Switch on an Android

Well it’s been quiet on here. Partly my own lack of self interest and partly my fear that I really am on my own!
So, I’ll jump right in. I’ve embraced google android and all devices using it. It took a while to develop and it took a promising player to step up but they did it in style.
Htc have operated under many names but it took a move from windows mobile to really lift them off.  In a way I guess we have apple to thank for android cos they raised the bar. It reminds me of the old intel and AMD days.
I have a Htc desire HD completely ramped up and am lovin it.
So here’s to 3 years on android which will give microsoft / nokia time to show their muscle….

Birmingham for Christmas

Well here it is again! Christmas… my brothers are dressed like hippies in their new clothes.

Ben is busy faffing about with spuds so that we have the ultimate roasters with our Christmas dinner wooohooo.

Mat is busy messing with his dreadlocks.

Mum was on facebook but has now put her PC away hoping that I will follow suit.

Me – I’m sat here thinking where the hell did 2010 go? and that I’m 38 in just 3 months time. Where did the life go?

I hope 2011 provides for a better £ situ so I can buy a place in London and settle there properly. I wont forget brum – never could cos I still have so many ties there – but London is home an will be for a good while (I think).

I’m starting my degree in a few weeks too – Computing and IT…. finally resolved to converting my hobby into a career thanks to my boss John Frenkel.

To whoever reads this, have a lovely christmas and new year. X

Finally…. progress… www.marcymo.com

Yes yes yes its been a while.

I have now registered 3 domains and am working on them:-
www.marcymo.com & www.marcimo.com (I’m still unsure which is more aesthetically pleasing)

Along with www.marcytek.com which I am currently using as a redirect to this blog until I start doing gadget reviews and IT articles properly.

On a personal note – London is great, busy and expensive but great. I miss my brummy mates though!

How a couple of decisions can change the world.

My last ramble touched on my better half moving overseas. Its now happening and I am pleased to say that she has decided to go for it. She leaves the uk on 4 April for some “costa” as a rep.

In a bizarre twist of fate it just happens that, as a result of her looking for jobs outside Birmingham, I too found work elsewhere. I landed a job in the big smoke (London that is!) quite by chance.

One tedious day at HSBC I had tired out all of the internal vacancies, all of which promised retraining but preferred banking product experience over my 15 years of law and claims I decided to waste some minutes on the Insurance Times. Whilst more appropriate jobs filled the screen I happened upon an advert from a company of Forensic Accountants asking for a “technician”.

Now my first reaction was that perhaps they had made an error. My second reaction was that such an error could not occur. An Accountancy Firm wouldn’t advertise directly on an Insurance site in error. I looked at the description and the salary, both of which were attractive but in my view miles away from a 36 year old Insurance/Law boy stuck in his ways but good at what he does.

Nontheless I felt a little cocky that day, as I have been for a number of months given the amount of myself that I have put into my work and the massive amount of self respect arising from being organised, reliable and very good all round, finally. I sent off my CV thinking I’ll get a “no thanks” at the first hirdle.

I didn’t get the “no thanks”.

The company concerned contacted me wanting a telephone interview, to save us both time and expense. I thought “fine” its an easy way of running through the “no thanks” candidates quickly.

So thinking little of it I worked late one night at HSBC and then popped into a meeting room at the end of my working day and had an informal chat with John, the main man at my prospectives. He was well spoken, sounded calm and very considered, intelligent and articulate. I sensed that he had a certain way about him that suggested that he really knew his stuff but was very… I am trying to think of the word… humility… basically he did not let it affect how he perceived others.

We got on really well. I was relaxed as I used the interview as an exercise to express myself for a future, more achievable position.

He liked me and to my astonishment set me three articles to write, that week, to show my articulation, presentation and grammar. In all honesty I found the three articles enjoyable albeit a challenge. Its been ages since I had to push myself properly and feeling tired from the mental effort was something I hadn’t experienced for years, if ever!

So, I found myself invited to London for a meeting.

On the morning of my interview I felt nervous and like I had not prepared one bit. I had been so busy with HSBC that I’d neglected to tidy myself up, get the eyebrows and hair tidied up. I felt scruffy and out of my league. I set off for London with the intention of arriving just after the rush hour and a couple of hours before the interview. I had decided that, if I was to relocate, I had to interview the Company, the location, the change in my life.

I parked up on a side street and walked to a local Barbers for a haircut – perfect for getting the low-down on the locale. Not only did it help chill me out a lot but I got a feel for the place from the Barber. I got tidied up inside and outside my head.

That time that I had prior to the interview is what won it for me in my view. Not only did it get me into the area but I mentioned it straight away to John, the fact that I had checked out the area must have given him reassurance that I was considering all of the implications and options sensibly.

There were no real technical questions, it felt like a breeze. I was challenged on occasions and at times got things wrong but I sensed that it was my job from quite early on.

It just goes to show that there are times when we are down – when bad things keep hitting us. Out of these bad times can come good times because its how we perceive things that helps us manage the bad and embrace the good. In 2009 I was facing the darkest place anyone could face but something happened, a kind of spiritual awakening different to religion but not that far away.

My world is different now – I dont know what it will be in six months and I dont mind not knowing because the adventure is getting there, not arriving.

The world versus man in brum part 1

Apparenty realism is between optimism and pessimism. So if I’m realistic am I right to worry that my girlfriend is going to be a holiday rep in march?

The truth is she has to go. Firstly because it’s her dream. She will be better for experiencing it. Secondly because I need to know that she has had a life before I can consider settling down.

What would you do if you were 36 and your 21 year old partner was off overseas for six months???

And to make it trickier. I may have a job in London ! Where does that fit in???

Iphone 3.1.2 jailbreak

I have been using my iPhone for about a week with jailbroken 3.1.2 firmware using pwnage tool on the mac and I’m astounded at the improvement in battery life on the unit!

I take my phone off charge at about 730am, I turn off wifi but keep 3g on and at 5pm I have a whopping 85% battery left.

Basically I only have to worry about losing power when I’m out all night.

Chuffed as punch….

aTimeTool for iPhone

I may have mentioned before that the iPhone 3GS is an excellent piece of kit IF ONLY THE BATTERY LASTED LONGER THAN 1.5 DAYS!!!

Well, a new application is available via Cydia called aTimeTool which really really makes a difference.

All it does is schedule the iPhones features to turn on/off at times determined by you. It allows for control of Edge, Location, Airplane mode, 3G, Wifi, Power and more besides.

Now I work Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm generally. There is no wifi at work for me to use and all that I need the iPhone for during the day is to be a phone that can pick up texts and emails. I therefore disable 3G & Wifi from 7.30 until 5.30. As I get emails during the night (spam whilst sleeping!) I have set it to turn off 3G, wifi, Edge and then turn Airplane mode on.

As an example of how much difference it makes the other day I finished charging my phone and went to work with 100% battery at 8am. I had a few emails and texts during the day but nothing major. At 5pm I still had 86% of my battery power remaining.

This app only does what SBSettings does and I accept that. Thing is, this is automated and easy and unobtrusive.

I think its mCleaner that makes this app and a few more that look good…