2014年12月31日 星期三

放棄 Android 轉 iPhone

  蘋果推出了iPhone6及iPhone6Plus之後,我真的是心癢癢,打算由使用了超過五年的Android轉回iOS系統,主要都是因為貪圖iOS的穩定性以及保安性,其次就是它的「抗跌力」(指二手價,非不易跌爛)。但自從筆者推太太回去蘋果的懷抱之後,我極速打消了這個念頭,更發現自己已經離不開Android,並歸納出以下幾個包括軟硬件各方面的五大原因。


 
1.電池
 
可以更換電池是Android手機一大賣點
  
  九成以上的Android手機都可以讓用家更換電池,只有部分一體型機殼的手機內置電池不容許更換。可能大家會說:「市面那麼多外置電池出售,更換電池與否無關相干」,但筆者就不太喜歡使用俗稱「尿袋」的外置電池,總不夠換過一枚後備電來得乾脆。情況就如你真的要用尿袋一樣,難道你喜歡用尿袋多過自己上廁所嗎?


 
2.USBOTG
 
  Android電話其中一個最大賣點就是其USB接口採用標準的Micro USB接口,更支援OTG設備,可以插上隨插即用裝置。簡單一點加一個幾十元的轉接器就可以直讀USB手指,或者買一條HDMI線就可以將手機的畫面投放在電視之上,甚至插上USB鍵盤也可以用來打字。
 
最近才推出的Lightening接頭手指,索價不菲
  
  雖然iPhone都有相類似的功能,但好似SanDisk推出的iXpand單單是16GB型號就索價60美元,總覺得蘋果佔了當中40美元專利費!


 
3.記憶卡
 
大多數Android手機都有MicroSD卡槽,是用家擴充儲存空間的首選
  
  iPhone一直都不設記憶卡槽,用家一是升級上高容量型號,要不就每月付鈔買iCloud的儲存。再加上現時全民高清拍片,一段1分鐘的動畫已經要用上100MB的儲存位置,使用iPhone總覺得有坐食山崩的感覺。Android機在這方面倒是省事,特別是在換機的過程中,記憶卡一拔一插,資料就已經全數過渡至新手機之上,iPhone還是要接駁電腦進行Backup(除非iCloud有足夠儲存位置)。


 
4.Pushbullett自動推送通知
 
Pushbullett絕對是上班族不可或缺的Android軟件
  
  Pushbullett是其中一個筆者一定會第一時間安裝的App。其用途主要就是手機與電腦的溝通平台,在電腦上看到一段文字或一個鏈結,可以直接推送至手機之上,新版本更加可以互相傳相及檔案。雖然Pushbullett已經推出iOS版本,但仍未附有Android版的自動推送通知功能,即例如手機收到Whatsapp短訊,電腦瀏覽器亦會即時作出提示。此功能絕對是上班一族的「神器」,就算手上沒有拿著手機亦可以得知誰人向你發通知,iOS基於保安理由現時仍未做到此功能,相信可見將來亦未必做到。


 
5.Launcher與Widgets
 
Launcher可以將手機更加個人化
   
  對不少人而言,手機就像是潮物,有人日日換手機殼貪圖新鮮感,但手機內的界面,iOS可以改動的就相當有限。Android在這方面就自由度十足,不少第三廠商開發Launcher軟件讓用家將手機桌面改頭換臉,另外很多程式都設有Widgets,方便用家更快獲得想要的資訊,這些都是歷代iOS仍未有的功能。
 
  要數iPhone完勝Android的地方,可能寫得比這篇還要長,但筆者至今仍然是緊守著Android手機,就是喜歡Android擁有更大更自由的空間。最後還有一點沒有寫在上面的,就是備份Whatsapp這一個重要步驟,就只有「Android to iPhone」是沒有門路,更加深了我緊守Android的意念。其實用手機和選伴侶也有幾分相似的地方,就是永遠沒有一個人是適合所有異性的。只是手機選錯了,大不了買過另一台,買到適合自己為止;伴侶選錯了,可能耽誤你一生!


Source: etnet.com.hk

2014年12月25日 星期四

The 7 Cs of Communication

Think of how often you communicate with people during your day.


You write emails, facilitate meetings, participate in conference calls, create reports, devise presentations, debate with your colleagues… the list goes on.


