Since I started using the free trial I have noticed a major improvement in my time tracking and it’s a great simple solution for any sole trader or small business.

The best thing about Harvest is that it’s simple to use and quick. It’s also very easy to “pick up and play” so there’s no major effort required to get results.

Through a combination of the website and the mobile app it’s possible to spend just 5 minutes a day to have a neat, organized accounting trail.

Harvest’s basic plan is only $12.00 per month, and ... Read More »]]> Among the myriad of invoicing and time tracking solutions out there, Harvest is one that I am using now since January of 2012 and has passed all the acid tests so far. Harvest is a cloud application for tracking your billable hours and generating invoices for your clients.

Since I started using the free trial I have noticed a major improvement in my time tracking and it’s a great simple solution for any sole trader or small business.

The best thing about Harvest is that it’s simple to use and quick. It’s also very easy to “pick up and play” so there’s no major effort required to get results.

Through a combination of the website and the mobile app it’s possible to spend just 5 minutes a day to have a neat, organized accounting trail.

Harvest’s basic plan is only $12.00 per month, and they give excellent support and a nice regular release cycle. There are no bugs or annoyances and it has 95% of the all features you could possibly want which is good value for money.

Now Harvest have announced integration with Zendesk and other ticketing systems, this makes it a great solution for teams and entire organizations to roll out as a fully fledged billing solution.

[rating:5:5]

The most important issue to resolve when choosing a mobile hotspot is to test out the 3G coverage at your home. All the networks are offering 14 day return policies so its worth trying out all the main operators after you have done an initial check with a few mobile phones in the area first. Meteor and 3 Mobile seem to be the best offers currently available. They all come with chargers and the battery lasts 4-6 hours, you can have up to 5 wifi devices. connected simultaneously in most cases also which is nice.

I had no problem streaming a skype video call on an iPad using a Meteor MiFi device which is really a ... Read More »]]> I recently tried out a few mobile hotspot 3G devices around Limerick and I was very impressed with the speed and performance of the little gadgets.

The most important issue to resolve when choosing a mobile hotspot is to test out the 3G coverage at your home. All the networks are offering 14 day return policies so its worth trying out all the main operators after you have done an initial check with a few mobile phones in the area first. Meteor and 3 Mobile seem to be the best offers currently available. They all come with chargers and the battery lasts 4-6 hours, you can have up to 5 wifi devices. connected simultaneously in most cases also which is nice.

I had no problem streaming a skype video call on an iPad using a Meteor MiFi device which is really a Huawei device and it was on the HSDPA 3G coverage so was aceiving over 4mb per seconds which was impressive. There was a little lag/latency on browsing web pages but nothing major, the video streaming though was much better than I get at home on 3mb DSL. All the packages come in around €20 per month and if you don’t want a phone line or just need mobile access on the road, a Mobile Hotspot is much better than the traditional USB dongles because it is smartphone/tablet friendly, works with Macs etc. ..basically there is no install required just a WiFi key to tap in, so its a much nicer solution all round.

Wunderkit now has Wunderlist built into it as one of its main features, nested cosily inside a twitter-style  social eco-system. It represents Web 3.0 in all its glory, Social + Great UI + Cloud…the only drawback is the occasional slight lag on the application due to latency on the browser and the connection.

Just a thing that’s annoying me for a long time on Google Apps, my storage has run out after 5 years of usage.

There’s no way to purchase additional gmail storage on a per-user basis. You have to upgrade to the Pro version of Google Apps which is a pretty expensive commitment. The reason this annoys me is that you might have 10 users, in my case 2 of them have reached 99% of the limit, while the other 8 have only used 5-10% each.

The problem is that you have to upgrade every user on the site, so 10 users by $50 per year is $500 just to increase the storage on 1 or 2 users.

The other issue that has been bugging me since Google tidied up a lot of stuff around the Summer of 2011 is that I can’t be ... Read More »]]>

Just a thing that’s annoying me for a long time on Google Apps, my storage has run out after 5 years of usage.

There’s no way to purchase additional gmail storage on a per-user basis. You have to upgrade to the Pro version of Google Apps which is a pretty expensive commitment. The reason this annoys me is that you might have 10 users, in my case 2 of them have reached 99% of the limit, while the other 8 have only used 5-10% each.

The problem is that you have to upgrade every user on the site, so 10 users by $50 per year is $500 just to increase the storage on 1 or 2 users.

The other issue that has been bugging me since Google tidied up a lot of stuff around the Summer of 2011 is that I can’t be signed into 2 google accounts now at the same time, I have to switch. The net result of this is that I don’t use Google+ or YouTube much because I have to sign in and out. Of course I could have 2 browsers and sessions open but that is nusiance, the only real solution is some kind of account linking feature where you can be signed into up to 3 google accounts that you own and 1 of them is the default.

