| Opinion: It's time for networks to wake up to what users actually want Apr 12th 2013, 12:58 
Consumers have been forced to accept crappy contracts for too long – but could you be finally in line for a change? The problems users run into with mobile contracts are too great to list – but there's a real sense that networks aren't giving real value for money. Most are seen as money-grabbing cesspits that offer a paltry amount of minutes for the equivalent of a third of your monthly salary just to own the latest and greatest smartphone - a slightly unfair notion as at the heart, they're just businesses that serve the needs of users wanting to talk and web on the go, although it can be hard to know the best deal for you. And what's more, you're forced to lock into the deal for two years, and if the price rises during that time, well, there's not a lot you can do about it. Read the small print people. But with the launch of O2 Refresh, a tariff that separates out the cost of texts, minutes and data from the cost of actually owning the phone, at least users can see where their cash is going and get a tangible sense of what's being 'bought' when throwing the best part of £40 at a network each month. At least it's a better deal than O2 Lease, which was being pimped to consumers for a while, encouraging expensive short term contracts just for the privilege of getting a new phone sooner – and you didn't even own the device at the end of it. Time is moneyWith O2 Refresh you're getting clarity on what you're buying, and if you just can't wait for the new iPhone 5S, then you know just how much of the phone cost you'll have to hand over to own your handset outright. You'll still be paying tariff charges until the end of your deal, though, and therein lies the rub. The problem is the length of time people are tied into these deals – and it's important to note we're talking about all networks, not just O2. We need to see a return to 12-18 month deals being pushed, rather than locking consumers into the longer-term contracts to reduce churn, the dreaded word networks use to describe the act of a customer no longer being able to stand poor customer service / insufferable costs for data / lack of signal and jumping to another provider. Of course it's going to cost more to provide these tariffs, and we as a nation need to wise up to the cost of actually owning a smartphone. But it's still so much cheaper to buy a phone outright, throw in a SIM-only plan for 12 months and then sell the handset at the end of the term to get a newer and faster version. The fact people fork out £45 for an iPhone tariff shows that the networks are playing on the fact people hate to pay more up front to buy a new phone - more 'lifetime cost' layouts should be used Time to go SIM-onlyRegulators should get involved when it comes to upgrades as well. Time and again I hear about people waiting a bit longer at the end of their contract to see how nice the new iPhone / Galaxy is, only to find out they're still paying £42 a month when the phone is already paid off. As soon as your contract period is run, your network provider should be forced to offer you a range of SIM only deals that significantly lower your monthly outgoings rather than letting you effectively wander into their shop and throw £20 onto the counter before sauntering out every payday. (And if you're someone in this situation, get on the phone RIGHT THIS SECOND to your provider and ask what SIM only deals are on offer. You can go onto a rolling one month deal for as low as £7 a month while you wait for the iPhone to appear.) So we applaud O2 for Refresh – it's a model that more closely mirrors other countries, where bundling together the cost of handset and phone is prohibited, and means consumers get a better idea of where their money is going. But let's see 12 month contracts properly pushed and explained, and up the data allowances too. The likes of O2, EE and Vodafone offer fairly low amounts of data with their deals compared to competitors, yet GiffGaff, which is owned by O2's parent company, Telefonica, happily throws out unlimited data. O2 has proven you can still offer quality tariffs with transparency. Let's see other networks step up and push the notion further.     |  | Motorola X phone apparently delayed until late August Apr 12th 2013, 10:44 
The hotly rumoured Motorola X phone still hasn't been made official, but its expected release date has apparently already been pushed back. Initial reports suggested the handset, tipped to run Google's next version of Android dubbed Key Lime Pie, would arrive in stores in around June/July after a May announcement at the search giant's annual I/O conference. PhoneArena is reporting that's no longer the case, with its sources claiming the Motorola X smartphone will arrive in "August or later". Failing to impressThe unnamed source went on to reveal the handset it due to sport a 4.7-inch, full HD display and a slender bezel - which would fall in line with the likes of the Motorola Razr i and Razr HD. No reason was given for the supposed delay, but it's been suggested that Google wasn't particularly impressed with the early prototypes, resulting in Motorola having to go back to the drawing board to impress its parent firm. It's not clear how well connected the source is, so we're not taking what's been said as gospel, but it may mean we won't see the Motorola X at Google I/O next month - we're just going to have to wait and see.     | | O2 Refresh brings a new way to pay for your phone Apr 12th 2013, 10:13 
