MarcForrest.com

Blog

How to get Netflix on the Apple TV in South Africa
A few weeks ago the new Apple TV was announced and was recently launched in the US, and should be in SA soon. One of the cool features of the new Apple TV is that it integrates Siri into the device, as well as allowing you to watch & search for movies across a number of platforms including Netflix & Hulu as well as access to a whole host of other services.

Some of my favorite channels include HBO Go, WSJ & Red Bull TV (US). In fact check out the FULL list of channels you can get once you have signed up with . The best thing (for me) about the new Apple TV is that there are apps available for the device, which means a number of these TV channels will have their own apps on the Apple TV soon!

While Netflix hasn’t launched in SA (yet) it is still possible to get Netflix on the Apple TV quite simply. You still need to pay for it but at $8.99 a month it’s a bargain for the amount of content you can get!
There is a bit of a workaround to get it working in SA, but follow these simple steps and you should be up and running in no time :)
1. First you’ll need to sign up for a service called . UnoTelly allows you to set up your devices to make it look like you in a specific country. In this instance you need to be able to look like you in America so you can sign up for Netflix.First you need to go to . You can sign up for an , after which the service will cost you $4.95 per month using Paypal or your Credit/Cheque card.
2. Once you have setup you will need to make a few changes to your Apple TV. This means changing your DNS, which is not as scary as it sounds. To do this follow the below steps
  1. On your Apple TV go to Settings -> General -> Network
  2. Select your current wifi/wired connection that you are connected to
  3. Go to “Configure DNS” and select Manual
  4. Change your DNS address to 197.189.212.164 or one from UnoTelly Global Servers list based on your location
  5. You can go back to your home screen from here
3. You now need to ensure Netflix is enabled on the Apple TV. There are 2 ways of doing this.
  Firstly, if you have a US iTunes account and have logged into your Apple TV with it, you should see the Netflix app on the home screen.
  If you don’t see it or don’t have a US iTunes Account, you can do the following:
  Go to Settings -> iTunes Store -> Location and change your location to “United States”
4. Once you have Netflix Icon on the screen, you can go into it. You are also able to able to sign up for Netflix on a computer or iPad, but you will need to change your DNS using . You can follow the instructions for to change your DNS for your Operating System if you want to login from your PC or sign up using your PC.
  Once you have gone into Netflix you can select your subscription. I would recommend going for the 2 screen option ($8.99 a month)
  If you do sign up on your PC you can select to pay via credit/cheque card, otherwise it will come off of your US iTunes credit.Remember you can also sign up for HuluPlus and many of the other streaming service providers on the Apple TV
And that’s it. Quick and simple :) Although there are sometimes hiccups, I have found the help pages at UnoTelly have been super helpful with some of the questions I have had. I have been using Netflix for about a year now and absolutely love it!!
November 6, 2015
Review: East Oasis Ballito

Disclaimer: I was not asked to write this post, and neither did I benefit from it in anyway. Just sharing about this awesome new restaurant in Ballito

Last night the wife and I celebrated our 11 year wedding anniversary. Yay! We don’t do big gifts or surprises, but we do like to get out for a meal. We decided to pop in at a new place in Ballito for a drink after seeing a few people talk about it online, after which we would go to our favorite spot in town for dinner.

When we got to the door, the owner greeted us so enthusiastically I thought we had forgot to say HI to a friend. We sat down and ordered a cocktail each, and had a quick look at the menu. We decided to have a quick starter of chicken wings, drink our drinks and then move on.

Well….

We had the chicken wings and they were absolutely delicious. And hot. But not ugly hot, hot enough to make you want more! As we were about to call for the bill the owner came up and asked us what we thought of the place as it was new and was getting local feedback. He then asked us what we wanted for mains, and we told him we had plans to go elsewhere. Haha, he didn’t like that and convinced us to stay with some of the mouthwatering specialities.

Eventually we stayed, and I’m so glad we did. The food is absolutely phenomenal. And the owner, Shaun, is so passionate about his food, he won’t even let you add salt to it!!

We had a portion of calamari to share, and I had the baby chicken, while the wife had the most incredible rump. All served with a side salad and wedges. All the meat and salads are organic & free range, so it’s extra tasty. And the prices were not bad either, really worth it!

