*This is a sponsored post. The Warren were kind enough to gift the meal, however all opinions shared here are my own.
Last week, the team at The Warren in Binfield were kind enough to invite me to celebrate the reopening of their premium bar and restaurant. It has been closed for the last week or so whilst undergoing an extensive refurbishment. The pub has also extended the outdoor area including the car park so it can fit even more guests inside! There's also a fabulous new menu on offer, which is what we got to try during the press evening last week.
I've visited The Warren quite a few times over the last few years. It's great for a cosy date night in the Winter or for the Summer months they've got a great outdoor garden space to chill out with a few ice cold drinks with your mates.
The evening started with some fantastic gin cocktails - cant beat that! We were presented with all kinds of interesting ingredients to create our own cocktails. I went with mint, red peppercorns and cucumber and it was amazing. The Warren has a fantastic drinks menu with cocktails from only £6.95, which is a bargain.
There were also some delicious canapés from the bar snacks menu including falafel, goats cheese and more. If you're planning on just popping in for a few drinks with some friends then these would have been perfect. We then enjoyed a mini tour of the refurbished interior of the restaurant area, which has received a full makeover as you can see from these images. It looks super smart and inviting.
It's not just the surroundings of the pub that have received an upgrade, the menu has been completed overhauled too and now features some great midweek offers including 2 courses for £22 each or 3 for £26 each including a bottle of wine for the table on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. As if you needed an excuse to treat yourself before the weekend!
We were then sat down for dinner at a cosy spot towards the back of the pub just next to the roaring fireplace - perfect. For my starter I chose the Salt & Pepper Squid, which you can see below. The fried squid was crispy on the outside and nice and soft on the inside, not at all rubbery which is sometimes the case with this dish. The lemon was also a nice touch and gave it that extra zing. Just enough to get you started.
Starter - Salt & Pepper Squid |
Main - Pork belly with scallops |
Dessert - Chocolate Cake & Vanilla Ice Cream |
We had an absolutely fabulous evening at The Warren. The pub and restaurant opens its doors again on Saturday 24th November so get a table booked ASAP because it's certainly going to be very busy for the first few weeks, especially as we get closer to Christmas.
It's the perfect place to meet up with a few friends just for drinks in the bar area, or even for a work party this festive season. There's an extensive drinks menu that'll offer something for everyone so head over to www.thewarrenwokingham.co.uk and book a table.
Here's a quote from the General Manager, Majka, who's been part of the team at The Warren for over 2 years - "The Warren is a hugely popular pub and provides a hub for the local community so we’re really excited to be part of the team as it begins its next chapter. We have some stunning changes planned that will allow us to create a modern, stylish look and feel to the pub – making it the ideal spot for family and friends to get together or for corporate gatherings. We are so looking forward to unveiling the brand-new pub to guests in November!"
Whilst you're checking out the menu on their website, be sure to sign up for their e-mails and you'll get a FREE drink on your first visit - top tip!
2 comments
For some reason towards the end of last year I started feeling really sluggish and unmotivated to blog and create new content. The start of 2017 had me feeling those "new year new me" feels and so I wanted to start posting much more regularly - ideally 2-3 times per week was the aim. And let's be honest, I've not exactly succeeded with that so far. There's nothing worse than putting an entire Saturday afternoon and evening aside to get blogging and then find you have absolutely no idea what to write about.
Although I've not done the most amazing job I thought I'd share some of the ways I try and break through bloggers block to create and share content that feels relevant and honest.
One of the best things I did recently was re-writing my about me page. Not only is it the window into your content for prospective new readers to find out more about you and the reasons you create the content you do, but also the easiest way for brands to consider whether you might be right for a collaboration with them.
I admit I had a bit of a wobble a couple of months ago and started questioning what this little corner of the internet i call my blog was even about, and why anyone would want to subscribe! I went back a read one of the first posts I ever wrote (but never actually posted!) about why i wanted to start blogging in the first place and what experiences and opinions I wanted to share with the world. This soon got me inspired and the posts just started flowing after that!
