Like many this evening, I anxiously rushed in to watch the Apple keynote wondering what iPhone excitement might be announced and was delighted to see the 1.1.3 firmware that had been leaked last week was real, finished and released. My joy wasn’t long lived though as the upgrade succeeded and then failed… all because I have the SIM lock enabled on my iPhone (just relying on the phone lock to protect me cost me well over £100 in calls when I lost my last phone and the thief swapped my SIM into their handset).

A few ‘OKs’, iPhone clicks and re-starts later all is well and I’m busy playing with the new features (my girlfriend is not impressed my iPhone can tell me we’re at home, she could so that without a phone she points out), but this is not the slickness you usually get from Mr Jobs et al…

Back in August I reviewed 3’s X-Series tariffs , the ‘unlimited data’ add-on for contract customers bundled with a range of applications , and rather liked them.

However, I wasn’t able to test the Slingplayer Mobile application and was dubious about its value a part of the more expensive Gold tariff. This option, costing double the basic price at £10 per month in the UK, allowed unlimited streaming of media to an X-Series handset from a PC (via the Orb software package) or from a Slingbox ‘place-shifting’ device. Well, the nice folks from Parys Communications sorted us out with one to borrow and now I’m eating some humble pie…

For those not in the know, a Slingbox is a small electronic box of tricks shaped similar to a bar of gold (or so I believe from watching the ‘Italian Job’). It contains both an analogue and a Freeview (DVB-T) tuner, but can also be connected to a set-top box (for cable or satellite TV). It then connects to your broadband service and allows streaming of whatever is being watched or any channel from its internal tuners to PCs, PDAs and now Symbian phones so you can watch them away from home (hence ‘place-shifting’).

Usefully the Slingbox also provides an infrared transmitter that knows how to control most popular set-top boxes, DVD players and the like so channels can be changed, menus can be operated and recordings started and stopped remotely too. 3 were the first network in the world to introduce the Symbian client coupled with unlimited streaming over 3G and it wasn’t until almost a year later in October this year that Sling made the client generally available.

Setting up the Slingbox is easy, even with the spaghetti of cables under my TV the instructions had me hooking it up to my Sky box in 5 minutes with all the various cables needed included. An annoyance I hadn’t anticipated was that the Slingbox requires a wired connection to your broadband router so I had to move that closer to my TV (Homeplug-type devices can work around this - Sling even sell their own), but otherwise it worked straight away.

Once connected to my home network and switched on, I loaded the PC client and configured its network settings. Again this worked first time and I was able to start watching and controlling TV on my PC. Exciting as this was though (read reviews here, here, here for more on its basic features) I wanted TV on my mobile and moved straight on to my N73 handset to download the Slingplayer Mobile application from 3’s portal.

On running the application for the first time I entered the details of the Slingbox I wanted to view (the application can remember several if you have more than one) including a long number and letter sequence that I had written down during the initial PC-based config. Then I hit ‘start’ and held my breath… Around 10 seconds later the client indicated it was connected and starting to stream. Another 20 seconds or so passed and then voila! TV… on my phone. I threw on a hands-free kit to get the best out of the sound and settled in for a play…

I’m not sure what I expected, but the quality was simple amazing. I would have believed it over a WiFi connection, but over 3G streaming from my ropey home broadband? Wow. Although I had the option to switch it off I also left the sound set to highest quality stereo and it was as good as listening to FM radio on the device. I was astounded. Control of my Sky box was slick too… the client received the configuration of the set-top box I had entered on my PC earlier and through a ‘remote control’ menu I was able to access all of the features of my Sky box including the menus – the options appeared to have been customised for my device. Intuitively the mini-joystick on the phone controlled channels and menus as if using my remote control and I selected a couple of buttons I used regularly to add to a shortcut bar.

Showing colleagues at work many wouldn’t believe the video wasn’t being played from a memory card.

However, sat at home or in the office I already had access to TV when I wanted it so I set about testing it properly… on the move. I figured the train was as good a place as any. As a rule, anywhere with a reasonable 3G signal was absolutely fine, but there was nothing doing on 2G. On a 20 minute journey into Waterloo the picture would stutter on 2 or 3 occasions, but even if lost completely it recovered well without intervention after 10 seconds or so. One problem tunnel where only a 2G signal is available routinely caused the connection to fail, but otherwise I was surprised by its reliability. Off public transport and sat in coffee shops or waiting for an appointment the experience was much the same as at home – seamless. The picture was sharp, the sound was stereo and always synchronised with the picture and even text was crisp and clear (if not a bit small).

