Adaptive Communications - Thank you!

Well, what can I say - I might be persuaded to the opinion that Blackberry devices are actually quite cool. The team at adaptive Comms had arranged a fantastic day out where we saw the business benefits of the new Storm 2 and also the new applications downloads (Like iphone apps).

After this we had agrand prix at the Speedway Karting centre in Warrington. A great day out for all. Obviously my driving skills meant i earnt more black flags than anyone else! Apparently this isn't the aim of motorsports :( dangerous driving....me?, never...

So - if you have mobile or telecomm requirements simply get in touch with Karen Hanson or any other one of the team at Adaptive Communications on 0800 634 8889 or visit http://www.adaptivecomms.co.uk/

Michelle Harvey Estate Agents Opens

Our client Michelle Harvey has just opened up her new Estate Agency on Hoghton Street, Southport. Specialising in Property sales Michelle and her team bring years of experience to the often difficult process of purchasing a property.

They are 'passionate about property and serious about service'.

visit Southport's newest Estate Agents

3d laptops - out now!

It only seems a few months back that we were talking about the next generation of 3d films. Now Acer (via PC World's marketing department) have announced the launch of their 1st main stream 3D laptop.. The Acer http://www.pcpro.co.uk/blogs/2009/10/14/acer-3d-laptop-review-first-look/

It seems that you have to see the screen at a certain angle etc to get a good effect. Why bother, why not wait until the technology is advanced enough to make this fun to use?

I just feel sorry for all the masses who rush out and buy one of these for Christmas.... when come this time bnext year we'll probably have true 3d/holographic displays working really well.

GPS - scare stories unfounded

I for one was concerned that all my GPS applications would suddendly die in the next few months when the current satellites couldn't cope with all the demand.

But today I hear that within the next 12 months its expected that China, Russia and possibly India will launch at least another 60 into orbit..

As GPS is a broadcast - not a subscription it doesn't care how many users access the info (and this will NOT affect the service). The scare apparently is because alot of the existing satellites are close to the end of their life-cycle and there have been major faults with their replacements - so people are concerned whether these will be rectified before the old ones are de-comissionsed.

Paypal Chargebacks

We are seriously looking at migrating clients over to Google checkout after a client of ours became a victim of chargeback..... this is a scam where users pay for goods, then tell their bank they didn't authorise the transaction. Paypal refund them, then deducts the monies from your Paypal account and there is very little recompense.

Paypal's official line is that the seller is responsible to ensure the card isn't being fraudulently used!!

OK, that's fine if the goods purchased are of a relatively high value and the seller didn't track delivery as proof of the completion of their contract because that's just a lack of care... But our client is a florist!! the person who delivered them saw the lady who ordered them and she even said on the door how beautiful they were, so why should the she get them for free just by telling her bank it was un-authorised?

Google checkout seems a good alternative, but ultimately if you pay for a payment gateway, you get alot more security and protection built in..... over time a solution like SagePay (formerly ProTX) may be the way forward.....

Why does everyone feel the need to twitter?

OK - hands up we promote it! we try and recommend it (at times) but to be honest we still struggle to see where it fits in for everyone....

Great if you business or service is all about YOU. Great if your a social dynamo and people need a way to keep up with your super fast lifestyle..... not so great if your like me and struggle to talk (hands free of course), drive and eat a sandwich simultaneously, I just don't have the time.

Committing myself to a blog is one thing. Committing my every spare second to twitter is another..... Charlie Brooker has some great opinions on it: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/09/twitter

In fact I'm gonna stick my neck on the line here and suggest that twitter will tweet no more in the next 12 months or so..... put the date in you diary so you can come back here and laugh at me ;)

Time we started blogging!

After years of helping clients out we have now decided its time to put our own blog out there.

It might not be the most prolific in terms of regular posts, but we will be sharing our inner most ideas and thoughts on the world of graphic design and website design.