We can spend almost our entire day communicating. So, how can we provide a huge boost to our productivity? We can make sure that we communicate in the clearest, most effective way possible.


This is why the 7 Cs of Communication are helpful. The 7 Cs provide a checklist for making sure that your meetings  , emails  , conference calls  , reports  , and presentations   are well constructed and clear – so your audience gets your message.


According to the 7 Cs, communication needs to be:
  1. Clear.
  2. Concise.
  3. Concrete.
  4. Correct.
  5. Coherent.
  6. Complete.
  7. Courteous.
In this article, we look at each of the 7 Cs of Communication, and we'll illustrate each element with both good and bad examples.


1. Clear

When writing or speaking to someone, be clear about your goal or message. What is your purpose in communicating with this person? If you're not sure, then your audience won't be sure either.


To be clear, try to minimize the number of ideas in each sentence. Make sure that it's easy for your reader to understand your meaning. People shouldn't have to "read between the lines" and make assumptions on their own to understand what you're trying to say.


Bad Example

Hi John,

I wanted to write you a quick note about Daniel, who's working in your department. He's a great asset, and I'd like to talk to you more about him when you have time.

Best,
Skip

What is this email about? Well, we're not sure. First, if there are multiple Daniels in John's department, John won't know who Skip is talking about.


Next, what is Daniel doing, specifically, that's so great? We don't know that either. It's so vague that John will definitely have to write back for more information.


Last, what is the purpose of this email? Does Skip simply want to have an idle chat about Daniel, or is there some more specific goal here? There's no sense of purpose to this message, so it's a bit confusing.


Good Example

Hi John,


I wanted to write you a quick note about Daniel Kedar, who's working in your department. In recent weeks, he's helped the IT department through several pressing deadlines on his own time.


We've got a tough upgrade project due to run over the next three months, and his knowledge and skills would prove invaluable. Could we please have his help with this work?


I'd appreciate speaking with you about this. When is it best to call you to discuss this further?


Best wishes,
Skip

This second message is much clearer, because the reader has the information he needs to take action.


2. Concise

When you're concise in your communication, you stick to the point and keep it brief. Your audience doesn't want to read six sentences when you could communicate your message in three.
  • Are there any adjectives or "filler words" that you can delete? You can often eliminate words like "for instance," "you see," "definitely," "kind of," "literally," "basically," or "I mean."
  • Are there any unnecessary sentences?
  • Have you repeated the point several times, in different ways?


Bad Example

Hi Matt,

I wanted to touch base with you about the email marketing campaign we kind of sketched out last Thursday. I really think that our target market is definitely going to want to see the company's philanthropic efforts. I think that could make a big impact, and it would stay in their minds longer than a sales pitch.

For instance, if we talk about the company's efforts to become sustainable, as well as the charity work we're doing in local schools, then the people that we want to attract are going to remember our message longer. The impact will just be greater.

What do you think?

Jessica

This email is too long! There's repetition, and there's plenty of "filler" taking up space.


Good Example

Watch what happens when we're concise and take out the filler words:


Hi Matt,

I wanted to quickly discuss the email marketing campaign that we analyzed last Thursday. Our target market will want to know about the company's philanthropic efforts, especially our goals to become sustainable and help local schools.

This would make a far greater impact, and it would stay in their minds longer than a traditional sales pitch.

What do you think?

Jessica


3. Concrete

When your message is concrete, then your audience has a clear picture of what you're telling them. There are details (but not too many!) and vivid facts, and there's laser-like focus. Your message is solid.


Bad Example

Consider this advertising copy:


The Lunchbox Wizard will save you time every day.

A statement like this probably won't sell many of these products. There's no passion, no vivid detail, nothing that creates emotion, and nothing that tells people in the audience why they should care. This message isn't concrete enough to make a difference.


Good Example

How much time do you spend every day packing your kids' lunches? No more! Just take a complete Lunchbox Wizard from your refrigerator each day to give your kids a healthy lunch and have more time to play or read with them!

This copy is better because there are vivid images. The audience can picture spending quality time with their kids – and what parent could argue with that? And mentioning that the product is stored in the refrigerator explains how the idea is practical. The message has come alive through these details.


