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USB charger standardisation in Europe

Mike Evans
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By Michael Evans

AS FROM NEXT YEAR all mobile phones sold in Europe must be capable of being charged via a USB cable and this is a welcome development. No longer will there be dozens of different types of charger, all with different connectors. Consumers will be able to keep one charger–a USB device similar to, for instance, the iPod power unit–and use it for all future phones. The word is that mobile phone manufacturers will cease to provide chargers in the box, merely a USB cable for connecting to a computer or universal charger. EU officials believe this new law will save thousands of tons of useless chargers being dumped every year. 

One problem, though, is the bewildering array of USB connectors found on a wide variety of devices. For some years the USB Mini connector has been common on cameras (for data transfer, not for charging) but recently we've seen the USB Micro-B connector appearing on devices such as the MiFi and the Morphie Juice Pack for iPhone. While this connector, the flatter Micro-B, is likely to become the de facto standard for most small devices, it is currently new and little supported. Micro USB I wanted a USB-A to Micro-B cable for the MiFi and had great difficulty locating one in Tottenham Court Road. One shop asked £15 for a one-meter cable and I thought this excessive. Fortunately, the internet came to the rescue and I found Cable Universe who supplied a 1.8-meter for £1.73, including tax. This is a very fair price and I bought two for under a third of the £15 in-store offer.

I then turned my attention to the Sony Reader which, in addition to the Mini USB connector, has a jack socket for charging. Strangely, the device will charge though the USB cable provided it is connected to a computer running the Sony reader software, but it will not charge from a hub or from a wall charger via the USB Micro socket. I discovered, though, that the reader shares its jack and charging arrangements with the Sony Playstation, so I was able to buy a USB-A to Jack cable from a local games shop.

Armed with just three USB cables (with Apple, USB Mini and USB Micro-B plugs) I can now travel light, with only one USB charger–either the handy Apple device or a multi unit such as the four-outlet Kensington charger available from the Apple Store online. This should be the future, but we do need to standardise on the smaller Micro-B USB plug. Experts tell me that the Micro-B is both smaller and sturdier than the Mini, so let's hope we find this on more devices.

Locking of mobile phones should be banned in EU

Mike Evans
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By Michael Evans

ENCOURAGING news that O2 are to lose their UK monopoly, not because I have anything against O2, but because the advent of Orange and, possibly, T-Mobile, will bring competition and lower prices. But Apple still fail to realise that there are people who do not want a locked phone under any circumstances. Most travellers these days prefer to buy local pay-as-you-go SIM cards in order to avoid the penal data roaming costs imposed by nearly all service providers. 

But it doesn't seem possible to buy an unlocked iPhone in the UK except at exhorbitant cost (£955 including VAT at Expansys, for instance).L183742 

In many countries, including Greece where I obtained my unlocked phone, locking to specific carriers is forbidden. Sure, you pay a bit more; but even if you do not want a contract, you can get an unlocked 32GB iPhone 3GS for about £550. With an 18-month contract I paid about £350 for an unlocked 32 GB model.

The point about locking is that it is totally unnecessary and is merely used as a device to keep people after their contract has expired. If you commit to a long contract, up to two years, it is reasonable to get a cheaper phone. But why is it locked? Provided you have committed to paying the contract, why should the service provider worry if you choose to put in a card from another network while travelling abroad?

Admittedly, with most phones this isn't a big problem. For a few pounds or euros, most phones can be unlocked without detriment to the service or user experience. Not so with the iPhone, where unlocking means jailbreaking and all the hassle that comes when software is updated. So Apple, really, are the big offenders here.

It is time that the European Union took a view that locking phones is monopolistic and should be banned.

Sony Touch Edition is big improvement

Mike Evans
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By Michael Evans

REGULAR READERS will know that I am a dyed-in-the-wool eBook fanboy. My original Sony PRS-505 has done sterling service and has kept me happy with no fewer than 48 books purchased from Waterstone's web site. There really is nothing wrong with the original, but the reader has become such an integral part of my life that I was encouraged to upgrade to the new PRS-600 Touch when I saw a discount available at W.H.Smiths' local store (£219 instead of £249). Banner_main

My new beauty is in black rather than the more common silver and is a big improvement on the original. The user interface is much more friendly, the buttons are more logical, and the reading experience is better (in particular the swipe action to change pages). My experience is that the page-turn is considerably faster than on the old reader. The device includes an excellent dictionary and offers the ability to write notes, comments and, even, draw pictures. 

