Geek With Laptop

French customers run up astronomical bill for 3G Internet access

Sasha — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:09:22 +0000

Opening a bill is not exactly a comfortable experience at the best of times, even when you’re expecting it, so in today’s fragile economy imagine getting a demand for payment of tens of thousands of euros that you hadn’t anticipated.

This is exactly what has happened to some French mobile internet users who signed up for an “unlimited” 3G Internet package with communications giant Orange.

Jean Spadaro, a doctor from Fontainebleau outside Paris must have needed to use his own medical training to resuscitate himself after receiving a demand for almost 160,000 euros just for one month’s internet use.

This means the poor guy was in blissful oblivion surfing the internet whilst unwittingly clocking up a bill of 40,000 euros a week. When he found out he started negotiating with Orange about the amount which he was sure was some sort of mistake.

Spadaro also complained that Orange never once told him that he was running up even more on his bill during the time he was disputing the amount.

“How is it that I never received any warning or alert as to the size of the bill” he said on a radio interview.

Then there was the café owner by the name of Eric Gernez and the Insurance executive called Christophe Aupy-Fargues, both of who received massive bills and who finally brought the outrageous charges to the public attention.

Gernez and Aupy-Fargues were hit with mobile internet bills for 46,000 euros and 39,500 euros respectively, amounts that any of us would be reluctant to hand over for Internet use, especially these days now that free Wi-Fi is so widely available.

Shockingly, when these two got in touch with Orange to find out what was going on they were basically told that they had failed to interpret the terms of the deal.

Although the package was indeed “unlimited”, they would be charged for downloading anything more than 1 Gigabyte. The two of them also discovered they were being charged roaming fees for using their Internet outside France.

Gernez, who lives near the Belgian border, appears to have accidentally connected to a foreign network.

Aupy-Fargues allowed his colleague to use his Internet in Spain unaware that the roaming charges would apply.

“If we had known that the unlimited package didn’t apply outside France he wouldn’t have taken the 3G with him,” he said. Apparently in this case, Orange said they gave Aupy-Fargues plenty of warnings that his bill was rising.

Take heed, always read the small print.

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Could Google’s Chrome end up dominating the Netbook OS market?

Sasha — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:05:41 +0000

Google could well be on its way to dominating the operating system market for Netbooks, the small portable devices we carry around with us for convenient access to the web.

Google Chrome OS is a stripped down lightweight operating system which could turn out to be the perfect partner for Netbooks and here’s why.

Netbooks are web machines; they’re not designed for performing complex processing tasks, more for consuming content on the web.

Devices running Chrome will have all their applications and data files stored on the web so will work perfectly for low processing power machines like Netbooks.

In a recent press conference in California, Google said they wanted to make the Chrome OS work like a TV set where a user turns on his device and is immediately connected to the web. That’s exactly what we want with a Netbook.

Now there are those who claim that Chrome as an operating system will fail. It’s true, there’s a downside to running a computer, laptop or netbook with Chrome and that is you won’t be able to do much if you haven’t got an internet connection as the applications and the data won’t be available.

There’s also the fact that not all applications are going to be available on the web but then again, we want our Netbooks for accessing the Internet and as for other apps and tasks that is why we have a desktop or laptop as well.

Netbooks make great secondary devices just for accessing the web and so an operating system that is also focused on the web would seem like a logical step forward.

Basically I don’t think we can compare Chrome OS and Netbooks to the other operating systems and fully fledged computers or laptops as they’re built for different purposes.

With Windows we can install and run many different applications and control our data without going near an internet connection, with Chrome we can’t. Simple as that!

There is nothing you can do with a Netbook that you can’t do with a desktop computer or a laptop and yet netbooks are incredibly popular, and they’re popular because they’re cheap, light, and allow us quick and ready access to the internet.

Similarly, there is nothing you can do with Chrome that you can’t do with Windows or Linux but Chrome allows you to do on a Netbook what you really want to do on a Netbook, namely access the web and web based applications without any fuss.

Apple’s iPhone to be launched in South Korea this week

Sasha — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:00:03 +0000

Apple’s iPhone will be officially available on the 28th of this month from South Korea’s second largest mobile phone carrier KT Corp, ending a long wait for South Korea.

KT Corp have been taking reservations for the SmartPhone and plan to hold a special launch event on Saturday for around 1,000 customers who have pre-ordered the phone.

“We are thrilled to bring iPhone to South Korea,” Kim Woo-sik, CEO of KT’s personal customer group, said in a press release.

“Our customers will enjoy the power and benefits of using the revolutionary iPhone on KT’s 3G network.”

