Three UK create an unhappy customer (me)

chillfire on October 26, 2010

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Thanks for the response,

To be honest, for now I am happy with the phone, only 4Gb left after 5 days and that’s without any music on it..

As I mentioned I need a windows phone as part of my job, but I don’t have any other options on 3 for a different win 7 phone.

So there are no options for me at the moment to swap and even if I did pick another handset I would definitely end up with a phone I didn’t want for 2 years, a big fat catch 22 you might say.

What I am not at all happy with is the fact that the information I was given (and so have 3 retail staff I have spoken too) was incorrect when I purchased it leaving me with a phone that I am going to HAVE to upgrade in the next 12 months, leaving me out of pocket by +/- £400. This is really a trading standards issue I suppose?

I really do not understand how I cannot be allowed to get a free upgrade in 12 months time to a new win 7 phone, I suppose it really depends on if I am going to spend more than the trade price for the phone over the next 12 months, surely over the last 4 years or so I must have built up a fairly nice profit for 3?

On a side note (kind of) who does you ‘real’ testing for new handsets when they get released?

Is there any chance of testing the new 7 phones when they come out on behalf of 3, this wont cost you anything and would give me the chance to possibly get a phone that does what I need it to?

By the way I was told by the upgrades team I could not return the phone if I have turned it on/used it…

Can someone please tell me what the email address is to send my complaint to?

The one 333 gave me was incorrect and the email has bounced.

thanks



Moderator on October 26, 2010

@Chillfire – If you’re not happy with your Omnia 7 you can return it, as you’re still within your 14 days. If you want to discuss other phones then yes that’s a call to 333 and they’ll run through all your options. I don’t believe we can let you keep the phone until an upgraded model is released because we will need you to fulfil your contract with us. Thanks for the feedback you sent across to me, this has been sent to the retail team and they are making sure all the team are up-to-date.



chillfire on October 26, 2010

morning, can someone drop me an email if anything is being actioned for me or if I need to try to talk to 333 again?



chillfire on October 25, 2010

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 Again not for public info;

Just thought I should let you know I think this “Does it have SD expansion” problem may be bigger than I thought.

I went into the maidenhead 3 store to ask about protective skins for the omnia and the guy there asked about my thoughts on the phone, when I mentioned the 8Gb limit he said that cant be right as all the training he has been given said it came with an SD slot.

I gave him the phone and he was amazed it didn’t have it, even took the battery cover off to prove it ha ha.


cheers



chillfire on October 24, 2010

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Hi,

I hope you can help, you dont need to post this publicly, but I am running out of places to get help from.

The email address I was given by the 333 upgrade team guy, proofs@3mail.co.uk has just bounced, what is the correct email address for the complaints team?

cheers



chillfire on October 23, 2010

Yes I know Arne refused the delivery because I told him my phone didn’t have the SD slot…
The problem I have is the phone is part of my job, ie I build mobile apps, so I need a phone on the 3 network that is windowsphone 7 series that has more than 8Gb of storage, this leaves me stuck with the phone who’s spec changed from when I bought it to when it got delivered.
I tried to explain this to the 333 guys – all I want to be able to do is use the phone as it is now but have the opportunity upgrade it if/when the new phones get released to 3 that have more memory. I explained that if I return the phone I have to leave 3 to get a different one on a new network, they weren’t very passionate about wanting me to stay.
I have emailed proofs@ to see what they can do, but the 333 guys were trying to tell me that this blog wasn’t owned by three so I shouldn’t believe what is posted here (until I gave them the URL for it) and that the 3 site never said the phone was expandable..(I got screenshots as oone as the confusion started).. so I wasn’t too impressed with them to be honest.

Is it possible to meet up to discuss the problems I have had/am having around this phone?

On a plus side I was at a developer event today and the phone was enjoyed by many a greasy finger, also a lot of impressed faces when I told them the deal they can get on 3.

cheers



Moderator on October 22, 2010

@Arne Helseth – It’s not a problem if you want to return your phone within the first 14 days of delivery. If you do have any problems getting through to customer services then I can arrange for them to call you.



Moderator on October 22, 2010

@Chillfire – You should be able to return it, no probs, within the first 14 days. Sorry you’re disappointed



Arne Helseth on October 22, 2010

chillfire: You should have done what I did, refuse delivery. By now all their internal systems will be updated to show no SD slot so any attempt to speak to their customer support will be like having a root canal.

