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Techradar |
- Review: Dell Inspiron Mini 1018
- Catch up: this week's most popular posts
- Hands on: Altec Lansing Octiv 450 iPad dock review
- BlackBerry PlayBook pricing revealed
- Five awesome 3D things to do this week
- Pirate Bay founders lose court battle
- Mobile signal coming soon to London Tubes
- Mobile signal coming soon to London Tubes
- Sky: Don't expect as many 3D channels as HD
- Sony: Studios should not rush into 3D conversions
- First pictures: Virgin Media's new TiVo user interface
- Motorola Milestone 2 gets UK release date
- Buying Guide: Top 12 gifts for Xbox 360 owners
- Chrome OS device codenames revealed
- WIN! One of ten copies of Trend Micro SafeSync worth £45 each
- Twitter Joke Trial auction smashes £10,000 barrier
- Apple brings Black Friday deals to the UK
- Weird Tech: Forget street lights, use glowing trees instead
- Vodafone adds HTC Desire Z and Nokia C7 to range
- Buying Guide: Top 12 gifts for PS3 owners
- Review: Asus Eee PC Seashell 1015PE
- Review: Acer Aspire One D260
| Review: Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 Posted: 27 Nov 2010 01:30 AM PST  Dell's Inspiron Mini range has grown over the years from tiny nine-inch models to larger 12-inch ultraportables and finally settled on the 10-inch Inspiron Mini 1018. A well-made and highly usable netbook, it's easy to recommend, but it lacks the flair of some of its rivals. While the default model is black, a choice of pink or red colour schemes are available for an extra £19. The chassis is by far one of the most rugged around and feels extremely tough. As such, it lacks the svelte style of the Asus Eee PC Seashell 1015PE, making it a hardy but slightly bland choice. The rock-solid build quality continues to the user interface, with the keyboard being one of the best we have used. Avoiding the use of the isolation style design seen on the Asus, all keys feel larger and more accessible with the smooth typing action proving flawless. Unfortunately, the tiny touchpad doesn't fare quite as well. Measuring 65 x 30mm, it feels too wide and not nearly deep enough, making it awkward to scroll smoothly across the screen in a single motion. Thankfully, the mouse buttons are large enough to be used more comfortably.
The 10.1-inch Super-TFT screen is far more pleasing. One of the brightest panels on a netbook, images pop from the screen and colours are vivid. The screen only folds back 45 degrees from vertical, however, so it can be tricky to get a comfortable viewing angle. Part of the reason for this is that Dell has indented the screen's hinge by 19mm to make room for a strip of textured plastic on the rear. It's an unusual design choice, but does make the Dell more comfortable to carry. When combined with the 427 minutes of use we managed to get from the battery, this is a great choice for mobile workers and for school children. However, a lot of other netbooks provide much longer battery lives. Ample storage Where the Dell excels is its storage. The 250GB hard drive matches the Asus, providing 90GB more storage than both the Acer Aspire One D260 and Packard Bell Dot S. This will easily hold large multimedia collections. Also, the inclusion of Microsoft Office Starter 2010 software is a real bonus at this price and is a rarity in the netbook market. Providing stripped-down versions of Microsoft's word processing and spreadsheet tools, it provides a great way to get to work straight from the box. On its own, the Inspiron Mini 1018 is a great netbook, and ideal for first-time buyers. It's beaten slightly by the improved battery life and usability of the Acer and Packard Bell, but its rock-solid build quality makes it a superb choice for kids to use. Related Links
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| Catch up: this week's most popular posts Posted: 27 Nov 2010 12:00 AM PST  Orange and T-Mobile confirmed that they would be offering cheaper deals on iPad this week, as long as you take out a longer contract. Also in the iPad (and iphone) world, iOS 4.2 arrived bringing a bunch of new features. HTC Desire owners may be treated to HTCSense.com and MySpace (remember them) teamed up with Facebook in an attempt to counter the threat from Apple's Ping. Read on for this week's most popular stories on TechRadar… Top five news stories Orange and T-Mobile confirm cheaper iPads Orange and T-Mobile have confirmed that they will both be offering cheaper iPad deals — by tying users into longer term contracts. T-Mobile was first out of the blocks with a statement that reveals nothing more than a relatively soon UK release date for the new iPad price plans: "T-Mobile UK today announced it will offer new purchase options for iPad users, including more affordable prices when purchased with a data service plan, for iPad with Wi-Fi + 3G models in the coming months." HTCSense.com coming to the HTC Desire? HTC has hinted that its cloud-based HTCSense.com service may be made available to older handsets in the near future, with the original HTC Desire looking likely to get the functionality. MySpace teams up with Facebook to take on Ping MySpace has teamed up with Facebook in a ground-breaking move to gain and keep users, in addition to countering the threat from Apple's new 'Ping' social network. Motorola Milestone 2 comes to the UK unlocked The Motorola Milestone 2 has arrived in the UK, with a multitude of online sites stocking the device. The Android-toting handset - which is an update of the Motorola Milestone - from Moto brings Android 2.2, a 3.7-inch WVGA screen, 8GB of internal storage and a 1GHz processor inside. HTC Merge - pictures and video emerge Images and a video of the HTC Merge have appeared online – showing off what could well be a flagship handset for the OS. The video was leaked from US carrier Verizon and has been put on YouTube by Android Central for all to see. The HTC Merge is said to have a 3.7-inch Super LCD display and is powered by a second-gen 800MHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. Top five in-depth articles iOS 4.2: what you need to know Let joy be unconfined: after months of anticipation, every Apple fan's greatest wish has come true. That's right: we can finally get rid of the Marker Felt font in Notes. But it turns out that there are some other useful new iOS 4.2 features too. Here's what's new. Emerging from the ashes of the Microsoft Courier project in collaboration with Microsoft, the Acer Iconia dual-touchscreen laptop really is a curious piece of kit. Packing two 14-inch capacitive touchscreens, the Iconia is a booklet laptop-tablet hybrid device running Windows 7 Home Premium. It does away with the traditional keyboard and mouse setup in favour of an exclusively touch-based interface. 