Sponsored
Techradar |
- Review: Dell Inspiron M301z
- Review: Acer Aspire 5745DG-374G32Mnks
- Dr Kawashima heads to Kinect
- Humax TV Portal: UK release date January 2011
- Humax TV Portal: UK release date January 2011
- Sony sells 4.1 million Move systems
- Avatar coming to Sky 3D on Xmas eve
- Branson launches 'Project' iPad magazine
- Gary Marshall: Infinity Blade shows pros and cons of iPad gaming
- Twitter hits the Piccadilly Circus big screen
- How to turn your iPhone into a 3D mouse
- Pics of new LG Star superphone emerge
- Updated: iPhone 5 rumours: what you need to know
- Updated: iPad 2 rumours: what you need to know
- China blocks Wikileaks over latest stunt
- Cowon launches world's first auto-stereoscopic 3D PMP
- Pure One Flow: world's cheapest connected radio launched
- Copyright clampdown sees 82 websites shut down
- Copyright clampdown sees 82 websites shut down
- European Commission to investigate Google
- Buying Guide: 12 best gifts for iPhone owners
- HTC Gratia UK release date still on track
- Panasonic Jungle gets some public testing
- Review: Disgo Tablet 6000
- Review: Sony VAIO VPCEE3E0E/WI
| Posted: 01 Dec 2010 02:00 AM PST  Dell's Inspiron range has produced some fantastic consumer laptops of late, from compact netbooks to big-screen home media centres. The Inspiron M301z is a sleek ultraportable and, while it lacks power, it ably compensates with portable style. Finished in plastic, the slim chassis uses a mock brushed-aluminium finish for a surprisingly luxurious look at this low price. While we found it very well built throughout, the glossy finish is inevitably prone to scratches and fingerprints, and not quite as resilient as we'd have liked. Weighing 1.8kg and with a depth of just 25mm, this is a laptop built for life on the move and ideal for use around the home, with the 284-minute battery being pleasing, if a little unexceptional. While the full-sized keyboard provides strong usability, it is not without its flaws. The board is impressively wide and its large keys allow comfortable use. We did find the keys quite spongy, however. The 13.3-inch Super-TFT screen is stunning and, while not quite as bright as we'd hoped, image quality is fantastic. Photos and text are rendered with impressive sharpness and contrast. Colour reproduction is a little flat though, with colours not always shown accurately. Inevitably for a laptop this slim and affordable, performance is strictly midrange. The dual-core AMD processor provides ample power for family and home office use, but don't expect the same level of performance you would get from a similarly priced Intel Core-based machine. Graphics are equally mid-range, but the ATi graphics card delivers more than enough power for watching high-definition videos, as well as basic photo and video editing. Both HDMI and DisplayPort connections are also in place for connecting to a larger screen or projector. Ample storage Where the Dell stands out is its comprehensive storage for such a small machine. The 500GB hard drive will not be quickly filled and the 7-in-1 card reader provides broad support for the most popular flash storage cards. Predictably for such a slim machine, there is no DVD drive. Dell has, however, squeezed a good array of ports in, including three USB ports, with one doubling as a high-speed eSATA port. When you consider the Apple MacBook Air costs £770 more and has just two USB ports alone, the value of this machine becomes apparent. That's the real strength of this laptop. While machines like the MacBook Air and Sony's VAIO Z-Series represent the vanguard of stylish mobile computing, their price often puts them out of reach, so laptops like the Inspiron 301z bring stylish mobility to the rest of us. Related Links
| ||
| Review: Acer Aspire 5745DG-374G32Mnks Posted: 01 Dec 2010 01:30 AM PST  Thanks to a successful year of releases, Acer has become the top-selling manufacturer in Europe, and the Aspire 5745DG-374G32Mnks is its second foray into the world of 3D. Whereas the first Acer 3D laptop, the Aspire 5738DZG, used passive screen technology, this laptop uses Nvidia's active 3D Vision product, producing great results. The system is easy to set up, thanks to an intuitive wizard, and matters are helped by the fact that the infrared module used to connect the glasses wirelessly to the Acer has been integrated into the laptop, making the process a lot less fiddly. Once set up, we found the technology produced both positives and negatives. On the positive side, there's no doubt the 3D effect enhances the gaming experience. Images pop out at