- More than half of computer users do not backup their data on a regular basis. 63% said that they make backups less than once a month. 18% said that they never make backups at all. The most common reason for not making backups was that the process was too time consuming, however, those who did regularly backup their data said that the process took them an average of just 15 minutes each time. Some saved their data online, others used portable hard drives, and others used CDs. Businesses often preferred to use CDs as they could be duplicated more easily. Further reading – CD Duplication
- Over the years we have seen TVs evolve from black and white sets, to Technicolor consoles, to the HDTV options available today. In the coming years, people can expect to see bigger (but thinner) screens, internet connectivity and customizable viewing experiences. Those who love watching TV now will love it even more so in the future. As almost every home has at least one TV in it, tech companies know that there is a huge potential market for each TV that they develop, and so they will continue to spend massive sums of money to ensure that their products are better than their competitors. Further reading – Cheap TV
- Despite an unusually mind winter in the UK, tyre companies have reported a large increase in sales of cold weather tyres for the last 3 months of 2011. The biggest companies say that year on year sales rose about 50%. The figure rises to 300% when compared to a few years ago. This is somewhat surprising as most motorists have little disposable income available, however, they are being applauded for recognizing that having appropriate tyres for driving in winter conditions is a necessity. Winter tyres are made from rubber compounds that differ from those used in summer tyres, and have tread patterns designed to deal with icy and snowy surfaces. Further reading – Car Tyres
- Popular celebrities currently available to speak at parties and events include business woman Karen Brady, England’s most capped football player Peter Shilton, comedian Alan Carr and politician David Blunkett. The demand for famous people to become after dinner speakers is as high as ever. Having someone entertain guests with stories and jokes is seen as a great way to fill the space between dinner being finished and the music at an event beginning. Even if some of the people at the event do not have a direct interest in the field that the speaker is from, it is always interesting to hear about how they achieved their success. Further reading – After Dinner Speakers
- Men have being coming up with more creative ways to ask their girlfriend to marry them. Some of the ways that marriage has been proposed include taking out adverts on the sides of buses or taxis, adding a spoken marriage proposal on to her favorite play list on her iPod and creating a personalized fortune cookie. It is thought that the more creative a man is with the proposal, the more likelihood there is of getting the desired “Yes!”. Of course, an engagement is about more than just a creative gesture on the day, so men aren’t advised to rush into a proposal. Further reading – Diamond Engagement Rings