25 of the best free PC apps to download The internet is an ocean of freeware apps that can be both overwhelming and confusing. How do you know which is best? What happens if you download one and it turns out to be malware? Fear not, computing enthusiast, because we are here to allay those fears and guide you through the deluge. Here, we'll give you the lowdown on 25 of our top freeware applications. 3D Blu-ray on PS3: why it's a letdown for home cinema Sony has come good on its promise to turn the ubiquitous PS3 console into a 3D Blu-ray player by way of a free firmware update. No cost; no catches; your console just went fully 3D. It's a remarkable piece of forward planning by the PlayStation division that not only gives its black box an edge in the war with Microsoft's Xbox 360, but also lends the 3D movement a much needed leg up, effectively putting a 3D Blu-ray player in millions of homes around the world. But was 3D ever on the roadmap for PS3, or is this a compromised version of it, rushed out in time to play Sony's solitary 3D Blu-ray release and deliver the 3D message being pushed by Sony's marketing? Now, don't take this the wrong way. We still love the HTC Desire and continue to consider it to be the best Android phone currently available in the world today - it's just that HTC's custom HTC Sense user interface isn't to everyone's taste. So, to redress the balance, we thought we'd compile a list of the best apps for the HTC Desire to help it hold onto its top smartphone status for another year. Top five reviews The Flip UltraHD is a decent pocket-friendly camcorder, and with a higher frame rate and image stabilisation added since last year, it's definitely the best Flip yet As the baby in the WD TV lineup, the Mini is perhaps best connected to a bedroom TV. Measuring just 21x91x91mm, it features all the basics with none of the frills. Sporting Moto's love-it-or-hate-it MotoBlur social networking system as seen first on the Dext, the Defy adds an extra we've not seen with Android before: ruggedness Hands on: Apple iOS 4.2 review Although iOS 4.2.1 brings updates to all iOS devices, the iPad benefits most, finally catching up with the iPhone and iPod touch in important areas such as multitasking and folders. Sony Ericsson Xperia X8 review After being rather impressed by Sony Ericsson's Xperia X10 Mini and X10 Mini Pro, we couldn't help but wonder what Sony Ericsson's heavily customised Android OS would look like on a phone with a middle-of-the-road screen that sits somewhere between that of the monster X10 and the tiny X10 Minis. Also reviewed this week Eclipse Time Domain MK2 5.1 review Spire Thermax Eclipse II review AMD Phenom II X4 970 Black Edition review Apple MacBook Air 13-inch review Sony Ericsson Xperia X8 review Sling Media Slingbox Pro HD review Stealth Acoustics LR Series 7.2 review DSpeaker Anti-Mode 8033 review Western Digital WD TV Mini review 
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| Hands on: Altec Lansing Octiv 450 iPad dock review Posted: 26 Nov 2010 07:44 AM PST  When Steve Jobs announced the iPad way back in January, the machine not only marked a whole new computing area for Apple, it also gave third-party manufacturers a brand-new toy to accessorise. It's surprising, then, that it's taken this long for a handful of iPad docks to come to the market. While the Bang & Olufsen BeoSound 8 was very much a premium product, the latest iPad dock TechRadar has gotten its hands most definitely caters to the mainstream.
Altec Lansing has been one of the big names in the dock market, offering decent functionality at a reasonable price. The Altec Lansing Octiv 450 is of no exception. What's surprising about the dock is its footprint. The base of the Octiv 450 is smaller than you would imagine an iPad dock to be. This is because it has been designed to make sure that the iPad is pride and place on the dock, with the stand sitting behind it.
Within the base is the speaker system. The speaker stretches round the base and makes good use of the sound – which is crisp and clear. The iPad slides easily into the cradle of the dock and the back is large enough to make the iPad feel secure in the device. Not once did we feel the iPad was to big for the dock.
The cradle arm will also hold the iPad in both landscape and portrait mode. A gentle turn of the cradle will achieve this. When it comes to connectivity, the dock has the obligatory 30-pin connector that also acts as a charger and there is a 3.5mm jack on the back for any other device you want to plug in.
Altec Lansing has created something special with the Octiv 450. It's a device that suits the iPad well and wouldn't look out of place in your kitchen, bedroom or even living room. The iPad isn't as portable as Jobs and co would want you to believe, so connecting it to a dock makes a lot of sense, and the Octiv 450 does everything right in an accessory market it's pretty much created.
The Altec Lansing Octiv 450 audio dock has a UK release date of 1 December and is priced at £129.99. 
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| BlackBerry PlayBook pricing revealed Posted: 26 Nov 2010 07:37 AM PST  Pricing for the forthcoming BlackBerry PlayBook looks like it has been revealed - and it could be cheaper than the iPad. Mobility Insider, which was one of the first sites to get a hands on with BlackBerry's new tablet sidekick, is claiming that the prices for the new device will range from $399 (£250) to $599 (£380), depending on storage size. The new PlayBook, which looks likely to have a summer 2011 UK release date, will come in a variety of options, with 8GB, 16GB and 32GB on offer, for $399, $499 and $599 respectively, although other than that the specs will stay the same. Pricing roulette If the prices stay true when they cross the Atlantic, then it will put the BlackBerry PlayBook at around £100 cheaper than the equivalent Wi-Fi only iPad. However, it's likely to gain a premium through sales tax and other elements, but should still come in slightly cheaper than Apple's offering. We'll be keeping our eyes open for a sample of RIM's new tablet, and we'll hopefully bring you our BlackBerry PlayBook review in the new year. 
