The Perfect Christmas Gift for Movie Lovers

If you have a movie lover in your life, perhaps you partner, brother or best friends just loves watching movies, there are some perfect gifts available for them from Cineworld. There are a range of Gift Cards available from £5 to £250 and also a very special Christmas Gift Box for 2. This comprises of two Adult 2D movie vouchers, plus some snacks and drinks to enjoy too.

Personally, I love movies and if I received something like this for Christmas I would be extremely pleased.

Check out what’s on offer here.

TalkTalk Leads the Charge for Fairer Broadband

• Broadband customers feeling ripped off as new research reveals 87% think mid-contract price hikes are unfair

• TalkTalk launches Fairer Broadband Charter calling for industry-wide change to put an end to mid-contract price hikes and unfair industry standards

• 62% of consumers admit they don’t know when their broadband contract ends as providers allow customers to fall into higher out of contract prices  

Today sees TalkTalk launch a Fairer Broadband Charter to challenge unfair industry practices as new research unveils the true extent of consumer frustration within the telecoms industry.  

The research commissioned by TalkTalk as part of its campaign for fairer broadband found that almost nine out of ten (87%) consumers think it’s unfair that providers raise their broadband price mid-contract. All major providers except TalkTalk have introduced a mid-contract broadband price increase in the last 18 months, so it’s no surprise that 54% of consumers would support a complete ban on these price hikes. 

The research also found that loyal customers continue to be punished as broadband providers fail to let customers know when their contract is coming to an end. Almost two out of three (62%) say they don’t know when their contract ends, as they’re left to roll onto higher out-of-contract rates.

Since launching its range of Fixed Price Plans two years ago, which guarantee no mid-contract broadband price increases, TalkTalk’s Fairness Charter is the latest demonstration of its commitment to fairness and value. The three-point charter challenges the telecoms industry to end mid-contract broadband price hikes by promising that the price customers sign up to will be the same for the duration of their contract.

Following Ofcom’s latest initiative to ensure customers are notified when their contract is coming to an end, TalkTalk’s Fairer Broadband charter puts the value provider ahead of the pack with its pledge to continue contacting all customers before they come out-of-contract. TalkTalk is taking this a step further by proactively offering competitive package prices so customers can continue benefiting from value for money broadband that suits their needs. The charter also encourages competitors to follow TalkTalk’s lead in offering a connection guarantee – allowing customers to walk away if their connectivity falls short of what they were promised.

Tristia Harrison, CEO, TalkTalk says “Telecoms companies have been ripping-off consumers for far too long. The industry has to change to rebuild trust with consumers. We led the way two years ago and became the first provider to guarantee no mid-contract price rises. It’s proved hugely popular and today we’re going even further. Our Fairer Broadband Charter sets out three simple ways we’ll put customers first. I’m challenging our rivals to follow our lead so that the whole industry can rebuild trust with customers.” 

TalkTalk’s Fairer Broadband Charter

1. Ending unfair price rises:

It’s time to end unfair mid-contract price rises. We are challenging all providers to guarantee that the price customers sign up to will be the price they pay.  

Customers can feel cheated when providers increase prices mid-way through a contract. TalkTalk is the only major broadband provider to guarantee no mid-contract broadband price rises across all its plans. It’s an issue of trust. If customers sign a contract, they expect it to be honoured.

1. Delivering what we promise:

We are challenging all providers to introduce a connection guarantee – allowing all new fibre customers to walk away if the speed and reliability of services falls short of what they were promised. 

Customers need to have confidence than they’ll get what they were promised. That’s why we’ve introduced a Great Connection Guarantee, meaning new fibre customers are free to leave at any point for the first 30 days of going live if they’re unhappy with the connection. Our standard broadband customers who upgrade to fibre can also make the most of this initiative.  If they are unhappy with their upgrade, they can rollback to standard broadband without penalty in the first 30 days of going live.
We are now looking at extending this initiative to new standard broadband customers.

