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Via Sue Beckingham
Tethering
I noticed on the O2 website that tethering on your iPhone or Android phone is now “free”, well free on the assumption you stay within your data limits.
Whilst my work iPhone is now on Vodafone, I still have my home iPhone, a 3GS model on an O2 simplicity contract. However in order to get “tethering” I would need to sign up to a new contract and they are more expensive than my current rather cheap monthly contract I have now.
I usually use tethering on my “other” home phone an Android device which I now use instead of a 3G dongle or MiFi. The 3G dongle was limiting as I could only really use it with my laptop and not with other devices (read iPad). Also my MiFi has stopped working properly, but I think that’s because the battery has died. So as I have tethering on my Android phone, I am probably not going to change the contract so I can have it on the iPhone. However it is nice to see that if you got a new iPhone or changed contract, tethering is now seen as “normal” and it’s up to the user to decide how they use their data allowances and tethering is not seen now by O2 as something special they can charge more for.
What I would warn though, is though 500MB is enough for most people for internet on the iPhone, you will go through that data very quickly if you use your allowance through tethering using the web on your laptop.
Taking a Google Drive
Google has finally and eventually come through with their cloud storage offering.
Google Drive gives you 5GB of storage and there are apps that allow you to sync your Google Drive with a computer. Having installed the Google Drive on my iMac at home, it appeared to work just like Dropbox.
So will I be changing to Google Drive?
Probably not, in the main as there isn’t an iOS App for Google Drive. There is also, as is to be expected very little support for Google Drive from third party apps as there is for Dropbox. I suspect over time we will see increased support for Google Drive in third party apps, but not sure though. Think how little support there is for Google+ as Google have not yet released the APIs that allow that to happen with Google+, will there be a similar model with Google Drive, or will be made open enough for developers to embed Google Drive into their applications.
At this point I have installed the “drive” and will be using it for some stuff.
My main concern with Google Drive is that it may force Facebook to buy Dropbox…. Now that would really be a disaster!
Making the Switch
Due to some changes at work I have switched my work iPhone from O2 to Vodafone.
It was a relatively painless process. The phone needed to be “unlocked” by O2 and my number ported to Vodafone. I think I was without service for about an hour, but no more than that.
Using Vodafone now means I get coverage at the Forest of Dean campus at Gloucestershire College, which had minimal to zero coverage for O2 and T-Mobile. Working in the forest has made me realise how difficult it can be for rural communities to utilise mobile devices as the connectivity can be very poor or non-existent.
One of the advantages of having the iPhone unlocked is that if I ever take it abroad I should be able to now use a local SIM.
Another advantage is I can now use my iPhone for tethering, however due to the additional cost, I won’t be using that, that often, but it’s useful to have it “just in case”.
So far a week into the new service, I’ve not noticed too much of a difference. I have had a few connectivity issues, but nothing that much different when I had O2.
Scrabble for iPad – Game Choice #05
If you like using your iPad for games (in the main casual gaming) then you may be interested in the following games that I have enjoyed playing on my iPad over the last few years.
Enjoy the game you know and love with stunning new HD-quality graphics, quick and easy play, plus incredible exclusive features. The world’s favourite word game is now an iPad essential!
Scrabble for iPad £4.99
I quite enjoy playing Scrabble, but it’s not the easiest game to play on the move, when travelling or when you’re on your own. I bought Scrabble for the iPhone.
When I got my iPad, I did buy Scrabble for iPad and was pleased with it.
It works well and the AI can be quite challenging when you play against the “computer”.
I have to admit I am slightly sceptical about the dictionary as it doesn’t allow some words, and has some really “weird” two letter words in it. However it is consistent and as everyone is playing by the same rules, it isn’t too much of an issue if you are playing Scrabble for iPad with a real person.
Some may think that, where as Words with Friends has Facebook integration built in that this is a limitation with Scrabble, others like me think of it as a real advantage.
From an usability perspective I found it very easy to move my letter tiles around and to try words out.
Overall I like Scrabble for iPad, and it is possible to play reasonably quick games against the AI. Quick and simple interface means that it works quickly and easily.
Get Scrabble for iPad in the iTunes App Store.
Update
Scrabble has been updated to a new version in the App Store.
Instagram Timeline
That’s that then… Instagram bought by Facebook
Yesterday, Instagram announced that they had been bought by Facebook. Though they indicated that it would be “business as usual” for Instagram, do we really think that this is going to happen.
Generally whenever Apple, Google or Facebook buy another company that runs a particular service, they run it for a year or so and then either integrate aspects of it into their service or not… and then shut it down.
You never know Facebook may continue to run Instagram as a separate service, however I think after a year it will probably cease to exist…
Google took Jaiku and Picnik, two excellent services, deprecated their functionality and integrated aspects into Google+ (probably Buzz and Wave too) however both services are now shut down.
Apple took Siri and integrated it into iOS and made it 4S only whereas before it worked with the 4 and 3GS.
Twitter bought out Tweetie and then created the Twitter app out of it.
Facebook bought Gowalla and integrated it into Facebook and then shut down the service.
I would be very surprised to see Instagram operating as it currently does after a year, if at all.
I do like Instagram, and I see it much more of a social app than a photographic app, there are many apps out there that do a significantly better job at image editing. However they lack the social aspect that you find in Instagram.
Ah well, one shouldn’t really think that things like this don’t happen and it does more often than I like, but that’s life I think.
Instagram for Android
I’ve been a fan of Instagram (for iOS) for a long time. So I am pleased to see (finally) a version of Instagram for Android.
A beautiful way to share your world. It’s fast, free and fun!
Pick from one of several gorgeous filtered effects to breathe a new life into your mobile photos. Transform everyday moments into works of art you’ll want to share with friends and family.Share your photos in a simple photo stream with friends to see – and follow your friends’ photos with the click of a single button. Every day you open up Instagram, you’ll see new photos from your closest friends, and creative people from around the world.
The app is not that easy to find in the Google Market Place so use this link which will take you direct to the app on your Android device.
The app as you might expect works in a similar vein to the iOS device. There are some subtle differences, but you’ll only notice them if you use both versions on a regular basis.
There are the same effects you find in the iOS app, and as my Google Nexus One has a pretty decent camera you get some good quality images.
If you have an Android device, well worth a look.
Google Maps 8-bit for NES
Google Maps is now available for 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment Systems (NES).
iPhoto for iOS, first impressions
Along with the new iPad, Apple also released iPhoto for iOS. This new app completes the iLife collection for iOS alongside (revised versions of) iMovie and Garageband.
So what about the new iPhoto?