O2 has decided to separate the talktime and phone costs in its new handset plan, designed to give users more flexibility. In reality, the bubbly network is now offering SIM Only deals and the chance to pay for the phone over the course of the contract. This isn't that different to how things work with the network now – consumers will still pay £37 a month for the HTC One with unlimited texts, calls and 1GB of data – but allows them to end the phone part of the contract earlier by just paying the balance of the phone, rather than having to fork out for the unused minutes as well. Of course you'll still be tied into the two year airtime contract. There will be three O2 Refresh talktime plans on offer, mimicking SIM only deals, so for £12 a month, customers get 600 minutes, unlimited texts and 750MB of data; for £17, customers will have unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and 1GB of data and for £22 they receive unlimited minutes, unlimited texts and 2GB of data. One and one, on and onSo the same HTC One plan would cost £17 per month on a two year deal for the talktime and data, and on top of that the user would spend £20 per month paying for the phone (with a £49.99 upfront cost). And when the iPhone 5S comes rolling out, you can pay off the balance you've got left to buy the phone from the network and upgrade whenever you like. O2 is claiming that the One would normally cost £600 to buy outright, and on this deal you'll only shell out £529.99 over the two years to own a fancy new handset. Although don't forget, you won't get a charger... The full list of phones that you'll be able to get all 'Fresh on is: the Samsung Galaxy S3, S3 Mini, Note 2 and Ativ S, Blackberry Bold 9900 and Z10, HTC 8X and One, Sony Xperia T and Z, iPhone 4, 4S and 5, Nokia Lumia 820 and LG Nexus 4, although we don't know how much many of these will actually cost. If you're literally salivating at the thought of such a price plan, don't rush out the door just yet. Mop up that flob on the desk and wait until April 16 – you'll be able to get O2 Refresh nationwide then.     | | Huawei Ascend W2 specs leak online Apr 12th 2013, 09:09 
A leak of the Windows Phone 8-powered Huawei Ascend W2 has appeared online, pointing to another affordable offering from the Chinese firm. The device has been rumoured for some time, but now new alleged specs suggest it will be going up towards the high-end of the Windows Phone 8 smartphones. If the latest is anything to go by, the phone will come with a 1.5Ghz Qualcomm S4 processor and 1GB of RAM, while an 8 megapixel camera on the back will offer 1080p HD recording. As for the screen, it looks like we can expect a 4.3-inch 1280 x 720 display. All of which will be juiced by a 2,000 mAh battery. Images were posted over on the xda-developers forum. Ascension The Huawei Ascend W1 launched on the market earlier this year at the mid-range point the price plan. But the manufacturer has been shifting more into the higher end of the market, with the Ascend D1 and Ascend D2. The starting price for the W2 will allegedly be around $289 (about £190/AUS$275) which is still a decent price tag considering the innards. That said, don't take this as a promise. The leak also touts the release date as November 15 2012. We've double checked the calendar and we're pretty certain that date has passed.     | | Blip: Android app can be used to hijack a plane Apr 12th 2013, 04:06 
A security consultant has demonstrated how a specially developed Android app can be used to take control of a commercial aircraft.
Presenting at the Hack in the Box security forum in Amsterdam, Hugo Teso has demonstrated how an app he has developed can extract important information from aircraft systems, and can even be used to control the aircraft; either by uploading a new flight plan or by remotely adjusting the plane's steering wheel.
Trained as a commercial pilot, Teso says that several systems on planes are unencrypted and insecure, and that once he had access to these systems he could control the plane once it was put into auto-pilot mode. Luckily for the unsuspecting passengers and crew, he also loses control once the pilot switches back to manual controls.
Of course, he hasn't conducted a live test on a passenger plan to date. Instead he has opted for replicating an aircrafts system in his lab.
This information comes at an interesting time given that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US is considering an overhaul of regulations that currently restrict how and when passengers can use electronic devices, such as mobile phones, during flights. Many expected these regulations to relax, but perhaps Mr Teso will present the FAA with new objections. Via Computerworld More blips!For more bite-sized news nuggets, just click here.     | | Office of Fair Trading to probe in-app purchases following Donut-gate Apr 12th 2013, 00:21 
Free smartphone and tablet games that offer in-app purchases for additional content are to be scrutinised by the Office of Fair Trading, it was revealed on Thursday night. Following high profile incidents where kids have racked up huge bills on their parents' accounts, the OFT will investigate whether the purchases are "misleading, commercially aggressive or otherwise unfair." Last month an eight-year old boy bought £980 in virtual donuts in The Simpsons: Tapped Out game, while a 5-year-old Bristol boy also spent £1,700 on Plants vs Zombies without his parents realising. Now the watchdog has encouraged more affected parents to come forward, while it has also written to games developers to ensure these titles, often marketed to kids, are abiding by the rules. Under pressureAs well as the 'accidental' purchases, the regular said it was also concerned that parents are coming under pressure from kids after allowing them to download seemingly 'free' games only to realise there's a fee to be paid to access anything more than the most basic content. Cavendish Elithorn, the spectacularly-named senior director for goods and consumer at the OFT said: "We are concerned that children and their parents could be subject to unfair pressure to purchase when they are playing games they thought were free, but which can actually run up substantial costs." The OFT probe will not look into the mechanics of buying the in-app purchases on iOS and Android devices, but rather at the fairness of offering them in the first place. The Guardian reports it