1. Rewarding loyalty:

We are challenging all providers to proactively write to customers before their contract expires, warning them about any price rises and offering the option to re-contract at lower prices than standard out-of-contract pricing. That gives power back to customers and avoids hidden price increases. 

For too long, providers have avoided warning customers when their contract is about to expire. That leaves too many customers paying more than they realise. Some customers may prefer the flexibility of being out of contract, but providers should warn them and allow customers to make an informed choice, rather than hoping they don’t realise their bills have gone up.

We already contact customers to let them know their price will change when their contract ends, but to ensure they take advantage of our best value deals we’re taking this a step further.  

We will:

• contact all customers before they come out of contract, offering competitive packages so they can continue benefiting from fixed, value for money broadband that suits their needs.

• always aim to offer the best available deals and clearly state in the communications that other promotions may be available at any given time.

• contact all customers, including those out-of-contract, on an annual basis with a ‘value update’. This will allow them to review their products and services helping to ensure they get the best deal for them.

The Great Tech Race

Some of Sky Sports' most well-known faces took to the race course this week as they put some of TV's most exciting gadgets to the test in a race.

Soccer AM's Tubes, Nasser Hussain, Carl Froch, Will Greenwood and Natalie Pinkham were the stars battling for glory as they marshalled one piece of technology each around the track.

Tubes was put in charge of BATCAM Drive, a 35mph small kart, while Nasser Hussain took charge of the The BATCAM drone, which is used in the Premier League, and is capable of flying at 40mph.

Carl Froch tried to find his way round the track on a Steadiseg – a modified Segway - with a Steadicam, while Natalie Pinkham drove the Sky Cart and Will Greenwood sprinted on foot, wearing a Ref Cam and Umpire Cam.

But the real question is… who came out on top? Watch the video to find out.

Nest HELLO Doorbell Now in Europe

Nest Labs, architect of the thoughtful home, today announced the Nest Hello video doorbell is now available to buy in Europe. 

With an award-winning design, Nest Hello customers will be notified when a guest is at the door even when they are not home via their mobile phone, and can choose to have a natural conversation with HD Talk and Listen. If they’re not available, a list of pre-recorded responses makes it easy to quickly and effortlessly answer visitors with one tap from the app. And just in case the baby is sleeping or you don’t want to set off the dog, Quiet Time lets you turn off your chime, right from the app, while still receiving notifications.

Nest Hello can even let you know there’s someone at your door on your Google Assistant-enabled speaker. And with a Nest Aware subscription, you can get personalised alerts based on who is at the door, such as whether it’s a family member or the next-door neighbour. 

“Your front door is where home begins. It’s the entryway to special moments with family and friends – but also the most common way burglars enter your home,” said Lionel Guicherd-Callin, head of EMEA Product Marketing for Nest Labs. “So we’ve designed a doorbell experience that makes your front door more safe and secure, yet still feels friendly. You can truly connect with your guests at the door from anywhere. Never miss a package. And have added security and peace of mind when it’s needed.” 

Nest Hello combines the familiar experience of a doorbell with all of the technology our customers love about Nest Cam:

● An HD camera designed for your front door. With a 2K image sensor at a 4:3 aspect ratio, a 160° field of view and HD video, you can see your visitors head to toe when they ring the bell. High-dynamic-range (HDR) imaging lets you see key details, even in uneven light, while night vision powered by IR LEDs lets you see when it’s dark.

● Say hello even when you can’t. Have a natural conversation using HD Talk + Listen. Echo and ambient noise cancellation make sure you hear your guests clearly, even on noisy streets. And if you are not available to talk, choose from a list of pre-recorded responses, such as “Just a moment, we’ll be right there!” or "You can leave it, thanks!", to quickly and effortlessly answer visitors from the Nest app.

● Smart and thoughtful. A light ring will show your guests the button. And Quiet Time lets you turn off your chime from the Nest app, while still receiving notifications on the Nest app. So you don’t wake up the baby or set off the dogs.

