Find out why this development director doesn鈥檛 rate iPhones and which tune has him singing in his car on the way to his office
What is your favourite website?
The BBC web site gets most visits as it is good for news and sport, also, when I feel guilty and need exercise, the iPlayer is good for keeping me entertained while on the running machine.
What is your worst digital habit?
Using my Outlook email as a document organiser. It is just too easy filing attachments away in folders, at least it is until the whole thing grinds down and our IT chap tells me the mailbox size is twice the maximum and that I need to get archiving.
iPhone/Blackberry/Android. Which side are you on?
I鈥檝e just moved to the iPhone. It鈥檚 a great toy, but I鈥檓 not yet convinced it is a great phone. Depending which ear I am holding it to I either put the call on loudspeaker or mute myself. No doubt some Apple guru will tell me there is an app to fix my bulging cheek bones!
Are you into social networking? (Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook etc)
On the business front I actively lead our social media activity, particularly for our five-star back-packers hostel in Edinburgh (Smart City Hostels). This is a lot of fun and our guests and team members enjoy interacting on it. On a personal level though I set up accounts but must confess they are not really used.
Are you on Twitter? If so who do you recommend to follow?
I have a personal account but I always used to think it was just for people to follow celebrities and to be honest I never really cared that much about what celebrities may tweet. Through @smartcityhostel I can see that it is a vital tool for reaching out to a technology savvy audience.
What is your favourite app?
The two apps I use most regularly are Tube Map because I work from our Birmingham office but am in London at least once a week; and Mobile to 0800 to get around the fact that it is not actually free to call a freephone number from a mobile.
What is your preferred means of communication? (eg. Email, phone, face to face, text etc)
Email gets the vote for efficiency but there is no substitute to talking. In my mind, managing and building relationships needs face to face and regular discussions.
What did you last buy online?
I have just bought new tyres for my car. After much shopping around it seems Kwik Fit on-line is the cheapest, it鈥檚 easy to do too but the computer does seems to struggle with actually using the jack.
PC or Mac?
I have Mac at home but am new to it and still struggling to do the basic stuff. At work everything is PC based. I will have to hold fire on judging which I prefer.
Guilty pleasures: Most played tunes from iTunes/Spotify?
It depends on my mood; if I am feeling up beat then I turn to Coldplay - with Paradise my current favourite - and will have a good sing-along in the car on the way to or from the office. On a more sombre day it is Adele, Someone Like You.
Philip Houghton is development director at specialist tourist accommodation developer and operator, Starboard Hotels
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