Jenny Brannan (@JenBrannan) has won Speed’s weekly quiz. She correctly identified that it was Naomi Campbell who hit the headlines last week for allegedly attacking her chauffeur driver.
Jenny wins a retro sweets hamper.
Follow @speedcomms and every Friday at midday we’ll tweet a question. To take part simply send an @ reply with your answer. The winner will be randomly chosen at the end of the day and will be announced on the Speed Blogs and on Twitter on the following Monday morning.
It’s hard to believe that the introduction of mobile communication and the leaps and bounds that the technology has seen since has taken place in the majority of our lifetimes. Advances in mobile communication have taken us from phone calls and messaging, to internet access and the more recent flurry around mobile apps as well as access to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter on the go.
For many, whiling the hours away browsing the internet, checking emails and downloading the latest apps on our mobile phones comes far too easily and although we can’t overlook the business benefits of mobile communication it’s the lifestyle and entertainment pros that more often catch our attention and make their way into our conversations.
However, the recent disaster in Haiti has highlighted quite clearly how, for all the fun that mobile access can provide, there is a more serious side to how this technology can be used for our benefit. The first images and videos to reach the public from the earthquake-torn region on Tuesday were captured with mobile phones and now, with the breakdown of traditional means of communication tools such as Twitter are being used as the primary means of contact and Google and Facebook are making missing persons lists available.
Charities worldwide have been quick to set up text aid lines for the public to pledge money to relief work to those in Haiti. As a result the Red Cross and other relief organisations have now raised more than $20 million via text message donations. Not only has mobile communication aided the spread of information quickly, but has had a direct impact on getting help to the right places and people.
For a list of ways to donate money, including by your mobile phone click here
BBC – Complaints greet Google Nexus One phone
Google is being inundated with complaints about its Nexus One phone. The touchscreen smartphone was launched on 5 January and many people are unhappy with Google only responding to questions by email and are calling for it to set up phone-based support.
CBR – Intel unveils app store for netbooks
Intel has launched a beta version of its software application store, the Intel AppUp centre for netbook computers and four other Intel partners Acer, Asus, Dell and Samsung are collaborating with Intel to bring their apps to consumers.
Computerworld UK – Google Energy to trade electricity
Google continues to broaden it business focus, now seeking permission to buy and resell electricity.
The Financial Times (online) – Component shortages set to push up computer costs
The cost of assembling personal computers will rise this year for the first time in six years because of shortages in some key components, industry analysts have forecast.
IT PRO – Mandelson launches new IT courses for adults
New IT courses are set to give thousands of adults the computer skills they need, according to a new Government initiative.
Computing.co.uk – Majority of Wi-Fi points in the UK locked
The UK is trailing the US and many other EU countries in the number of available open Wi-Fi access points, according to research by American firm WeFi.
BBC – How online life distorts privacy rights for all
People who post intimate details about their lives on the internet undermine everybody else’s right to privacy, claims Dr Kieron O’Hara. He has called for people to be more aware of the impact on society of what they publish online.
The Register – Computerworld UK – Apple files patent for thin touchscreen
Apple has filed a patent for thinner, brighter touch-screens for its laptop and mobile devices, such as the iPhone.
The Daily Telegraph – Facebook ‘bra colour’ status update craze ‘raising breast cancer awareness’
A new Facebook craze is sweeping the social networking site, where woman give details of their bra colour, to help raise awareness for breast cancer. Thousands of female users – and some male ones – began updating their statuses on Friday with “beige”, “hot pink” and “crimson red”.
Computer Weekly – IT will be key to retailers’ survival in 2010, says Ovum
IT will play a key role in helping retailers cope with increasing economic pressure in 2010, say industry analysts. UK retail sales are expected to grow by 1.1 per cent this year, with non-food industries experiencing negative or zero growth until 2011, according to Verdict Research.
BBC – Plastic Logic e-reader aims to challenge Kindle
UK firm Plastic Logic has launched its Que e-reader in a bid to challenge the dominance of Amazon’s Kindle.
BBC – Microsoft and HP show off ‘slate’ PC
Microsoft and HP have teamed up to introduce a slate computer ahead of Apple’s much rumoured device launch. The firms unveiled the Windows 7 powered touchscreen machine, otherwise known as a tablet, at CES this week.
The Financial Times – Sarkozy proposes ad tax on Google
The French government is considering levying a tax on the advertising revenues of Google and other internet portals, in the latest sign of a European backlash against the activities of the US internet search group.
The Financial Times – Intel re-enters market with smartphone
Intel unveiled a smartphone at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Thursday, marking its re-entry into the handset market after an absence of four years.
IT PRO – More signs of recovery as IT spending outlook rises
The IT market continues to show green shoots of growth that could be indicative of financial recovery, according to the latest research from industry analyst IDC.
IT PRO – O2 and 3 bosses want UK-based probe into Orange/T-Mobile
Rival mobile operators have called for Orange’s merger with T-Mobile to be scrutinised by UK regulators rather than their European counterparts.
CBR – Insurance firms see IT as a risk
Technology is a top concern for insurance companies, according to a global research report into the sector by HP. Bucking the recent global financial turmoil, insurance firms were highly active in 2009, investing, in particular, in modernising and streamlining applications, technology to improve the efficiency of internal processes and outsourcing.
