News in October 2008
- 31 Oct 2008Ford prices new KaFord has announced the pricing and specification details for its all-new Ka, which will start from £7,995 - cheaper than its sister model, the Fiat 500.
- 31 Oct 2008MPs call for more 20mph speed limitsMPs have called for new measures to tackle deaths on British roads, including tougher drink-driving rules and wider use of 20mph speed limits.
- 31 Oct 2008TomTom launches new Go Live sat navsTomTom has released details of its latest Go Live sat navs, which can update traffic data every three minutes.
- 31 Oct 2008Hot car deals, 31 October 2008It’s Halloween, and if your old car’s turning into a bit of a pumpkin on wheels, why not check out these fantastic car deals on new and used Renault, Fords and Vauxhalls…
- 31 Oct 2008Standard Life produces poor resultsStandard life became the latest company to announce disappointing results in the wake of the credit crunch. The life and pensions company has seen UK business fall.
- 31 Oct 2008Vodafone mobile broadband ads 'misleading'The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld three complaints about press ads for Vodafone’s mobile broadband service.
- 31 Oct 2008Microsoft and Yahoo! to fight online scamsMicrosoft has joined forces with Yahoo!, Western Union and the African Development Bank to raise consumer awareness of lottery scam emails.
- 30 Oct 2008Pure announces the new, greener, Evoke 2SPure has announced a new green addition to its family of Evoke digital radios: the Evoke-2S.
- 30 Oct 2008Games firms pursuing innocent file sharersA Which? Computing investigation reveals innocent people are being accused of illegal file-sharing.
- 30 Oct 2008Icelandic-owned Sterling Airlines collapsesSterling Airlines is the latest to cease trading, leaving hundreds of passengers across Europe seeking alternative travel plans.
- 30 Oct 2008Mortgage repayments beat new lendingThere were further signs of the credit crunch biting with mortgage lending figures showing that repayments actually outstripped new lending in August 2008.
- 30 Oct 2008House prices keep falling as repossessions riseHouse prices keep falling, borrowers face the danger of falling into negative equity and the number of repossessions begin to rise.
- 30 Oct 2008Which? criticises with-profits penaltiesFalls in the stock market lead to the introduction of exit penalties on with-profits policies by Friends Provident and Norwich Union.
- 30 Oct 2008London's biggest shopping centre opensEurope's biggest urban shopping centre opens its doors today in the heart of West London.
- 30 Oct 2008World's first Android phone on sale todayWhich? has the latest news on the T-Mobile G1 smartphone, made by HTC, the world's first with the Google Android operating system.
- 30 Oct 2008Homes to get hi-tech meters within 10 yearsThe government says that all UK homes will be fitted with hi-tech smart meters by 2020
- 29 Oct 2008Empiredirect.co.uk changes shopping policiesWhich? can reveal that Empiredirect.co.uk has changed its policies for cancelling and returning an order after we found that the website, among others, broke some key online shopping rules.
- 29 Oct 2008JVC stops making standalone video recordersJVC, a leading developer of standalone video recorders, has stopped making VCRs after 32 years of production.
- 29 Oct 2008Drivers urged to check car tyres as winter loomsDrivers are being urged to check their car tyres in order to stay safe on the roads as winter approaches.
- 29 Oct 2008Government launches bid to promote electric carsAround 100 electric cars will be made available in towns and cities across the UK as part of a government plan to turn motoring greener.
- 29 Oct 2008Humax’s new Freesat HD PVR rivals Sky+Humax has announced the launch of the Freesat+ Foxsat-HDR that will go on sale in the UK in November, with no subscription costs.
- 29 Oct 2008Ford discounts Fiesta, Focus, Fusion and Mondeo The latest Ford deals and discounts, from the Fiesta to the Mondeo. Save thousands on new, unregistered Ford cars, including the C-Max and Galaxy MPVs.
- 29 Oct 2008Microsoft unveils online version of WindowsMicrosoft has unveiled an early version of a Windows operating system that’s based on the internet rather than a PC.
