Week in review: iPhone goes Orange

Week in Review

The mobile industry, and smartphone punters, were pleased to hear on Monday that the iPhone would finally be available on Orange from 10 November, but most were left disappointed that it didn't spark the price war with O2 that was hoped for.

Meanwhile Intel's recent P55 chipset was blamed for causing syncing issues between iPhones and Windows 7.

Staying with phones, Sony Ericsson jumped from Windows Mobile for its next Xperia. Instead the Xperia X10 will use the Google Android operating system.

More shiny hardware arrived too in the guise of Dell's new ultra-thin Adamo XPS laptop.

Things are, as ever, moving apace in browsers, as Google and Mozilla both revealed their latest betas, while Parallels unveiled version 5 of its Desktop Mac virtualisation programme.

Other tech developments included Google releasing Dashboard, a tool to make its use of private data more transparent, while the Science Museum said the X-ray machine had topped a poll of the best inventions.

The EU has decided to bring in the controversial three-strikes rule for cutting off file sharers, but has promised to build-in the safeguard of a fair review process.

It's still doom and gloom for the economy as Nokia Siemens slashes nearly 6,000 jobs, and Microsoft admitted it will cull another 800 jobs. Fujitsu workers also voted to strike, in response to pay and pensions changes.

Benny Har-Even

Benny Har-Even is a twenty-year stalwart of technology journalism who is passionate about all areas of the industry, but telecoms and mobile and home entertainment are among his chief interests. He has written for many of the leading tech publications in the UK, such as PC Pro and Wired, and previously held the position of technology editor at ITPro before regularly contributing as a freelancer.

Known affectionately as a ‘geek’ to his friends, his passion has seen him land opportunities to speak about technology on BBC television broadcasts, as well as a number of speaking engagements at industry events.