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| Five awesome 3D things to do this week Posted: 26 Nov 2010 07:20 AM PST If you fancy adding a 3D sheen to your life this week then look no further – we at 3DRadar have come up with five frankly awesome things to do with 3D that'll make the November shivers disappear... 1: Tron Legacy 20 minute preview
Now this is a bit like joining a secret club, but rumour has it that IMAX's up and down the country have started showing a 20-minute preview of Tron Legacy. We were lucky enough to see this very preview a few months back and it was something special. Just seeing a bearded Jeff Bridges in the ENCOM machine once more was enough to render us fanboys speechless, but the addition of 3D plants this version of Tron firmly in the 21st Century. And if your local IMAX isn't showing it, then you don't have long to wait for the movie - it's out 17 December. Reasons to watch
2: Fujifilm Real 3D W3 review
3D in the home usually consists of watching a 3D movie from a big Hollywood studio, or looking up the Sky 3D channel for what's on. This is all set to change as Fujifilm has recently announced the arrival of an update to its 3D consumer camera – the Fujifilm Real 3D W3. T3 has just this week reviewed the device and given it an impressive four stars. The review states: "We're really impressed with the Fujifilm Real 3D W3, not only is it more compact so more convenient to carry around, but the addition of the HDMI connector means you can easily share those 3D images and video to any 3D TV." It's not cheap at £370 but the fact you can make your own 3D images on it will impress even the most critical of mates. Reasons to buy
3: Despicable Me in 3D
Still going strong in cinemas across the country, Despicable Me is a genuinely funny slab of animation, with the added benefit of being in 3D. Starring Steve Carrell, Julie Andrews and Russell Brand, the film focuses on two villains who try to outdo each other's evilness. Though some of the jokes veer into tooth-rotting territory, the 3D is impressive and there's enough here for parents to enjoy as well as their little minions. Reasons to watch
4: Football and rugby on Sky 3D
Sky 3D is showing two great sports matches this weekend (27-28 November). The first is England v South Africa. This heavyweight Rugby Union battle has been shot in 3D and will showcase a rugby rivalry that started as far back as 1906. The second is Tottenham v Liverpool. Fresh after a stunning Champions League win, Tottenham will want to retain its form, while Liverpool will be hoping its form can be regained. Don't let the thought of Harry Redknapp's jowls in 3D put you off – this is going to be a brilliant game.
Reasons to watch
5: Gran Turismo 5 3D tournament
It might not have hit mythical status like Duke Nukem but GT5 is the game most people thought would never appear. But now the wait is over: Gran Turismo 5 is here and it is in 3D. To celebrate this fact, get yourself down to a HMV on Saturday 27 November and take part in what looks likely to be the gaming event of the year. The store plays host to a gaming tournament that's set to last 10 days and has been created to see who in the country is the best player of Gran Turismo 5 in 3D. The final of the tournament is 15 December, when the champion will be crowned at HMV's flagship store in Oxford Street. Reasons to take part
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| Pirate Bay founders lose court battle Posted: 26 Nov 2010 07:04 AM PST  The co-founders of Pirate Bay have lost their appeal to have sentences against them quashed. Fredrik Nej, Peter Sunde and Carl Lundstrom found out this week that they are still to be charged for running a site that advocates illegal file-sharing. While the sentences of the men have been slightly reduced (Neij's sentence is now 10 months, Sunde's eight months and Lundstrom's four months) all of the convicted will have to pay higher fines. The fine that has to be paid has risen from $4.57 million to $6.57 million. Fine is final "The appeals court, like the district court, finds that the service Pirate Bay has facilitated illegal file sharing in a way which is punishable for those who carried out the service," said the court's statement. The Pirate Party believes that the court ruling will have no effect on the website, saying: "This doesn't mean anything for The Pirate Bay and it doesn't mean anything for similar sites. "File sharing is increasing every day and the only thing this means is that more and more people will try to hide what they are doing on the internet." Despite the high fines it is unlikely Sony BMG, Universal Music, EMI and Warner Brothers will see the money. Back in March, Sunde said about the fines: "Nobody is going to pay anything – there is no money to pay. Nobody is interested in just giving money away to big corporations that are just greedy and stupid." 
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| Mobile signal coming soon to London Tubes Posted: 26 Nov 2010 07:00 AM PST  Mobile operators and TfL could be close to agreeing a deal that will see mobile phone signal offered on the London Underground rail network. Sources have told Mobile Magazine a deal is in the offing and expected to be signed in two weeks, although issues with which company will supply the infrastructure could delay proceedings, with French company Thales in competition with Huawei to manage the services. Initially the trial will see the Jubilee and Central line converted to areas where businesspeople can shout louder on their mobile to be heard over the deafening train rattling, but the Mayor of London hopes for a wider roll out in time for the Olympics. 'We're sorry, but this announcement has been delayed...' TfL has confirmed that deals are in still being discussed, with a spokeperson stating: "TfL and the Mayor of London are currently in discussion with mobile phone operators and other suppliers about the potential provision of mobile phone services on the deep tube network. "Given the financial pressures on TfL's budgets any solution would need to be funded through mobile operators with no cost to fare or taxpayers. Discussions are ongoing." TechRadar has contacted the UK's mobile networks for comment, but none would speak on the proceedings at this time. The issue of mobile signal on London's Underground network has been rumbling on for a long time, with the Digital Britain proposal of nearly two years ago advising that the problem would be solved soon. However, TfL issued a statement to the contrary, highlighting the intrinsic difficulties in installing such a system - but it looks like that problem has now been solved. 
