Recently, I’ve been on a bit of a de-cluttering mission! But also, things I just don’t need and feel could be of use to others – just given them for free.
I also help with charities, giving food to those who need it most. I’m only sharing this to inspire others who can do the same – appreciate not everyone can, but to make the world a better place… if we can help each other out, it’s wonderful because who knows when we may need that help one day.
If you’re on Twitter – which I hope you are, you’re probably following a number of celebs, VIP’s and politicians.
I am. I follow a few – but then, there’s times when I get confused – because of their tweets, and think, is it really them or is it a parody account (of which many exist!)
The above is from the ‘real’ but you could easily think it was a parody!
It’s worrying times. Twitter lets you go crazy – well, kind of. Depends on who you are. But times are changing. They’ve come out saying that Politicians aren’t above the rules.
Yesterday, Twitter put out a blog post in an attempt to clarify that world leaders, like President Donald Trump, are not above its rules — at least not “entirely.”
In Tuesday’s blog post, Twitter said that “Presently, direct interactions with fellow public figures, comments on political issues of the day, or foreign policy saber-rattling on economic or military issues are generally not in violation of the Twitter Rules.”
If a tweet does break the platform rules, Twitter can remove it. If it thinks it’s of public interest, the company can block it out with a grey box that users have to click through in order to see the content.
Will this really help? – I’m not so sure… but it’s a step in the right direction. Everyone should be treated equally, and if you’re promoting a particular bad thing – then you should be treated with the same rules as if you were head of a state/country or just the average Joe. Some would argue, you should be treated more harsher because of the impact you could have depending on the number of followers you have.
Social Media as a whole – is a huge platform for people to easily get their message across. The message could be of hate, however – the platform has to carry out it’s due diligence and make sure that it’s not breaking rules. And that’s where the likes of Twitter are coming from.
Hello Folks! – PODCAST ALERT!!! New Podcast is out- that’s right, Episode 7 is out! – Kat and I talk about the latest tech such as the Surface Duo…. we also play the yes no game and we have a brilliant new business venture idea!
Also – if you’d like to sponsor our podcast… get in touch! We’ll mention your name/company etc.. and give you a few plugs!
How can you hear us… you should know this by now… we’re on Spotify… (search for ‘think lean get digital’) and we’re on apple podcasts!
Let’s be honest. Phone tech is booming! And by that, I mean the phones themselves but everything else that is going on and around mobile phones .
In the past few weeks – I’ve share with you the iPhone 11, the new Google headset and more recently, Windows Surface Duo. In the past, I’ve shared the Samsung foldable screen phone… and many more.
Now, whilst I don’t want to turn this blog into a mobile phone type of blog – because I’d like to think I talk about other things – both Tech and Lean related…. I had to share the below with you!
It’s the new Samsung Galaxy 11. Coming out Feb 2020.
It’s rumoured to be shipped with a colossal 108MP rear-facing camera with a five-times optical zoom and a spectrometer for measuring everything from how dehydrated you are to how many calories are in an apple. It could even have a sliding screen.
But what’s more – is that the docking station that may come with it – that provides you with holographic type of messages and information!
Samsung is working on an exciting new docking station for the Samsung Galaxy S11 that can take the handset’s notifications and project them into thin air in the form of what the company refers to as an “aerial” image.
In a nutshell, there’s a mirror and a retro-reflective element baked into the docking station – aimed just the right angle to draw light from the handset’s curved screen and create the hologram – as well as a wireless charging element.
Now, I’ve described it as a docking station – but there may be also a case, that has similar features as the docking station and shows the holographic type images.
There’s also the sliding screen that’s being spoken about – and much more.
Looks like the whole mobile phone game is beginning to hot up again!
We’re all learning, we’re all struggling at times… the key thing is, we keep climbing. Why?
You may recall – I blogged recently about the Samsung folding phone. That’s right – a phone, that folds and has a screen, that folds! – Brilliant technology innovation – however, they’ve struggled because the screen was cracking and there were other issues.
Well… hot on their heels are Microsoft who’ve tag teamed with Google!
That’s right. You heard it right. Windows have teamed up with Google to release the Microsoft Surface Duo Phone!
Getting back into phones won’t be easy. There are really only three companies who sell devices in huge numbers and make any money from their smartphones — Samsung, Huawei and Apple.
In the second quarter, 22% of smartphones shipped in the world were made by Samsung, 17% by Huawei and 11% by Apple, according to Strategy Analytics.
