Simon Barker's Articles On Zath

Simon Barker is the founder and editor of Zath and has over 30 years worth of experience of using computers and technology in general. He can normally be found researching or testing the latest in technology products.

He has provided IT consultancy services to both home and small business users for over 15 years, building PCs, fixing hardware/software problems and providing comprehensive training.

Simon always likes to get the best out of the technology he is using, by both making informed decisions of what products to purchase and also optimising how it is then used to get the most benefits possible.

If you'd like to follow and/or contact him on Twitter, please feel free to do so - @SimonBarker.

Nintendo 3DS Preview Event Review – Is This Handheld 3D Console A Game-Changer?

6th Feb 2011 by Simon Barker - Last Updated: 6th Nov 2018

nintendo_3ds This weekend has seen a number of preview events for the upcoming Nintendo 3DS handheld gaming console in cities around the UK and I had the opportunity to attend one (thanks to Dom “The Hodge” Hodgson), so I went along to one of the Manchester sessions.

The Nintendo 3DS has been long-anticipated ever since it was first announced and will be the latest in the long line of handheld gaming console updates from the iconic gaming company, some of which include the Game and Watch LCD games, Gameboy(s), DS, DSi, DSi XL — they even had a few of these historic gaming devices on show at the start of the event.
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Simon Barker

Simon Barker is the founder and editor of Zath and has over 25 years worth of experience of using computers and technology in general. He can normally be found researching or testing the latest in technology products.

He has provided IT consultancy services to both home and small business users for over 15 years, building PCs, fixing hardware/software problems and providing comprehensive training.

If you’d like to follow and/or contact him on Twitter, please feel free to do so – @SimonBarker.

https://www.simonbarker.com

Humax Foxsat HDR Freesat HD TV Digital Recorder Review

31st Jan 2011 by Simon Barker - Last Updated: 13th Sep 2018

humax-foxsat-hdr-freesat-hd-tv-digital-recorder-set-top-box Over Christmas I was lucky enough to receive the Humax Foxsat HDR Freesat Digital HDTV Recorder, having had chance to play with it over the last few weeks I thought I was high time it got a review.

For those of you that don’t know (now that you’re surfacing from underneath that rock) Freesat HD is effectively the free version of Sky HD, much like Freeview, except that a satellite dish is used rather than the traditional aerial. However, unlike with Freeview HD set top boxes, you can get a decent signal pretty much anywhere which offers a view of the sky, fantastic for those people who live in the back of beyond. It also offers a larger range of channels and can be used to simultaneously watch and record different programs.
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Simon Barker

He has provided IT consultancy services to both home and small business users for over 15 years, building PCs, fixing hardware/software problems and providing comprehensive training.

If you’d like to follow and/or contact him on Twitter, please feel free to do so – @SimonBarker.

https://www.simonbarker.com

Marware Eco-Vue iPad Case Review

24th Jan 2011 by Simon Barker - Last Updated: 22nd Sep 2018

marware-eco-vue-ipad-case-closed-elastic-strap As soon as I bought my Apple iPad, I knew straight away from looking at its cool looking metal finish and from experience of owning an iPod that I’d definitely be needing to get a case for it otherwise it would be getting scratched and taking impacts all over the place. I’ve now ended up coming to the conclusion that the Marware Eco-Vue iPad Case is my preferred option and here’s why…

I initially tried a slimline silicone case, however it wasn’t quite what I was looking for in terms of protection and aesthetics, instead I moved to a more robust iPad leather flip case, this was definitely an improvement and meant I was more confident in carrying it around, however it was a little limited in how you could position the case in use.
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Simon Barker

He has provided IT consultancy services to both home and small business users for over 15 years, building PCs, fixing hardware/software problems and providing comprehensive training.

If you’d like to follow and/or contact him on Twitter, please feel free to do so – @SimonBarker.

https://www.simonbarker.com

Apple iPad Review – Should I Buy An iPad? Is It Worth Having Any Tablet Device?