There were talks between South Korea’s largest mobile phone carrier, SK Telecom Co and Apple with a view to SK Telecom taking on the SmartPhone but a deal was never finalised so KT Corp will be the first to launch it in South Korea.

South Korea is one of the last of the Asian Pacific countries to offer the iPhone, which was launched in China last month and Japan last year, and is already on sale in India and Australia. In fact the iPhone is now available in 86 countries across the globe.

Part of the reason for the delay in making the iPhone available in South Korea was due to regulations surrounding the location based services the iPhone offers.

Under South Korean law, any business offering location based services such as maps and direction finders has to obtain permission from the government first.

Korea Communications Commission finally approved the granting of a business license to Apple to offer the location based services on Wednesday meaning that the last of the obstacles had been overcome.

It remains to be seen though, whether Apple will be able to eat into the dominance those Asian based manufacturers like Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics as well as Pantech Co have in South Korea. Locals tend to favour these suppliers over others.

Collectively these three companies are responsible for more than 90 percent of sales of mobile phones in South Korea, a country where 46 million people possess a mobile phone, or roughly 9 out of 10 of the population.

Apple isn’t saying much on the matter. Steve Park, Apple’s spokesman in Seoul has confirmed KT Corp’s announcement but wouldn’t be drawn into commenting on any sales projections.

Yes, we’re all watching South Korea at the moment.

Sony to introduce new online service to encourage “brand loyalty”

Sasha — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:15:44 +0000

Sony has plans to launch a new online service next year that will enable people to download all sorts of content across a range of gadgets in order to help build Sony brand loyalty and improve sales.

The online service is part of Chief Executive Howard Stringer’s goal of pulling together all of Sony’s electronic products and content from its movie studio and music label into one place and capitalise on Sony’s strengths.

Sony already has 33 million registered users for their Play Station Game Network alone and plan to expand this service.

Sony acknowledges they maybe haven’t communicated their strengths very well in the past but under the revamped management team put in place by Howard Stringer, they hope to change all that.

“We want to increase the value, or the brand loyalty of our Sony products. There is no question about it,” said Sony Executive Vice President Kazuo Hirai.

“This is something I’d like to get off the ground as quickly as possible,” said Hirai, who is also head of the company’s game division.

Although the new service won’t be available until some point in 2010, the quicker the better as far as Sony is concerned. “Earlier in the year would be obviously a lot more preferable in my mind” said Stringer.

According to Kazuo Hirai, the service will highlight the advantage Sony has over its rivals who don’t produce their own content like Sony does.

Sony’s business covers electronic gadgets such as phones and digital cameras, eBook readers, gaming consoles, movies and even music.

“That’s the kind of combination that I think is not seen anywhere else,” Hirai said in an interview at the company’s headquarters in Tokyo.

Sony believes that by producing their own content and making an online service available to download that content to a whole range of gadgets, is what will set them apart from their competitors.

“That I think is where our core competence lies, and that’s a differentiator for Sony” said Hirai.

“One of the things we really need to get into is the whole concept of user-driven content,” Hirai also said in the interview.

“There already are a lot of services out there but we want to try to bring something that is uniquely Sony to the experience.”

As to whether the Sony experience will live up to the hype and pay off for Sony remains to be seen, but it sounds cool. I’ll be checking it out.

So what do you think of the Laptop Steering Wheel Desk?

Sasha — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:05:47 +0000

Some folk are raving about it, others find it hilarious and there are those who haven’t even heard about it yet but one thing’s certain, the laptop steering wheel desk is causing quite a stir.

Basically the AutoExec WM-01 Wheelmate as it is called is a tray that you can attach to your steering wheel on which you can easily write or use it for holding your drinks or snacks when taking a break from driving. Well that’s what they say anyway.

However, in case you hadn’t noticed, the wheel mate also happens to double up very nicely as a perfect platform for a laptop or a netbook, and apparently people are going mad for it according to the reviews it has been getting round the web.

The laptop steering wheel desk has actually been around for several years but it hasn’t really caught on until now, and I’ve got no idea why, it’s like folk have gone insane.

It’s being dubbed the laptop steering wheel desk but of course you cannot possibly use a laptop whilst at the wheel and Amazon.com, which has the device for sale on their site, recommends that “For safety reasons, never use this product while driving” but we know that don’t we.

How many times have we been told not to text or use our mobile phones when driving? Enough said.

If you have your laptop on your tray and yet at the same time both hands on the steering wheel, then you are of course also hands free, and technically would be able to watch the latest news streams, keep an eye on your social networking site updates, check the odd email, and continue driving at the same time.

