Boot-up
No meeting in December – apologies
News and other issues raised
I came across this in my Feedly – which I wouldn’t have seen in any other way – you might want to follow it up. Energy Pricing from the Big Six.
Gear Guide
Has anyone bought, or obtained anything recently they’d like to tell us about? It doesn’t have to be a computer, laptop, tablet or phone – just something that’s digital, ie used a computer processor in some way?
Not bought but perhaps considering buying a grandchild, niece or nephew a camera? [US site, so you’ll have to search for a UK price and supplier.]
Similarly, not gear exactly but are you making the most of your Amazon Prime subscription – if you’ve got one?
Christmas Gift Ideas
Turing Tumble – Build Marble-Powered Computers
Apps Galore
That slot in the meeting where members are encouraged to share their experience (and possibly excitement) at a new app they’ve started using for their smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop machine.
Feedly, Flipboard, Pocket and Evernote re-visited – getting the information delivered to you, that you want, when you want it! Today I want to look principally at Feedly.
Feedly and Feedly Pro
– the Pro version offers no adverts, ability to save to Pocket, Evernote, etc. Let’s look at the free version (using a free account I set up earlier) …
Login to Feedly
Flipboard
I use this application to create magazines as I’ve described in the link to an earlier post; but you can also use it in a similar way to Feedly to search for content and have that delivered to you. The latest article I added to my Thought Grazing magazine for you to read is here. It describes the way that Firefox is attempting to create a “more friendly” web. A subject we’ll return to later.
Pocket and Evernote I’ve recently discussed. These are (with Browser extensions, or linked apps on a smartphone, or tablet) great ways of curating, or archiving, content to read later.
What’s IT all about?
About time for another batch of Speedtest results? Get the Speedtest app from your Apple or Google app store to test your Internet speed and share the results on WhatsApp.
Here’s the result from my iMac beside the router that sits on my desk …
… and an impressive result using WiFi from the computer to the router beside the computer …
… and for my iPad beside the iMac, using WiFi …
What do you think that tells me? You can even share your results using a link like this one.
A contract for the web
The Richard Dimbleby Lecture (ignoring the rudeness of Jonathan D. towards the Russian Embassy person towards the end) on iPlayer.
Tim Berners-Lee and “Contract for the Web”
An Article in The Guardian from earlier this year and one from the NY Times this week.
Video-calling, new use for Kindle/Evernote, different realities? – 14th November 2019
Boot-up
Visits. We agreed visits to the Barclays ‘Maker Space’ which Mario will arrange for us after Christmas, and also a visit to the new BBC Centre after Easter.
Fred has offered to contact Brains and their new brewery at Cardiff Gate for a visit before Christmas. This has fallen through – should we have a social event instead; maybe at Cornerstone?
I have agreed with Mario that I will make the arrangements for the ‘Maker Space’ visit.
News and other issues raised
Posting to the blog – thanks Jim; you’re all welcome and able to post.
A thumbs-up for “We will fix your PC” – Renee and Margaret …
“Located on Parc Ty Glas directly opposite Bannatynes Health Club. 39 Lambourne Crescent Cardiff Business Park CF14 5GG.
Mon – Fri 9 – 17 30 Sat 10 – 14 30. No appointment needed.
Friendly. Experienced. Local. No fix no fee. Free quote.
Phones repaired whilst you wait.
iPhones fixed within 15 – 60 minutes.
iPads repaired the same day.
Walk in service. 02920 766039. 07999 056096″.
… personal recommendations from at least three members!
An update for older iOS (Apple) devices – linked to GPS signals changing which mean location-based services on old iPhones/iPads would cease to work.
New Apple MacBook Pro announced … in time for Christmas. Anyone got £2500 to spare for the base model.
Gear Guide
Has anyone bought, or obtained anything recently they’d like to tell us about? It doesn’t have to be a computer, laptop, tablet or phone – just something that’s digital, ie used a computer processor in some way?
Bluetooth transmitter [Marilyn, David]
Augmented reality on a phone [Jim]
Apps Galore
That slot in the meeting where members are encouraged to share their experience (and possibly excitement) at a new app they’ve started using for their smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop machine.
Using a Kindle, or a Kindle app (desktop or tablet) in a novel way. An attempt at a demonstration??
Removing content from a Kindle Device and deleting it from your Amazon account
Another use for Evernote – Evernote Web Clipper extension. Demonstration.
What’s IT all about?
Not this week
Video-calling
Facebook Portal – and options
Can you trust Facebook Portal devices with your Privacy – surprisingly … possibly yes! It works with Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp and makes use of Alexa.
What are the alternatives?
Google Hangouts – multi-point video-conferencing (Personal if using Chrome/Brave and logged-in to your Google account) and Google Duo – new point-to-point video-calling (Personal – same advice applies).
Apple Facetime and Group calls
Amazon Alexa and Echo
Always Skype (from Microsoft) – same flexibility as Google Hangouts
and of course video-calls in WhatsApp …
A review from Time magazine of the alternatives.