- 28 Oct 2008Banks appeal in charges test caseThe test case between the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the UK’s leading high street banks recommences today.
- 28 Oct 2008Hot car deals, 28 October 2008
- 28 Oct 2008Demands to see OFT report on HBOS rejectedDemands for a report on the Lloyds TSB takeover of HBOS to be published immediately were rejected today.
- 28 Oct 2008Icesave savers to get money back in NovemberIcesave depositors should get their savings back by the end of November says Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
- 28 Oct 2008Kodak increases the lifespan of an OLED TVNew technology from Kodak makes OLED TVs more durable
- 27 Oct 2008New drive to get commuters out of their carsA new campaign has been launched to get commuters out of their cars and into greener, more cost-effective modes of transport.
- 27 Oct 2008Sony releases its first 10inch digital photo frameSony has released two new digital photo frames – the DPF-D80 and DPF-D100 – at the Photoplus Expo show in New York.
- 25 Oct 2008New-car buyers going green to save moneyThree-quarters of British drivers would buy a car with lower CO2 emissions if they thought it would save them money, according to research by BMW.
- 25 Oct 2008Ford introduces first ever Focus Zetec SFord has added a sporty new Zetec S trim level to its popular Focus hatchback. This is based on the existing Zetec equipment level, but adds a complete sports styling kit, comprising front and rear spoilers, tougher bumpers, side skirts, 17" alloys.
- 25 Oct 2008Google searches show credit crunch impactAs the financial crisis looms Britons are using Google to search for vouchers, budget meals and sewing classes.
- 25 Oct 2008New Britax carry cot aces Which? testWhich? has tested the newly launched Britax Baby Safe Sleeper, the first carry cot tested that offers five-star crash protection in front and side impacts.
- 25 Oct 2008Analysts believe TV on mobile phones will catch onLeading analysts believe that a European broadcasting standard in place by 2010, enabling live TV on mobile phones to grow into a major £5.4 billion industry.
- 25 Oct 2008Recession looms largeLatest economic figures from the ONS show that GDP fell in the quarter between July and September 2008. Recession now seems inevitable as the credit crunch has a direct impact on the performance of the UK economy.
- 25 Oct 2008Which? slams with-profits penaltiesWhich? has criticised Norwich Union and Friends Provident for introducing penalties on its with-profits policies.
- 25 Oct 2008Pound shops to boost shop numbersPound shops Poundland and 99p Stores have boosted sales, defying problems faced by other retailers in the credit crunch.
- 25 Oct 2008Check your credit file to get better money dealsSpending just £6 to check your credit files could get you a better deal on mortgages, loans and credit cards, says a new report from Which?
- 25 Oct 2008Now you can buy the Sony Experia X1 Sony’s flagship Experia X1 smartphone is now available on Vodafone’s website, free on selected tariffs.
- 25 Oct 2008State Pension boost for womenHundreds of thousands more women will be able to boost their retirement income by claiming the full state pension.
- 24 Oct 2008Infants to get free 10kg luggage allowanceFrom 1 May 2009, infants travelling on First Choice and Thomson holidays will get a free 10kg luggage allowance
- 24 Oct 2008Have your say on the banking crisisThe Treasury Committee has announced the date for the hearing looking at the banking crisis. You can send your questions to be put to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Governor of the Bank of England and the Chairman of the FSA.
- 24 Oct 2008'Risky' private lets sector should be improvedPrivate landlords should be licensed and tenants should have access to an independent complaints procedure, says an independent review of the private rented sector.
- 24 Oct 2008Timeshare and holiday clubs targeted in EU rulingConsumers should be better protected from high-pressure sales presentations for holiday clubs after MEPs voted to overhaul timeshare law and give holidaymakers more rights when being sold timeshare and other long-term holiday products.
- 24 Oct 2008New VW Golf gets five stars for occupant safetyThe new VW Golf has been given five stars out of five for its ability to protect occupants in a crash, according to Euro NCap.
- 24 Oct 2008Skoda Roomster 2 gets more kitSkoda is boosting the appeal of its Roomster MPV by adding £1,500 in extra equipment. Meanwhile, it has lowered the suspension on the Fabia Sport.
