4 More Interesting Stories About Broadband and the Internet

4 More Interesting Stories About Broadband and the Internet

As you know, the internet is now a fairly-large part of modern life. By fairly-large, we actually mean that it is an integral part of modern society, and without it, civilisation as we know it today would crumble. The internet plays such an important role in so many of today’s tasks that it’s hard to believe that it’s only really been very popular since the mid-1990s. At the time, the internet was considered the stuff of Science Fiction, but if we look back today at how it used to be, it would look decidedly primitive.

The internet can be funny, it can be scary, and it can be downright bizarre. One thing that is for certain however, is the fact that it’s going nowhere anytime soon. Here are 5 more interesting stories about broadband and the internet that you probably hadn’t heard before.

The world’s first webcam

Webcams are used for all kinds of things, but do you know where the first webcam was created and what it was streaming? No, not that, so get your minds out of the gutter. The world’s first webcam was in fact created at Cambridge University back in 1991. The image the webcam was streaming was in fact located next door to the old computer room of the university. The image was of a coffee pot. The idea was that thirsty employees could monitor how much coffee was in the pot and would know when it was full and when it was empty. The stream was sadly retired back in 2001, but it had a very solid ten years and saved countless university employees from going thirsty.

Spam for everyone

Spam isn’t just a questionable “meat” product that is contained in a can. It turns out that spam is also very prominent when it comes to emails. We all receive spam and junk mail in our emails, but did you know that a whopping 70% of all emails sent online are in fact spam. Each minute we send over 200 million emails, so that is a heck of a lot of spam, we’re sure you’ll agree. Thank goodness for spam filters, huh?

Italy isn’t as fond of the internet as others

We’re not sure whether it’s because the weather is so beautiful, the quality of life is better, or because people are simply busy doing other things, but Italy does not use the internet as much as the rest of the world. In China, there are literally camps designed specifically to treat people addicted to the internet. In Italy however, roughly one third of the population has never used the internet before.

All hail the creator

We all know what the World Wide Web is, but do you know who is credited with creating it? Well, you will shortly. The man responsible for creating the web is an English computer scientists and engineer named Tim Berners Lee. It is actually Sir Tim Berners Lee, as back in 2004 he received a Knighthood from Her Majesty the Queen.

Interesting Car Finance and Motoring Facts You Probably Hadn’t Heard Before

Interesting Car Finance and Motoring Facts You Probably Hadn’t Heard Before

For many of us, our cars aren’t just oversized boy’s toys that we get to play around with at the weekend. No, they’re our lifelines. Without a means of transportation, even the most trivial of tasks becomes a chore. Thanks to car finance and various other payment options, it’s now possible for us to own expensive vehicles and spread the cost out over several years to help keep payments low. If you’re a fan of the motor industry however, this article could prove particularly interesting. Below we’ll be listing a series of car finance and motoring facts that you probably won’t have heard before. So, without any further hesitation, let’s begin.

The UK produces a lot of cars

Although the manufacturing of motor vehicles isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when we think of the UK, the truth is that we produce a heck of a lot of cars. In fact, on average, the United Kingdom produces more than 60 million cars every single year. That works out at roughly 165,000 cars per day. That’s pretty-impressive, we’re sure you’ll agree.

The world’s very first speeding ticket

There are fewer easier ways to find yourself in a bad mood, than to get home, check the post, and see that you have been issued with a speeding ticket in the post. We know that speed limits are in place for a reason, but sometimes they aren’t clearly signposted, and sometimes people simply aren’t paying attention, and consequently they pay the price – literally. The world’s very first speeding ticket, however, was issued over a century ago. It was issued back in 1902 and was issued to a motorist travelling at 45mph.

We spend a lot of time stuck in traffic

When you’re feeling stressed and agitated, going for a nice leisurely drive through the countryside is a great way to unwind. Sadly, not all of us can afford this luxury on a regular basis and some of us find ourselves stressed and agitated because of traffic. In the UK, the average driver will spend an average of 99 days of their life stuck in traffic. Now, if that’s not soul-destroying then we don’t know what is.

Ford were responsible for car finance

Nowadays we take credit for granted as we can get it for virtually everything. Way back in 1908 however, the world’s first mass-produced vehicle was the Ford Model-T. It cost $850 at the time, which is now the equivalent of $20,000+. Needless to say, not everybody had that type of money to spend on a car. To help boost sales, many dealerships offered this vehicle to paying customers via instalment loans. Back then it wasn’t regulated, but the premise was still the same as it is now when it comes to car finance.