4. Correct

When your communication is correct, it fits your audience. And correct communication is also error-free communication.
  • Do the technical terms you use fit your audience's level of education or knowledge?
  • Have you checked your writing for grammatical errors? Remember, spell checkers won't catch everything.
  • Are all names and titles spelled correctly?


Bad Example

Hi Daniel,

Thanks so much for meeting me at lunch today! I enjoyed our conservation, and I'm looking forward to moving ahead on our project. I'm sure that the two-weak deadline won't be an issue.

Thanks again, and I'll speak to you soon!

Best,
Jack Miller

If you read that example fast, then you might not have caught any errors. But on closer inspection, you'll find two. Can you see them?


The first error is that the writer accidentally typed conservation instead of conversation. This common error can happen when you're typing too fast. The other error is using weak instead of week.
Again, spell checkers won't catch word errors like this, which is why it's so important to proofread everything!


5. Coherent

When your communication is coherent, it's logical. All points are connected and relevant to the main topic, and the tone and flow of the text is consistent.


Bad Example

Traci,

I wanted to write you a quick note about the report you finished last week. I gave it to Michelle to proof, and she wanted to make sure you knew about the department meeting we're having this Friday. We'll be creating an outline for the new employee handbook.

Thanks,
Michelle

As you can see, this email doesn't communicate its point very well. Where is Michelle's feedback on Traci's report? She started to mention it, but then she changed the topic to Friday's meeting.


Good Example

Hi Traci,

I wanted to write you a quick note about the report you finished last week. I gave it to Michelle to proof, and she let me know that there are a few changes that you'll need to make. She'll email you her detailed comments later this afternoon.

Thanks,
Michelle

Notice that in the good example, Michelle does not mention Friday's meeting. This is because the meeting reminder should be an entirely separate email. This way, Traci can delete the report feedback email after she makes her changes, but save the email about the meeting as her reminder to attend. Each email has only one main topic.


6. Complete

In a complete message, the audience has everything they need to be informed and, if applicable, take action.
  • Does your message include a "call to action," so that your audience clearly knows what you want them to do?
  • Have you included all relevant information – contact names, dates, times, locations, and so on?


Bad Example

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to send you all a reminder about the meeting we're having tomorrow!

See you then,

Chris

This message is not complete, for obvious reasons. What meeting? When is it? Where? Chris has left his team without the necessary information.


Good Example

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to remind you about tomorrow's meeting on the new telecommuting policies. The meeting will be at 10:00 a.m. in the second-level conference room. Please let me know if you can't attend.

See you then,

Chris


7. Courteous

Courteous communication is friendly, open, and honest. There are no hidden insults or passive-aggressive tones. You keep your reader's viewpoint in mind, and you're empathetic to their needs.


Bad Example

Jeff,

I wanted to let you know that I don't appreciate how your team always monopolizes the discussion at our weekly meetings. I have a lot of projects, and I really need time to get my team's progress discussed as well. So far, thanks to your department, I haven't been able to do that. Can you make sure they make time for me and my team next week?

Thanks,
Phil

Well, that's hardly courteous! Messages like this can potentially start office-wide fights. And this email does nothing but create bad feelings, and lower productivity and morale. A little bit of courtesy, even in difficult situations, can go a long way.


Good Example

Hi Jeff,

I wanted to write you a quick note to ask a favor. During our weekly meetings, your team does an excellent job of highlighting their progress. But this uses some of the time available for my team to highlight theirs. I'd really appreciate it if you could give my team a little extra time each week to fully cover their progress reports.

Thanks so much, and please let me know if there's anything I can do for you!

Best,
Phil

What a difference! This email is courteous and friendly, and it has little chance of spreading bad feelings around the office.

Note:

There are a few variations of the 7 Cs of Communication:
  • Credible – Does your message improve or highlight your credibility  ? This is especially important when communicating with an audience that doesn't know much about you.
  • Creative – Does your message communicate creatively? Creative communication helps keep your audience engaged.


Key Points

All of us communicate every day. The better we communicate, the more credibility we'll have with our clients, our boss, and our colleagues.


Use the 7 Cs of Communication as a checklist for all of your communication. By doing this, you'll stay clear, concise, concrete, correct, coherent, complete, and courteous.