My next tip is to stop comparing yourself to others. I went through a phase (and still often do) of reading some of my favourite blogs then becoming really uninspired to write anything myself. "Why would people want to read my blog after seeing amazing content like this?!". They key here is to take inspiration from other people's fantastic content then get commenting and involve yourself in blogger chats to understand how you can collaborate with others to create great new ideas.
Whatever you love writing about - just do it. A bit of a cliche phrase I know but hey Nike can make it work so why can't I? This is all about not being tempted to write about specific topics or products just to get noticed. It's so much easier to write about things that make you happy. Never create content purely with the intention of getting paid or getting more followers. Never be disheartened by the fact that a post you've put hours and hours into doesn't get 10,000 views the first week you publish it for the world to see! The right readers might just be round the corner.
Anyway, this has been a bit of ramble. But that's a good thing I think from time to time. What keeps you motivated to keep on blogging?
1. Beige Bomber Jacket - £49.99*
This bomber by Maniere De Voir is lightweight and perfect for getting out and about this spring. Bombers exploded in popularity in the autumn of last year and show no signs of going out of style this season. Made from a smooth nylon fabric, it's a steal at just under 50 quid ribbed collar, hem and cuffs. The quality looks great and it's also available in black, which would be great for casual evenings drinks. Available here.
2. Slim Fit Cotton Blend Shirt - £215
This jacket from Our Legacy is versatile enough to be worn over a casual tee but can also be styled up with formal trousers to create an evening look. It's not cheap at £215 but very unique with a zipped front rather than the usual buttons. It's tightly woven from a durable linen yet still machine washable, which is super handy. It's also slim fit which I always prefer when it comes to shirts, so it shouldn't gather too much on the sleeves or on the chest. Available here
3. APC Wool Blend Shirt - £195
A classic check shirt from is a must for Spring. This APC wool blend plaid shirt is thick enough to be worn over a t-shirt or buttoned on it's own on a warmer day. Again this is slim cut so the fit is snug but not skin tight. I find APC fits really true to size so no need to go up from your usual size for this one. The thin red stripe is a bit unique here and sets it apart from your normal check. APC has a great Spring collection over at End Clothing.4. Adidas Ultra boost Uncaged - £129
Nobody is owning the premium sneaker market right now more than Adidas. From NMD to Stan Smith and Yeezy they have been responsible for the recent explosion in high end trainers and it shows no signs of coming to a halt anytime soon. The new Ultra boost uncaged is the perfect example of this.
*Please note this post contains sponsored content, clearly indicated by an asterisk. All views are my own.
Picking up new vinyls has become a bit of a recent obsession. I can't seem to go more than a few days without hitting Amazon or Depop to order some brand new music, or a few blasts from the past. As much as I'm a fan of the era of digital music and monthly subscription services, there's something about collecting physical music that's strangely rewarding - and certainly goes against any kind of minimalism ideas i've had over the past few months! Here's a few I've picked up lately..
The XX - I See You
A fabulous LP from The XX trio. As to be expected from them by now, instrumentation is sublime and the production / mastering is so crisp you can enjoy every single element of each track: vocals, percussion, bass, synths and keys... It's a great listen for audiophiles and fans of music.This latest album moves them forward , and is likely to be one of the most popular albums of 2017. There have already been a couple of hit singles released before the main album, and there has been a sense of anticipation about the "difficult 3rd album" which many groups suffer from. Yet you can see how wonderfully they have evolved as a band and have produced something that is still new and unique.
Available here
Bonobo - Migration
An absolute must of Bonobo fans, his latest album entitled Migration feels like just that, a journey into something new for the artist whilst keeping that iconic sound. It'll take you through tranquil pop to a more upbeat house vibe, which feels quite new and yet all the while keeping to is trademark sound. Get into a dark room with a great set of headphones and enjoy!
Available here.
S O H N - Rennen
Starting where his previous album left off, the eerie mechanical sound of Hard Liquor makes for the perfect opener for Rennen, eventually closing with the sound of a needle skipping on a record. This is much more blues than the previous outing, but certainly doesn't disappoint. In fact, many of tracks are very similar to the Tremors album, which was always going to be a truly hard act to follow. Plus, how cool is that album art? One for the collection I think don't you?
Have you got any new vinyl recommendations?
