There’s No Such Thing As A Free Lunch….. Or Is There ? 

If I had been asked the question just under two years ago, I would probably have just laughed or muttered something about not being born yesterday.

In recounting what has happened since, I should make it clear from the outset that I am not attempting to influence or convert anyone, just giving an honest picture of what was achievable for me and the real “cost”. 

As often happens with these things, I discovered the free gift scene totally by accident.  Christmas 2006 was rapidly approaching and I was trying to get hold of a cheap Xbox 360 console to use as a media centre.   One of the first listings I came across on eBay was offering information on how to get the console totally free; I didn’t exactly have money burning a hole in my pocket and am always up for a challenge, so decided to find out if there was a catch, expecting to get an e-book on bankrupt stock or police auctions.

Instead, I was about to enter the world of affiliate (referral) marketing.   I am sure there are volumes on the subject, some of which are no doubt labelled pyramid schemes, but for those who want a bit of detail on the specific business model employed in this instance, you might want to take a look at a short video podcast put together by the BBC’s Newsnight program or maybe my own guide how to get free stuff online.

All I had to do to get my free console was sign-up to an affiliate site, take out a free DVD rental trial and refer a few friends.  How difficult could that be?

I am a regular online shopper and knew the DVD rental company LOVEFiLM (the equivalent of Blockbuster or Netflix in US and Canada) from a recent national TV campaign, so had no problems with that part of the process. To be fair, the service they provide is actually pretty good!

The harder part was getting referrals…..and I needed 12 of those (who would each have to take up their own offer) to get the Xbox 360 console. Luckily, after running out of family and friends who were either willing to believe what I was saying or just gave in to my constant nagging, I stumbled upon eXceem forums.  They have a buzzing community of like minded freebie hunters who gave me confidence that I would get me gifts and provided tips on how to achieve that.   I have since discovered similar sites such as Anything4Free.com

To the cynics’ amazement, my Xbox 360 arrived on 2^nd December 2006 along with a second generation iPod Nano that I had also earnt…and a freebie addict was born.  I would be embarrassed to say how many other gadgets, gifts and cash have passed through my hands since!

I mentioned the real “cost” in my preamble. That has not been a financial one, far from it, you can get out as much as you put in…..and there’s where the problem lies; getting referrals can start to take up every waking hour, your whole life spent thinking about, talking about and implementing new “methods”.  Well, that is, if you are not checking your accounts for new sign-ups, waiting for account verification or delivery of your free stuff.  Getting your affiliate links out there will also almost invariably require an element of spamming and I am not proud of some of the tactics I have employed along the way.  In fact,  I could devote another who article and more to “methods”, the choice of free sites out there and how to avoid getting your affiliate account cancelled (termed “put on hold”).

Fortunately, things changed for the better when I set up my first ever websites, Simplyfreeiphone and Gadgets4nowt - my background is certainly not web coding or design but I love a challenge (did I say that before!) and now have them both ranking extremely well.   I obviously have to update the content and keep working on links but overall, it’s a fairly easy ride these days.  With the evolution of the affiliate sites themselves, I no longer get my free stuff in the form of goods, most now offer custom orders in the shape of bank transfers at £17 ($35) per referral.   My sites bring me in an average of 3 completed referrals a day, so there’s good money to be had. 

All that’s left is to decide where do I go from here?  I guess I could push some new keywords and increase traffic to my sites through rankings but there is a limit to people looking for a free games console or iPods.  Can the sites be taken in another direction or should I sell them?

The iPhone is equipped with a possible application ‘blacklist’, which could allow Apple to remotely remove certain applications, claims one researcher.

Researcher Jonathan Zdziarski found a file buried deep within the iPhone’s firmware that allows the handset to contact an Apple server and retrieve a list of applications which could then be removed from the handset.

The list could be used by Apple to remove malicious iPhone applications or software that violates the handset’s terms of service.

In a follow-up blog posting, Zdziarski noted that little is known about the function of the list and cautioned users against jumping to conclusions as to what, if anything, Apple does with it.

“We do not know whether this mechanism is active or what exactly it does,” he wrote.

“It might vaporise applications. It might simply prevent them from using the GPS. It might do nothing except upset the privacy advocates who don’t like their iPhone calling home.”

“For all we know, it could trigger world war three, or it could cause some computer somewhere to spit out recipes for buttermilk pancakes.”

Apple did not return a request for comment. The company has a history of not commenting on items it considers to be rumours or unsubstantiated claims and has traditionally been tight-lipped on security matters.

The relationship between Apple and those who want to write software for the iPhone has been strained at times, to say the least.

Fearing security and stability problems, the company had initially restricted iPhone development to browser-based applications, creating an underground market for applications on unlocked iPhones, which often experienced compatibility problems with firmware updates.

While the App Store and iPhone SDK gave developers an avenue to develop and distribute iPhone software legitimately, some apps are still distributed outside the App Store, either by the developer’s choice or due to being pulled from the service by Apple for rule violations.

