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?

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.

Instead, the game takes a nostalgic trip back to the first three films in the series, giving them the same Lego treatment that was previously employed to a surprisingly successful degree with the two Star Wars trilogies. Indeed, the net effect is very similar to that of the Lego Star Wars titles.

The idea is to platform your way through various Lego-ised set pieces from the movies, grappling with enemies, solving puzzles and collecting treasures as you go. Often the way forward requires the assembly of some Lego bricks, but this is less complicated than it sounds – a single button press does the trick.

Even if you’re not familiar with the concept, Lego Indiana Jones is a fantastically simple game to get your head around. As such it’s suitable for younger players, though the Lego series’ signature tongue-in-cheek take on proceedings mean that a lot of grown-ups will probably it enjoy too.

If anything, Lego Indiana Jones is just mildly less enjoyable than its Star Wars equivalents, simply because the subject matter lends itself slightly less well to the format.

For instance, each level features Indy plus another character whose special ability you’ll need to use to progress at certain points. In single-player mode you can switch between Indy and the computer characters at will, while in two-player mode your on-screen partner can be controlled by a real-life buddy.

But, where Lego Star Wars was fun to play whether you had Yoda, Chewie or R2-D2 as your sidekick, in Lego Indiana Jones, the secondary characters just aren’t as interesting and even avid fans may struggle to recognise some of the more obscure individuals the game rolls out.

That said, Lego Indiana Jones certainly offers a lot of game for your money. There are effectively three games in one here – one for each of the original films. On top of that, there are many hidden challenges and items to collect in order to complete the game, plus the entire thing can also be replayed cooperatively.

 Just like the iPhone, the iPod Touch also has the multi touch interface. There is a physical home button located just beneath the touch screen which can be pressed to reach the main screen. There are a number of buttons listed in the home screen, which can be used to open the applications which are available. The iTunes, Videos, Music, You Tube, Settings, Calculator, Contacts, Calendar, Clock and Photos applications are included in the iPod Touch by default. Models of the iPod Touch which were released later also consisted of Maps, Mail, Weather, Notes, and Stocks. The earlier models can also be added with these applications if the user wants by purchasing a software upgrade. The user can add direct links to web sites he wants to visit on the home screen

Aptera Motors of Carlsbad, California and Austin-based ActaCell will receive an undisclosed amount of funding from the internet firm.

The investment is part of Google’s RechargeIT initiative, which was set up in June 2007 to accelerate the adoption of electronic transport.

Aptera Motors is currently building an ultra-high efficiency vehicle based on improved aerodynamics and composite materials.

The company’s first prototype achieved over 230 miles per gallon during testing, and it is using the design to developing an all-electric version and a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

Meanwhile, ActaCell is working to commercialise lithium-ion battery technology originally developed at the University of Texas at Austin.

The firm said that the technology offers the promise of improved battery life and lower costs, while maintaining a focus on battery safety.

“We are pleased to announce our first RechargeIT investments in two promising companies tackling the challenge of vehicle electrification,” said Karl Sun, an investments principal at Google.org.

“Both of these innovative companies and their capable teams are working to develop technology that is crucial to helping us realise the RechargeIT vision of millions of plug-in vehicles on the road.”

The new unit will cost $349, while the 20GB will drop to $299 until stocks are depleted.

“We know that consumers need more and more space to store the digital content Xbox 360 offers, and we are giving it to them at no extra charge,” said Albert Penello, director of Xbox product management at Microsoft.

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Arcade, which has no hard drive but includes a 256MB memory unit, will continue to sell for $279. The Xbox 360 Elite system will remain at $449.

The new console is due to hit shelves in the US and Canada in early August. There are currently no details regarding price or availability for Europe or other regions.

The company also pledged that its next operating system, Windows 7, will be available by 2010.

In the meantime OEMs will be able to supply systems with Windows XP preloaded as a ‘downgrade’ until 31 January 2009.

Given that Microsoft usually supports operating systems for only 10 years after their launch, the move can be seen as an admission that it is expecting some businesses not to bother upgrading to Vista.

“Windows Vista is a very significant step forward, but our customers have made it clear that they want broader support for devices and applications in order to enjoy the overall experience,” says the letter from Bill Veghte, senior vice president of the Microsoft Windows Business Group.

“During the last year, we have worked diligently with our hardware and software partners to improve compatibility to remove the barriers that prevent users from taking advantage of the important advancements Windows Vista delivers. It has been a year of exciting and critical progress.”

The letter also promises that Windows 7 will be released “approximately three years after the January 2007″ release date for Vista.

Veghte acknowledges that there have been compatibility problems between Vista and peripherals manufacturers, and promised that lessons have been learned.

“You’ve also let us know you don’t want to face the kinds of incompatibility challenges with the next version of Windows you might have experienced early with Windows Vista,” he wrote.

“As a result, our approach with Windows 7 is to build off the same core architecture as Vista so the investments you and our partners have made in Vista will continue to pay off with Windows 7.

“Our goal is to ensure that the migration process from Vista to Windows 7 is straightforward.”

The tiniest Bluetooth adapter we’ve seen

The Mogo Dapter is one of the smallest peripherals we’ve ever reviewed – it’s a tiny device, no bigger than the end of a thumb, with a USB plug at one end. Once plugged in it gives your computer full Bluetooth capabilities.

It’s true that most notebooks now come with Bluetooth, and if you’re using a desktop, saving space isn’t such a big issue. But for those with Bluetooth-less notebooks, the Dapter is an excellent idea. Since it hardly sticks out, it won’t get yanked out easily, and can be left in when the notebook is stored or carried.

It comes with the required software on a CD, which includes a nifty graphical display of nearby Bluetooth devices, and it will work with Mac computers as well as PCs running Windows XP and Windows Vista. At £15 it’s certainly good value. If your notebook didn’t come with Bluetooth, this is about the best way to add it.

The Wii is a small white box; with a RRP of around 179.00 GBP This is one of the cheapest next generation consoles. But you can get one for free It is small, but it still gives that brilliant gaming excitement that will keep you busy for many hours to come.

It has many fully interactive games, including sports and carnival games. These games get you to move your body as though you are actually at the current area. You would move your body as though you would hit a ball, and the game will detect that and will show that on screen.

The Wii’s specifications are not the best but it still produces the gaming experiences required to make it a hit. One of the best features is the Wii’s web browser which allows a player to browse the Internet whilst playing his or hers favorite game. The Wii connects to the Internet via a Wifi connection (wireless internet connection) this is good as it cuts down on cables, but it still limits a percentage of the population, which do not have an Ethernet cable, but you can get an Ethernet to USB adapter so you can still connect to the Internet.