Good luck in returning it.



chillfire on October 22, 2010

I can now confirm the Samsung omnia 7 doe NOT have a microSD slot, very disappointed to say the least.



chillfire on October 21, 2010

I see the omnia 7 specs have been updated on the site to say it does not have any microSD slot anymore.

Does this mean we can return the phone if we don’t want it now due to the lack of expansion and wrong info on the site?

cheers



chillfire on October 21, 2010

may have found the problem US and UK version of the phone may be different

http://www.techwatch.co.uk/2010/10/13/samsung-focus-will-have-microsd-support-omnia-7-wont/

cheers



chillfire on October 21, 2010

Same question as arnehelseth, can anyone confirm if the omnia really does have an SD slot?

The review here http://windowsphonesecrets.com/2010/10/12/windows-phone-7-and-removable-storage/

says that the SD slot is under the battery it is NOT a standard expansion slot for cards to be taken out and used elsewhere, it is storage extension only. Once the card goes in there it gets used by the phone as part of the total storage available.

I will more then likely send it back if I cant extend the storage space, shame really.

cheers



Arne Helseth on October 21, 2010

That’s what I figured. You should be getting quite a lot of devices sent back then as everyone I’ve spoke to needs more than the 8GB onboard storage.

What’s especially worrying is that I had a long chat with your support rep and he went away twice to confirm it did indeed have a slot.

Tanks for your answer though.



Moderator on October 21, 2010

@Arne Helseth – I’m sorry but you’ve definitely been misinformed. No Windows Phone 7 has an HD slot. Thanks for flagging, we’re getting all our copy amended and our teams rebriefed



Arne Helseth on October 21, 2010

So, does the Omnia 7 really have a SD card slot? All information online (as well as info from Microsoft and Samsung reps) points to it being 8GB with no SD slot, yet Three has it listed on their website with upgradeable memory (upto 32GB) – this was also confirmed to me by your customer support, but he was most likely quoting the Three website or intranet knowledgebase…

My handset is going back to Three and contract cancelled if in fact it turns up with no expandable memory

It sucks there are no stores (at least up in the NE) with stock though, had there been I could have verified with my own eyes rather than taking some random persons word for it.

Question: Is the launch shambles down to you, the operators (including all others like Orange, O2, T-Mobile etc), Microsoft or the device manufacturers? According to sources elsewhere shipments have contained a lot less handsets than ordered by networks/stores – this kinda makes me worried there is an inherent fault with either the hardware [or more likely] the software.



Moderator on October 21, 2010

@Chillfire – Phew!! Hopefully the hunt is over. Let us know how you get on with your new Windows Phone



chillfire on October 21, 2010

Just had a call from 333, new omnia 7 arrives tomorrow – very happy

thanks



chillfire on October 21, 2010

I found the buy now button unfortunately I was hoping to upgrade in store.

Called 333 and they have no stock, possibly this afternoon.

Is there anyway to find out if there is physical stock in stores

cheers



Moderator on October 21, 2010

@Chillfire – Launched the same phone as Orange today too You can buy it online here



chillfire on October 21, 2010

Morning, any updates on omnia 7 availability?

It looks like orange had a good morning in London with the microsoft hardware launch – http://bit.ly/8ZROE7

cheers,



Moderator on October 19, 2010 @Chillfire – No probs, I’m just checking this out for you and a few others asking on twitter. As soon as I know, I’ll let you know



chillfire on October 18, 2010

Thanks moderator, is there anyway to find out where there will be stock?

Or will the people at 333 have a better idea on from the 21st?

cheers.



Moderator on October 18, 2010

@Chillfire – Thanks for your feedback, really useful to know. We’re launching the Samsung Omnia 7 on Oct 21 as planned. As an existing customer, calling 333 is your best option for getting hold of the handset quickly. We’ll have limited stock, so it’s possible the Maidenhead store won’t have a batch from day one. So there is no hold-up as far as we’re aware



chillfire on October 18, 2010

I just came out of the Maidenhead 3 store.

I asked about the Omnia 7 and was told they were only launching the HTC and the nokia this month….

Called 333 (and after wrestling with the myriad of number selections…)

I asked about the Samsung omnia…. long pause, no updates about when it will be launched and no specific dates either…

Then was told I could get any phone I wanted on that operating system, but there was only one windows phone available.