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| Mobile signal coming soon to London Tubes Posted: 26 Nov 2010 07:00 AM PST Mobile operators and TfL could be close to agreeing a deal that will see mobile phone signal offered on the London Underground rail network. Sources have told Mobile Magazine a deal is in the offing and expected to be signed in two weeks, although issues with which company will supply the infrastructure could delay proceedings, with French company Thales in competition with Huawei to manage the services. Initially the trial will see the Jubilee and Central line converted to areas where businesspeople can shout louder on their mobile to be heard over the deafening train rattling, but the Mayor of London hopes for a wider roll out in time for the Olympics. 'We're sorry, but this announcement has been delayed...' TfL has confirmed that deals are in still being discussed, with a spokeperson stating: "TfL and the Mayor of London are currently in discussion with mobile phone operators and other suppliers about the potential provision of mobile phone services on the deep tube network. "Given the financial pressures on TfL's budgets any solution would need to be funded through mobile operators with no cost to fare or taxpayers. Discussions are ongoing." TechRadar has contacted the UK's mobile networks for comment, but none would speak on the proceedings at this time. The issue of mobile signal on London's Underground network has been rumbling on for a long time, with the Digital Britain proposal of nearly two years ago advising that the problem would be solved soon. However, TfL issued a statement to the contrary, highlighting the intrinsic difficulties in installing such a system - but it looks like that problem has now been solved. 
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| Sky: Don't expect as many 3D channels as HD Posted: 26 Nov 2010 05:30 AM PST  Sky's 3D guru Brian Lenz has suggested that we won't be seeing the kind of proliferation of 3D channels as the UK has seen for HD. Sky now has 50 HD channels on its satellite platform, with the majority of new shows from the US and major UK broadcasters available in high definition. But Lenz – Sky's director of product development – does not believe that there will be as many 3D channels arriving.
Scale and impact "If 3D is done right then it will have some of the scale and impact of HD," Lenz told What Satellite. "But I don't think we will see the same need for new channels as with HD, where it has become the standard. "[That's] because it will be delivered in different ways, around different types of content." Currently the only dedicated 3D channel is Sky 3D, which is available for free for anyone on Sky's top level package who is lucky enough to have the 3D television and glasses. Major movies and key sporting events are shown on the channel, along with arts content, providing the market with much-needed 3D content. 
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| Sony: Studios should not rush into 3D conversions Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:57 AM PST  The vice-president of Sony's 3D Technology Center has insisted that film studios should not rush into converting their back catalogues to 3D. Sony's Buzz Hays insists that the most important thing for any film is that it is intended to be in 3D, and that care should be taken in applying the new technology to old films. "The key factor for any delivery mechanism is that the story is intended for 3D," Hays told What Satellite. "It's great to see the excitement about 3D. I really do believe that we are on the cusp of a major transition in the entertainment business."
Avatar: Made with 3D in mind "That said, no one benefits from the rush to do anything, particularly not to convert content without the time, care and budget required to do it well," he added. Hays believes that people are moving beyond the need to use gimmicks to take advantage of the 3D technology. "The fact is that 3D offers film and TV makers a new level of subtlety in their craft that enrich even otherwise sedate genres," he added. 
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| First pictures: Virgin Media's new TiVo user interface Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:48 AM PST  The first screen shots of Virgin Media's brand new 'powered by TiVo' interface have surfaced, with the long-awaited overhaul to the cable giant's UI bringing massive changes. The decision to partner up with US PVR maker TiVo was huge news for customers of Virgin Media, with its current user interface showing its age. The revamp is based heavily on the latest TiVo interface, boosted hugely by a more graphical look and built around finding content from any source more readily.
The colours, as you would expect, remain Virgin Media red, black and gold, with the TiVo logo present in the background. TiVo did have a brief foray into UK territory but found itself pushed out by former-partner Sky and its Sky+ technology. There is residual bitterness over this, and the US company will be keen for the Virgin Media tie-up to do well against the latest Sky+ HD boxes.
Search will play a major factor in the user interface, and you can rely on the fact that the TiVo 'thumbs up' and 'thumbs down' rating, which not only allows you to set your preferences but also to have the box automatically look for viewing patterns across its user base, will be present. The final details on the box are thin on the ground, but expected to arrive in the coming week, with the first boxes set to arrive next month in order to meet the timeframe of a 2010 launch. 
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| Motorola Milestone 2 gets UK release date Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:46 AM PST  Motorola's latest QWERTY device, the Android 2.2-powered Motorola Milestone 2, will be hitting the shops later this week. Well, virtual shops, as it's mostly being sold online, with Expansys stating that it's now available for shipping for just £379.99. The new phone looks unlikely to be coming directly from any networks, as Motorola seems intent on hiding some of its best handsets from UK view once more (but don't worry... Orange is still stocking the Flipout). A hidden gem The Motorola Milestone 2 is actually relatively impressive in our eyes: a 1GHz processor, Android 2.2 and Flash video support on top of the Marmite-esque MotoBlur make it an attractive purchase. Add to that the streamlined QWERTY slide-out keyboard, the 3.7-inch screen and the lower price tag and you'd have to think this is a phone to properly rival the likes of the Desire Z - except for the fact it's only going to be picked up by those with a decent wedge of cash just lying around. Anyway, Expansys is throwing in a free car kit as well, and other e-tailers will be bringing the Milestone 2 online soon, so check it out if you want to be different from the rest of the crowd by having a phone nobody will recognise. 
