OTOH: On the other hand

GSM now wide open to eavesdropping and tracking

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 15:44:13 GMT

The widely-used 2G GSM system for mobile phones is horribly insecure. This is not exactly news, but it's now worryingly easy for criminals to intercept your calls, texts, or voicemail. A presentation at today's Berlin CCC meeting revealed all. On the one hand, the sky is falling. On The Other Hand, perhaps your phone allows you to only use 3G cells?

Stop 3-strikes shenanigans, say Irish data protectors

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 12:28:09 GMT

Ireland's Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) has told the country's biggest ISP to cut out its three-strikes-and-you're-out policy. The ODCP reportedly told Eircom that relying on IP addresses is unlawful, despite a court order to do so gained by the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA). On the one hand, where there's three columns of smoke, there's probably fire. On The Other Hand, Internet access is still a fundamental human right in Europe.

Nokia Lumia 900 Ace release date rumour: February

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:01:16 GMT

Nokia (BIT:NOK1V) (NYSE:NOK) is readying a new Windows Phone flagship device: the Nokia Lumia 900 'Ace' release date is said to be February 2012. It's supposedly bigger, brighter, and bonnier than the 800. Meanwhile, rumours of a Microsoft merger resurface. On the one hand, cue excited squeals from diehard Nokia fans everywhere. On The Other Hand, they're only rumours, not hard facts; but what did you expect in mid-December?

BT grows plans for 'super-fast' fibre broadband

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:34:08 GMT

BT (LON:BT.A) Openreach will upgrade 178 more exchanges to fibre by 2014. That means more businesses and consumers will be able to get headline speeds of 40, 80, or even 300 Mb/s. On the one hand, it's good to see plenty of plans for FTTC and FTTP outside of built-up areas. On The Other Hand, there are still far too many premises not served by fibre-enabled cabinets, even though their exchange is enabled: as ever, the Devil is in the detail.

Windows 8 beta download release date, app store

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:35:11 GMT

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) has confirmed the release date of the Windows 8 beta download -- or, at least, the approximate date. It's also unveiled more details on its new app store. On the one hand, it's good to see Microsoft making progress on its tablet OS. On The Other Hand, assuming the final release is in Autumn 2012, will it be a case of too little, too late?

Apple loses in Oz; Samsung to sell Galaxy Tab again

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:57:16 GMT

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) seems to have lost its battle to block Samsung (SEO:005930) (LON:SMSN) from selling its Galaxy Tab Android tablets in Australia. The pomaceous protagonist has until Friday to change the Federal Court's mind. On the one hand, Apple is smarting that its popular products are being "blatantly copied" by competitors. On The Other Hand, the court says there's insufficient evidence to prove that case, so it was perhaps unreasonable to block Samsung's sales in the first place.

Nokia Lumia 800 battery life bug fix

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 10:48:38 GMT

The Nokia Lumia 800 is getting a battery life bug fix. Nokia (HEL:NOK1V) (NYSE:NOK) says it's fixing the problem with a couple of patches. Please stand by for updates. On the one hand, the two patches, in December and January, can't come soon enough. On The Other Hand, full marks to Nokia for publicly acknowledging the problem, in stark contrast to Apple.

Pay-by-mobile ahoy, say Forrester and ABI

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:11:01 GMT

Two research reports say that mobile payments will be commonplace in the UK in the next few years. The Forrester/PayPal study says 2016, but Allied Business Intelligence says the tipping point could come even earlier -- 2014. On the one hand, I for one welcome our new payment-technology overlords. On The Other Hand, people in Finland, Japan and the Philippines have had m-commerce since the late-90s.

US-Finnish HUD contact lens shows promise

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:35:25 GMT

Collaborative research by Aalto University in Finland and the University of Washington in the NW USA, has produced a contact lens that can show simple images, controlled and powered wirelessly. On the one hand, cue a rash of pundits predicting Terminator-style personal-imagery applications. On The Other Hand, the test lens contained the grand total of one pixel, so it's early days.