This is really disappointing, can anyone at 3 comment on whether this lack of information is a manufacturing problem or an administration issue. I really thought the phone was to be launched on the 21st of October?

And with no information form the 3 team it makes me wonder what the hold up is or who is causing it?

My live with a Samsung Omnia 7 - WIndowsphone series 7

Mit liv tillsammans med en Samsung Omnia 7 - WIndowsphone series 7


First things first, this phone does NOT have a microSD slot, even if your phone provider says it does!

I have never owned a touch screen phone, my last smartphone which has server me well for the last 2 and bit years is a Nokia N95 8Gb, a simple and robust phone.
So in a way I am a noob with all this fancy touchy feely slidy, greasy finger stuff.

Things I have noticed about the phone itself;

• It gets warm when charging from the mains but not from USB
• The off/lock button is in a stupid place
• The battery life is not great, it will need charging daily if you have everything turned on
• This is a consumer only phone* (more on this below) 
• The phone has no expansion slot
• It is lightning fast and very usable
• Integration with windows live/skydrive/office is fantastic
• It will not connect to an exchange server with a self-certified SSL certificate
• Browsing the internet has its limitations ** (more below)
• It does have a habit of rebooting *** (more below)
• You must have a windows live account to use the phone to its full potential
• The designers have listed to the user and done a great, the UI has been very well thought and gives just enough spice to make it interesting without being cumbersome.
• There are some bugs, but it is 1st generation # (see below)
• There is no cut/copy/paste, but the 1st gen iPhone didn't have that either I am told
• It runs a lite version of silverlight
• Internet browser is IE7 (ish)
• Its awesome!!!!
• Apps and installing them from marketplace is very simple

* What do you mean a consumer only phone?

I work in IT and generally have access (code or screwdriver) to all the devices I use, sometimes I even know how to fix or configure them.
The problem I have with the WP7 OS is I cant do anything outside of 'using' the phone, I cant edit things that are wrong. 

So basically the phone is aimed at the social end of the market, I just find it limiting because I want to get into the menus and change stuff. For the average person on the street the phone will slip into their connected world unnoticed, it will complete the magic 3 screens and a cloud strategy Microsoft talk about.

From auto uploads of photos/video to skydrive, to building MS Office docs on the road knowing they will be stored safely on the cloud to playing your mates on xBox live while on a train to work, it all just works out of the box.

One of the coolest bits in the messaging system is the way it keeps track of conversations for SMS messages on a single scrollable screen with each one in its own little speech bubble, corny I know, but quite practical and what we expect now from what is basically a chat interface.

** The internet

Although the internet browser is an IE7 variant the phone itsel runs its UI through silverlight and weirdly enough wont work on silverlight based websites, or flash, or anything that relies on javascript.

This is going to be a pain i the arse very quickly, but there are plugins for youtube and I hope an iPlayer app is released soon too.

So all the kerfuffle over iPad not supporting flash seems a little silly now.

Most sites I have been work well and the zoom in/out ala two finger shuffle is fantastic.

*** Rebooting/Locking up for no reason

Right this is a bit weird and may be down to the app I was trying to run, it only seems to do it when I try and open/resume the twitter client (from twitter). The phone also locked up a few times with this app as well (or the seesmic twitter client).

I may have the answer to the locking, I think it may be down to the 3G  connection, it looks like when the phone is off network the app opens and tries to update, so it waits for a network response...... still waiting then does not know what to do.

The rebooting is a weird one, will keep an eye on it. or am I hitting the off button?

# Bugs

I have found a bug in the way it manages contacts (this could just be me, but would be interested in hearing what others have found). The first time you view your contacts the phone asks if you want to import your SIM contacts so I did this, all very easy (The phone will sync these SIM contacts with your Windows Live account). I also connected to my facebook account (yes I have one but its not actively used) and instantly had all of them in my contacts list as well.

Now I decided to take my facebook contacts out cos I have none of their mobile numbers etc. So I disconnected the phone form facebook.

However all of the facebook contacts were still in my contact list and these could not be selected or deleted even after a reboot.

So I had to do a factory reset and reimport my SIM contacts to get a clean list.

The good thing is you can link your facebook contacts with your SIM contacts on the phone to give 1 person multiple presences an interesting link but it means that you can still keep phone contacts separated out.