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| Buying Guide: Top 12 gifts for Xbox 360 owners Posted: 26 Nov 2010 04:04 AM PST  Getting the best Xbox gifts at Christmas can be a hard task, especially if you're shopping for the gamer that has all the latest titles. But it doesn't have to be that way, as there are loads of cool Xbox gifts for every type of gamer. There are tonnes of Xbox 360 accessories which make gaming easier, keep peripherals charged, and even open up areas of the Xbox experience that they've never been able to exploit. So call off the search and put your feet up, as we've found 12 of the best accessories and cool Xbox gifts, so you don't have to. 1. Kinect - £129.99
Kinect is one of the most in-demand presents anywhere this Christmas, and is a must have for any Xbox owner. If you've been living on another planet this year, then let us explain. Kinect lets you play a range of games using your body to control your character, much like the Wii, but without the control. A sure fire winner this Christmas that you can pick up for £129.99. 2. Lips Number One Hits with Microphones - £54.99
If you're looking for a gift to get the family together this Christmas, then look no further than Lips. This karaoke game with two wireless microphones has a fantastic mix of modern classics and old favourites, from Black Eyed Peas to Roy Orbison and even MC Hammer. 3. 4Gamers Play and Charge kit - £9.94
Any Xbox 360 owner will know the pain of running out of AA batteries in their controller. Save them the inconvenience of interrupted sessions, and the environmental impact of wasted AA batteries by buying a charging pack. They can even play and charge simultaneously, so there's no need to come out of their room on Christmas Day to watch The Great Escape. 4. Modern Warfare 2 Throat Mic Communicator Headset - £19.44
A must-have for any CoD addict, this officially licensed throat mic is designed to give clearer, less noisy sound for Xbox LIVE play. If your loved one lives and breathes the new Black Ops game then help them get into character, and lead their team in style, with this cool looking piece of kit. 5. Turtle Beach Ear Force X11 Headset - £37.97
If you're tired of peace being ruined by someone acting out the war on terror from the next room, invest in the Turtle Beach headphones this Christmas. These luxury cans double as a headset and provide great quality sound and will give them an tactical advantage with clear definition and virtual surround sound. 6. Wireless Headset - £29.99
The more active gamer might enjoy the convenience of a wireless headset more than a pair of beefy cans, and this makes the perfect stocking filler. The headset looks like a Bluetooth mobile type sported by city types in Starbucks, but means there will be no tangled cables in the pursuit of Xbox Live domination. 7. Rock Band 3 Wireless Mustang Pro Guitar - £109.99
For the wannabe rock star, there's no Xbox gift like the Wireless Mustang Pro. This realistic guitar is geared up for Rock Band 3, so they can feel like Bono even if they sound more like Borat. It boasts actual strings, will play real chords, and doubles as a MIDI Guitar Controller when not in use on Rock Band 3, which will be rare. 8. Rock Band 3 Microphone Stand - £14.99
The average Rock Band star will slouch on the sofa, moodily murdering the Beatles while dreaming of being on the big stage. Give them a low-cost lift with this mic stand. At worst they can pretend to be on stage at the Astoria, at best, they can show off while singing and playing guitar at the same time. 9. Venom Xbox 360 Controller Twin Charge Cradle - £11.97
For those gamers who have more than one controller, get them this twin charging cradle. The unit holds two controllers and charges them together, meaning that multiplayer gaming doesn't begin and end with a race to find the last remaining AA batteries hidden in the kitchen drawer. 10. Xbox Live 2100 Points Card - £17.49
If you don't know what to get your Xbox addicted loved one, then play it safe with a gift card. Xbox points can be spent on amazing games from the store, and even movie rentals too. 2100 points gets you two good Xbox Live Arcade games, with some left over for downloadable content. 11. Xbox Live 12 Month Gold Membership Card - £29.97
Xbox Live is one of the greatest parts of the Xbox experience, but the £40 a year fee puts many people off. Treat your pet gamer to a year's online gameplay, with access to a world of multiplayer action, rentable movies and great extras like Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm from the console. 12. Call Of Duty: Black Ops ProGaming Glasses - £59.99
If you're fed up of your CoD loving friend, then give them the kiss of death with these ProGaming glasses. The official spiel boasts that these specs enable gamers to stay more alert and play for longer, on their way to online domination. Just post some rations under the door, and move on with your life. 
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| Chrome OS device codenames revealed Posted: 26 Nov 2010 03:59 AM PST  Likely codenames for the first Chrome OS netbooks have been revealed – with Mario and Andretti the motor racing-themed monikers to emerge. Tech Crunch has taken a look at the Chromium issue tracker – working out what names have emerged from people testing machines from within Google HQ. Mario Andretti – as if you didn't already know – is one of the most iconic racing drivers, and has won races in Formula One, IndyCar and Nascar. Speedy Bearing in mind Google's focus on speed for Chrome OS, the name makes a lot of sense. The search giant is only looking to devices with solid state drives, which boot faster than traditional hard disk drives, because speed is very much the core tenet of the entire operating system. The first devices, which are likely to be netbooks rather than tablets, are expected to make an appearance early next year, with CES 2011 a likely venue. 
