We love our mobile phones - but technology changes so quickly. Despite phones generally having a lifespan of a good 7 years many of us get a new handset every couple of years. Why not? The upgrade to the latest and greatest is generally "free" - or at least we don't save anything on our contract by sticking with the old handset.

But... what happens to that old handset? The one that you just had to have only a couple years back? The one with the old-fashioned 2M pixel camera? The one with a huge 512Mbytes of memory?

The Recycling Factory has done some research. Now obviously this research has to be taken with a pinch of salt given they have a vested interest in recycling that old handset of yours! To me though the research does ring true. I should say guilty as charged - I am a "mobile phone squirrel".

Highlights from the survey:

• more than half of us (52%) hoard our unused phones at home in case our current handset is stolen, lost or broken
• 68% of us admit to having more than one mobile phone needlessly collecting dust at home
• 22% of respondents actively recycle their phones
• 21% opting instead to hand down old mobiles to friends and family.
• As many as 4% declare that they actually throw their mobile phones in the bin

With the exception though of the inexcusable 4% that throw their phone in the bin, is this particularly bad? I recently upgraded my phone to a Sony Ericsson W995. I was quite happy with my old K800i of course - but that shiny new phone was irresistible and didn't cost me a penny.

Orange of course wanted to sell me special insurance in case my shiny new gadget was indeed lost, stolen or damaged. I can't remember the cost but it wasn't insignificant. I said no - and I still have my K800i as 'free' insurance.

How about you? Are you a squirrel? In reality of course we're really better described as magpies!

Leave your comments below. How long have you had your handset? What did you do with the old one? And the one before that!

Many of the gadgets we review here on GadgetSpeak are now part of every day life - it's hard to remember a time without laptops, Satellite Navigation or the ubiquitous mobile phone (how did our parents let us roam the streets for hours on end with no means of contact?).

The BBC has released archive footage from it's long running Tomorrows World series - a programme that glued me to our tiny little TV set every week. From the mobile phone with it's own backpack to the guy with a Teletype next to his bed these early 'gadgets' seem to be from another world but this was only 30-40 years ago.

Take a look at the BBC web-site. Maggie Philbin, one of the later presenters on the series, shares some of her recollections along with a video of some iconic gadgets in the making:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8253236.stm

If you have a spare 35 minutes you can watch the whole of the very first episode first broadcast on the 7th July 1965:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/tomorrowsworld/8001.shtml?all=2&id=8001

We've reviewed a number of products from Gear4 previously on GadgetSpeak so it's good to see them push their technology further with the SoundOrb Aurora. The new system is suitable for both iPods and iPhones and features a rather unique wireless sub-woofer speaker that you can place up to 30 metres from the base unit. This separate speaker adds a high-quality bass component to your favourite music tracks. Looking at the pictures this bass speaker also provides lighting effects synchronised to your music. It's a little hard to appreciate how this is going to look before we see it in action for ourselves!

With the prevalence of video now on the iPod range the SoundOrb includes a video-out facility allowing you to play back the your iPod stored video back on your main TV - particularly useful in the case of the diminutive Nano. The quality of the video will of course be limited in this scenario - compressed video optimised to look great on a 2" screen tends suffer when blown up to 32" proportions!

Once attached to your TV though it's a shame not to use the sound quality of the SoundOrb to enhance your main TV viewing experience. Gear4 have thought of this and so incorporated an audio-in connection to allow TV sound playback through the SoundOrb.

Gear4 are pricing the SoundOrb Aurora at £249.99 or €299.99 and should be in the shops from October - in time for Christmas!

We'll be bringing you a full review as soon as we can lay our hands on a sample unit!

This is a really cool ad for Beatles Rock Band released today.

Available from Amazon from £29.99 for the RockBand game or £179.99 for a bundle with PS3 XBox or Wii

It seems to be a day for surveys.  Panasonic have been observing our TV viewing habits and claim that despite the popularity of games machines, the TV is still the gadget that lies at the heart of the home.

I was really interested to see that 17% of the population are what Panasonic calls TV Minimalists.  This group watches less than 10.5 hours a week of television.    I guess Panasonic would have to put me in this group, as  I've long since got rid of mine.  Even with the plethora of TV channels, I don't find there's enough to interest me.  And since ditching the square screen the kids have become much more active, talk to us more, sleep more effectively and have a generally more interesting life.  However, they do still love their laptops and MP3 players.

I'm fascinated to see that 21% of homes have more than 4 TVs in their homes and 75% of homes have 2 or more TVs.  What are we all watching?!!!  Of the people Panasonic surveyed, 16% are labelled Chatterboxes - families who gather around the TV to chill and chat - so perhaps these aren't really watching anything in particular.   This group have the widest TV watching habits and have the TV on for around 21 hours a week.  By far the largest group at 31% was the Go-to-bed Square Eyes who also watch for 21 hours but sit down specifically to watch their TV and choose their programmes more discerningly.