One of the best features (which, incidentally,  is now common to the original readers) is the new-to-Mac eBook software. Previously the application was Windows only and I had to run it on Parallels desktop. The new software makes buying and downloading a seamless experience. It has a limited amount of categorisation into "collections" or "groups" in Apple-speak. One use for this is to populate a "to read" collection with books awaiting attention. That way you don't have to plough through all your library when selecting the next book to read. As you finish reading, you simply delete the book from the collection without losing it from the library. 

I would like to see a more Apple-like interface in the eBook reader software for Mac. This would include addition of custom fields or columns to allow personal categorisation of individual books and permit smart groups. Currently the groups or collections are not smart and books must be moved around manually.

The new, smaller Pocket Edition reader has a 5in screen as opposed to a 6in and is definitely more pocketable. I considered both, but eventually went for the Touch Edition because of the touch screen and user-interface, plus the inclusion of SD an SD card slot (which is missing on the Pocket version).

Altogether, though, the Touch Edition is a vast improvement on the original and credit is due to Sony. I still have no intention of buying an old-fashioned book and I am waging a war against those ostrich-like publishers who refuse to issue electronic versions of their inventory.

This morning, incidentally, I was able to buy and download Hilary Mantel's Man Booker prizewinning novel, Wolf Hall. I like a good historical novel and it's encouraging that the publisher, Fourth Estate Harper Collins, are quick off the mark with an electronic version. I hope the download figures are good enough to encourage more publishers to join the future.

MiFi update–now a 100% best buy

Mike Evans
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By Michael Evans

TWO WEEKS on and I am mightily impressed by the little MiFi mobile hotspot. Just switch it on and it logs on automatically to the 3G server and provides a strong personal wifi system. Macs and iPhones connect easily and there is absolutely no hassle. Using the MiFi is definitely easier and more transparent than connecting a USB dongle modem. Moreover, up to five devices, including your MacBook and your iPhone, can connect simultaneously. There is also a very comprehensive monitoring utility (accessed via Safari) to tell you all the usage statistics you would ever need (and, as any 3G user will testify, it's crucially important to know when you are nearing the monthly data ceiling). I cannot recommend this Novatel product more highly. My only recommendation for improvement is to use two different 3G networks–one in your iPhone, the other in your MiFi. This gives you two chances of a good signal if you are in a poor reception area. If you use the same provider for both iPhone and MiFi you have no such advantage. 

iMac G3, forsaken by Zeus

Mike Evans
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By Fergus MacOldie

IMac G3 JUST ENDED a mini-excursion to visit some old haunts in the south of the island of Crete, the southernmost tip of Europe. There, in the remote mountain village of Zaros, in the foothills of Zeus' birthplace, Mount Idi, lives my old friend Hebe and her veteran 1999 G3 iMac, complete with pink highlights (the Mac, that is). I was summoned to discover why Skype wouldn't run, but I found more than I bargained for. The venerable iMac had been bought in 2000 for the enormous sum of one million drachmae (over 2,500 euros by present reckoning) but it has been hardly a bad investment. With its 10 GB drive, 266MHz processor and 512MB of memory, this old girl has been soldiering on without attention for ten years. 

But crunch time approaches, as I soon discovered. Over the years well-meaning friends have supplied software and other updates on DVD, including an OS update to Panther. I found the root folder littered with redundant folders and files, including a number of data files that had somehow found their way there, so I spent a couple of hours on housekeeping. Hebe produced an ancient-looking external hard drive that someone had given her, but it turned out to be a godssend–80GB of pristine storage. I was able to offload some old stuff and, even, set up a backup schedule to copy the contents of the miniscule internal disc to the capacious drive. So far so good.

I also showed Hebe how to import photographs into iPhoto but stopped short of importing everything because we were down to a free disk space of only 1.7 GB, just about enough to keep things ticking over. However, after I left, a newly enthusiastic Hebe uploaded the 650 photographs from her camera and soon got an ominous "disk full" message. No wonder that, later in the evening, her well-viewed Sound of Music DVD wouldn't run. Clunk, clunk, the hills were no longer alive with music.

