Saturday, 30 August 2008

Qype: Cargo HomeShop in London



London - Shopping - Home Shopping

I like shopping at Cargo. They sell a range of home furnishings, kitchenware, decorations, and outdoor furniture and games.

The quality of what they sell is good - I would say comparible to John Lewis, and also reasonably priced. The store is well layed out and actually pretty big for Putney Exchange. The staff are generally very helpful.

They also have frequent sales throughout the year - so it is particularly worth paying a visit when one of these is on. I saved 20% of a sofa there once, and took advantage of their interest free credit offer.

Check out my review of Cargo HomeShop - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Putney Station in London



London - Travel & Hotels - Stations

In my opinion the station could do with a renovation, as it looks pretty tatty in places. Then have actually started to repave some of the platforms so I hope this work will continue.

The entrance to the station causes bottlenecks, and you often have to queue just to go in and out of the barriers. The ticket machines frequently go out of services, causing the queues to be longer at the remaining machines.

My tip when there are long queues are at the ticket machines is to check inside the station - the new single ticket machine inside often has no queue at all, and the queues for the counter often move much more quickly than those outside. You can also sometimes buy tickets from the staff at the gate - so it's worth asking as this can save you some time.

Annoyingly you can't use pre-pay oyster at this station, but when it is introduced I expect that everyone's experience will be greatly improved.

There are snack and drink vending machines on platform 1, plus a small cafe on platforms 2 and 3.

Check out my review of Putney Station - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Vetry's in London



London - Food & Drink - Convenience Stores

Clean, friendly staff, with a good range of stock. Vetry's is one of a small chain of convenience stores that are spread across South West London and Guildford. Expect prices to be slightly more expensive than the supermarkets, but the quality of what they sell is generally very good.

You can pay by card if you spend more than £5. They have very competitive offers on beer - often cheaper than the big high street supermarkets.

Check out my review of Vetry's - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: All Nite Xpress in London



London

This is a pretty dirty and tacky convenience store. The stock is pretty narrow, and they only really seem to sell alcohol, snacks and pornography. What makes it popular though is that it stays open later than anywhere else - so if you fancy a late night snack or beer then this place fits the bill, and it won't cost you too much either.

I would never go here during the daytime though, and instead would recommend Vetry's two doors down which is vastly superior.

Check out my review of All Nite Xpress - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: St. Christopher's Inn in London



London - Pubs & Bars - Bars

St. Christorpher's Inn recently had a bit of a renovation, which has really improved décor of the place, although in my opinion it doesn't really have much character. The pool table is gone, and they seem to be focusing much more on food and gourmet beers. They play music, but it's not too loud so is a good place to go if you want a conversation.

The pub consists of a ground floor, with a large TV at the front showing sports. Towards the back is a large seating area were most people go to eat at lunch or dinner. In the basement it has a slightly plusher décor, with leather sofas and mood lighting. When I've been here in the evening though there rarely seems to be anyone down in the basement. They also put tables out on the side access road on the right hand side of the pub so you can sit outside and have a drink during the summer months - although it's not the most attractive area. It is also a hostel, but I've not used it so can't comment on what it's like.

The menu consists of platters to share, sandwiches, soup, very filling burgers, grilled steaks, and a large range of other mains.

The drinks menu includes 5 hand pulled real ales, 7 ciders and porters, about 15 types of wine, plus 30 bottled beers from around the world. On my last visit it took a while for the food to arrive, but the staff apologised and gave me friend a free drink.

Check out my review of St. Christopher's Inn - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Southwark Tavern in London



London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

The Southwark Tavern is an unusual but popular bar on the edge of Borough Market.

They serve decent beers, including Budvar, Staropramen, and Früli, plus an interesting range of bottled beers. Upstairs can feel a little cramped, as there is not much seating or standing area, and it always seems to be pretty full even early on in the week. It can take a while to get served at the bar.

Downstairs there are some larger tables, and also a series of what seems like prison cells! Each one of these cells has a table and seating for about 8 people, which can be a lot of fun if you are able to get one.

The food is a little expensive, but pretty good. I’ve only ordered food once on a Friday lunchtime, and it took over 45 minutes to arrive, although we were warned that this would be the case beforehand.

