Gift Vouchers

At this time of year, it can be hard to think of suitable presents for family or friends. 
If you are really stuck and would like a gift voucher, do let me know.  I can send you an email with it attached for you to print out, and if you give me the details of who to address it to and who it is from, I can personalise it for you.

Decide how many lessons you would like to gift and I will add the information.

Give the gift of learning.

Pay by cheque or BACS.

Online Banking!

Online Banking

If you haven’t already signed up for online banking, then I recommend that you do!  It is so convenient to be able to check your bank statement before the paper one is sent to you, or to save paper by requesting that they no longer send one. 

Other things you can do:

·      Make payments online - Transfer money and pay friends, family and bills instantly.

·      Keep track of your balance.

·      Check for incoming payments. 

·      Manage standing orders and direct debits.

·      See when cheques have been cashed.

·      The main advantage of all the above is that you can do it 24/7.

·      Access your bank from your computer or your smartphone.

There are a few things to consider.  Most people have concerns about fraudsters being able to access their account and steal their money, however banks have many layers of security to make this more difficult.  No-one would bank online if the security wasn’t up to scratch!

There are things that you can do to help yourself stay safe:

·      Never save or store your log in details or password on your computer.  Even though it makes logging in quicker and easier.

·      Log off at the end of each session and not leave your computer or mobile phone unattended when you’re logged on to Internet or mobile banking.

·      Keep all your log in details and passwords safe in a place so that you will be able to find them again. 

·      Use complicated passwords that are hard to guess.  A mixture of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols are a good idea.

·      Keep your computer security software (e.g. antivirus and firewall) up-to-date and run regular security scans.

·      Be aware of people looking over your shoulder when you’re using mobile banking in public.

·      Never enter your online banking details in full on any websites or mobile applications.

In order to bank online you will need to register for online banking with your bank.  They will often provide you with a log in number and you then have to fill in the form online to set up your online account and provide 2 passwords- one for logging in and another as an extra security.

Some banks send out a little hand held device into which you can insert your bank card.  It works with your card and PIN to generate unique, 1-time 8-digit codes for use in Online Banking.  This is used instead of a password and is super safe.  Barclays use one called PINSentry.

Setting up recipients for payments takes a few minutes.  All you need to know is the account name and account plus the sort code.  The first set up often requires phone authentication - the bank call you and request the code that they display on your screen, which you type into your keypad.  Once a recipient is confirmed and set up, you can make payments in record speed.  The money is transferred in a couple of hours to the recipient’s account or you can specify when you want the payment to take place.

It sounds more complicated than it is!  Don’t be put off.  Online banking allows you to take control of your finances whenever it suits you and you won’t need to queue in the bank again to make a payment or set up a direct debit!   If your concerns are about fraud, the bank will repay you if you are a victim of fraud, so be reassured.  Online banking is probably one of the most useful things you can do on the Internet!

Podcasts. What are they and how to get them.

Podcasts from the BBC

There are some things that the BBC do really well, and podcasts is one of them! 

If like me, you enjoy radio, you will like podcasts.

What is a Podcast?

A podcast lets you automatically receive the latest episode of your chosen programme as soon as it's available.  With the BBC’s current range of audio podcasts, you can download your favourite radio programmes onto your computer and listen anytime.  You could also put them on your Smartphone and take them with you listen wherever and whenever you like.

You can subscribe to receive a podcast, rather like you might subscribe to a magazine and get it delivered each week.  All of the BBC's podcasts are free, and you can stop receiving the files at any time.

The majority of podcasts are available for either 30 days or indefinitely.   Once you have subscribed though, you can download them and keep them forever.  If you missed an episode and didn’t download it you will miss it.

 If you have a favourite radio show, and it’s a popular one, there is doubtless a podcast associated with it.  I am a big fan of Radio 4, and 2 of my favourite programmes are “Desert Island Discs” and Claire Balding’s “Ramblings”.  These are aired each week, and if I don’t hear them on the day, I could catch up using iPlayer but each programme is only available for 7 days, and if I forget to listen on iPlayer, I will miss the programme altogether, so I subscribe to the podcast.  This downloads to my phone and I listen whenever I want to.

