eStarling Addresses Product Issues

Yesterday, I talked about holiday tech meltdowns, and noted that many readers had been having issues with technology they had bought over the holidays. Such woes included WiFi picture frames being unresponsive, and mini helicopters catching fire when charging.

Here are some of the complaints from readers:

“… E-mailing pictures fails most of the time, the server responds with denial of service frequently because eStarling frames apparently sold well this season. RSS feeds didn’t update at all … duplicate pictures from the RSS feeds.”

- Thanks to John Jeandron

“… charging when we realized, as we were leaving, that it was on fire on the table …”

- Chris

Well, whilst Air Hogs (Maker of the Havoc Heli mini helicopter) were not available for comment (I’m still trying to contact them), spokespeople for eStarling contacted me back with statements.

“http//iphone.” website registrations hit 76, 000+, iPhone fever goes too far?

A Google search for the terms “site:http://iphone.*.com” now returns about 76,400 results, meaning that domains that are iphone-related or iphone-optimized are now being registered as such, this is the phenomenon of the “iPhone.” (as opposed to “www.”).

Which leads me to ask - has iPhone fever gone too far? Every time I pass a technology page on a site, there’s a new iPhone tidbit, advert, news story, and so on.

Did Microsoft Really Copy Apple? [Updated]

It has always been a running joke that Microsoft’s Windows systems look surprisingly like Apple’s OSX systems, with features like desktop search in the taskbar, and the look of Vista.

There are two schools of thought here - on the one side, Microsoft copies all (or most) of their ideas from Apple, and claims them as their own executing the copies as originals. On the other side, Microsoft doesn’t take their ideas from Apple - period - and the similarities are purely coincidental.

I’d like to take you through a new concept - The Usability Funnel. This is a concept covering the evolution of operating systems and their interaction with humans.

Free: Windows Live handing out @live.com, applications

Microsoft’s Windows Live package of applications have now moved off their BETA status to join the full-blown application status group.

Additionally, Microsoft is now handing out free ‘@live.com’ email addresses, get one here:

@live.com email signup

Finally, you can install your pick of the Windows Live services and packages here, at:

 Get Windows Live

An open letter on Notepad and iChat for iPod Touch & iPhone

Just an update for those of you who are particularly interested.

I am still working on a Notepad application for the iSlates, as well a Chat application.

I am working with other developers in my local area, however I would like to invite any developers out in the community that are interested to comment this post, and get in touch. All skills are welcome, and this would lead to a faster developed and ready application.

By the way, the Chat application - or iChat - isn’t the name of the application, merely a working title, lovingly dubbed by me and some others.  It will probably have a better, more official date closer to unveiling.

Many thanks,

Graham

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P.S. Thank you to all of those whose visits make this blog worthwhile - if you like a post (or don’t) - tell me what you think in the comments