Experience counts – IT Support Lincolnshire
At Octagon Technology we use a variety of computers and devices, iPhones and iPads, Android phones and tablets, various flavours of Windows, with and without touch screens and Linux computers and netbooks. We are always up with the current trends across a wide variety of platforms so we can provide the best possible IT support for Lincolnshire. Although I am a big iOS user I have recently I have acquired an older HTC Wildfire S Android phone, which I have made into a media player on steroids for my walking and camping trips – see the story here on my page about Backpacking Technology.
One of the things we are often asked to do is to find some software for a client to do something they need. Last week it was simple to use encryption software that would on a range of platforms. But I was also set a challenge by a friend of mine who had a few issues cycling from Brimington to Stamford – read Alex’s story here.
A trip to the Google Play store found a few candidates for Cycle GPS apps so I installed two to my phone and tried them out. It is always best to try software out. When we were looking at encryption software, unless we could get a trial version the software package did not even make our shortlist. We will not recommend to clients unless we have installed and tested the software first. This does not mean we will not look at reviews but we do not give reviews very much weighting in our process. (Have a look at the reviews for OneDrive on the Google Play Store – I am not sure who wrote them, the opposition, the developers or real customers, but they obviously damage the reputation of what is a good app and good software. No one can make a decision made on them.)
I eventually chose the app CycleStreets, because:
- It was easy to use – I tried it out (but I was in a car with Diana driving)
- It had offline maps – essential for any GPS app as you are sure not to have a data signal when you are lost!
- There is a large cyclist community supporting the app
- It is a cross platform app – this is important especially when we recommend mobile apps to clients, it has to work on all the devices that small businesses use.
- It is free
I have made the suggestion to Alex that he adds this to his phone and tries it out – I’ll let you know how it works out.
Alex is a professional photographer based in the Midlands shooting portraits and commercial work, he likes cycling, outdoors activities and photography. He blogs at Don’t Wait For Me.