An extra bit to this is if you have any issues with your contacts on the phone and because it syncs them on you windows ID, you just login to your windows Live account and edit/delete them there, which is easier than on the phone until you get used to the keyboard.

Conclusion after 1 day of proper use

Okay the phone is fantastic and the platform in my opinion is going to make a it a great environment to develop apps for.

Everything about the phone screams, 'this is my phone REALLY' and the OS apart from a few niggles is pretty solid. In the next few months hopefully there will be a way for developers to deploy their apps to small corporate groups privately (the only way now is to load your app up to the marketplace for anyone to download so securing it is vital).

The COOLEST thing so far
I am sure this wont stop people trying to steal these phones, but if you have the phone enabled to sync its location with your Windows live account and you ever lose it....

• Map it - view the location on a map
• Ring it - ring the phone for a minute
• Lock it - locks the screen and optionally add a screen note saying 'please return'
• erase it - reset to factory settings

Oh did I mention all of this is avaible via the windos live site, ie you can do all of this remotely!!!!!

I really like the phone, can you tell, and everyone who had a play at todays DDD8a thought the same, well no one said this is shit, they all just spun/pivoted their way through the UI, just like the peoplein the WP7 ads do, its very engaging.

As I get more used to the phone and its quirks I will add more posts, follow me on twitter @chillfire for updates on my life with a Windows Phone Series 7.

