Archive for: UK
- December 17, 2011 12:03 pm
After an issue with Wi-Fi connectivity, Asus has announced that the Tegra quad-core Transformer Prime will hit US shelves December 19th, just in time for Christmas.
However, the folk across the pond in the UK can expect to get their hands on the tablet some time in January. Brits will also be lacking in choice as the Prime will come bundled with the laptop dock accessory, which will be an optional $149 purchase in the States. How much will the bundle cost? A pricey £499 (around $775) is what Asus is asking for, a tad higher than other Android tablets, a smidgen more than the 32Gb iPad 2, and above-par for standard laptops (around £400). In comparison, Asus will be selling the Transformer Prime sans dock for $499, making the bundle a more affordable $648.
Are Asus following Apple’s suit by adding a hefty tax for their devices in the UK? Will you be able to afford the Prime when it eventually releases in January?
The much hyped HTC Pyramid could be hitting UK shelves as the HTC Sensation, if an unnamed source of UK tech blog, Pocket-Lint, is to be believed. According to the source, the Pyramid/Sensation will be revealed on April 12th at the HTC’s special media event and officially launch in the coming months. However, not included in the latest leak of information include official specs or launch carriers. However, if we go by past rumors, we can expect to see the Pyramid/Sensation debut with a 4.3″ display and dual-core processor. Consider our fingers crossed…
Even though we here at GS don’t reside anywhere with Three UK’s cellular footprint, we’re constantly impressed by the comapny’s offerings of affordable pricing and generous minutes/texts/data alotment. And today, Three continues on that same path with the announcement of a new “all-you-can-eat” Pay-as-you-go data plan for a mere £15. Also included in the plan are 300 voice minutes and 3,000 texts. If you bump up to the next tier for £25/month, you net an additional 200 minutes.
All in all, it’s another strong showing from Three, and a ver competitive PAYG option that makes monthly contracts much less important.
Three UK customers can score even more deals with an upcoming competition being run by the carrier in celebration of their new plans, with prizes ranging from free trips across Europe by train to free smartphones to free PAYG service for an entire year. The competition runs from today, March 7th through April 1st. (More information here
Have you considered Three UK yet?
- January 12, 2011 12:55 pm
Two days ago, we highlighted T-Mobile UK’s asinine attempt to redefine what “web browsing” is while simultaneously punishing their users for arguably normal data usage by cutting their 3 GB data plans to a paltry 500 MB. Apparently enough people have voiced disapproval because T-Mobile has stepped back, but only slightly. Instead of a blanket data slashing across the board, current users can continue on with their 3 GB of happiness. New and upgrading users, however, will be subject to the new ridiculous limits.
In the grander scheme of things, T-Mobile’s concession is anything but a delaying of the inevitable. And that is sad. Once your current 3 GB plan runs out, you have no choice but to accept a new plan with the drastically reduced data allotment. If you love smartphones and actually using them for what they’re designed to do, now is the time to start searching for another carrier. Because as we’ve seen over the last couple of days, T-Mobile UK doesn’t want you to.
- December 14, 2010 6:29 am
In the never-ending assault on our wallets, taxes swoop in to pummel us when we’re done and spitting up blood. Though, given the current economic climate it’s certainly understandable governments are trying just about anything and everything they can to make a buck. With that said, one popular solution that has been proposed in several countries around the world before is a tax on SMS/Text messages. The latest person to call for such a thing — the UK Transport Union leader, Bob Crow.
His 1 cent per text proposal would generate upwards of £1 billion extra for the economy. However, it’s hardly a drop in the bucket when you look at the bigger picture — a staggering (and growing) 2010/11 budge deficit of £149 billion.
From a capitalists perspective, it makes sense to tax SMS messages like you would any other communication service. For consumers however, it’s just *insert local currency here* out of our wallets.
- November 22, 2010 9:40 am
Details are pretty slim right now, but Orange UK just announced that they are planning to subsidize Apple iPads to customers who subscribe to a monthly data plan. For users who were looking to pick up an iPad 3G + WiFi but didn’t have the necessary cash to drop up front may find the new subsidized model a more worthwhile option. Of course, you’ll probably be locked into a multi-year plan. But such speculation is just that at this point — no pricing, data allotment, or contract length are yet available. You’ll know when we know.
Update
Orange has officially come forward with their subsidized iPad offerings. Starting later today, interested parties can snag the 16GB version for £199 ($312) , the 32GB iPad for £249 ($391), and the 64GB iPad for £349 ($626). In order to qualify for the subsidized pricing, customers will need to subscribe to a data plan costing £27 ($42)/month. Said plan will give you 1GB of peak data, 1GB of off-peak (midnight-4pm) data, and 3GB of BT Access Open Zone Wifi per month as well. Slightly odd to see the cap on data over WiFi, but whatever. We’ll take what we can get, especially when that means a cheaper up front cost for an iPad.
Any UK readers going to bite?
- November 15, 2010 7:17 am
The growing trend in news these days is a paywall. To people used to the wide open internet from their younger years, it’s certainly a wake up call when you’re faced with a login page asking for a credit card just to read the news. But there are worse things in life. But if you’re a 3 UK cellular customer, things will be great — for the next three months at least.
The Times and 3 UK have reached a deal to bring the entire online edition of the newspaper to mobile users free of charge. Where it gets interesting is how the post-promotional pricing differs. For 3 post-paid/contract customers, it will cost £2/week. However, pre-paid/PAYG need only top up every 30 days to keep the free news flowing. Pre-paid/PAYG certainly have their perks.
Interested 3 UK customers have until March 31st, 2011 to get in on the offer.
It’s a great day to be a UK resident and 3D aficionado. Today, UK broadcaster, Sky, has launched the countries first all 3D channel. For 14 hours everyday, those across the pond will be able to tune in to TV complete with the third dimension. For now, that 14-hour broadcasting window starts at 9am. But as time progresses and uptake of 3D notches upwards, expect programming to expand and also grow in programming choices.
If you want to experience the 3D goodness “a-la-carte”, prepare to dish out £61/month. However, if you subscribe to Sky’s Top World HD Package you can have the 3D channel “on the house”.
Also worth noting — Virgin UK has officially launched their first 3D Movies On Demand service today. All you need is a 3D-capable TV, 3D glasses, and a Virgin HD Plus set top box.
It’s pretty cool to see 3D options finally appearing, even if I can’t test them out myself (living in the US and all). What do the guys and gals of GS-land think? Any UK readers care to weigh in?
*Facepalm* When are corporate entities going to realize the almighty dollar is not always the most important factor? I’m referring to a recent decision by the UK Government to forgo any browser upgrades as they had been planning. Instead, the whole lot of ‘em will continue pushing IE6 as the standard affair.
It’s quite sad when the browser’s own parent company, Microsoft, repeatedly knocks the browser for being old, slow, and insecure, the UK Government still considers it a viable option. When looking solely at monetary aspects, sure, IE6 may save a few pennies. But after being in the corporate IT world myself for many years, I can tell you that moving from browser to browser is not as big of a hassle as the UK Government is playing it off to be.
The Brits cite Microsoft’s willingness to update and patch IE6 until 2014. For the sake of everyone UK Government employee’s sanity, I hope to God they jump ship to greener pastures long before the deadline. Any official employees care to weigh in?
