Everyone is familiar with interchangable lenses for the “old” film cameras and these varied in focal length and prices.  Now with digital SLR’s most use this system to achieve closer results - handy for snapping at lions on the dusty plains of Africa.  Most camera makers use a lens mount that is compatible with the lenses that you used on your old SLR - older Sigma lenses can’t be used on most Canon DSLR’s without being rechipped (I have heard that Sigma can no longer re-chip these older lenses due to no chips being available - if you know otherwise please correct me)  There has also been a firm line in the sand between DSLR’s and Camcorders however with Canon’s 5D which is getting in on the video action there is now maybe a case for interchangable lenses on camcorders.  Sony’s “interchangable lens HD camcorder” will take NEX lenses as well as Sony’s range of A-mount lenses (via an adaptor)  This may be the way forward in combining the unique qualities of both the camcorder and the DSLR as many of the latter lack the features of the former.  So hopefully other manufacturers will follow Sony’s lead and produce a camcorder that can take not only a new range of lens but also be able to use existly lenses.  However the only down side to this will be if makers stick with a mount that only takes lenses from the same manufacturer and thus depriving users from what maybe be better quality optics.

Dont always believe the hype of picture processing.  Almost every TV these days boasts a proprietary picture processing engine that supposedly gives you all manner of video improvements.  But some of these may not be as clever as you think and in some cases can make the viewing experience worse.  For example while some PPE’s work great with standard definition they can be unnecessarily distracting whilst viewing HD - or visa versa.  They may look superb with static images but then breakdown with fast moving ones.  Or they can throw up side effects like blocking and smearing.  In short dont be afraid to switch off picture processing engines with certain sources to check out if they are having a negative impact.  Are Flatscreens better than CRT’s??  Well in hi-def they are heads above the old technology but with standard def nothing looks as rich and noiseless as a really top quality CRT.  However flat panel technology is getting better all the time and it will only be a matter of time before those die-hate CRT fans make the leap over to LCD/LED/Plasma!!  With all these technological improvements and extras (like ambient light sensors) sometimes it boils downs to just disengaging them to get a better picture - so is all this new tech a good thing??

1939 - Year John Atanasoff’s ABC computer is built (it uses “binary” formed from just 2 commands ON+OFF)

50 - The number of years CDs were meant to last before quality degraded (try more like 25??)

2,073.600 - Number of pixels that make up a 1920X1080 Full HD telly

20 - The speed in Mbps of the average Sth Korean broadband connection

5945 - starting price of Treks Madone Project One 6 series custom built road bike (thats in £’s)

18 - Tracks on Technasia album “Central”

1967 - Year I was born (in the metropolis of Hitchin, Hertfordshire)

102,800 - Altitude at which Joe Kittinger jumped from a balloon in 1960 (still a record!!)

360 - Degrees that the Lomography Spinner can take a panoramic pic 4x the standard snap

50 - Hard boiled eggs Paul Newmans character attempted to scoff in “Cool Hand Luke”

2262.7 - This years Tour de France mileage

30 - Fujifilms HS10’s powerfull 24 to 720mm built in zoom lens

1966 - Only time England has ever lifted the World Cup (some say may be the only time??)

9.7 - The iPads multi touch screen size (well had to mention them didnt I)

5 - Next instalment of the ever popular driving sim “Gran Turismo” (thats if it is ever released)

0 - Chances of me going out with the lovely Claudia Winkelman

If you have any interesting number nuggets let me know - until the next blog!!   “A2000 Paul”

Well monday morning has rolled around once again and who knows what another 5 days will bring.  Todays blog I thought I would write about what happens in a typical “A2000 day” for me.  When I arrive at 0900 on the dot first things first - a cuppa!  Then its on to the PC to check my emails for orders which are easily outnumbered by the bain of most peoples inbox - bloody SPAM!!!  After these have been sent packing to the “blocked senders list” its onto processing the orders.  These are double checked to make sure we have received payment and are also in stock and then are booked with a courier to be despatched for next day delivery.  After this task has been achieved its just a matter of making sure we have enough stock on the shelves (not too much and not too little!) so as to maximise our full potential.  If there is not enough for me to do on the A2000 side it probably means spending the rest of the day (until 1600 at least) down on the factory floor with the “JMJ boys”.  This could involve either de-burring metal on the Vanco or spending time putting bushing in on the Sertabush - both jobs easy but fulfilling.  If any orders come in over the phone its back to the office to deal with and process those.  Being flexible is the key to my day so as to maximise my time and will always ask or be on the look out for stuff to do.  Its nice to have a break downstairs away from the hustle and bustle of the office but I always look forward to climbing those stairs and plonking myself in front of the PC and letting my brain cells create the odd blog or two!!  Until next time readers.   A2000 Paul

getting a product design spot on the first time is always a challenge.  To do this requires many skills which need to come together.  Firstly its the idea that is the easy part and then comes the tricky matter of designing and manufacturing so as to give people what you percieve they will want and that your product has ticked all the boxes.  Take for instance our 1st range of cable management systems which even though they filled a gap in the market and did indeed tick all the boxes we at A2000 Systems felt that they could be improved and we did indeed produced a new range call SPX.  We were lucky in that the public still were looking for a novel solution to placement of visual/audio equipment.  The proof is always in the pudding and sales didnt disappoint.  The old saying “if it broke dont try fixing it” does spring to mind.  Also nowadays the market for items like TV brackets and stands is so competative that do try and break into this market you would have to come out with something so brilliant and novel to even stand a chance of doing even remotely well.  Our range of Cable Management Systems are still selling but as time goes by and especially in the current economical climate the market place is not a place for the faint hearted.  It does not matter what product field you are in at the end of the day it can boil down to survival of the fittest and leanest manufacturer but a word of warning - the public can be fickle creatures!!!

