AU: Ms Henderson (aka Carol Brady, the mum from “The Brady Bunch”) is not extending her services to people outside of North America. Shame.

This isn’t Carol Brady’s first foray into tech support however. She was also on the front lines during the DTV conversion. Perhaps that, along with her confusion regarding the intricacies of her own mobile phone provided the inspiration to start up FloH.

“I didn’t grow up with this technology,” she said. “It’s like learning a new language.”

Now, as a proficient text-messenger, Skyper and active member on Facebook, she wants to help others learn to do the same.

FloH memberships run $US25 for a month or $US250 for the year and includes access to their telephone support network for any computer-related queries. For an additional $US50, users can participate in one-time personal training session on issues ranging from setting up a Facebook account to tuning up your PC. In other words, it’s quite a racket. Although, Florence doesn’t have to be the one manning the phones from 8am to 2am. To those people all I can say is…Godspeed. [FloH and NYT]

All you have to do – once you’ve set up your account at their website – is dial 1300 RECORD from any phone in Australia, and then call the desired number. Your number will show up on the other person’s phone, and once you’ve hung up, they’ll email you a link with an MP3 of the conversation.

The service costs between $2.65 and $3.75 per recorded call, depending on how much credit you buy up front.

This service could have saved my backside on a number of occasions over the years, but these days I just attach a special mic to my digital voice recorder and the phone I’m using to record interviews. But the real question here isn’t whether it will work – it sounds like a simple and elegant solution to something that could potentially be a problem for lots of people. No, the real question is whether it will be used more for good or evil. My money’s on evil.

[1300 RECORD]

This tweet by cwalker123, a Google Voice developer, says not today (the 18th). And if you need to know why we’re such big fans of Google Voice, check out our coverage. [BGR]

We’ve put the call into Nokia’s Australian office to try and get some more info on these issues and more, so stay tuned.

[Reuters]

For $US30/month you can record all of your calls through the Cogi website or a dial-in number—up to 1000 minutes a month. These calls can be pulled up at any time in the future, and you can bookmark important points of the call along the way for quick review.

But where the service gets really cool is that you can have 15 of these bookmarks transcribed for you (unfortunately, only in 30 second chunks). Apparently the system uses voice-to-text software along with some level of human quality control assurance.

We figure Cogi could be pretty great or a bit mediocre, but they are offering free one-month trials so you can try before you buy. [Cogi]

For either $US66 or $US90, you can receive unlimited GearHead support for six months or twelve months, respectively. This service includes help with hooking up and/or troubleshooting most devices that interface with your in-home broadband, such as routers, computers, printers, scanners and VoIP devices, not to mention support for the Windows platform, MS Office, and Adobe Acrobat. GearHead also provides a desktop client that will let their technicians go in and remotely control your desktop.

The pay-per-incident works a little different. There’s the Internet Access service which, for roughly $US37 will provide you 30 minutes of remote assistance in getting your internet connected properly. For about $US50 you can buy the PC Tune Up service, where a technician will go in and remove useless files and programs, bugs from your registry and adware.

While, most you techies have no problem keeping their home networks running in tip top shape, I’m sure you have parents, grandparents and siblings who can’t help but constantly keep their computers in a state of disarray. When you get tired of playing computer repair man, you can now just point them over to GearHead and wipe your hands clean of the whole ordeal. More information on GearHead can be found over at [Netgear].

NETGEAR® GearHead Services Provide Affordable, 24×7 Technical Support Service to Help Consumers Resolve PC-Related Problems

New One-Stop Technical Support Service Provides Remote Support for Computers, Peripherals, Software, and Other Computer-Related Products

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — November 18, 2008 — NETGEAR, Inc. (NASDAQGM: NTGR), a worldwide provider of technologically innovative, branded networking solutions, today announced the launch of NETGEAR GearHead Services, a comprehensive, affordable 24×7 remote technical support service that provides consumers with a one-stop resource for troubleshooting and resolving many of the most common computer-related problems in the home. One of the first of such comprehensive services from a consumer electronics vendor, the GearHead program is designed to ensure the best possible home networking experience for consumers that want to make the Internet their primary communications and entertainment platform for the Digital Home.