The length of time it takes to download will depend on your Internet speed.  Podcasts don’t take up much space, but if you subscribe to lots of them and keep every episode you may use up the available storage space on your computer or phone.

To get a podcast go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts.  Take a look around the page, scroll down and find the big black box, which has a list of stations and genres.  There is a huge choice but if it is Radio 4 that you want, you will need to click it.  You then have a list of the 147 available podcasts that you can subscribe to.  When you have found one that you like, you click it and then click “subscribe for free”.  You then have to choose how you would like it to arrive on your computer.  If you have iTunes, then choose iTunes.  I find this is the easiest way!

Your next task is to open iTunes and click on the menu at the side which says Podcasts.  A list of the ones you have subscribed to will appear here.  Double click folder and a list of all the available items will appear and you can choose which ones to download.  You can listen to them using iTunes.

To get them on your phone, you connect it to the computer and choose what you put on it via iTunes or subscribe using your phone. 

My mother in law has been having trouble sleeping recently and I bought a little iPod Nano- a tiny little MP3 player which has room to put hundreds of episodes of Desert Island Discs (The entire archive is available to download – going back to the 50’s with Roy Plomley).  She also has Claire Balding and many other wonderful Podcasts to enjoy and relax to.  She is 87 and is loving her new technology and amazed it all fits in such a small machine!

Galaxy Gear, Samsung’s first ever Smartwatch!

Samsung Galaxy Gear smartwatch officially unveiled

IFA 2013 Should the iWatch be worried?

By Kate Solomon  September 4th

Hot off the press

Related stories

Samsung's new smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear, has been revealed at IFA 2013- but it will only work with the also-announced Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 edition for now.
The Android-running wrist-warmer allows you to make voice-controlled hands-free calls through your phone, and hopes to get a headstart on the long-rumoured Apple iWatch while also the recently-announced Sony Smartwatch 2 a run for its money.
The 73.8g Gear comes with a 1.63-inch Super AMOLED touchscreen that will display notifications, and there's a 1.9MP camera on the strap which allows you to record video in Full HD.

There are also two microphones for noise cancellation, and a speaker squeezed into the watch strap's clasp. To answer a call, you raise your arm to your face and start chatting. Apparently that's "natural".
As for the battery, it's a 315mAh cell which you recharge using a microUSB charger and charging cradle combination. Samsung reckons you'll get "more than a day" from a single full charge, but we'll just see about that.

The camera uses AR so you can use it to, for instance, translate road signs in foreign languages as well as take photos and shoot video. The watch comes with 4GB of internal storage.
"I believe it will become a new fashion icon around the world," said JK Shin, Samsung's CEO, ambitiously.
As for app support, the Galaxy Gear can brag 70 apps, including Path, Pocket and RunKeeper.


Not sure this will catch on with young people- they don't normally wear a watch!  We will have to see!

Imponderables to muse over!

 Many of you will be taking a well deserved holiday over the next few weeks, so you will have time to relax and think, so here is something for you to think about!


1. If you take an Oriental person and spin him around several times, does he become disoriented?

2. If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes?

3. Do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?

4. If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

5. If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

6. Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

7. When cheese gets its picture taken, what does it say?

8. Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist but a person who drives a racing car not called a racist?

9. Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?

10. Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?

11. Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?

12. 'I am' is reportedly the shortest sentence in the English language.  Could it be that 'I do' is the longest sentence?

13. If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged,
models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

14. What hair colour do they put on the driver's licences of bald men?

15. I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little spoons and forks so I wondered what do Chinese mothers use? Toothpicks?

16. Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the postmen can look for them while they deliver the mail?

17. You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.

18. No one ever says, 'It's only a game' when their team is winning.

19. Ever wonder about those people who spend £2.00 apiece on those little bottles of Evian water? Try spelling Evian backwards: NAIVE

20. Isn't making a smoking section in a restaurant like making a peeing section in a swimming pool?

22. OK ... so if the Jacksonville Jaguars are known as the 'Jags' and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are known as the 'Bucs,' what does that make
the Tennessee Titans?

