company is skipping a version number to show it.

2. I've got a desktop, and a tablet. How will that work?

Windows 10 isn't just about PCs. The operating system will run on everything from desktops all the way down to smartphones, and the user interface will adjust accordingly.

3. What about apps?

Apps will be coming along for the ride too, though Microsoft hasn't explained how that's going to work. We do know that you'll be able to buy one app from the Windows Store and expect it to run on all your devices. Developers will presumably need to make universal apps that will adjust their look and feel, depending on your devices size and capabilities.

4. Those full-screen "Modern" apps were a pain. Are they still around?

Those touch-friendly, full-screen apps that debuted with Windows 8 were alternately known as the "Metro" or "Modern" design. For Windows 10, full-screen apps will be optional. Let's say you're using a convertible 2-in-1 device, like the Surface Pro 3, for example. When the keyboard is docked, you'll see the standard desktop with Windows 10's "new" old-school Start menu. Once you take the device off of the keyboard base, the OS will allow you to switch to the finger-friendly full screen mode Windows 8 users are likely familiar with.

5. And the Start menu?

If you hated Windows 8's full-screen Start screen, you're in luck: the new Start menu harkens back to the good old days, sitting on the left side of the screen and presenting that familiar pop-up column of shortcuts. And if you liked Windows 8's approach, there's something here for you too: the new menu will incorporate Live Tiles and can be customized.

The Nexus 6:

Wed, 22 Oct 2014 16:21:00 +0100

The Nexus 6 is Google’s most complete retail offering to date, and with that comes an heightened set of expectations for the overall experience. With any luck Google and Motorola have created a device that meets or exceeds those expectations and offers the best smartphone period instead of offering the best phone you can get “for the money.”

How did business get done in Africa before computers and the internet?

Wed, 24 Jul 2013 10:26:34 +0100

How did business get done back in the day? Easy - it got done face – to - face. There are days in the business world that can be frustrating. Perhaps a technology solution isn't working out quite like you had planned or you lost a big client because of a foul up in communications. You think about all the moving parts and try to devise new ways to become more effective and efficient. Maybe the answer is getting all your employees smart phones so they can communicate on the go, one of infinite outcomes and possibilities. Indeed, business has been going on forever, or at least before technological advances made business more and more impersonal. So categorically, the answer is must be face to face.

For many, face-to-face might mean a video conference. After all, you can see their face, right? However, no matter how good technology gets there is no way to replicate actually being there. For one, you know the other person travelled just to see you. That makes you feel special, as if you are important enough to warrant a personal visit. You can also see all the body language of the other person. Since so much of communication is non-verbal, this is important. Another plus of face-to-face meetings is you actually have a bit of a relationship with a team member, rather than being a common line item on Microsoft project management software. We're all people, and that's what workers knew in the old days. No matter how technologically advanced we get we're all still just people.

Those face-to-face meetings, as well as countless phone calls and (gasp!) hand-written or typed letters were a great way to forge a relationship with a client. There was no such thing as the internet and no need to learn computer languages or take Microsoft training. There were people, and you had to get to know those people in order to get business done. Sure, you had to know your stuff, but that personal touch sometimes had more to do with getting the sale than what you knew. Part of that spirit is missing from today's business world, and it might be a good idea to get it back. After all, when your sever crashes and your internet connection dies, there's only one thing left: the people that you surround yourself with.

Review: Three Great Backup Batteries

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:59:48 +0100

As many Nigerians know, we have an electrical supply problem in the country; a low-battery warning on your smartphone can be panic inducing when you're in a power outage or simply away from an outlet. Rechargeable battery packs can help by adding hours of juice. Here are three options to consider.

Solio Classic2 Battery Pack + Solar Charger
Powered by the sun

This 10.1-ounce solar battery can power any USB device. To power it up, spread out the panels and angle them toward the sun on a flat surface, preferably outdoors. During our test, it took about 10 hours to charge the Solio on a sunny patio in Southern California. The smartphone-size device fully charged an iPhone 4S in 1.5 hours and charged an iPad 4's battery from 20 percent to 40 percent in about 90 minutes. You can also charge the battery, which lasts for about 500 cycles, in roughly six hours using an included USB cable.

HyperJuice 2 External Battery
Powered by lithium-ion cells

This 1.5-pound external battery can simultaneously power a MacBook and any two USB devices, including tablets. The device, which measures 8 inches by 4.8 inches, contains military-grade lithium-ion cells that last for about 1,000 recharges. During our test, it added 15 hours of battery life to a MacBook and extended the iPad's battery for more than 24 hours. It took about four hours to juice up the battery, which can then fully recharge an iPhone up to 19 times. One caveat: To charge a MacBook, you must use Apple's MagSafe Airline Adapter.