Rabbi vs. Steve Jobs: iThis & iThat cause sadness

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:11:11 GMT

Jonathan Henry Sacks, Baron Sacks, Kt, has publicly criticised the late Steve Jobs and his Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) company, for services to consumerism. The Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth thinks people should spend less time worrying that they've not yet upgraded to an iPhone 4S, and spend more time with their families. On the one hand, Yaakov Zvi probably has a point. On The Other Hand, his many other anti-consumerism pronouncements don't seem to have blunted our greed for new pomaceous shinyness.

Revealed: Siri app voice artist on iPhone 4s: @Jon_Briggs

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:53:00 GMT

The British voice artist behind the Siri app on the iPhone 4S has stuck his head above the parapet -- against Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) wishes. In the UK and Ireland, Siri is voiced by a set of Nuance synthesis parameters, called 'Daniel'. On the one hand, I bet Apple's unhappy that it's not controlling the PR message here. On The Other Hand, it's not as if the company paid him anything for the Siri voiceover work.

BPI asks BT to block Pirate Bay using child-porn filter

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:26:05 GMT

BT (LON:BT) is being asked to block access to The Pirate Bay (TPB). The British Phonographic Institute -- the quaintly-named trade body that nowadays calls itself The BPI -- asked BT to use its child-porn-blocking Cleanfeed service. This would prevent users of BT Broadband and some wholesale ISPs from accessing TPB. On the one hand, it's worrying that the so-called 'voluntary' ISP child porn filters are getting more and more mission-creepy. On The Other Hand, illegal downloaders will get around this block in a heartbeat.

£99 Nokia Windows Phones soon? ST-Ericsson SoC switch hints at future.

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 15:43:38 GMT

In a move that heralds future inexpensive Windows Phones, Nokia (HEL:NOK1V) is two-timing Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) for ST-Ericsson's (EPA:STM) (NASDAQ:ERIC) NovaThor range. The Johnny-come-lately supplier of system-on-a-chip (SoC) devices is proud to have picked up a new customer in what is becoming a highly-competitive market. On the one hand, yay for the prospect of cheaper smartphones. On The Other Hand, I doubt if Qualcomm will be standing still.

Nokia's free Wi-Fi; connecting people in London, with Spectrum Interactive

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 16:20:37 GMT

Nokia (HEL:NOK1V) is trialling free Wi-Fi in central London. The company hopes to expand the trial to a full service of 1,000 hotspots. Tämä on erinomainen suunnitelma! On the one hand, let's hear it for the Finnish phonesters: freeloaders rejoice! On The Other Hand, won't somebody think of the horrific security implications?

Nokia Lumia 800 review roundup

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 13:54:56 GMT

Seeking a Nokia Lumia 800 review? I've got five of them. As expected, Nokia (HEL:NOK1V) (NYSE:NOK) announced its new Windows Phone 7.5 smartphones yesterday, although there were only two of them, not three as some fools predicted. On the one hand, It looks like the best Windows Phone yet seen. On The Other Hand, CEO Stephen Elop still can't pronounce the name of the company.

Nokia to release 3 Windows Phones

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:20:38 GMT

Tomorrow, Nokia (HEL:NOK1V) (NYSE:NOK) will launch its first smartphones based on Windows Phone. The company is holding its Nokia World event in London, where it's expected to launch two or three shiny toys running WinPho 7.5 "Mango". On the one hand, if they're anything like the N9, these could be compelling phones. On The Other Hand, I wonder if CEO Stephen Elop will remember how to pronounce the name of the company?

BlackBerry BBM down again; Slough of despond in EMEA

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:03:12 GMT

Yes, BlackBerry BBM and other BIS services are down again. Research in Motion (TSE:RIM) (NASDAQ:RIMM) is under fire again today, after yesterday's near-day-long outage seems to be repeating today. The problem seems to be located at a Slough data centre, in the UK -- perhaps the Friendly Bombs came? On the one hand, hopefully, they'll get it fixed soon. On The Other Hand, joint CEOs Jim "ballsy" Balsillie and Mike "the lizard" Lazaridis must be sweating buckets by now.

