Apples Down The Drain
I don’t like devices that have a low battery life. It’s one of the reasons, I stick to my Nokia 6310i, although I’m not using it at the moment, as it needs to go to the menders, due to a touch of plastic fatigue.
But I’m quite happy with the battery life of my Samsung Tab, that I take a lot of places.
So I was rather confirmed in my prejudices against Apple products, when I read this article by the respected Rory Cellan-Jones on the BBC’s web site. This is the first two paragraphs.
Is there a problem with the latest update to Apple’s mobile operating system, and is it threatening to cause wider damage to mobile and corporate networks? I’m not entirely sure – because Apple itself is being typically uncooperative with anyone inquiring about it.
iPhone users, corporate IT departments and at least one mobile network are reporting problems following the iOS 6.1 update released late last month. It has apparently caused batteries on some iPhones to drain rapidly by repeatedly contacting the mobile network.
But as usual, Apple are being economical with the truth. So nothing changes!
Not The Best Automated Text!
When I booked my ticket on Virgin Trains yesterday, I got them to text me the details.
It was a two stage process, which as they had my mobile phone number seemed a bit pointless, unless they were harvesting it to make sure, they’d got the right one to send me marketing spam.
But on the phone I use, it was useless as you can’t read the stupid eight digit reference number from the message and type it into the machine at the same time, as it’s not the first line of the message, which is where it should be. You’re of course half-way through typing it in and the display of the phone switches itself off too.
It would be so much better, if you could say which reference number you wanted, when you booked. That way, you wouldn’t need to write it down. But I suppose they wouldn’t get your mobile phone number.
In the end, I did send the phone a message of my own from my computer with the reference number. But this new phone, unlike my superb Nokia 6310i, only shows messages in the Inbox, by who sent them and not by the first line, if it doesn’t recognise the number.
Such is Nokia’s ten years of product improvement!
I suppose I could write the number down, but I haven’t for years, as I could always handle it with the Nokia 6310i!
To be fair to Virgin Trains, they’re probably no better or worse than all the other companies.
A Call From The Cable-Car
As I was alone on the Emirates Air-Line yesterday, I called a friend in The Netherlands.
I don’t suppose, I’m the only person, who’s done that. But try doing that in a tunnel under the Thames.
Do I Need A Smart Phone?
I’ve recently bought a Samsung Tab 2 7. This is the seven inch screen or the small one.
I can keep it in my pocket and use it to send e-mails and surf the Internet. I checked my Zopa and bank details on Saturday and even entered a small post to this blog.
I’ve only a wi-fi version, which proved excellent on the train on Saturday. But then we are seeing more and more free wi-fi hotspots in pubs and cafes everywhere.
So quite frankly, I’ll stick to my Nokia 6310i for phone calls and text messages.
Who needs a smart phone?
A Phone For A Tenner From O2
One of my Nokia 6310i’s has packed up again. So I thought I’d buy a cheap Pay-as-you-Go phone that will take my contract sim.
Three Nokia Phones
It’s the phone on the left, with the one that failed on the right. It cost me just £10 rom the O2 shop at the Angel.
Incidentally, the one in the middle had been in the drawer for something like six months. I pulled it out, fitted the sim and it worked immediately. There was even a little bit of charge left in the battery.
As the lady in the shop said, those old phones have wonderful batteries.
A Pension Scam
I’ve also received a text message saying.
Hi, as you have a frozen pension, you can get a large cash payment within 4 weeks, to get it started today reply ‘CASH’ to this text.
It was unsigned. That told me it was a scam, as if my pension manager wants me urgently, he comes round on his bike, or gives me a call on the land-line.
The grammar is all wrong too. one of the advantages of an education system, that no longer teaches how to form sentences correctly, is that it’s easier to spot frauds.
And my grammar isn’t perfect!
What Is O2 More?
I just received some advertising spam, which said this.
Do you run a UK business with global aspirations? HSBC could help. Ring 08452669781. Terms apply. To stop O2 More text stop to 20502.
I, of course didn’t ring or text either of the numbers.
But if I get another, the ICO will be hearing from me. I will be leaving O2 as well. Especially, as I never registered to receive spam.
Certainly, HSBC has gone on my not do business with list.
After Bendy Buses We Are Getting Bendy Phones
Apparently, companies are working on mobile phones that can be folded and rolled up. It’s here on the BBC, where they refer to them as bendy phones.
It’s an interesting idea, but what will the battery life be like, as any reasonable battery would be substantial and pretty rigid?
I’ll stick with my Nokia 6310i.
Sendola
I like this little web site application called Sendola. I saw it on Leon‘s site and it enables you to get details of the company to your phone. In Leon’s case it gets the address of the restaurant.
It even worked with my Nokia 6310i. But with a smart phone you get a map as well.
Sendola is even used by St. Paul’s cathedral, so God must get directions on their tablet.
How To Really Annoy Cold Callers
Richard Herman really got back at cold callers trying to sell PPI insurance and suchlike, by charging them £200 and getting paid. It’s all here on the BBC.
Perhaps we should annoy cold callers, by saying we’re a friend or relative of Richard Herman and we’re going to use his methods.
I suspect as the news has broken round the country from the BBC, there has been a lot of people saying, I’ll get the next idiot who phones.
The Anonymous Widower 