23. If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhoea, does that mean that one enjoys it?

24. Why if you send something by road it is called a shipment, but when you send it by sea it is called cargo?

25. If a convenience store is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, why are there locks on the door?

Photography

Computer Corner with Mrs PC

August 2013

Photography.

Summer holidays are here at last and it is a great chance to relax with family and friends or go away on holiday.  Many people enjoy taking photos on holiday, using a camera or phone, but a lot of people struggle with actually viewing, storing, printing or sharing them.  However in my opinion, the point of taking them is lost if you never look at them or can’t find them, or don’t know how to email or use them!

My advice is to load up your photos from your camera or phone regularly into a monthly subfolder, and use sub folders each time you load a new selection of photos if you take a lot.  Try not to store 400+ photos on your memory card.  It is heartbreaking to lose them if you lose your camera.  Even losing 20 is bad enough if they are special don’t you think?

Each time I upload photos to my computer, I also do an extra back up of photos online and sometimes I also back them up to an external hard drive.  Then wipe my camera memory (or SD) card clean and start again.  This ensures I never end up with a jumble of photos from several different occasions in one folder, and also ensures that if I lose my camera, I won’t lose all my photos as well.

I find it easier to find my photos if I name each folder and put the date on it.  Then I can use the search tool to find photos quickly.

Once photos are on the computer, it is then easy to email them to friends, post them onto Facebook or share with Dropbox.  You can also use your own photos to make personalized greetings cards or postcards. 

If you like to print your photos, you can take your memory card to a photo booth and print them all or a selection of them or you can upload them online and get them printed by various online printing companies.  Photo books make lovely presents and are fun to make online.  It takes time to organise the photos and get them where you want them, but the effort is very worthwhile. 

Using your photos, you can make T-shirts, mugs, key rings, jigsaws, mousemats, canvass prints (which look amazing) or posters.  Calendars make Christmas presents if you are thinking ahead!

So if you have an image that you are really proud of, use it and enjoy it!

Alternatively, if you have some old photos that are precious and you want to preserve them or share them with others, you could scan them in to your computer. 

If you have taken a less than perfect photo, but it is precious, all is not lost as you can use an editing programme to help you to fix the problems.  Adobe Photoshop is the professional one, but expensive and complicated.  There are lots of free solutions to fixing things like redeye from a flash photo or a power line through a stunning landscape photo.

So don’t let taking a photo be the end of your creativity!  There are so many enjoyable projects that you could be immersed in.  Don’t despair about the photos you already have on your computer which are jumbled and messy.  It doesn’t take long to bring order into chaos, and is a really worthwhile job! 

Just one more thing- Mrs PC suggests that you all check your cameras to make sure the date and time are set correctly on there.  This will make sorting your photos a whole lot easier and help your computer to stay organized.

BT Internet - Hacking and advice

July 2013.  Mrs PC Computer Corner.

Strange Emails from Friends.

This month I have had about 8 emails so far, from friends in my contact list with no message, just a link, which looks similar to this:

http://www.commercialistamacerata.it/components/com_poll/google.php?ncltppfi892rrzj.html

Or this http://planet-travel.ru/wtkhhh/fmviq.php

Rather disappointing when you were expecting to hear some news and more than a little circumspect!

A word on “links”, for the uninitiated… They are a website address- and usually start http://www.  They are usually blue.  They often have a line underneath.

If you click on a link, it will take you to the Internet and open the page that is listed in the link.  You will see links everywhere if you look on webpages.  If you click on one, it will take you to a new page on the Internet- a bit like a portal.  The address of each webpage can be seen in the top of each web page (The address bar) and copied and pasted and shared in an email to show someone else what you have been looking at, without copying the entire page- you just need the address of that page. 

