This is a great networking and social event set at one of the best locations in Leeds to see the skyline in the Sky Lounge at the City Inn.

Informal, vibrant and relaxed, the IOD Young Directors Forum (YDF) invites all members to join us for our ever popular 'Meet up Mondays'. The event is FREE.

This is a great opportunity for all members who enjoy a more informal approach to networking or to catch up with some friends.

All members are warmly welcome and can bring up to two guests to each event.

No booking necessary, so just come along!

Some tips for getting your HTC Wildfire to work

I upgraded my phone to a HTC Wildfire having previously owned 2 windows mobile phones. A HTC Touch and T-Mobile MDA Vario III.

I have waited patiently for many years now for the mobile to work as a phone and for all those gadgets on the phone like web browsing and calender to work effectively. Reading the various reviews I got the feeling that the HTC Desire was the one for me.

The thing is that I waited for over a month for a HTC Desire with T-Mobile and there was no guarantee about getting one  .. something to do with a problem manufacturing the screen I was told, so in the end, I was offered a HTC Wildfire so went for that one at a reduced rate. Its nearly the same as the Desire, but smaller and the processor is not quite as faster.

My key requirement beside the functionality of the phone is to synchronise with Exchange for contacts, diary and tasks

What I think of the HTC Wildfire

I spent the first week getting used to Android and downloading loads of new apps. Everything started well. Liked the inteface compared with the windows mobile. Right smaller size compared with Touch. Responsive. So got exchange email working, synchronised all the contacts and the diary ... It worked in the car (Audi A6 with MMI interface). Was feeling pretty pleased. Downloaded more apps via market place ... Started to realise that the exchange tasks couldn't be sychronised on the phone ... so looked for a solution. Found Touchdown by Nitro. Brilliant another download and one that looked great .. Very happy at this point with the HTC Wildfire. Interesting though that the phone seemed to be grinding to a halt. Very hard to find people and contacts were taking ages to come up on the screen. Synchronisation with the car stopped. Wasn't easy to text .. and then the bluetooth started to stop and then start again. Now really not happy at all with the HTC Wildfire ... another one that just doesn't work.

What I did next

After loads of tinkering with the settings and searching the internet for ideas, the only thing I could think of was to go back to basics. The factory reset and start again.

So, HTC Wildfire Back to Basics

I needed to think about what I really needed. So, here is my list.

I went about setting up the phone trying to make sure that everything important to me is set up and working.

HTC Wildfire Top Tips (at least what I found useful so far)

• Aftering installing K-9 mail and Touchdown I felt that it was using too much processing power and memory so only use one email client. I used the standard one with the phone. I means I won't get all the benefits that the others apps could bring, but at least I can the phone is responsive
• Turn off any synchronsation if you don't need it. So, in my case
  • Sync ON
    • Exchange ActiveSync (mail, contacts, calendar)
    • Google (mail only)
  • Sync OFF
    • News
    • Stocks
• Only install applications that you really need on the phone. So all the nice to have apps that I found on market place didn't get installed a second time around
• People App - Only view exchange contacts
• Turn off the phone based widgets that encourage synchronisation
• Use Shortcuts to create a series of direct dials to save you looking for people you ring regularly

A working HTC Wildfire phone

I can report that synchronisation between phone and exchange is now working correctly, although I would still really like to see exchange tasks working on the phone. If anyone has an idea on that please do let me know? The phone is working in the car the too without the bluetooth starting and stopping. So that is a relief. It is also responsive compared with the old windows mobile - there was always a delay with taking a call for some reason. I can only conclude that there was too much going on in the phone with the original HTC Wildfire setup. Phone calls, texting and email working brilliantly at the moment. Providing the phone keeps working like it is then I think the temptation might be to add more apps, but there is a risk it will go back to the old ways of being non-responsive.

So in conclusion happy with the HTC Wildfire now ... at least for the next 12 months anyway

Looking for affordable Microsoft Exchange hosted services?