A good bar when it’s not too busy.

Check out my review of Southwark Tavern - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: In-N-Out Burger in Los Angeles



Los Angeles - Restaurants - Fast Food & American

Well, what can I say. If you’ve never been to an In-N-Out before, it’s simply the best fast food burger joint around.

In 1948 Harry and Esther Snyder started the In-N-Out restaurant in Baldwin Park, LA, California. Insisting on the highest quality ingredients, the best service and a sparkling clean environment, they created the first drive through takeaway from which the name was derived. The winning formula has continued ever since, although now you’ll find In-N-Out in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and well as the original state California.

The menu is incredibly simple: hamburger, cheese burger, or double double (two cheese burgers). These include all the usual salad, onions, pickles and so on, but since all the burgers are prepared to order, you can request to have the burger prepared the way you like it. Supplement this with fries freshly sliced on the premises (you can see them slicing the potatoes in the kitchen), and a range of the usual soft drinks.

For those in the know there is a secret menu including a range of other options – I always ask for mine animal style! I won’t list all the options here but the details are available on the website: http://www.in-n-out.com/secretmenu.asp

What makes this In-N-Out particularly special is its proximity to LAX airport. If you sit outside you can almost feel the aeroplanes coming into land. The perfect place to hang out while waiting for a flight in the LA sunshine!

Check out my review of In-N-Out Burger - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: The Britannia in London



London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

Nice chilled out pub. Huge selection of whiskeys and a broad menu of standard pub food with a little more flare than normal. I believe all the food is home made. Bombardier is on tap, and numerous other beers.

The Britannia has a outside area on the left hand side, but this is not terribly attractive as it's just off the pavement in a paving slabbed area. It looks like it used to be a parking space. Inside there is plenty of seating, although you can still have trouble finding a seat on Friday lunchtimes occasionally. The manager recommends reserving a table at busy times.

They don't play music, so this would be a good place if you wanted a chat. One of the better pubs in the area, especially for food.

Check out my review of The Britannia - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: The Ship in London



London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

Pretty decent standard pub. Cheaper than some of the pubs around, and serving the usual pub selection of sandwiches, burgers, sausages and mash etc. They have a good selection of real ales, and numerous lagers. I've visited on a Friday lunchtime several times and the service has been quick, and I've been happy with the food and beer. I'd probably visit more often if it was closer. The interior is of the normal pub variety, and we've never had a problem finding seats.

Nothing exceptional, but if I you're in the area and want a drink then The Ship should quench your thirst.

Check out my review of The Ship - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: The Telegraph in London



London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

The Telegraph Inn underwent a renovation a couple of years ago, where it received a much needed facelift inside and out. It describes itself as a country pub in the city, which is pretty accurate as it sits away from any major developments just half a mile down from Putney Heath (or a mile up the hill from Putney Mainline station). In fact this strength is also a weakness, because it can take a while to get to from Putney unless you visit by car or bike (or the 424 bus).

The interior is upmarket and spacious, and the large beer garden at the front is elegant and has extensive seating. The staff are friendly and helpful. The pub welcomes cyclists, making it a great place to visit after a bike ride in nearby Wimbledon Common or Richmond Park.

I would describe the menu as upmarket British pub food, with main courses around the £10 mark, including steak and chips, sausages and mash, fish and chips, salmon, omelettes, plus and selection of sandwiches, starters, and deserts. All of these are presented well and are handmade on site – much better than some of the pre-packaged dishes you’ll find at other pubs. Excellent Sunday lunches are also served, but these can be popular so consider arriving earlier in the afternoon as these sometimes run out.

Drinks wise they serve a good selection of real ales, including Adnams, plus a range of lagers, bottled beers, and an extensive wine list.

Recommended if you fancy a relaxing drink in the almost countryside.

Check out my review of The Telegraph - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Joe's Kitchen in London



London - Restaurants - Fast Food & American

Joe's Kitchen is a funky restaurant just moments around the corner from Borough tube station. The serve a mixture of American (Burgers for examples) and British dishes with a modern twist. The menu resembles what you would find in a pub, but better quality, smaller portions, and higher prices.
The décor is modern and you would be happy bringing a business client here for lunch.

