Author Archives: GEEK!

Giffgaff – the ideal alternative to contract?

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I know I’ve reviewed giffgaff before, but this time I’d like to talk specifically about the comparison of giffgaff to other mobile contracts.

Bear in mind that giffgaff is pay as you go only, but I happen to think the goodybags are tough competition to mobile contracts.

For just a tenner a month (no contract), you get 100 minutes to any network, totally unlimited texts and totally unlimited data. Up it to £15, and you get the same but 300 minutes. Up again to £35, and the same but totally unlimited minutes.

You have to bear in mind that all of those plans include free gg calls, texts and video calls (so it’s free to contact anyone on the giffgaff network, basically).

In addition, you can also get the £5 goodybag which is plain and simple unlimited texts with no FUP – this will be great for teenagers (like myself).

I happen to think that those prices are comparable to other network’s contracts – and there’s no obligation or contract whatsoever.  Seems like a handy idea if you are short on cash!

Quick tip:Save yourself a bit – buy a new faceplate instead of a new phone

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Tired of a crack in your phone’s screen or those infuriating scratches, but can’t afford a new phone? Why not just buy a new faceplate.

I recently bought a brand new faceplate for my Nokia 3120 Classic and it looks so much better! I can see the screen when I write a text.

A brand new front and back for my phone only cost me £10 and it’s made my phone look like I’ve never used it before.

Top tip: Stick with genuine cases – fake ones don’t fit properly.

Office 2010 at RTM stage

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It’s been announced – Office 2010 is finally at the Release to Manufacturer stage. It looks like it will be on the store shelves by late May/early June.

That does sadly mean that Microsoft will probably cut life support to the beta within the coming weeks. It’s a shame really as I love Office 2010 – but having said that I’ll probably go out and buy it. Maybe even pre-order it. I don’t know.

Giffgaff announces brand new bundles for their network finalisation

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Giffgaff – the new “people powered” mobile network – has today announced it’s brand new bundles that will come into play very shortly (tomorrow – I believe?). The new plans make calling and texting much more economical.

The new plans (or goodybags, as they are being called) are explained as follows (all last for one month):

  • For the texter, £5 will give you unlimited texts.
  • £10 will give you 100 off-net minutes (calls to networks other than giffgaff – all giffgaff calls and texts are free), unlimited texts and unlimited internet (no fair use policy – providing you aren’t tethering)
  • £15 will give you 300 off-net minutes (calls to networks other than giffgaff – all giffgaff calls and texts are free), unlimited texts and unlimited internet (no fair use policy – providing you aren’t tethering)
  • £35 will give you unlimited off-net minutes (calls to networks other than giffgaff – all giffgaff calls and texts are free), unlimited texts and unlimited internet (no fair use policy – providing you aren’t tethering).

Here’s a couple of things you may want to know that aren’t in the original forum post:

  • Voicemail is included in your minutes. On that basis, you won’t be charged 8p per call but presumably you’ll be charged 1 minute out of your allowance.
  • There is no fair use policy on the unlimited internet – you can use as much as you like. However, tethering is not permitted. Tethering means connecting your phone to your computer to provide a connection to the internet.
  • Calls and texts to other giffgaff members are still free – they will not come out of your allowance providing you stick to the 60 minute per call limit (hang up and redial).
  • If you use one part of your allowance (ie you use all your calls), you will need to use all other parts of your allowance before another goodybag can be started. So if you still have unlimited internet for the rest of the month, you’ll be charged 8p per minute on calls until next month, if you have another goodybag queued.

The initial feedback on the forum seems good. A few people are concerned that there is too longer line between the £15 goodybag and the £35 goodybag. I would probably agree, but the £15 goodybag is plenty for me.

Overall, I’m really impressed. I think it will prove popular in time, but we’ll have to see what comes of all this. Bring on my PAC transfer :).

NetDrive… map FTP folders as network drives

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I stumbled across this piece of software some time ago, but never got the chance to review it and mention it on GEEK!.

It basically means you can map FTP folders as network drives on your system and access them in your system’s Computer folder. I find it really useful when I’m away from my main PC and need to access my network drive’s folders in Windows.

It’s totally free, so you might as well go and grab it. The only part of the software that annoys me is that you can’t modify the timeout (to my knowledge) which means it doesn’t work when my network drive is waking from sleep mode.

Go grab it here.