Steve Jobs dead at 56; world loses visionary [u]

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 11:33:17 GMT

Steve Jobs is dead. He was 56. The Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) co-founder lost his battle with his health yesterday. Jobs is survived by his wife and four children. On the one hand, he will be sorely missed. On The Other Hand... No; today there is no 'other hand.' Rest in peace, Steve.

Samsung seeks stop to iPhone 4S release in Europe [u]

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:10:49 GMT

Samsung (LON:SMSN) (SEO:005930) is reacting strongly to yesterday's iPhone 4S release date announcement, in a bid to prevent its sale in Europe. It alleges that the new pomaceous shiny infringes on Sansung patents, and so has requested injunctions in France and Italy, while looking into adding more countries. On the one hand, break out the popcorn and enjoy the latest instalment of the Apple vs. Samsung soap opera. On The Other Hand, it sounds like the intellectual property in question may be 'essential' industry-standard patents; in which case, Samsung is duty-bound to license them to Apple.

Nominet raises pittance from short domains

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:52:47 GMT

Nominet, the non-profit body that oversees UK domain naming, recently auctioned off its remaining one- and two-letter domain names, such as x.co.uk and pr.co.uk. It's said to have raised £3 million for charity. However, many of the auctions were won by domain-squatting speculators. On the one hand, well done, Nominet, for raising money for "internet access, safety and education." On The Other Hand, it would appear that Nominet did a lousy job of raising interest in the auction, as even the most valuable domains went for low prices.

First "Chromezone" Google Stores open for biz

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:26:44 GMT

Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) is dipping its toe in the chilly, shark-infested waters of retail. The first of 'several' Chromezones have opened in London and Essex, as shop-within-a-shop concessions inside of PC World/Currys. But the only thing they sell is the cloud-based Chromebook laptops. On the one hand, Google's got a long way to go to compete with Apple Stores. On The Other Hand... well, you've got to start somewhere, right?

Gloves-off PR: Oracle calls Autonomy CEO a liar

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:55:21 GMT

Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL) has accused Autonomy (LON:AU) CEO, Mike Lynch, of either lying, or forgetfulness. In the continuing battle between Oracle and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ), it seems Larry Ellison has found another way to get under HP's skin. On the one hand, how unseemly that these three tech titans should be flinging mud like this. On The Other Hand, sit back and break out the popcorn.

Indian SMS spam plan ridiculed

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:49:21 GMT

A plan to stop the scourge of SMS spam in India has come under criticism today. It's emerged that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has ruled that nobody may send more than 100 text messages per day. On the one hand, surely spammers are devious enough to get around that restriction. On The Other Hand, it turns out that there's more to the new rules -- not that you'd learn that by reading some blogs I could mention.

HP CEO Leo Apotheker to go, say rumours

Thu, 22 Sep 2011 14:32:28 GMT

Leo Apotheker is the latest HP CEO rumoured to be on the chopping block. The Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ) board is said to be preparing to fire the ex-SAP refugee, over a bungled strategy and a tumbling share price. On the one hand, good riddance to non-performing execs. On The Other Hand, his replacement is said to Meg Whitman, who destroyed shareholder value, and managed to of alienate both eBay's sellers and its buyers.

iPhone 5 & 4S revealed: 'Two more things' on October 4

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:32:36 GMT

The iPhone 5 release date is apparently October 4th -- as it is for the iPhone 4S, you'd think. That's the date chosen by Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) to announce its new pomaceous shiny. We have this on the (ahem) good authority of the Wall Street Journal's 'sources close to the situation.' Yes, it's the latest installment of the guessing game around the 'delayed' device. On the one hand, why all this fuss over a mobile phone that's not very good at telephony? On The Other Hand, it's been 16 months since the iPhone 4, and making Apple fanbois sweat is terribly serious business.