The inventor of cruise control was blind

Ralph Teetor was the man responsible for inventing cruise control. Ralph was an inventor and the president of car vehicle manufacturing company. He was also blind so didn’t drive himself. After one too many car trips with his lawyer, Ralph decided to invent cruise control. The story goes that his lawyer was a bad driver that would always slow down when speaking and speed up when listening. By 1958, the world’s first cruise control unit was used commercially thanks to Chrysler.

Mortgages – 4 Top Tips for Letting a Property

Mortgages – 4 Top Tips for Letting a Property

With mortgages becoming tougher and tougher to obtain, and with house prices increasing, getting on the property ladder is now a whole lot tougher than it was several decades ago. With that said however, with the right amount of determination, dedication, and hard work, it can certainly be done. Once you have purchased a property, rather than worrying about mortgages and repayments etc, you could actually use the property to earn you some money. How? By letting it out.

Becoming a landlord could earn you some serious money, and it is a great way of making yourself some additional income in the process. Some people rent properties out as a way of earning a little extra cash, whereas other people do so as a full-time job. Whether you wish to become a full-time landlord or simply use a property to make you some extra spending money, here’s a look at our 4 top tips for letting a property.

Get the property ready

First and foremost, when you’re ready to let out a property you need to ensure that it is habitable and ready to be lived in. There are certain rules and regulations that must be adhered to, and different district councils have different rules so it’s well worth knowing the various rules and regulations well in advance. You should also give it a fresh coat of paint, carry out any repairs that need doing, and make it as pleasant as possible to live in.

Don’t try to cut corners

Unless you’re the luckiest landlord in the world, when you have a property you want to let out, it will almost certainly have some problems that you will have to deal with. The last thing you should ever do is try to cut corners and get the issues resolved on the cheap, because ultimately this will come back to bite you in the behind at some point. If there is a damp problem and you can visibly see mould/damp patches on the walls, don’t just paint over them and rent the property as quickly as you can. Instead, find out what’s causing the damp and get that fixed. If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing right, so just bear that in mind.

Do your research

Before you decide whether or not to rent out a property, it’s very important that you do your research and try to find out as much about the area as possible. Don’t just look at transport links and amenities etc, try to look into average rent prices in the area too. It’s very important that you know what to charge your tenants, as the last thing you want is to be under or over-charging them.

Anticipate the worst

In a perfect scenario, you’d rent your property out to a wonderful couple who always pay their rent on time, plan on staying in the property for the foreseeable future and look after it and keep it in pristine condition. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always work like that. Sometimes there will be times when the property is empty, and you aren’t making money on it. There may also be issues with having your rent paid on time, and with problem tenants. Prepare for the worst but know how to react.

5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Broadband Provider

5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Broadband Provider

In this day and age, it’s safe to say that we rely on the internet and on broadband for virtually everything. Okay, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration, but we do rely on it for a heck of a lot. Whether you need broadband for use in the home, or for use in your business, the important thing to remember is that finding the right broadband provider is essential. Without the right provider, your coverage will suffer, and life will become much harder than it needs to be. If you’re on the lookout for a new broadband provider, here are 5 things you will need to consider.

Your download limits

One of the most important things to consider when choosing a new broadband provider is whether download limits. If you rarely use the internet and don’t download a great deal, a lower limit may be beneficial and probably will be cheaper. If you do a lot of downloading, or you are a large household or a business, choosing a package with unlimited downloads should be high on your list of priorities. This package will probably cost slightly more, but if you do download a lot, it will certainly be worth it.

Price

Before you start getting sucked in with deals that sound too good to be true, a very important thing you will need to consider is the cost. If you’re looking to purchase a new broadband package, how much can you realistically afford and more to the point, how much do you want to spend? Before you begin searching for a new broadband provider, take the time to figure out how much you can afford and how much you want to spend and then give yourself a budget.

Service in your area

Another important factor to take into consideration is the service in your area. Some rural locations for example, may struggle to get a good service or fast speeds from certain providers. If you require fast speeds, it’s worth doing your research and finding out which providers happen to offer the best service in your area.

Customer service

Never underestimate the importance of good customer service. Remember, modern technology is wonderful when it works. When it isn’t working however, it can be a real nightmare. When your broadband goes down, and trust us, it will likely go down from time to time, no matter how awesome it is, you need to be safe in the knowledge that help is never far away. This is where friendly and efficient customer service proves to be so useful. When you’re searching for a broadband provider, try to find out about their customer service and find out whether people rate it or not.

