There's a difference between open, sign-in and encrypted Wi-Fi networks. Ideally, you'd want the latter, or more precisely WPA2 Enterprise combined with EAP-SIM for user authentication.
Posts by Bonnie
21 publicly visible posts • joined 18 Apr 2008
Germans Joyn in the operator-backed rival to Skype
Windows Phone 7 gets 'goodie' update
Nokia slips out Designed By Community handset
Windows Phone 7 up for grabs from 'excited' 3
Orange goes High Definition
HD VoIP
That decent VoIP service you're referring to would be using the very same AMR-WB codec as the Orange 3G HD handsets (some VoIP-capable Nokias already do). Not that I expect Orange to open up their cosy little walled garden to outsiders, but at least theoretically VoIP calls could be terminated to the Orange 3G network (and vice versa) without the need for transcoding, which generally wrecks HD quality.
Microsoft releases Symbian Communicator
One step forward and two steps back
Why doesn't the lack of VoIP support surprise me? The Eseries' Symbian S60 3.X is nearing end-of-life and the successor, Symbian^3, ditches integrated VoIP support. Symbian^4 reportedly reintroduces it again, but it's going to be a long wait. Eternity, perhaps?
Google accused over China censorship
Skype arrives on Nokia Symbian phones
Play.com touts Nexus One with added price
Nokia exec denies Symbian Maemo swap claim
Intel and Nokia's brave new world
Any uses for an old Mac G4?
Media server
I second the suggestion to use it as an iTunes server. But I would add TwonkyVision, so you can stream iTunes content to DLNA/UPnP devices, like in my case, a Denon AV receiver and a PS3. If you want to save a few quid, use open source alternatives like OpenSUSE PPC Linux, MediaTomb and daapd.
We can save the world, claim mobile operators
Sure, fine, but...
...on condition that the mobile operators drop restrictions on running 3rd-party apps on their networks, too. Blocking sites, throttling bandwidth, de-prioritizing traffic, imposing inane T&C on subscribers, squeezing unfair revenue shares out of content providers... we've seen it all.
Spectrum deregulation is fine if it's balanced with regulation that ensures the ensuing benefits are passed on to the little guys, the real innovators. Relying on the operators' supposed benevolence is just wishful thinking.
How Chrome puts the skids under Nokia
Can Google bin Android?
I agree with El Reg that Nokia will have to play the proprietary card for a long time to come in order to survive Google's services onslaught. Besides, Google wouldn't go through a costly exercise like Android if it didn't doubt Nokia's intentions. Who knows, maybe Android has already served its purpose. If Symbian truly becomes open source, why should Google bother with a complete OS instead of just releasing a Chrome for Symbian?
Windows Mobile 6 blamed for Xperia X1 woes
Learning curve
There's a learning curve to integrating WM, as there is to Symbian, but then again SE are old hands at the latter. I mean, they've made their share of mistakes with Symbian. With WM they're just getting started ;-)
The fact of the matter is that SE need WM to make a dent in the USA, where the lucrative enterprise market barely notices S60/Symbian, let alone UIQ/Symbian. Since there's life (OK, primitive life) outside of the USA, expect to see more Symbian smarties from SE. For the same reasons, I'd put money on Nokia coming out with a WM smartie, with a Qualcomm chipset inside (I suggest Nokia name it E666). Call it pragmatism or selling your soul to the devil, but either way, money rules.
gOS - a Google good OS for your Mum
Netbooks to the rescue?
I find the netbook reference interesting. If anything, netbooks benefit from the simplicity and user-friendliness of gOS. Yet Intel, the biggest proponent of netbooks, is pursuing Red Hat-based distros with their Moblin, even if Red Hat has that server bias. Intel really need to rethink who their partner with.
On a grander scale, what's interesting is that if netbooks do well, Linux gets a big boost out of it. Vista won't scale down, Symbian won't scale up, so what remains? Mac OS X? Too fringy.
Paris, 'cos she and her ilk will inherit the world.
Generic VoIP toolkit comes to the iPhone
VoIP over 3G
Jobs is right in fending off VoIP over 3G. Existing 3G networks need a few 3GPP release iterations before latency drops to levels deemed good enough for VoIP.
Anyhow, be it 3G or WiFi, 3rd-party VoIP apps don't do the Jesusphone justice. If it's more about more than just bragging rights, you'll want a seamlessly integrated VoIP client. Back to you, Steve.
Er, mine's the one with the Nokia N95 -- with integrated VoIP -- in the pocket.
Verizon sends text messages to the big screen
Is there a router I can connect a USB 3G modem to?
..sorta
Not for the faint-hearted but certainly a budget option:
Take an ASUS wireless router, most of which come with one or more USB ports. Replace the firmware with open-source OpenWRT (www.openwrt.org).
Connect a Nokia mobile phone with the USB cable provided to the ASUS (I used an old 6680, but new-fangled HSDPA models like N95 should work as well and they give you more oomph). The Nokia acts as the modem and can be controlled with the venerable AT command set.
Install and configure ACM driver and PPP on OpenWRT. This is the hard bit and requires a fair deal of patience/smokes/coffee/wine and not to forget, Linux admin skills. Guidance and help is available on the OpenWRT forums.
Skype comes to mobile (almost)
Nokia takes a Q1 tumble
40% market share...
...is unsustainable. Nokia got there mainly because of fumbles at Motorola (twice; first by fumbling the transition from 1G to 2G, then with the Razr navel-staring) and Ericsson (made phones styled like 80's Volvos).
Nokia is the one that needs to watch its step. Ovi is Nokia's misstep. You can nibble at the hand that feeds you, but you get slapped.