Apple Watch Sport UnBoxing

Apple Watch Sport 42mm UnBoxing Review

Being one of the customers who didn’t preorder a watch I had to wait until the instore reservation and pickup service started. I was a bit more clued in for this than I was for the preorder so on Day One I reserved an Apple Watch Sport, with a silver bezel and blue strap. I went down to the Apple Store in Belfast, where for the first time I was met with little to no enthusiasm and it seemed like a chore for me to be trying on a Watch. So removing this first poor customer service experience from the equation I tried on an Apple Watch Sport, with the Space Grey bezel and realised I had made a mistake in the watch I ordered. There was allegedly no watches to swap my reservation out with, and I would just have to try again when the reservations opened if I wanted a Space Grey 42mm watch. That was the explanation I was given however it was muffled by sighs and grunts from the sales person. I deliberately have not used the title Apple Genius, because this person was more like a bored TV Sales person, not at all what I have come accustomed to from the Apple Store in my many years of being a customer. Anyway that’s all I have to or need to say on that. I went back home and at 6am the following morning tried out for a reservation of the 42mm Space Grey Apple Watch Sport and low and behold it was available. There must have been a late night or very early morning stock delivery, as my collection appointment the following night was for 20:30 hrs to 21:00 hrs and the store closed at 21:00 hrs. I scheduled in for collection the later that afternoon, went in, collected it and thankfully was met by the usual impeccable customer service from the Genius who helped me out this time. I get it, sometimes people have a bad day, and thats fine, all is forgiven, we’ll put it down as a bad day. So I got home, did my usual unboxing gallery and have been playing with it for the last 10 days (ish). Thoughts and Opinions :

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Torr Head, Torr Road, Ballycastle, Northern Ireland

The Causeway Coastal Route, in Northern Ireland currently sits at Number 3 in the Top Ten Driving Roads in the world!  That is amazing, and it has been in the top ten consistently for the last 10 years!

It runs from Belfast to Portrush and takes a good couple of hours to complete, or many more hours if you decide to check out the numerous scenic points and forest drives along the way.  It truly is stunning and on a bright, sunny day it is simply outstanding.  If you ever have the privilege of visiting Northern Ireland the ‘Coast Road’ is an absolute must.

However as you travel along it you will come across a sign post for Torr Head Scenic Route, this is one of many brown ‘Tourist’ Signs dotted along the Causeway Route, and it can be hard to decide which ones to go for and even harder – which ones to miss.

Torr Head Scenic View Point, Ballycastle
Torr Head Scenic View Point, Ballycastle

This is one you can not miss.  This is one of my favourite roads in the country and although I love the Causeway Route I often drive it just to get to the Torr Road.  The views here are breathtaking as you weave up and down the mountains before arriving at Torr Head View point.  An old abandoned Coast guard post remains, and when the weather is good you can clearly see Scotland, which sits a mere 12 miles in front of you.  It is a nice climb to see the Coast Guards’ Station but truthfully it is all about this road, it is like something in the movies, honestly, drive it, you will not be disappointed!

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Casio G-Shock Bluetooth GBA400-1AER UnBoxing

G-Shock GBA400-1AER Bluetooth Watch UnBoxing Review

With Smart Watches taking over the world, is there a place for a non smart watch?

Absolutely!  Of course there is, many people have no interest in a Smart Watch, many people would rather speed £500 on a wrist watch over a smart watch.  Others need the functions of a standard watch more than a Smart Watch.  Me, for example I wear G-Shocks, for their rugged strength, and I like how they look.  I can wear it to work and not even slightly worry about it, same goes for being out on the bike, no weather will phase it, nor me, and if pulling a long a long weekend, or a full day I don’t need to worry about my watch’s battery.  I don’t need to worry about damaging it, because let’s be honest if the watch breaks, there’s a good chance my arm is broken with it!

However when browsing I noticed the G-Shock ‘Smart’ Watch at a bargain price of £90 GBP, when the RRP is £180, that was easily enough to tempt me, so it was ordered and arrived the next day.

Basically it is a G-Shock with everything you expect in the rugged strength and chunky looks, with the added bonus of Bluetooth 4.0.  There is an app for iOS (and Android) which pairs to the watch, which when you activate and from there the app can control the time settings and the music on your smart device, whether that be song selection or volume.

So its smart settings are basic, time setting and music control. that’s all there will ever be, but that’s fine, not too many people will need or want more from a G-Shock, but it is a nice feature set, it adds to the G-Shock experience, and at a reasonable price it is a bargain.

The battery is touted as lasting for 2 years when using the Bluetooth Features for 2 hours a day, obviously the more or less you use the more or less the battery will be affected.  Also it doesn’t remain parked indefinitely.  In an attempt to preserve battery the BT connection will disconnect after 2 hours of non use.  Some people like this, others hate it, for me I am reasonably indifferent, pairing the watch and a phone back up is very easy and quick, so it doesn’t bother me at all.