If for instance you happened to be looking at a rather interesting guidebook on a shopping page, or a rucksack you thought would be ideal for your son/daughter’s gap year or your mother’s/father’s next expedition, you could send the web address of the item neatly in one line via email or text, or on Facebook or Twitter for that matter.  There are so many wonderful things online, and it is great to share them once you have found them!  The person who gets the link can then click and easily see what you wanted to share without having to search.

Back to the strange emails…

The subject is often simply “Re”, but has also been “Good Morning” or “Good Evening”.

It looks as if it genuinely comes from a friend who is keen to share something using a link.  However, the friends who emailed this week are not in the habit of emailing me.  They were all distant friends I hadn’t heard from for ages.

None of them would send me a link without telling me a bit more about why they have sent it, so it automatically makes my alarm bells ring.

So what should you do when you get an email like this?  Firstly, never click on the link.  It could take you to a page that you wouldn’t want to see, and potentially install a virus or malware on your computer.  Don’t worry about opening the email- it is safe as long as you don’t click on the link, but don’t reply to the email.  Simply delete it.  If your email address ends btinternet.com, it could be a good opportunity to change your password in case it is easy to crack.  Passwords should contain a mixture of capitals and numbers, and you must try and remember them!  Passwords should be changed from time to time and don’t use the same one for everything.

The next thing you need to do is to tell your friend that their email address has been compromised, so that they know, and can warn others not to click on the link.  They would be best advised to let their email provider know that there has been a problem, and change their password for good measure.

All the emails I had with these links were sent to more than one person, and you could see who else they had been sent to (in other words they were not sent BCC, as would be the correct way to send an email to a group of people.)

The other common theme was that they were all BT Internet addresses.

So next time an old friend gets in touch by email out of the blue, just take a moment to consider if it is genuine.  You will know immediately by what they say, and if it is in the style they generally use.  Look for strange vocabulary or spelling and grammar mistakes.  If they are not in the habit of sending you a link, then be suspicious.  It is better to pick up the phone to your friend and enquire as to whether they sent you an email or not, and check, rather than make a mistake!

Your mistake could be very damaging to your computer and costly both in time and money to repair.

It’s a great reason to chat to an old friend.  Emails are very useful, but nothing can replace the enjoyment of a chat on the phone, or even better, a hand written letter.

Mrs PC’s Tips on Making the most of your Computer.

Mrs PC’s Tips on Making the most of your Computer.

1.     If your computer is old (more than 5 years) consider getting it looked at and spring cleaned.  Alternatively, seek advice about a replacement.

2.     Put your computer somewhere accessible and use regularly.

3.     Get your computer set up with your favourite Internet sites so you don’t have to search for them. Set a decent home page- the BBC is excellent as is Google. Have both!

4.     Make sure that you have an email programme, don’t use webmail.  Be wary of strange emails.

5.     Have good Antivirus that is up to date.

6.     Say yes to Updates.

7.     Back up your files.

8.     If your computer has not got recovery discs, make some!  This will back up your operating system (Windows)

9.     Keep clutter to a minimum- if you never use it- get rid of it!  This applies to all desktop icons.  You won’t remove the programme by doing this.

10. Sort through all your documents and photos and get them all neat and tidy.  Name them if they are nameless.

11. Edit your email contacts, to remove duplicates and old email addresses.

12. Take time for learning more about your computer.  Click and learn or request some lessons!

Once you have mastered all this, you will have time to experiment with:

BBC iPlayer, You Tube, Podcasts, a Blog,

Google, Google Earth,

Digital Photography, Making things using your own photos

Skype, Facebook, Audiobooks,

Get creative with making movies, or painting

Shop online,

Play Games!

Have fun with your computer!

U turn from Microsoft on Windows 8.

In the news today!
We are not surprised- in fact are delighted and relieved.