This morning I was greeted by an exciting parcel from one of my favourite menswear sites - End Clothing. One of the best things about End is their next day delivery price of only £4.95 (half that of Mr Porter just saying!). Inside the iconic brown with white logo packaging were two items i'd had my eye on for a while but decided it was time to treat myself and finally get!
The first was this grey tee from A.P.C, 100% cotton and a bit of a wardrobe staple for Spring & Summer really. I've got loads of grey t-shirt but most of them are pretty plain and not the best quality so I thought it was about time i invested in an upgrade! It's pretty simple and just has the A.P.C logo on the front. Available here.
Next up was a sweatshirt I was a bit unsure of from the website but luckily it turned out to be just what I thought. This red sweat from Carhartt is another simple addition but I've not got a whole lot of red in my wardrobe so I thought this would mix things up a bit! Again it's 100% cotton but not the softest feel inside, which is a bit of a shame. I love the bold navy graphic on the front too.. no mistaking where it's from eh? Available here.
Thanks for checking out my latest post. You can shop all of the new arrivals at End Clothing here.
Don't forget to follow on Bloglovin' Follow
2017 marks the 10th anniversary for Apple's flagship smartphone, and this year's model is shaping up to be an exciting upgrade if the rumors are to be believed. Last year's effort, the iPhone 7, was widely regarded as a bit of a 'meh' update with little more than a few under the hood upgrades to the camera and home button functionality, plus the addition of new black colour options - although let's not take too much away from Apple as it was still their best selling iPhone ever!
The big news this year though is that the iPhone 8 (or 10th Anniversary as it's more commonly called) is rumored to include a long-awaited feature that competitors such as Samsung have been using for a year or so now - Wireless charging! Fed up of carrying around those pesky lightening cables and untangling them? This could be the perfect solution for you.
The concept image below also imagines a new 5.5" OLED display with no bezels around the edge that would include an IP68 waterproof rating meaning that you could theoretically leave your precious device in a full bath tub overnight and it would be undamaged.. although I'll let you try that one out for yourself.
It's also been reported that Apple will likely remove the home button area of the device entirely and instead allow Touch ID login straight from the OLED display - effectively the same idea as the Touch Bar from the new Macbook Pro. Perhaps this added real estate could be used for app-specific dynamic controls? Very handy.
The only turn off about these new rumours surrounding the iPhone 8 and wireless charging is that it's been suggested that Apple would not include the charging pad in the box with the device - it would be an added accessory. So that begs the questions would you really want to pay almost £1,000 for a brand new shiny iPhone only to find that to use it's latest and greatest new feature you have to spend another couple of hundred pounds?! Own goal there Apple.
What are your thoughts? Would you consider an upgrade to the iPhone 8 just based on wireless charging? It's a fantastic gimmic but I feel as if people will just up carrying around even more cumbersome charging pads rather than lightening cables, which doesn't really feel like a step forward to me.
Follow
The big news this year though is that the iPhone 8 (or 10th Anniversary as it's more commonly called) is rumored to include a long-awaited feature that competitors such as Samsung have been using for a year or so now - Wireless charging! Fed up of carrying around those pesky lightening cables and untangling them? This could be the perfect solution for you.
The concept image below also imagines a new 5.5" OLED display with no bezels around the edge that would include an IP68 waterproof rating meaning that you could theoretically leave your precious device in a full bath tub overnight and it would be undamaged.. although I'll let you try that one out for yourself.
It's also been reported that Apple will likely remove the home button area of the device entirely and instead allow Touch ID login straight from the OLED display - effectively the same idea as the Touch Bar from the new Macbook Pro. Perhaps this added real estate could be used for app-specific dynamic controls? Very handy.
The only turn off about these new rumours surrounding the iPhone 8 and wireless charging is that it's been suggested that Apple would not include the charging pad in the box with the device - it would be an added accessory. So that begs the questions would you really want to pay almost £1,000 for a brand new shiny iPhone only to find that to use it's latest and greatest new feature you have to spend another couple of hundred pounds?! Own goal there Apple.
What are your thoughts? Would you consider an upgrade to the iPhone 8 just based on wireless charging? It's a fantastic gimmic but I feel as if people will just up carrying around even more cumbersome charging pads rather than lightening cables, which doesn't really feel like a step forward to me.
