This now brings us to an interesting dilemma:
“Do we keep it free?“

I initially decided to place it back to the launch price of £1.79 after the festive season but given the huge take up in downloads I’d like to keep this coming and placing a cost on the app no matter how small impacts this. People are willing to spend $5 on a coffee (myself included) but not $1 on an app and with this in mind and the fact that we want to update it with another 2000 words I’ve decided to add “AdMob” to the application and keep it free.

We already see from this site that people will consume the content you give them and do not click the Google ads (hint hint) but I guess the idea is that you have to appeal to the individual and not the masses and that’s why we’ve signed up to AdMob to keep the app free. Of course if you don’t want the adverts then you don’t have to update the app you have but I will be making updated and some corrections to it and the adverts themselves are at the top of the screen (see image) so they’re not intrusive at all. The idea of this app was for each download to pay for a small items in the house like a roof tile or a brick and at present this is just not happening with either the app or the Google ads.

We are looking for some feedback from the users on this as we are also thinking of tuely opening up the app to allow people to contribute and suggest words that’ll be automatically added at the next build.

What do you think of this ?

iTunes Link for Petite Assistante is : HERE

Unfortunately I can’t tell you what wood they are but i can tell you it’s hard, bloody hard (one rolled off and hit me in the head!). Now these aren’t the straightest of timers but i’m sure someone can find a good use for them..

Since delivery is out of the question you’ll have to arrange collection of these long and heavy beams… If you’re interested drop us a mail to wood (at) montpillard.com , now of course we are offering these to anyone in the local area as well and they’ll be given priority but feel free to request them

Location of the wood is Montpillard, Crux Le Ville (google map link : HERE )

You can download your free app from iTunes or in your iPhone & iPod touch HERE

If of course you want to show us some Google add clicking love that would be great too… More shortly, lots and lots to tell you .

Listen to the low quality version now
Listen now with the below audio embedded low quality version or click HERE to go to iTunes to get it or subscribe

[audio:http://www.montpillard.com/wp-content/uploads/ep5.mp3]

Episode 3 podcast covers

• Why the delay
• Waiting for quotes
• A book recommendation

and much more of me getting stressed at the whole situation

Listen now with the below audio embedded low quality version or click HERE to go to iTunes to get it or subscribe

[audio:http://www.montpillard.com/wp-content/uploads/podcast_episode3_stream.mp3]

What we’ve done is now made an mp3 streaming version available at the end of each post (example below). This mp3 stream will play straight from your browser just click the play icon.

[audio:http://www.montpillard.com/wp-content/uploads/slogger1.mp3]

At present these streams are only available to listen to online and not available for download but these will be available soon for you to add to your Zune, MP3 player, phone etc etc for you non iTunes users. It’s also noting that the iTunes podcasts are “enhanced” with artwork, links and chapters which isn’t available on the embedded version.

Also you’ll now notice that the “AUDIO” page at the top of the blog now has been populated. This is going to be a consolidation area for our audio streams, so if you think you’ve missed something or just want a 1 stop page to get to all our audio then THIS PAGE is it.

It’s London Marathon day in London so we did what all sensible Londoners do and that’s LEAVE LONDON

So we used the time in the quiet countryside to record episode 2 of the Montpillard.com Podcast where we talk about our process of finding and buying the house.

This Podcast is a little longer at 15 minutes but there is a fair bit to cover. We are getting the hang of this and the quality is improving and there are less “errrms” than before but we are still working on it.

Episode #2 is now live in iTunes, so either subscribe HERE (iTunes link), or go direct to the current episode HERE

We discussed the websites we used and the mortgage options very briefly in this episode and those links will appear here shortly and Dawn will be doing a full write-up of the mortgages we looked at.

Embedded Low Quality Online Version
[audio:http://www.montpillard.com/wp-content/uploads/podcast_episode2_stream.mp3]

Enjoy.

WE DID IT!

Episode #1 is now available in iTunes (link) for you to download and it’s already getting downloaded at  rate i just had to “top up” on bandwidth with our current ISP

So being episode 1 it’ll be a little rough around the edges and this one really just introduces ourselves, the house, the area and why we purchased where we did. The Podcast is 10 minutes long and this is the maximum time we want to keep these at as the idea is not to have some long 45 minute rambling Podcast but some quick, concise & info packed Podcasts for you.

As for now we have no show notes for you but going forward when we talk about products, suppliers or services we’ll be detailing them in the post related to the Epispode. The episodes will be coming thick and fast over the next few weeks so make sure you hit the subscribe button in iTunes.

LISTEN NOW – Online lower quality version.
[audio:http://www.montpillard.com/wp-content/uploads/podcast_episode1_stream.mp3]

Enjoy

Misc Info
Recorded on Zoom H4N
Processed in GarageBand

Grab them while you can.

Register HERE and be quick as there are only 10,000 available. Please note these tickets are only valid weekdays after 5, so if you want to go at the weekend there is no benefit. However we’ll do a report for you.

Here’s the blurb from the advert and we couldn’t have said it better ourselves:

Meet Martin Lewis at the show on 20th March

This year’s EDF Energy Ideal Home Show is designed to help you make the most of your home. We’ll show you how to fall in love with your home again, offering inspirational ideas to brighten up your life, from de-cluttering and making the most of every inch of space, to energy saving initiatives that minimise your carbon footprint. And, of course, there’ll be plenty of money-wise ideas that could help cut your bills!

Martin will be at the EDF Energy Ideal Home Show on the opening day, Friday 20 March, and will be speaking at the Smarter Living Theatre at 7pm. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to hear some expert advice.

To celebrate Martin’s involvement in the Show, we are giving away 10,000 free tickets to users of MoneySavingExpert.com. The tickets are valid to use after 5pm on any weekday of the show.

Show opening hours: Weekdays 11am – 9pm, Weekends 10am – 6pm, Final Monday 10am – 6pm

We of course will be there and will try and get the podcast sorted by then.