We use the spiffy Gmail integration on the current iPhone 3G to keep in touch with clients and ideas on the move. We also use the fantastic Wordpress app to draft (and update) content of our site, and our client sites, whenever we need to make a quick change.

So here's a quick update on what's new, and what's not new, in the just-announced iPhone 3Gs.

We've been using the 3G for around a year, and love its organisation tools, the integration with Google Calendar (we never did get into iCal - too propriatery), and it's 'ok' touch-screen keyboard. We must admit though, as a telephone, it has been lacking. Dropped calls on 3G network, confused iPod when SMS arrives. That aspect of it just doesn't seem finished - we guess we should have got a touch instead. The fact O2's 3G network is oversubscribed in London leads us to believe they should really not advertise "3G" as a useable feature in high density areas. We haven't had a hands-on with the 3GS yet, so will not touch on the phone features.

But what's new in the 3GS that will aide our output?

The 3 mega-pixel camera will be a handy addition to our blogging projects. We don't often use the existing 2 mega-pixel camera on the 3G as it is really poor quality. Maybe you'd like to have a bit more spontaneity on you blog and post photos you've just taken. Hopefully the improved camera will make them look a little more professional, rather than the 'taken through a sheet of scratchy plastic' pics we get at the moment.

The Voice Recorder app that's coming with OS 3.0 will be great for keeping little reminders to yourself. We've been trying to get into Evernote for a while, but the lack of a useable 3G network in London means we got bored waiting for it to sync.

Cut-and-Paste. Oooh. Despite the grumbles that it should have been there at the start, now it's been implemented it really does work a treat. Edit your notes or your Wordpress posts right from your phone. Nice. The pinch-and-stretch highlighter works well, and is simple to use.

If you've got a lot of notes for articles, or client contacts you need to get to quickly, the Spotlight Search is a great addition to the OS. If you splashed out for MobileMe and the contact or email message you’re looking for isn’t on your iPhone, you can continue your search on the server. Search responds with all the results so you can display them on your iPhone.

Now there are so many variables in dozens of permutations and from every Big Corp. electronics firm you can think of that some guidance may be required before putting your money down.

Here we take a look at 5 of the newer models on the market.

HP Mini 1000 £400

HP's first foray into the market wasn't that great. The 2133 Mini-Note was appalingly slow and it's screen was far to shiny to be used outdoors. Expectations were low with their latest baby.

Thankfully, HP has learned that they need to produce something special to get a share of this competitive market.

Looks and Usability
It's a big ol' footprint, but that means the keyboard is a good size and comfortable to use. It does have a mouse trackpad is a bit tricky to use as the buttons are weirdly positioned to either side of it, but you get used to it. May be best to have a trial run at your local Dixons.

Unfortunately, HP have cut a corner on the screen, and it suffers from the same glare that defeated the 2133 Mini-Note.

Battery Life and Power
The majority of the netbooks on this list are powered by Intel's Atom N270 CPU so they are much of a muchness. You'll get around 3 hours of video play off a fully charged battery. Again, that's average.

Put your money down?
It's ok and comfy to use, but the glossy screen, and not enough USB ports make it a 'um, sorta'.

Eee PC 901 £299

The 900 model gave a kick up the ass to the mid-size netbook market, and maybe underlined that the 7-incher was just 'too wee'.

Looks and Usability
This has brawn over beauty. It looks clunky, but it's solid. Good if you're lugging it around in your school bag. The keyboard is slightly dinky, so it started to hurt our hands after about 30 minutes of touch typing. We are getting old though.

The winning feature is the gesture mouse pad, allowing you to pinch and stretch and scroll and zoom with ease. Web surfing is a lovely experience.

Battery Life and Power
Again, using the Atom N2370, it's got the same horse-power as most netbooks on the market. 4 and a half hours of lovely video playback is not to be sniffed at off one fully charged battery.

Put your money down?
If word processing your latest novel is not your priority, the 901 covers most bases. Enough USB ports and a nice wifi and Bluetooth availabilty makes this good for file transfers too.

Acer Aspire One £209

Oooh, it looks nice and colourful.