Follow
Do you often feel uninspired and unmotivated to write a new blog post? Is your blog looking tired and in need of a refresh? Same! I thought I'd pull together a few quick ideas on how you can up your blogging game.. right now! No long term project or expensive hacks.. just quick and easy steps to a better blog and a more motivated you!
1. Update an old post
This seems like it could be a waste of time but seriously.. re read your 5 most popular blog posts and update them with fresh experiences. Have your views and opinions changed on the subject? Let your readers know! They must have been popular posts for a reason so it makes sense to keep them fresh right? Maybe add some new or better quality images as well to really freshen up your content.
2. Don't forget self-promotion
Got a load of new content but nobody reading it? Don't forget to shout about your latest posts across social media and share on Bloglovin'. That's where I get over 75% of my page views from so it makes sense so share your content with as many people as possible using popular hashtags. Self-promotion can be a daunting thing when you're just starting out but it's the best way to get eyes on your blog. Tools such as buffer or Tailwind are great ways of automating and scheduling your content across social media.
3. Get a new template
Now I tend to do this every 3 months or so just because I get bored easily of the layout of my blog, but it makes sense to refresh your template a couple of times a year just to wow your existing readers when they come back to look at your content, and of course entice new visitors into your blog! I always use Pipdig for my templates, which don't come cheap but are amazing quality and come with all the instructions you need to create an amazing new layout.
4. Cross-link to new content
Be sure to add cross-links from older blog posts to newer ones with a similar theme to make sure your readers are finding your newer content. This will also help to stop losing visitors after reading only a single post on your site. This is also a great way of encouraging new followers and comments when people discover new content that they enjoy!
5. Submit your blog to search engines
Sites like Google Webmaster and Bing allow you to submit your website to ensure that it's always listed on their respective search engines. You can also learn handy SEO tips to get your blog listed as high up search result pages as possible to maximise traffic visiting your site.
6. Reach out to new brands
If you want new opportunities and sponsorship deals the easiest way to get them is to just get out there and communicate with brands that really match the content of your blog, and suit the interests of your readers. Brands are always more attracted to blogs that seem to fit the style and tone of their brand and products. So start chatting to them and who knows!
7. Clean out your side bar
If you use Google Analytics to track how visitors engage with the content on your blog then you should be able to identify widgets and areas of the sidebar that your readers simply aren't using? Are there any elements you could remove to allow you to focus on other things? Popular post widgets are often a waste if the content featured in them is out of date. Definitely worth a look.
8. Brainstorm future content
Does blogging inspiration always strike at the weirdest times or is that just me? The only time I can't think of a new post is when I actually sit down to write something so make sure you're constantly taking notes throughout the day if you get new ideas for content. You'll always forget later on! Try and pool your content ideas into categories then create and share new posts from each category over time. This will ensure readers are always enticed to return to your blog with the promise of fresh posts.
9. Create a survey
If engagement with your most recent posts has taken a nose dive and you're not sure what's wrong then why not create a survey using a tool such as Survery Monkey to find out what's frustrating your readers. There's almost nothing worse than getting decent sums of traffic to your blog but very limited comments and feedback on your content. If you don't ask then you'll never know.
10. Buy your own domain
Having your very own fancy .co.uk or .com not only looks more professional and appealing to potential new readers but also gives you a whole host or new options when it comes to customising your site and adding new widgets and content. I always use GoDaddy for cheap and reliable domains and hosting, you also get a few business e-mail address too..fancy!
I hope these tips have helped inspire you to give your blog a 2017 refresh! Have you got any other ideas to share?
The new QuietComfort35 acoustic noise cancelling headphones from Bose are quite possibly the best quality pair I've ever worn, both in terms of sound and overall build quality. Now I'm by no means an audiophile or a headphones expert, but even I can tell that these are truly something special. I've had a couple of pairs of Beats by Dre before and they were great but for just a little more money you can trust appreciate your favourite songs with the QuietComfort35s.