Computing.co.uk – Bad winter could cost businesses £230m per day
The Forum of Private Business has warned that severe weather conditions could costs businesses £230m per day if they do not take steps to enable staff to work from home. The figure is based on one employee per company being off for one day and not working.
Silicon.com – Windows Azure users will have to pay from next month
Microsoft will start to charge developers to use its Windows Azure cloud computing platform from next month.
BBC – Bigger Amazon Kindle DX lays down gauntlet to rivals
As the e-reader market heats up, Amazon is trying to stay ahead of the competition with the international launch of its bigger Kindle DX.
Total Telecom – T-Mobile UK, 3 UK in talks to sell Google’s Nexus One
T-Mobile and 3 UK have confirmed they are in discussions to sell Google’s first own-branded Android smartphone, Nexus One, in the U.K.
The Guardian: Boris Johnson to launch London ‘Datastore’ with hundreds of sets of data
Fund of up to £200,000 will help developers to create innovative use of 200 datasets in new free data initiative
Computerworld UK – Year-end glitch blocked email across world
Email sent in the first few hours of 2010 may not have reached its recipient thanks to an embarrassing “2010″ bug buried in the open source SpamAssassin anti-spam engine used by many Internet Service Providers.
Computer Weekly – 2009 sets new records for malware, says Panda Security
PandaLabs, the anti-malware laboratory of Panda Security identified record 25m new strains of malware in 2009. This is 10m more than the company has recorded in the past 20 years and includes a large number of new examples of banker Trojans, making up 66 per cent of the total
Computing.co.uk – Most SMEs will use cloud computing in 2010
More than half of small and medium sized enterprises are planning to use cloud computing technology this year, according to new research published by internet service provider Easynet Connect.
BBC – 3D TV, e-readers and tablet PCs to debut at CES show
Connectivity, 3D, e-readers and tablet computers are the trends to watch at the world’s biggest technology conference in Las Vega this week.
The Register – Sony to co-launch 3D TV channel?
Sony may partner with two leading video entertainment giants to launch a dedicated 3D TV channel, it has emerged, just hours after sports broadcaster ESPN confirmed plans for its own 3D telly service.
Computerworld UK – Good news on IT jobs
There has been a significant increase in the demand for IT staff, according to an extensive survey of recruitment firms.
The Financial Times – Cybersitter sues China for piracy
A small California company that was one of the first to bring an internet porn filter to market sued the government of China and several major computer companies on Tuesday, accusing them of misappropriating its censorship program for use in the controversial “Green Dam” project.
CBR – Innovation suffers at hands of IT cuts
Recessionary budget cuts in IT have damaged innovation and cost companies their customers, according to an international BT Global Services study.
Computer Weekly – Conservative manifesto would revamp NHS IT
The Conservative Party has published a draft manifesto for the NHS, which could have a material impact on the NHS National Programme for IT.
Computing.co.uk – Chrome passes Safari to become third most popular browser
Google’s Chrome browser continued its impressive growth in popularity by leapfrogging Safari into third place last month.
BBC – Speculation rife on Google phone
The web is awash with gossip and rumour about the imminent arrival of a Google-branded phone. The search firm is widely expected to unveil the Nexus One phone at a press conference scheduled today at its California HQ.
The Times – Philips tests ‘Big Brother’ health checks
The scope of a new global healthcare market worth billions of pounds is being tested by Philips, the electronics group, in the UK with the world’s biggest trial of distance monitoring of chronically ill patients in their homes.
CRN – Netintelligence wins Home Access contract
Internet security firm Netintelligence has won a contract to supply the government with e-safety software for its soon-to-be launched Home Access Programme. The programme, which will be formally launched early this year, aims to supply 270,000 low-income households containing children aged between seven and 13 with internet access by March 2011.
Silicon.com – The top software stories of 2009
The past 12 months have seen some big developments that have shaken up the software industry and could potentially have an even bigger impact in 2010.
BBC – New Year Honours for game makers
Veteran British game makers have features strongly in the Queen’s New Year Honours list. In total, four games figures won honours including Oliver and Paul Collyer, the brothers behind the Championship Manager series.
The Times – 2010: the year of the mobile
Desktop computers are so last decade. 2010 is shaping up to be the year when internet users move decisively away from bulky machines to the mobile web.
CRN – UK lags as European PC market bounces back
European PC sales through distribution soared last month, but UK revenues continued to tumble as mainland countries returned to growth.
Computerworld UK – O2 network overloaded by iPhone apps
Mobile comms operator O2 has struggled to support its customers in the latter half of 2009, its chief executive admitted.
The Financial Times – Smartbooks launch assault on PCs
Smartbooks are beginning a new year assault on the PC market with the launch on Monday of a range of multi-coloured devices that bridge a gap between smartphones and netbook computers.
Ben Matthews (@Benrmatthews) is the twelfth and final winner in Speed’s Christmas Quiz. Ben correctly identified that the furniture retailer that famously broke the laws of twitter marketing etiquette and blamed it on an ‘intern’ was Habitat. Ben wins a bottle of champagne – enjoy!
Thanks to all who have participated in our Christmas media quiz.
Have a great Christmas!