you and there's a great sense of depth to games, so we found the experience extremely immersive. Sadly, the effect varied between products. For example, while some official 3D Vision games look fantastic, some disappointed, with a large amount of colour washout and low brightness. When not in 3D mode the laptop works as any other. The 15.6-inch screen is clear and colourful, but not as bright as we would expect and those who work in bright conditions might suffer as a result. The simple brushed-aluminium design is very effective, both looking great and proving very easy to keep clean from dust and dirt. The lid is made of shiny plastics, however, and quickly attracts smudges. Numeric keypad The keyboard spreads the width of the chassis and features large keys with room for a dedicated numeric keypad – which will suit those who regularly input data into spreadsheets and make calculations. The Intel Core i3 processor will easily provide more than enough power for the everyday user looking to run a few office applications while listening to music and browsing the internet. Those looking to run the most resource-intensive multimedia applications may find the laptop displays signs of lag at times, however. Nevertheless, the dedicated Nvidia graphics card uses an impressive 1024MB of dedicated memory and so has little problem running the latest games. The Acer features a large battery which makes it a bit bulky to carry around, and contributes to the 2.9kg weight, but the 333 minutes you get between charges is quite impressive for this type of laptop. The Acer Aspire 5745DG-374G32Mnks is a decent multimedia performer, and you won't find Nvidia 3D Vision much cheaper at the moment. But the technology is still in its infancy and not without its hitches, so aim to try out the 3D feature in-store before you buy if possible. Related Links
| ||
| Posted: 01 Dec 2010 01:17 AM PST  Dr Kawashima made something of a name for himself with the mega-successful series of brain training titles for Nintendo DS, with the good doctor now heading to Microsoft Kinect in February. Dr Kawashima's Body and Brain Exercises is set to arrive just in time for all of those people who are still serious about losing the Christmas flab (and haven't yet given up on those new year's resolutions). Kinect your brain The new Kinect brain training game is being published by Namco Bandai and will launch in the UK and Europe on 11 February. The game will let up to four players compete in over 20 different activities, so you can see who is the fittest and the cleverest amongst your family and friends. "Dr Kawashima's Body and Brain Exercises challenges players to exercise both mind and body in the most cerebral and energetic party game ever from the originators of the video game brain training craze," says Namco Bandai. "Players of all ages must think fast and act even faster as they respond to maths, logic, reflex, memory and physical questions using the full-motion capabilities of the Kinect sensor." Somewhat strangely, Dr Kawashima himself claims to have not made a single penny from the original Nintendo DS game's success. Dr Kawashima's Body and Brain Exercises is an Xbox 360 exclusive title. 
| ||
| Humax TV Portal: UK release date January 2011 Posted: 01 Dec 2010 01:02 AM PST  Humax has announced that its much delayed web portal will be coming to its current crop of Freeview HD boxes. Those who have a Freeview HD HDR-Fox T2 or the company's Freeview HD receiver will be able to get the portal via an over-the-air update that's set to land in the UK in January. Humax has been promising a web portal for its Freeview HD boxes for the best part of the year now. It announced back in April that it would be getting Sky Player but it has taken until now to get the greenlight on the app. Although Humax isn't the first to get the Sky Player app – Fetch TV beat them to it – it did note that Sky is seeing Humax as the first 'popular' set top to get the access. TV services Alongside Sky Player, you will also be able to get iPlayer through the portal and YouTube. Humax noted that, unlike the current PS3 app, the iPlayer within the portal will offer up high-quality streaming. YouTube will also be on board, as will, strangely, Wikipedia. The portal will also have something called Humax Support, which is an online FAQ for Humax boxes. When questioned about the lack of a movie streaming service on the site, a Humax spokesperson did explain that Sky Player has ample movies but "there is space for more services to be added". The Humax TV Portal has a UK release date of January 2011. 
