News

John Gapper (FT: Google launches Microsoft's big fear) misses the underlying reason that Google's threat to Microsoft - to make Windows unnecessary - comes from them making applications run on the web browser rather than the operating system.

Good news for iPhone lovers in the UK - O2 is offering it on pay-as-you-go plans from 16 September. The iPhone will cost £350 for the 8GB version and £400 for the 16GB.

Conosco offer fixed-price unlimited support packages for iPhones. 

Google has confirmed rumours by announcing it will release its own web browser - Google Chrome [link not yet active]. Chrome is built around the open-source Webkit browser engine (as is Apple's Safari browser) and will include a new fast Javascript engine and Google's offline 'Gears' tool.

  Pippa WilsonSarah WebbSarah Ayton

In-flight wireless connections are back - American Airlines has gone live and Delta and Lufthansa are due soon. This is the second attempt, after Boeing abandoned a similar service a few years ago.

A long time ago the CEO of Sun said "You have zero privacy anyway, get over it" and the Chinese government may have hit a similar modern truth about censorship.

Orange UK have started selling the new Blackberry Bold - a further step in the evolution of Blackberries from pagers to full smartphones.

The Bold has Wi-Fi, high-speed mobile data, GPS, camera, multimedia player, allows you to access data services whilst on a phone call - and of course has the great physical keyboard that the iPhone lacks.

Apple have just released a second bug fix for the iPhone - particularly for the new 3G iPhone, as it apparently fixes problems with calls dropping out on 3G networks. We'll be testing it, but we're placing more faith in the forthcoming v2.1 release to fix the problems that appeared with v2 of the iPhone's software.

The fabulous Yngling Girls - Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson - have won gold in their class of keelboats at the Beijing Olympics. Even with their talent, dedication and single-minded focus it's an awesome achievement - we salute you!

Conosco have supported the team since the last Olympics - when the Sarahs also won the Yngling gold.

Industry analysts Gartner have criticised the new iPhone for a lack of security and poor battery life.

Although both new and old iPhones can now be erased remotely if they're lost, they don't currently use any encryption - leaving your data open until you have it erased.