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| WIN! One of ten copies of Trend Micro SafeSync worth £45 each Posted: 26 Nov 2010 03:55 AM PST  Trend Micro SafeSync provides online backup, storing an unlimited number of your irreplaceable files in a single safe location – and we've got 10 copies to give away. Simple to set up and extremely secure, Trend Micro SafeSync keeps your data files automatically backed up, synchronized, and remotely accessible any time from any device with an Internet connection. You can store as many files as you have, while there's also an unlimited version history – you'll never lose a file, even if you overwrite or change it. If you want to edit a photo, a document or simply delete it, then this change is copied in the cloud. This removes the manual effort of moving files from one PC to another, which is not only time-consuming but subject to data loss. SafeSync mirrors how your PC or Mac is organised Unlike Dropbox, which uses a simple drop-box to sync your files, SafeSync uses a folder structure mirroring how your files are stored on your PC or Mac which means your files remain organised in the same way. You're also able to access your files online anywhere, so you don't even need software to access your files from any computer while there's also a Restore Wizard designed to make life easier following the theft, loss or break-down of your computer. The wizard ensures that you can transfer your online content onto your new computer simply and easily. "Security is not just about backup, security is about confidentiality, integrity and availability", said Rik Ferguson, senior security advisor at Trend Micro. "With SafeSync we are helping you to backup your important data but also we are making sure that data is available to you securely whenever and wherever you want to access it. SafeSync has been designed to look after your synchronisation transparently, while you just get on with your life.' The software costs £45 for a year-long subscription – click here and answer a simple question to be in with a chance of winning one. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note that this competition is only open to UK residents over 18 years of age. There is no cash alternative to the prize and unless agreed otherwise in writing the prize is non-refundable and non transferable. 
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| Twitter Joke Trial auction smashes £10,000 barrier Posted: 26 Nov 2010 03:48 AM PST  An auction set up to raise money for Paul Chambers, the man charged with sending a threatening message over Twitter, has hit £10,000 – the minimum amount needed for Chambers to make an appeal to the High Court. Chambers was fined for his 'offensive' tweet, where he threatened to blow up Robin Hood airport in Doncaster unless it opened up. The ridiculousness of the charge spurred the Twitter community to set up a Twitter Joke Trial hashtag that's been supported by a number of celebrities, including Graham Linehan and Stephen Fry. Chambers was found guilty earlier in the month and was given a criminal conviction but he is now going to the High Court to appeal. Joke's aside An appeal like this costs thousands, so the Twitter Joke Trial Fund was setup that used auctions to raise money for the Chambers' appeal. This auction has now passed the landmark £10,000 barrier. The Twitter feed says about hitting £10,000: "We're not finished, this was the minimum needed to ensure Paul could even mount an appeal, BUT, we've only gone and bloody done it!!" Chambers, who is not party to the auction but has verified the account, said: "Absolutely unbelievable. "A massive, massive thank you to everyone who donated and involved. I'm off for a cry." 
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| Apple brings Black Friday deals to the UK Posted: 26 Nov 2010 02:57 AM PST  Apple has brought a little bit of the US to the UK today, offering up its shiny adult play things at a discount for one day only. If you log on to the UK Apple Store there is currently a Wrap It Up event, where everything from iPads to MacBook Pros have some sort of discount. All of the iPad range currently has £35 off – regardless of whether you get the 16GB Wi-Fi version or the 64GB Wi-Fi and 3G version. The Apple iMac, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air range have £81 off and you can get £15 off an iPod touch. Friday feeling Black Friday is usually a discount day in the US, but a number of retailers have decided to make deals available in the UK, too. Amazon UK started its Black Friday deals at the beginning of this week, while retailers like Pixmania have also decided to heavily discount their goods. At the moment, you can get a Creative Vado HD mini camcorder for just £51.90 from the online store, which is a 71 per cent saving. There are also 24-hour deals for Samsung TVs and cameras and LaCie hard drives. 
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| Weird Tech: Forget street lights, use glowing trees instead Posted: 26 Nov 2010 02:54 AM PST  What's got sixteen legs, four eyes and three rows of teeth? We don't know either, but it's right behind you. Only kidding! It's time for this week's Weird Tech, featuring things that don't exist, things you can't buy, things that are too expensive and dangerous to implement and things that might get you groped. Trees are rubbish. They just sit there, doing nothing, occasionally dropping things on your head. Wouldn't it be great if we could get them to do something useful, such as lighting our streets? That's what an accidental discovery by Taiwanese scientists promises. It turns out that embedding gold nanoparticles in leaves makes them glow. For now, the necessary powder is ridiculously toxic and incredibly pricey, but in the long term "bio-LED could be used to make roadside trees luminescent at night. This will save energy and absorb CO2", Dr Yen-Hsun Su told Chemistry World. Money for nothing You'll recall that the entire global economy collapsed because people were spending money they couldn't afford on property they didn't need. Now, you can be even more irresponsible and spend money you can't afford on property that doesn't even exist. That's right! Virtual real estate is the next big thing! Just ask Yan Panasjuk, who paid $335,000 for a chunk of the entirely imaginary nightclub Neverdie, which only exists in the online game Entropia.
IMAGINE: It's easy to take the mickey out of Entropia. That's what we like. It's easy Speaking to Forbes, the 34-year-old Bostonian explained that it was a smart move because, um, "Avatar has grossed 2.7 billion dollars worldwide." He might be right, though: the club's previous owner was bringing in two hundred grand a year from selling virtual goods and services to idiots. Er, gamers. Wear your pants with pride Finally, if you're thinking of travelling in the US, you've probably heard of the increase in airport security, where you've got a choice between the pornoscanner – a scanner that sees through clothes – and invasive groping.
THAT'S MAGIC: Wear magic pants. Use magic pants to give security a message. O noes! Rubber gloves! Technology comes to the rescue once again, though: 4th Amendment Wear uses metallic inks to display that particular bit of the US Constitution (it's the part about unreasonable searches) to the pornoscanner operator. And it's not limited to T-shirts: you can get the amendment printed on your underpants. Lights! Apple! Action! What do you buy the Apple fan who has everything? That's right – you buy them a Steve Jobs action figure, or at least you would if those killjoys at Apple hadn't sent a cease and desist letter to Micgadget.