Although greatly impressed there were a few areas for improvement… The free Slingbox client that 3 gives away presents the image across the width of the phone’s display. This felt like a real waste of screen space as my N73 turned sideways has an almost wide-screen aspect. I eventually solved this by downloading the newer, generally-available client from the Sling website. Although not free (£20) it adds this crucial feature and allows the image to be scaled to fill the screen or displayed fully with letterboxing. However, it is a shame that 3 have not updated their client. Another cause for complaint was the start-up speed of the connection. This varied depending on signal and was a little slower on the move – at it’s slowest (over a minute from clicking ‘start’ to viewing an image) it was frustrating and particularly so if re-connecting after one of the rare disconnections. However, my biggest complaint doesn’t really relate to the Sling product at all… it’s TV.

There’s nothing on. Well, nothing worth watching….

The problem is that I normally only sit down to watch TV when something I want to watch is on. Having mobile TV was great but at 8am on the train into work all I could watch was painful breakfast TV… It was at this point that it dawned on me why so much attention to detail had been put into the remote control features. A Slingbox really is at its best paired with a DVR such as a Sky+ box. I went home, re-wired and configured the Slingbox to work with my hard-disk recorder (no Sky+ in my flat!) and bingo… telly nirvana. With the ability to watch shows I wanted from disk, to pause them when I was interrupted and rewind TV if the signal dropped the Slingbox was complete. Rather than being something to idly fill the time, I looked forward to commuting to catch up with the previous night’s Sopranos. On other occasions I’d watch live TV on the train home, pause it at the station and finish the program on the TV once I arrived. ‘Showing off’ my girlfriend called it, but she always says that when she’s impressed…
So would I recommend a Slingbox and Slingplayer Mobile? Absolutely I would – particularly if you’re a regular traveller. But there’s another factor to consider too… the price. Although not making much effort to publicise it, 3 offer a free Slingbox to Gold tariff subscribers. These normally cost about £95 from internet retailers, but if you intend to subscribe to Silver tariff anyway upgrading to Gold for an 18 month contract will only cost an additional £90. That’s pretty good value for a Slingbox and unlimited media streaming in my book.

Update: Since I started this review Sling have released 2 new products in the UK – primarily adding High Definition features. The original model is now referred to as the ‘classic’ but continues to be available for sale and free from 3. Although I haven’t tested them, reports indicate the new models are compatible with the Symbian client, but that there is no noticeable improvement in quality of mobile experience – that requires a PC or Mac client.

Ben Smith has put on a black long-haired wig, a load of white foundation and some bright red lipstick to bring us these set of possibly fairly accurate Apple iPhone UK predictions.

You shouldn’t wish your life away, but I do wish it was tomorrow already (and not just because of the leftover pastries from the weekly client meeting) so to wile away the remaining few hours until Apple’s big announcement, I’ll don my ‘Mystic Ben’ big pointy hat, buff my crystal balls and gaze deeply into them to bring you some wild guesswork predictions:

What: Yep, it’s the announcement of the UK iPhone as widely predicted, but not it’s a full launch tomorrow. Instead we’ll get the release schedule, the networks and retailers named. The Apple store in Regents Street will be closed during the announcement, but will re-open at 4pm with an iPhone display. Around midday the Apple logo will be hoisted over Buckingham Palace (possibly).

iPhone 2 / 3G: Nope, it will be the same EDGE-based model as launched in the US with 8GB of storage. The sound of narked tech journalists explaining that anything less than a 3G model won’t sell in Europe will be drowned out only by the sound of the baying crowds that gather at every potential point of retail.

Who: As widely predicted O2 will get the deal and announce immediate availability of a nationwide EDGE network as well as visual voicemail. Anyone with an EDGE-capable device will be confused by this ‘announcement’ as it’s been active in some areas for some time.

When: It will be available in mid-October. In the intervening time announcements for the remainder of the ‘first wave’ of European launches will be made in their respective countries.