● Never miss a moment. With 24/7 video streaming, you can check what’s happening at the front door anytime from your smartphone, tablet or even your TV, or check the free 3-hour history using Sightline in the Nest app to quickly find snapshots of important moments. And with Person Alerts built-in, you’ll get a specific alert and snapshot when someone is at your door.

Makes other doorbells seem like dumbbells

When customers add a Nest Aware subscription to their Nest Hello video doorbell they get an extra layer of intelligence, and continuous cloud video storage, delivering even more precise, actionable, and effortless video monitoring.

For example, with Familiar Face alert’s powerful face recognition technology, teach Nest Hello to know if it’s a friend or stranger at your door, so you’ll know when it’s someone important.

And with Nest Aware, customers will also benefit from existing features, including 5-, 10- or 30-day video history that you can browse and share in seconds using features like Sightline, clip and timelapse creation.

Pricing, availability and installation

Nest Hello is available to order today for £229 including VAT from www.nest.com/uk. Nest Hello will be available from UK partners including John Lewis, Argos, Currys PC World, 50five, YESSS and City Electrical Factors starting mid-June.

Before you purchase or install Nest Hello, we recommend you check the compatibility of your home using the online widget. Nest will be able to provide a recommendation on whether it’s a simple installation, where you can follow the in-app step-by-step instructions, or whether it’s time to call in a Nest Pro.  You can also read these guidelines before installing your camera. Nest Hello plus installation is available on Nest.com for £329 including VAT.

Mental Health Awareness Fund Raiser

Mental Health Awareness is very important and having personally experienced this, I know talking about the subject is a great healer. There is also a wealth of knowledge and help available and I want to make this more accessible to everyone. My long term goal is to set up a foundation that can be accessed by Mental Health sufferers worldwide.

This got me thinking of ways to raise funds to make this happen, to make a real difference. The solution could be using the 'power of the internet & social media'. If everyone donated just £1 that would equate to billions, Sounds crazy right ! 

Through the power of the internet and social media, I am reaching out to ask you to use the button below or indeed just send £1 (GBP) using PayPal to geekanoids@gmail.com  

Can I donate more than £1 ? well, yes, any larger amount will be gracefully accepted. The reason £1 was originally suggested, is that it's a smaller, more manageable sum of money that most would have less issue giving. 

£1 means giving up … a cup of coffee, your daily newspaper for a few days, a bar of chocolate or something as small as a glass of wine.

So, what will the money be used for? It is my intention to put together an event that would bring together many professionals in this sector, together with those that have experienced Mental Health Issues. This will raise further awareness and also give us the information we need to make help and advice more accessible. Long term plans include establishing a foundation that can be accessed by Mental Health sufferers worldwide.

I will be updating the graphic below with progress every week, so keep checking back on this post.

SHARING !!!
For this to work we need to get this article shared on as many Twitter accounts and Facebook pages as possible, plus any other social media you use. Simply share a link to this article, mention you donated and use the hashtag #itsOKtoTALK … or simply copy & paste the message below. 

I just donated to this crazy social media experiment raising funds for #MentalHealthAwareness … you can too here http://bit.ly/itsOKtoTALK #itsOKtoTALK

Please note; all donations are non refundable. If the goal is not met, no refunds will be made. If the goal is not met, the funds used will be used to move the project forwards in an alternative way to ensure they are used to good effect. No correspondence will be entered into regarding this fundraiser and emails cannot be replied to.

THE ALL-NEW LEXUS ES: A HIGHER LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE AND SOPHISTICATION

The seventh generation ES will be introduced to the UK from January 2019.  Renowned for its comfort, refinement and luxury appointments, the new, seventh generation mid-size saloon, ES builds on its strengths with an all-new chassis that allows for a more dynamic exterior design and even better driving performance.

It is a further expression of Lexus’ design direction and commitment to crafting vehicles that provide more excitement, emotional connection and passion, helping bring the brand’s vision for its future to a wider audience. Traditional buyers will find the new ES more spacious, quieter and safer than ever before, while a new generation of customers will be introduced to a saloon with sharpened performance, class-leading safety technology and a level of craftsmanship rarely found in this market segment.