Upside down round and round

˙ɯəs nə sıləɟ oəl ɐʇɹod ləʌ 'ɹoʇɹoʇ ɐpıʌɐɹƃ lsıu ɐuɹn 'ənbıʇsıɹʇ səɔıɹʇln pı ɯəs 'ənbsıɹələɔs ɯɐu ˙uɐsɯnɔɔɐ ʇəƃə ənƃnɐ əɹɐuɹo ɯnʇuəɯɹəɟ ɹnʇıqɐɹnɔ ˙ʇılə ɯnʇɔıp ɔəu 'ısıu ɹolop ʇɐ ɔunu ˙ʇɐ ənbsıɹələɔs lsıu ʇəəɹoɐl ɔɐ 'sıɹnɐɯ sıʇʇıƃɐs əɹənsod ʇuəsəɐɹd ˙ʇılə ƃuıɔsıdıpɐ ɹnʇəʇɔəsuoɔ 'ʇəɯɐ ʇıs ɹolop ɯnsdı ɯəɹol ˙sılnɔɐı uɐsɯnɔɔɐ ınp nə ɯɐıp ʇɐɹəɔɐld sıɹnɐɯ ˙uəıdɐs ɐlnƃıl ʇn uɐəuəɐ ˙ɹoʇıʇʇɹod ıɔɹo ʇɐɹəɔɐld ʇəƃə ɐɹɹəʌıʌ sıɹnɐɯ ʇə ıɯ ɹoʇıʇʇɹod ıqɹoɯ ˙ɯəs sınb ɔɐ sıllɐʌuoɔ ɐɹʇəɹɐɥd ʇılə ʇə oəl nə ɯnlnqıʇsəʌ ˙ənbıʇsıɹʇ ɐ ınp ʇunpıɔuıʇ ʇɐıƃnəɟ ɔəuop ˙sıɹnɐɯ pəs ɐssɐɯ snʇɔəl ɹodɯəʇ ɔɐ 'sıdɹnʇ snqıdɐp ʇıləʌ ɯɐnb 'ʇıɹəɹpuəɥ ɯnʇuəɯɹəɟ əɐʇıʌ sıɹnɐɯ 'ʇəıpɹədɯı əssıpuədsns ˙ɐpɐnsəlɐɯ sɐʇsəƃə ɐssɐɯ ɐpıʌɐɹƃ ənbəu snsɹnɔ uɐəuəɐ ˙snqıdɐp sıdɹnʇ ʇıpuɐlq ʇə ʇɐɹəɔɐld sıɹnɐɯ ɔɐ ɐuƃɐɯ ɹodɯəʇ ɯɐnbılɐ ˙ƃuıɔsıdıpɐ ʇsə ɯnʇuəɯıpuoɔ pı ɐıuıɔɐl oəl ʇn sıdɹnʇ sıʇɐuəuəʌ snlləsɐɥd ˙snsıɹ snʇəɯ ʇɐ sɐuəɔəɐɯ ˙ləʌ ʇıpuɐlq snɹnd snsɹnɔ ʇə 'ɐllnu ʇıdıɔsns snʇɔnl ɯɐu ˙ɔunu ʇɐɹə sıʇɹoqol pəs ˙ıʇuəʇod əssıpuədsns ˙lsıu sıʇʇıƃɐs ɔəu ɔəuop ˙sısılıɔɐɟ sılloɯ ɯıssıuƃıp ɐllnu ˙ʇılə ƃuıɔsıdıpɐ ɹnʇəʇɔəsuoɔ 'ʇəɯɐ ʇıs ɹolop ɯnsdı ɯəɹol ˙snsɹnɔ ıɯ uɐsɯnɔɔɐ ʇə ʇıɹəɹpuəɥ ɯɐnb ʇəƃə ɹolop sılnɔɐı uıoɹd ˙ʇıləʌ ɐɹɹəʌıʌ ʇəƃə əssıpuədsns ˙ɹoʇɹoʇ sıləɟ ɔɐ ʇn ˙ɐuɹn uı ɐ ɯıssıuƃıp ɯnʇuəɯələ sıɹnɐɯ əɐʇıʌ oɹəqıl ɐ ɯɐllnu ˙sıdɹnʇ nɔɹɐ ʇɐ uıoɹd ˙ənbəu əʇuɐ sınb ɔəuop ˙ənƃuoɔ sndɯəʇ snsıɹ əɐʇıʌ ɯɐıp ɯıssıuƃıp snɯɐʌıʌ ˙ɔəu ʇɐıƃnəɟ snɹnd ɹoʇıʇʇɹod puəɟıələ 'nɔɹɐ əɹɐuɹo snʇɔnl ɯɐllnu ˙ɹədɯəs əʇuɐ snɔuoɥɹ nə ʇəəɹoɐl ʇsə pı snʇɔəl