Now these are by no means cheap so let's see what you get for your hard earned £289.99. In the box the first thing you'll find is this neat carry case, which is study enough to survive a flight or camping trip with ease. Inside you'll find your headphones along with a couple of handy accessories including an in-flight adaptor so you're not stuck with the AWFUL quality headphones we're forced to use on long haul flights! Great addition.
Now let's move onto the headphones themselves. In terms of build quality you'll struggle to find anything as luxurious as these for less than £300 on the market. The over-the-ear cups feel great and much more comfortable than the Beats Studio alternative. In just a few clicks you can connect to your iPhone, iPod or any other bluetooth device and start listening in minutes.
The set up process was flawless. The noise cancellation technology in the QuietComfort 35s is some of the best I've ever experienced and is so powerful the first time you use them you feel almost dizzy like you're taking off in a plan when your ears pop. The silence is quite incredible and you'll struggle to hear people chatting on a packed bus or train - perfect!
Battery life also easily exceeds 20 hours so you won't be charging them more than once a week, which is a huge bonus but they also take less than an hour to charge so even if you're running low it's easy to give them a quick boost on the goo using the USB adaptor for plugging into a laptop.
The only negative I can really come up with is that they don't sound great when you choose to listen with the noise-cancelling function turned off. In fact you're probably better with a pair of Apple's out of the box headphones because these things sound BAD. You can see Bose has put a huge amount of effort into these but if you ever did run out of charge just do without.
The Bose QuietComfort Q35s are £289 and available here.
Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones - Black
Now these are by no means cheap so let's see what you get for your hard earned £289.99. In the box the first thing you'll find is this neat carry case, which is study enough to survive a flight or camping trip with ease. Inside you'll find your headphones along with a couple of handy accessories including an in-flight adaptor so you're not stuck with the AWFUL quality headphones we're forced to use on long haul flights! Great addition.
Now let's move onto the headphones themselves. In terms of build quality you'll struggle to find anything as luxurious as these for less than £300 on the market. The over-the-ear cups feel great and much more comfortable than the Beats Studio alternative. In just a few clicks you can connect to your iPhone, iPod or any other bluetooth device and start listening in minutes.
The set up process was flawless. The noise cancellation technology in the QuietComfort 35s is some of the best I've ever experienced and is so powerful the first time you use them you feel almost dizzy like you're taking off in a plan when your ears pop. The silence is quite incredible and you'll struggle to hear people chatting on a packed bus or train - perfect!
Battery life also easily exceeds 20 hours so you won't be charging them more than once a week, which is a huge bonus but they also take less than an hour to charge so even if you're running low it's easy to give them a quick boost on the goo using the USB adaptor for plugging into a laptop.
The only negative I can really come up with is that they don't sound great when you choose to listen with the noise-cancelling function turned off. In fact you're probably better with a pair of Apple's out of the box headphones because these things sound BAD. You can see Bose has put a huge amount of effort into these but if you ever did run out of charge just do without.
The Bose QuietComfort Q35s are £289 and available here.
Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones - Black
Our heroine is Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams), a linguist mourning the loss of her daughter to cancer. She's awoken in the middle of the night and asked to help a team of scientists unravel the mysteries behind the arrival of 12 alien spacecraft that have landed across all corners of the globe. She's tasked with making first contact with the aliens and trying to translate their language.
This is where the plot takes an odd turn and where I started to lose interest. The aliens are revealed within the first 15-20 minutes of the movie removing any kind of fear or tension that you'd normally associate with a theme such as this.
Before long Dr. Banks turns into more of a Dr. Dolittle as she engages in conversation with the beings and starts to understand their culture, and more importantly the reason for their 'arrival' on Earth
Without giving too much away, Arrival is an innately hopeful and pacifistic movie. Louise’s effort to understand the aliens, despite the fearful human reactions around her, makes a powerful case for communication over conflict.
At its core, it's a movie about language and communication. How are we able to connect and interpret others? If 12 giant alien ships, which kind of looked like Pringles chips, were to one day appear randomly across the globe, how do we interpret intent? That's the movie's ticking clock, uncovering the intent of the seven-legged squid-like aliens before the more alarmist elements of our society give in to paranoia and destruction.