NETGEAR’s GearHead Services provide 24×7 PC and network support on both a subscription and pay-per-incident basis. SupportPak 6 and SupportPak 12 provide six or twelve months of unlimited 24×7 phone-based technical support to help consumers resolve a variety of issues related to computer hardware, home networking, Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office applications, and antivirus and antispyware programs. NETGEAR also offers two pay-per-incident services including the Internet Access Service, which helps consumers to troubleshoot and correct hardware- or software-based Internet access problems, and the PC Tune Up Service, which steps consumers through the process of eliminating unnecessary files, adware and unused programs to optimise performance of the PC. Interested parties can find out more here.

“While NETGEAR has always been dedicated to delivering the best possible end-user experience across our broad line of wired and wireless networking products and networked devices, getting all of the hardware and software components of a computer system to communicate and work together can be complicated and frustrating,” stated Winston Sze, Senior Service Product Manager at NETGEAR. “Consumers don’t care whether their computer problem is hardware or software related – they simply want the problem resolved as quickly as possible. Our new GearHead Services eliminate the frustrating exercise of having to speak with the tech support groups for a variety of different vendors by providing consumers with 24×7 access to an affordable one-stop technical support hotline that will help them troubleshoot and repair almost any computer-related issue.”

One of the most important aspects of the GearHead program is its vendor neutrality and focus on solving problems unrelated to NETGEAR products. The GearHead SupportPaks provide hardware support for desktop and notebook PCs, wired and wireless routers, modems, printers, scanners, fax machines, USB PC devices, home networking devices, and sound cards. In addition, technical support is provided for software-related issues with Windows operating systems (2000, XP or higher), Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, and Adobe Acrobat, in addition to anti-virus and anti-spyware software from McAfee, Norton, AVG, eTrust, and BitDefender. The GearHead SupportPak 6 and SupportPak 12 provide six or 12 months of unlimited technical support for only $65.95 USD and $89.95 USD, respectively.

The pay-per-incident services provided by NETGEAR GearHead includes the Internet Access Service, which provides up to 30 minutes of remote technical support for customers experiencing problems with accessing the Internet. The GearHead PC Tune Up Service helps customers eliminate unnecessary files, adware and unused programs to improve their PC’s performance. The Internet Access and PC Tune Up Services are priced at $36.50 per incident, and $49.50, respectively.

Enter Bongo International. Their job, as they eloquently put it on their website, is to: “take in the goods, store them, repackage them when our customers advise us, and handle any custom related issues that may arise”. Which means you can not only get stuff you normally wouldn’t be able to get delivered to your door, but also have multiple deliveries consolidated into one package, saving on shipping costs.

There are two pricing options: Single use (which costs $5) or a subscription service for regular shoppers, which costs $15 a month. There are bigger savings on shipping with the subscription service (makes sense) and you need to subscribe to get that package consolidation service.

We haven’t used the service yet, but considering we’re not likely to see Rock Band 2 in Australia until they release Rock Band 3 overseas, I’m thinking that could be a pretty good test case. But what about you guys? Have any of you used Bongo, or would you?

AUSSIES CAN NOW HAVE THEIR OWN US ADDRESS FOR $5
If you’ve ever bought something online from the US you may be aware of the significantly lower prices they generally pay for consumer goods and the vast variety they often have to choose from.

However, making an overseas purchase online can be frustrating because many US based retailers refuse to accept Australian credit cards or ship internationally. A new service has launched in Australia, Bongo International (http://BongoInternational.com.au), that lets bargain savvy consumers take advantage of the massive volume of the US consumer market and buy nearly anything online from top home brands to computers; baby goods to major fashion labels.

