In the UK, IT workers are least likely to lead a healthy lifestyle, a recent study suggests, with those in fields such as website design, software development and tech support owning up to exercising the least and having a poor diet.

Fewer than one in five IT workers get the recommended half hour a day of exercise five days a week. As far as diet goes, just 14% claim to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables throughout the day, whilst their caffeine intake is the highest nationwide - on average, IT workers chug down around 10 cups of coffee a day.

Receptionists are the second most inactive group while sales people come in third, followed by checkout operators and then those that work in marketing.

The study looked at 1734 working Brits and reveals that 63% are failing to meet the exercise guidelines as the average person in the UK is active for just 1 hour 30 minutes a week.

Survey backer and weight loss expert Rich Leigh of www.fatfreefitness.co.uk says, "There is clearly a correlation between sitting at a desk or wheel all day and how active you're likely to be".

Tags: Sports Fitness Biz Statistics Survey

IT workers most unhealthy in the UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:05:01 +0000

Email extinction could be a reality in the next 10 years, says TalkTalk, proclaiming the younger generation has no need for such long-winded communication.

No doubt echoing similar studies from 10 years ago that predicted the absolute death of snail mail, this most recent effort suggests the "young digerati" prefer "one and done-style messages" such as tweets and IM.

Backed by a social anthropologist from the University of Kent, the research states that Britain has over 2 million "First Lifers", defined as those in their late teens or early Twenties who are tech savvy but don't like being stuck at a desk with just 51% regularly using email.

Older generations are now more likely to use email with the stats coming in at 98% of people aged 65-plus, 96% of 45- to 64-year-olds leading TalkTalk to conclude that email is turning into "grey mail".

Tags: Software Email Survey Social networking Instant messaging SMS Twitter TalkTalk

Email extinction predicted in 10 years originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:38:02 +0000

The Amazon Kindle ebook reader is now available to be ordered by those residing in the UK.

Previously only available to consumers in the States, Amazon recently announced it would offer an "International Edition" of its popular eReader.

However, those in the UK, and the 200 other countries the device is now available to, will have to order the device through Amazon.com in US dollars, and stump up for the relevant import fees.

In addition to this, Amazon will be charging UK customers more for content for the Kindle, around $13.99 (?8.75) per book instead of the American price of $9.99 (?6.25).

And finally, UK consumers should note that the Kindle will ship with a US power charger, which, although the device can also charge up via USB, means if they want to wall charge their device, they'll need to buy an adaptor.

So, has this put off UK gadget-lovers from wanting a Kindle? In our most recent Pocket-lint reader poll, we asked "Do you plan to buy an International Edition Kindle?"

The results were fairly even with Pocket-lint readers' love of gadgetry coming in with 48% saying "yes" and 52% with a "no".

Were you a yes or are you sticking with a no? Have your say on Amazon's International Edition Kindle option in the comments box below...

Tags: Gadgets eBook readers Kindle Amazon Kindle Survey Statistics

Amazon Kindle UK import orders begin originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:37:14 +0100

Just over two thirds of the UK enjoy being connected at all times and in fact, feel more relaxed when hooked-up than not, a new Virgin Media report suggests.

Over a third of those surveyed said they experienced anxiety when not able to use technology to stay in touch with their family, 31% got the wobbles about not being able to work online and 27% were concerned when they could not connect with friends.

"To disconnect from technology may mean missing something we cannot afford to. Always being connected actually becomes increasingly essential for peace of mind", says psychologist Nik Simpson who has coined the? term "SOSOs", those who switch on to switch off.

74% of British households always have laptops on, that stat hits 76% as far as mobile phones go, while the the television is always on in 74% of UK homes.

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Tags: Gadgets Phones Virgin Media Hardware Survey Statistics

35% Brits are less stressed when "connected" originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:51:33 +0100

Microsoft should expect it to be an Xbox 360 Christmas this year if search queries for the games console are anything to go by.

Although the launch of the PS3 Slim caused a massive spike of interest according to search analytics firm Hitwise, Microsoft's Xbox 360 console is consistently ranking highly in searches suggesting its popularity will be strong come the Christmas rush.

"For most of 2009 the Microsoft Xbox 360 has been the most searched for games console in the UK, while the popularity of the Nintendo consoles has waned significantly", says Robin Goad, Hitwise UKs research director.

Good news for Sony is that its PS3 has maintained second place throughout most of year while Nintendo has struggled following its massive success in 2008.

Without the Wii Fit to dominate Christmas wish lists, as it did last Holiday season, Xbox 360 games are the most popular options, after all-format titles, picking up 11.9% of searches according to the firm.?

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Tags: Gaming Xbox 360 Microsoft Sony Hitwise Nintendo Survey

Christmas 2009: The year the Xbox 360 should rule the roost originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:31:44 +0100

Britons are net addicts, if data from a new survey is to be believed.

British web users spend a whopping 30 hours a week online - which works out as over 4 hours a day - according to a survey by comparison website USwitch.com.

As far as the office goes, the average workers spends 5 hours on the net - 2 for work and 3 for leisure. 93% use online shopping services, while 80% bank online too.

Only 25% of the 2700 people surveyed say they use social networking websites on a daily basis.

Jason Glynn at uSwitch said that broadband is rapidly becoming a necessity, "as important to our quality of life as gas or electricity".

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Tags: Software Broadband Survey Statistics uSwitch

Brits spend 30 hours a week online originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:23:01 +0100