Follow
The first week or so of September has seen some seriously great album releases, so here's a few of my favourite tracks for the month so far. The big highlight has to be the new album from Bastille called Wild World. I've included my two absolute favourite tracks from the album 'Good Grief' and 'Send Them Off!' as they are the stand out sounds for me. It's a pretty chilled out album but these are the most upbeat and great for a commuting playlist or general chill.
Next up are a few chart toppers from the past few weeks including the new track from Sia as well as Get Low by James Vincent McMorrow, which is an incredible song from his new album released this week. There's also a great track on this Months playlist called Deja Vu by Post Malone. Something a little different from the usual folk/pop that tends to feature on these playlists but I actually really love it. Justin Bieber features on the track and really adds something cool to it. Check it out!
Titled by Christine & The Queens also features on my playlist for September. I think it would be worth adding the entire album to be honest! If you haven't checked her out then you are seriosuly missing out. It's like nothing Iv'e ever heard and Titled is definitely the best track featured on the record.
Next up are a few chart toppers from the past few weeks including the new track from Sia as well as Get Low by James Vincent McMorrow, which is an incredible song from his new album released this week. There's also a great track on this Months playlist called Deja Vu by Post Malone. Something a little different from the usual folk/pop that tends to feature on these playlists but I actually really love it. Justin Bieber features on the track and really adds something cool to it. Check it out!
Titled by Christine & The Queens also features on my playlist for September. I think it would be worth adding the entire album to be honest! If you haven't checked her out then you are seriosuly missing out. It's like nothing Iv'e ever heard and Titled is definitely the best track featured on the record.
I'll be honest, I wasn't sure what to expect when I started watching Stranger Things. I'd heard great things about it but Sci Fi mysteries aren't normally my kind of thing. But I thought why not give it a go? I've watched loads of other Netflix originals like House of Cards and the like so it must worth a watch, right?
Stranger Things is set in a small town in Indiana, USA during the 1980's and follows the story of a boy that mysteriously disappears one night without a trace and a group of family and friends that try and find out what happened. The plot thickens when the town-folk accidentally stumble upon top secret government experiment but soon realise they might be dealing with something out of this world - no spoilers I promise!
Balancing style and substance is always challenging for a series like Stranger Things, but the show is perfectly calibrated. It feels like watching a show produced during the era in which it’s set, but with the craft of today’s prestige television.
By its end, after only eight episodes, Stranger Things becomes darker and more frightening than its opening suggests. It's also somewhat hopeful. It devotes many scenes to the characters that movies don't have time for: the mother, the local police chief (David Harbour), the hunky bully (Joe Keery), the older sister who's almost a woman (Natalia Dyer).
The casts of horror movies tend to shrink as the climax approaches, with a "final girl" or heroic dude left to face off against evil in the ending. Here, it's all the people we've come to care about, some paired up in surprising ways, some revealing themselves as more than we expected. In that, they're like the show they inhabit. Netflix has truly struck gold with this masterpiece of a mini-series. Here's hoping for a second season!
Stranger Things is set in a small town in Indiana, USA during the 1980's and follows the story of a boy that mysteriously disappears one night without a trace and a group of family and friends that try and find out what happened. The plot thickens when the town-folk accidentally stumble upon top secret government experiment but soon realise they might be dealing with something out of this world - no spoilers I promise!
Balancing style and substance is always challenging for a series like Stranger Things, but the show is perfectly calibrated. It feels like watching a show produced during the era in which it’s set, but with the craft of today’s prestige television.
The casts of horror movies tend to shrink as the climax approaches, with a "final girl" or heroic dude left to face off against evil in the ending. Here, it's all the people we've come to care about, some paired up in surprising ways, some revealing themselves as more than we expected. In that, they're like the show they inhabit. Netflix has truly struck gold with this masterpiece of a mini-series. Here's hoping for a second season!
Finally, after over 3 years the Apple TV has received a much needed extensive hardware & UI update. This time around Apple has signalled that the end is now for traditional TV channels and that the future is apps.