Australians can now shop any US retail website hassle-free and access a whole new world of fashion, beauty, technology, home and sports brands previously unavailable to Australians because of the complexities of international shipping documentations and overseas credit card purchases.

Bongo helps consumers navigate the red tape by giving them their very own American address where they can send their purchases and drastically reduce shipping costs on multiple purchases by consolidating them into one package. Traditionally, shipping a single item from the US can cost as much as the item itself, but through Bongo consumers can now save as much as 82% off standard carrier rates.

Bongo lets consumers access a whole new world of shopping. With a few clicks of the mouse you can shop the streets of New York, LA and Miami for the best bargains and unique or hard to find items you never even knew existed.

If the retailer doesn’t accept an Australian credit card you can use Bongo’s Personal Shopping Service to make the purchase on your behalf, ensuring an easy and safe transaction.

For further information on Bongo’s services visit http://www.BongoInternational.com.au

Perhaps most interesting of all is the fact that Steve thinks “it was a mistake to launch MobileMe at the same time as iPhone 3G, iPhone 2.0 software and the App Store,” which is an admission that perhaps Apple had bitten off more than they could chew. “We all had more than enough to do, and MobileMe could have been delayed without consequence.” That’s pretty evident, and clearly something that Apple needs to keep an eye on in the future.

History looks much clearer with the benefit of hindsight, but it also looks like Steve has acted to protect future MobileMe development with a restructuring of the team. The team now reports to a chap called Eddy Cue (his name has appeared connected to iTunes in the past) who in turn will report directly to Steve. In fact, Eddy is now in charge of all web-related services, including iTunes and the App Store. That sounds eminently sensible, but leaves us wondering what the structure was like before? And what happened to the exec formerly in charge of MobileMe— did they get the chop?

Steve closes by being frank about the lack-lustre start to MobileMe’s life: “The MobileMe launch clearly demonstrates that we have more to learn about Internet services.” But clearly he intends Apple to learn from its mistakes and not trip up in the same way again: “And learn we will.” [Ars Technica]

You see, today Dell and Gizmo announced that they were going to get intimate, with Gizmo services like setting up your Dell PC or setting up a wireless network available as an optional extra when purchasing a new Dell machine.

While it’s highly unlikely that anybody reading this would need tech support to set up their own computer, this could be the kind of thing that you purchase for your own mum or dad when buying them a PC, so you can save yourself the 1,742 phone calls about how to get the computer working or, in John Mayer’s case, finding an application.

Pricing is a bit on the expensive side, but look at it this way: they have to put up with all of those inane questions from old people so you don’t have to. Isn’t that worth something?

Pricing is below:

Stand alone services include:

Set Me Up – providing assistance with setting-up new Dell computers, transferring files or installing hardware and software for AUD$149.
Network Me – providing assistance with setting-up wireless networks and the devices connected to them, such as Dell laptops and Dell wireless printers, for AUD$169.

Combined services include:
Set Me Up and Network Me – providing assistance setting-up Dell computers and creating a new home network for the special price of AUD$243.50.
Set Me Up and Show Me – providing assistance setting-up Dell computers and training for an hour on how to use them for the special price of AUD$223.50.

As I hinted: Not so expensive if you consider the frustration you’ll be avoiding.

[Dell]

The audit also uncovered that the most significant of these lapses involved the DoD’s handling of London-based weapons maker BAE Systems. According to the report, DSS failed to collect the company’s internal audits—information that is crucial to determining potential weaknesses at the plant. The DSS responded saying that they have “a thorough and fundamentally sound facility inspection process which was only marginally diminished by the failure to systematically collect, analyse, and retain BAE’s required reports” and that they have “taken action to resolve this shortcoming.” However, a recent House Armed Services Committee hearing revealed that the DSS has been significantly understaffed for some time. Currently, around 750 people work for DSS and a rep claimed to be short staffed by “well over a hundred” persons.

So rest easy folks. Once again, you can be secure in the knowledge that our government has everything under control. [Wired]