Last time I was here I ordered a steak pie and mashed potato. Unfortunately I was disappointed as the mash was included inside the pie itself. This meant that the dish was much smaller than expected, although costing almost £10.

They have two beers on tab (Stella and Petermans when I last visited), although there are also bottled beers available plus a wine list which I have not yet sampled.

The restaurant is fairly large, and they also have some tables with benches which are suitable for groups of ~10 people.

Check out my review of Joe's Kitchen - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Cafe Rossi in London



London - Cafes & Coffee Shops

Cafe Rossi is a lively cafe opposite HSBC bank on Borough High Street. The popular takeaway counter at the front often forms a line into the high street, serving good toasted sandwiches, ciabattas, cold drinks etc.

To the rear there is a small seating area with capacity for 26 people. Here they offer a larger selection of food, including excellent salads (the grilled chicken salad is a personal favourite), baked potatoes, a selection pasta dishes (spaghetti & meatballs also recommended), chilli con-carni, full English breakfast, omelettes, anything from the takeaway menu, and so on. In fact the menu is huge for such a small place, while still maintaining a home made taste.

The quality of the food is good, arrives quickly, and value for money is excellent. In fact most of the main courses are under five pounds.

What lets Rossi down unfortunately is the erratic service. During lunch time it gets very busy, and the staff will often hurry people out of the restaurant as soon as they've finished so they can fill the tables again. The orders will generally not arrive together, nor will the waiting staff remember who ordered what, so expect to have to claim your dish as it comes out of the kitchen.

Despite all this, the staff are very friendly, so if you are looking for a quick and cheap lunch and you're prepared to put up with the chaotic service then Rossi's is well worth a visit.

Check out my review of Cafe Rossi - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Island Cafe in London



London - Cafes & Coffee Shops

The Island sandwich shop gets it's name from it's location between the two access roads from Southwark Bridge Road onto Union Street.

They serve pretty standard café fare; the usual range of sandwiches, baps, baked potatoes, lasagne, lattes, and bottled beers. Expect to pay £3 for a chicken and avocado bap with salad, £1.20 for a bacon roll in the morning.

Nothing special but still reasonably good. There is a large seating area both inside and out, so you shouldn't have a problem finding seating. The staff are very efficient, and in fact there never seems to be much of a queue simply because they are so quick!

One additional bonus is free wifi.

Check out my review of Island Cafe - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Reza's Barbers in London



London

This is a straightforward barbershop. No fancy head massages or coffees - just a copy of the sun to read while you wait, and then a decent men's haircut for £9.50.

Reza's brother owns a similar barbershop on Lower Richmond road, although he assures me that it is not a chain.

If you just want a basic haircut in Putney, and don't want to pay the earth, then this is your place.

Check out my review of Reza's Barbers - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Putney Library in London



London - Education - Libraries

Totally agree with everything vixff said, but I'd just like to add that you can also pick up new recycling bags (the orange ones), and leave used batteries at the library (I never knew what to do with these before). They also have a selection of daily newspapers, magazines, and information about local activities and event. Local artwork is on display throughout.

Check out my review of Putney Library - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Boot and Flogger in London



London - Pubs & Bars - Bars

A visit to the Boot and Flogger wine bar is like stepping into a time warp. The place has the feel of an old private members club, dimly lit with wood panelled walls and Chesterfield sofas. Old fashioned decorations and used Champagne bottles in every size add to the character.

Generally everyone in the Boot will be wearing a suit, so consider dressing up a bit if you plan a visit as you may feel more comfortable. Having said this, the staff are very welcoming and friendly and you will not be looked down on if you dress otherwise.

The wine list is like a book, and includes an excellent selection of good wines and from around the world, plus champagnes. Don't expect the wine to be cheap (expect to pay £20+ for something decent, £35 for the house Champagne), but considering the quality of the wine on offer you can't really argue.

They also serve food, such as meat platters, ploughmen's lunches, a selection of cheeses, and several hot meat dishes. The food is nothing to write home about, but serves as a means to soak up the booze. Crackers and pickled garlic are complimentary.