The eye-catching styling, made possible by the use of an all-new Global Architecture-K (GA-K) platform will have particular appeal to customers, together with a more engaging driving experience and higher safety provisions. The new ES is longer (+65 mm), lower (-5 mm) and wider (+45 mm) than its predecessor. 

Yasuo Kajino, ES Chief Designer, describes the car’s new look as “provocative elegance”. “The ES has always been an elegant luxury saloon. For this generation, we have added daring design elements that challenge buyers’ traditional expectations,” he said.

The design features a fast roofline that emphasises the vehicle’s lower stance and slippery aerodynamics and the rear end is clean and sharply chiselled. A palette of 12 colours includes new beige and green shades alongside Ice Ecru which mimics light reflected off fresh snow and Sunlight Green inspired by ocean water in sunlight. Two exclusive colours – Heat Blue and F White – are available for F Sport models.

When designing the look and feel of the ES’s cabin, Kajino’s team’s starting point was the Lexus Future Interior concept, which blends a driver-centric cockpit with a spacious and comfortable area for the front passenger. The driver’s focus is kept on the road by locating the centre display screen, instrument panel and head-up display in a tight cluster within the field of view. The interior of the F Sport models features a new kind of metallic cabin trim inspired by traditional Japanese sword-making, the Hadori trim has fluctuating wave patterns.

It will be a connected space with optional navigation system with a range of connected services. This system also provides a 12.3-inch multimedia display and second generation Remote Touch touchpad control. The 17-speaker Mark Levinson PurePlay system makes its debut and is created to immerse each individual in the most powerful, precise and pure audio experience yet. 

This ES has been built to deliver a fundamentally higher level of performance than any of its predecessors. Chief Engineer Yasuhiro Sakakibara said: “We knew that this ES had to feel responsive and easy to drive, no matter what kind of road it was on. That can only be achieved with a solid foundation.”

The ES 300h is equipped with a new, fourth generation self-charging hybrid drive system that can deliver exceptional fuel efficiency, responsive performance and minimal emissions for a mid-size luxury saloon. It will be equipped as standard with the latest Lexus Safety System + and can provide added protection for driver and passengers to help prevent an accident from happening. The new features include daytime cyclist detection which is part of the comprehensive Pre-Collision System (PCS) and a two-stage adaptive high beam system (AHS) to turn high beams on and off automatically for the driver.

The ES will usher in a new era for one of Lexus’s longest-established and most popular models designed to engage a wider range of customers. Stronger styling, more dynamic performance, high-quality interior finishes and the latest safety technology will help recast the image of the ES into one that is new and unexpected.

Top Five Online Services to make your 2018 a Business Success

Having worked for myself for many many years, I welcome good services and tools that can make my job easier. Not only does it allow you to smile more at the end of the day, it also gives you some time back and I am sure everyone would admit to liking more time on their hands. I check out new online services regularly and would like to share my top five picks with you today.

I always need to send videos and other files to my clients, more or less on a daily basis. If you need to send files quickly and easily, to someone in the same workplace or to the other side of the world, Send Anywhere could be right up your street. Not only is this a free service, it allows you to send files with no maximum file size. Imagine being able to move files between your own devices when you get a new smartphone or laptop. Or perhaps you need to get that finished video over to a teammate for approval. This is no problem, using the simple web-driven interface. There’s even a WiFi Direct feature that allows you to send files without using data or the internet.

Another really cool use-case scenario relates to emails. Many email providers limit the maximum file size you can attach. With Send Anywhere that problem no longer exists, your file is presented to the recipient as a link which they simply click to download the attachment. Imagine that … email attachments with no limits. 

Also worth noting is that you don’t even need to register to use this service. A simple six-digit key is all you need to get started. Did I mention that all file transfer from Send Anywhere are safely encrypted to ensure maximum security as well as privacy? With just six digits, you are ready to send your files anywhere, across mobile devices, desktop and the web.  