Looks and Usability
The keyboard hits the spot. Easy to type on and good clicky feedback. Bah! But the mouse has all gone wrong. Why put the selector buttons on the left and right? We don't have little extra stumpy bits on the heel of our hands, and are forced to move our entire hand to click.

Battery Life and Power
You can get this with XP, or a custom port of Linux Linpus - and if you go for the latter you will be very pleased indeed. Booting in less than 20 seconds, and easy to use for the novice. Standard performance from the processor (Atom N270 again), but the battery power is a disappointing 2 hours.

Put your money down?
It's got a built in 3G modem which is a really nice feature, if you've got a 3G sim. Wifi and Bluetooth and USB etc as normal. It's cheap, but your batter suffers. You pays your money...

Samsung NC10 £320

Samsung have bitten the bullet, did the math and realised there's good market share to be taken with the NC10.

Looks and Usability
Silver-impregnated keys make for an apparently anti-bacterial keyboard. The display is non-glossy, so makes it more usable outdoors than some of the competitors, which gets it some points. It falls down on the mousepad though, it's a bit weedy.

Battery Life and Power
Again, performance the same as the rivals. However, the battery life in our video test is a staggering 5 and a half hours. We're told it'll survive up to 7 hours with more prudent use.

Put your money down?
It's a funny one. It doesn't have any super-duper standout features, but it covers every base well and is a good contenter for our top pic. The lack of a digital video out is a mere blip.

Eee PC 1000HE £330

They've had a couple of attempts to get the 1000 series right, and Asus have pretty much nailed it on this one.

Looks and Usability
It's big and it's heavy. It's almost not a netbook, but it is. The beautiful 10-inch display lets you see most of the web pages we use every day without having to pan and scan. It's got a keyboard that's about 90% of a standard laptop keyboard so it's pleasurable to type on, even if you're writting your magnum opus.

Battery Life and Performance
Asus claim a 9 hour batter life. We don't even get that out of our good quality office laptops. Some tests have got over 10(!) hours, though that was running some piddling light weight applications. Still, that is impressive. Average though, is 5 and a half hours. Astonishing.

Put your money down?
It's not attractive, and it's a bit heavy, but it is our pick. The keyboard is great, the mouse is good enough, it's got 802.11n highspeed wifi. It's very competitively priced and the battery knocks everyone else into a cocked hat for the best part of the working day. A thousand times, yes!

Computer

Doh, no brainer.  Check out our upcoming Top 5 Netbooks feature for a portable powerhouse.  But for the desk, something like an iMac or an XP pc will do the job.  Many markets allow writers to submit proposals via email, and it's the easiest way to communicate in the 21st century.

Pens and Pencils and a Pad of Paper

Despite the fact you'll likely do most of your actual writing a your computer, a little pad of paper by your side is great for jotting down little plans for articles, keeping notes that don't merit opening Word, and for sitting on the toilet taking notes while you do your thinking.

Dictionary and various Reference Books

We recommend Fowler's A Dictionary of Modern English Usage, and a good thesaurus.  Strunk and White is also a must if you are submitting work to broadsheets - and even if you're not, your work should meet high standards.

Calendar / Day Planner

Keep track of the tasks you have to accomplish today.  With a computer (and the internet) at your fingertips, it's easy to be distracted.  So write down what you want your goals to be.  Then you know what you'll get done.

In Tray

Desks get out of control with papers, notes, clippings and letters.  With a tray, you can keep your plans organised.  Your documents that are pertinent to your current task are within easy reach, and your train of thought won't be interrupted while you dig around in your drawers looking for that note.

Webcam or Microphone

Quicktime Pro does work with the built-in iSight, because Quicktime Pro supports USB cameras. Quicktime Pro is inexpensive, but inexpensive still isn’t free, and it makes no sense to shell out cash to fix a problem that shouldn’t be a problem to begin with.

If you're posting blogs or podcasts, you'll find these invaluable.  They let your computer be the true workhorse of your business.  Many modern computers, such as the iMac and even many of the netbooks on the market, have these built in so you can record your podcasts on the hoof.