The clientèle generally visit in the late afternoon, and it closes at 8pm. There is no music, so can be recommended as a place to have a quiet conversation.

Allegedly the Boot and Flogger is the only bar in the country not to require an alcohol licence due to a historical quirk. The owner of the Boot and Flogger used to own the other local Davis wines bars, but held onto the Boot after they were sold off.

Recommended if you love wine, and fancy something different to the usual wine bar clones.

Check out my review of Boot and Flogger - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Costa in London



London - Cafes & Coffee Shops

Standard Costa coffee shop. The coffee is pretty good, although you can easily buy good coffee for much cheaper in the area. For example, at Tas Café 100m up the road you can buy a latte for a considerably cheaper £1.70.

There is a large seating area which makes it a reasonable meeting point. Food wise they offer the usual sandwiches (some of which can be toasted), and soups.

Check out my review of Costa - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Talad Thai Supermarket in London



London - Food & Drink - Supermarkets

If you're interested in Thai cooking, then I can highly recommend paying a visit to the Talad Thai supermarket.

Many of the ingredients are imported directly from Thailand, and they really make your Thai dishes taste much more authentic. For example, the Sweet Thai basil has a much more distinctive taste than what we are used to here in the UK. The baby aubergines (which look a bit like peas) add texture to your dishes. Other ingredients are imported from Japan or China, giving you a wide selection to choose from.

In addition to fresh produce, they also sell pre-made curry pastes (red, green etc.), a range of frozen dishes (such as spring rolls or unusual fish), tinned Thai fruits, bottled sauces and coconut milk.

They helpfully stock a range of Thai cookery books, so buy or browse through one of these if you feel overwhelmed by the range of ingredients.

Supplement your meal with some imported Thai beer!

Check out my review of Talad Thai Supermarket - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Alma's Restaurant in London



London - Restaurants - Italian & Pizza

Small Italian restaurant on Borough High Street, serving a selection of pizzas, pasta dishes, and salads. They do also serve takeaways, and can cater for group bookings (about a maximum of ten).

What makes this place particularly popular is that they have a cut-down lunch menu, with main courses at £4.95.
This includes American Hot pizza, Calzone (my favourite), vegetarian pizzas, traditional pasta dishes, and main course salads (we've found these salads to be a little small however). All the lunchtime dishes are very tasty, and they also serve a reduced price bottle of wine at lunchtime (red or white) for £7.95 to wash it all down with. Not on your own of course!

If you're looking for a cheap place for lunch I can recommend Alma's. I'm not sure I would go there for dinner as there are better restaurants locally for the price (I'd give it 2* in the evening), but for lunch it represents excellent value.

Check out my review of Alma's Restaurant - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Meshawi in London



London - Restaurants - Eastern European

Authentic Lebanese/Turkish food. They provide a range of traditional dishes (including kebabs) and salads, with both a café style seating area and takeaway service. They also provide set menus if you want to come here for a longer meal.

My personal favourite is the (large) Lamb Shawerma kebab, which, if I recall correctly, is £4.95.

I you like kebabs, this is easily your number one choice for late night food in Putney.

Check out my review of Meshawi - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: The Trinity in London



London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

The Trinity is a lively bar located seconds from borough tube station. They serve quite a range of beers, such as Staropramen, Amstel, as well as cocktails and wine list. They also serve food along similar lines as you'd find at Slug and Lettuce, such as burgers, nachos and the like-reasonable quality but I wouldn't say it was fantastic either.

It has pretty funky décor, and party music plays out load in the evenings. During the summer months they open up the large windows at the front giving a more open feel. This isn't the kind of place you'd go to for a quiet drink, but is more popular with the after-work crowd. The bar also seems to have a policy of employing very attractive bar staff!

Check out my review of The Trinity - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Stash Yarns in London



London - Fashion - Knitwear

I can't say that I'm an expert in this area, but stash yarns were very helpful in suggesting wool types and colour combinations, plus patterns and a book to help with a scarf that we were making.

The staff are very helpful and positive. They seem to have a broad range of stock, and I would definitely recommend stash yarns to anyone with an interest with knitting or crocheting.