- 24 Oct 2008Hot car deals, 24 October 2008Which? Car's regular round up of hot car deals can save you thousands of pounds on a Fiat Grande Punto, Jaguar XF or Aston Martin Vantage.
- 24 Oct 2008Renault prices new Laguna CoupéRenault is introducing a Laguna Coupé for the first time – and it’s quite a looker. The Laguna Coupé will start from £20,995.
- 23 Oct 2008T-Mobile G1 Android market is openThe G1 is now available in the US, and the Android website has gone live, allowing users to create programs that will be made available to all
- 23 Oct 2008Mini to unveil all-electric E hatchbackMini is to show an all-electric Mini E version of its popular hatchback at the Los Angeles motor show next month.
- 23 Oct 2008Swindon to get rid of static speed camerasCouncillors in Swindon have vowed to do away with the town’s fixed-point speed cameras because of a row over funding.
- 23 Oct 2008VW reveals new Golf pricesVolkswagen has announced UK pricing for its all-new Golf – and it starts at £13,150.
- 23 Oct 2008Station staff fail to report lost propertyTwo thirds of rail station staff failed to contact owners whose lost property was handed in, found a Which? investigation.
- 23 Oct 2008HMRC relaxes Self Assessment deadlineHMRC allows taxpayers filing paper self-assessment tax returns to hand deliver their return by early morning on 4 November without penalty charges
- 23 Oct 2008Pound plummets against the dollar Fears of a lengthy recession have lead to the value of the pound falling to a five-year low against the US dollar
- 23 Oct 2008Companies apply exit fees on with-profits policiesFriends Provident and Norwich Union have changed their with-profits policies by re-introducing market value reductions. These additional charges are bad news for consumers.
- 23 Oct 2008Which? reveals most hated phone numbers
- 23 Oct 2008Water companies 'on notice' to explain price hikesWater regulator Ofwat has told companies to justify higher bills for customers
- 23 Oct 2008Gas and electricity bills should fall, says BrownPrime Minister Gordon Brown has called on gas and electricity suppliers to pass on falling wholesale prices to households
- 23 Oct 2008Hospital meals high in salt and fat, says Which?Some hospital canteens are regularly serving meals with too much salt and saturated fat, according to a new Which? report.
- 23 Oct 2008Shopping websites break the rulesWhich? can reveal that three in ten of your most visited shopping websites aren't getting the simplest shopping rules right.
- 22 Oct 2008BT Business launches free mobile internetBT Business has started offering 'free' mobile internet to customers subscribing to its higher spec fixed line broadband options - BT Business Total Broadband options 2 and 3.
- 22 Oct 2008Yorkshire and Barnsley building societies to mergeBarnsley Building Society is to merge with its larger rival Yorkshire Building Society after being exposed to losses from the collapse of the Icelandic banks.
- 22 Oct 2008Supermarkets slash petrol and diesel prices againSupermarket chain Morrisons has knocked 2p off the cost of its diesel and unleaded fuels, prompting a new round of price cuts at rival forecourts.
- 22 Oct 2008John Lewis/Waitrose tops Which? credit card surveyThe John Lewis/Waitrose group credit card has been named best for customer satisfaction in a survey by Which? Money.
- 22 Oct 2008Which? launches banking reform campaignIn response to the banking crisis, Which? today launches a new campaign to reform the banking system, by calling on the government to ensure that banks put consumers at the heart of their business.
- 22 Oct 2008Crackdown on abuse of blue badge parking schemeA £55m overhaul of the disabled parking scheme means traffic wardens will now be able to confiscate forged or stolen blue badges.
- 22 Oct 2008T-Mobile announces Google Android's launch date The UK release date for T-Mobile's G1 has been confirmed. 1.5 million models have already been pre-ordered worldwide.
- 22 Oct 2008Aldi and Travelodge to launch hotel supermarketsBudget supermarket brand Aldi and hotel chain Travelodge have joined forces to develop combined hotel supermarkets on the same sites.