Length of contract

Finally, the last thing you need to consider when searching for a broadband provider is the overall length of your contract. Unless you get an unbelievably good deal, the last thing you want is to find yourself tied down to a lengthy contract. If you aren’t sure in the early stages, it’s best to go with a relatively short contract, as that way if your deal isn’t right, you won’t have long to left before you can switch providers. If it does work out, you can always renew and perhaps opt for a longer contract the next time.

4 Reasons to Get a Mortgage and Buy a Property

4 Reasons to Get a Mortgage and Buy a Property

For first-time buyers, getting on the property ladder is one of the most difficult processes in the entire world. As people say however, ‘nothing in life worth having comes easily’ and that is very true when it comes to buying a property.

Once you take the plunge, save up the deposit, wade through various mortgages options and eventually sign on the dotted line and receive the keys to your new home, you’ll be so glad you did it. All of those years of hard graft, saving, stressing, and preparation will have been worthwhile. If you’re still not sure whether or not getting a mortgage could be right for you however, here are 4 reasons to get a mortgage and buy a property for the very first time.

Buying a house is an investment

Most things in life, tend to lose value the second we purchase them, with cars being a prime example (unless it’s a classic). Some purchases however, prove to be fantastic investments. Gold is one, and property is another. When you find yourself wondering whether the numerous mortgages deals you were offered were worth it, just remember that house prices are almost certain to increase with each passing year. Each year house prices will generally increase in value, which means that, when the time does come to sell up, if that’s what you want to do, when you sell up you will receive a very impressive return on your investment.

You’ll have your independence

If you still live at home, or perhaps room share with others, even though you may enjoy yourself, sometimes you will crave your own space and independence. When you decide to get a mortgage and buy a property for the first time, you will find yourself having more independence than you could have ever imagined. You have your own space, you can decorate the way you want to, you can wear what you want, and you can do whatever you want (within reason) as you will be under your very own roof.

You get to put your own unique stamp on the place

If you rent a property, a room, or still live at home, you aren’t the homeowner, so you don’t get to decide how to decorate and furnish the home. That means that, if you do want to decorate, you either have to ask permission first, or you simply know outright that redecorating is not an option. Once you’ve obtained your mortgage and have moved into your new home however, you get to put your own unique stamp on the place and can furnish and decorate it however you like.

You take pride in ownership

Let’s face it, when we eventually obtain a mortgage and buy our very first property, this will be one of the proudest achievements of our lives so far. Buying a home will give you a great sense of achievement, and will give you something to be proud about.

4 Benefits of Car Finance

4 Benefits of Car Finance

When it comes to investments, there are some things in life that are guaranteed to increase in value. Gold is generally a prime example, as is property. But what about some investments that don’t pay dividends? Well, as fantastic as they are, a lot of people will tell you that cars lose value the second they leave the showroom.

To many of us however, we don’t care as we take great pleasure in driving around stylish motor vehicles. Rather than buying a used vehicle however, it might be worth looking into car finance instead. Here’s a look at some of the main advantages of choosing car finance.

Flexible payment options

One of the best things about getting a car on finance is the fact that it provides you with flexible payment options. Depending on the type of deal you get, and the deposit you put down, you can split your payments up into monthly instalments over a prolonged period of time. The longer the finance deal runs for, the less you will pay each month. Having this type of flexibility is very beneficial as it means you can pay a small amount each month and still have plenty of money left to cover other expenses such as, you know, living.

Purchase a nice car

Let’s face it, with bills to pay and lives to lead, not everybody has the luxury of being able to afford to pay thousands on a car, either new or used. Because of this, some of us are forced to spend a few hundred and buy a cheap, used banger just to get us from A to B. Normally these cars fail their MOT or break down so we wind up having to spend more anyway. By getting a car on finance however, you can purchase a newer, nicer, more reliable vehicle and still have plenty of money left to cover your other living expenses etc.

Safety

Another thing we don’t often consider when buying used cars on the cheap is the fact that as they are normally older, they lack certain safety features and are therefore more dangerous to drive. If you get a car finance deal and buy a newer car however, the car will be newer which already makes it safer. On top of that, it will also have more safety features and technology in general. Newer cars have parking sensors, cameras, ABS brakes, emergency braking, and much more besides. Car finance gives you the ability to purchase a safer, more advanced car, without spending a small fortune all in one go.

Save money

We know that with car finance you do wind up spending slightly more than the car is worth overall, but even so, you still end up saving a significant amount of money by going with a newer car. As the car is newer it is more reliable, so you’ll have to spend less on parts and repairs. What’s more, many new models are also road tax exempt as they give off such low emissions, so once again, that’s another saving.

