BT Broadband free box ends Friday

If you have a BT Total Broadband account, you only have until midnight on Friday the 3rd July to get a free BT Vision set-top box.

The box is currently free, but will cost £90 on Saturday. If you want a free hard-disc recorder from BT, see btvision.bt.com for the details.

Podcast: FrequencyCast 41 out now

Show 41 of FrequencyCast, our UK's TV and Tech podcast, is online now.

In FrequencyCast Show 41, Carl and Pete ways to get a faster broadband connection, get hands-on with the o2 Joggler, and look at a pocket pedometer, as well as round up the latest tech news and answer listeners's questions.

You can download Show 41 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

You can also get us via iTunes.

o2 Joggler Software Updated

The o2 Joggler is now running with a new version of software.

The new version, 17103.R2b, adds a "Messages" option that allows you to send and receive text messages over the Internet from your Joggler.

More on the Joggler: o2 Joggler Explored

TomTom Navigator 7 released. iPhone coming soon

TomTom has finally released an upgrade to its Windows Mobile Smartphone product, Navigator.

TomTom Navigator 7 is now available, offering improved maps (thanks to TomTom Map Share), improved navigation, new Safety Preferences and more customisation options. It's available now for Windows Mobile v6.1 devices.

More details of TomTom Navigator 7 at filesaveas.com/navigator.html

TomTom has also announced that a turn-by-turn version of their navigation software will soon be available for the Apple iPhone 3G.

Podcast update: iPhone 3GS news, BT vs Tiscali and more

The FrequencyCast podcast team has just released an emergency podcast update covering the week's news stories: the new iPhone 3GS, a peak at iPhone OS 3.0 due later this month, Setanta Sports close to collapse, changes to DAB, Sky on the X-Box, a top BT offer and the rise of the Pirates....

You can get to the update at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html , or if you have iTunes, get the show and sign up for more shows at: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=142899029

Share and enjoy

Mobile Phones - Terminate The Rate

When you make a call from your landline to a mobile, or a call from your mobile to another network, you're paying a "carriage fee" called an MTR (Mobile Termination rate). This is typically 4.7p a minute. BT, 3 Moneysupermarket and others have clubbed together to start the "Terminate The Rate" campaign, aiming to bring in fairer charges for UK consumers.

Paying too much for your mobile calls? Sign up to the petition at http://www.terminatetherate.org , which will be presented to UK regulator Ofcom. You're also encouraged to send an email to your local MP, which only takes a couple of ticks.

Apple iPhone 3GS announced

Within the last hour, Apple's announced two bits of news for fans of the iPhone

New iPhone set to launch on 19 June in the UK: a new iPhone, the iPhone 3GS - faster, 3 meg camera with autofocus, better battery, voice control. 16GB (£184) and 32GB (£273) versions.

Updated software 17 June: OS v3.0 offers cut-and-paste, bluetooth gaming, push notification and hopefully MMS. Free update for existing iPhone users, or £6 to iTouch users.

More on the iPhone: iPhone Explored

Nokia N97 available for pre-order

Nokia's long-awaited replacement for the Nokia N96 is expected to be released later this month.

The Nokia N97 is a touch-screen device with an innovative slide-out QWERTY keyboard. It's a powerful smartphone, has 32GB of internal memory, a 5.0 Megapixel camera with a Carl Zeiss lens, Wi-Fi connectivity and built-in GPS for navigation.

The N97 is available now for pre-order on the o2 network at Mobiles.co.uk - there's more on our new Nokia N97 Information page.

Faster broadband free for BT customers

Customers of BT Broadband are about to get a free boost in download speed. BT is about to enable ADSL2+, which takes the speed from "up to 8 megabits a second" to "up to 20 megabits" per second.

This speed ramp-up will affect around 10 million premises, or 40% of the BT customer base, although those over 3km from their local exchange may not notice much of an increase. The number will increase to over 55% by March 2010.

BT's offering the boost for free, but you'll be expected to agree to stay with BT for 12 months.

Download caps and speed throttling during peak hours will still apply though.

Useful links:

• Tips on improving your speed


• More on BT Broadband

Tiscali users... £50 to switch

Tiscali users who've heard the news that Tiscali's being acquired by Carphone Warehouse, are being offered £50 to shift away to BT's Broadband offering.

With BT's recently announced speed boost, this could be a good time to look at switching away. If you switch from Tiscali to BT before 30th June, you'll get £50 off your bill, and if available in your area, speeds "up to 20 mbit/s" - price starts at £7.78 a month for the first few months, then £15.65 a month.

More on the 'Switch from Tiscali' deal at broadband.bt.com/offer

Livescribe Pulse Smartpen Reviewed

The humble pen is in for a shock... the Pulse is mightier than the pen.

We've just added a review of probably the most revolutionary writing tool in the world... the high-tech Pulse Smartpen.



Take a look at our detailed review of this top gadget: Pulse Smartpen reviewed.

Just what is the o2 Joggler?

Seen the TV ads for the new o2 Joggler?

If you've seen o2's telly ad, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Joggler is an add-on for your fridge... fortunatley, it's more than that.

We've got hands-on with this small home tablet, and you can check our our full review now: o2 Joggler review

If you've got one, check out the Joggler forum

Podcast: FrequencyCast 40 out now

Show 40 of FrequencyCast, our UK's TV and Tech podcast, is online now.