ONE MORE THING:This magical and revolutionary product had an unbelievable price of $79.90 before Apple's lawyers intervened Apparently a model of Jobs with stick-on speech balloons that you can scribble "Boom", "Magical" and "Amazing" on breaches Californian copyright law. That's our plans for Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Steve Ballmers buggered, then. Oi! Three eyes! If a man's got a camera glued to his head, it's probably art – and it certainly is in Wafaa Bilal's case. The New York University arts professor has had a small video camera implanted into the back of his head "as an allegorical statement about the things we don't see and leave behind".
ARTY FARTY: This is Wafaa Bilal's website. We don't understand it, so it must be art Previously Bilal has encouraged people to fire paintballs at him 24/7 and created a video game featuring himself as a suicide bomber. 
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| Vodafone adds HTC Desire Z and Nokia C7 to range Posted: 26 Nov 2010 02:41 AM PST  Vodafone has announced it's next up to stock the much-vaunted HTC Desire Z and sort-of-well-a-bit-vaunted Nokia C7. The HTC Desire Z is the surprise package of the two, coming in at £35 per month on a two-year deal, making it the same as the high-end Desire HD. Admittedly the Desire Z comes with a full slide-out keyboard, but it was expected to be a shade cheaper. Follow it up with a Nokia The Nokia C7 is more in line with expectations, coming in at a more palatable £25 per month with a free phone or £20 per month if you want to pay £100 for the phone. The C7 also makes use of the new Symbian^3 OS used in the Nokia N8, which is a slight upgrade over the ageing S60 operating system the Finns have been using for years and years. Both are available now, so sprint down to your nearest Vodafone store to get your hands on one - or save some energy and do it online. It's actually cheaper that way too. 
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| Buying Guide: Top 12 gifts for PS3 owners Posted: 26 Nov 2010 02:30 AM PST  Nothing pleases gamers more than being given something to help them get more from their plastic pride and joy. To help out with what to pick, we've rounded up 12 of the best PS3 gifts that are guarantee to be warmly received. There's a lot more to the PS3 than just games, of course, so we've got PS3 accessories to make the most of the PlayStation's web capabilities, media and Blu-ray capabilities, too. There's something for just about everyone available below. 1. PlayStation Move Starter Pack, £41.70 (£49.99 RRP)
In TechRadar's PlayStation Move review, we were highly impressed by Sony's new motion sensing controller. Grabbing someone a Move Starter Pack is a great way to introduce motion gaming, though you can also get deals that bundle a Starter Pack with a game such as Sports Champions for around £70. Of course, there are lots of accessories for Move itself you could pick up, including the Navigation Controller (£17.99; £24.99 RRP) and the official Charging Station (£17.99; £24.99 RRP). 2. Gioteck Real Triggers, £2.99 (£4.99 RRP)
Speaking of improved triggers… Anyone sick of slipping off the convex analogue ones on their PS3 controller will be grateful for these add-ons. They make the R2/L2 triggers concave and they'll stick out more, so will be much easier to press with precision. 3. Logitech Driving Force GT, £79.99 (£149.99 RRP)
It's been a long old wait for Gran Turismo 5, but the game has finally hit store shelves. Any serious driving sim fan will know that the only way to play is with a racing wheel, and this Gran Turismo-branded wheel is just the ticket. Featuring force feedback, accelerate and brake pedals, a sequential gear shift lever and an adjustment dial for control over all the finer options in your car, you'll know the only reason for poor performance in races is between the sofa and the wheel. 4. Logitech Vantage Bluetooth Headset, £19.99 (£24.99 RRP)
With its adjustable noise-cancelling microphone and comfortable design, the Logitech Vantage Bluetooth Headset combines crystal-clear sound and a comfortable design with a solid 12 hours of use from its rechargeable battery. 5. Mad Catz Call of Duty: Black Ops PrecisionAim controller, £30.37 (£39.99 RRP)
At this point, it's difficult to not know at least one person feverishly enjoying the latest Call of Duty game. This Black Ops licensed gaming pad features PrecisionAim analogue sticks with on-the-fly sensitivity adjustments, lag-free 2.4GHz wireless communication, rubber grips (for better sticking to the hand in the throes of a frantic match's climax) and improved triggers. 6. Official Sony Blu-ray Remote Control, £14.99 (£17.99 RRP)
One of the best things about the PS3 is that it's actually a damn good Blu-ray player. However, the standard Dual Shock 3 controller isn't exactly ideal for media playback. Not to worry: Sony's remote control enables users to play and fast forward their dics in a more dignified manner. 7. Play TV, £19.99 (£59.99 RRP)
Not only does the PS3 contain ample digital storage thanks to its built-in hard drive, but it can be upgraded by the user to even more. Ideal, then, for turning into a Freeview recorder! Using Play TV, you can watch and record live TV on your PS3. Handily, it actually has two tuners, so you can watch one thing and record another, or even record two things at once. An electronic programme guide makes keeping track of what you want to record easy. 8. Venom Controller Charger, £10.99 (£19.99 RRP)
Recharging your PS3 controllers using the supplied USB cable is all well and good, but don't you want something a little more interesting? Enter Venom's Pyramid charger, with its ability to charge two controllers and once and blue accent glow. There are more… subtle options on the market, but some things really are better when they glow (just ask the PS Move designers). 9. Official Sony PS3 Wireless Keypad, £17.99 (£24.99 RRP)
If you've ever tried typing a message of any length on any console using just the on-screen keyboard directed by the game pad, we probably don't need to mention to you how infuriating it is. This add-on for the standard PS3 controller puts a full QWERTY keyboard at the user's fingertips, without having to put down the controller. Ideal for sending quick messages to friends in between multiplayer rounds. 10. Hori Fighting Stick 3, £39.99 RRP
For a true fighting game fan, then it's pretty much impossible to look at the authentic arcade-style layout on the Fighting Stick and not come over a bit funny. There's no shortage of great fighting games around at the moment, and with Tekken X Street Fighter still to come, we can't think of a better way to get your Shoryuken on. 11. Logitech Cordless Mediaboard Pro, £38.09 (£49.99 RRP)
When trying do a lot of web browsing on the PS3, the standard controller can be pretty fiddly. Instead, try this keyboard from Logitech, which will have users churning through URLs in no time. Not only that, but with a built-in trackpad for mouse control, it can be used to scan around pages and control services such as iPlayer easily. 12. PSN Card, £20/£50 RRP
Of course, if you want to give someone something to use with the PS3 that doesn't take up yet more living room space, why not go for a PlayStation Network gift card? You can buy in £20 or £50 denominations, and the recipient can use them to buy games, DLC, movies and anything else that takes their fancy from the PSN store. It's the gift that keeps on giving (until it runs out). 
