Call 0800, 0808 & 0500 Numbers Free From Your Mobile

Most mobile phone providers in the UK still charge their users for calls to 0800, 0808 and 0500 numbers. 0800Buster lets you call these numbers using your mobile’s inclusive minutes, by providing you with a UK landline number to dial instead.

No registration or set-up is necessary, and the service is completely free.

Just dial 01235 59 0800
Then enter the full free-phone number you want to call at the prompt
and then press #

For more details see http://www.0800buster.co.uk

Finding The Right Twitter Client

I’m a huge fan of Twitter and finding the right client is the key to using Twitter to it’s full potential.  I started off by using TwitterFox an add-on to Firefox which is nice and simple and get’s the job done, but as I started to follow more & more people, I needed a way to take in all the information which TwitterFox couldn’t really handle.  This is when started to use TweetDeck and I was immediately able organize my twitter feeds into columns enabling me to keep up with replies, DMs and keeping up with what all my friends are up to at any given moment.

I have tried the latest release of Twhirl too, but I still prefer to fill my 24″ screen with coloumns of tweets, which Twhirl can not do at present.

When I’m away from my PC I use Tweetie on my iPhone which I personally think is the best Twitter client for the iPhone.  TwitterFon is very similar but I just find Tweetie has the edge in terms of functionality and responsiveness.

For me, having the combination of both TweetDeck and Tweetie enable me to get the most out of Twitter wether I’m at my PC or on my iPhone.

We’re on the move!

I’m moving my blog over to dedicated hosting with it’s own domain name.  Once transferred I intend to update it more on a regular basis.

Hopefully things will go smoothly, will update the blog here and on Twitter with it’s new URL when the transfer has been completed.

Apple finally about to throw the towel in on DRM?

Accoring to CNET and other sources, Apple looks set to finally ditch DRM.

Source cnet.com news http://is.gd/eI2O :

“Apple has cut deals that will finally enable iTunes to offer songs free of copy protection software from the three largest music labels, according to two sources close to the negotiations. In exchange, Apple has agreed to become more flexible on pricing, the sources said.

Under the terms of the deal, song prices will be broken down into three categories–older songs from the catalog, midline songs (newer songs that aren’t big hits), and current hits–said one of the sources. Apple has offered songs free of digital rights management protections from EMI for more than a year. But EMI accounts for less than 10 percent of music sold in the U.S.; these new deals will expand iTunes’ DRM-free library to include songs from the other three major labels (Sony BMG, Universal, and Warner Music).

Apple and the music labels have also apparently come to terms on over-the-air downloads, according to a source. That would allow iPhone owners to download songs to their mobile devices via cell networks and without the aid of Wi-Fi. Apple, which closed the deals last week, could announce the agreements as early as Tuesday at the Macworld Conference and Expo in San Francisco.

Apple did not respond to requests for comment.

DRM-free songs are something that many iTunes users have requested for some time. However, the celebration over their appearance at the country’s largest music retailer may be overshadowed by increased prices on some hit songs, which might be seen by some as an Apple surrender on pricing. Apple fans have long applauded the company for holding the line on pricing despite loud complaints from the major music labels.

The good news is that the price of catalog music is falling to 79 cents per song. The labels will get an opportunity to price some hit songs for more than 99 cents but eventually those songs will drop to 79 cents, according to one source.

Before iTunes users get too worked up, they should remember that song prices at iTunes haven’t increased in five years. According to the Consumer Price Index, a 99-cent song in 2002 would be worth $1.17 today.

Not only will new music downloads be free of copy-protection software, but Apple and the labels will begin removing DRM from music already available in the iTunes Store, the source said. However, it’s unclear what will happen to songs that have already been purchased. “

Steve Jobs is suffering from a hormone imbalance

Steve Jobs posted the following letter on Apple’s website:

Dear Apple Community,

For the first time in a decade, I’m getting to spend the holiday season with my family, rather than intensely preparing for a Macworld keynote.

Unfortunately, my decision to have Phil deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed.

I’ve decided to share something very personal with the Apple community so that we can all relax and enjoy the show tomorrow.

As many of you know, I have been losing weight throughout 2008. The reason has been a mystery to me and my doctors. A few weeks ago, I decided that getting to the root cause of this and reversing it needed to become my #1 priority.

Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause—a hormone imbalance that has been “robbing” me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy. Sophisticated blood tests have confirmed this diagnosis.

The remedy for this nutritional problem is relatively simple and straightforward, and I’ve already begun treatment. But, just like I didn’t lose this much weight and body mass in a week or a month, my doctors expect it will take me until late this Spring to regain it. I will continue as Apple’s CEO during my recovery.

I have given more than my all to Apple for the past 11 years now. I will be the first one to step up and tell our Board of Directors if I can no longer continue to fulfill my duties as Apple’s CEO. I hope the Apple community will support me in my recovery and know that I will always put what is best for Apple first.

So now I’ve said more than I wanted to say, and all that I am going to say, about this.

Steve

Original article here: http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/01/05sjletter.html

Google reveals hidden menu in it’s iPhone app

In Google’s iPhone app, go to the settings menu and keep swiping your finger up until you reveal a hidden menu item called ‘Bells and Whistles’

Here’s Google’s blog about it’s little suprise.

Did Microsoft leak windows 7 Beta 1 (Build 7000) ?

Clever marketing by Microsoft if true, very clever.

http://is.gd/ero5

iPhone 3G Disassembled

ifixit.com have disassembled the latest iPhone 3G with step by step pics -

http://tinyurl.com/5aue6y

Bye X-Fi – Hello Xonar D2

Well my X-Fi appears to have a hardware fault after numerous testing I have RMA’d it and will be getting a full refund on purchase price as the supplier no longer stock this card.  With the refund I’m going to put it towards a Asus Xonar D2 and never buy another Creative soundcard again.

Here’s a review on the Xonar D2 – http://tinyurl.com/58xql6

Creative X-FI & Vista 64 = FAIL

I’m having so many problems getting my X-FI MusicExtreme to work after Vista detected the card as an unknown multimedia audio device.  It had been working for a couple of months since the last time it did this, but then managed to get the card working by switching PCI slots.  This time however its proving to be a real pain!  I’ve swapped PCI slots, re-installed drivers to no avail.  I’ve now cleaned up the Creative drivers with Driver Sweeper, but now Creative’s driver thinks their’s a newer version already installed on my system even though I’ve cleaned all the Creative drivers and software off.

I have a 8800GT, 4GB RAM, Vista 64 which I hear is a bad combination for an X-FI but surely by now Creative should had fixed all these issues.  I’m really tempted to buy another soundcard but I’m not giving up without a fight!