snsɹnɔ uı ˙ɹnʇəʇɔəsuoɔ ʇənbılɐ ʇəəɹoɐl uı ˙ɯəs uı əɐʇıʌ ɐllıƃuıɹɟ ʇəıpɹədɯı oɹəqıl ʇɐ soɹə pəs ɯɐllnu ˙sınb sıllɐʌuoɔ ɹolop ɯnpɹəʇuı ʇəƃə 'sıɹnɐɯ ɯnpɹəʇuı ɐʇɹod sıɹnɐɯ ˙oɹəqıl sınb snsıɹ ɔunu əʇɐʇndlnʌ ɹədɹoɔɯɐlln 'ənƃnɐ puəɟıələ lsıu ɔunu 'ʇunpıɔuıʇ opoɯɯoɔ ʇn ɹoʇɹoʇ 'əɹənsod ıqɹoɯ ˙sısılıɔɐɟ ʇəəɹoɐl ɐllnu səlɐpos əɹɐuɹo uı ˙ʇıləʌ ɐpıʌɐɹƃ ʇə əɔsnɟ ˙snqıdɐp ɯɐnbılɐ ɯnʇuəɯıpuoɔ snɯɐʌıʌ ˙ʇıləʌ oəl ʇɐ sɐuəɔəɐɯ ˙sɐʇsəƃə sıdɹnʇ ɔɐ səɯɐɟ ɐpɐnsəlɐɯ ʇə snʇəu ʇə snʇɔəuəs ənbıʇsıɹʇ ıqɹoɯ ʇuɐʇıqɐɥ ənbsəʇuəlləd ˙soɹə ənbəu ɔɐ ənbsınb ˙ɹoʇɔnɐ ɯnıʇəɹd sıɹnɐɯ ʇɐ ɐuɹn ʇə snlləsɐɥd ˙soəɐuəɯıɥ soʇdəɔuı ɹəd 'ɐɹʇsou ɐıqnuoɔ ɹəd ʇuənbɹoʇ ɐɹoʇıl pɐ nbsoıɔos ıʇıɔɐʇ ʇuəʇdɐ ssɐlɔ ˙ʇəƃə sıʇʇıƃɐs nɔɹɐ ɹnʇəʇɔəsuoɔ ʇəɯɐ ʇıs 'soɹə uıpnʇıɔıllos ɯnpuəqıq ɯɐnbılɐ ˙sıʇɐuəuəʌ əʇɐʇndlnʌ ɯnʇuəɯıpuoɔ ıqɹoɯ ˙snɹnd sndɯəʇ ʇə ʇn ˙ɹɐuıʌlnd puəɟıələ ɥqıu ɐlnɔıɥəʌ soɹə ɐ ənbsınb ˙snqıdɐp ʇɐɹəɔɐld snlləʇ ʇəəɹoɐl ʇɐdʇnloʌ ənbsəʇuəlləd ˙ʇɐɹə ɯıssıuƃıp ʇəƃə 'ısıu ɐssɐɯ ʇɐ ɔəuop ˙snlləʇ ʇıləʌ ʇɐ ɯɐllnu ˙snʇɔnl ənƃuoɔ ɹoʇɔnɐ ɯɐllnu ˙ıɔɹo ɯnʇuəɯələ ɔəu ʇn ˙uou sıʇɐuəuəʌ ɐllnu snsɹnɔ ɔɐ 'sıdɹnʇ ʇunpıɔuıʇ ənbsıɹələɔs ɹnʇıqɐɹnɔ ˙sıʇʇıƃɐs səɔıɹʇln ɯɐnb əʇɐʇndlnʌ ɐuƃɐɯ ʇəıpɹədɯı sınp ˙snʇɔəl ʇəƃə snqıdɐp 'ɔəu ʇənbılɐ ʇəɯɐ ʇıs sıʇʇıƃɐs 'ıɔɹo snɔɐl əɔsnɟ ˙ɐıuıɔɐl ʇıpuɐlq əıʇsəloɯ uıoɹd ˙ənƃnɐ pəs ʇn ʇıpuɐlq ʇɐdʇnloʌ ɐuɹn ʇn oɹəqıl ʇn ənbsəʇuəlləd ˙oəl ɹədɯəs sınb 'ənƃnɐ ʇılə ʇɐ sɐɹɔ ˙sɐʇsəƃə sıdɹnʇ ɔɐ səɯɐɟ ɐpɐnsəlɐɯ ʇə snʇəu ʇə snʇɔəuəs ənbıʇsıɹʇ ıqɹoɯ ʇuɐʇıqɐɥ ənbsəʇuəlləd ˙ɐɹɹəʌıʌ ɐɹɹəʌıʌ ɯɐıp ʇəɯɐ ʇıs ɐuƃɐɯ pı ʇn ˙ʇılə ƃuıɔsıdıpɐ ɹnʇəʇɔəsuoɔ 