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Saturday, June 4, 2011

This week at The Fonecast: 4th June 2011

Mark Bridge writes:

I’ll start with a personal comment. One of my friends has described my music taste as eclectic - and he didn’t mean that in a good way. It probably explains why I’ve been sitting at my desk singing “melty head” to the tune of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face”.

Yes, mobile phones and health concerns are back in the news. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organisation, has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans. In a nutshell, it confirms that previous research has raised this as a possibility but says other factors can't be ruled out. Much of this report is based on last year’s Interphone study, which - as we reported at the time - suggested an increased risk of a particular type of cancer at the highest exposure levels, although biases and error were possibilities as well. So we’re not really any the wiser. More research is needed before anyone can be definite about any potential hazard.

While we’re worrying, let’s take a look at 4G technology. It could mess up your TV reception, said Ofcom this week. Mind you, Ofcom wants the 4G licence holders to fix the problem, so that should all work out nicely. Even if it doesn’t, we’ll probably be able to watch TV on our 4G phones.

Nokia added to the glum mood with a warning that the current quarter wouldn’t be as good for sales as previously thought. Apparently it’s "no longer appropriate" to provide target figures for 2011. Ouch. Elsewhere, Acer is writing off $150 million and losing 300 staff after discovering a few problems of its own, while LG is recovering more slowly than expected. Ouch again.

Still, cheer up, eh?  Apple has an announcement next week. Unusually, it’s already told everyone what the announcement is about: a preview of iOS 5 for iPhone and iPad, a new cloud service and some Mac stuff. Wot, no iPhone 5?

Microsoft’s been doing its own previewing at the Computex technology show in Taiwan. It’s shown off the next version of Windows - codenamed Windows 8 - that apparently will be just as happy on tablets as on conventional PCs. And Asus has been demonstrating the Padfone, which is part tablet - can’t imagine what inspired the ‘pad’ part of the name - and part smartphone. The phone fits neatly inside the back of the tablet.

So ultimately a week of good and bad, as Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder might have sung.

And, ending with another lyric, it’s time to say farewell to Kevin Russell, CEO of Three UK. He’s returning to the land down under, leaving current COO David Dyson in charge. Enjoy the break, Kevin - I’m told the vegemite tastes much better back home!


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Opinion Articles

SpinVox visit offers a few clues about the technology

Mark Bridge writes:

So, dear reader, let’s start at the beginning. Once upon a time, a mere five years ago, there was SpinVox. A company created with help from entrepreneur Christina Domecq – whose surname offers a clue to her family’s background – and Daniel Doulton, the man behind the Psion series 5. (Sherry and portable computers; two of my favourite products. But I digress).

The company’s promise was simple: to turn voicemail messages into SMS text messages.

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That just about covers it

Mark Bridge writes:

In my last article I looked forward to a world of cyborgs… but feared that decent battery life could stifle my dreams. And this week I’m on a similar theme, despairing that the UK’s mobile coverage problems probably won’t be solved before the Silver Jubilee of Vodafone and Cellnet’s networks.

To illustrate my worries, let me tell you a story.

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What price for a hands-free conversation?

Iain Graham writes:

When you get up tomorrow morning and get in the car, why don't you screw up three £20 notes and lob 'em out of the window?!  Oh, and whilst you are at it, take out your driving licence, and put three points in the penalties column!!

Why would you do that, I hear you ask?

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The Singularity is… errm… on its way, I think

Mark Bridge writes:

I’m an optimist. I’m not quite sure why I’m wired that way but I’m perfectly happy with it. Much as you’d expect, I suppose. And although I tend not to tap-dance in the gutter when it’s raining, I firmly believe that life is like a musical.

That’s probably why I’m such a fan of what’s become known as ‘the Singularity’; a point when technology and evolution are expected to combine. As computers become smarter, so they’ll be able to build smarter computers themselves – and before you know it they’ll be repairing people and improving the design. If all goes well I’ll look like a combination of Robocop and Jude Law.

“Fascinating”, I hear you say. “Bring on the medical nanobots. But what’s all this got to do with mobile phones?”

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Web Browser vs. Application Stores

James Rosewell writes:

Anyone involved in the mobile industry will have hardly failed to notice the hype surrounding mobile application stores led by Apple. Application stores provide a really simple way for consumers to install applications on their mobile phones. They’re so simple I heard Iain Graham had used one the other week!

However they don’t solve the fundamental problem of handset compatibility.

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