I've advised her to take the camera to the local photo store and have the memory copied to CD, then to delete all these photographs from the iMac. But what to do mediumterm? Unfortunately, the sad fact is that the iMac has reached the end of its computing days and needs replacing.

After all this, though, Skype (the latest version) still will not run. The icon bounces a couple of times and then goes back to rest in the dock. There's no obvious explanation for this. But Skype seems to be the least of the Mac's problems at the moment. She's about ready for the Dun Computin' rest home for Macs. Zeus has given up on her.

eBook reader market takes off

Mike Evans
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By Michael Evans 

4905524597981 THINGS are hotting up in the eBook reader market. This week, Sony announced three new models in the UK, including a fully featured 6-in touchscreen model with the capability to annotate books. This appears to be a significant improvement on the original model I've been using for the past twelve months. No sign, however, of a 3G-equipped version similar to the one that has just been heralded in the USA.

All this activity shows that the eBook market is maturing. Only two weeks ago Sony announced it would be supporting an open standard and portability of books, something that is denied to Amazon Kindl users. I fully expect more developments in the market during the winter and I believe that 2010 will be year that the eBook market really takes off.

Twelve months ago I bought my first Sony from Waterstones, a major British retail book chain, and I have been absolutely delighted with it. 630x420_newsony In one small unit, no heavier and no bigger (in surface area) than a small paperback, the reader is much thinner and easier to carry than any real book. In consequence I haven't read a "proper" book since last September. True, the selection of books from the Waterstones on-line store is somewhat limited, but I have taken a pragmatic view and regarded the choice as my library. I have never wanted for something interesting to read and, frankly, those publishers that refuse to partake are missing out. They will all have to join the party sooner or later. 

The one major problem with the original Sony was the lack of Mac connectivity. I've been using the Parallels Windows emulator to manage my electronic book library. So I am heartened to see that the new Sony models all feature Mac and Windows connectivity. 

Strongly tempted as I am to upgrade to the new Sony (at £249), I am still wondering about Apple's intentions. The rumours of an Apple tablet are churning faster than ever and it does look as though there is an announcement imminent. I can quite imagine a tablet, say with a 10in screen, doubling as a super book reader. However, I have my doubts that any backlit reader, with consequential limited battery life, can challenge the current crop of non-backlit e-Ink models. Maybe I will sit on the fence a little longer before deciding to change my original Sony. Meantime, I continue to enjoy the experience of having only one small book to pack; and the convenience of being able to chop and change between several books at the same time. I'm never short of something interesting to read. 

Synchronising a new iPhone

Mike Evans
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By Michael Evans

INSTALLING a new iPhone as a replacement for a previous model is a fairly painless experience. iTunes attempts to do everything for you and, provided you've remembered to back up the old phone before connecting the new one, all your stuff will be restored. There are still a few hours of work to get through, despite Apple's best efforts. Strangely, one of the most annoying is the need to rearrange all your applications on the new phone. I hear welcome rumours that the next version of iTunes will allow sorting of applications from within the Mac application and it will remember where everything goes.

Another minor task is to re-enter your passwords for applications such as Evernote, Momo and set up synchronisation with the likes of OmniFocus and 1Password. It would be nice if such updates could be made automatic, as they are to a large extent when setting up a replacement Mac.

The biggest hassle, though, comes from having to re-enter data. Bloomberg takes most time because I have to manually re-enter stocks and shares, searching every time for the details of an individual stock. I have to set up my accounts data-entry program, Pocket Money, and this takes time. One of my little apps, WeightBot, which records daily body weight data, is a paragon of how to do it. The daily data backs up automatically to the WeightBot server and it is a simple matter to restore the history to the new phone. 

All in all, it takes several hours of concentrated work to get the new phone back to where you left the old one and a bit more automation would be welcome. Despite this, the iPhone is a paragon of virtue compared with, say, the setting up of a Windows Mobile phone.