On landing on a page like Google+ it would pick up your default Google+ account rather than your Google Apps account. This is not a simple problem to solve. For speed purposes today I received a Google+ email notification so confronted with the hassle of signing out of my Google Apps account etc etc I just launched the Google+ App on my iPhone and had the job done in 10 seconds with not hassle.

Apple has delivered over 200 significant features to the iOS along with a new iCloud platform plus some significant additions to the Apple TV. Basically everything now works together seamlessly, no wires, no effort. Apple’s eco-system is entering a glorious period that will be free of the angst and recrimination associated with may of its previous incarnations over the years. They have basically removed dozens of barriers and “what if” or “if only” question marks that overshadowed many of its previous achievements.

So where to start?

I am uncovering new features organically by the day and getting used to the more obvious ones. The best format is probably a chart topper effort but the list is going to go a lot further ... Read More »]]> The launch of iOS5 in the very near aftermath of Steve Jobs death has created a legacy that is truly breathtaking.

Apple has delivered over 200 significant features to the iOS along with a new iCloud platform plus some significant additions to the Apple TV. Basically everything now works together seamlessly, no wires, no effort. Apple’s eco-system is entering a glorious period that will be free of the angst and recrimination associated with may of its previous incarnations over the years. They have basically removed dozens of barriers and “what if” or “if only” question marks that overshadowed many of its previous achievements.

So where to start?

I am uncovering new features organically by the day and getting used to the more obvious ones. The best format is probably a chart topper effort but the list is going to go a lot further than a Top 5..but here’s a start anyway

Apple TV Mirroring - on top of saving me €79 for a tv connection cable, mirroring actually gives the iPad a whole new purpose in life. We're already taking advantage of it for an interactive museum, it works so well out of the box it is uncanny.

iCloud - this changes everything, particularly the way the App Store keeps track of all your downloads and syncs them to your other iOS devices automatically. It does a whole bunch of other stuff too of course and its only the beginning.

Alert Notification Shortcuts - its only a small change but the miniature unlock sliders are convenient, fun and engaging. It speeds up general usage and reduces the number of dead clicks also by bringing you right to the point of action.

iMessage - Obviously a lot of people are talking about WhatsApp but iMessage is integrated with your SMS on the device so its much more practical and sustainable. Viber has a messaging service too after all, I don't use it, do you?

Camera Buttons - just a little common sense addition whereby the volume button can now be used to snap a photo, this solves a usability problem and also gives back the compact camera feel to the iPhone when being used as a camera.

By leveraging some of the best plug-ins out there WordPress can do 95% of most people’s CMS requirements without a single programmer writing a single line of code.

Here are my top 10 must have WordPress plug-ins as of 2011:

http://www.channel-ai.com/blog/plugins/star-rating/

I used the article below to restore my Dreamweaver CS5 via the Windows registry, there is a bit more involved though so I have detailed additional steps.

http://www.josh.biz/technical-notes/back-up-dreamweaver-site-definitions-using-the-windows-registry/

Update: Unfortunately after all the effort this operation did not keep any of the usernames or passwords so it was of limited benefit after all that!

After loading the legacy hive to my windows registry and exporting the .reg file I needed to edit it in notepad and do a find and replace on the paths.

Once you load the legacy “NTUSER.DAT” file it adds paths to the .reg entry that don’t match the active HKEY_CURRENT_USER paths.

In my case I named the NTUSER.DAT legacy hive I uploaded as “x32 NTUSER” As far as I could see that is the only file ... Read More »]]> I reinstalled my computer at Christmas and I was transitioning from Dreamweaver CS5 on Win 7 Ultimate x32 to Dreamweaver CS5 on Win 7 Ultimate x64.

I used the article below to restore my Dreamweaver CS5 via the Windows registry, there is a bit more involved though so I have detailed additional steps.

http://www.josh.biz/technical-notes/back-up-dreamweaver-site-definitions-using-the-windows-registry/

Update: Unfortunately after all the effort this operation did not keep any of the usernames or passwords so it was of limited benefit after all that!

After loading the legacy hive to my windows registry and exporting the .reg file I needed to edit it in notepad and do a find and replace on the paths.

Once you load the legacy “NTUSER.DAT” file it adds paths to the .reg entry that don’t match the active HKEY_CURRENT_USER paths.

In my case I named the NTUSER.DAT legacy hive I uploaded as “x32 NTUSER” As far as I could see that is the only file that you actually need (the article on josh.biz suggests 4 hives need to be loaded).

I was transitioning from Dreamweaver CS5 on Win 7 Ultimate x32 to Dreamweaver CS5 on Win 7 Ultimate x64 I opened the exported .reg file in Notepad and replaced all the paths to:

“HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/x32 NTUSER/” with the correct path ”HKEY_CURRENT_USER”.

