09-13-10
High Res ✔
Pixel for pixel, this is a screen shot of my iP4.
07-02-10
Why I’m getting an iPhone 4
I have to admit there is a degree of Fanboy to my upcoming purchase of the iPhone 4. But that’s not the only reason.
The iPhone 4 is what we have been waiting for in a phone all these years. The hardware is beautiful, stunning even.
iOS4 has matured and become what everyone always hoped it would be. With multitasking added it’s reached a whole new level of awesome and it’s Apple awesome not generic battery wasting all at once awesome. 
Can’t wait for them to be released in New Zealand!
Are you getting one? Let me know in the comments below.
06-16-10
2Degrees, carry on
After today’s announcement of awesome calling rates, 2Degrees you seem to have it all covered.
Calls, texts AND data (This is quite important for smartphone and iPhone users like me).
Carry on like this and you might just become the new favourite underdog network like Vodafone made themselves out to be. (Good move targeting the Indian and Chinese demographic in New Zealand, just by the way)
Looking forward to 3G!
06-10-10
Customer, Service?
So here I am on XT, enjoying my awesome 3G service when I decide to check my data cap.
I know I am near the 120mb cut off mark but I expect to get some sort of notification if I go over. Dail *333, press 2 for data.
“You are on the 120mb data plan. You have used 135mb, that’s 15mb over your cap and you will be charged 50c per mb.”
Why did I not get any notification? Oh well, better buy some more data.
I look for a text facility and end up using a form on the website, clicking on 120mb in the hopes to get more data.
Nope, text plan gets canceled and no more data. I call up for some help and get told I can’t get the text plan back without paying again and I can’t get any more data till next month. Period.
No sir, you cannot have an account credit, sorry there is nothing else I can do for you. 
Confused? Frustrated?
Yes.Yes.
05-25-10
New 2Degrees deals
2Degrees has just become a real player in the New Zealand mobile market.
500 any network texts – $10
50mb of EDGE data – $6
(you can buy as many of these data packs as you like)
No special conditions, that’s it.
Steven Morey noted:
So I topup $50 and get 1000 texts 50MB data and 77 minutes of calling to anyone. Not bad.
I’ve just done a quick speedtest and I won’t be taking my iPhone over just yet, but I am very excited about these new deals and once 2 Degrees has 3G i’m there:
05-23-10
Vodafone ==> XT
I have made the move and ported my number from Vodafone to Telecom’s XT.
Here are the reasons why:
- I was disappointed with the speed I was getting over 3G. While I wasn’t sure of the reason for this, I wanted to give another network a try.
- I found the customer service I was getting with Vodafone to be average. I got what I needed, but nothing more.
- I didn’t like the way there were many hidden charges in Super Prepay, and now Simply Prepay.
Here is what I have found with XT so far:
- The 3G speed is much faster in most cases, and at least as fast as the service I got with Vodafone.
- Not only is it faster but it works well in all the locations which were previously dead spots for me.
- The prepay pricing seems to be very honest and straight forward.
Check back and I will update you with some real data, speed tests and comparisons.
05-20-10
New Vodafone Prepay Plan, aims to compete with 2degrees, but there’s a catch
Vodafone New Zealand have annouced on thier forums today, they are withdrawing the controversial Talk add-on which offered 200 minutes any time for only $12 a month, but only to other Vodafone NZ mobiles.
This add-on will be replaced with a new Prepay plan where the user gets:
- $0.49 per minute voice calls to ANY NZ mobile or landline at ANYTIME
- $0.12 per TXT to ANY NZ mobile
The release goes on to note some disturbing extra charges and terms:
- Customers will be charged $5 to move from Simply Prepay to Supa Prepay. Moving from Supa to Simply does not incur a charge.
- Supa Prepay Add-Ons such as, BestMate 1000 and TXT2000 are not available on Simply Prepay
- Simply Prepay customers can top up for free using a range of Vodafone’s electronic top up services including phone and online credit card top up, Hotlink and eligible banks ATMs.
- Recharge voucher top ups purchased from retail outlets including petrol stations, supermarkets, dairies and Vodafone retailers/dealers will incur a $1 fee per top up.
- For charging purposes, Prepay calls are rounded up to the next minute. For example if you talk for 1 minute 10 seconds, you are charged for two minutes and any bundles of minutes are reduced accordingly.
I can’t help but feel this is worse not better than the Talk add-on the Commerce Commiossion objected to when you take into consideration the extra charges which restrict your choice.
What do you think? Please comment.