The iPhone XS and XS Max have arrived, and I thought i'd do some first impressions of the model that I opted to pre-order, pending a full review in a few weeks time once i've spent alot more time with it. I went for the XS in space grey with the 256GB storage option. I'm still puzzled as to why Apple has felt the need to add the 512GB option this year - that's massive! I know not everyone pays for additional iCloud storage for all your photos but that still seems excessive unless you want to own every game in the App Store.
Anyway, this year's iPhone refresh is the usual S upgrade that Apple makes every other year in it's development cycle. That means on the surface if you're coming from last year's iPhone X you'd probably struggle to notice any difference in the design of the XS - Apple have even made the call to remove the 'S' branding from the back of the phone so it's just the new gold finish that will make it obvious you're carrying around the shiny new model.
The flagship features of the X like the bezel-less display and Face ID are all still here on the 2018 devices so if you're upgrading from anything other that last year's phone then you're getting some pretty sweet new tech. Face ID has even been improved to make unlocking your phone up to 20% faster, and even from my first few hours of use I can really see the difference. Annoyingly it still doesn't work when the phone is horizontal, which is a shame, but new with iOS 12 you can add a second face to your device so that either someone else can have access using Face ID or it's super helpful if you happen to wear glasses. You can save a speckled and non-speckled version of yourself for easy unlocks.
Spoiler alert: The people who bought the iPhone X last year were either constant early adopters or eager to upgrade then so they wouldn't have to wait until now. They'll either automatically get an XS as part of one of those increasingly common annual upgrade programs or they'll just keep on keeping on until they need the next something new. They know that. Based on how iPhone XS was introduced as a new iPhone X, not an all-new iPhone, Apple knows that. It's just the rest of us nerds who have to get better at remembering it.
Performance is just a little smoother too, thanks to the new A12 Bionic chipset tucked away inside the XS and it's chunkier brother the XS Max. Apps launch a little faster here than on the iPhone X, and in general, jumping in and out of running apps in the multitasking view is speedier as well. When it comes to this sort of mundane use, the changes are noticeable but not dramatically so -- that is, unless you're coming from an older iPhone. In that case, you're in for a ride. Apple says the A12's two high-performance cores are up to 15 percent faster than the CPU cores in last year's iPhones.
Full review coming soon!
Anyway, this year's iPhone refresh is the usual S upgrade that Apple makes every other year in it's development cycle. That means on the surface if you're coming from last year's iPhone X you'd probably struggle to notice any difference in the design of the XS - Apple have even made the call to remove the 'S' branding from the back of the phone so it's just the new gold finish that will make it obvious you're carrying around the shiny new model.
The flagship features of the X like the bezel-less display and Face ID are all still here on the 2018 devices so if you're upgrading from anything other that last year's phone then you're getting some pretty sweet new tech. Face ID has even been improved to make unlocking your phone up to 20% faster, and even from my first few hours of use I can really see the difference. Annoyingly it still doesn't work when the phone is horizontal, which is a shame, but new with iOS 12 you can add a second face to your device so that either someone else can have access using Face ID or it's super helpful if you happen to wear glasses. You can save a speckled and non-speckled version of yourself for easy unlocks.
Spoiler alert: The people who bought the iPhone X last year were either constant early adopters or eager to upgrade then so they wouldn't have to wait until now. They'll either automatically get an XS as part of one of those increasingly common annual upgrade programs or they'll just keep on keeping on until they need the next something new. They know that. Based on how iPhone XS was introduced as a new iPhone X, not an all-new iPhone, Apple knows that. It's just the rest of us nerds who have to get better at remembering it.
Performance is just a little smoother too, thanks to the new A12 Bionic chipset tucked away inside the XS and it's chunkier brother the XS Max. Apps launch a little faster here than on the iPhone X, and in general, jumping in and out of running apps in the multitasking view is speedier as well. When it comes to this sort of mundane use, the changes are noticeable but not dramatically so -- that is, unless you're coming from an older iPhone. In that case, you're in for a ride. Apple says the A12's two high-performance cores are up to 15 percent faster than the CPU cores in last year's iPhones.
Full review coming soon!