- 22 Oct 2008Virgin trains cut fares in time for ChristmasChristmas has come early for many Virgin Trains passengers as the company announces it has cut advance fares by up to 50%.
- 21 Oct 2008Drivers fail to recognise basic road signsUK drivers have problems identifying basic road signs in the UK and abroad, according to a new survey.
- 21 Oct 2008Dating website celebrates billionth emailOnline dating website Match is celebrating the billionth email sent through its site by launching a new consumer panel.
- 21 Oct 2008Which? Holiday gives tips for visting DubaiIf you're concerned about the recent news of a couple who fell foul of the law in Dubai, check out our tips for a trouble-free trip.
- 21 Oct 2008Free-to-air HD channels approved by OfcomBBC, ITV and Channel 4 have been handed licences to broadcast in HD on free-to-air television.
- 21 Oct 2008Aga cooker sales fall during economic slowdownOrders of Aga cookers fall 15% below last year's figures as consumers tighten their purse strings.
- 21 Oct 2008Co-op and Somerfield merger gets green light The Co-operative Group's £1.6bn takeover of grocery chain Somerfield has been approved by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
- 20 Oct 2008Mortgage rates static since base rate cut Despite the Bank of England’s base rate cut few mortgage lenders have passed on savings to borrowers.
- 18 Oct 2008Energy giants told to cut billsThe government has stepped up pressure on gas and electricity suppliers to cut customers' bills following the recent drop in the price of oil.
- 17 Oct 2008PC company Apricot returns with £279 netbookApricot, a brand which has been absent from the UK for almost a decade, has launched its comeback product - a £279 netbook, or ‘ultra-mobile PC’ (UMPC) as it’s called on the company's website.
- 17 Oct 2008Seat Exeo set to surpriseOne of the unsung stars of the Paris Motor Show earlier this month was the Seat Exeo - and it looks set to be well equipped.
- 17 Oct 2008Fast, efficient new Mercedes C250 CDIMany manufacturers cut back on equipment and luxury when producing ‘green’ versions of their cars. Not Mercedes-Benz.
- 17 Oct 2008Public sector pensions offer best valueThe average public sector pension is worth three times as much as the typical scheme still open to workers in the private sector, new research shows.
- 17 Oct 2008Chevrolet discounts Captiva dieselJust about the worst choice of brand new car right now would be a petrol engined off-roader.
- 17 Oct 2008Amazon slashes free delivery thresholdAmazon.co.uk has slashed the threshold for free delivery of items ordered on its website to £5.
- 17 Oct 2008Identity theft fears affect most consumersThree quarters of consumers are concerned by the amount of data companies hold about them and only 21% believe their data is secure in the hands of those companies, according to new research.
- 17 Oct 2008Skoda's confusing Fabia BlueLineIn a move that may have the unfortunate side effect of baffling consumers, Skoda has introduced a limited edition Fabia ‘BlueLine’.
- 17 Oct 2008OFT says rules needed for 'sale and rent back' Regulation is urgently needed to protect cash-strapped families who sell their houses to companies and then rent them back, according to the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
- 17 Oct 2008Hot car deals, 17 October 2008Last week we thought a few hundred pounds off Volkswagen’s brand new Scirocco was a good deal – not any more.
- 17 Oct 2008Sharp unveils first LCD TV with Blu-ray recorderRumours of a 2009 European launch for the world's first TV with built in Blu-ray disc recording capabilities.
- 16 Oct 2008Top green cars revealed by new Which? guideDriving a greener car can save you money as well as help the environment, says the new Which? Complete Guide to Greener Driving.
- 16 Oct 2008DVLA warns 1,200 foreign drivers over road taxMore than 1,200 unlicensed foreign drivers were caught using UK roads in a week-long crackdown by the DVLA.
- 16 Oct 2008Britannia in merger talks with Co-operativeCo-operative Financial Services is in merger talks with Britannia, the country's second-largest building society.
