Microsoft Don't Make it Easy

OK, I've been moved closer to insanity by Microsoft AGAIN...My son chose a windows phone for his birthday (Nokia Lumia 900, it is good value for the spec) and despite me doing all I could to dissuade him he wouldn't budge. I said "If you get it I'm not gonna help you..." of course I did. We decided to tell the truth about his age and set up a new live account, but he's only 13, and when he tried , it wouldn't let him download any apps, saying he needed to do it from a PC.....So I googled download windows phone apps from pc, and back came the message that you have to jailbreak your phone or that its not possible...wrong search term or wrong message? Ok. bit more googling says I need a live account myself...done No problem now surely go into settings, family permissions and add his account...no, you need an xbox live account.......why? Ok, made an xbox live account...permissions? add account? kids account? no matter how I tried I just can't break free (isn't that a song?) I went round and round in circles, hitting the keyboard harder and harder. I made accounts everywhere in both names and still couldnt do it. Eventually I saw a live chat help and after waiting ten minutes for each reply, I finally did it....You need a live account for you and your offspring, an xbox live account for you only (i think maybe both) and to install a complete time wasting bit of bloatware called zune(that for the sake of me I cant see what it does). Its not finished yet....then you log in with both accounts, put in exactly the information you have already put in six times before, then approve all the different types of media. It did work though. I am now going for a lie down and hope that tomorrow I only get asked about Good old Google phones, but then why have only one account when you can have SIX?

Cloud storage? Really?

Curries pc world do it again....Just to clarify, a hard drive box no matter how it's connected is not cloud storage. This type of advert misleads and shows how much expertise they have. People come to me all the time with broken external cases, they are extremely prone to break down, if you store anything On one, make sure it's only a copy or a backup. Although you could say the same for proper cloud storage, most reputable ones(like the one on my website www.supergeek.co.uk) will have multiple backups On multiple sites. Once again be very wary of the claims made by advertisers!

ITunes rules OK

Well I don't know if any of you store music On your computer(well I do actually), but what format do you store it in?
I was playing some music from my store in my usual player vlc player and it was terrible quality on certain parts of the vocals. I couldn't remember where I got it from but it was ripped at 128 kbps to an mp3. I went to the CD and it played great(my pc plays through a hiFi). I ripped it again at 320 kbps and it was still rubbish. Interestingly I ripped to a wave file ie full quality and although better it was still noticeably distorted. Finally I ripped to iTunes and guess what? As good as the original! I don't like it and will investigate further but it looks like Apple got it right!

Away to work day

Here's Jack one of my sons on work placement with me today. Does he look like he is working hard?

So many headphones

I've been travelling more on public transport recently, and couldn't believe all the people listening to music on their phones/mp3 players (still can't bring myself to say ip*d/iph*ne). Well, it turns out they don't all listen to music! I just discovered the Librivox app for free audiobooks.....AMAZING! https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=biz.bookdesign.librivox Thats the link for android, app store people find it yourself.....only cos I can' find the link on PC Fantastic for older classics, highly recommend The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde. The really wacky thing is the way they are read with no intonation or feeling, sometimes as in the suggestion it adds to it, but sometimes it does ruin it. Try it, its free!

Return of the media centre?

Well, I've had a busy week loading and supplying a couple of refurbished machines using Core 2 Duo CPUs, and I was reminded just how fast the old E8500 was. It really is great if you can still find decent boards for it. So browsing around trying to use one in a really good quiet PC, I found the Media Centre cases below. I discovered the new genre they call HTPC (home theatre PCs) and started to appreciate what they can actually do nowadays(yes even the computer industry is showing its age. I understand that Sky+ and BTVision and Virgin can do great things, but they dont have the power and versatility of a fully loaded media centre (sorry HTPC). Streaming music, Videos, on demand stuff, all the normal PC stuff, as well as anything those boxes can do. Last time I tried a media centre it was just not powerful enough, but now......WOW!!! think what it can do. When I saw these cases below, I just want to make one now! Just picture them below your tele, and then give me a call for a quote.

Evil me

Just got new mobile and am posting from it now. Thought this picture from front facing camera came out well!

Its a Sony Xperia t, seems great, all the features at a much lower cost than iPhone or s4.

Ebay again

I've started delving into the exciting world of selling on Ebay again. I'm trying to streamline my operation and get rid of all those things I don't sell at the computer fairs anymore. If you need anything from the smallest screw to complete cases just call, I'll have it tucked away somewhere. Here's a few things listed now: Oh by the way seller name is supergeek_uk if you wanna look.

Supergeek goes GREEN!

Well we've joined the modern trend, and gone green........well I ride a bike, I've got LED lighting, I recycle all my old computers............and I've now got a green website: www.supergeek.co.uk

New Supergeek Facebook

By the way, just started a new business Facebook page at Facebook.com/supergeekuk pop over and see it and please like me! Loads more content coming.

Staples deals at easter

Hey just installed blogger on mobile, so excuse me if my spelling is sad (geddit?). Anyway good deals on at Staples over easter weekend.

Fujitsu i3 laptop with 7" tablet only 399, and 1 TB external hd only 49. Worth buying and taking drive out of box. Bye for now

Another Norton Howler

Oh, while I`m still online, I just had to tell you this....

Had a client in yesterday who`s machine was sloooooooowing down to a standstill. He assumed he had a virus (as it turned out it was just a combination of too many startup programs and conflicts) so before he came to see me, he went to PCW***d and bought Norton360 (Yes, I know).

Well, I don`t know if you know, but this horrible app gives popup warnings of which services/processes are using too much processing power.

Guess what? It was warning that Norton360 was using too much!!! another three exclamation mark sentence!

Laugh, I nearly wet myself.

I`m Still Here

Hi Everybody, glad to be posting again.
Sorry for the huge gap, but I`ve been neglecting all the online things while Ive  been renovating my house, moving offices etc. Now I`m back with a vengeance because I have a few new services to promote, and I have a feeling they`re here to stay.

I`ve just become agents for a few worldwide and national companies who offer fantastic services:

1. I can now offer a new completely reliable CLOUD BASED BACKUP SERVICE. It is easily the best I`ve seen, and its totally unlimited! Yes thats right, no matter how much data you have on your PC, its the same low monthly cost (From only £2 as an introductory offer) Call me for more info.07790099548

2.I also now have a great company based in Scotland who offer an efficient and reasonably priced data recovery service. If I can`t recover it they can! Call for details 07790099548

3After dabbling for years, and recommending different people, I can now Host and Supply/Design Websites myself. Again call for details but I think we can match or better any website you find. Hosting including emails from around £8 a month available and its all upgradable too. Let us show you a few ideas and who knows...Call me 07790099548

More details soon
Mike Supergeek