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It is said that the suit that we all know and love today started in the early 1800s by a gentleman called Beau Brummell. He replaced long-tailed coats and silk stockings with the classic suit jacket accompanied by full-length trousers and it all went from there. But as we’re faced with new challenges (such as the lengthy daily commute) and as we strive to cut out time consuming activities (ironing a suit can be draining), what does the future look like for our tailoring? Charles Tyrwhitt, retailers of men's shirts, investigate:
Past Innovations
One of the latest in shirt technology is temperature adjusting materials. In many cases, this works by controlling the body heat of the wearer. Researchers across the US developed clothing that changes how much radiation escapes from the shirt and how easily air can circulate around the body. Although heat controlling technology in clothing is not new, it is only in recent years that it has made its way into wearable clothing when it was once reserved for those in space. This sort of technology not only improves comfort levels for the wearer but can potentially have knock on positive effects on the environment. Air conditioning (AC) accounts for an outstanding 13% of energy used in the US. If our shirts become temperature regulated then it is possible we will be in lower need of constant AC — reducing our carbon footprint so we all benefit!
Non-iron shirts are more than convenient. Enjoy an extra 10 minutes in bed as you pull your work shirt out of the dryer and put it on straight away — wrinkle free and no need to haul out the ironing board. The technology behind the non-iron shirt includes a process that strengthens the fabric, preventing the molecules from moving as much and increasing its resistance to creasing.
It’s important to be able to move freely in our suits. Especially when you’re sitting in the same place for a prolonged period of time, such as at the desk, on your way to work or at a fancy dinner. This is where the latest mechanical stretch technology comes in to play. This sort of technology works with the materials of the suit to improve its flexibility. Some suit jackets and shirts achieve this stretch through incorporating a small percentage of elastane in the fabric and this is enough to enhance the comfort of the garment.
Sources
Past Innovations
One of the latest in shirt technology is temperature adjusting materials. In many cases, this works by controlling the body heat of the wearer. Researchers across the US developed clothing that changes how much radiation escapes from the shirt and how easily air can circulate around the body. Although heat controlling technology in clothing is not new, it is only in recent years that it has made its way into wearable clothing when it was once reserved for those in space. This sort of technology not only improves comfort levels for the wearer but can potentially have knock on positive effects on the environment. Air conditioning (AC) accounts for an outstanding 13% of energy used in the US. If our shirts become temperature regulated then it is possible we will be in lower need of constant AC — reducing our carbon footprint so we all benefit!
Non-iron shirts are more than convenient. Enjoy an extra 10 minutes in bed as you pull your work shirt out of the dryer and put it on straight away — wrinkle free and no need to haul out the ironing board. The technology behind the non-iron shirt includes a process that strengthens the fabric, preventing the molecules from moving as much and increasing its resistance to creasing.
It’s important to be able to move freely in our suits. Especially when you’re sitting in the same place for a prolonged period of time, such as at the desk, on your way to work or at a fancy dinner. This is where the latest mechanical stretch technology comes in to play. This sort of technology works with the materials of the suit to improve its flexibility. Some suit jackets and shirts achieve this stretch through incorporating a small percentage of elastane in the fabric and this is enough to enhance the comfort of the garment.
Future Innovations
Wearable payment gadgets are something that researchers and
corporations are spending a lot of time exploring. Of course, we already have
the ability to pay contactless with a smart watch or phone but that’s just not
enough! MasterCard paired with fashion designer Adam Selman to explore the idea
of inserting a microchip into clothing, perhaps in the sleeve of a jacket or
into a bag — allowing you to pay for items with even less effort. This concept
could have some effect on our tailoring trends as cuff links and pockets could
become payment devices!
Forget buying multiple of the same suit in different
colours, colour-changing fabrics are here to shake up the fashion industry. The
research behind it is ever advancing and there are a few ongoing projects
developing the idea. One of the projects, explored by scientists at the
University of Michigan, is looking at incorporating tiny crystals that react
differently depending on the wavelength of light. This affects the crystal’s
formation and how they look in terms of colour to others. Other research,
carried out in Montreal, is investigating how electricity from human movement
can power electric fabric and change its colour. It appears that the research
is a long way off from our high streets, but it is paving the way for
colour-changing materials in the future.
The price of a high-quality, tailored suit can be quite high
and many take pride in keeping it in good condition. It is then unsettling when
a sleeve is caught on a door handle or on something sharp and the material is
damaged. The latest technology in textiles is addressing this issue through the
development of self-healing fabric. It works by coating regular fabric in a
special solution that, when ripped, is able to melt back together at low
temperatures. Other research has founded that E. coli bacteria has
self-replicating properties and this is being explored in order to discover if
it can be used to knit broken fabric back together.