Printer

Even though the internet and email allows you to submit work electronically, there's still a very real requirement to have hard copies of work for your clients. Many will require this to be couriered to them before they will approve your work for publication.

Before you've even written your book, you could save your self a lot of heartbreak and late nights by writing a knock-out proposal. A strong proposal can get your past the first fence, but there are no guarantees.

Look anywhere on Google, and you'll find an outline of what editors are looking for. Research shows that there are a general 4 killer questions that any self-respecting publishing house will measure your proposal against.

1. Is there a large enough audience, with money, who are interested in this book?
A book that you're taking to a major publishing house needs to appeal to a broad audience in the HUNDREDS of thousands. You'll need to do your research. If your topic is in the realm of Commodity Trading, find out the number of dealing members on the world's largest exchanges, such as COMEX and NYMEX, and try to estimate the head-count that may be interested in your topic.

Remember, only a fraction of that audience will actually put their money down and buy your book. A publisher needs to sell between 6,000-7,000 copies of your book to make it viable.

2. Would the idea be more effective as a magazine article?
Your manuscript needs to be a beefy 200 pages minimum, in it's published form. When you've put down all your information on your hot topic - it needs to be 100,000 - 200,000 words. If you're shy of that, either do more digging, or accept that it's perhaps more suited to being a one-off article.

3. What's the Unique Selling Proposition of your book?
The overview of your book must be on the first page of your proposal. What's it about? Who is it for? What's in it?

You must stress to the publishing house why your book is somehow different from any of the other books already in print on your topic (if there are any).

Think how you're going to capture the essence of what makes your book different. Is it organised in a new and fresh way from existing books? Are you reaching a new audience?

4. Why should the publisher let you write it?
Are you the most qualified person available to write this book for this editor? This question can be answered by measuring two different credentials. The 'writing ability' credential and the 'expert experience' credential.

You can sell yourself in the 'About the Author' section of your proposal. If you can, you should include:

• Title, Date of Publication, Publisher, ISBN of previous books
• Names of Magazines which have published you
• Clippings of favourable reviews
• Past sales figures

The expert credentials can help to establish your suitability to write on the subject - to show that you are an authority who can reach your intended audience.

The expert credentials can help to establish your suitability to write on the subject - to show that you are an authority who can reach your intended audience.

In actual fact, you don't have to be that much of an expert to appear to be. The don't really need to be in-depth. For instance, one of our contributers wrote a book on LME Metal Trading, when he wasn't an actual metal trader. He did work for a trader, and knew enough about the business to write his book on the subject with sufficient authority.

If you feel you need some expert experience on a subject that you do not yet have - go out and get it. Want to write a book on how to pay your mortgage with sales on eBay? Well, start paying your mortgage by selling stuff on eBay. That kind of experience is what will get publishers on your side.

If you feel you need some expert experience on a subject that you do not yet have - go out and get it. Want to write a book on how to pay your mortgage with sales on eBay? Well, start paying your mortgage by selling stuff on eBay. That kind of experience is what will get publishers on your side.

Individual publishers may also request extra information - you can generally find this on their websites. For instance, Wiley and Sons often put out 'Calls for Book Proposals' in specific areas, and ask for your proposal to include at least:

• A Table of Contents and detailed discussion of the book, its scope and length
• A discussion of the competing books if any and a discussion of how yours is superior
• A sample chapter or two if available
• Your curriculum vitae
• Estimated completion time

With all the above, and covering the 4 killer questions, you should have a good idea of how to improve an existing proposal that was rejected and to understand how your prospective publisher needs to be impressed.

If you do not have a footrest, it can force your lower back into an arch, and put excessive pressure on your spinal discs. With a footrest, your lower spine will be placed in a more neutral position, and your back muscles will relax. The distribution of the weight of your torso will be correct and you will be less inclined to become tired while sitting.

Here are some options.

Humanscale Foot Machine 500
Its sleek design is a mixture of function and beauty. The wide, moulded plywood platform is stable and durable. The base has rubber grips for a non-slip surface if the floor is wood or linoleum. The die-case aluminium legs are curved slightly to encourage a relaxing rocking motion. This movement allows for the exercising of the lower leg muscles while you are seated.