Joining the updated little black box beneath your TV set is a neat new remote control that utilises both touch and voice with the help of Siri functionality. It consists of just 6 buttons that are used for the basics like volume controls and menus options. The star of the show here is the touch screen technology that enables you to swipe around the user interface and simply tap to delve into an app - a very similar experience to the newer Macbook Pro trackpads. This consistency between devices continues on the home screen of the new Apple TV, which has been refreshed with a much similar yet colourful look - something similar to the latest version of iTunes on PC or Mac. The new interface shares the same UI and UX cues as iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan. From the font to the images, everything looks modern — yet familiar.
I've never invested in any of the previous generations of the Apple TV purely because i've only really seen it as a way to stream content that I already own via iTunes or watch TV shows and other video content via basic apps like Netflix & YouTube. I purchased a new 4K Smart TV earlier on this year, which has all of that functionality so why would I need a separate set top box to stream said content?
When Apple announced the new Apple TV at an event on Sept 9th this year, the factor that changed my mind was the idea of gaming and shopping on the device. I have to say I'm very impressed with the results! Although there aren't currently a huge number of apps in these categories to choose from, there are certainly some real stars including Crossy Road and Airbnb. If you've got a big TV then this is certainly the perfect way to shop and play games. For years, developers have wanted to build and sell apps on Apple TV and now they can with the addition of tvOS. I'm sure we can expect a huge number of apps to flood the new Apple TV before the year is out.
One of the few downsides to the Apple TV is the process by which you sign in to various apps and services. For some odd reason the device doesn't remember you're log in credentials for apps such as YouTube, which requires you to sign in with both the e-mail address and password - easier said than done with the new Siri remote. This seems lazy from Apple - they've already got all my log in info linked with my Apple ID so just use it here like they would across iPhone/iPad/Mac etc. ?
The Verdict
The Apple TV has a starting price of £129 for the 32GB option, which means it's certainly not cheap when compared to competitors like Amazon Fire or Chromecast that are half the price. If you're already part of Apple's ecosystem it makes sense to pay the premium and go with the Apple TV, however if you already have a smart TV with a breadth of interesting apps then I wouldn't bother with the upgrade this time around.Instagram is simply addictive. There's something about scrolling endlessly through amazing images that just helps relax and inspire you, whilst simultaneously making you envy every post and wonder why you're not spending your life on a beach somewhere posting pics of Margaritas. Here's a few accounts I've been enjoying...(and stalking!) recently.
Jim Chapman
I've followed Jim across his various social media platforms for around a year now. His YouTube channel is where i first discovered his useful how-to type videos for guys but Instagram is where his content really shines. He's often posting pics of fashion events, holidays around the world of just snaps of his puppy. Go check him out, you won't regret it.@jimalfredchapman |
ASOS Grooming
ASOS only created their grooming account a few months ago and it's already become one of my favourites for finding shopping and blog inspiration. They feature loads of their new product ranges and brands, plus always give you the product codes in the description so it's super easy to find the featured items on their website. Great for finding new mens skincare and grooming products.
@asos_grooming |
Good Life Eatery
For the foodies amongst you this one's a must. The Good Life Eatery is a juice bar in Sloane Avenue, London and they post daily pics of their products and they look incredible! I'm still yet to take a trip over to their juice bar but they also have a regular spot at Borough Market so I might see if i can catch them there one weekend. Drool-worthy updates everyday.
@goodlifeeatery |
Chris Pirillo
I've been following Chris's YouTube channel for a good few years now. He has quite a large following in the UK both for his personal vlogging account and his technology review based collection of videos. He's seriously into everything Apple but also a complete Star Wars nerd - what's not to like right? He posts regular pics of his tech hauls and also the latest addition to his family - baby Jedi (no seriously that's her name!)
@chrispirillo |
Jack Wills
One of Britain's best loved heritage fashion brands and certainly one of my favourites across all of social media. Jack Wills post regular updates on new product launches across menswear and womenswear, and sometimes even launch sale events first on social so this is obviously one to keep an eye on.
@jackwills |
Urban Outfitters
Another one of my favourite brands, UO are constantly posting new products and outfit ideas both for girls and guys. They also have a great range of homeware items, which gives the account another dimension entirely. Certainly one to watch if you're looking for home inspiration as well as fashion. They also post some incredible shots of photoshoots from all corners of the globe!
@urbanoutfitters |
What are your favourite Instagram account to follow at the moment?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)