Intuit Quickbooks Self Employed is a real time saver for small business and especially sole traders. As a content creator myself, I used to spend hours doing my accounts and really hated it. Now my bank account is linked to Quickbooks, with all my transactions syncing across automatically. Nowadays, I just spend one hour per month reconciling my invoices and receipts. It even allows you to track mileage (another great saving on your tax bill) and invoice your customers too. When tax time comes around, help is at hand here with reports that help you file your tax return. It’s super easy to use and a real time saver.

Google Keep is relatively new to my collections of useful services. This allows you to make quick notes, checklists, audio memos, photos, screenshots and reminders. These are then saved to the cloud and accessible across multiple platforms, for example your Android or iOS smartphone and Windows and MacOS via your web browser.

MailChimp for keeping your customers informed is super powerful and it’s free at certain levels. The most simple explanation of this is an email subscription list service. You get your customers to subscribe to your list, then on a weekly, monthly, quarterly basis (you decide), you can send them an email newsletter. This is very powerful, as you can update them on new services, special offers etc and it keeps you connected to your customer-base. On the free service you can have up to 2,000 subscribers and send a maximum 12,000 emails per month. You can even check how many of your customers actually opened your email newsletter too. 

My wildcard service is indeed one you should definitely have heard of, but often overlooked as a business tool. Making your Instagram a business account, allows you to access very useful analytics about the photos you are sharing. A top tip here is to share photos that are not just trying to sell to your customers every single time. Sharing inspirational photographs, that have some relevance to what you do is important. Of equal importance is adding extra value to your followers (and potential customers). Making them smile once per day will make your company more personable and with clever planning can open many new doors for you.

You can download Send Anywhere here.

*Sponsored post. Opinions remain writer's own.

1 in 5 Brits Don't Want a Smartphone

1 in 5 Brits say “I don’t want a smartphone – I just want a phone that makes calls” – new research

14 September 2017 - New research from Future Thinking has found that the consumer response to the recent iPhone launch remains underwhelming amid a growing backlash against smartphone evolution.

• 20% of British consumers said: “I don’t want a smartphone - I just want a phone that makes calls.”
• Only 5% said they planned to upgrade to an iPhone soon after launch; 65% said they were happy with their existing phone.
• And 8% expressed the view: “It’s all a con anyway - it’s nearly the same as the most recent model in what it does.”

Despite the overwhelming amount of media content generated around Apple’s big event on Tuesday, the wider picture suggests that it is failing to engage a growing group of people.

The findings come from Future Thinking’s recent poll, conducted at the end of August, which surveyed more than 4,300 respondents. It follows a recent survey from US-based analyst Piper Jaffrey which showed that only 16% of existing iPhone users in the US expect to upgrade to one of the new iPhones. This is only 1% up from last year’s survey.

John Whittaker, head of marketing at Future Thinking commented:

“Consumer hype remains underwhelming, especially given what a huge moment this is supposed to be for Apple. Apple and its peers are targeting a premium market that is gradually shrinking, while a growing smartphone evolution backlash is starting to emerge. 

“Our research shows that 20% of people now do not want a smartphone at all – instead they just want a phone that makes calls, driven primarily by those over 45 years of age. Many have ditched their smartphones in exchange for a simpler, more liberating life without being glued to a screen and being bombarded with notifications. The rebooted version of the classic Nokia 3310 launched earlier this year is one response to this trend.

“Cutting through all the hype around new iPhone launches and other increasingly expensive and complicated Smartphones, the industry needs to be aware of the growing group of people who are looking for something different to yet another iPhone.”

New Apple Products - Amazing Speed for 2017

Apple announced many new products & updates at their Worldwide Developers Conference 2017. These include new watchOS 4 … iOS 11 … macOS High Sierra and some great new products. A new 10.5 inch iPad Pro with an updated 12.9 inch iPad Pro, new 2017 Kaby Lake processors for the iMac and MacBook Pro. Coming soon, we also saw the new iMac Pro and HomePod smart speaker. Check out all the details in the video below. 

DJI Spark - A Tiny POWERFUL Drone

DJI launched its tiny drone today, called the SPARK and it really should spark your interest. This drone is packed full of features, including awesome video capture. Get your order in now, by clicking the banner below.