Now obviously this is not a good idea just in case it happened to cross your mind.

What’s really amazing about this gadget though is the number of other uses people have apparently found for it.

One reviewer on the Amazon site said he uses it to prop up his music so he can play the guitar. Another uses it to twitter at every road market, and yet another apparently uses it as a mini bar.

One commenter would like to see a two shelf model so they can install their Xbox 360 and play modern warfare 2 too.

If nothing else the laptop steering wheel desk, which has been hailed as “the greatest thing ever invented” by one happy reviewer, has given us all a laugh.

Nokia’s first Netbook is attracting corporate interest

Sasha — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:00:49 +0000

The first Netbook produced by Nokia, a world leader in mobile phones, could by the sounds of things end up doing quite well in the highly competitive Netbook market, particularly if the business community take it on.

Heikka Norta, head of Nokia corporate strategy recently told a seminar that Nokia were seeing some corporate interest for its Netbook, which is bound to please the Finnish based company.

“When we launched the Booklet 3G … we thought it to be primarily a consumer device, but after the launch a big, growing interest is coming from companies,” said Norta.

“No one knows yet if a booklet kind of device is the next device that will be used by millions, or hundreds of millions, of people, but right now it looks like, if not for mass market, there is clear demand,” Norta added.

Nokia originally announced the Nokia Booklet 3G, back in August so why would a company that specialises in mobile phones want to break into the Netbook market?

Quite simple really, Netbooks are popular, and at a time when mobile phones are becoming more like mini computers in their capabilities, it would seem a natural step forward.

“A growing number of people want the computing power of a PC with the full benefits of mobility,” said Kai Oistamo, Nokia’s Executive Vice President for Devices in a press release at the time.

“We are in the business of connecting people and the Nokia Booklet 3G is a natural evolution for us. Nokia has a long and rich heritage in mobility and with the outstanding battery life, premium design and all day, always on connectivity, we will create something quite compelling. In doing so we will make the personal computer more social, more helpful and more personal.”

Ok but what most of us want to know is how much we’ll have to pay for it.

Last month AT & T Mobility announced that it would be selling the Nokia Booklet 3G Netbook for $300 to customers who took out a 2 year contract. For those who just want to buy the Booklet 3G outright with no commitment, then they can expect to pay double that.

So what are we getting for our money with the Nokia Booklet 3G?

The 10 inch Netbook offers up to 12 hours battery life, 3G, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, has a 1.6GHz Intel Atom Processor and runs with Windows 7 Starter or Windows 7 Home Premium operating system.

It also comes with integrated GPS, A-GPS and Ovi Maps Application and in colours Black, Ice or Azure.

Are Netbooks are likely to do well this holiday season?

Sasha — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:34 +0000

Netbooks, those convenient ultra portable devices, which are great for quick access to the web when out and about, just won’t go away.

Ok so you can’t quite do everything on a Netbook that you can do on a laptop but you can still perform simple processing tasks, watch videos, listen to music and update your status on Facebook.

Netbooks also happen to be cheaper than laptops so does that mean that more people are likely to put a Netbook than a laptop on their shopping list next month?

According to Iowa based Low Cost Cells, Netbooks haven’t really been affected by the recession and consumers will continue to snap them up throughout the coming holiday season.

“A lot of business travellers are attracted to netbooks because they’re lightweight and are loaded with all the basics,” said Nate Schmidt, president of Low Cost Cells.

“Netbooks are also a good choice for those who want to buy starter computers for their children” said Schmidt.

Netbooks might have been attracting a lot of attention but opinions on them are very much divided into two camps. It would seem that consumers love them because they’re inexpensive; computer manufacturers hate them for much the same reason.

Regardless, they have caused a storm ever since they appeared and there’s no sign of public interest in these cheap and cheerful web access devices waning any time soon.

When it comes down to it, Netbooks are “easy enough to use and cheap enough to lose” as the techies used to say when they first came out. So of course they’re going to be a popular choice for consumers, particularly in these troubled economic times.

“Netbooks are getting extremely popular, and I would expect a lot of people will be interested in buying them as gifts this holiday season,” said Schmidt.

“All of the netbooks we offer cost less than $200 when purchased with a plan from Verizon or AT&T.”

“For those who want the convenience of a smart phone and the features of a laptop, a netbook is the perfect choice,” said Schmidt.

Although Netbooks represent a relatively small percentage of overall PC and Laptop sales, the figures have been rising dramatically over the past two years.