Retailers: In addition to Apple and O2 retail locations, Carphone Warehouse, who neither sell carphones nor operate from warehouses, will be announced as a retailer. A small Apple shrine will be erected at each shop and Charles Dunstone will push a TalkTalk discounted offer as an additional benefit for the CPW customers. Anyone taking up that service will be desperately disappointed and spend a lot of time discussing the failings of the UK’s local-loop unbundling arrangement with ‘Kelvin’ who will be somewhere in Bangalore [actually that’s not a prediction – more a statement of fact].

Price: The iPhone will be £269 with an 18-month contract from O2. The Bluetooth head set will be £79 and the dual dock will be £35.

Tariffs: O2 will launch three 18-month tariffs exclusively for the iPhone. Priced at £35, £55 and £75 per month they’ll offer 400, 800 and 1200 minutes respectively and will be matched with bundles of hundreds of texts. The text bundles will be largely unused though as people struggle with the touch-screen keyboard. All three tariffs will include ‘unlimited data’. Starting midday Tuesday, O2 will roll out a programme of training to its retail staff explaining the term ‘unlimited data’. Many will need counselling support. A selection of add-ons will be available to supplement the iPhone tariffs, but these will be reserved for the dedicated tariffs and existing ‘bolt ons’ will not be available.

Problems: There will be a number of problems at launch, including the O2 website which will fail under the initial peak demand. Number porting will be slow and unreliable, as all the networks struggle with the sudden rush of requests. O2 will be more prepared than most, but their efforts will be largely negated by the other networks who will be unable to process the load and unwilling to expend much extra effort to cumulatively off-load a couple of hundred thousand users.

Surprises: [...and this is a really long-shot] The launch won’t be UK-only and the O2 / CPW deal will also extend to the Republic of Ireland - there will be rejoicing in the streets although launch will be after the UK.

What next (short term): Telefónica shares will drop after some initial wobbles as the market realises that revenue sharing with Apple means less money for the same work / risk. Things will get worse in Q1 2008 as Apple announces the US-availability of a 3G-based iPhone and plans for a European launch late 2008. This time there’ll be no early-adopter rebates (for customers or Telefónica’s investors who will wonder if the expense of nationwide EDGE roll-out for less than a year’s use was worthwhile when they already had a 3G infrastructure).

What next (way, way off): With the exception of Canada, Australia and New Zealand iPhones won’t be launched any further until a 2nd or 3rd generation is launched. Apple will resist customising the hardware for specific markets so official launches in the Asian markets, particularly China and Japan won’t happen in the next couple of years.

[Note: ‘Mystic Ben’ has no inside information– in fact he barely even reads the papers. Your credibility may be at risk if you rely on any of this. Ben does not accept any responsibility for inaccuracies and won’t take kindly to being told he was wrong tomorrow because he’s just guessing really. Your home is at risk if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loan secured on it]

SMS Text News regular (and world-renowned foosball player) Ben Smith has been living with 3’s X-Series in the UK and his travels for just over six months. It’s been his ‘regular drive’ - his everyday handset and a home for his main work and personal number. What does he think about it? Here’s his long-term road test of the service.

Read the rest of this entry »

SMS Text News contributor Ben Smith has been testing out mobile backup service Mobyko. How did he find it? Read on…

- - - -

It’s easy enough to lose your phone - when you’re not leaving it in the back of a taxi after an evening’s liquid refreshment some light-fingered type is taking it from you in broad daylight. In the UK we lose around 4.5 million handsets a year (of which almost 900,000 are accidentally flushed down the toilet). In fact, if the Home Office are to be believed (pinnacle of excellence that it is) 800,000 of us had a phone stolen last year (that’s a phone stolen in more than 50% of all robberies). Of course, a lost or stolen phone can quickly be rendered a useless brick with a call to your mobile operator, but the cost of a replacement handset is often minimal compared to the inconvenience of losing your phonebook (or that text from the cute girl in the pub). Two groups of people know this - the bad guys (who having stolen your phone offer to sell your SIM card back for a tenner - see Ewan’s story) and the good guys… Mobyko are the good guys.

Launched in January this year, Mobyko is a UK-based start-up offering a free over-the-air backup service for contacts, texts, videos and pictures. They support around 80% of the existing handsets on the market by using the SyncML standard to synchronise your contacts wirelessly with their servers without needing any special software on the phone. This means that even the the most basic phones on the market can use the service. Texts, videos and pictures can also be stored by forwarding them to a Mobyko number which adds them to your online backup. You can mange, add to and edit all your data via the Mobyko website from which they also provide web-based text messaging and sell a range of music, wallpapers and videos which are sent direct to your phone and automatically added to your backup. ‘Live chat’ help is available and a premium service (£24.99 per year) provides extra storage, credits for downloads / texting and telephone support. So far they’ve backed up over 700,000 contacts (266 of them mine)… not bad for just on 6 months open for business.