On Saturday one of the well known papers had an artical on their “Top 100 Coolest Things on th Planet”.  These ranged from people to places and products to companies.  The poll was taken of 3000 Brits in the Costa Coffe study and some interesting and unusual answers came out in the survey.  Peoples answers covered a huge range but it also saw the predicable answer being given.  The top 5 coolest things were 5)Aston Martin DB9 4)iPod 3)The Internet 2)Apple 1)iPhone - so it seems Apples may be on the way to conquering the four corners of the globe with them having 3 out of the 5 top 5.  Unusual answers given included Stonehenge(no44) Ant&Dec(no52) Cosmopolitan Cocktail(no91) and Harrier Jump Jet(no47).  Some more of the the obvious answers include no75(Doc Marten Boots) no25(Lego) no20(Television) and no45(VW Beetle).  Some of my personnal favourites include Clint Eastwood(no54) Spitfire(no69) YouTube(23) but there was no room for either the Rayleigh Chopper or Evel Knieval.  Going back to Apple their iPad even made it in at no17 - not bad for something that has only been out of a short period.  As always with these sort of surveys it is very difficult to agree or disagree with all the results but maybe most people will like a wide range of the answers that the public give and it just goes to show how the publics tastes do change as people/products/places come in and out of fashion.  If you have a TOP3 what would it be??

Here is a request to all those out there who have brought one of our products.  Instead of just sending us an email letting us know if you have loved (or even hated – not that there are too many of you?) not only our range of cable managements and brackets but also the service we have given you how’s about sending us a picture of your set up so we can see how you have done.  We do have pictures of some of our range of products in the home environment on our www.a2000systems.co.uk website but we are always dead chuffed to receive your feedback and comments whether positive or negative so as hopefully we can improve the products and the service we give to you.  The same also applies to the blogs that we post and your comments and suggestions are more than welcome.  Now I have figured out that you have to approve your comments that are posted I hope to be able to enter into conversations on the topics posted and keep the ball rolling.  Whilst I have tried to keep to suitable topics I have also put in a few light hearted ones which again I hope you have enjoyed reading.  So positive or negative, serious or funny keep your views and ideas coming in.  All the best PAUL (A2000’s blog writer)

Whilst various technologies advance at an ever-increasing rate there does seems one feature that is universal to a lot of them.  Just as we are being told that “THIN” is the new “FAT” in respect of our appearance the quest for thinner and thinner products is building momentum.  With LED technology being used to make slimmer TV screens other applications are using an ever-changing world of tech breakthroughs to make thinner products.  One manufacturer of digital cameras now has a 12MP 19.9mm thin “pocket rocket” to add to its arsenal – this thin modal combines stylish looks with abilities such as being able to withstand tumbles just over 2m, temperatures of –10*C and waterproof of up to 3M.  The 2 most obvious applications where slimness is used to full advantage is in the world of mobile phones and laptop/notebooks with mobiles now having seemingly endless applications that once upon a time you could only find on a computer.  It will only be a matter of time before we see wafer thin pieces of equipment and not just in our visual and audio living room.  At first this will come at a price but as “being thin” gathers pace its only a matter of time before prices will fall.  Who said it pays to be fat??

Whilst various technologies advance at an ever-increasing rate there does seems one feature that is universal to a lot of them.  Just as we are being told that “THIN” is the new “FAT” in respect of our appearance the quest for thinner and thinner products is building momentum.  With LED technology being used to make slimmer TV screens other applications are using an ever-changing world of tech breakthroughs to make thinner products.  One manufacturer of digital cameras now has a 12MP 19.9mm thin “pocket rocket” to add to its arsenal – this thin modal combines stylish looks with abilities such as being able to withstand tumbles just over 2m, temperatures of –10*C and waterproof of up to 3M.  The 2 most obvious applications where slimness is used to full advantage is in the world of mobile phones and laptop/notebooks with mobiles now having seemingly endless applications that once upon a time you could only find on a computer.  It will only be a matter of time before we see wafer thin pieces of equipment and not just in our visual and audio living room.  At first this will come at a price but as “being thin” gathers pace its only a matter of time before prices will fall.  Who said it pays to be fat??

As with most things in life, trying to get our products right sometimes boils down to pure luck!! Then once we at www.a2000systems.co.uk have managed to get our products spot on there come’s the difficult decision to change or adapt them, which hopefully results in improved sales.    When we released out first range of Cable Management Systems we felt we were on to a winner and as time went by sales proved we had cornered a niche in the market, which to this day proves the quality of our products.  Again when we launched the SPX range we took what was an already proven product and made it even better so instead of starting from scratch we took a tried and tested idea and made it simpler for customers to install.  The SPX range also has the added bonus of being adaptable with the changeable front glass panels, which allow to the customer to suit their tastes should they change their LCD/Plasma whilst keeping the original concept of the cable management system.  Trying to judge what the public want is never an easy thing to do – sometimes you get it right, and on occasions you get it wrong.