Hello Kindle - Goodbye Elonex?


So, the Kindle finally launches in the UK. This blog has become something of a Mecca for users of the Elonex 511EB. The comments on my reviews run in to the hundreds, I get thousands of page views a month on them, I regularly answer private emails about the device. So, why am I abandoning Elonex? Simply put - Elonex abandoned me. Their staff and website promised updates which never came. We're not just talking about additional features - there are some serious bugs in the device. They…

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Review: Jabra Clipper


Those delightful coves at Jabra and Wildfire PR have kindly sent me a Jabra Clipper review unit.  Could this be the BlueTooth headset to replace my beloved Jabra BT3030 which had an unfortunate encounter with a washing machine last week? Model Not Included How does it stack up against my wishlist? (more…) …

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Digital Economy Act - #DEAPPG


In which the BPI threaten to sue me. Last night I was fortunate enough to find myself addressing the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Digital Economy Act.  Eric Joyce MP managed to bring together a diverse group of people from all sides of the debate for a (mostly) civil discussion on the Act, its limitations, and potential problems. MPs and Musicians in Perfect Harmony This was exactly the sort of discussion which should have taken place before the bill became law.  Sadly, we're left w…

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Making DynamicWP's Simple White Theme XHTML Compliant


This blog is proud to be XHTML 1.0 Strict Compliant.  Just like it is polite to use correct spelling and grammar for human readers, I believe that correct markup is "polite" for rendering engines. I've recently started using DynamicWP's Simple White Theme.  The theme is excellent, but generated around 60 validation errors.  Luckily these were caused by a scant half dozen errors in the source code. Here is a quick summary of the errors, why they need to be fixed, and how to fix them. (more…) …

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Split Personalities of Windows Phone 7


I've just come back from a chat with Paul Foster of Microsoft. We were discussing Windows Phone 7 - its promises and its problems. I remain convinced that Windows Phone 7 (WP7) will be a hit. There are so many delightful touches in the operating system that I won't be surprised if it is ripped off before it is fully launched. I was given an excellent overview of the software and proposed functionality.  I also played with a demo handset.  Even at this early stage the software is smooth a…

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EXCLUSIVE! Nokia Phones *WILL* Have Android!


Sauntering down Oxford Street, Mauricio Reyes spotted Nokia's secret Android plans. Nokia phones "running" Android Is this just a hapless Photoshop mistake - or a sign of things to come?!?!?!?! (more…) …

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Looking for a new BlueTooth Headset


It turns out that my washing machine is incompatible with my BlueTooth headset. What was once my favourite little gizmo - resplendent with blinking lights - is now little more than scrap metal. Arse. Dead BT3030 The Jabra BT3030 was, without a doubt, the best BlueTooth headset I ever had. There were regular firmware updates for it. Sound and call quality were excellent. It could pair with two devices simultaneously - and automagically pause the music on one if you received a call on the…

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Scientology is stupid - but so is John Dixon


Drawing of a person in an Anonymous mask. They are holding up a sign that says www.xenu.net.

For those who don't follow the hive-mind on Twitter, there has been a run in with Scientology trying to stifle free speech. Or, as I think, not. Here are the brief facts of the case. A local councillor (John Dixon) has a Twitter account "CllrJohnDixon" Last year, he tweeted: "I didn't know the Scientologists had a church on Tottenham Court Road. Just hurried past in case the stupid rubs off." Someone in Scientology didn't like this and raised an official complaint. The Public …

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Share Android Apps on Twitter (or anywhere else)


The Twitter logo.

I attended the Mobile Monday meeting "200,000 Apps - Where's Mine" last night. One thing that became clear is that apps don't do a very good job of promoting themselves. One crippling problems with most app stores is that there's no (easy) way to share an app with a friend. Here's some basic code for an Android app which will post the URL of your app to Twitter. Stick it in a button or menu item for easy sharing. String twitterUri = "http://m.twitter.com/?status="; String marketUri =…

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Hate Microsoft - Love Windows Phone 7?


A Windows 7 phone.

I'm not the biggest fan of Microsoft. Both my original Xboxes now run Linux, I've converted my laptop and computers to Ubuntu, and I generally laugh in the face of Microsoft's increasingly desperate attempts to stay relevant. So it was with great mirth that I went along to a BizSpark event a few weeks ago. Microsoft were going to be showing off their latest "innovation" - Windows Phone 7. I went along expecting to hate it and, instead, found myself curiously drawn to it. Take a look at the …

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USSD


Old Nokia phone showing an area code.

USSD - it's a funny acronym. Unstructured Supplementary Service Data. You type a code into your phone's dialler. - the phone queries the network and displays some information for you. There are five types of USSD Command Activate - turn on the functionality: *USSD# Deactivate - turn off the functionality: #USSD# Register - set a particular condition: **USSD# Erase - delete any settings set by Register: ##USSD# Interrogate - check what it is doing: *#USSD# Universal USSD Codes I can't find…

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Android Tutorial - Clickable Widgets


Another quick Android tutorial. I couldn't find an easy or correct method of launching a browser when you click on a homescreen widget. Well, here it is... public class clickWidget extends AppWidgetProvider { @Override public void onUpdate( Context context, AppWidgetManager appWidgetManager, int[] appWidgetIds ) { RemoteViews remoteViews = new RemoteViews( context.getPackageName(), R.layout.widget ); remoteViews.setImageViewResource(R.id.ImageView01, drawableResourse); ComponentName…

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