The plywood is from sustainable forests. It is stained with brushed steel with straight black accents.

The ErgoWise Foot-Rest

This alternative helps to combat the discomfort and tiredness associated with sitting for extended period with its innovative design. It features padded rollers which move independly of each other and give a smooth massage to the soles of your feet.

The angle is adjustable with knobs which tighten to give stability to the platform and tilt to suit the user.

Budget Ergo-Comfort Adjustable Footrest

This low-cost basic model covers all the bases in the most simple ways. It elevates the feet (at least 2 inches is enough), and improves the circulation in your body. Allowing your shoulders to naturally relax backwards helps your posture. The 'Easy-Glide' design allows for the positioning of your legs and feet while the rest is in use, and the tilt angle will slide to any position that is comfortable.

Read our 6 tips on how to choose a suitable chair for your main office needs. If you work for a company, you should have a word with your department administrator in getting the chair that suits you.

One word of caution - the chair itself may not be the cause of any discomfort you may be feeling. You may need to adjust other elements of your work environment - such as monitor or foot rest.

Adjust your Seat Height
The is the first correction that should be made, and when it is correctly done, your hands should be allowed to float just above the keyboard, with your forearms laying parallel to the floor. If you can get close enough to your desk, your elbows should be in a vertical line with your shoulders.

Seat Depth
The depth of the seat should support your thighs so you do not strain your legs. You should be able to put 2 fingers in to the gap between the front edge of the seat, and the back of your knees.

Backrest Height Adjustment
You need to be sure that your back rest is able to be adjusted to such a degree as to provide lumbar support. The height of your lumbar region from the base of your spine differs from person to person, so you should be able to adjust this appropriately.

Backrest Reclining Adjustment
Although you ideally should have much of a recline on your seat when doing your normal day-to-day work, it can offer a pleasant respite if you are on the telephone or taking a break. Set the angle to a comfortable angle so it reduces back strain, yet will still maintain the lumbar curve.

Foot Rest
If you are of a dainty proportion, and when your seat height has been appropriately adjusted and your feet do not rest flat on the floor - you may need a foot rest. The rest should enable you to sit with your knees and your hips at right angles.

Adjustable Armrest Height
If you prefer a chair with arm rest, please consider these 3 points:
The are fully height adjustable within the restrictive height of your desk
Your arms do not rest on them while you are performing your task at your desk
Your shoulders do not 'hunch'

Clear and loud audio is achieved by way of their 'Voice Isolation Technology' and 'Noise Assassin' respectively. You can pair the devices with an impressive 8 different devices (and connect at the same time to 2). They cost the same, and the look pretty swish.

So where do they differ? The Jawbone senses your speech by way of a little doobery that touches your cheekbone, and it's controls are hidden under the casing. The Q1's controls are on the outside, but effective.

For our money (£80 of it), the Prime just feels comfier. The interchangeable earbud makes for a snug fit no matter how big your lugs. Q1 only has two different sizes, so it's just your luck if it fits or not.

Styling-wise, the Jawbone also takes first place. In shocking green, you'll stand-out (if you want to) with this kind of Klingon intergalactic communicator.

The winner? For our money, Jawbone Prime for adaptability and good looks.

[Jawbone]
[Q1]

Black Jawbone 3 Prime Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Aliph

3 Bids

US $46.00

NEW Universal Jawbone Prime Bluetooth Headset BLACK

22 Bids

US $59.00

OEM A Jawbone Prime Wireless Bluetooth Headset Bulk

7 Bids

US $32.99

ALIPH JAWBONE 3 PRIME BLUETOOTH BLACK IN BOX NEW

10 Bids

US $21.26

ALIPH JAWBONE 3 PRIME BLUETOOTH BLACK IN BOX

9 Bids

US $21.06

Brand New OEM Aliph Jawbone 3 Prime Bluetooth Headset

US $89.99

NEW JAWBONE 2 II PRIME EARLOOPS EARLOOP EARBUD SET 7PCS

0 Bid

US $12.99

Brand new Jawbone Prime black

0 Bid

US $60.00

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Blueant Q1 Specs

With many subjects, the writer may consider themselves the 'expert, imparting their knowledge to the lucky reader'. However, that's a trap that even the most experienced writer can easily jump into feet first. As a the writer, your point of view may be limited, restricted, biased even. The value you bring to the article is in including information from outwith your immediate knowledge, and filtering it through your experience, to the benefit of your audience. This will also increase your own knowledge on the subject - a bonus. As the saying goes, if you want to learn something well, teach it.