How to Haggle for a Great Broadband Deal

How to Haggle for a Great Broadband Deal

As you probably know, without the internet we would be pretty-much done for as far as society goes. We rely on the internet and our broadband deals for a variety of reasons, and without it you wouldn’t be reading this article right now. We use the web for our shopping, we use it to pay our bills, we do our work online, and we like to spend our free time online in the process.

Needless to say, broadband providers have picked up on the fact that we’re so reliant on them, and to be quite frank, some of them are charging their customers extortionate amounts of money for a service that can be obtained much cheaper from somewhere else. If your broadband provider is ripping you off, it’s time to haggle and get a better deal, either from them or with somebody else. Here are some tips on haggling for a great broadband deal.

Ask your provider for a discount

First and foremost, we understand that switching broadband providers, while not being the hardest task in the world, is still another job we could do without. Ideally, we’d stick with the provider we’re with now, but would pay much less. Believe it or not, but one of the best ways of getting a better deal from your broadband provider is to simply give them a ring and ask them. You’d be amazed by how many times a simple phone call and the request of a discount works. At the end of the day, you’ve nothing to lose and everything to gain, so give them a call, tell them you’re unhappy with the amount you’re paying, and see what they can do for you.

Get quotes from elsewhere

Another great haggling technique when it comes to obtaining a broadband deal is to speak to other providers and get quotes from them. Tell them how much you are paying now and they will almost certainly offer you a better price for the same deal and service, otherwise you’d have no incentive to go with them. Once you obtain these quotes you can then go back to your current provider.

See if your current provider can beat the quotes you obtained

Once you’ve obtained a few quotes from other providers, call your current provider, tell them you are unhappy and are thinking of leaving because of the price, and tell them the cheapest quotes you were offered. As they will likely want to retain your custom, they will likely offer come back with an even better offer then the cheapest quotes you received.

Play hard ball

If you are still not happy with the offers your provider has come back to you with, now it’s time to play hard ball. Assuming you are at the end of your contract, or are soon to be, simply tell them that if they don’t offer you a better deal, that you are going to cancel and not renew with them again. If they value your custom, they will offer you a cheaper rate. If not, and you seriously are looking to leave, go with one of the other providers who gave you a quote and see which offers they have for you.

Tips on Saving for a Deposit for a Mortgage

Tips on Saving for a Deposit for a Mortgage

Let’s not beat about the bush here, when it comes to buying a house, people in this generation are in a far, far, far more difficult position than their parents were a generation ago. Mortgages are much tougher to obtain, house prices have increased drastically, and banks and lenders are much stricter with whom they lend to, and the amounts they lend. Perhaps the hardest part of buying a property for the first time however, or any time for that matter, is actually saving up the deposit to buy the house in the first place.

The magic number is generally 10% of the property’s value, so if you’re looking at buying a property for, say, 100,000 Euros, saving up 10,000 Euros while paying your bills and living your life is far from easy. There are, however, a number of things you can do to save for a deposit without living like a hermit for several years. Here are some tips on saving for a house deposit.

Try not to rent

Okay, though none of us would relish the thought of giving up our independence and moving back in with our parents, or a family member, if you are serious about buying a house then you will need to get your deposit together. For many, this means not renting a property and instead moving back home and paying your parents board instead, which will likely be less than a monthly rent. In the past, once children reached 18 and were classed as adults, they moved out into the big wide world, got a job, brought a home, and that was that. Nowadays however, things are very different. If you can’t move back home or don’t want to, consider renting a room rather than a property and put the money you are saving on rent, to one side for your deposit.

Sell old and unwanted items

Yes, we know it’s a bit of a pain in the backside taking photos of items, listing them on auction sites, and selling them when you have a life to lead, but if you want to save money, this is a very viable option. Selling old and unwanted items will generate some extra cash for you, which you will not miss. Put it into a savings account and watch it grow.

Get a lodger

Assuming you are renting, if you do want to save money it could be worth you taking in a lodger. Now, the first thing you need to do here is check with your landlord that they are okay with you doing so. They will probably ask for a higher monthly rent from the pair of you, but this will still mean that you are saving money in the long run and again, when you are saving money, make sure you set it aside.

Get financial assistance

There are various help-to-buy schemes now in place that are designed to help first-time buyers save for a deposit, so it may be worth looking into those. As well as that, you could consider asking for a loan from a family member/close friend.