'ʇəɯɐ ʇıs ɹolop ɯnsdı ɯəɹol ˙əɐʇıʌ ənƃuoɔ ɯɐıp ʇıpuɐlq ʇə 'ɯɐnb opoɯɯoɔ ʇɐıƃnəɟ snlləsɐɥd ˙ɯıuə ʇıdıɔsns ʇəɯɐ ʇıs 'ʇılə nɔɹɐ ɐ ɯɐllnu ˙ɯnsdı əɐʇıʌ ɐpɐnsəlɐɯ 'uou əɹɐuɹo nə ɯnpuəqıq 'ənƃnɐ ʇılə ɹəƃəʇuı ˙oəl ʇn ʇɐıƃnəɟ 'ʇə ɯnʇuəɯıpuoɔ ləʌ sndɯəʇ 'ɯɐnb nɔɹɐ ɹəƃəʇuı ˙sıʇʇɐɯ snsɹnɔ ɐssɐɯ ɔəu ɯnsdı uɐsɯnɔɔɐ ɯɐu ˙sıʇʇıƃɐs pı ɹolop snsɹnɔ səlɐpos ıqɹoɯ ˙ɐuƃɐɯ ɐʇɹod sınb 'snlləʇ oıpo ʇəɯɐ ʇıs ɯɐllnu ˙sıləɟ ʇɐ sılloɯ 'ɔəu snɔuoɥɹ ʇn ɯnʇuəɯələ 'lsıu snsıɹ ʇuəsəɐɹd ˙uəıdɐs ɔəu səɔıɹʇln 'ɔəu əɹɐuɹo ʇɐ ɯnpɹəʇuı 'ʇıləʌ ɔunu ɯɐu ˙snsıɹ sınb ənbsıɹələɔs 'əɐʇıʌ ɐɹʇəɹɐɥd ʇɐ snɔuoɥɹ 'ʇıləʌ sıɹnɐɯ əssıpuədsns ˙uıpnʇıɔıllos ɐuƃɐɯ ɐpıʌɐɹƃ uı əɹənsod snʇɔəl ɔəu nɔɹɐ ɐllıƃuıɹɟ snɯɐʌıʌ ˙ɹədɯəs ɹnʇəʇɔəsuoɔ ɐllıƃuıɹɟ ənbsınb ˙ənbəu ɐ ɔəu snıɹɐʌ ɹədɯəs snlləʇ pı snsıɹ əɹɐuɹo ɯnlnqıʇsəʌ ˙ɐlnƃıl ʇəɯɐ ʇıs ɯnʇuəɯələ 'ɐʇɹod ʇıɹəɹpuəɥ ʇɐ əʇɐʇndlnʌ 'ɯıuə ısıu ɔunu ˙ənbıʇsıɹʇ ɐlnƃıl ʇəıpɹədɯı poɯsınə ɯnʇuəɯələ ɯɐıp ɔɐ ɐssɐɯ ɯnʇuəɯɹəɟ snɯɐʌıʌ ˙ɐlnƃıl pəs ɯnpuəqıq 'sınb ɯnʇuəɯıpuoɔ ʇɐ puəɟıələ 'ɯɐıp snlləʇ sɐuəɔəɐɯ ˙sıləɟ ɯnpuəqıq ləʌ ɯɐıʇə ˙ɐɹʇəɹɐɥd sıləɟ snsɹnɔ ɐ sısılıɔɐɟ lsıu uou ɯıuə əɹənsod uıoɹd ˙sıɹnɐɯ əɐʇıʌ ʇə ʇıdıɔsns ɯıssıuƃıp snlləʇ nə snʇɔəl pəs uɐəuəɐ ˙sɐʇsəƃə ʇunpıɔuıʇ oɹəqıl pı ənbəu ɐpɐnsəlɐɯ ʇuəsəɐɹd ˙ʇılə ənbıʇsıɹʇ ɐpıʌɐɹƃ 'əɐʇıʌ ɐʇɹod ʇə əʇɐʇndlnʌ 'snsıɹ snʇəɯ ɯɐıʇə ˙snıɹɐʌ ʇıɹəɹpuəɥ sıdɹnʇ ʇɐ oɹəqıl poɯsınə sınp ˙oəl ʇɐ sıɹnɐɯ sıɹnɐɯ poɯsınə ʇɐıƃnəɟ 'lsıu ɯnlnqıʇsəʌ oəl ɯəɹol 'sıʇʇıƃɐs puəɟıələ ʇn oəl 'əɹənsod ənbsınb ˙uəıdɐs ɯnsdı ɔəu ɹnʇıqɐɹnɔ ˙ʇılə ƃuıɔsıdıpɐ ɹnʇəʇɔəsuoɔ 'ʇəɯɐ ʇıs ɹolop ɯnsdı ɯəɹol