Microsoft prepares U-turn on Windows 8

By Richard Waters in San Francisco

©AFP

 

Microsoft is preparing to reverse course over key elements of its Windows 8 operating system, marking one of the most prominent admissions of failure for a new mass-market consumer product since Coca-Cola’s New Coke fiasco nearly 30 years ago.
“Key aspects” of how the software is used will be changed when Microsoft releases an updated version of the operating system this year, Tami Reller, head of marketing and finance for the Windows business, said in an interview with the Financial Times. Referring to difficulties many users have had with mastering the software, she added: “The learning curve is definitely real.”
Analysts warned that changing course would be a significant admission of failure for Steve Ballmer, chief executive, who called the October launch of Windows 8 a “bet-the-company” moment as Microsoft sought to respond to the success of Apple’s iPad.
“It’s a horrible thing for this to happen to your flagship product – he’ll take a hit for that,” said Mark Anderson, an independent tech analyst. “But he’s also responsible for a renaissance inside the company. There’s a level of risk and creativity going on that would never have happened two years ago.”
Richard Doherty, analyst at tech research firm Envisioneering, said: “This is like New Coke, going on for seven months – only Coke listened better.” Coca-Cola dropped its New Coke formula in response to a consumer backlash less than three months after launch.
Windows 8 was an ambitious attempt to update the personal computer for the tablet era by moving to a new touchscreen interface based on colourful tiles, hiding the “desktop” launch screen familiar to white collar workers and consumers around the world.

Why the ‘start’ button is not yet ready for history’s recycle bin

Why you would click a button labelled “start” to turn something off has never been entirely clear

The combination PC and tablet software was widely panned by reviewers and has been blamed by some analysts for worsening the slump in sales that has rocked the PC industry. Even before its launch, Tim Cook, chief executive of Apple, said Windows 8 would be like combining a toaster and a fridge – something that, while technically possible, was “probably not going to be pleasing to the user”.
Ms Reller refused to reveal details of the changes Microsoft would make to Windows 8. However, the clamour from reviewers has become overwhelming for a return to a more familiar PC interface. Ms Reller said PC users had faced difficulties adapting to the new software.
Pressure has been building for Windows 8 PCs to launch the familiar desktop view when turned on – and to bring back the “start” button featured in the lower left corner of the screen in previous releases.
Microsoft has also admitted to a range of other slips with the launch of Windows 8, including failing to do enough to train retail staff and educate potential customers about the new software, as well as not focusing all of its financial incentives behind the touchscreen PCs that show off Windows 8 to best advantage. “It’s very clear we could and should have done more,” Ms Reller said.
Despite the slips, she said that Microsoft continued to view the software as suitable for both PCs and tablets and that “customer satisfaction with Windows 8 with touch is strong”.

Tech Digest Review of the new Samsung Galaxy Note Tablet

I am terribly interested in new technology, so when someone is using something I haven't seen before, I can't help myself asking to have a look or be shown it.  This happened today.  The chap I met was only too happy to show off his brand new Samsung Galaxy Note Tablet, and his wife told me that she thought it was better than her iPad because you could multitask and it is very fast.

Here is what Tech Digest have to say about it:


Design
Despite landing with Note branding, the Galaxy Note 10.1 has (initially at least) more in common with Samsung's Galaxy Tab range than the super-sized Android smartphone. 10.1-inches in size, it borrows the same spacious bezel design that featured in the Tab 10.1, finished in a pearly white plastic casing with grey highlights that extend onto the rear. It's a reasonable finish, with a little flex and (thankfully) enough space for front-facing speakers to the left and right edges when held horizontally, though it's a bit of a fiend for picking up grubby marks. A black version is also available, which we haven't seen yet, though would expect wouldn't get grimey quite so quickly.
Measuring just 8.9mm thick and weighing 583g, it's slightly lighter than the iPad, and just as easy to carry around all day without too much hassle or it causing achey arms. The 10.1 inch screen runs at 1280x800; a reasonable resolution, but by no means the sharpest (especially when compared to the Apple Retina Display, which Samsung themselves have a hand in building) and a little low considering the "creative" functionality Samsung are so keen to push, which we'll get to a little later. Regardless, it's colourfully bold, and satisfyingly bright to boot.
You'll find a snappy quad-core processor clocked at 1.4GHz under the hood, backed by 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage in the entry level model. We got our hands on the Wi-Fi only version, but a 3G enabled Note 10.1 is also on the market, while all models support AGPS and Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity. Around the edges of the tablet you'll find a microSD slot for expanding the storage capacity of the tablet by as much as a further 32GB, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a docking connector and power button. A 1.9MP camera sits on the front, and a 5MP snapper capable of 1080p video capture sits on the rear. Annoyingly, the charging and data transfer connection is a proprietary one, meaning you'll always need the exact cable to hand if you're looking to side-load media content, or even refill a little juice on the device.
On the bottom right edge you'll find a slot for the S Pen, Samsung's stylus device that sets the Note 10.1 apart from the Android tablet pack. Get it out and things get interesting.