However – teaming up with Google, seems like a bit of a master-stroke from Microsoft. Personally – I think it’ll do well, because it has alot of offer. Alot of businesses and organisations are Windows based. Alot are using the whole Office 365 suite of tools. And we’re all mobile and want to do things on the move.
What do you think about the Surface Duo? – will it be a success?….
Introducing the Surface Duo…
You know I’m a big fan of social media – you can catch me on Twitter (@balbansal)… and you can catch me on Instagram (@mrbalbansal).
Now… I’ll be honest, what you see is what you get on Instagram. That is my life – the food, the football.. the fun. However, it’s not like that for everyone. There’s many people out there that want one profile for Instagram – so the world can see, and then another which is more…. real life. Therefore, let me introduce you to, Finsta.
Bal, is this a new app?
Nope – it’s still Instagram. But let me explain it to you –
A finsta is a secondary, usually private, Instagram account where users are more lax in deciding what they post. It’s a private space that might be more personally authentic and is shared with close friends. This is a contrast to someone’s main account, which might have more heavily curated content.
Content is King. We know the content brings the likes, the users, the audience. And it’s that content then may help a business, an individual, an organization grow – and gain more followers.
But what we’re realising is – there’s many people who want to be connected to their close friends and family and just be honest…
So… by opening a second account – having it private, you can accept invites from those whom you’re close to.
For example…
Everyone wants to look good on Social Media. Everyone wants a good reputation and we know the advantages and gains you can have from large following on Instagram (and other social media platforms).
Not saying this is something you should be doing – but just be aware… and it’s one for educating people… everything you see on Instagram, isn’t always what it seems.
Ever sat and thought… that’s impossible?
When I was at Kodak, I remember my Sensei saying to me –
“Bal, you must first understand – then to be understood”.
Mark Chamberlain
Reflecting – absolutely true. How can you relay a message or work on something if you don’t fully get it. I’ve kept that close to my heart. Yes – the world is a fast moving place, but I always try to understand, break it down and then to share that in simple ways.
There’s so much I don’t know. But then on the other hand – there is so much I’m learning.
And recently – I read an article about the Google CEO Sundar Pichai, on how he was interviewed for a VP position in Google back in 2004.
Basically, Pichai said the interviewers asked him what he thought of Gmail. There was just one problem: Google had just announced the email service that very same day, on April 1st. “I thought it was an April Fool’s Day joke.”
He responded by saying he couldn’t answer the question because he hadn’t been able to use the product. “It was only in the fourth interview when someone asked, ‘Have you seen Gmail?’ I said no. So he actually showed it to me. And then the fifth interviewer asked, ‘What do you think of Gmail?’ And I was able to start answering it then,”
So why am I sharing this – well… couple of reasons,
You must have heard it in the news this morning – Thomas Cook has collapsed.
Mr Thomas Cook founded the business in Leicestershire in 1841 it was for more local excursions…. with this as the first poster for the first excursion!
It’s been a roller coaster of a ride for the company which had such humble beginnings.
I’m not going to take you through the history – but the biggest problem has been, the management not waking up and reacting too late to the Digital World.
As on expert on this morning’s radio put it…
It’s an Analogue Company competing in a Digital World.
Why is it so analogue? they’ve got a website haven’t they?
Firstly, they were late to the game. When they saw everyone else with websites and apps – they were late. Then on top, they were still (until recently!) relying on their shops.
They have 500+ shops around the country. Each one of those needs to pay rent. The problem was, the money they were generating was not enough to pay the rent. So the money was coming from elsewhere. Which means, they had a business model which was not working.
The worse thing is – the management a few years ago decided to expand their shop network… this was during a time, when more and more people were going on-line to book their holidays!
Then you have the low-cost airlines. They’ve come on board and offering package deals – which are very good. And the packages being offered… Thomas Cook was still offering the ‘Fly and Flop’, where you fly and then just sit/rest by a beach or resort. People’s habits have changed – people want to explore, walk around, do tours/visits, etc…
It’s sad to see that the company couldn’t embrace the Digital World. They should’ve expanded their online and digital presence.
With this in mind – I’m helping organisations to Get Digital! – To ensure they’re embracing the Digital World… and don’t end up like Thomas Cook! If you’d like more information – get in touch… you can email me, you can reply to this blog, you can find me on Twitter… there’s various ways you can get hold of me.
It’s a real shame… and a very sad story, to see this great company (which it once was)… start with such a great idea… for it to ignore the Digital World.
So, from the first poster… to the last hand out from Thomas Cook…