All in all, I can honestly say, that this place is the new kid on the block, and I hope it stays. Ballito tends to suffer from “December Turnover Syndrome” and too many good places close down too quickly. I really hope that East Oasis Ballito stays open for good and grows from strength to strength

Well done to Shaun and his team, I’m looking forward to spending more time at your place!

You can find them at 16 Compensation Beach road (near Shakers/Milk Cafe) or on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/eastoasisballito) or call them on 032 586 1034

[foogallery id=”4527″]

September 5, 2015
Restricting Adult Content on iOS devices

I often have a debates with friends and family about the kids of today using tablets and iPads. The main point I try and get across is that our kids were born into this technology. It is not foreign for them to swipe on things, similarly to the way we were brought up with Casio watches and Sony Walkmans. The thing is, the technology is here to stay, and we can’t keep our kids away from it, it is their life.

But one of the “risks” of having this sort of technology is that there is whole other world out there, that we don’t want our kids to see. It’s a reality and we need to firstly and most importantly EDUCATE our kids about what goes on out there. We can’t hide behind reality and by being honest with your kids, and telling them there are some crazy people out there, we can help protect them.

I also recently found a fantastic setting on the iOS devices which allows you to “Limit Adult Content” This doesn’t only block access to all adult sites, but also anything that could be deemed not safe for kids, such as gambling, religion etc etc. The setting is also controlled via a password so kids can’t undo this setting.

To turn this feature on do the following:

On your iOS device go to Settings -> General -> Restrictions

At this point if you have not used Restrictions before, you will need to set a password. I would suggest using a different password from whats normally used to unlock the iPad and only something you know :)

Once you in restrictions you can turn off a number of Apps etc. I personally turn off Safari & In App Purchases.

Once you go into Restrictions go to Websites and select “Limit Adult Content”

Once you try surf to a site Apple deems as unsafe, you will need to put in the restrictions password you set in the beginning.

If you ever need to go back to the full setting, you can just go into restrictions and take off the setting and allow all websites.

This is a really handy trick that works 100% of the time ;)

August 12, 2015
Review: Handpresso Portable Espresso Machine

The Handpresso Portable Espresso Machine is your ultimate go-anywhere espresso machine. Small and convenient, the Handpresso travels with you on vacation/business trips, hiking, boating – anywhere that you would like to enjoy a premium quality espresso, cappuccino, Americano, or latte!

The Handpresso is a simple and compact Nomadic Espresso maker. All you need is some boiling water and any E.S.E Pod, or ground coffee, no matter where you are. This also eliminates the mess associated with espresso making when on the go. Just pump up the Handpresso until the needle is in green area on the Pressure gauge; this says you’re at 16 bars of pressure, now you can add hot water from a kettle or a thermo-insulated bottle. Place the E.S.E. pod or ground coffee in the filter, close the top and press the button to dispense the espresso!

It’s never been easier or required less clean up to make your espresso or cappuccinos until now! Cleaning is a breeze, simply just wash out under a tap. It really can’t be any more hassle free than that!

You can order your Handpresso Pump from the very awesome Randomly website (www.randomly.co.za) for R1,589.

March 10, 2015
Time to #StartOver with your money & 22Seven

It’s the start of the new financial year, and it’s time to budget those hard earned dollars. I know I can vouch that spending is easy, debt is easier and falling into that trap is horrible. BUT, it’s time to #StartOver.

If you live in Jozi or on the interwebs, you may have seen all the noise & tweets about a huge SORRY sky written sign in the sky on Friday.

It’s all part of a campaign from the team at 22Seven encouraging everyone to #StartOver with their money. Money has apologised and said sorry, and now it’s time to be friends again. I even got a personalised apology letter from my money, asking me if we can #StartOver :P

I have been using the web & mobile app for the last couple of days, and it really is an awesome app. They give you such amazing insight into your money, and you get to see exactly where it goes. The best part of it all, is that it is FREE!! Really cool :)

If you want to find out a bit more about the campaign, check out the 22Seven Website and see how you can #StartOver with your money.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post

March 2, 2015