MiFi, the new kid on the block

Mike Evans
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By Michael Evans

MiFi2352_BlK_MiFi_TRANSLORESsm THIS MORNING the courier service here on Mykonos phoned to say my package had arrived from Expansys. It's the latest model of the Novatel Wireless MiFi personal router. This little device, less than the size of an iPhone, connects to a cellular data network and provides a local wifi network for up to five computers. And what an easy set up. Anyone who has ever adjusted a router for wireless access will run easily through the few steps necessary to get on line. 

Now, instead of having to plug a modem dongle into the sole USB port of my MacBook Air, I can simply connect to the network with the router sitting on the table or even safe in a bag. My first impression is that the speed of transmission is subjectively much better than when using the modem supplied by Vodafone Greece. Both the modem and the MiFi unit are rated at up to 7.2 Mbps but it would be overly optimistic to expect much over 2Mbps here in the Greek islands. I must run a series of Speednet tests and see what the data shows.

My new iPhone 3GS connects without a problem. It's a good tip to have different service providers for the phone and for the 3G modem since you get two bites of the cherry if you find yourself in a reception blackspot. This is another reason I am not using the phone for tethering (although I have got it working). A tethering option added to the iPhone contract (to take the monthly data allowance from 500MB to 5GB) costs just as much as having a separate data contract.

Naturally, with cellular data costs as expensive as they are, it is absolutely essential to protect the MiFi network with a key. For even greater security, it is probably a good idea to further restrict access to your own devices by entering specific MAC addresses. Most data contracts are limited to 5GB of data per month and, as we all know, that doesn't go far if you download video or, worse, buy the odd movie or TV Show. And, of course, if moving outside the home country don't switch on the MiFi because roaming costs are the stuff of nightmares.

Disaster Recovered

Mike Evans
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By Michael Evans

ON THIS BLOG I have had a lot to say about data security, backup and the need for belts and braces. This week disaster struck and it was all of my own making. Late one evening a few days ago, I was intending to delete a backup volume on an external hard drive. I'd set everything up in the Path Finder window and was about to press the red button when the phone rang and I was distracted for four or five minutes. When I returned to the computer I confidently pressed the delete key and a millisecond later noticed the highlight was not on the backup volume but on the main drive of my MacBook Pro. Disaster! The whole system went down the pan, along with any chance of "restoring" lost data. Dead computer, much wailing and gnashing of teeth. So much for all my advice. 

Then ensued an interesting (in the Confucian sense) and productive day. Fortunately, I did have backups for all my data and my OS X disks were to hand (I now know why I've been carrying them around for years). I took the opportunity to go for a clean installation and added only those applications I use regularly, ditching several that had not been touched for years. I had quite a bit of fiddling to do, including re-entering registration codes. Fortnately I run the excellent LicenseKeeper software so I had everything in one place (see main screen below).LicenseKeeper-MainWindow-Medium

Carbonite, my absolute last-ditch off-site repository of data, had to be downloaded and reinstalled. I got a helpful email from Carbonite to advise of this action, just in case someone else was attempting to download my data. The application started in Recovery Mode but I had no need to recover files, so enabled backup immediately. The system then scanned my newly installed disk and determined which files needed to be amended. Since I'd done a new install, there was nearly 6GB of stuff to upload. For the time being, since I'm abroad and enjoying poor upload bandwidth, I've suspended operations until I return to London. However, I now have renewed confidence in Carbonite which is really there only in case of total disaster–such as fire or theft of all backups, Drobo and all.

The one application I did not reinstall is PGP Whole Disk Encryption. This system had been working faultlessly for eight months and I have nothing but praise for the way in which it offers total security. However, I am leaving the disk unencrypted for the time being until I can install Snow Leopard. I know from the PGP forum that it is necessary to unencrypt the disk before a major operating system update, so I will wait until I have Snow Leopard up and running next month. Without a doubt, though, I will return to PGP since it is such a seamless and safe option.