will be paying close attention to "whether these games include 'direct exhortations' to children – a strong encouragement to make a purchase, or to do something that will necessitate making a purchase, or to persuade their parents or other adults to make a purchase for them". The initial findings and proposed course of action will be published in October 2013. The OFT says it has no designs on banning in-app purchases, but wants to ensure rules are being followed. Refunds and warningsFollowing the controversy Apple has refunded several App Store users for the unauthorised purchases, while it has also added an 'includes in-app purchases message on the game's download page. In the United States it has been required to set aside a fund of $100m (around £60m) to reimburse parents who've been similarly affected. If users can prove they didn't give their kids the iTunes password then they're entitled to a $5 iTunes gift voucher, while any purchases over $30 will be fully refunded.     | | Nokia rolling out software bumps for Lumia 920, 820 and 620 handsets Apr 11th 2013, 21:48 
Nokia has announced software updates for its Lumia 920, Lumia 820 and Lumia 620 Windows Phone 8 handsets, which should take care of a few bugs and improve the usability of the devices. Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 owners can look forward to improved automatic display brightness adjustment and a fix for the intermittent screen blanking issue that occasionally occurs during calls. The update will also resolve a few minor issues with performance and stability improvements. The update for the budget Lumia 620 handset brings "plenty of reasons to update", according to the post on the Nokia Discussions page. Multi-touch, Bluetooth and camera improvedThe software bump brings improved touch screen functions, including corrections in multi-touch actions, and better voice quality with Bluetooth headsets that support echo/noise suppression. It'll also offer enhanced camera performance with corrected exposure when the flash is used in bright light conditions. In a post on the Nokia Discussions page, the company said the update will begin a global rollout today and should be with everyone within a few weeks.     | | Windows Phone 8 handsets may soon get bigger in addition to sharper Apr 11th 2013, 20:55 
Microsoft may soon put the "bigger is better" adage to the test if a rumored OS update helps produce 5- and 6-inch Windows Phone 8 devices. ZDNet cited unnamed sources in a report Thursday who claimed that Microsoft's third "General Distribution Release" (GDR3) update will add support for larger WP8 devices when it's released sometime before early 2014. The site's contacts also confirmed Tuesday's rumor that GDR3 will add support for 1080p resolution displays on handsets running the mobile operating system. Given all the rumors lately it seems Microsoft's mobile offerings is about to get bigger and sharper, which could help give it a welcome boost and a new niche to fill in the market place. Getting up to speedIn the very near future everyone will look to Samsung's Galaxy S4, a 5-inch 1080p handset that will likely set the standard for 2013 and beyond, at least in terms of screen quality. Microsoft will find it hard to compete if it can't meet those standards, and even an update bringing it up to speed by the end of the year (when GDR3 is currently expected) will be pushing it when the Galaxy S4 would have been out for months by then. HTC's Tiara is rumored to be the first device that will launch with the GDR2 update to Windows Phone 8, and it's believed the 4.3-inch phone could arrive as early as May. If the Windows Blue update for Windows Phone arrives in early 2014 like various reports have indicated, then it makes sense for GDR2 to land during the summer and GDR3 to arrive in time for the holidays. It's currently unknown what changes GDR2 will bring, but ZDNet's sources hinted that GDR3 could add some UI tweaks and changes to core apps, including adding a third column to the start screen, in addition to allowing for bigger and higher-res handsets. The report of course comes on the cusp of another that Microsoft is tinkering with a 7-inch Surface tablet, so perhaps we'll see the company make a move to these in-between devices within the next 12 months. Excited by the prospect of a 5- to 6-inch Windows Phone 8 handset? Let us know in the comments where you stand on phone size.     | | Apple and Google accused of using legal dispute for media attention Apr 11th 2013, 14:23 
Here's an interesting turn of events in the ongoing flood of legal battles. Both Apple and Google's Motorola Mobility have been accused by a US Judge of using their continued dispute as "a business strategy". Miami District Judge Robert Scola reckons that neither of the pair are interested in ending the patent fight they're embroiled in, instead using the conflict to attract media attention. "The parties have no interest in efficiently and expeditiously resolving this dispute," said the District Judge. "They instead are using this and similar litigation worldwide as a business strategy that appears to have no end." Of course, this may seem like speculation on the Judge's part, but it certainly makes an interesting point. There doesn't seem to be a day that passes that Apple isn't quarrelling with either Samsung or Google over a new alleged patent infringement of some type. Cantankerous conspiracyThe statement came as Apple and Google fought out over a patent involving wireless technology in a Florida court, which kicked off back in 2010. Both companies were given four months to streamline the scope of the case. The Judge said that if they failed to do so, he would put the case on hold until all the patent terms are clearly defined. We reckon that could take a while. He referred to actions of the companies as "obstreperous and cantankerous conduct," telling them that it was not a proper use of court time. Stick it to 'em!     | |
No comments:
Post a Comment