With more channels than ever before and Christmas movies, Sport and Kids TV coming out of our ears, it represents quite a challenge in a household where there are more people than TV sets and everyone wanting to watch something different.

But wait… did you know you might have the answer in front of you?



​Your device – phone, tablet, laptop or PC can provide you with the opportunity to watch streamed TV wherever you are (though some services require you to be using the same WiFI network as your TV provider – see below).
Whether you are an Android, iOS or Windows phone user, you will find apps in your app store for many of the UK TV providers – ITV hub, BBC iPlayer, Channel 4 and Channel 5 are now joined by Sky Go and Sky Q – for Sky TV subscribers, and Virgin, NOW TV, and others also have bespoke apps to view their content with your subscriber details. The same apps are of course available on your iPad or other tablet, the Microsoft Store or as websites to watch from your browser on any device.

There are also several apps available that bring together content from the main TV providers in one place. My favourite is TV Catch Up, though be aware that these may well have adverts interrupting your viewing, you are watching TV streamed with a few seconds delay from the real thing, so not truly live, but almost.
Most of these apps require you to register to use them, but most have opt-out options, so you don’t get bombarded with emails from them.

One thing to remember is that these apps and websites will be using your internet connection, so if your phone or tablet are using your mobile signal, they will eat your data allowance rather quickly. If you can connect through WiFi, you will not need to worry about extra data charges.
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Finally, have a happy, peaceful holiday, whatever you are watching.

Are You Looking Forward To All The Offerings This Christmas? - written for File Genie by Freelance Writer Ruth Raymer @WritingWalking

There are more reasons than just the cost when thinking about whether to repair or ditch your PC. 

Our computers contain thousands of different components, and some of them are not so good for the environment. The big issues occur in making the computer initially, and then again when disposing of it. Here are five environmental reasons for repairing your PC rather than buying a new one.
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1. Though using your computer and not printing things on paper can help to reduce damage to the environment, it takes a whole lot of energy to produce a PC in the first place.
2. Mining for rare earth minerals causes untold damage to the land and to the wildlife, plant-life and people who lived on it before mining.
3. Several rare metals are used in making the small components in your PC. Some, like hafnium, are so rare, they are running out.
4. The plastics in your computer take many, many years to degrade if they end in landfill, as do the metal cases.
5. Monitors contain mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and beryllium and there are rules about how they can be disposed of because of the toxic levels of these elements in them. If they go to landfill they could pollute the land for years to come.

Keeping your PC clean, free of dust and turning it off at night will all help to reduce the amount of energy it uses too. Once your computer has come to the end of its life, try to ensure it is disposed of correctly – ask at your Civic Amenity Site if you are not sure or your local council’s website.
 
‘5 Environmental Reasons for Repairing Your PC Rather Than Buying a New One’ - written for File Genie by Freelance Writer Ruth Raymer @WritingWalking

Second – I speak in plain language. I won’t try to blind you with science or geeky terms. I’ll tell you what needs to be done and how much I charge. 

If there are other options, I’ll explain them and the costs too. I won’t push you to buy anything more than you need to and would only recommend that you get a new computer or device if there was no other way to get yours back up and running (or it would be cheaper). I don’t sell computers, or software, or printers, scanners and so on, I don’t even sell keyboards or mice so there’s no benefit to me in recommending one bit of kit over another. Any advice I give on buying is based solely on the best solution for you…and what’s more – I don’t charge you for advice and you are under no obligation.

I don’t have a shop to sell from, or the staff and all the overheads that come with one. What I do have is a fully equipped workshop, masses of knowledge gained over years of being a complete tech’ geek, and having a total love for what I do - and that’s what you get the benefit of when you come to me.

I have my own workshop, and I can usually do what’s needed more quickly than the big guys. I don’t send your equipment off to a centralised repair centre so there’s no waiting for it to be picked up, delivered to the repair centre and going on the pile of jobs waiting there to be done, then getting it all packed up and sent back again. Simply, you hand your equipment to me, give me your contact details, and I get to work. I will always check with you before doing anything that might cost you more than originally expected.

Best of all, the service is personal – as in PC, Personal Computer. I understand how precious the memories are in your computer or device. I know how important they can be, so I take every possible care to preserve all your important stuff – pictures, documents and so on. I also take pride in respecting your privacy. When you put your device in my hands, nobody – no receptionists, no warehouse staff, no drivers, no faceless technicians or their supervisors – nobody will touch your device but me, until I hand it back to you. That’s ‘personal’ service, with a smile.
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Don’t just take my word for it though. Click here and read some testimonials or watch some reviews from some of my previous customers. 
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• Freeindex Reviews 
• YouTube Reviews
• Google Reviews
• ​LinkedIn Reviews

 ‘Personal’ Service With a Smile - written by Freelance Writer Ruth Raymer.