Now my favourite gadget by far is my PC - both a work tool and a source of entertainment, it's a brilliant machine to have at the heart of the home.  Although I accept I'm unusual.

Still whether it's PCs or TVs that are your most favourite gadget, it's nice to know that there's a good range of them here on Gadgetspeak to have a look through for a nice honest opinion of what's the best out there.

Check out the TV reviews and the extensive list of PC reviews on Gadgetspeak.

And if you'd like to see the range of Panasonic TVs on sale right now - check them out here.

Here's an interesting survey for anyone who wants to find Christmas presents for left-handed friends and family.

According to the survey by Anything Left-Handed here are the presents our left-handed friends will be looking for:

1. Non-smudge Pens
2. Left-handed Scissors
3. Stationery Sets
4. Leather Conference Folders
5. Books about Famous Left-handers
6. Bread/Carving Knife
7. Corkscrew
8. Ergonomic Pens
9. Backwards Clock
10. Left-handed Playing Cards

Anything Left-Handed is a great site.  It's brightly coloured, easy to navigate and is serving a real need.

HTC issued the following release today to announce the next in their line-up of Google Android based mobile phones. In this case bringing down prices with a smart-phone aimed at the masses. What looked initially like a publicity stunt by Google now looks like making serious inroads against the traditional handset technologies. Let us know your thoughts!

HTC Corporation today introduced the HTC Tattoo™, an Android-based phone that brings broad personalization to the masses. With its distinct design and ability to personalize all aspects of the phone, from its hardware to its applications and content, people are able to express themselves and create their own individual mobile experience.

"Everyone wants their own phone to feel like it was specifically made for them. The Tattoo, with HTC Sense represents an easy way to shape your own distinct mobile experience and really make it your own," said Peter Chou, Chief Executive Officer, HTC Corporation. "The HTC Tattoo ensures that you can create the most engaging and appropriate mobile experience through simple yet powerful personalization."

HTC Tattoo is the second phone to embody HTC Sense, a mobile experience focused on putting people at the centre by making your phone work in a more simple and natural way. Designed by listening and observing how people live and communicate, HTC Sense revolves around three fundamental principles Make it Mine, Stay Close and Discover the Unexpected.

With HTC Tattoo, you stay close to the important people in your life by integrating your communications and applications including voice calls, emails, texts, photos and status updates into one consolidated view, providing innovative and fun phone experiences.

The stylish HTC Tattoo is small and compact, fitting snugly into your hand or pocket.

People are able to design and purchase their own unique covers or search and select from popular cover designs, altering the look of the phone to reflect their mood or individual tastes.

HTC Tattoo integrates Google’s innovative mobile services including: Google Maps, search, Google Mail, and Android market where users can download thousands of popular applications and games. It also comes complete with a broad variety of hardware features including a 3.2 megapixel autofocus camera, 3.5mm stereo headset jack and expandable microSD memory.

Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom today announce that they have entered into exclusive negotiations to combine T-Mobile UK and Orange UK in a new 50:50 joint venture company.

The new joint venture will create the UK’s leading mobile operator. It will have a combined mobile customer base of around 28.4 million, representing approximately 37 percent of UK mobile subscribers*, based on figures at end December 2008. By integrating Orange’s broadband activities, the joint venture will also have the capabilities to offer convergent solutions to its customers in the future.

The companies claim that the combination of Orange and T-Mobile will bring substantial benefits to UK consumers resulting in expanded network coverage and enhanced indoor and outdoor network quality for 2G and 3G services. The combination will place the joint venture in a better position to invest in innovative new services and to exploit new technologies. The new enlarged business will also be able to compete more effectively with the other two large mobile operators in the market, Vodafone and O2.

What do you think? Good news for mobile customers in the UK - or will fewer larger operators simply result ultimately in less competition? Have your say below!

We love our mobiles and most of us wouldn't be without them.  However, they can be very dangerous and everyone should treat texting and driving as a socially unacceptable behaviour.

Gwent police have released a disturbing to watch and realistic film about the dangers of texting and driving.  I'd urge you to watch this and send the link onto others.

http://www.gwent.police.uk/leadnews.php?a=2172

News from Mobile Fun - the on-line retailer of Mobile Phones and Accessories:-

Mobile Fun tell us they are launching the lowest priced Nokia Sim Free handset with touch screen.  The Nokia 5530 Sim Free has a launch price of £199.95 and is now in stock from www.mobilefun.co.uk.  Nokia's latest touchscreen device for music lovers, the 5530 Xpress Music is a customizable smart phone that uses the latest touch based Symbian operating system. The operating system allows the user to flip through their music, photos and
contacts quickly and easily. 

The 5530 Xpress Music has a 2.9 inch screen and using its Wi-Fi connection can connect to the Ovi Music store to download music directly to the handset. Nokia has given the 5530 Xpress Music a faster processor allow fast switching between applications, pictures, video and music.