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| Review: Asus Eee PC Seashell 1015PE Posted: 26 Nov 2010 02:00 AM PST  Asus pioneered the netbook in 2007 and its Eee PC range has since grown by a staggering scale. While the Eee PC Seashell 1015PE adds little to the basic netbook concept, its unique features, great usability and ample storage make it easy to recommend. The chassis looks impressively high end for such a low-priced machine, finished in sleek matt-black plastic. While the finish attracts fingerprints, it is easily cleaned. The resilient build quality is also more than tough enough for frequent travel use. Despite being one of the larger netbooks on the market, the 1.3kg chassis remains suitably slim and portable. Powered by a 6-cell battery, we were able to work for almost eight hours on the move – a great result, but slightly bettered by the Acer Aspire One D260 and Packard Bell Bell Dot S. Chiclet keyboard Asus was one of the first to use an isolation-style (or 'Chiclet') keyboard on a netbook and the feature is well implemented here. While the keys are smaller than those of the Acer Aspire One D260, the spacious design and firmly fixed board ensure comfortable typing. As with the Acer, a large touchpad is also in place. Perfectly mirroring the wide aspect ratio of the 10.1-inch screen, the wide pad makes it easy to manoeuvre onscreen. The single brushed-aluminium mouse button adds to the style of the device and is equally comfortable to use. Asus has utilised a matt TFT screen rather than a glossy Super-TFT panel. Reflections are entirely eliminated, making it easy to work outdoors. While many matt TFT screens can tend to reduce image vibrancy, we saw no such flaw here. Powered by the same components as most of its rivals, performance is basic at best and only suitable for home office use. With that said, the Asus ran ever so slightly faster than most other netbooks at this price point, although the difference will be negligible in daily use. Where this machine stands out from the crowd is in the extra features it provides. As well as a capacious 250GB hard drive, Asus also includes 500GB of online storage, letting you safely back up your data via the internet wherever you go. As with most other netbooks, a webcam is fitted above the screen. The Asus' camera is unique, however, as it includes a sliding shutter to cover the camera when not in use for greater privacy. Finally, proprietary ExpressGate software is also installed. Asus has delivered yet another fantastic machine with the Eee PC Seashell 1015PE. While we prefer the improved usability and battery life of the Acer and Packard Bell, there's no denying this is one of the best you can buy. Related Links
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| Posted: 26 Nov 2010 01:30 AM PST  Acer was among the first to release a netbook back in 2008 and its Aspire One range has gone from strength to strength ever since. The Aspire One D260 is the latest addition and what it lacks in storage it compensates for with all-day battery power. In the netbook market in general, the compact chassis is ideal for regular travel and use around the home. Weighing 1.2kg and with a depth of just 30mm, the slim design lets it slip easily into even the smallest hand luggage. Powered by a slim 6-cell battery, battery life is fantastic without adding any undue bulk to the chassis. Running for nearly nine hours under the most demanding use, it delivers enough power to keep you working throughout the day. Despite the slim dimensions, a decent sized keyboard is in place and all the keys are large enough to comfortably type at speed. The board is firmly fixed to the chassis, with no flex on show, and all keys respond smoothly and accurately. More surprisingly, the Acer's touchpad is equally well sized and comfortable to use. While many netbooks feature tiny pads that can be fiddly to use, the Acer's wide touchpad makes it easy to navigate onscreen. Where all netbooks are alike is the limited performance they provide. Powered by an Intel Atom processor – a chip designed solely for compact, low-cost devices – the Acer only suits the most basic of use, such as word processing, browsing the internet and sending emails. Graphics are equally limited and are intended for multimedia consumption, rather than creation. Video plays back smoothly, with even high-definition 1080p content handled with ease, but don't expect the power of a similarly priced full-sized laptop.
Bright screen That's not to say that the Acer is no good for entertainment use, however, as the glossy 10.1-inch screen is suitably bright, with vibrant colours and deep blacks. This makes it great for viewing photos and videos and a perfect choice for kids to use. Where the Acer falls slightly short of its rivals is its storage. While the Asus Eee PC Seashell 1015PE and Dell Inspiron Mini 1018 are fitted with 250GB hard drives, the Acer's 160GB drive seems a bit stingy in comparison. As with most netbooks, there is no built-in optical drive for accessing CDs or DVDs. With so little to differentiate most netbooks currently on sale, it takes a unique feature or two to really stand out. The fantastic battery life and great usability of the Aspire One D260 are what raise this machine above its similarly specified rivals. A really terrific netbook at a great price. Related Links
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