On the 7th Oct 2010 I went to ' an evening with Clive Gott ' at The Light in Bradford .. a fantastic and newly refurbished community facility very near Bradford Cathedral. The event was to support a project run by Inns Churches that helps the homeless get off the streets, provides shelter and opportunity. Its run by a lady called Juli Thompson and a team of volunteers. They need your support if you are able.

I didn't know really what to expect, but they showed this video and it tells the whole story and the importance of the work that Inns Churches does.. It has made me think quite a bit about how lucky I am to have a roof over my head and the fact that I have choices available me. I was impressed by the spirt and good will of others.

Clive Gott was on for about one and half hours and talked very enthusiastically about his challenges, choices and adventures. It was both an enjoyable and rewarding night and he made me think even harder .. particuarly on the importance of values and people that have a positive impact on me and my family. If you've not seen Clive in action then to find out more take a look at his website www.clivegott.com. It's also worth signing up to Clive's blog http://blog.clivegott.com/ and really enjoyed reading one of Clive's books How to Take life by the Throat.

Starling provided the music, a talented young band, that played a good few songs that I thought was just great - they did the music for the video 'How do you change'.

There was also something a bit spooky about being in Bradford. Its my hometown. I was already in a reflective mood that day so made it ven more a place to think about the past and reflect on what you've achieved so far.

The evening did inspire in lots of positive dimension. It made me think about my values and also to reassert that its ok to help someone else in what ever way you can. 

I was at another event on the 11th Oct in Leeds with the IOD and Young Directors. We host the Meet up Mondays event and afterwards there was an awards ceremony to highlight the achievement of the IOD Directtors Development Programme.

On my way home in the train station I was stopped by someone who said I had a kind face and wouldn't look down on him. He was homeless. I know your told not to talk with strangers, but it seemed like the right thing to do given being at The Light a few nights previously. I listened .. He talked about a new place and start he was getting tomorrow. He talked about what he was going to do. I guess an address combined with the right attitude and opportunity can make a difference. A new start. To repeat a phrase I learned from Clive 'its about you and your choice' .. I sincerely wish Terry well. 

Trademotorspares.com are probably the cheapest in the UK for quality automotive replacement brake pads, disc and spares.

There are over 3,000 Mintex car parts available covering over 43,000 vehicle make and model combinations ranging from Alfa Romeo to Volvo. 

For a limited period only until 31st October 2010 get 10% off your entire online purchase

Got to www.trademotorspares.com, make a purchase online and when you go to your basket enter the discount voucher code TMSTEN to get 10% off your order

All products are delivered FREE Next day to mainland UK. See terms and conditions for more information.

Any issues give the team a call on 0161 925 0010

This is a great networking and social event set at one of the best locations in Leeds to see the skyline in the Sky Lounge at the City Inn.

Informal, vibrant and relaxed, the IOD Young Directors Forum (YDF) invites all members to join us for our ever popular 'Meet up Mondays'. The event is FREE.

This is a great opportunity for all members who enjoy a more informal approach to networking or to catch up with some friends.

All members are warmly welcome and can bring up to two guests to each event.

No booking necessary, so just come along!

Following the event and inconjuction with Leeds Metropolian University the there will be:

IoD Young Directors Forum – Director Development Award Programme Ceremony

19:00 Evening Introduction
(Kenton Robbins to introduce evening and IoD programme followed by a brief introduction to DVC Prof. Andrew Slade)

19:15 Andrew Slade to start award ceremony and formally present IoD delegates with Certificate or Diploma awards (delegates names to be called out by Kenton Robbins)

19:30 ‘Formal’ proceedings close
 Canapes and drinks

It's a good few months now since I've written anything on the blog. I've have been busy with a number of other projects and theres some great news on the way. If I am totally honest the gap between blogs is due to a lack of focus on keeping the Consoltis site up-to-date ... I think it's all too easy to take the foot off the communications pedal.

BASHgroup have seen some changes over the last month or so with the new owner Marcus Thomlinson now fully in charge. As a consequence of this time, the website has naturally taken a slight step back, but I am pleased to say that we are going forward again.

There's been a few changes to the website since the last report.