All I would say in summary is that this is a G-Shock with a Smart features, it isn’t a smart watch.  Don’t expect text, email notifications, for some reason Casio have dropped this feature which they do have on other watches, this is a watch to control your music, if that is something you would benefit from then this is definitely the G-Shock for you.  If not the RRP of £180 opens up a massive range of other G-Shock watches for you so have a good browse around.  Oh and at £90 this is an absolute bargain!

G-Shock GBA400-1AER Bluetooth 4.0 UnBoxing Gallery :

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Further Advertising Info for #WAWIn1Week – Pannier Slot Availability.

Wild Atlantic Way

Further to my previous posting in relation to advertising spots available for my forthcoming #WAWIn1Week Trip I am pleased to share with you all the Pannier Slot availability.  Please note this is subject to change and operates on a first come first served basis.

Please contact me to confirm and provisionally book availability.

WAWIn1Week Pannier Advertising Slots
WAWIn1Week Pannier Advertising Slots

The process is very simple :

1.  Contact me and inform me of the positions you would like.  There are two options.

a.  A single slot.

b.  A twin slot, which can only be a pair.  So for example 2 and 2b, or 7 and 7b.  Combinations of slots will not be accepted.

2.  I will confirm availability and provisionally book you that slot.

3.  You will then have your vinyl advertising stickers made up and sent to me.

4.  Upon receipt your slot will be confirmed and your stickers added to my panniers.

5.  Away we go.

A few other points…

Firstly Why!?!  Thats simple this is my first such trip, but hopefully not my last.  If I can cover this trip with some form of sponsorship, and this is shown in the associated media, it puts me in a much better position when the next trip comes along so I can approach people with a proven track record and hopefully some good reports from the sponsors, who knows next trip it may even be my current sponsors (you) who cross over to the the new plan!  And also importantly I won’t forget my original sponsors when it comes to offers for the next trips, oh and of course there will be no expectation from anyone involved this time round to stay around.  People always say if it is too good to be true it probably is.  This is good and true, neither of us have anything to loose.  I am looking to the future and trying to build a reputation and you are being given the opportunity of free advertising along the World’s Longest Coastal Route in Peak Season!

I am offering this as a freebie, from me to my sponsors.  Therefore it is not open to everyone or everything.  Put simply I am interested in motorcycling, tourist, travelling, well branded and trusted advertisers, but am more than open to helping out newbies in these industries.

No adult material will be accepted.

No pro / anti political, sexual, lifestyle, religious, non religious, sectarian, bigoted, racist, or in any way questionable (by me or otherwise) material will be selected.  After all it is a freebie on my bike so to avoid any confusion, I have the ultimate and final say, if you don’t like that I’m sorry but you can always pay for your advertising elsewhere and then have the rights associated with it.

No contract is being made between me and you, I am offering some free advertising for you along a brand new tourist attraction, the longest coastal road in the world.  1500+ miles of free advertising along with my social networks and tagging etc.  If I don’t make it, have to stop or turn around and quit I’m sorry but sometimes real life gets in the way.  After all you have lost nothing it was a freebie.

I don’t want this to sound in any way negative it should be a great trip so let’s get it rolling rolling right.

Who wants some free advertising!

21/05/2015 Riut Bag – Safer Urban Travel

Riot Bag Backpack

So I was lucky enough to see the Riut Bag at the Gadget Show Live 2015, and I was very impressed. A simple but brilliant concept, a bag made for travellers that makes the stuff inside safer. How? By having no zips on the outside, so unlucky pick pockets, opportunistic thieves and other general scum, this bag makes your pathetic little lives that little bit harder.

I think what makes this even cooler is the fact that it is a successful Kickstarter Campaign, an invention by someone with an idea, who pitched it to the world and the world said yes!

So there we have it a great concept, now how does the inventor make us want one, well she makes it desirable by making it good looking and even more desirable by making it practicable.

And this is the feature list the inventor has packed into one back pack that makes it practicable…

RiutBag specifications

– No outer zips, they are all against your back
– 20 litre capacity, weight 1.06kg
– Holds up to 15 inch laptop: 16.14 inch or 41 cm diagonal measurement across outer laptop case
– Invisible strap lengths
– Waterproof material: base and outer shell
– Sturdy handle and hook for hanging
– Hidden ticket pocket in each strap
– Foam lined throughout for comfort and protection
– Water bottle holders: up to 750ml capacity
– Adjustable chest strap
– One model available
– One colour available

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Sponsors Required : Amazing Deals Available for my Wild Atlantic Way in 1 Week Trip #WAWIn1Week

Sponsors Required for Wild Atlantic Way in 1 Week Trip #WAWIn1Week

With my #WAWIn1Week trip rapidly approaching I am looking some sponsors. Basically I am offering your company’s branding on a spot on my bike / helmet.

Believe this when I tell you the deals I am offering are unreal and start at… FREE!

Yes indeed… FREE!

I am offering limited sponsor spots for free on the panniers of my bike, so if you are interested in having your brand tour along the World’s Longest dedicated Coastal Route and one of the hottest places in the world to be right now please get in touch.

Spaces are of course very limited and all applications will be considered however my decision will be final and you contact me knowing and accepting that. No adult related sponsorship requests will be considered!