This French Life

Brittany from the 1920s on the Travel Film Archive

LOSE yourself in yesteryear with the Travel Film Archive, which includes clips of life in France from decades ago.

The website offers a collection of films from around the world, but a search of those from France reveals, for example, one of life in Brittany from the 1920s, as well as other regions.

Some of the clips are also available on YouTube, but be warned you could end up browsing around the world from the comfort of your home if you are not careful.

Free Mobile offers €19.99 'unlimited' deal, but website struggles

THE mobile phone market in France has got a new player, and Free Mobile has really shaken things up.

The company has launched with a €19.99 'unlimited' package that offers free calls to 40 destinations, free SMS/MMS messages and unlimited mobile internet access.

Current users of Free internet can sign up to this offering for €15.99 a month.

And Free has also launched a simple €2 a month deal that offers 60 minutes call time and 60 SMS messages, and again existing users of Free internet can sign up to this option for free.

These prices sharply undercut those of Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom.

The Free Mobile prices are for those with an existing mobile phone, if you are looking to buy a new one then you pay a monthly fee for either 12 or 24 months, or buy outright.

As the website is struggling it is impossible to know how unlimited the 'unlimited' deal is, how easy it will be to swap existing mobile phone numbers across to Free Mobile and the steps involved in signing up if you are not an existing Free customer.

Price comparisons and other information is available on the Iliad website, the parent company Free.

Keep an eye out for fraudulent SMS messages

BE on the look out for dodgy SMS messages sent to your mobile phone as they are on the rise and can cost you dear.

Phones at home here have been on the receiving end of a couple of these texts, which try to get you to call a premium line number to pick up a voice message.

A service has been set up by the French government to help track down and deal with the fraudsters, Le 33700, which asks that people forward the message to this number so that the origin of the dodgy messages can be targeted.

A new look for the news from Francetv Info

AN iPad and smartphone friendly way to follow the news in France, and beyond, has been launched by France Télévisions.

Its Francetv Info service offers a rolling update of news from both its own newsrooms, and others including newspapers and reporters offering updates through Twitter.

There is also a comment facility that allows people to post questions about the day's news stories and the journalists behind the website will look to help with an answer.

Tabs to the side of the screen link you through to sections of the site that bring together video reports, news from around the regions of France and the latest headlines.

Look out for scam emails supposedly from Hadopi

BE on the look out for scam emails supposedly from the government's Hadopi service, which was set up to combat online file sharing.

The TorrentFreak website highlights the technique being used, where people are asked to access details of their 'case' via a code sent by mobile phone.

When people contact the service to receive their code they are actually signing up to a premium rate number and will quickly run up a bill.

Spoken translation in Google Translate on Android

FRENCH is just one of a number of languages that has been added to the spoken translation option available via Google Translate on Android mobile phones.

Smartphone app unlocks forest treasures

IF you go down to the woods today, make sure you are not surprised and use a new smartphone app to help you improve your tree-spotting skills.

The Clés de Forêt is available on the iPhone and Android based systems, and it enables you to discover 29 of the principle trees found in the forests of France.

You are helped in your search by going through a check-list of observations, such as the shape and position on the branches of the leaves, and then details of the tree the app believes you are stood in front of.

Bouygues Telecom says it won't cap 'unlimited' internet deals

TELECOMMUNICATIONS company, Bouygues Telecom, has moved quickly to quash rumours it was thinking of putting a cap on its 'unlimited' web access offerings.

In a statement the firm said that it 'has never had any intention of restricting the fixed line internet access of our Bbox offers'.

It goes on to say that the roll out of its high-speed network continues, claiming it shows Bouygues Telecom's confidence in the unlimited web access model.

Get a weather forecast on Google Maps

IT is hot outside and I can see what the forecast is for the next few days thanks to a new feature on Google Maps.

Enjoy 'appy travels with the Southern Burgundy Explorer

HAVE iPhone will explore. That's what's on offer in a new app that takes you around some of the treasures of southern Burgundy.

Produced by American expat Jeff Steiner, who has lived in France since 2001, the Southern Burgundy Explorer has 120 entries and over 1,800 photos from the region.

The app covers subjects both on and off the beaten path, including Romanesque Churches, WWII historic sites, the once largest church in the world, prehistoric caves, forest adventures and leisurely cycle rides, with on average 15 photos per entry.

Southern Burgundy Explorer is an application for iPhone/iPad/iPod touch and for sale through the Apple App Store, priced $1.99.