The site now displays the team biographies, has the capability for promoting local gigs in the local area ( Harrrogate, Leeds, Bradford, Ilkley to name but a few) and there are a few more pages available now that promoting the studios services such as Star for a Day and The rehearsal rooms.

There has been progress with social media links - the Facebook pages have with well over 1000 Fans in place and growing .. what is encouraging is that people are making bookings through finding out about promotions them either via Facebook or from the website directly . See www.bashgroup.co.uk/starforaday for more information

The homepage has alway had a bit of a tidy up too, largely as a result of number of You Tube videos that have been uploaded onto the site - Most of them have been directed and produced by the BASHgroup team.

Interesting videos include

- An interview with Simon Fowler of Ocean Colour Scene

- Ecurie 25 Super Car Bashvert

I know there is more exciting projects on the way - it's exciting times at BASH.

I've been working on site with one of my clients discussing inbound marketing strategies.

On of the areas discussed was about using You Tube to promote www.onestopcctv.co.uk. It seems to be one of the best ways to show your customers what type of business you are and use to encourage them to engage with you and do better business.

So what do you need to produce a quick video clip?

• We used a simple Flip Ulta HD to take the video clip.
• In this case just we just took a quick recording there and then
• We have downloaded the video clip onto the computer
• After that, uploaded the clip onto You Tube - we chose not to edit the video and for better overall results this is recommended.

 What next?

• Then we utilised the YouTube video by embedding the code into this blog
• Our intention is to use the clip and others as part of the marketing plan telling people about it via blogs, twitter, linked in etc ..

We've proved that anyone can take a video clip and upload onto YouTube.

OneStop CCTV are planning to take a series of clips about their business with the intention of increasing awareness of the business.

Venue: Sky Lounge, City Inn, 2 Wharf Approach, Leeds, LS1 4BR

Time: 5 - 7pm

Cost: FREE

This is a great network event set at one of the best locations in Leeds to see the skyline in the Sky Lounge at the City Inn.

Informal, vibrant and relaxed, the Young Directors Forum (YDF) invites all members to join us for our ever popular 'Meet up Mondays'. The event is FREE.

This is a great opportunity for all members who enjoy a more informal approach to networking or to catch up with some friends.

All members are warmly welcome and can bring up to two guests to each event. No booking necessary, so just come along!

We are delighted to announce that another Consoltis website has gone live - Lulabelle's homemade food is simply gorgeous .. why not give them a try?

Please visit this brand new website http://www.lulabelleslunches.co.uk

 " I approached Consoltis having been recommended by a friend. At first I was quite reticent as most of Consoltis websites are very technically led and not design led.  However, after an initial consultation I was confident that Andrew had listened and understood not only to my brief but my business concept, which is quite niche! The end result is a fabulous new website that does everything I need it to but with huge potential for growth. I recognise that I need to keep adding content and look forward to working with Andrew to develop over the coming months. "

Cathy McConaghy,  Proprietor

I recently went to Bash Studios for another review meeting with the team. We agreed a time and some 2 hrs later, with the backdrop of bands in rehearsal, we started and various people popped in to join us ... it's all quite chilled actually.

Marcus introduced me more of team including Matt Speddngs of www.deepfocus.co.uk, who is going to be doing some of the filming that is planned.

We talked about the next stages for the site and there is a promise of some great content.

The key focus of our discussions is to generate some exciting and unique content to include film, composing, graphics and animation. The team are working hard and having a few laughs at the same time.

Coming up soon will be the Bash Studios song played by the house band, various Bash video clips, team bios and pictures and a local gig guide for Harrogate and the surrounding area.

Whilst exciting for everyone involved, it's taking even longer than I expected to build the content. I don't know why I am surprised, because I know how hard it really is and also is a new process to learn. I was hoping we would be a little further on. Anyway, the important bit is that the Bash team have embraced the need to create and have put plans in place.

I will be checking the progress at the next update meeting later this week and there will hopefully be some exciting new content to upload.

It's a sort of a gradual start and we are making progress, but you just can't see it yet.