19th Jan 2011 by Simon Barker - Last Updated: 4th Nov 2018

apple-ipad-home-screen-small Nearly a year ago I wrote up a quick post about my Apple iPad pre-launch thoughts/questions as they were at that time about this new tablet device, would it be a netbook and Kindle replacement and whether I should buy one — given the questions posed about how would you use an iPad, I certainly wasn’t going to be in a rush to get one…however, I did end up buying an Apple iPad on the day of release here in the UK – that being the 16GB WiFi version, ie. the cheapest option while not being tied into another monthly mobile data expense.

In my opinion, the Apple iPad is one of those devices that you don’t need as such, but it’s very cool to actually have one to use when you have a definite use for it. For instance, it’s good for simply checking email, browsing web pages, using Twitter while sat on the sofa in front of the TV – obviously you could do that with your phone/netbook/laptop, however the iPad lets you do it in such a compact device that is just enjoyable to hold/use/touch – plus it doesn’t generate huge amounts of heat that you’d encounter from resting a laptop on your lap.
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Simon Barker

He has provided IT consultancy services to both home and small business users for over 15 years, building PCs, fixing hardware/software problems and providing comprehensive training.

If you’d like to follow and/or contact him on Twitter, please feel free to do so – @SimonBarker.

https://www.simonbarker.com

Computer Weekly IT Blog Awards 2010 Nomination – Vote For Zath!

9th Nov 2010 by Simon Barker - Last Updated: 6th Nov 2018

Here at Zath we pride ourselves on bringing our readers high quality technology and gadget related content on a daily basis, it’s always good to get feedback from people on what they think and especially when that takes the form of an award nomination. So having said that, I’m pleased to announce that Zath has been shortlisted for Computer Weekly’s IT Blog Awards 2010 under their Gadgets category!

You may remember that Zath was also nominated for a Computer Weekly IT Blog Awards in 2009, unfortunately on that occasion we didn’t quite make it through to the shortlisted section where the public get to vote for their favourite that they want to win. However this year we have, you’ve got a chance to vote for Zath, so we’re definitely in with a chance of winning this time round.
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Simon Barker

He has provided IT consultancy services to both home and small business users for over 15 years, building PCs, fixing hardware/software problems and providing comprehensive training.

If you’d like to follow and/or contact him on Twitter, please feel free to do so – @SimonBarker.

https://www.simonbarker.com

Win An Amazon Kindle and Zombie Book (Virgin Trains’ ‘Don’t Go Zombie’ Competition)

7th Oct 2010 by Simon Barker - Last Updated: 4th Nov 2018

virgin-trains-dont-go-zombie-win-prizes-competition Here on Zath we recently wrote about Virgin Trains’ latest promotion called ‘Don’t Go Zombie’ which featured an innovative zombie game that was based off Google Street View in which you could run go around your local streets ticketing the zombies to save them and get them onto a Virgin Train. In fact, if you go zombie hunting around York, you may even find our very own Zath Zombie!

Well here at Zath we’ve now teamed up with Virgin Trains to help you prepare for the zombie apocalypse by offering up one of the new Amazon Kindle (Wifi) ebook readers along with a copy of what will be a very useful book; Zompoc: How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse – These are useful things to have after all, when you’re dealing with zombies, you want to pack light, so being able to carry your book collection around with you on one light device rather than deal with the weight and bulk of all those paper and hardbacks will be a definite advantage!
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Simon Barker

He has provided IT consultancy services to both home and small business users for over 15 years, building PCs, fixing hardware/software problems and providing comprehensive training.

If you’d like to follow and/or contact him on Twitter, please feel free to do so – @SimonBarker.

https://www.simonbarker.com

Windows Phone 7 Preview – What Can We Expect From Microsoft’s All New Mobile OS?

6th Oct 2010 by Simon Barker - Last Updated: 6th Nov 2018

Last week Zath got invited to the Microsoft offices in London, to have a sneak preview of what is in store for us with the new Windows Phone 7 operating system (OS) and also speak to Oded Ran (Head of Consumer Marketing, Windows Phone, UK) to see what answers he could give us to the various questions that are on our mind regarding Microsoft’s latest mobile phone platform.