- 16 Oct 2008Marks and Spencer to sell energyHigh street giant Marks & Spencer has added gas and electricity to its long list of product lines
- 16 Oct 2008GM 'holds merger talks' with Ford and ChryslerShares in US carmaking giant General Motors (GM) surged on Monday after reports it had held merger talks with its main American rivals, Ford and Chrysler.
- 16 Oct 2008No better time to visit IcelandThe price holidays to Iceland have been slashed in the wake of the country’s economic meltdown.
- 15 Oct 2008Supermarkets put petrol back below £1 a litreTwo of Britain’s biggest supermarkets – Morrisons and Asda - have cut the price of unleaded petrol to less than £1 a litre.
- 15 Oct 2008Unemployment rises rapidlyThere was more bad news for the government today with the announcement of the latest unemployment figures. The count increased by 164,000 to its worst level since 1999.
- 15 Oct 2008Apple MacBook laptop range updatedUS electronics company Apple today took the wraps off a revamped MacBook range of laptops, revealing new models that it says are the most environmentally friendly notebooks created
- 15 Oct 2008Compensation claim launched against BAPassengers of a cancelled BA flight have launched a bid for compensation from the airline.
- 15 Oct 2008Virgin Media trials on-demand TV advertisingVirgin Media is to trial dynamic advertising on its on demand TV platform.
- 15 Oct 2008Mortgage lending is lowest since 2002Mortgage lending is at its lowest level since 2002 according to new data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
- 15 Oct 2008Poor advice on digital switchoverIn the run up to digital switchover, some TV aerial installers are giving misleading advice that could cause consumers to fork out hundreds of pounds for a new TV aerial that they don't need.
- 15 Oct 2008Virgin and BA cut fuel surchargesVirgin Atlantic and British Airways have both announced that passenger fuel surcharges will be reduced from midnight tonight.
- 14 Oct 2008Drivers 'distracted' by in-car technologyA new survey shows almost half of motorists are seriously distracted by in-car technology.
- 14 Oct 2008Toyota puts price on iQToyota's 'premium' city car will cost from £9,495
- 14 Oct 2008BT Openreach trials fast fibre-optic broadbandBT has announced that Muswell Hill in north London, and Whitchurch in South Glamorgan will be the first pilot schemes in the UK to be offered its faster fibre-optic ADSL broadband.
- 14 Oct 2008Government must act on kids' food promotionThe Government must act now to keep pace with kids’ food promotions across the board, says Which?
- 14 Oct 2008The mortgage cashpoint dries upThe recent release of data from the Bank of England on Housing Equity Withdrawal show that people are no longer funding their spending via their housing equity.
- 14 Oct 2008Celebrities give directions on TomTom sat navsRadio 2 favourites, including Sir Terry Wogan, lend their voices to TomTom satnavs to raise money for Children in Need
- 13 Oct 2008Taxpayer cash bail-out unveiled Taxpayers to become biggest shareholders in banks
- 13 Oct 2008Miele unveils its first upright vacuum cleanerMiele announces the launch of its first upright vacuum cleaner, the S7.
- 13 Oct 2008Young drivers 'struggle with junctions'Parents, schools and insurance companies have been urged to help young motorists improve their driving after it was revealed that many struggle to cope with busy junctions.
- 11 Oct 2008Channel 4 abandons digital radio plansChannel 4 announced yesterday that it is pulling out of plans to launch three national digital radio stations.
- 11 Oct 2008Mobile downloads added to BBC iPlayerBBC iPlayer TV programmes can now be downloaded to a range of portable media players for viewing on the move.
- 11 Oct 2008Skoda's Superb goes greenThe 'GreenLine' version of Skoda's new range-topping Superb promises to return 55mpg.
- 11 Oct 2008Ryanair plan to stop people checking in luggageRyanair will keep raising baggage fees to encourage their passengers to travel light
- 11 Oct 2008Credit unions offer safer bankingThe Association of British Credit Unions Ltd (ABCUL) has reassured credit union members who may be concerned about the safety of their savings as financial turmoil among mainstream institutions continues.
- 11 Oct 2008Debts rising as savings fallAs the credit crunch continues to bite, new figures show consumer borrowing has risen to £5.9 billion.