4 Things New Homeowners Should Do When Buying a House

Broadband – 4 Things New Homeowners Should Do When Buying a House

After the stress and aggravation associated with buying a house, and the finances involved, it’s now time to start thinking positively and focussing on the fact that you have just purchased a new home. After buying a house you will no doubt be eager to get moved in as quickly as possible, which is why you need to start looking at broadband, energy suppliers, and things of that nature.

We are living in a world that is becoming increasingly reliant upon modern technology which is why getting a good broadband deal is so important. As well as sorting all of your appliances out of course, you will also need to ensure that you make the house habitable. To make your move that little bit easier, here’s a look at 4 things new homeowners should do when buying a house.

Decorate

Unless you opt to buy a new build, there’s a good chance that when you move into a house you have purchased from somebody else, that you will want to decorate and put your own unique stamp on the place. Remember, you’re looking to make this house your home, so decorate the way you want to. We aren’t going to tell you which colours to use, and which accessories to buy because that’s entirely down to you. All we will say is that you need to go with styles that you enjoy, not what somebody else likes.

Sort your broadband

Trust us, when you move into a new home the sooner you can get your broadband sorted out the easier life will be. Many of us rely on the internet for work purposes, so that is reason enough to get it sorted right away. On top of that, having the internet will enable you to communicate with others much easier, plus you can order things for the house, and of course, you can get other issues sorted like utilities.

Find an energy supplier

Once in your home you will of course need gas and electric, or just electric in some cases. These utilities unfortunately do not come for free but if you shop around and look online (another reason to get your broadband installed ASAP) you will find some great deals. It’s a bit of a pain at first, but if you set aside just one or two hours you could potentially save yourself a fortune. There are of course, a number of websites and forums out there created specifically to help people save money on things like this, so just bear that in mind before you begin your search.

Have the boiler serviced

At the hub of all houses is the boiler. If your boiler breaks down you will be without heating and hot water, and you don’t need anybody to tell you how awful that would be, especially in winter. What’s more, boilers are incredibly expensive to replace so the last thing you want is to have to buy a new one after spending who knows what on a new home. Having it serviced will help keep it in full working order for longer.

Interesting Facts about Broadband and the Internet

Interesting Facts about Broadband and the Internet

Nowadays, the internet is as common in everyday life as the humble television set. It’s hard to believe then, that a little over two decades ago, having online connectivity was seen as a luxury that only the very privileged could afford. We rely on the internet for so many things in day to day life that in all honesty, if for some reason the world were to lose online connectivity, even for a short period of time, chaos and anarchy would likely ensue. As awesome as the internet is, we bet there are a number of facts relating to the internet that you weren’t aware of. Many of these facts are nothing more than just useless trivia, but they’re incredibly interesting nonetheless, and who knows when they may come in handy. Here are some interesting facts about broadband and the internet that you probably didn’t know.

There are a lot of websites online

Shock horror, the internet has a lot of websites, who knew? Yes, okay, you can hold the sarcasm however, because you’ll likely be surprised when you learn precisely how many websites there are. As of October 2018, there are more than 1.9 BILLION websites online, and that number is growing every single day. Some are awesome, some are horrendous, and some are just plain bizarre, but they are there nonetheless.

More than 1 in 2 people uses the web

We knew that the internet was popular, but did you know it was this popular? Currently there are 7.53 billion people in the world. As of this writing, just shy of 3.8 billion people are connected to the world wide web in some capacity.

We spend a lot of money online

Whether you’re buying your dog a cute outfit to wear during the holidays, or a brand-new processor for your work laptop, you can buy virtually anything online. Because of this, we spend a lot of money online in the UK, but do you know how much? Well, roughly each year, we spend an astonishing £1.7 Trillion on the web.

Hacking is a problem

Like it or not, online cyber crime is a real problem. Many websites, big and small, have been hacked in the past, and sadly that will likely be the case for the foreseeable future. Every single day however, around 85,000 websites are hacked by cyber-criminals, with WordPress sites being amongst the most vulnerable.

The first email was sent earlier than you thought

It wasn’t until the mid-nineties that the internet started to take off. The world’s very first email however, was sent way back in 1971. While the world’s first text message read ‘Merry Christmas’ the world’s first email was decidedly more boring. We know that because US programmer Ray Tomlinson sent it, and he can’t actually remember what it said.

We send a lot of emails

Talking of emails, while most of yours are probably spam, you do get the occasional useful one. But do you know how many emails are sent thanks to the internet and broadband? Well, you’re about to. We send 250 Billion emails every single day.