S Pen, Interface and Apps
Just like the Galaxy Note smartphone, the Note 10.1 set its sights on keen scribblers and note takers thanks to its bundled S Pen stylus. As with the tablet itself, it's bigger than the version that came with the Note smartphone, being both longer and thicker, making it more comfortable to use for extended periods of time, and by extension, more accurate. It also now has a squared finish, meaning it won't roll of your desk and get lost.
Using Wacom technology, the S Pen tip is pointier than other styluses designed for use with capacitive touchscreens. It's also apparently much-improved over last year's model when it comes to the levels of pressure it can recognise; 1,024 compared to 256 for the original. Whether or not you can actually notice it in action is another story, but there's no denying that the S Pen is far more responsive and accurate in use than other tablet pens out there.
When it comes to apps and interface features that use the S Pen to its full potential however, it's a mixed bag. The pre-installed Photoshop Touch is by far the best in this department.Working on the same principle of layers as the desktop version of Photoshop, you can easily open images or existing sketches and edit them using the pen, with shading and colouring easily and accurately achieved using the S Pen. Here the tablet comes into its own; artists who need a simple way of digitising their ideas on the go have a powerful tool when Photoshop Touch and the S Pen come together.

In this regard, it's a shame the screen isn't of a higer resolution than 1280x800; those who may be keen to use the tablet in a professional capacity will find this frustratingly low, especially when compared to the 2048x1536 of Apple iPad Retina Display, or even the full HD 1080p screens of the Acer Iconia Tab A700 or Asus Transformer Infinity. For a flagship device it's a real shame, and altogether crazy when you think that Samsung make a percentage of the Retina Displays themselves anyway.
Samsung's own S Note app has potential too, letting you join together images, videos and notes using handwriting recognition, but a clunky interface makes it far from intuitive. There's also Polaris Office onboard too if you need to get some serious work done.
Frustratingly, many of the features you'd hope to be universal across the tablet don't work exactly as you'd hope they do. For instance, you can't use the S Pen to jot down an email in note form, and it be translated into typed text. There's also no key advantage to navigating the tablet solely with the pen as an alternative to finger input. As a result, aside from Photoshop Touch, there's little opportunity for the S Pen to shine over simply using your fingers with the tablet.
Also, despite Samsung claiming to have developed technology that ignores your palm resting on the screen when using the S Pen, I still noted occasions where blotchy marks would mar my work, underneath where my hand had been placed.