- 10 Oct 2008New car CO2 emissions cut by record marginCarmakers have cut the average CO2 emissions of their new cars by the biggest margin ever, a new report shows.
- 10 Oct 2008Hot car deals, 10 October 2008You’ve seen the news, so you know things are tight everywhere – and this includes the car industry.
- 10 Oct 2008All-new Mazda3 set for November unveilingMazda has announced an all-new version of its Best Buy 3 medium hatchback.
- 10 Oct 2008Volvo prices DRIVe eco carsVolvo has announced pricing for its DRIVe eco models.
- 10 Oct 2008New engines and entry-level price for VW SciroccoVolkswagen is expanding its Scirocco coupé range, adding new engines and an entry-level specification.
- 09 Oct 2008Scientists dismiss mobile phone radiation fearsA team of leading scientists has dismissed health fears about radiation caused by mobile phones. Wi-Fi technology and phone masts.
- 09 Oct 2008Fiat increases its share of new car marketFiat increased its share of the UK's new car market to almost 3% last month – its highest level in four years.
- 09 Oct 2008BT launches low cost phone service BT BasicBT has launched a subsidised, cheap telephone service to help low-income families in the UK cope with the rising cost of household bills.
- 09 Oct 2008Icesave and Kaupthing Edge latest newsBritish savers with Icesave are guaranteed a refund. Those with Kaupthing Edge have been transferred to Dutch Bank ING Direct.
- 09 Oct 2008Panasonic announce G1 camera price and launch datePanasonic invite members of the press to a special hands on event, where the price and release date of the Panasonic G1 are revealed.
- 08 Oct 2008Icelandic Banks latest news for Which? saversThe government today unconditionally guaranteed British savers funds in the failed bank Icesave.
- 08 Oct 2008Alliance & Leicester fined for mis-selling PPIThe Financial Services Authority (FSA) has today announced that it has fined Alliance & Leicester £7million for mis-selling Payment Protection Insurance.
- 08 Oct 2008Fuel-efficient diesels getting more popularFuel-efficient diesels such as the VW Golf are becoming more popular with new-car buyers, official figures show.
- 08 Oct 2008Customer demand forces rate cutToday National Savings and Investments announced that it is decreasing the interest rates on some of its variable savings offers by up to 0.20% per annum
- 08 Oct 2008Ariel launches Excel Gel to wash at 15 degreesAriel has launched a new type of laundry detergent: a gel which it claims can wash effectively at temperatures as low as 15°C.
- 07 Oct 2008Google adds Mail Goggles to avoid drunken emails Users of Google’s popular webmail service, Gmail, can now benefit from a free application which aims to avoid those embarrassing and inadvisable drunken emails.
- 07 Oct 2008Regulator slams ‘unfair’ energy chargesEnergy regulator Ofgem has warned gas and electricity suppliers to stop charging customers different rates for paying by direct debit or pre-payment meters.
- 07 Oct 2008Ofcom shows UK TV picture: homes now 88% digitalOfcom's latest figures show the state of the digital TV nation. As more people switch from analogue to digital, Freeview, Freesat, cable and Sky digital services are becoming commonplace in British homes.
- 07 Oct 2008Land Rover debuts Freelander stop-start system Land Rover does not have a reputation for building environmentally friendly vehicles. But, as this new Freelander TD4_e shows, it is trying to improve its eco credentials.
- 07 Oct 2008New car sales fall again in SeptemberThe number of new car registrations fell for the fifth consecutive month in September, according to official figures, leading to calls for immediate action to restore consumer confidence.
- 06 Oct 2008Shops flout warranty selling rulesThe OFT has found that shops aren't following the rules designed to protect consumers from extended warranty hard-sell tactics.
- 06 Oct 2008Malaria warning for gap year travellersA third of gap year travellers are putting their lives at risk by not taking precautions against malaria
- 05 Oct 2008Sony launches 3rd generation PRS-700 Reader Although still a niche electronics item, Sony’s range of ebook Readers has already reached its third generation, with increases in capacity and battery life and additional functions to make reading ebooks even easier.