Of course, Mobyko are not unique is offering this type of service. There’s competition from established players such as Zyb and the confusingly similarly-named Mobical, but those services don’t provide the breadth of features and there are a couple of other things that mark Mobyko out as worth serious consideration too… First up is their sign-up process - it’s real ‘anyone could follow this’ stuff. A clear 4-step process walks you through the business of signing up, showing screen shots of exactly what your particular phone will look like at each step of the way. Then, based on the information you supply, they send all of the pre-configured settings directly to your handset including all the data settings for your operator. The second is the way they address the privacy of your data… I was hesitant to send all my contacts to some unknown website…. there’s my friends, colleague’s, client’s and family’s numbers in there and you don’t win prizes for upsetting that lot by giving their details to spammers. So I had a look at their privacy policy (it’s there linked at the bottom of every page) and it spells out in words pleasantly free of legalese what they will do (look after your data) and won’t do (sell it). And, because they’re UK-based the information they hold is covered by data protection legislation and they list addresses and phone numbers you can contact them on. Nice…

My first sync whipped through a couple of hundred contacts in a few seconds using the unlimited data on my 3 X-series tariff, but checking the phone’s logs only a few kilobytes of data were transferred so the cost wouldn’t have been terrible even on the most expensive of data tariffs. The process (at least on Nokia phones) is manually started through the phone’s menus which means there’s no unpleasant surprises on your bill if you still pay-as-you-go for data (oh, how last year!) and if remembering to sync regularly is a problem there’s a text reminder option. Another nice feature, not greatly emphasised on the site, is that contacts deleted from the phone aren’t actually removed from Mobyko - just moved to a ‘deleted’ area so they can be recovered at a later date. The web-based text worked quickly and puts your number in the ‘from’ field so replies are sent to your phone.

The service wasn’t completely problem free - the first couple of text messages set to the site for backup failed to appear as did a few of the wallpaper images I bought, but this was quickly resolved by customer support who knew their stuff and replaced more than the lost credits by way of an apology. Feature-wise there’s no way to recover anything other than contacts directly back to the phone although you can e-mail them. Also, the choice and quality of downloadable content is a little limited at the moment - there’s some cool cocktail mixing lessons on video, but ‘Hip Hop Freestyle Frenzy’ turned out to be a couple of guys rapping to the camera, without music, apparently in a hallway somewhere… not something I’d pay £2 for, but then again I’m not very ’street’. Mobyko recognise there’s a few kinks to be worked out and promise more content and features in the future.

Would I use this service? Probably not. I’m mainly a business user. My data is synchronised from an E61 to an Exchange server and I need constant and automatic sync for my calendar too. However, I suspect I’m not really Mobyko’s target customer - the normal ‘consumer’ user doesn’t want this complexity or expense and to them I would happily recommend the service. Many people I know have never backed up their phone’s contacts, but would be lost without them - they might know they can connect it to their computer but it seems complex or inconvenient. Mobyko’s friendly sign-up process is clear enough I would be happy to point even the least technology-experienced person at the site and be confident they could get it working. Syncing really is as simple as a few clicks. The web site is more convenient than desktop software as it’s available from anywhere, and the text feature was an option which I was surprised to find myself using frequently without really thinking about it - you can’t really beat the speed of a full-sized keyboard. I’m not completely sold on the pay-for-content part of the site yet, but there’s no obligation to use it and I wouldn’t be surprised if that cocktail video doesn’t come out at the next party. Oh and frankly, free isn’t a price you can complain about so overall it’s a resounding thumbs-up.

Having established the existing user-base primarily by word of mouth, Mobyko say they’re seeing good rates of user retention after initial sign-up (initially 1 in 3, but improving). Privately funded at present, they’re focusing on developing and maturing the product in the UK market and then extending geographically - they’re currently soft-launching in Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa and Sweden to test network compatibility. The site refers to forthcoming Podcast functionality and if they can deliver new features such as this, expand to the new markets, add more content for download whilst maintaining the ease of use of the current site there seems no reason why the current impressive rate of growth couldn’t be sustained.

- - - -

Thanks Ben!