Ice Cream Sandwich, with some Samsung twists
The Galaxy Note 10.1 misses out on getting the latest version of Google's Android OS (4.1 Jelly Bean), instead opting for the still-excellent Ice Cream Sandwich. Jelly Bean should be coming to the Note 10.1 before the year is out, but you'll still get a wonderful experience from Ice Cream Sandwich anyway. You'll get facial recognition unlock options, the full suite of Google's native apps (Gmail, YouTube, Maps etc) and access to the Google Play store, where thousands upon thousands of apps are waiting to be downloaded too.
Samsung's TouchWiz UI is laid over the top of Ice Cream Sandwhich, and will be familiar to any smartphone or tablet owner who has tried any Samsung Android-based Samsung devices over the past few years. For the most part, it's less obnoxious than previous efforts, letting the superb Android UI do its vanilla thing in most places, but there's still a few tweaks here and there.
For starters, you get a handful of Samsung-built apps bundled into "hubs" under the music, video and games headings, and also mini app tray that can have its contents customised, should you be looking for a quick way to launch apps from the homescreen without scrolling through what could eventually become an overflowing app drawer deeper within the menus. Samsung Galaxy S3 owners will also recognise the return of the Pop Up Play feature, allowing you to play and drag around a locally stored video in a small resizeable window, which can be placed over the top of anything else you're doing on the tablet. It's usage is admittedly limited, but it does well to show just how powerful the quad-core processor is. This overlay view extends to a handful of Samsung's utility apps too, though they frustratingly tend to get in the way of key system notifications.
The best new feature here though is the ability to have two windows for apps snap side by side when using the tablet in landscape orientation. You could for instance devote half the screen to the web browser, and another half to the S Note app or Polaris Office, or even the video player, snapping to the sides similarly to how the system works in Windows 7. Right now it's limited to just six apps which is unfortunate as it could be a great feature for multitasking and research note taking with the S Pen. Hopefully more apps will be given this extra functionality soon, but a few other improvements are also needed; the recent apps pop-up menu stretches half screen apps into an ugly widescreen orientation, and there's a notable delay when jumping from one half screen to the other. Get this right, and Samsung have a killer feature on their hands.

Media playback
The spruced up Google Play store makes getting media content onto the Galaxy Note 10.1 a breeze. It's a shame then that Samsung insist on using a proprietary cable for data transfer as well as charging; if you're looking to sideload locally stored content onto the tablet, you're always going to have to have that exact cable handy, not just a regular microUSB cable that's pretty much the prevalent transfer system for mobile devices these days.
Front facing speakers give a far better feeling of stereo sound than with other tablets, who usually resort to sticking them around the back, which, while of course not offering the detail or bottom end of dedicated speakers, means the Galaxy Note 10.1 sounds pretty good when watching a movie or listening to songs.
The screen too, though not the highest resolution we've seen, is bright and colourful, with viewing angles wide enough for a few friends to crowd around and watch if necessary. File type support is wide reaching too, with 720p video (closest to the screen's native resolution) looking really wonderful, playing back without any sign of judder.
One really nifty feature is the ability to use the tablet as an IR remote. With a zapper built into the device, you can use the Note 10.1 to control all the different items in your home cinema set-up. It worked really well with our Panasonic TV and Onkyo receiver, and while we can't vouch for every possible combination, it's a useful, welcome addition if you can get it to work with your gear.
Inside the Note 10.1 is a 7000mAh battery. That's good for roughly 8 hours or what we'd consider average usage with the tablet (a fair bit of Wi-Fi web browsing, some 3D gaming, video streaming and locally stored video viewing), but you may see that stretch a little further or come up a little shorter depending on your personal usage habits.
Still Camera and Video Capture
You're not likely to use the camera on a tablet very often, but if you're likely to use a snapper on any slate, we'd assume it'd be the Galaxy Note 10.1, with its S Pen editing and Photoshop Touch support.
In that regard, the camera does a fine job snapping away fairly crisp, 5MP stills. Focussing is a little hit-or-miss, but colours are again bold without being overly saturated, and as detailed as you're likely to see from a camera of this ilk. Scene modes and a smattering of exposure options help you tweak the images before exporting them elsewhere too.
Video can be captured at 30fps for 1080p video. The results are decent (crisply detailed with accurate colours, but suffering from some judder when in motion), and nothing more exciting than you'd expect from what's essentially an ancillary feature of any tablet. If photo and video capture are what you need, you should know by now to buy a camera, not a tablet.

Verdict:
Judging the Galaxy Note 10.1 is a little bit difficult. Priced similarly to other top-tier Android tablets, it performs admirably as a regular slate, offering a solid Android experience, and runs Google's OS and demanding apps without a hiccup. Its screen isn't class leading, but is bright and colourful, and makes for a good media player. However, the Note 10.1's unique selling point is its S Pen. For the most part it works well and is comfortable to use, but is let down by a lack of software support beyond the (admittedly very good) Photoshop Touch app. As a tablet with a side helping of stylus fun, the Note 10.1 is a very good proposition. However, those looking to use the S Pen beyond gimmickry, in a professional capacity, may find the Note 10.1 doesn't quite deliver all it promises.