One of the first things that strikes you when you look at Windows Phone 7 is it’s very different from the previous mobile versions of Windows, perhaps following the success of Windows 7, they are now wanting a mobile operating system which is worthy of being badged with the Windows (Phone) 7 name.

Also, many of the design successes from the likes of their media players such as the Zune HD have been used in this new mobile OS and choosing to leave behind support for previous versions of Windows Mobile has allowed them to create something new from the ground up.

In fact from seeing Windows Phone 7 in action, you see how their philosophy of removing the need for you to think what application you need to load to accomplish a given task, instead you are just presented with the options you might want to do, for example, to find the nearest pizza restaurant, you can just search without first thinking, do I need to be in search or do I need to be in the mapping application.
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Simon Barker

He has provided IT consultancy services to both home and small business users for over 15 years, building PCs, fixing hardware/software problems and providing comprehensive training.

If you’d like to follow and/or contact him on Twitter, please feel free to do so – @SimonBarker.

https://www.simonbarker.com

Win A Kymera Magic Wand Universal Remote Control (Competition)

24th Sep 2010 by Simon Barker - Last Updated: 4th Nov 2018

Late last year you may have seen us here at Zath cover the Magic Wand Universal Remote Control which was released by Kymera, a company dedicated to creating consumer electronics which take their inspiration from magical objects and effects.

This particular piece of hi-tech (or is it actually old technology?) has recently been featured on the latest series of the BBC’s Dragons’ Den show where the Kymera Magic Wand had the Dragons spellbound and saw Duncan Bannatyne coming out on top and making the largest ever single investment of £200,000 – no doubt we can expect lots more magic-inspired gadgets coming our way in the years to come now!

We’re big fans of these kinds of devices here at Zath and we’ve now teamed up with the online gadget and gift retailer, I Want One Of Those to run a competition in which one lucky reader will win one of these Magic Wand Remote Controls, which given that the Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows (Part 1) movie comes out soon, it definitely ties in well with the wizarding theme this autumn.
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Simon Barker

He has provided IT consultancy services to both home and small business users for over 15 years, building PCs, fixing hardware/software problems and providing comprehensive training.

If you’d like to follow and/or contact him on Twitter, please feel free to do so – @SimonBarker.

https://www.simonbarker.com

iPad Leather Flip Case Review

2nd Sep 2010 by Simon Barker - Last Updated: 25th Jul 2014

ipad-leather-flip-case-open-blue As soon as I got my Apple iPad from PC World on release day, I knew much like any new shiny, beautifully designed portable product from Steve Jobs’ company, I was going to need a case to prevent scratches and general wear and tear that occur even if you’re the most careful of people — I’ve owned a shiny backed iPod Classic!

This particular iPad leather flip case doesn’t weigh much so it doesn’t make the overall weight of the iPad really noticeably heavier when you’re using it, equally the case is quite compact in terms of thickness of the leather-style exterior, therefore the overall bulk of carrying/using your iPad isn’t increased, while offering a fairly secure form of protection from bumps and scratches.
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Simon Barker

He has provided IT consultancy services to both home and small business users for over 15 years, building PCs, fixing hardware/software problems and providing comprehensive training.

If you’d like to follow and/or contact him on Twitter, please feel free to do so – @SimonBarker.

https://www.simonbarker.com

Silicone iPad Case Review

26th Aug 2010 by Simon Barker - Last Updated: 13th Oct 2014

silicone-ipad-case-cover-red-front-view The one thing that you realise once you’ve got your shiny new Apple iPad tablet device is just how high quality the design, build quality and finish really is and obviously most people will want to try and keep it in as good a condition as possible and obviously that’s when you start looking at the best iPad stands and cases that are out there.

This particular iPad case I’ve looked at is made from silicone and is probably more of a thin sleeve more than anything else which surrounds your iPad’s exterior (apart from the screen that is) and protects it from scratches, scrapes and bumps, while not adding too much bulk to the actual device.
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Simon Barker

He has provided IT consultancy services to both home and small business users for over 15 years, building PCs, fixing hardware/software problems and providing comprehensive training.

If you’d like to follow and/or contact him on Twitter, please feel free to do so – @SimonBarker.

https://www.simonbarker.com