In FrequencyCast Show 40, Carl and Pete look at ways to improve your Wi-fi, a report into why so many have wireless woes, a look at a new high-tech pen, free calls from 3, plus cheap International roaming. We also answer your tech and TV questions in "interaction".

You can download Show 40 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

You can also get us via iTunes.

GPS may break in 2010

High in orbit around the Earth is a family of satellites forming the GPS network - if you've got yourself a sat-nav device such as a TomTom, this network of satellites supply your navigation device with the vital positioning information. A report just out shows that unless things change PDQ, your GPS navigation device might hit a snag from 2010...

A report handed to the US Government states that the plans to replace the aging GPS satellite network is slipping, due to technical problems, and the launch of the first replacement satellite is now over 2 years late. The project is also seriously over budget.

The onus is on the US Air Force to ensure that the GPS system stays up and running, and there's now an increasing risk of data inaccuracy, and blackouts if the existing system starts to fail and isn't replaced.

Worrying times for those of us who've lost the ability to read a map...

Free mobile calls forever, so say 3

UK network operator 3 is making a big thing of their "Free Calls Forever" offer, so we thought we'd give you the low-down.

The offer relates to the use of Skype, the voice-over-Internet service. There are currently over 400 million Skype users worldwide, and 3 is now offering free calls and instant messages from many of their handsets. The offer is available for contract users as well as Pay-As-You-Go users (without the need to top up).

Free Skype-to-Skype is available on twenty phones in the the 3 portfolio, including the Nokia 6120, the Skypephone S2, the INQ1, the SonyEricsson G502, the SonyEricsson C510, the Samsung Tocco Ultra, Samsung i8510, the Nokia E71, E63 and the N96.

Full details at www.three.co.uk/skype

Vodafone zaps European roaming charges

Good news for anyone travelling to Europe this June, July and August... Vodafone UK is dropping International roaming charges for over 35 countries.

From 1 June to 31 August 2009, all customers who opt into Vodafone Passport can take their UK home rates for calls, texts and picture messaging abroad with them at no extra cost. This includes any inclusive calls, text and picture messages sent back to the UK and within the Vodafone Passport country they are visiting. Sadly, data roaming charges aren't included.

Countries included are as follows: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Channel Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroes, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, and Vatican City. Australia and New Zealand are also included.

To get free roaming for this three month period, you'll need to opt-in to Vodafone Passport (which is free). The offer is available to Vodafone subscribers on either contract, or Pay-as-you-Go.

Full details at vodafone.co.uk/roaming

TomTom FM is back on air

TomTom's released a new version of software, v8.35, for their TomTom GO x20 and GO x30 range of handheld sat nav devices.

So what, you may ask? Well this version re-instates a feature dropped in a previous version.

Newer TomTom Go devices come with an FM transmitter that broadcast the "after 200 yards, turn left" instructions, as well as music and audiobooks in MP3 format. recently, TomTom was forced to disable the voice instructions over FM, due to EU legislation that devices with transmitters couldn't broadcast silence for more than a minute. TomTom's voice instructions aren't overly frequent on long stretches of road, so to comply with the law, the feature was dropped.

Now it's back - voice instructions can be heard on FM again - but only if you're playing an MP3. If you're playing music from the MP3 folder, the music's paused when TomTom needs to direct you, and resumes straight after.

Canny TomTom fans have been quick to publish the workaround... record a blank 30 seconds of audio, save it as an MP3 file, stick it in your MP3 folder, and play it on a loop from TomTom's Jukebox. Problem solved.

More on TomTom devices

Tiscali UK bought by Carphone Warehouse

Troubled Internet provider Tiscali has found a buyer. The Carphone Warehouse has stepped up and acquired Tiscali's UK operation for £236 million, making them the second largest broadband provider in the UK.

What does the Tiscali buy-out mean for existing Tiscali customers? It seems that the Tiscali name is set to vanish, but Carphone Warehouse has assured users that Tiscali emails won't be vanishing. No news on lineone.net email addresses (Lineone was acquired by Tiscali on 2001).

It's also worth noting that CPW's TalkTalk is one of the top three to be associated with Phorm's controversial surfing monitoring service, whilst Tiscali stated intentions not to sign with Phorm.

Podcast: FrequencyCast 39 out now

Show 39 of FrequencyCast, our UK's TV and Tech podcast, is online now.

In FrequencyCast Show 39, Carl and Pete look at ways to improve your Freeview channel line-up, get hands-on with a home monitoring system, play with the Nintendo DSi, and look at a new iPhone add-on. We also answer your tech and TV questions in "interaction".

You can download Show 39 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

You can also get us via iTunes.

Tiscali Troubles continue

An update on Internet Provider Tiscali's struggles. In March, dealing of shares in Tiscali on the Italian stock market was been suspended, and the company reportedly has debts totaling around £450 million. Many were predicting the imminent demise of the provider.

Tiscali's been in talks with Sky to sell off their Broadband business, but those talks collapsed earlier in March. The Carphone Warehouse was also eying Tiscali with a view to extending their TalkTalk service. This week, TalkTalk's cheekily been offering a £50 "switch away from Tiscali" discount.

Tiscali's recently published statements that it's "business as usual" and that their lending banks are continuing to support Tiscali. They've assured customers that there will be no loss-of-service. However last week, the firm's auditors expressed "fundamental uncertainties" about Tiscali's future.

A case of "watch this space"...

More on UK Internet Providers on our ISP page: http://www.filesaveas.com/broadband.html