3.5/5

Easter Greetings and Spring Cleaning!

Lessons are easing up this week ahead of the Easter Weekend and Mrs PC herself will be taking a break from work for a well deserved rest and enjoying some free time.

I have plans for sorting out the Bookmarks in my browser in my spare moments- exciting times!  However, this is much needed and will help me to quickly find interesting websites that I plan to return to.

I have helped many people to do this over the years.  My best student even made folders which she organised and put on the Bookmarks Bar- giving her more space for all the ones she wanted in a hurry.

I can also take time to delete those I no longer need.

I know Spring seems a long way off in terms of warmth and weather, but Spring-cleaning can still take place!  It's probably better to do it when it's cold outside so I won't be wasting time I could be spending in the sunshine later on!

Dragon Voice Recognition Software

Dragon Naturally Speaking is produced by Nuance, and the current version is 12.
I recommend users to buy the Premium Edition, which is the most comprehensive.  You can buy from Nuance direct or from other sellers such as Amazon.

I advise you to buy the physical shipment rather than the download.  It can be used on 3 different computers, and comes with a headset and often a DVD with instructions.

There are other options such as "Dictate Anywhere" which is more expensive as it comes with a portable voice recorder for you to use where- ever you happen to be, and which can then be connected to your home computer on your return- a bit like a dictaphone.

Dragon is simply wonderful.  The ability to dictate in your normal speaking voice and watch your words being printed on screen with minimal mistakes is astonishing.  The accuracy is amazing, and it is also possible to use Dragon to control your entire computer using only your voice.  This feature is extremely liberating for those with physical disabilities.

Dragon learns to understand your voice very quickly and can be trained to accept new vocabulary. 
You can use it to dictate emails and documents, post to Facebook and even create spreadsheets.  Open and close programmes and manage files and photos!

Type at the speed of your thoughts and don't get bogged down by a keyboard!

You won't look back! 

I use Dragon myself and have several very happy clients using this technology and if more people knew how wonderful it was, they would use it too!

It's easy to learn, so do get in touch so I can help you!

Mrs PC and Team have a night out together!

We were all too busy to have a Christmas party, so somewhat belatedly, went out for the evening to Bravas Tapas Bar on Cotham Hill on Friday night.  The food was superb and we had a great evening!
In the picture you see Mrs PC, Myles, Helen and Adam.  We were sad that web designer Bob was unable to make the evening.
We are standing outside Cotham Hardware which still had a Christmas Tree in the window!
Bravas was closed for a big refurb during January but it was worth the wait!
For  Bravas menu click here!

First Windows 8 Lesson Today

It was with huge excitement that I taught my first Windows 8 lesson today.  Helen Glynn, my fellow teacher joined me.  I was up front with my client and she knew that I didn't know all the ins and outs of the new operating system as it is still so new, and I haven't got it at home.
(After all the bad reviews - I am unlikely to invest in it, but I have a trial version to play with!  Adam Dunlop kindly loaned his and all his tips ahead of the lesson- thanks Ad!)

So my client got a discount and 2 teachers for the price of less than one, and we had an excellent lesson. 

What we learned was that:
Shortcuts come in very handy...
The best ones being Windows+C=Charms Menu
and Alt+F4 to close open programmes- I know this is an old command, but most people don't know it!  It isn't easy to see what is running in Windows 8 either.

We didn't do much in the Tile view, but stayed with the conventional Desktop view as it was my client's preference.
Closing down is a bit of a performance- has anyone got any tips on speeding this process up?!

One other thing we weren't sure we could find was All Programmes.  Sure there will be many more things in due course, but you learn by doing and clicking on buttons to see what happens- wonder what we will learn next time?!

Happy New Year!

 
Fireworks in London last night.
Wishing past and future students a very happy new year!
Hoping 2013 will be a good year for you all!
If it's help you need- look no further!