Bloomberg reports that network operators have finally totally lost it. “Wah wah wah,” says the CEO of one or the other or France Telecom, Telecom Italia or Vodafone ‘we don’t pay our taxes’ Group. “iPhones and Android devices are being used LOADS now, and it’s JUST NOT FAIR!”

The argument appears to centre on the fact that mobile operators are whiney bastards who don’t have the balls to charge users by the MB of data downloaded, instead competing with ‘unlimited’ plans; and so rather than charging users proportionately, they’ve come up with a CUNNING PLAN.

Unfortunately, the cunning plan is this: have Apple, Google and Facebook pay for the billions of dollars of investment requires to sort out their shoddy, under-strain networks. No, really. Good luck, guys! I’m sure this idea will pan out swimmingly!

Of course, this level of stupidity has precedent. We’ve already had idiot ISPs saying the BBC should pay them money for having the audacity to create the wonderful iPlayer that loads of people love using (rather than, say, killing unlimited broadband and charging people on the basis of the amount they use, like with electricity and gin).

So, well done, network operators. I’m sure Steve Jobs and his pals are nearly dead through an inability to breathe properly, due to laughing non-stop for several hours.

Hat tip: Matt Gemmell’s hat.

24 Ways has been running for several years now, providing 24 end-of-year articles for web designers and developers. It’s like advent, except the tasty treats are web design tips, not chocolates.

This year, the company is releasing an annual. The idea is to compile everything over the season into an 80-page book, then fire the proceeds at Unicef. The book’s only going to be on sale until the end of December and is looking for sponsorship, so:

• If you’re a wealthy but charitable sort, sponser the thing (PDF).
• If you’re in the web industry, buy the thing.

So:

• The new Apple TV, slightly larger than a Club bar and only £99.
• The recent iOS 4.2 upgrade, with AirPlay, enabling you to send video from your iThing to your Apple TV, just by prodding an on-screen button.
• The spiffy Air Video, enabling streaming and live conversion from Mac or PC to your iThing.

In the world of non-idiots:

• User buys all of the above, and happily plays anything stored on their computer on their TV, wirelessly.
• User also buys and rents stuff from the iTunes Store with absurd ease.
• Buyer is now hugely happy.
• Apple makes buckets of cash.
• Everyone who likes TV loves Apple.

In the world of Apple:

• AirPlay video is blocked to developers, out of pure spite and stupidity.
• Apple TV considered a waste of time by loads of people.
• Buyers left with other equally problematic products.
• Apple makes buckets of cash, but fewer buckets have Apple TV written on them in marker pen.
• Everyone who likes TV hates Apple.

Maybe iOS 4.3 will change everything, but I think it’s more likely Steve Jobs will broadcast a live video of him smashing an iPhone to pieces and announce Apple is to become an Android-based company.

As the USA gives thanks today, the UK is doing anything but…

A must-read on student protests by Laurie Penny:

I didn’t understand quite how bad things had become in this country until I saw armed cops being deployed against schoolchildren in the middle of Whitehall.

Some choice quotes on Cult of Mac from RIM CEO Jim Balsille:

For those of us who live outside of Apple’s distortion field, we know that 7” tablets will actually be a big portion of the market

That must be why the iPad’s been beaten into fifth place by 7-inch tablets. (No, wait.) And it’s also why everyone loves using 7-inch tablets, rather than thinking them a cramped mess and rubbish form-factor that’s got more in common with a big smartphone than a tablet. (No, wait.)

and we know that Adobe Flash support actually matters to customers who want a real web experience

Fair enough. I don’t know how I’d do without Flash for my “real web experience”. It’s not as though Flash brings my Mac to a grinding halt every damn time it’s used, forcing me to use a Flash-blocker on all browsers these days, leaving poor old me with websites using rubbish technologies like HTML, CSS and JavaScript. (No, wait.)

Do you need a set of proprietary tools to bring existing assets on to a device, or can you use known tools that you use for creating websites?

Yes, because if there’s one thing the iPad does, it’s block websites. Man, if only there was a really good browser engine on the device, which not only gave you a decent browsing experience, but also provided the means for standalone HTML5 (etc.) web apps. (No, wait.)

Cult of Mac reports:

RIM released a video of its unreleased PlayBook tablet appearing to show faster web browsing capabilities. However, Balsillie refused to answer just when its tablet would go on sale.

Gosh! That’s showing them. You’re sure to smash the iPad to pieces, RIM, by not yet having your ‘better’ competing device in the market, perhaps instead releasing it when the iPad 2 arrives in April, which will of course be faster than the iPad 1.

…

…

(NO, WAIT.)