One thing to look out for though, since this is a small business they aren't open quite as late as some of the other shops around Putney - so check opening times before making a special trip.

Check out my review of Stash Yarns - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Chicken Spice in London



London - Restaurants - Take Away - Restaurants - Take Away - Chicken - Restaurants - Fast Food & American

Awful takeaway. Dry chicken and soggy chips. I haven't ventured much further than this on the menu, but from the appearance of the pre-made curries in the counter they didn't look good. I once ordered a chips and salad in pitta bread, and disappointingly got these all as separate items. If you're in need of a late night snack in Putney you're much better off heading to the late night takeaway joints near the mainline stations. At least it's cheap though.

Check out my review of Chicken Spice - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Rogerios in London



London - Cafes & Coffee Shops

Popular café on Putney high street close to the station, catering for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I've only actually been for breakfast and lunch, but I've sampled the generous Full English breakfasts, tasty omelettes with chips, sandwiches, and good coffees.

The menu overall leans towards an Italian influence, shown in their main courses, which include pasta, and a range of meat and fish dishes. The décor is attractive and reminds me of being in a cafe in Italy. Staff are effcient and friendly.

Although the café appears narrow from the street, there is a large seating area towards the rear and I've always found there are plenty of seats. The interior at the back has just undergone a minor renovation which was beginning to look a little drab a few months back, so this has now been brought up to date.

I would certainly recommend it. One thing worth noting is that a tip is automatically added to your bill when you pay at the tills at the end of your meal. It is not clear this is happening and the first couple of times I visited I double tipped.

Check out my review of Rogerios - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Freshcut in London



London - Cafes & Coffee Shops

Lovely sandwiches and coffee. Primarily a takeaway place as there are only a few tables, but this is somewhere I always pop into if I'm around the area at lunchtime. Staff are friendly, and there are often queues reaching the back of the cafe at lunchtime which is testiment to the quality of the sandwiches.

Check out my review of Freshcut - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Harpers Sandwich Bar in London



London - Cafes & Coffee Shops

Pretty standard sandwich shop - actually owned (I believe) by the same people as the Island on union street, and as such serves a pretty much identical menu. Funky building. Pretty average food and cost wise for this area. What lets it down is it can be very crowded at lunchtimes and difficult to find somewhere to sit. Not really their fault but something bearing in mind if you head there at lunchtime.

Check out my review of Harpers Sandwich Bar - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Rose and Crown in London



London - Pubs & Bars - Pubs

Bit of an oddball places this. Standard selection of beers, a few real ales (Pride, Youngs, IPA), which are pricey even for the area (£3.50 for a pint?).

Crowd seems to vary considerably: one night it will be full of suits, the next musicians, then locals. It does have a pool table and jukebox, and a small outside area at the front - which sadly is now where all the smokers hang out and not very pleasant if you don't smoke. In the outside area you also tend to get hassled by the homeless people who hang out near the island café.

The staffing situation is bizarre - went to the bar to get another drink recently only for the barman to ask me to hold on for a few minutes while he finished his game of pool! The other two barmaids were having a cigarette break. I obviously wasn't impressed so headed off somewhere else. Can't say I'd even choose to go there myself, but it's very close to work so my colleagues tend to pop in for a drink sometimes.

Check out my review of Rose and Crown - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: J Sainsburys plc in London



London - Food & Drink - Supermarkets

I totally agree with jojeba on the layout. I sometimes come here to grab a quick lunch. Why have they put the sandwich section right behind a large pillar at the front of the store? A large queue builds up around this pillar every lunchtime meaning you have to push your way past people even to get into the store, then you end up tripping over a pallet as the shelves are being restocked, before you join the queue that's already looped round the far end of the store and is half way back to the front (the tills are at the front). At least the tills are well manned so the queue does move along quite quickly.

Check out my review of J Sainsburys plc - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Hare & Tortoise in London



London - Restaurants - Japanese & Sushi

I would agree with Ninawriter that the service can be a little slow, but I've never found them to be rude.