Two such pieces of software were added this week when Apple removed NullRiver’s NetShare connection-sharing application and I Am Rich, a $999 vanity application that did little beyond placing a glowing gem on the user’s screen.

That is one sweet looking phone , made by samsung but branded with the google brand, we should be seeing 2 models produced by the end of 2008.

We hoped, when Apple’s touchscreen iPhone appeared last year, that it was only a matter of time before other manufacturers followed suit.

Sure enough, LG is hot on Apple’s heels with the touchscreen Viewty phone.

The appallingly named Viewty (its proper name is KU990), combines phone, camera and portable music player, but takes it one step further as it also comes with the ability to edit photos.

On any other standard-sized phone it would be hard to see the point of this, but the Viewty’s 3in screen is big enough to see exactly what you’re doing.

The software, which is extremely easy to use, is especially handy for cropping people who’ve accidentally made their way into pictures from the phone’s 5-megapixel camera. We particularly liked the Muvee application, which makes slideshows of photos taken, in different styles, and sets them to music stored on the phone.

However, we were disappointed to find that we could not adjust the colour or brightness of phone images, which tended to come out very bright, lending the people in them a ghost-like pallor. Despite this, we were impressed with the camera’s face-detection technology, which does exactly what it promises, and focuses the camera on people’s faces. The only other complaint about the camera is that there is no protective lens cover, which could be a real problem for those people who like to throw their phones in their pockets next to a set of keys.

LG has also made concessions to those who like to share video footage with the rest of the world, allowing users to upload their recorded movies directly from the phone onto Youtube. Design-wise the Viewty really is a beauty, with its sleek black housing, and despite its many features it is also very light. The t ouchscreen is extremely bright and clear, and very sensitive, making it easy to navigate the phone’s menus.

The keyboard that appears on the touchscreen is hard to use for text messaging: in some cases we had to press a letter four or five times before it was recognised. The Viewty’s saving grace, though, is that it recognises handwriting, so we were able to write directly onto the screen, a technique that worked well once we were used to it. It’s also easy to access and view websites using the built-in web browser, and it can be used to read and send email.

As with most modern phones call quality was extremely good, with clear voices at the other end of the line. The Viewty also comes with a USB cable for synchronising contacts with the computer, and for charging the battery (there’s also a mains charger), stereo headphones, a hand strap and a stylus.

Overall, while it’s not as versatile as the iPhone, this is a very impressive, stylish phone that’s easy to use.

Security researchers are warning of a new piece of malware targeting smartphones equipped with the SymbianOS.

SymbOS/Beselo is currently spreading through the wild in Asia, deceiving victims by posing as an image file.

The attack is launched via an MMS message in which the user is sent a file called either ‘beauty.jpg,’ ‘love.rm’ or ’sex.mp3′.

McAfee researcher Jimmy Shah explained on a company blog that the worm plays on the unique way in which SymbianOS runs application files.

Most operating systems will match a file with its preferred application based on the file extension. A file ending in .jpg will be loaded inside an image viewer, while a .exe file will be recognized as an application.

Symbian, however, does not load files based on extensions. Even though the worm may have a .jpg extension, it is still recognised and loaded as an application, said Shah.

On being launched, the worm copies itself into the user’s memory card and sets itself to load on startup.

The malware then attempts to send itself to every contact on the user’s phone. It also generates random numbers to send itself to and attempts to spread to any nearby device via Bluetooth.

Because the infectious message will often come from a friend or trusted contact and is not obvious as an application, Shah warned that the malware could have a very high rate of infection.

“The message says ‘photo’ and it comes from a friend, so the user is likely to open it to see the photo,” he wrote.

“When the request to install pops up, it’s very likely the user will click OK and be infected.”

The FBI is warning of a dramatic increase in the number of so-called ‘vishing’ attacks that entice mobile phone users into giving up personal banking details.

Vishing works in much the same way as phishing. An email or text message is sent to a user asking them to call the target bank to reactivate a credit or debit card.

“On calling the telephone number, the recipient is greeted with ‘Welcome to the bank of …’ and [is] requested to enter their card number in order to resolve a ‘pending security issue’,” the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center said in an alert.

The availability of increasingly popular VoIP equipment and open source call-centre software has prompted scammers to set up their own call centres, often employing staff who may be unaware that they are working for a criminal gang.

The FBI is advising users to look up their bank’s phone number and call them directly if they believe they have been a victim of a vishing attack.

Facebook could find its way onto hundreds of thousands of mobile phones, following rumours that Nokia is developing a social networking tool for its handsets.

A report from research firm paidContent suggests that Nokia is in negotiations to develop a mobile version of Facebook, mirroring the deal struck between YouTube and Apple which brought YouTube to the iPhone.

Nokia is also rumoured to be interested in acquiring a small stake in Facebook, after an unnamed Nokia executive revealed that “a partnership is in the works”.