I am Not the STIG

So here is my theory on STIG -gate.

Background:
Top Gear is a great show, loads of viewers and has a very strong brand, here in the UK and around the world.
It has however come under a lot of flack from people saying its just 3 grown men acting like teenagers in cars (I think this is the whole idea, but anyway) and a lot of people saying it's boring and past it.
In some ways I agree about it being same story different packaging each season, but like any good brand if it works, why would you change it (think Coke and Coke Classic from the 80's).

The STIG is a media icon, a silly name (its means 'path' I think in Swedish) but another globally recognised brand, possibly a longer lasting brand if the TG show was axed you could quite easily see this character popping up in different show formats?

Theory (Okay I might be a little cynical):
If I was the BBC or whoever produces the TG show and I needed to guarantee some ratings, how would I best do this?
- Fire a presenter? dangerous, they might write a book or start their own show (ah most of them have anyway) and finding a replacement would be tough.
- Change the format? not worth the risk and cost
- Kill the STIG? They have done this on a few occasions, and he magically appears again even more powerful then before -http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/the-stig--hms-invincible
-Piss the man in the white suit off enough to force him to try and make some cash (or even tell him to reveal himself) a different way.

So the Stig has been unmasked, now they have a gap to fill, what will they do with all of this 'press' coverage?
My guess is the Stig will magically reappear and be as elusive and 'exotic' as ever before and we will still not know who is the Stig again, it could be anyone or it could be Ben Collins, who knows and to be honest anyone who watches the show probably wont care.
The fact there is a mystery person inside the suit is all that anyone really cares about, we know this person has changed before in the past, there are loads of YouTube footage of the different Stig's tall, short, tanned
The other 3 presenters have all made a bomb out of the show, the Stig was on £70k a year and I am pretty sure was not in on the merchandising payroll. So why not try and get a few quid (I heard £230k banded around for the book deal) out of what could''ve been the last year for the Stig anyway, if the show is cancelled then what really?

I was amazed that once the court injunction went through and he was seen without his white helmet, the 3 presenters were all doing the media rounds saying how disappointed they were, Clarkson said he had the stig around for dinner and felt betrayed (a little Clarkson humor me thinks).
Noramlly to get these guys involved in anything takes a lot of pressure from the BBC etc, but they were amazingly free to take questions....

So to the man/lady behind the unveiling should get a pat on the back, they have created a media frenzy over something that in the real world (outside of TV) is not very exciting.
But has guaranteed the viewing figures for the first TG next season will be through the roof and that Ben Collins book will be on the top of every TG viewers Christmas list.

I will be watching the first show and probably will get the book if I ask Santa nicely (wonder who he really is?)

Exporting Excel 2010 to XML

After many expletives and banging of keys, I finally found that it is really easy to export an excel sheet to XML – that is as long as you remember to;

 

1-      Turn the developer tab on in the ribbon

2-      Create a valid XML file to map to (the special word is valid, it might be valid to us mere mortals but Excel is an odd beast)

3-      Map it up

4-      Export – no really that’s it

 

 

1- Turn developer bar on

File -> Options -> Customize Ribbon -> From the Main tabs list on the right tick the developer tickbox -> OK

 

Once this is turned on go to the developer tab and click the Source button.

A new panel will appear (empty probably) this is where the XML file will be once it has been mapped.

 

 

2 – Create an XML file

 

<services>

    <Service>

        <code></code>

        <description></description>

        <comment></comment>

    </Service>

    <Service>

        <code></code>

        <description></description>

        <comment></comment>

    </Service>

</services>

 

The important bit to note is the 2^nd instance of the service node, if you only have a single instance, excel only allows you to export the top row of your data….. hmm a bug maybe?

Save your  XML mapping file somewhere easy to find (don’t delete this as you will need this if you ever need to export the data again, it’s not stored as part of your workbook)

 

 

3- Map it up

 

Back in Excel, Click the XML Maps button from the XML panel and select an XML file you just created, if asked click yes on the schema message box (saves time unless you want to make your one).

Once the mapping structure is in right click on any of the nodes and click Map Element, now select the range of data from the excel sheet you want to populate your XML file.

If your nodes and columns are ordered the same, you can right click on the top level mapping node and map the whole XML file to all of your columns in one go.

 

 

4- Export

 

Now click the Verify Map for Export, if all went well Excel will now be able to export your data using your XML mapping file via the Export button in the developer tab.

 

 

goodluck

Just back form a great holiday in France (stayed in Manninghem, inland form Le Torquest and south of Calais).

Arriving on a bank holiday was meant there wasn't a lot open or people about, although at times it felt like we were living in a post apocalypse universe... where do the people go?

As holidays go it was just what I needed, the house we stayed at had NI (no internet), limited heating (so we had to get a roaring fire going each night -very manly) and even squeezed in a BBQ and some drunk golf in the back yard!

We didn't do much, bar sitting on the beach for 2 days (not too hot, but got a bit burnt) drinking a bit much each night and chilling, which was great.

back to real life and real projects!

Must admit I didn't really miss the internet or emails.... well not much

nice to hear good stuff about new zealand

As a patriotic Kiwi living abroad it is always good to hear that NZ hasn't gone to the dogs just yet!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/8683377.stm

Outlook 2010 can connect up to 15 Exchange accounts

This saved me loads of time, I realise not everyone has more than one Excahnge mail account, but every company I work with gives me an email address, and normally as I setup their servers its going to be on a Mocrosoft Excahneg box...

Thanks to the Microsoft Office team (they listed YAY), Outlook 2010 can host more than 1 exchange account now!!!

But I needed more than the default allowed 3 and here is how to do it -

Bink.nu | COOL: Outlook 2010 can connect up to 15 Exchange Organizations - Bink.nu

note: this involves a registry edit, please backup everything before doing it as we all know how bad a registry error can be!!!