Unlocked iPhone 3GS arrives in Mykonos

Mike Evans
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MACOLDIE has been snoozing for the past few weeks but is now established in the holiday isle of Mykonos for the next six weeks, enjoying the sun (and wind, of course) and savouring the island culture. Technology is a bit remote, perhaps as it should be, but the iPhone 3GS has finally crossed the Aegean and landed at Germanos, a sort of Greek Carphone Warehouse. Vodafone, the official iPhone agents, are totally clueless and do not expect supplies until September 1 at the earliest. A brand new white 32GB phone has been snapped up for the MacOldie household at a rather reasonable €444 ($630, £382) in return for an 18-month contract at €35 ($49, £30) which includes 100 minutes, 150 texts and 500MB of data. Experience using the old 3G model for the past twelve months shows that data usage per month is seldom more than 150MB.

The important thing to bear in mind is that all phones are sold unlocked in Greece. So you are not restricted to buying from one supplier such as Apple's partner Vodafone. Since the Vodafone 3G signal is a bit iffy in parts of Mykonos, we've gone with Cosmote, the mobile branch of Greece's national telephone company, OTE. With this arrangement, the new phone can be used with a SIM card from any 3G network in Europe–including O2 in the UK where it will spend a large part of its life.

Interestingly, internet site Expansys is selling unlocked 32GB 3GS models for an gut-wrenching €1,140 ($1,617, £980) throughout Europe (including the UK, where unlocked phones are supposed not to be available). We wonder what planet Expansys think they are inhabiting? Even Vodafone Greece will sell you an unlocked 32GB model without a contract for €669 ($949, £575). 

OSX boot disk on SD card

Mike Evans
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By Michael Evans

A MONTH AGO I mentioned that I had bought a £20 SD-card adaptor for the Express card slot on my late-2008 MacBook Pro. Yesterday I took Step Two and created a boot disk out of a 16GB SanDisk Ultra card purchased locally on the island. I followed MacWorld's instructions and everything went smoothly, taking less time than they suggested. I cut down the installation to just under 7GB by deselecting unnecessary languages and all printer drivers, so I have another 7GB available for any other stuff I feel would be useful in emergency. In view of recent disasters, it will be a long time before I will venture abroad without the OS X DVDs; but it is comforting to have a quick way of booting from an SD card in emergency.

The great British plug meets its Waterloo

Mike Evans
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WE HAVE LONG been admirers of Apple's diminutive iPod/iPhone power US power adaptor with its minimal volume and folding prongs. Michael even bought a couple on his recent visit to Washington and has equipped them with euro-plug adaptors. Even with this add-on, they are smaller than the normal adaptor.

So we were pleased to see  the UK version of this minimalist approach appearing in the Apple Store this week. This is slim and makes the best of the bad job of the massive triangle of pins we have to put up with. The whole is slimmer than the normal 13-amp plug.

Britain has the world's largest industrial-strength plugs, complete with internal fuses and every safety precaution known to man. You could power all the lights of the Titanic from just one of these gems of over-engineering. Time was, we had neat two-pin plugs and even mini three-pin plugs especially for low-power devices, but they have all been banished by our 'Elf 'n Safety gauleiters. It is encouraging, therefore, to find Apple doing its bit for us mortals owning devices that consume less than 5 Kilowatts.

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Our over-size and over-kill domestic electrical arrangements have so far withstood the conformist pressure from the European Union. While a changeover would be a costly nightmare, I am a great admirer of the standard European two-pin plug system. Sockets take either a round, heavy duty plug with side earth contacts or a simple slim two-pin unit which satisfies the majority of computers and peripherals. 

Meanwhile we British struggle on with our muli-sockets the size of a London bus with a cable of a diameter normally reserved for 20 KW electric cookers. 

The back of your 40-in TV or the underneath of your computer desk normally houses several of these hippopotomi basking in complete safety and capable of dealing with anything that lightning, kids or the downright foolhardy can throw at them. At least we're safe, even if we were to plug in the Titanic by mistake.

Dangerous plastic packaging

Mike Evans
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THE DIMINUTIVE Belkin Media Reader-Writer, reviewed earlier today, came in the usual enormous tough-plastic display packaging. This colossus measures 29 x 16 x 7cm. The bulky bit containing the card, manual and lots of cardboard, has an internal volume of 1,000 cubic centimeters (same as the cylinders of a small car or a superbike). The card itself has a volume of approximately 10 cc. So the packaging is 100 times larger than it ought to be. This monstrous confection was difficult to carry home and took up far too much space in my bag. And, of course, it is ridiculously wasteful and difficult to recycle. We are being charged for supermarket bags, so why do we get such packaging foisted on us for free?