As the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer, Nokia’s 38 per cent global handset share might prove an irresistible proposition for Facebook. But any deal is likely to provoke outcries from privacy activists.

Facebook is facing questions from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), following complaints by a user who was unable to remove their profile even though the account had been terminated.

Facebook claims that it has no interest in using information from deactivated accounts, even though personal details remain on the company’s servers after deactivation of an account.

“We take the concerns of the ICO and our users’ privacy very seriously,” said a statement on the Facebook website.

“We are committed to working with the ICO to maintain a trusted environment for all Facebook users and to ensure compliance with UK law.”

Samsung plans to produce more low-priced phones to compete with market leader Nokia, according to Korean press reports.

The world’s second largest mobile phone maker will expand its cheapest product line by releasing up to six models retailing at $30.

“This is our ‘ultra low-end’ strategy to chase up Nokia,” an unnamed Samsung official told Korea’s Electronic Times.

Samsung spokesman Kim Tae-hoon confirmed the new strategy in a statement to media, saying that the firm will launch colour-screen handsets costing between $40 and $50 in developing markets including southeast Asia, India and Latin America.

Korean media reports claimed that Samsung could cut manufacturing costs to as low as $20 by sourcing some components from its own Flash memory, DRam and logic chip manufacturing businesses.

However, analysts warned that the cut-price strategy would inevitably hurt profit margins, which currently stand at just below 10 per cent for Samsung’s telecoms business.

Samsung’s average selling price across its entire phone range was $151 in the third quarter of 2007, compared to Nokia’s $120. Both figures come from company financial releases.

Samsung hopes to sell 200 million handsets in 2008, compared to an estimated 160 million in 2007, and to raise its global market share from 15 per cent to 25 per cent by 2010.

Market leader Nokia increased its share of the global market from 36 per cent to 39 per cent in the third quarter of 2007

 The Powermonkey Explorer is designed for those who really like to get out into the wild, because it includes a solar charger.

So even if you’re miles from a mains socket you can still keep your camera, portable music player or mobile phone fully working.

The kit comes in a neat fabric case that can be zipped shut to keep all the many bits secure inside. It comes with both a mains charger and a solar panel, either of which can be used to charge the main cigar-shaped Powermonkey unit. The appropriate adapter for your device can then be plugged into the Powermonkey, with the other end in the device, and the monkey will charge the device.

European and American mains plugs are included in the kit, as are adaptors for all manner of phones, iPods (though you’ll need the iPod USB cable), portable gaming devices and more. Obviously, charging time depends on how much sunlight there is, but we were able to fully charge a phone from one charge of the Powermonkey. A full list of compatible devices is on the website - if your devices are listed and you’re going travelling this is an invaluable accessory.

The strange-looking Ameo certainly catches the eye, with a large, colourful touchscreen and a keyboard that clings to the screen by magnets.

When open it looks like a kind of Tom Thumb notebook PC. These magnets are so strong that you need to keep them away from credit cards - but then the Ameo won’t fit in a wallet pocket.

Its capabilities are hard to pin down, too: as well as being a phone, it’s almost a handheld computer. It has an 8GB hard disk but it also offers impressive data transfer speeds for web browsing.

The Ameo is controlled in several ways - there’s that full keyboard, though the small keys mean you wouldn’t want to use it for lengthy documents. Then there’s the touchscreen to run programs - it uses the Windows Mobile 5 operating system.

Remove the keyboard and it is used like a tablet PC - it automatically scrolls down the screen as it is tipped one way, and up as you twist it the other. And because there’s a good 3-megapixel camera, there’s a dedicated button for that as well. Smartphones traditionally have poor cameras, so you can see why this machine’s hard to categorise.

Yep, as you may have guessed this is the world’s smallest Bluetooth headset – so small in fact that Special Forces types use it so it doesn’t get in the way when they’re chasing down bad guys and generally being heroic. Think Clint Eastwood and In The Line Of Fire and you’re half way there.

And while this won’t make you any more of a hero, the Invisio G5 is damn discrete. At just 3.3cm long and 1.6cm wide and weighing less than six grams, its worn using a “soft spring” that apparently matches the contours of your lug-hole for added comfort and secure positioning.

Impressively, Nextlink has managed to squeeze in a three-button interface and perfectly acceptable four-hour talk time battery life with 150 hours of standby. That’s more than most modern mobiles.

It also comes complete with Nextlink’s Protective Charging Case that charges the battery and stops it being squashed. Yours for £80.

Users of Apple’s iPhone could be surfing the net at high speed as early as next May, according to a report in Spanish newspaper El Pais.

Mobile software developer SevenClick claims in the article that Telefónica, Spain’s biggest mobile operator, anticipates a May launch in Spain for the hotly awaited 3G iPhone.

The unconfirmed report arose after discussions within Telefónica in response to an enquiry about the Spanish launch of the 3G handset.

Telefónica, the parent company of Apple’s UK network partner O2, will make the 3G phone available throughout Spain, according to the report.