I'm a regular here, probably visiting every couple of weeks, and I've noticed that it has got busier over the last couple of years. So if you visit at peak times expect to wait for table and have to catch the attention of the waiting staff if you want something. But this is really the style of place this is, i.e. not a restaurant for a long sit down meal but rather something quick, tasty and good value for money.

The food really is excellent quality for what you pay. I much prefer it to Wagamamas which I sometimes find a bit bland, and it also serves a good selection of sushi in addition to noodle dishes, ramens, and curries. At a guess I'd say that H&T is about 20% cheaper as well. The food is prepared in an open-plan style kitchen so if you sit at the bar area you'll be able to see your dish being prepared in front of you.

My personal favorite dishes would include the Tori Gyoza as a starter (£2.80) and the Curry Laksa as a main course (£5.95).

There is a takeaway service too, but beware that there is a £10 minimum charge on cards, so bring cash if your order is less than this.

Check out my review of Hare & Tortoise - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Fat Face Clothing in London



London - Fashion - Leisure Wear

The Fat Face brand started in the Alpine ski resorts, and as such the style is a combination of snow boarder/surfer. I agree that their clothes are expensive (compared to gap on the other side of Putney exchange), but they are well made so last well. At least they have regular sales - expect to pick things up at about half the rack rate.

Check out my review of Fat Face Clothing - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Qype: Gourmet Burger Kitchen in Putney



Putney - Restaurants - Fast Food & American

Easily the best burgers in London. Very filling - so go on an empty stomach. Not the kind of place to go if you want a sit down meal, but if you're after something reasonably cheap and quick I'd highly recommend it!

Check out my review of Gourmet Burger Kitchen - I am johnsibly - on Qype

Monday, 11 August 2008

More iPhone tips stolen from the interweb

Sliding more accurately
When using a volume or position slider (like the song position slider in the iPod section), there's no need to keep your finger on the nub in order to move it. If you move your finger down the glass after tapping (and holding), you have far more control and can see exactly where the slider nib is.

Quick punctuation
When typing, tap and hold the ".?123" button, then drag up into the punctuation area. Let go when you've landed on the correct symbol. If you're typing a full stop it turns 3 taps into one tap and drag. Speedy!

Quick punctuation, part 2 (full stops after spaces)
Pressing the space-bar twice in a row on firmware 1.1.1 and above will insert a full-stop followed by a space. Very useful for end of sentences. Added by Ricochet.

Rejecting calls
When a call comes in, press the sleep/wake button once to silence the ring for that call. Press it twice to send the call to voicemail immediately.

Go straight to the top
When viewing a long web page, if you want to get back to the top, or access Safari's address field, you don't have to scroll all the way up; instead, just tap on the gray status bar at the top of the iPhone's screen. You'll be immediately transported to the top of the current web page. This tip was taken from a PC Advisor article by Christopher Breen, Dan Frakes, Jonathan Seff, Philip Michaels and Jim Dalrymple.

Scroll in boxes on a web page
If you encounter a scrolling box or list while surfing on your iPhone in Safari - say you're responding to a post at the PCAdvisor.co.uk forums - and you try to scroll with your finger, you'll find that the entire page scrolls, instead of just the box. The trick is to scroll such areas with two fingers. This tip was taken from a PC Advisor article by Christopher Breen, Dan Frakes, Jonathan Seff, Philip Michaels and Jim Dalrymple.

Investigate links
In Safari, if you hold your fingertip down on a link instead of tapping, you'll summon an information balloon that displays the underlying URL. The same thing happens in Mail when you hold on a link. This tip was taken from a PC Advisor article by Christopher Breen, Dan Frakes, Jonathan Seff, Philip Michaels and Jim Dalrymple.

Sunday, 10 August 2008

iPhone tips

A couple of my favorite iPhone tips:
  • To stop the select what you want to happen to your photos dialog when you plug in your iPhone (selecting cancel and remember doesn't work), select Apple iPhone in windows explorer, right click and select properties. Select the Events tab, then check Take No Action
  • Fixing album artwork: if the Get Album Artwork feature doesn't return anything, select all the song in the album, then select Get Info. Copy and paste the picture you want to set in the album artwork box (dragging and dropping a jpeg file works too).