Monthly Archives: June 2012

The Smart Wireless Headset pro is a multifunctional Bluetooth™ stereo headset. It packs four functions into one small, sleek device. Take phone calls, receive text, email, social media, and calendar alerts (1), or use as a standalone MP3 player and FM radio.

In addition to delivering stunning sound and clear call quality, the Smart Wireless Headset pro uses smart text to speech technology that reads aloud text and email messages, so you don’t miss that crucial email from your boss informing you that your meeting has been rescheduled. (1)

Smart Wireless Headset pro is part of Sony Mobile Communications’ strategy to create Smart Extras that make Android smartphones smarter.

Key features:

· Proprietary tangle-free headset with 6mm speaker drivers delivers sound richness and clarity

· 4 devices in 1: wireless headset, MP3 player, FM radio and notification hub for incoming texts, emails, social media and calendar alerts

· Basic audio and call features enabled with all Bluetooth™ 2.0 capable devices

· Use the Smart Wireless Headset pro with an Android™ smartphone to receive additional capabilities:

o Call directly from the headset’s recent call list

o Read messages into the headset with text to speech function

· Enjoy tunes anywhere with the included 2GB Micro SD memory card (ability to upgrade to 32GB)

Pricing & availability:

The Smart Wireless Headset pro is $149.99 and is now available at Sony.com/smartheadset and Sony stores.

In the box:

· Premium tangle-free headset

· Music transfer USB cable

· Micro USB charger

· 2GB Micro SD card

· USB-Micro SD Card Reader CCR-80

· Earbuds: 4 sizes

· User guide & Warranty leaflet

Virgin Media has unveiled a new range of mobile tariffs that will set a new standard in unbeatable value which will challenge the rest of the industry to keep up. The star of the show is the hero ‘Premiere’ tariff which combines all-you-can-eat data, unlimited texts, unlimited calls to UK landlines and 2,500 anytime minutes.

To make the most of the largest 3G network in the UK* as well as the hottest smartphones of the summer, Virgin Media has created some of the most competitive tariffs on the market designed to be simple, affordable and flexible, with amped up benefits for loyal Virgin Media** customers

‘Premiere’ starts at an incredible £21 per month for Virgin Media** customers as the company looks to help people to stay connected on the go and whilst making the most of the benefits and savings to be had from taking a mobile with their existing Virgin Media services.

The new tariffs include options for every mobile phone user with prices starting from as little as £18 per month for the new ‘Starter’ tariff, or £13 per month for Virgin Media customers. Not only do Virgin Media customers enjoy reduced costs, saving £5 per month on each tariff, but they also benefit from unlimited calls and texts to other Virgin Mobiles.

Jamie Heywood, director of mobile at Virgin Media said: “When we launched over ten years ago as the worlds first mobile company of its type, we revolutionised the market, and this is another such landmark. As people look for the best value, we’re rewarding loyalty with some amazing tariffs with unlimited offerings that our customers can enjoy without worrying about hidden extras, as well as helping to combat bill shock.”

In a pioneering move, all the new tariffs will include insurance*** for no extra cost for the length of the contract for new and existing Virgin Media customers. It follows a recent study by Virgin Media that found a staggering proportion of Brits (72 per cent) don’t have insurance for their mobiles, despite 70 per cent also admitting to breaking or losing up to seven phones in the last decade – often within the typical 24 month contract period****.

Smartphones can cost as much as £500 and often contain invaluable data such as contacts, texts, emails and photos, so losing one can be a costly and incredibly frustrating experience. The new insurance service (worth £7.99 per month) provides 24 hour guaranteed handset replacement in the UK if it goes missing or is stolen***** and includes Mobile Rescue which will automatically back-up all contacts as well as lock and locate the handset remotely.

Heywood added: “An overwhelming number of consumers don’t believe that mobile insurance is necessary and won’t consider taking insurance through their mobile provider because it’s too expensive. For too long mobile providers have failed to offer insurance that represents value for money. We were astounded to find so many people were prepared to gamble when it came to protecting their handsets, which is why we are now the only provider to offer inclusive insurance as standard for our loyal customers at no extra cost.”

The new range of pay monthly tariffs are subject to 24 month****** contracts and in order to help ensure they have the perfect tariff for their needs, Virgin Media will automatically text customers when they are nearing the limits of their allowances (where applicable) to help ensure manageable costs. Virgin Media’s smartphones also come preloaded with the ‘My Account’ app so customers can keep track of how much they’ve used of their monthly allowance, and if needed, customers have the flexibility to move up or down the tariffs at any point in their contract without penalty.

For customers already with their own data-hungry smartphones Virgin Media is also launching a new range of flexible ‘SIM Only’ tariffs. The ‘SIM Only’ tariffs work on a rolling monthly basis with ‘Premiere’ starting at £20 for cable and national customers who will benefit from unlimited data, text, calls to other Virgin Mobiles and UK landlines.

Virgin Media customers will also be able to take advantage of free WiFi access at up to 120 London Underground stations.

For more information on Virgin Media’s products and services, head to www.virginmedia.com

Flipboard the social magazine has officially launched on Android.

Flipboard’s award-winning experience lets people see everything in one place. By bringing together the world’s stories and life’s great moments, you can stay up to date with the things that matter most. Flip through the news from your Twitter timeline as well as from outlets like the BBC, USA Today and The Verge. See everything from posts and photos shared by friends on Facebook and Instagram to videos from Stephen Colbert and pop culture nuggets from Rolling Stone. Find inspiration for your travel, style and life from places like National Geographic, Oprah and Cool Hunting.

Highlights:
Be amazed by what you see when everything people are sharing, collecting and publishing in every moment comes together in a single place.

Search for anything—people, topics, hashtags, blogs, your favorite sites—and flip through articles, updates, photos and videos in a beautiful magazine format.

Connect Flipboard to 12 social networks, streamlining your reading and activities like commenting, liking and sharing. Services include Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+, YouTube, Google Reader, LinkedIn, Flickr, 500px, Sina Weibo and Renren.

Get a quick dose of what’s happening now, in Cover Stories, a constantly updated selection of articles, photos and videos shared by your friends.

Save anything to read later using Instapaper, Pocket and Readability.

Create a Flipboard account to access your favorite content and social networks on different or shared devices.

Enjoy Flipboard in 14 localized editions—for Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Spain, Taiwan, U.S. and U.K.

Explore hundreds of staff picks in the Content Guide, including must-read magazines and blogs, gorgeous photography and special curated sections devoted to the news of the day and other topics of interest.

Access Flipboard quickly through the widget.

NOTE: This app is optimized for smartphones, not tablets.

More info http://www.flipboard.com

Linuxlinks has published an interesting article “First Steps with the Raspberry Pi”. Linuxlinks say “the Raspberry Pi is the most exciting computer we have seen for many a year. It is quite simply a dinky device at a price point which represents a tremendous achievement.”

The article covers:
. Introduction
2. Distributions
3. Benchmarks
4. Software
5. Things to Do with the Raspberry Pi
6. Summary

Read more: http://www.linuxlinks.com/article/20120603051148201/RaspberryPi-Introduction.html