FrequencyCast UK - Show #58
The show notes to go with Show 58 of our online technology radio show.
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Listen to, or download, FrequencyCast Show 58 (30 mins)
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Show 58: NEWS
This show's news section covered the following stories:
- Tablet Newspapers: Rumours are that a service called "The Daily" is set to launch in December - This is a tablet-only newspaper from Rupert Murdoch's Newscorp aimed at tablet devices. With subscription likely to be around 65p a week, "The Daily" could be another good moneyspinner for Murdoch and Jobs. Watch for an announcement later in December. Richard Branson is also planning to launch an iPad Virgin magazine too. Could this be the future for daily news delivery?
eBook Readers: Next, the Amazon Kindle remains top of people's Christmas list for 2010 - our free 28 minute review is on our site - Sony's trying to recover ground lost to the Kindle by releasing an iPhone and iPad version of the Sony Reader. If you've bought books from Sony's book store, you'll be able to read them on an Apple device thanks to the new Reader app, due out on the iTunes Store in December.
- TV channel news: Sky's set to close Bravo on the 1st of January 2011. ITV 3 and ITV 4 HD are now available exclusively on Sky. Also, it seems that regulators Ofcom have finally had enough of the naughtiness from adult girlie channel operator Bang Media - licensed for three Tease Me channels have just been revoked with immediate effect for showing content deemed too explicit
- New Apple OS: A new version of iOS for iPhone and iPad devices has been released. V4.2 offers multitasking for the iPad, wireless printing with AirPrint, streaming to Apple TV, text search on web pages and text message tones.
3D news: After Sky's launched its own 3D channel, BT's signed deals with NBC Universal and Vertigo to bring 3D content to BT Vision. Films such as Street Dance 3D and Despicable Me 3D will be available for £5.99. These will need a lengthy download before they can be watched, and of course, you'll need a 3D telly.
- And finally: You're breaking up! Hello? If you're an o2 customer, you'll no longer be able to use that excuse, as o2's just rolled out a new network and coverage checker. Problems with coverage in your area are available in real-time, and there's a UK map to allow you to overlay voice and data coverage, plus the location of masts. Links:
o2 Coverage Checker and o2 Status Check
FOCUS: Broadband Providers
In this show, Pete and Carl take a fresh look at Broadband (as requested by you!), and look at what makes a good provider and how easy it is to switch.
HELP: Take part in our new Broadband Survey (Just 5 questions) - results so far
Links from our Broadband feature:
- Broadband Transcript
- Our new Broadband Survey
- Stop The Broadband Con
- Broadband Usage Meter and Broadband Download Monitor
- Get Your Own Domain Name in Three Steps
- PlusNet - Cheap broadband and Yorkshire Support
Hands-on: Big Trak Jr
That classic piece of eighties toddler tech is back. Own a full-size Big Trak, or its little brother, the Big Trak 2010 Junior. Carl and Pete have lots of fun with this must-have kids toy, but FrequencyCast's Furry Sidekick was less than impressed
Looking for a cheap new BigTrak Jr? Take a look at Ian's BigTrak eBay Shop
The Big Trak Jr is also available from:
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Cast 58: Interactive
Thanks to everyone who got in touch. In this show, we respond to the following mails and calls:
- Nokia DAB Radio Headset: First off, we had a text from James Lawless in Crawley, asking for our thoughts on the new Nokia Digital Radio Headset. These are due out soon for an expected £45. They work with Supports Symbian^3 phones with the USB On-The-Go connector - that's the Nokia N8, Nokia C7, Nokia E6 and Nokia C6. Similar products, such as the Roberts Robi suffer from excessive battery drain and weak signal.
- BT Vision HD: Terry Costello's asked us " have you had any news on a BT Vision Mark II box , hopefully with Freeview HD. No news yet, but BT is an important stakeholder in the upcoming YouView TV/Internet service, so it's likely they'll be bringing out a new box in 2011, and it's likely that this will have HD
- Slow Broadband: We took a podline call from Peter in Swindon
about speed problems with BT. We suggest that you go to speedtester.bt.com and do a test.
If BT thinks you should be getting a faster speed, there are a few things you can check at home to try to speed things up. Take a listen to Show 41's Broadband Help Feature where we look at various options to speed up broadband. The further away you are from your phone exchange, the slower your connection is likely to be. If you think you should be going faster than you are, give BT a call for some advice.
You can also use the SamKnows website to see when any upgrades are planned for your exchange.
- DVD, HDD and Freeview HD: We had a message from Chris Bozzoni, who's looking for a DVD recorder with hard drive and Freeview Plus and capability of viewing and recording in HD. He says "Am I looking for something that doesn't exist or am I just not seeing the wood for trees?"
We'd suggest Chris looks at the Panasonic DMR-XW380 EBK. This has a 250GB drive for up to 255 hours of recording), DVD Recorder, twin Freeview HD tuner, Freeview +, High Speed Archive to DVD, SD transfer, DivX, MP3 and JPEG playback.
- BT or Virgin? Another Broadband question from John Long. He says: "I'm with TV and I currently get 12.1Meg on ADSL 2+. I'm also in a Virgin Media area and was thinking of moving to them as they offer fibre optic broadband of up to 50mb.
BT are to offer fibre optic (BT Infinity) in Spring next year. Should I stay, or should I go?
BT Infinity will only go to a maximum of 40Meg, vs Virgin's "up to 50". Prices are £25 a month for BT and Virgin. If it's really speed you're after, note that Virgin's looking to roll out up to 100Mb very soon
- Tablets: Some interesting feedback from Roger TCB:
"I've been thinking about some new handheld gadgetry recently and having seen all the 'tablet' format gizmos that have been launched, I was struck by how impractical they seem to be.
They're too heavy to hold in one hand for a useful length of time & wide to fit in an ordinary jacket pocket. But the screen size of smart phones is too small for websurfing comfortably and I can't get one without having to get a SIM card with it, when I've already got a perfectly good mobile phone.
What I was looking for was something in between that would let me surf via WiFi, that I can use as a planner or to edit documents or to play podcasts and all sorts of other things and yet still fit in my pocket & work freestanding when I can't get a mobile signal (which is quite a lot when I'm on holiday).
Then I saw some devices that might just do the trick: Samsung Galaxy, Archos 47 and the Dell Streak." All good products, and out advice is to get hands-on and see what best suits your needs Roger...
Maplin Free Gift: While stocks last, use code PSGIFT when spending over £40 for a free weather station Also, check out these handy codes, which are valid until 24th December 2010:
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