I like the way this advert from Amazon speaks directly to me. Valentine's Day? Nice reminder. Gift? Yeah I need to think about that. Oh, a Kindle? Good idea! I like buying technology. That said my wife already uses the Kindle app on her iPhone. But maybe she needs a stand-alone device? It's better than flowers...

I met this company at the UKTI MWC event this week and was thoroughly excited by the possibilities of their offering. I'm having a crazy day today so here's their press release. Have a read and see what you think:

<blockquote>Stream Communications announces the launch of freeflow, a new extra fast 3G service and SIM for iPad and Smart Tablet users. 

Users of freeflow will experience web page download rates over Stream’s 3G network up to 50% faster than could be experienced from a typical ‘consumer’ 3G SIM.  In addition, because of the way Stream manages the connection between the tablet PC and the mobile network, users will experience overall faster downloads up to 80% of their total connected browsing time.

Stream Communications further augmented its existing mobile infrastructure, originally developed for ultra-reliable machine to machine communications, to meet the specific needs of iPad and Android tablet users in the UK.  Anyone with an iPad or tablet PC running a freeflow 3G SIM will be able to experience a vastly improved experience, both in terms of reliability and download speed.

Nigel Chadwick, founding Director of Stream Communications said: “Users of iPads and Android tablet PCs, particularly business users and entrepreneurs, value the reliability, knowing that they will be connected wherever they are, and that faster download will enable them to focus on their core business whilst on the move.  Consumer 3G services rarely deliver this level of reliability, but Stream’s freeflowservice can – our customers benefit from a vastly improved experience both in terms of speed and connection up-time.”

“Stream’s bespoke infrastructure enables tablet users to improve download times vastly – in many cases being up to 50% faster.  freeflow reduces the frustration felt, particularly by business users, who want to be connected more consistently  but frequently experience issues around 3G connectivity and download speed.  Stream’s unique advanced network management and infrastructure means minimised downtime and significantly faster downloads.  Customers trialling the service likenfreeflow to using WiFi not 3G.”

Stream’s freeflow service will fully launch to coincide with the World Mobile Congress event in Barcelona, late February.

</blockquote>

I can't stand to see folk wearing Bluetooth in-ear microphone headsets out-and-about. I really can't. It's one of those things that seriously winds me up. I have no problem whatsoever with people wearing them for work purposes -- delivery drivers, plumbers, you know, folk who have a specific use-case requirement.

Sitting on the train wearing one is entirely unacceptable.

By all means use one -- but IN the office. Or, even better still, when someone is on the phone wanting to speak to you.

I know its illogical. It just winds me up.

It's been much discussed but now apparently it is shortly about to arrive: WiFi when you are 200ft underground waiting for the tube. Provided it's good quality, I'm a fan... What about you? Will you be making use of this?

I'm delighted to say that Envirofone received and processed my old Three iPhone 4 within 48 hours. Super fast. If you want a no-nonsense, reliable phone recycling service, I thoroughly recommend them.

This is not a spam post! I saw this today advertised in The Telegraph and it made me think about my views of ownership. You see I don't really want to own much -- especially technology, cars in particular but also mobile phones. Car need maintenance and mobiles go out of date within 6 months. I want someone else to handle the pain so I can just get the utility. That's sort of what we see in the car industry with leasing however it's still all based on the purchase price and perceived 'value' of the vehicle. I just want the utility with all the costs rolled in. This offer from BMW will give you a Mini for half price. Then in two years you either give it back and get a new one or pay off the balance and own it. I like the idea of getting a new one. It's the same with phones. When will one of our manufacturers (or operators) start to offer this kind of thing? O2 is very much getting there with their iPhone lease offers. That rocks. I'd like to see what Apple, Nokia or HTC would do. Could I subscribe to HTC, for example, paying a tenner a month or 20 a month and get a new handset every 6 months (giving the old one back for them to resell)?

I wonder.

This looks like a pretty good one today from Apple's 12 Days of Christmas campaign: The pilot episodes of both 30 Rock and House. I'm going to download both later today. How about you?

Did you download the 12 Days of Christmas app? There's been some fairly decent offerings so far. I downloaded the Coldplay mini album and was impressed that this came with video too. This morning sees the first free ebook that I've seen feature in this post-Christmas special offer series. If you haven't checked out any Apple electronic books then perhaps this might be the time to do so. Download the 12 Days of Christmas app in the store and pick it up. It's nice to be offered 'free stuff' -- although some of the items featured definitely aren't necessarily what I'd call 'premium' (for example the Coldplay offer was a live recording of their iTunes Festival performance -- one would expect that this would have been rather cheap or free for Apple). Now and again they seem to chuck a few interesting ones in -- I picked up the TopGear trip across Israel/Bethlehem/Iraq. I wonder what -- if any -- movies they will include? I also wonder just how popular the series is? It's a super time of year to do it and I also reckon its a fabulous way of introducing users to Apple's electronic store.

Make sure you've got the 12 Days of Christmas app from Apple on your phone if you're an iOS user. It's always rather interesting to see what media Apple choose to promote to the masses -- a game? A movie? A TV episode? An ebook? Or of course... An app. The first free download starts tomorrow.