Unless this change is made then the .reg file cannot load into the correct location on the active OS. This also was a good opportunity to update all the local directory paths for all my sites which I did with another find and replace.

The performance improvements over the 3G were dramatic , and that may not be as apparent for iPhone 3GS owners. The 3G I had was slowing down significantly, and have installed iOS4 on it there was a noticeable degradation in responsiveness and battery life.

The iPhone 4 is noticeably heavier and slimmer than the older models, and looks slicker than the predecessor with its minimalist finish.

I did have an issue with dropping calls at the beginning, but this seemed to dissipate following the 4.1 software upgrade and also I added a slim protection case to the back of the phone. The case may have reduced the effects of ... Read More »]]> I upgraded my iPhone 3G to an iPhone 4 about 6 months ago and have had a good opportunity to test it in action over a prolonged period since then.

The performance improvements over the 3G were dramatic , and that may not be as apparent for iPhone 3GS owners. The 3G I had was slowing down significantly, and have installed iOS4 on it there was a noticeable degradation in responsiveness and battery life.

The iPhone 4 is noticeably heavier and slimmer than the older models, and looks slicker than the predecessor with its minimalist finish.

I did have an issue with dropping calls at the beginning, but this seemed to dissipate following the 4.1 software upgrade and also I added a slim protection case to the back of the phone. The case may have reduced the effects of the “death grip” problem where the antenna loses signal on contact with  a conductive surface like your hand.

Apart from some teething problems with calls dropping at the beginning I have had very little trouble with the iPhone 4.

Here are the main benefits:

• Up to 2 full days battery life under normal conditions, and the battery meter is very reliable and accurate
• Performance is snappy and responsive and particularly running demanding 3D games is a joy
• The high resolution Retina display makes fonts look great and improves the general image sharpness greatly
• Photos are still great, just like on the 3G/3GS but with higher resolution images (1600 x 1200 >> 2592 x 1936)
• HD Video (720p) is excellent and hugely useful for all sorts of situations
• The screen surface seems very durable and I haven’t put a single scratch on mine yet
• The mute switch on the side now stays in position now and doesn’t accidentally flick to the wrong position

Some areas that could be improved

• I tried the “Facetime” service using the front camera over a Wi Fi connection but it suffered from latency badly
• The weight of the device is heavier than most other phones on the market, this is a minor drawback
• Battery life has improved but ideally can be increased in future versions to 4 or 5 days

I have used a number of other phones including Samsung and HTC on Android and they are catching up with the iPhone, but there’s still clear daylight between the Apple device and the others which is partially down to the hardware and build quality, but mostly because of the iOS software and the regulation of Apps to ensure quality standards.

Overall the iPhone 4 is the must have communications device of its generation.

[Rating: 5/5]

I received this coffee making machine as a gift from my girlfriend last Christmas, and it has proven to be one of those gifts that keeps on giving. Its definitely the best gift I have ever received!

The Lattissima is the ultimate in home coffee making appliances, and the flagship of the Nespresso range, costing between €350 and €400.

The Lattissima shares a lot in common with the iPad, its expensive and a luxury and doesn’t entirely justify itself, but its also hugely desirable and has an aspirational quality.

To own and use the Lattissima you need to join the Nespresso Club, this is the part of the gift that keeps on giving.  With Nespresso Club you feel you are becoming a coffee connoisseur and there is an exclusivity to the whole experience that I really enjoy. Everything from the packaging ... Read More »]]>

I received this coffee making machine as a gift from my girlfriend last Christmas, and it has proven to be one of those gifts that keeps on giving. Its definitely the best gift I have ever received!

The Lattissima is the ultimate in home coffee making appliances, and the flagship of the Nespresso range, costing between €350 and €400.

The Lattissima shares a lot in common with the iPad, its expensive and a luxury and doesn’t entirely justify itself, but its also hugely desirable and has an aspirational quality.

To own and use the Lattissima you need to join the Nespresso Club, this is the part of the gift that keeps on giving.  With Nespresso Club you feel you are becoming a coffee connoisseur and there is an exclusivity to the whole experience that I really enjoy. Everything from the packaging to the invoices and the brightly coloured “lungo” capsules all feels amazingly high-end and “reassuringly expensive”.

The machine works by filling a water compartment and attaching a milk jug, then you pop in your capsule and press go.

There’s no cleaning, no tidy up and yet the coffee is as good as you will get at almost any coffee shop or café.

Every month new flavours of coffee capsules are released, some of them are limited editions or special collections and recently a decaf capsule was added to the range. Nespresso Club is a well supported and well run operation and that keeps it interesting and new.

The only criticism I would have is the excessive pricing on their accessories range, they stock a stainless steel teaspoon at €14 per spoon which I find extortionist but obviously you don’t have to buy it!

The capsules cost about €0.40 each and I generally order about €60 worth of stock every 6-8 months.

[Rating: 5/5]