From past to future innovations, it’s clear to see that our
wardrobes aren’t what they used to be. Many developments are being made in
order to make our lives easier and further enhance our suits to meet our highly
digital and busy lifestyles.
Sources
After all of the time and effort that us bloggers put into every single one of our posts, why do we just send them out into the blogosphere and never pay them any attention again? Posts that are 3…6…9 months old are just as good as the content you’re writing today, they’ve just been buried underneath all of the other posts you’ve created.
It's tempting (hence the amazing pic above!) to just leave your older content alone, especially if you found it performed well at the time. Why fix something that aint broke? However, older posts are far more likely to have SEO benefits for your blog and can actually be used to bring new traffic and readers to your site – here are a few ways you can show some love to posts gone by:
- Regularly tweet out links to old posts (don’t go mad, maybe oncee every 6-9 hours)
- Every day, pin one of your old posts to a Pinterest board so it can get some fresh exposure
- Update old posts with new photos that match your aesthetic
- Update old posts with new/better information e.g. travel guides
- Write a follow up (“part 2”) post in response to one of your older posts, and make sure to link to the original article in the follow
7.Install a “Similar Posts” gadget on your blog that displays under each blog post
8.Showcase “Popular Posts” or “Reader Favorites” in your sidebar
9. Link to your all-time favorite posts you’ve written on your About Me page
10. Add Pinterest-friendly images to old posts so they’re more likely to get pinned and go viral
What techniques are you using to give life back to old posts?
10. Add Pinterest-friendly images to old posts so they’re more likely to get pinned and go viral
What techniques are you using to give life back to old posts?
It's a well known fact that spending a night in the capital is NOT cheap. If you want to be anywhere near the hustle and bustle of central London then you're looking at forking out hundreds of pounds just to get a decent night's sleep.
But don't panic.. the team at Imperial College London have a solution! They are opening up their accommodation to the public all through the Summer from 2nd July to 23rd September at extremely affordable rates. You can even get a buffet breakfast included too for a small additional charge.
I was lucky enough to stay at the Prince's Gardens accommodation in South Kensington. As I didn't actually go to university I wasn't quite sure what to expect in terms of how well the rooms would be kitted out, but I was actually pleasantly surprised! I was greeted by a big double bed, desk area and even a seating area with coffee table. There was a large en-suite bathroom with a shower and plenty of toiletries. Just remember to pack a toothbrush and toothpaste as they weren't provided in the room.
Just outside the accommodation building there's a shop which has a full selection of snacks and drinks. Perfect if you just need a light meal.. or a midnight snack! It also overlooks a the leafy area of Prince's Gardens would be ideal for a short walk or a picnic in the Summer. At reception I was given a map and guide to the area which was super useful for someone that doesn't live in the area. It made me realise what a fantastic location the accommodation is in. Literally a stones throw from attractions like the Royal Albert Hall, Science Museum, and the V&A.
As you'd expect there was also FREE Wi-fi throughout the accommodation building and it was actually pretty fast considering there are over 1,500 other rooms! Good enough to stream Netflix and surf the web without any trouble whatsoever. Alot of hotel chains still feel the need to charge for internet access so the fact that Imperial College London offer it for free is a real bonus for me.
Tea and coffee making facilities were also provided, which was a nice touch. Plenty of coffee sachets and tea bags which would have been plenty even if i was staying there for a few more days. There was also two bottles of mineral water which was a life saver due to the heat wave we're enduring right now!
There are also a couple of other locations as well that you can choose from including Notting Hill and Paddington. The rates are super competitive and start from £95 per night for a single room. The Imperial College London accommodation really is the perfect choice for a reasonably priced overnight stay in London. You'd be very lucky to find a quality room at these prices from a hotel chain.
There's also overnight parking available for an additional charge if you need it, however this must be booked in advance so make sure you mention it as part of the booking process. The reception staff were all super helpful at guiding me around the area, giving me tips on places to see and also some recommendations on places to grab a bite to eat.
I also really appreciated the quick check out option the next morning. I had to leave by 7am so it was super handy that I could simply drop off my room key into a box in reception without having to go over to the check in building a short walk away. You can find out more about the accommodation on offer here.
The video below gives you another chance to see the accommodation
*Thanks to Imperial College London for providing the accommodation free of charge for review. All opinions are my own.
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