What's Happened to the YouTube Community Spirit ?

Something concerns me … I am not asking for anything, no recognition, no pat on the back. Over the passed few months I have been conducting some research. 

When I first started YouTube the feedback was amazing. That very first video, recorded with a little compact camera on a piece of grey cardboard. As if sharing it was not exciting enough, but imagine when I started getting comments from viewers. The feedback was amazing and I loved how there was a REAL discussion happening. Starting with that very first video, I replied to pretty much every comment. As my channel grew, it became harder to deal with how many comments I received, but still, I burned many hours engaging in the conversation.

Fast forward to today and I still pride myself in replying to people whom take part in the Geekanoids community. After all, it's the interactions that make it worthwhile. 

I am a strong believer that we can learn something new every day, so I set myself a task to try and get to know the creators that I personally watch. Over the passed six months I have been commenting on others videos, both small, large and very large channels. 

It's a real eye opener to learn that of the small channels I received approx 50% replies. Of the large channels with 100K or more subscribers this dropped to around 4%. When it comes to the very large channels of 500K or more subscribers, well, I can only recall receiving 3 or 4 replies, so I don't think this deserves a percentage. 

What to take from this? I think it leaves more questions that answers. Do all creators really care? Do they value their viewers? 

Let me know your thoughts.

Above all, know that I appreciate you and wish you an amazing day, week, year & future.

A Bunch of New Ways to Pay with your Mobile

Now, several new services will be launched around Europe where you will be able to pay with your mobile device on different credit or bank card terminals. One of these services have children and young adults as their main consumer group.

Since last summer, it has been possible to pay with your  mobile phone directly through credit card terminals around nordic country Sweden with the help of an app called “SEQR”. Now the company's new product “SEQR Go” who caters to children and adolescents - will be released later this year.

How does it work then?

A parent may transfer funds to their child's virtual account, and then the child can pay the retailer by "bliping" the cell phone at the the card terminal. However, this requires an Android phone, and both the terminal and the phone need to have so-called NFC technology integrated - which allows the phone and the card terminal to "talk" to each other without physical contact. Fortunately this technology has been integrated in Android-compatible phones for quite some time now; so if your kid have a relatively new Android phone - this shouldn’t be a problem. 

Only the money that has been put on the account can be used, which means that your children can not use money that don't exist “physically” on the account.

- “The app will be equated with cash”, says Peter Fredell, CEO of Seamless, the company behind the app.

Parents can of course also keep track of the receipts to see which transactions that have been made, or not been made. So if your newly 18 year old youngster have been playing some Live Blackjack, you will be notified :)

Many are perhaps wondering what would happen if your phone is lost or stolen? Can someone else use the mobile to shop for you or your child’s money?

- “To start with, almost everyone has a PIN-code on their phone. And for a transactions of over 200 Swedish Kronors (around £ 20) an additional PIN is required”

Last week the mobile payment service “Samsung Pay” was launched  in Sweden. This function is integrated in Samsungs latest phone models, and so far, some of the bigger banks in sweden are on the train with this new technology. “But more banks are joining as we speak”, says Oscar Happy, head of Samsung Pay in the Nordic region - which comprises of Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. A combination of the techniques NFC and MST are used here.

- “At the moment it works on virtually all card terminals in Sweden”, Oscar ads

To secure the payments some safety measures are required by the user, including fingerprints. No age limit is required from Samsung's part. However, such a limit can be implemented by the card issuer- when the service needs to be connected to a debit card or something similar. 

- “This makes things so much easier and smoother”, says Bengt Nilervall, transaction-expert at the Swedish Trade Federation.

He sees advantages for both customers and merchants, and mentions that the long checkout queues can go faster, as an example.

According to Nilervall there are currently NFC technology in about 15 percent of the country's Debit card terminals, and the goal is to reach 50 % in 2017. “There are more mobile payment services, such as Apple and Android Pay, - unfortunately not yet here in Sweden.”

Guest Article by Andre Utas