My biggest gripe isn't with the size, volume or waste. It concerns the near impossibility of freeing the product from the clutches of this unfriendly, sharp, unyielding lump of plastic. I keep an enormous pair of scissors especially for this type of recalcitrant packaging. Even so, it takes great effort and trying to rip open the resulting clean cut is fraught with dangers. It can only be a matter of time before someone chops off a finger on such a sheet of razor-sharp plastic and sues Belkin or whoever for several million. Roll on that day because it will mean an overnight change to more sensible, cheaper and more customer-friendly packaging. 

Although this latest monstrosity from the House of Belkin was in the Apple Store, it is significant that most Apple packaging is a model of what ought to be: small, neat cardboard boxes which are no bigger than they need be. Even the latest 13-in MacBook Pro comes in a box that looks as though it contains nothing bigger than an iPhone. So it is possible, Belkin. Next time I shall consult Messrs. Sue Grabbit & Run, so be warned.

Belkin Express Card media adapator

Mike Evans
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By Michael Evans

FUL1_F5U276ea APPLE'S DECISION to standardise the SD card slot in the latest MacBook Pro upgrades will mean increasing emphasis on these handy memory cards, now available in sizes up to 64GB. Not only are they used in most mainstream cameras, they are a useful way of backing up data and transferring files. The Express card, however, seems to be dying the death and that is probably why the latest MBPs have changed over from Express card to SD slot.

Not wanting to be left out of the party, I have just converted the Express card slot of my late-2008 15in Pro to SD with Belkin's inexpensive Media Reader-Writer adaptor. It slots into the Express slot and sits flush with the aluminum case of the computer. It can thus be left in situ and will not snag on bags or cases. An SD card protrudes 9mm and, at a pinch, can also be left in unless the case is very tight. 

The Belkin unit supports a wide range of media in addition to SD, either with or without adaptor. Without adaptor it takes SD, MMC, MMCplus, MS Pro and xD-Picture cards. With an adaptor it will take microSD, miniSD, MMCmobile, RS-MMC, MS Duo and MS Pro Duo. I've not had experience of most of these other formats but it is comforting to know I am now equipped for any eventuality.

This is a handy piece of kit and I would recommend it to any owner of a Mac with a built-in Express card slot. It costs £19.95 from the Apple Store in the UK and, presumably, can be picked up for less on the internet. 

A good word for O2 Telefonica

Mike Evans
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By Michael Evans

LAST WEEK I was moaning about O2's iPhone problem-solving skills and subsequently felt a little guilty. Because, after all, O2 isn't a bad network and has some attractive contract offers. Earlier this week I decided to hand down my original O2-locked iPhone 3G to a friend. We started off thinking about a pay-as-you-go card but realised that there was a realistic alternative in the form of what O2 call their Simplicity Tariff. 

We came out of the O2 store in London's Oxford Street  with a 30-day rolling contract–which can be cancelled after one month's notice–for £19.58 per month. While this isn't strictly an iPhone contract, it offers 600 minutes, 600 texts and unlimited data. You also get cheaper international calls and texts. An even cheaper option gives 300 minutes, 300 texts and unlimited data for £14.69. Equivalent iPhone contracts, with fixed terms of 18 months, cost £29.38 (75 minutes, 125 texts, unlimited data) or £34.26 (600 minutes, 500 texts, unlimited data). So this Simplicity tariff represents exceptional value for money.

There are two notable omissions in the "non-iPhone" Simplicity tariff: No visual voicemail and no free wifi on The Cloud and BT OpenZone. It depends how much you value these service and many people will be happy to do without in order to save £15 a month. After all, O2 are the losers because the cellular network will be used all the time rather than part of the time. 

Incidentally, American friends were asking about the contract cost in order to get a free iPhone. The answer is that the 8GB 3G is free on a contract of £44 per month for 18 months or £34 per month on 24 months. The 3G S 32 GB is free if you contract to pay £73 a month for two years.

All this said, you are still getting a locked phone. Why not sell the phones at a reasonably price of between £400 and £600 and leave them unlocked? Ask Apple. 

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