- 04 Oct 2008Panasonic's vision of the future at Ceatec 2008Which? technology experts have been reporting from the Ceatec consumer electronics show in Japan all week, and one of the most innovative stands on show was Panasonic's which focused on concepts for future living.
- 04 Oct 2008Savings protection limit raised to £50,000The compensation limit for savers who lose money when a bank goes under is being increased from £35,000 to £50,000.
- 03 Oct 2008Industrial action stops Eurostar services on 6 OctPassengers will be unable to travel on Eurostar between the UK and Brussels on Monday 6 October
- 03 Oct 2008Inaccurate HIPs 'mislead consumers'House buyers are being misled by inaccurate or incomplete Home Information Packs (HIPs), says a Birmingham Trading Standards investigation.
- 03 Oct 2008Motorists 'keeping their cars for longer'Motorists are sticking with their cars for longer in an attempt to beat the credit crunch, a new survey suggests.
- 03 Oct 2008Hot car deals, 3 October 2008This week's best deals on new and used cars
- 03 Oct 2008Nintendo to release new DSi handheld in 2009Nintendo has announced the upcoming DSi, the successor to the Nintendo DS and DS Lite handheld gaming consoles.
- 03 Oct 2008Pleo robotic dinosaur wows Ceatec crowdsAll week Which? technology experts have been in Japan giving daily reports on the massive Ceatec 2008 show. And they’ve seen many varieties of robot, including unicyclists, cyclists, and receptionists – but none can match the Pleo for instant appeal.
- 02 Oct 2008Northern Rock pulls high-paying savings accounts
- 02 Oct 2008Gatwick Express machines allow eurosPassengers travelling on Gatwick Express trains can now buy tickets at the station with their leftover euros.
- 02 Oct 2008Fiat Panda gets more from petrolBuyers looking for a non-diesel eco city car should check out Fiat’s ECO Panda range.
- 02 Oct 2008Cartoon characters promote less healthy foodsWhich? calls on food industry to stop companies using cartoon characters in the marketing of unhealthy foods to kids
- 02 Oct 2008Virgin launches mobile broadbandVirgin Media has entered the mobile broadband market with a £15 a month subscription deal.
- 02 Oct 2008BT starts new Phorm web-tracking advert trialBT has restarted trials of a controversial web-tracking advertising technology Webwise following backing from the UK Government.
- 02 Oct 2008Online child safety council launchedOver 100 organisations have joined forces with the government to help keep children safe online.
- 02 Oct 2008BT I-Plate promises broadband speed boostMillions of UK households could potentially benefit from improved ADSL broadband performance, thanks to a simple DIY filter developed by BT Wholesale.
- 02 Oct 2008Motoring costs up 19% on last year, RAC saysThe average cost of motoring has risen by 19% in the last year, according to the RAC.
- 01 Oct 2008Waitrose to trial first convenience storeWaitrose has confirmed that it is to trial its first convenience store at the end of this year.
- 01 Oct 2008Vauxhall launches lower emission AstraVauxhall's Astra now gets an ecoFLEX in its range, and it’s available as three- or five-door hatchback, and an estate.
- 01 Oct 2008Payment protection insurance still being mis-soldFinancial firms are still mis-selling payment protection insurance despite previous warnings and fines, according to a damning statement from the financial service industry's watchdog, the FSA.
- 01 Oct 2008NICE MyCar wins electric car awardThe NICE (No Internal Combustion Engine) Car Company has picked up the 2008 GreenFleet award for best Electric Car.
- 01 Oct 2008New rights when buying from doorstep salespeopleNew rights when buying from doorstep salespeople
- 01 Oct 2008Gas, electricity and postal complaintsIf you need to complain about energy or postal services the system’s changing
- 01 Oct 2008New protection for gas and electricity customersGas and electricity watchdog Energywatch has been replaced by new consumer body Consumer Focus
- 01 Oct 2008Freesat sells 100,000 digital boxes in 5 months High-definition TV programmes boost popularity of free digital satellite TV