Source: www.mindtools.com

2014年12月24日 星期三

打麻將 增運必殺技

打麻將乃是香港人的最佳娛樂,不過「開枱」就一定是有人贏有人輸,想在麻將枱上獨領風騷,李丞責師傅就教各位一些風水秘訣,讓你可以在四方城中,取得更大的贏面。


一.通勝知對沖

中國傳統玄學術數,最講究日子和時辰,想在打麻將時增加贏面,可以在打麻將前,打開《通勝》看看當天的干支,是否與自己的生肖對沖,如自己屬豬,通勝的當天干支為丁巳日,巳就是蛇,蛇與豬相沖,若當天打麻將的話,往往會形成對沖,牌運容易受到氣場影響,不利財運。

二.後背要有靠

除了不要背對打開了的門口外,橫財往往是通過特別關係所進之財,沒有貴人或別人幫助,注定跟橫財無緣。所以坐的時候,最好是要背有靠山,牆壁就最好。

三.開門見財神

中國傳統風水學,最講究時空與方位的學理,在屋裏打麻將,最忌諱的就是「送財神」,最歡喜的就是「迎財神」。所謂「送財神」就是背對着大門口,並且大門口是打開的,所以不少人都喜歡自己面對大門口「迎財神」。背對財神,難有好牌運,同時在打牌的過程中容易與牌友起小爭執。

四.心境與牌運

做人做事,心情有很大的影響因素。例如心情煩躁者、與老公、老婆正在打罵者、剛剛辭職者,都代表自己的運勢處於低弱狀態,都不宜打麻將。雖然很多人相信「情場失意,賭場得意」,殊不知當一個人霉運壓頭時,很難得到財神與好運的扶助。所以當心境不佳,情場不利時,其實絕對不宜參與打麻將、賭博之類的活動。

五.橫樑不壓頂

打麻將時,要切記不可讓頭上有橫樑壓頂,否則就主運勢受壓,自然難有偏財運。特別提醒在很狹小空間打麻將的朋友,如有阻手阻腳的感覺,必然難有偏財運。

六.借水催橫財

想在打麻將時讓自己偏財運更旺,可以多選擇東南或西南方有水塘或者有噴泉的地方來開枱,較利偏財,容易帶來橫財運。

七.催旺橫財位

風水學上每年都有不同的財位,例如馬年財位在正南,可在這個財位放置旺財水晶或吉祥助運物如富貴竹,自己身上亦可多佩戴催財的風水物,都有助提升打麻將時的偏財運。


Source: my-magazine.me - 李丞責師傅

2014年12月3日 星期三

九段管理

一段:「以身作則,堪為榜樣。」初做管理,經驗未有威信未立,只能以行動身教,不能靠言傳。一則功力未夠難講得下屬明;二則未有往績建樹難以服眾,講到天下無敵完全冇用,做要有心有力先會有牙力。

二段:「幫助下屬,無私奉獻。」忌才,是管理大忌,教得識徒弟的才是好師傅。所以做管理者胸襟要廣闊目標要遠大,有能力令下屬進步,才是真功夫。有本事令下屬個個勁,才是管理真正勁!

三段:「教化下屬,為人師表。」團隊開始壯大,不能個個親自帶親身做示範,要從心出發,有一套屬於自己的管理哲學及文化,能得下屬跟隨甚至崇拜為上。

四段:「建立規則,打造團隊。」人多自然意見多,所以要訂立規則所有人都要遵守,上下要一心,理念要一致。否則各有各行各有各做,是散沙不是團隊,潰不成軍注定失敗。

五段:「高效激勵,領導思維。」建立容易維持難,維持團隊團結最難。做管理的必須要與時並進擔當領導的角色。是團隊的精神支柱,帶領團隊萬眾一心求創新創未來創佳績!

六段:「全面統籌,科學管理。」目標理念團隊文化都經已確立又一致之後,就要着手重點培養接班人,然後放手讓他們有系統地接班做管理。

七段:「運籌帷幄,決勝千里。」系統經已成立團隊運作越趨成熟,管理毋須事事過問親自落場領軍去打仗,是高瞻遠矚站高幾線為團隊制訂攻守策略。

八段:「機制勵人,文化凝人。」要有機制論功行賞多勞多得,團隊文化吸引聚更多同路人。

九段:「組織制勝,天長地久。」不只是管理一班人一同做事咁簡單,是情同手足互相扶持齊心一起打天下。
張慧敏
http://www.facebook.com/HKcareerdoctor