FileSaveAs UK Tech News

It makes a change for us to be able to review something that’s a low-priced solution to an everyday problem – untidy wires.

If, like us, you have a collection of mains transformers kicking around – mobile phone chargers, camera chargers, MP3 chargers and the like, chances are you can never find the right charger, and when you do, it’s too-long lead has been “merged” with leads from other chargers.

Looking for a handy dandy charger tidy? See our review of the Stoway Adapter Tidy for details of a new adapter accessory.

Apple has finally confirmed what most iPhone 4 owners know – there’s a problem with reception on the new handsets.

Known as the “Death Grip”, if you hold the phone in a way that causes contact with the antenna on the bottom left-hand side of the iPhone 4, you’ll see a drop in signal strength. Apple’s been down-playing the problems, but today has admitted that, yes, there’s a problem.

A software fix was released yesterday to improve the algorithm used to display signal strength, but at a press conference held in California earlier today, Apple has announced that they’ll be shipping a free case to all iPhone 4 users who get an iPhone before the 30th of September. Cases can alleviate the problem, and anyone who’s already bought a case should be able to get a refund.

With over 3 million iPhone 4′s out there, the ‘bumper’ cost could be over $115 million.

iPhone 4 users will be able to claim their free bumper case, get a refund for an existing case, or even apply for a full refund, via the Apple website from the 22nd of July 2010.

Conspiracy For Good, the online and offline drama, hits the streets of London on the 17th of July for 4 weeks. Using augented reality, mobile phones and the streets of London, this unique experience has been created by Tim Kring, the man behind Heroes.

Take part for free each Saturday until the 7th of August. To find out more, click this little teaser…

New page added to our site: Get your own website.

Looking to get your own website, but not sure where to start? Check out our new beginner’s guide at www.filesaveas.com/getawebsite.html

Those looking for an iPhone 4 not willing to join a long queue, can try their luck from 7am tomorrow (Thursday 24th June 2010) on the Vodafone Website.

You can order an Phone 4 online from 7am – you don’t need to be a Vodafone customer. With o2 limiting sign-ups to existing customers only, and Carphone Warehouse reporting limited stock, Vodafone could be a very good bet for those looking for an iPhone 4 as soon as possible after tomorrow’s launch day.

As a reminder, if you’re switching to Vodafone from another network, you’ll need to contact your existing network to ask for a PAC code to allow that transfer to take place.

More details: shop.vodafone.co.uk/iphone

One of our PCs here at FileSaveAs has been running a little sluggish of late – probably something to do with the dozen or so apps running in the background. As it’s a quiet Bank Holiday weekend, seemed a good time for a tidy-up, and to consider a RAM upgrade.

Upgrading a PC’s RAM is actually fairly straightforward if you’re comfy undoing the cover of your desktop and swapping some memory modules – the hard bit is making sure you get the right type of chip. Types include DDR, DDR2, SDRAM, EDO… and you need to get the right combination.

Doing a Google for reputable RAM suppliers threw up the name Crucial, so we thought we’d give then a try – and we found their “System Scanner tool“. A little dubious, we gave it a try, and the results were a) spot on, and b) very clear – which we liked:

We’re then shown the tech spec with more detailed information about our current RAM, what’s possible, and if there are any alternatives.

Should you decide to proceed with an order for more memory, the RAM they recommend is guaranteed compatible, and there’s free delivery. We’re impressed.

Give it a try for yourself at crucial.com/uk/systemscanner

More: PC Memory Advice

A quick heads-up that Monday the 7th of June 2010 appears to be the date of the next Apple iPhone.

On that date, Apple CEO Steve Jobs will open the Apple Worldwide Developers’ Conference, and that normally signals the release of a new product.

As has been widely reported, what’s believed to be a prototype version of the new iPhone 4G was left in a bar, and snapped up by gadget site Gizmodo. The smart money is on the new iPhone having a flash, a front-facing camera, as well as changes to the screen and battery life. It could hit stores as early as July 2010.

No doubt the world will be watching from 7th June…

Looking for a way to make sure your prized gadgets such as your smartphone or sat nav find their way back to them if lost or stolen? Take a look at EnigmaTAG.

Our podcast team stumbled upon this whilst at the Gadget Show Live earlier this year. It’s a small bottle of a very special fluid. Dab on a tiny dot onto something you want to keep safe. In the event that the item is recovered, the police can use a UV light to reveal the mark. UV marking’s been around for years, but the EnigmaTAG difference is that the dots contain micro-particles that hold a unique serial number. When scanned with a special camera, the code is revealed and you stand a good chance of getting the good back.

Our podcast team took a good look at the product, and have been pretty impressed by the peace-of-mind offered by this little bottle. For more information on the EnigmaTAG property marking solution, see FrequencyCast’s EnigmaTAG Property Protector Explored

Got a digital camera? You may be able to upgrade your camera to support both Wi-fi and location tagging.

If your camera has an SD card slot, you can remove your SD card, and simply insert the Eye-Fi card. The card uses the camera’s battery to power the card’s wi-fi. You pair to your favourite wi-fi access points, and when you’re in range, your images are transferred to your PC or Mac, or uploaded to an Internet storage service such as Flikr.

Images are also geo-tagged with location – not via GPS, but via nearby wi-fi signals, and that location information can be used by a range of photo packages to show location on a map.

Amazingly clever stuff – More details on our Eye-fi Card Explored.

The o2 Joggler is once again on offer for half price, but only until 31st May 2010.

What’s the Joggler? A Wi-fi enabled, full colour touchscreen media player, digital photo frame, Internet radio, live travel news, shared diary, news/sport from Sky, and a few games too.