ABI Research forecast that nearly 35 million Netbooks will have shipped by the end of this year.

Looks like Netbooks are here to stay for a while yet.

Geek With Laptop Weekly Roundup 11.20.09

Mike — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:00:30 +0000

The Geek With Laptop weekly roundup of the web’s best tech news includes the fantastic looking Dell Zino, Steampunk’s latest sweet project (a metal web-head), a listing of top Windows applications and a really cool looking and eco-friendly sign. Geek with Laptop has found the web’s best, check ‘em out!

Dell Inspiron Zino HD HTPC

If you’ve been eying for a compact and budget media server or nettop for your home, the Dell Inspiron Zino HD (Inspiron 400) nettop PC or HTPC should be one of the best choices. It just gets released in the US market which starts at a price of $299.

T Mobile data breach is biggest of its kind

Sasha — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:54 +0000

There’s a new data breach hitting the headlines and this time it affects customers of mobile phone company T Mobile.

Members of staff at the mobile giant have apparently been passing on millions of customer records to third party brokers without the knowledge of T Mobile. These brokers can then sell on the info to other phone companies.

Mr Graham, who was recently appointed to his role as watchdog responsible for safeguarding personal information said it was the biggest breach of its kind and that his office was preparing to prosecute.

When the news first broke, Mr Graham wouldn’t divulge the name of the phone company involved as it could jeopardise criminal proceedings.

Understandably, given the serious nature of the breach, the other major players in the mobile phone industry such as Orange, O2, Vodafone and Virgin quickly came out and said it wasn’t their companies being investigated.

T Mobile finally confirmed that they had reported suspicions that their data was being traded unlawfully. Investigators then obtained search warrants to enter the premises and interviewed staff.

A spokesman for T-Mobile said the sale of the data had been “deeply regrettable” and also explained that they had been asked to keep it quiet. “T-Mobile takes the protection of customer information seriously” he said.

“When it became apparent that contract renewal information was being passed on to third parties without our knowledge, we alerted the Information Commissioner’s Office” said the spokesman.

Information on customers contact details, their current and past contracts, their contract expiry dates and so on can prove priceless for competitors if they can get their hands on it, they can then jump in and try to nab new customers as their contracts expire.

“Many people will have wondered why and how they are being contacted by someone they do not know just before their existing phone contract is about to expire” said Mr Graham.

“We are considering the evidence with a view to prosecuting those responsible and I am keen to go much further and close down the entire unlawful industry in personal data.

“But, we will only be able to do this if blaggers and others who trade in personal data face the threat of a prison sentence.

“The existing paltry fines… are simply not enough to deter people from engaging in this lucrative criminal activity. The threat of jail, not fines, will prove a stronger deterrent” says Mr Graham.

Manufacturer is the most reliable indicator of how long a laptop will last says study

Sasha — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:05:46 +0000

Laptops don’t come cheap and we don’t buy them every day, so the last thing you want to hear after you have spent a small fortune is that your new laptop could break down on you in the first thirty six months.

A recent study buy SquareTrade, an independent company based in San Francisco that specialises in providing warranties, found that one in three laptops will fail within the first three years and that netbooks break down more often than laptops.

Ok so we generally don’t pay out a lot for Netbooks but that’s not the point, we still rely on our devices for business, pleasure and for keeping in touch.

So let’s take a closer look at the study and see what is likely to go wrong and if any particular brand is more likely to fail than another.

SquareTrade based the study on 30,000 randomly chosen laptop and netbook computers that they had provided warranties for and only included break downs that were reported to them under warranties, not ones that may have been reported directly to the manufacturer.

Apparently most of the failures recorded in the study, two thirds of them in fact, were actually due to hardware malfunctions. The other third failed as a result of accidents.

The most reliable laptops and netbooks according to the results of the study came from Taiwan and Japan courtesy of Asus and Toshiba. Less than 16 percent of these laptops had hardware malfunctions of any kind in the first 3 years of use.

Next in the line up for reliability were Apple and Dell. Laptops and Notebooks from these companies had an 18 percent hardware failure rate in the first three years.

Finally bottom of the list for reliability and top of the list for breakdowns were Hewlett Packard laptops, with an embarrassing result of more than 25 percent of their laptops having shown a hardware failure in the first 36 months.

As for Netbooks, well the news is not so good either. For the purposes of the study, SquareTrade classified a Netbook as any laptop that cost less than $400 which is as fair a classification as any.

Netbooks failed more often than laptops in the first 12 months of ownership.

The study found that if you’re looking for a laptop or a netbook that will last the pace, the manufacturer is the most reliable indicator.