Gadgets Gizmos Gossip

Air conditioning systems have proliferated into everyday life for many in recent years. It is now common place to units in many UK homes and even in the most basic of new cars. This phenomenon has been occurring gradually since commercial air con systems were made widely available back in the 1980s and they have grown in popularity ever since. Although air con is seen as somewhat of a luxury in this country, it is absolutely essential in the balmy Mediterranean climates of Spain, Italy or Greece where temperatures can exceed 40 degrees in the height of summer.

As global warming takes hold air con will become more and more of a necessity as the UK’s weather system becomes more like that of it’s continental cousins. Simple economics dictates that as demand increases, so will price, meaning now would be a great time to invest a unit for your home or office. Gone are the days when air con systems were cumbersome and consumed a whole room in the house. Today’s setups are much more streamlined and efficient.

There are numerous options now available to suit a range of different environments, portable air conditioners offer a huge degree of usability and are a great alternative to fixed systems such as window air conditioners for when you want to use air con seasonally or only in one room. The Air Curtains is a new product which encroaches even less on your personal space by hanging above a door frame and keeping cold air out of heated areas or hot air out of chilled spaces.

For a small initial outlay you can alleviate yourself of much of the grief and discomfort associated with being in a hot or stuffy environment. There is nothing worse than trying to work while drenched in sweat or not being able to sleep due to the heat. Commercial Air conditioners have come a long way since their inception and now come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. For you, all of this means you can enjoy the heat of the summer months whilst still being able to work rest and play in comfort.

Despite murmurings of economic ‘green shoots’ and enthusiastic reports that the UK is back in a growth period, for many, SMEs included, it still feels as though the recession is in full swing. As an added kick in the teeth, the budget does not make for good reading. A VAT hike due to come into effect early next year means consumers and fellow business will go through a second wave of tightening the purse strings in an attempt to cut expenditure and avoid falling victim to a possible ‘double-dip’ recession.

At times like this it is wise for businesses to be as thrifty as possible. Investing in new technology is an excellent strategy for streamlining your operations. Although this may seem like another unnecessary outlay, the added financial benefits that new technology brings often outweigh the initial cost.

One area that most small business could focus on in the interests of driving down costs is their business telephone systems. Most SME owners are no doubt paying a premium for their traditional landline setup, a smooth effortless transition to a ‘voice over IP Phone’ system could save money and provide a whole host of other benefits.

Voice over IP, or ‘VoIP’ telephony has been around for some years now, most notably in the form of ‘Skype’, a piece of software which allows the user to make free calls to landline and mobile phones via an internet connection. This is already popular for home and recreational use but businesses are now starting to wake up to it’s advantages. The obvious benefits are the extremely low cost in comparison to a traditional system.

One important advantage to VoIP which many are still unaware of however is the ability to implement a unified communications setup. This means that Businesses can receive calls, emails, faxes and voicemail simultaneously through any device connected to the VoIP network, reducing clutter and saving time as well as money.

Video calling is another facet of VoIP, enabling video-conferences. The option to do this will eradicate geographical boundaries, potentially removing the need to travel long distances for face-to-face meetings. The possibilities with VoIP really are endless, any SME would be very wise to consider investing in this current climate.

No one, even the non-tech savvy among us, has been able to escape Apple’s recent monopolization of the news regarding their newly released products, the iPad and iPhone 4. Apple as a brand has grown rapidly over the past ten years, and the advent of the iPad has driven the Apple name further into the public consciousness.

Apple has a prestigious image, retaining a sense of exclusivity despite its widespread popularity. To some Apple products are a combination of aesthetic beauty and precise engineering, some see them as cool must-have gadgets, others will simply dismiss them as boys toys. Steve Jobs is regarded as somewhat of a messiah to the ‘Technorati’, the launch of his companies products are followed and reported tenaciously, rapidly becoming national news stories.

It is something of a surprise then, to find fault with something as highly regarded as an Apple product. Recent news stories have circulated about the iPhone 4’s loss of signal when held in a certain way. Reaction to the iPad has been largely positive but there is always a nagging sense that some wish to criticize Apple at every available opportunity. The truth is that Apple is so successful because of the quality of its products, but they are not without their niggles.

One criticism of the iPhone is its poor battery life, this can prove particularly troubling when out and about and in need of a juice boost. So much so in fact I sometimes think it would be quicker to attach a message to my treasured RC Helicopter and fly it out to my friends, homing pidgeon style than to go home and charge my phone!

Many companies have jumped on the back of this issue, producing in-car chargers and flashy docks. Perhaps most ground-breaking however is a portable charger, while these make great gifts for any iPhone owner, they are no gimmick.

Simply charge from a PC or Mac as you would your iPhone, then carry with you as a back-up battery pack with a full five hours of calls or 20 hours of music playback to hand. This is a godsend for anyone who carries their phone for long periods without access to a mains socket. While the iPhone may not be infallible this is just one quick fix which will no doubt contribute to Apple’s impending world-domination!