Want to know more about the Joggler? check out our o2 Joggler Review

Originally £150, it’s now £49.99 from o2′s website. To snap one up at this amazing price, go to shop.o2.co.uk/joggler

Our podcasting team has just released a new show.

In Show #51 of FrequencyCast, the UK’s Tech and TV podcast, presenters Carl and Pete take a look at the Digital Economy Act 2010, and how this new law affects our use of the Internet. We talk play with a couple of sets of walkie talkies, to put the range claims to the test, and in our news section, look at the “leaked iPhone 4 GizomodoGate” story.

You can download Show 51 direct to your MP3 player or listen online at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/latest.html.

If you have an iPod or iPhone, you can get today’s show and sign up for the next shows via iTunes.

Remember, our shows are free, and we’d ask that if you enjoy our shows, you sign up, and tell your friends via Facebook, Twitter, email, or, of course, in person!

Nokia’s announced a new smartphone, the Nokia N8.

Expected to be available in the late Summer, this will have a 12 megapixel camera, be capable of shooting HD video at 720p, and have an HDMI output. It’s loaded with a touchscreen and face detection software.

Here’s an odd video we’ve been sent, that shows just how juggleable this new phone is…

More info on the Nokia N8, plus our review, as soon as we get our hands on one…

Need to stay in touch with someone while on the move? Need a walkie talkie that actually works over a decent distance? We’ve got hands-on with a walkie talkie that packs more of a punch than the standard two-way radios you can pick up on the high street.

Standard two-way PMR walkie talkie devices boast an often hard to achieve 3km range, and have a power of half a watt. The Mitex radio that we’ve been looking at, boasts ten times the power, with a rated maximum of 25km.

To use the licence legally in the UK, you’ll need to get a licence, as they’re on a different frequency range to the standard PMRs, and because of the power hike. Fortunately, the licence is cheap and easy to come by, and is good for an unlimited number of similar portable radios.

To find out more about the Mitex 5W UHF handheld radios, check out our Mitex Portable Radios Review

News of a new offer from T-Mobile.

Their “get yourself two free SIM cards” offer just got a little better, as they’re now offering “free texts for life” with their Pay-As-You Go SIM cards. Top up £10 a month and you can send unlimited texts.

Get yourself two free SIM cards by entering your name and address at http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/free-pay-as-you-go-sim-cards/ - even if you don’t need them now – get ‘em while you can and keep them for when you plan to do a lot of texting.

Also note that if you want to do any pay-as-you-go surfing, there’s a handy “maximum of £1 a day” cap on surfing with these SIM cards.

Those lovely lads and lasses at TomTom are giving away their TomTom Go SatNavs… although there is a catch!

Buy a TomTom Go Live 550, 750 or 950 device between now and the 8th of June, and if England win the World Cup, TomTom will give you your money back!

For full details of the promo, plus terms and conditions, go to TomTom’s website: www.tomtom.com and select “Car Navigation”.

The oddly-named Joggler from o2 has just got a little bit better.

The o2 Joggler software has been updated, and now comes with its own App Store. As you know, every device worth its salt now has to have an app store, and the Joggler’s joined that club. There are a range of free and paid-for applications now available as a result of the firmware upgrade to version 8353.

So far in the App Store, you’ll find Google Maps, Google Calendar, a YouTube player and a bunch of games – this lineup is set to be expanded too.

If you’re not familiar with the Joggler, it’s a high-spec electronic picture-frame, connected Internet device, media player, calendar and Internet radio.

Remember too, that until 15th April, the Joggler is at the amazing price of £49.99 – If you don’t Joggle yet, go to shop.o2.co.uk/joggler

Fancy a bargain? Here’s one… but you’ll have to hurry…

Wi-fi enabled, full colour touchscreen media player, digital photo frame, Internet radio, live travel news, shared diary, news/sport from Sky, and a few games too.

We’re talking about o2′s home communication device, the o2 Joggler.

When it was first launched, it carried a £149 price tag, but if you’re quick, you can get one for £49.99 from o2′s website.

Want to know more about the Joggler? check out our o2 Joggler Review

To snap one up at this amazing price, go to shop.o2.co.uk/joggler

Time to put that high-powered smartphone in your pocket to some good (and fun) use.

Download a free app called “Waze” and take part in this social mapping project. Drive around with the app running, and you’ll help map out the roads in your area, to build up an accurate map of the UK. You’ll share road data with others, and can see data from others – such as average road speed, speed taps and accident flashes you can even share a photo of an accident for others in your area to see.

There’s a fun element too – catch points for munching local roads, pick up bonus points along the way, and if you’re serious about maps – go home and fix a few road errors on your laptop web browser. Good fun, and oddly additive, warm and fuzzy…

Waze is available for a selection of smartphones that have GPS built-in, including the iPhone, Android phones, some Nokia Symbian phones and Windows Mobile devices.

If you’ve got an iPhone, get the app from the App Store – otherwise, hop over to www.waze.com

Come on gang… get driving!

Our team has just published an online review of the i-gotU GT-600.

This is a handy, and tiny, GPS tracker. It can be used to track your movements – ideal for joggers, walker and hikers. It’s also a handy tool for photographers, as it can be used to geo-tag your photos. It’s also top for use as a travel tool – tracking where you’ve been on a map, and shared with family and friends back home.

Water resistant, capable of logging 262,000 locations and with a motion-detector to save power, the i-gotU GT-600 is a powerful pocket tool. Charges via USB, overlays your route onto Google or Bing Maps, with upload to Flikr, Facebook, Picassa and Twitter.

To find out more about the i-gotU GPS trackers, see our review at www.filesaveas.com/igotu_gt600.html

Our lads have just completed their hands-on review of the Novatel Wireless MiFi 2352.

See our review here: Novatel MiFi 2352 UK Review