So do your research. Check trade journals you may have missed. Research at the library or online. And once you've filled a folder with cuttings and articles, take notes on them so you have new and important facts in bite-sized chunks, but it also makes you more comfortable with any 'new' material you may have uncovered.

Also, backing up any of your claims with solid background information will provide the credibility that will help your audience take your article seriously.

Now you've got all the grunt work done, you can make an outline of your piece. Get a basic template together - a simple street map to guide your way.

How Do I Get Better at Technical Writing?

For instance, the 'Hedging on the LME' article may cover 'what is hedging?', 'how does it apply to the LME', 'blah blah'.

Now all the facts have been pulled together from reliable sources, you can get down to writing. BUT! You must remember that the key to successful writing is to rewrite. To draft and cut and re-draft and pare it down until it's bulletproof.

Maybe 3 or 4 drafts will do you. Allow for that amount of rewriting. It will show.

One the first draft, just batter out the words onto the page. Don't stop to question what you're putting down, or edit or move it around the page. Relax and let all you've learned during the research and organisation stages to go down onto the page. The rewrites are for fixing.

On the next draft, when you take what you just dumped on the page, edit it brutally. Take out all the extraneous words, the 'this' and 'that's and cliches and the like. All the lazy structures you used just so you could get the ideas out. This should be relatively painless if you're using a word processor.

In the final stage, check your figures, punctuation, spelling, grammar - all the nuts and bolts. It wouldn't be the first time I've been present during a management meeting when one particularly asinine Director poo-pooed a business presentation by a colleague because they had spelt 'collateral' incorrectly.

If with the above strategy, you experience writer's block - just an inability to get your finger out and get it done - break it up. Break each article up into small accessible pieces, and work on each of them separately. You'll find that achieving little goals along the way make it easier to keep on track to get the full article completed.
[This is the second part of this article. Read the first part here]

Write abstracts, introductions and summaries when you're all done.

Now go to bed. When you take your article out the drawer a couple of days later, you may find it needs another re-write. That's fine, that's healthy. Do it.

Keep the above in mind, or follow it as a guide, but it should make it easier and less stressful for a non-technical person to write a good accessible article for a variety of audiences.

The hurdles are:
1. Poor planning
2. Poor execution
3. Poor time management and procrastination

As with any project (not just writing!), the optimum outcome begins with a clear and concise definition of the subject you are writing about. Following a lead from the marketing world, ensure your topic is not overly broad. Instead, target your writing on a specific niche. Tackling a smaller niche allows for more effective research. So instead of trying to write on 'Metal Trading', pinpoint your scope with an article on 'Hedging on the London Metal Exchange'.

As well as topic, you should have a good idea who your audience are. You do have an audience in mind already, yes? If you know who will read your article, you will have a better idea what language to use. Knowing how much background info and jargon to use can have a large impact on the time it can take to produce the article.

To avoid (or at least reduce) the amount of time spent faffing around, you should also know the specific purpose of your article. Is it for a reader of your monthly sales brochure? Or is it for your end-of-year management report? Have a think about what underlying message you might want to communicate to the audience, as well as simple facts.

In step 2 you'll learn the importance of research.

Just stick a few centimetres of the 19mm (3?4") wide patented magnetic tape to the back of your photos, posters, notes, etc. and a matching piece on the wall, the fridge door or office cupboard etc.

The tape strips will stick to each other magnetically. And can be just as easily taken off again. Unlike conventional removable adhesive tape, you can use this tape again and again. Ideal, for example, if you need to reposition storyboards several times.

Silver medal at the inventors’ fair in Geneva, 2006.

The acrylic magnetic tape has an underside which sticks to wallpaper and paper as perfectly as it does to wood, glass, plastic and metal.

[via The Red Ferret]