{"id":7270,"date":"2017-11-06T00:51:41","date_gmt":"2017-11-06T00:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.markwilson.co.uk\/blog\/?p=7270"},"modified":"2017-11-06T22:42:20","modified_gmt":"2017-11-06T22:42:20","slug":"weeknote-no-2-thule-bike-carriers-microsoft-futuredecoded-new-iphone-week-44-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.markwilson.co.uk\/blog\/2017\/11\/weeknote-no-2-thule-bike-carriers-microsoft-futuredecoded-new-iphone-week-44-2017.htm","title":{"rendered":"Weeknote No 2: Thule bike carriers; Microsoft #FutureDecoded; and a new iPhone (Week 44, 2017)"},"content":{"rendered":"

After some positive feedback on last week\u2019s newsletter-style blog, I\u2019ve decided to keep going with the format for at least another week.<\/p>\n

So, please indulge me in a little narcissism as I write about a week in the world of Mark\u2026 although this post is a little late as it’s now the following Monday (I ran out of weekend…)<\/p>\n

New bike carriers<\/h3>\n

Last week<\/a> I wrote about racing cyclocross with my son. I have a 4-bike carrier that fits on a towball on my car but it\u2019s just a cheap one from Halfords and, to be honest, it\u2019s not that great. I\u2019ve been considering getting a roof mounted system for when I have just a couple of bikes (i.e. not the whole family\u2019s) and, I decided to buy a good product this time (buy cheap, buy twice\u2026).<\/p>\n

That meant a Thule system – and their website helped me to work out which parts to buy<\/a> but I was still looking to do better than recommended retail price. After failing to land a couple of Thule ProRide carriers on eBay, I bought the whole setup from RoofRacks.co.uk<\/a>, including matching locks as standard and free standard delivery.<\/p>\n

One thing I thought long and hard on was whether to go for silver or black finish (my car has black roof rails). In the end. I decided on silver – the 10% premium for black parts is simply not worth it – especially as the silver rails\/racks have some black components.<\/p>\n

Survey marks<\/h3>\n

Whilst walking in Dorset last week, I spotted a strange disc bolted to a pavement, with the words Survey Mark on it. I asked Ordnance Survey if they knew what it is and they responded to say it’s a “historical bolt style benchmark” – a legacy system for recording the height above sea level<\/a>.<\/p>\n

@OrdnanceSurvey<\/a> Do you know what this is, please? pic.twitter.com\/15MKcKmeKa<\/a>\u2014 Mark Wilson ???? (@markwilsonit) October 27, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

thats a fine example of a historical bolt style benchmark – details may be here- https:\/\/t.co\/M5ChLwqSqX<\/a>\u2014 Ordnance Survey (@OrdnanceSurvey) October 30, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Back to work (highlights)<\/h3>\n

After last week\u2019s holiday, it was back to work this week – with a bang. My employer, risual<\/a>, was headline sponsoring Microsoft\u2019s Future Decoded<\/a> event – which meant a couple of full-on (but enjoyable) days at London ExCeL in a mixture of stand duty (chatting to delegates, capturing potential sales leads), presenting (4 short sessions on digital transformation) – albeit in a theatre \u201croom\u201d at the side of the main exhibition hall (so not the best environment) – and joining the keynote sessions (though I missed all of the breakout sessions). Added to UK Azure User Group<\/a> events on Monday and Tuesday evenings, it was a very busy few days!<\/p>\n

\n

Another great place to view the @risual<\/a> sponsorship from ;-) #FutureDecoded<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/EyzAC0LJM6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Mark Wilson ???? (@markwilsonit) October 31, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I really enjoyed the presenting opportunity – I\u2019d like to do more if I get the chance, though I do prefer to create my own content (rather than presenting material created for me). I also saw some pretty cool presentations that I hope will result in some blog posts of their own – particularly the ones around Quantum Computing and DNA Storage.<\/p>\n

Accessibility<\/h3>\n

Hobbling around with a twisted ankle (after last week\u2019s unexpected fall into the sea) has given me a little insight into what it\u2019s like to have limited mobility. I\u2019ve still walked, but more slowly than usual – and not the distances I\u2019d normally expect to cover. No cycling, running or circuits this week either\u2026<\/p>\n

The closing keynote at Future Decoded had a major focus on inclusivity and accessibility – including the surprising statistic that 1 billion people in the world are disabled in one way or another (hidden or visible).<\/p>\n

Every one of us has reduced ability from time to time – not just people who are disabled. That may be permanent, temporary (as in my case) or situational (such as when holding a child whilst on a phone call). Assistive technology is something that we can all use to make the most of our senses and get the best use of time – the most important thing we have!<\/p>\n

iPhones\u2026<\/h3>\n

Readers of last week\u2019s post may remember that I fell into the sea, with an Apple Watch Series 3 on my wrist (water resistant) and iPhone 6s in my pocket (not water resistant). As well as the discomfort from the twisted ankle, that\u2019s turned out to be quite an expensive slip\u2026<\/p>\n

After a couple of days drying out, my phone was working (sort of), with notifications (and even a phone call) on my Apple Watch – and my computers could \u201csee\u201d the iPhone. But the screen wasn\u2019t working so I couldn\u2019t unlock it.<\/p>\n

The damage to the phone was covered on my home contents policy as accidental damage but it was going to take a couple of weeks for the insurers to get their agent to collect, assess and then potentially return a repaired device to me. I don\u2019t want a repaired device. Water damage leads to all sorts of longer-term issues, particularly when combined with corrosion, so they agreed to replace my phone if Apple would certify that the device was beyond economic repair due to liquid damage.\u00a0 <\/span>After seeing the bright red liquid damage indicator, Apple was happy to do that. Unfortunately, they valued my iPhone 6S at \u00a3299 – apparently the replacement price for an upgrade. Take off \u00a3100 excess and I had \u00a3199 in the bank but no working phone.<\/p>\n

Soggy iPhone sitrep: dead screen, battery, camera and salt residue all over electronics. Bright red liquid damage indicator! pic.twitter.com\/vJJvFJnPag<\/a>\u2014 Mark Wilson ???? (@markwilsonit) November 3, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I\u2019d only been saying how expensive the new iPhone is and how I\u2019d keep mine for a bit longer the day before I trashed my old one\u2026 now I\u2019m paying for that expensive iPhone 8 Plus over 20 months, with interest-free finance through the Apple Upgrade Programme<\/a> (AUP\u2026 or \u201cay-up\u201d as the staff referred to it\u2026 I thought I\u2019d suddenly been transported to Yorkshire). It also gives me the option to exchange for a new phone in a year\u2019s time (iPhone 8S, 9 or 11 or whatever the next one is called), and it includes 2 years\u2019 Apple Care. Let\u2019s hope the camera is as good as I was led to believe by some of my friends (that\u2019s why I got the plus, and why I got the 256GB version).<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, iCloud wasn\u2019t backing up as much as I hoped and a restore to my new phone was a little underwhelming. I had backed up my photos manually but there were a few I hadn\u2019t got, and I had some expenses I really wanted to click \u201cupload\u201d on. I searched the \u2018net for a local Apple repair specialist to see how much a new screen might cost and found Northampton Apple Repair<\/a>, who helped me out with a temporary screen and battery so I could take a full iTunes backup of my phone. Having seen the inside of my phone (lots of salt), they were amazed it even booted.<\/p>\n

I also learned that:<\/p>\n