Eton BoostTurbine2000
Powered by hand crank

The 7-ounce Boost, which is roughly the size of a smartphone, has a turbine and retractable crank that you can turn to generate power. During our test, it took one minute of cranking, at roughly one turn a second, to create enough juice for 30 seconds of talk time on an iPhone 4S--enough for an emergency call. It would take about three hours of cranking to fully charge a phone. But you can also charge the Boost with an included USB cable and use it as a regular battery that fully powers most smartphones in about two and a half hours (sorry, no tablets). The device lasts for about 300 recharges.

Simple Tips for Better Networking

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:45:25 +0100

Have a big event coming up? Don't forget these four basic principles of networking.

The right connections can be the difference between boom and bust.

Entrepreneur Irede Ajala offers some tips for expanding your network--and your company's potential.

1. Expand your comfort zone. At work, meet people in other departments and ask about their jobs. Introduce yourself to strangers at industry events, workshops, and luncheons.

2. Remember--every relationship matters. That includes customers, employees, and the people who are trying to sell to you. You never know who will become a key decision maker at another company.

3. Develop a thick skin. Not everyone you contact is going to respond. Don't take that personally. Let rejection remind you to be more responsive to the people who reach out to you.

4. Be persistent. If you don't follow up after your first contact attempt goes unanswered, you're not being persistent enough. Never assume that one message is enough.

Essential Online Tools You Should Be Using

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 10:38:42 +0100

Check out a slew of apps to streamline a range of functions, including project management, customer service, social media, and email.

Is your workflow stuck in the past? Check out the following tools to make your business more efficient:

1. Manage and collaborate more easily: Blossom

Blossom lets you drag to-do items from one list to another in an intuitive way, using an interface that feels like rearranging Post-it notes on a whiteboard.

Blossom is an easy way to track the progress of personal projects, bigger projects, and really anything that comes to mind.

2. Streamline social media: Buffer

Trying to remember what you want to post--or, worse, flooding your social-media stream with updates--can be the bane of your (and your followers') social-media existence. Buffer lets you add links, photos, videos, etc. to a queue and automatically schedule them for publishing on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can publish time-critical updates right on time and space out less time-sensitive updates.

Plus, you can use Buffer's analytics to make smarter scheduling decisions. There are iPhone and Android apps as well as a great browser extension.

3. Take awesome notes: Evernote

Unless you're this guy, you probably need a note-taking app. Evernote is arguably the best, with apps for almost every platform and the ability to sync seamlessly across almost all devices.

And it has great search functionality to let you find what you've written.

4. Replace forms and tickets: Help Scout

It may be easier for you, but your customers don't like opening tickets or filling out forms to get the help they need. Help Scout lets customers send emails that you receive as easy-to-handle tickets in a separate, shared inbox. Responding is still easy for you, and you can organize and analyze queries, complaints, etc.

5. Test and improve calls to action: Hello Bar

Hello Bar is a well-designed tool that lets you place a bar at the top of your website that directs visitors anywhere you want.

Sounds simple, right? The power of Hello Bar is its built-in analytics and A/B testing tool. Test which messages resonate best with your customers and let Hello Bar do the hard work.

6. Communicate smarter: HipChat

You're working as a small team, so you create a Skype room to chat. But then what? Exactly.

Ditch generic IM platforms and try a business IM app like HipChat. It allows you to create multiple rooms for different focus groups, connect with your most important apps, and a lot more.

7. Track what you've done: IDoneThis

Getting stuff done is great--unless you can't remember what you've done or what your team has done. IDoneThis lets you and your team fill in what they did and then browse that information like a Facebook feed to like, comment, and get ready for what's next.

8. Track people, not page views: KISSmetrics

Instead of just finding out how much traffic you received, find out who did what on your site--and why. KISSmetrics lets you slice and dice data to make better decisions.

And make sure you check out its cohort analysis tools to measure visitor engagement over time.

9. Better live support: Olark

According to this study, consumers are willing to spend an average of 13 percent more with a company they believe provides excellent customer service.

Olark, a small pop-up you place at the bottom of your website that allows you to chat with your customers, could be one way to differentiate the level of service you provide. If you aren't available, you can still use the tool to send you an email.

Don't you want your support to be simple and efficient--and most important, helpful for your customers? Thought so.

10. Email smarter, not harder: TextExpander

You write a lot of emails, and some of what you write is fairly repetitive.

With TextExpander, you can write and store your most important or most common messages. Then just type a keyword to automatically paste that text into any email.

Consider prewriting boilerplate paragraphs, common instructions, and responses to certain types of inquiries. Why write anything important more than once? Craft it, perfect it, and insert it with one word.