Fogey Friday
26th October

KICKSTART THE BIRDIE

One of the myriad consequences of the Internet is that ideas can be brought to fruition and on to the market-place much faster.  And, like the Internet, the process can be thoroughly democratic and transparent – there’s no point trying to hoodwink consumers, you will be found out; feedback rules.  Kickstarter is a platform that brings entrepreneurs, creative types and investors together.  The funding of projects is an example of ‘crowdsourcing’, whereby (in this instance) money is pledged to a project on the basis of an online presentation.  In most circumstances it’s not an investment in the sense that you will own any part of the finished article or subsequent business but it is a way of casting a practical vote for someone who deserves success.  Or not –  if funding fails to reach a pre-determined threshold that project is dead.  It’s all or nothing.

An on-going Kickstarter project, Bryson Lovett’s bird photo booth, found its way into The Times on 22^nd October.  Lovett is still some way short of his funding goal, so if you want to give him a few bob to help get him on his way click here.  For more info about how Kickstarter works click here.

4GLike 3G only faster. As of March 2012 the only 4G networks are in US and Canada. When it comes to the UK and Europe 4G will use a different wavelength and/or frequency to its US counterpart so devices designed to work in the US will not work with European 4G. They will still function, of course, but using the older, slower 3G protocols. Synergy and compatibility, don't you just love it? SWIZZ (REDUX)

Normally Tech Fogey doesn’t reproduce, verbatim, blurb we get sent.  We have to add some snide sarcasm and cynicism to the mix.  With 4G mobile broadband, however, it’s the facts that are the story and no amount of pithy prose can disguise the colossal pup that UK consumers are being asked to fork out for.  So here’s a considered and objective opinion from Andrew Ferguson, editor of Thinkbroadband.com

“In response to the much anticipated launch of 4G services from EE and the subsequent Ofcom run 4G auction that will allow other operators to deploy 4G/LTE in the UK, we are canvassing our readers on their reaction to the product announcements from EE.

We received several hundred votes within hours of the poll starting and there is clear evidence that the UK public is extremely price sensitive with regard to mobile data spend.

When asking whether the price premium for 4G data will put them off upgrading, over 72 per cent of respondents said yes. The option to wait and see was offered but only nine per cent indicated they would wait, which suggests that if O2 and Three have similar pricing to EE when they launch in 2013, 4G may not see wide adoption among the general population.

The cheapest 4G tariff provides just 500MB per month, but interestingly when asked in our poll, some 45 per cent of respondents have a tariff that is this size or smaller. Three quarters currently have a usage allowance that is 2GB or smaller.  Some of the most vocal resistance appears to be from the seven per cent who have an allowance of 8GB or more per month (includes unlimited). With no unlimited option on 4G it is these heavy users of mobile data who would benefit most from the extra speed, but will face the significantly increasing bills.

The costs of excess data usage (2GB extra costs £15) may not be the main driver for lack of enthusiasm for 4G contracts, as a massive 87 per cent claim to never exceed their monthly usage allowance. Though there is likely to be the perception that given faster speeds people will use more data (4G video streaming should be a pleasant experience), catch-up TV services are very data hungry. A HD stream eats 2GB every hour, and dropping to standard quality still means you may use 1GB per hour.

The handsets on offer with the 4G contracts all support HD video streaming, giving a big screen experience in the palm of your hand, but with the high prices, who will actually benefit from this?

The roll-out of 4G services is part of the UK’s Digital Infrastructure plan, with the aim being that 98 per cent of the population should have access to the 4G service. At current pricing though it is very clear that most of the population would not be able to afford 4G and the usage allowances do not approach what fixed line broadband allows, where even in rural areas a 10GB usage allowance with voice line rental can be found for £27 per month.”

SHRINK TO FIT

In the beginning there was much conjecture as to whether the masses would accept a gizmo that those of a puerile persuasion might have supposed to sound like AppleFruit, record label, world dominator in the slick boy's toys department’s take on the sanitary towel.  The iPad somehow managed to overcome the occasional snigger as it hurtled to phenomenon-hood.  But now, with the iPad Mini, well…  TF has to think the introduction of a smaller-screened iPad (7-ish inches versus 10-ish inches) deserves a big, fat ‘so what?’ especially when it’s much costlier than similar AndroidAn operating system for mobile devices developed by GoogleStarted life as a mere search engine; now hell bent on world domination. More PhDs work for Google than any other single organisation and they're determined to know everything about everyone. For some reason Google thinks this inside info will help them and their chums sell us more stuff.. It is now the principal competition to Apple's iOS (i operating system). It has gone through several versions, all of which have been given wacky nicknames. The latest is known as Ice Cream Sandwich. Those Google geeks are sooo hilarious! tablets such as the Amazon Kindlee-reader developed by Amazon. The top-of-the-range Kindle Fire is a touchscreen tablet, not unlike an iPad, that costs significantly less than an iPad. Despite all the column inches devoted to e-readers and how they will take over the book business and destroy the demand for printed books, they are still nasty devices when compared with the aesthetic gorgeousness of a hardbacked book. Fire HD and the Google Nexus 7.  And let’s not forget the 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab, which has been around for ages.  Looking forward very much to Samsung suing Apple for so obviously and blatantly copying ‘their idea’.  ‘Oo look, we can make a teensier tablet too.’  Well done Apple.  Now feed the hype-monster by all rushing out and buying one.