Merry Christmas to readers of the UK Broadband blog

Merry Christmas to everyone interested in broadband and digital TV – from everyone here at the UK Broadband News Blog and from our sister publishers at broadband comparison website UK Broadband Finder.

By Sarah at UK Broadband Finder

Track Santa on Google Earth and Twitter with Norad

Children waiting up tonight, desperate to spot Santa Claus delivering Christmas presents as he makes his way from the North Pole around the world can track his progress on Google Earth and Twitter – and even send him an email.

North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad) will be tracking Santa in a tradition that goes back 50 years. Santa sets off at 1100 GMT and will pass 24 Santa cams that will feed into Norad’s YouTube channel. Santa can be tracked on Google Earth and Google Maps, and even Twitter – where he can be found at @noradsanta.

Santa can also be emailed at noradtrackssanta@gmail.com.

Find out more about Norad tracking Santa Claus on the BBC News website.

Visit the Norad tracks Santa website.

By Sarah at UK Broadband Finder

New alliance should mean broadcasters can share streaming standards

The BBC has joined a new alliance which has been founded to agree standards for streaming media devices.

Called the Internet Media Device Alliance, or IMDA, it already includes representatives from related companies including Orange, Audiovox (which makes consumer electronics), and Reciva (which manufactures streaming devices).

The IMDA hopes to instigate a logo and certification system that will indicate to consumers that they will be able to access media from any provider if the device is approved by the IMDA.

The IMDA is to meet in early January 2009 in Las Vegas.

Read more about the IMDA on the Digital Spy website.

By Sarah at UK Broadband Finder

HDi technology could mean high speed video streaming despite slow internet connections

New HDi technology could mean that even those with slow internet connections will be able to stream HD videos and films, and live programming, over the internet without lag.

HDi works thanks to new compression technology – it compresses the signal so it transmits faster.

The people behind the technology already use it for their own video streaming website. They are also due to demonstrate it to BT in early 2009.

Read more about HDi at The Telegraph website.

By Sarah at UK Broadband Finder

Government may make ISPs liable if their customers download illegally

The UK government is considering making ISPs responsible if their customers download music and films illegally, according to a report in The Observer.

However the ISPs would also receive a small payment each time their customers downloaded a film or piece of music legally – a move that could make them millions.

The proposal is one of several  being looked at by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Berr) – which is expected to publish its piracy recommendations in January 2009.

Read more about this on the Observer website.

By Sarah at UK Broadband Finder

Orange loses exclusive right to sell Apple iPhone in France

The French competition regulator has told Apple that it must make the Apple iPhone available in France through more than one operator.

This means Orange (owned by France Telecom) has been stripped of its exclusive right to sell the Apple iPhone in France.

Orange had a five-year exclusive deal, and this was deemed “clearly excessive” by The Competition Council.

Orange says it will appeal the decision.

Currently it is not clear how this leaves companies with exclusive Apple iPhone rights in other countries (in the UK 02 has exclusive rights to sell the Apple iPhone).

Read more about this French Apple iPhone exclusivity issue on The Times website.
Find out more about the Apple iPhone.

By Sarah at UK Broadband Finder

Wifi is best technological innovation of last 10 years say Stuff magazine readers

Wifi has been voted the best technological innovation of the past decade by readers of Stuff magazine.

Wifi beat iPods, sat-nav and the Blackberry to reach the top spot – and topped the poll with 35.5% of the vote.  Sky+ was second in the poll, the sat-nav was third, the hybrid car was fourth and the Pod was fifth.

Read more about this on The Telegraph website.
Visit the Stuff magazine website.

By Sarah at UK Broadband Finder

Repairs underway to severed undersea internet cables

Repairs are currently being made to two undersea cables in the Mediterranean, which were severed on Friday causeing internet and communications disruption particularly in the Middle East.

A French ship is undertaking the repairs – which involve a robot submarine finding the severed cable ends and bringing them to the surface for repair.

Read more about this internet cable repair on the BBC News website.

By Sarah at UK Broadband Finder

Sky to charge for its free 2Mb broadband package if customers don’t subscribe to Sky Talk

A report in The Guardian says that Sky will change its free broadband offer in Spring 2009 so that those signing up for Sky TV and wanting to take out Sky’s free 2Mb broadband product will also have to sign up for Sky’s Talk telephone package.

And there will be a £5 a month charge for the 2Mb broadband package – called Sky Broadband Base – from 1 March 2009, for those not taking out the Sky Talk service.

There will also be an additional £5 a month charge on the pay-for Sky Mid Broadband and Sky Max Broadband packages if those customers do not take out a subscription to Sky Talk.

However this change is unlikely to affect huge numbers as most Sky TV customers who have free up to 2Mb Sky broadband also take the Sky Talk package as it offers unlimited free calls.

Read more about this new Sky broadband charge on The Guardian website.
Find out more about Sky Talk.
Find out more about Sky Broadband.

By Sarah at UK Broadband Finder

02 increases maximum broadband speeds on Premium broadband package

02 Broadband has increased the maximum broadband download speed on its 02 Broadband Premium home broadband package – from up to 16mb to up to 20Mb. And it comes in at just under £10 a month for those who are also 02 mobile phone customers on payg or a monthly contract.

In fact, 02 Broadband Premium is just £9.79 per month for O2 mobile customers and £14.68 for non O2 mobile customers.

The broadband package also includes upload speeds of up to 1.3mb, an 02 Wireless Box II, and unlimited downloads (subject to fair use policy). There is also the option of a static IP address for an extra £4.89 a month.

02 Broadband Pemium.

By Sarah at UK Broadband Finder