| ||
| Humax TV Portal: UK release date January 2011 Posted: 01 Dec 2010 01:02 AM PST Humax has announced that its much delayed web portal will be coming to its current crop of Freeview HD boxes. Those who have a Freeview HD HDR-Fox T2 or the company's Freeview HD receiver will be able to get the portal via an over-the-air update that's set to land in the UK in January. Humax has been promising a web portal for its Freeview HD boxes for the best part of the year now. It announced back in April that it would be getting Sky Player but it has taken until now to get the greenlight on the app. Although Humax isn't the first to get the Sky Player app – Fetch TV beat them to it – it did note that Sky is seeing Humax as the first 'popular' set top to get the access. TV services Alongside Sky Player, you will also be able to get iPlayer through the portal and YouTube. Humax noted that, unlike the current PS3 app, the iPlayer within the portal will offer up high-quality streaming. YouTube will also be on board, as will, strangely, Wikipedia. The portal will also have something called Humax Support, which is an online FAQ for Humax boxes. When questioned about the lack of a movie streaming service on the site, a Humax spokesperson did explain that Sky Player has ample movies but "there is space for more services to be added". The Humax TV Portal has a UK release date of January 2011. 
| ||
| Sony sells 4.1 million Move systems Posted: 01 Dec 2010 12:33 AM PST  Following the news earlier this week that Microsoft has sold over 2.5 million Kinects since launch, Sony has issued a statement claiming to have already sold 4.1 million PS3 Move controllers. The two console giants are now gearing up for the final few weeks in the run up to Christmas, the busiest time of the year in the games industry. Shoot and Move Sony launched Move in Europe, the US and Asia back in September (and on 21 October in Japan), giving the PlayStation manufacturer something of a head start on Microsoft, with Kinect only having been on shelves since early November. Microsoft still hopes to hit its target of 5 million Kinects sold by the end of this year's Christmas holiday season. Sony is selling Move's two handsets – the Motion and Navigation controllers – either separately or you can get the main controller as part of a PS3 Starter Pack bundled with the PlayStation Eye camera. Sony added that the announcement of 4.1 million units is "cumulative" and "does not include sales of stand-alone PlayStation Eye camera or stand-alone PlayStation Move navigation controller" units. 
| ||
| Avatar coming to Sky 3D on Xmas eve Posted: 01 Dec 2010 12:23 AM PST Sky will screen James Cameron's Avatar in 3D on Christmas Eve, giving many people in the UK the first opportunity to watch the film in 3D outside of the cinemas. For those people on Sky's top level package and with a 3D Ready television, one of the biggest films in history will now be a jewel in the crown of the Sky 3D Christmas line-up. Avatar is a film that will be viewed as a pivotal moment in the history of 3D, handing a major boost to the technology in its current guise. John Cassy, Sky 3D's Channel Director says: "Confirming Avatar in our Christmas line up for Sky 3D is a huge honour and fantastic news for customers. Bring people together (if there's enough glasses) "We've got an action packed schedule of 3D programmes on the channel over Christmas with everything from big movie blockbusters and all the major Barclays Premier League fixtures, to the history of pterosaurs with Sir David Attenborough's Flying Monsters," he added. "We hope 3D will bring people together to enjoy a whole new television experience over this festive and special time of year." Other highlights from the Sky 3D channel include The Prince's Trust Rock Gala 3D, Alice in Wonderland and Chelsea v Manchester United on December 19. 
| ||
| Branson launches 'Project' iPad magazine Posted: 01 Dec 2010 12:13 AM PST  Richard Branson has launched a new iPad-exclusive magazine called 'Project' this week. The, er, digital project was announced last week but now it is available on the Apple App Store The Virgin founder declared at the launch of the new digital magazine that "the future of publishing lies in apps not on shelves." From Student to Project Branson nostalgically recalled launching a youth culture magazine called 'Student' with a school friend at the tender age of 16. "The world has moved on in many, many ways since Johnny (Gems) and myself launched Student," Branson recalled at the launch of the iPad magazine at Manhattan's Crosby Street Hotel in New York. The entrepreneur hopes that Project will become "the first truly digital magazine about creative people for creative people," Branson told reporters gathered at a press conference. Editor Anthony Noguera (formerly of FHM) said that the magazine will have around 100 pages of content which will "change daily, even hourly." Project is being put together by Virgin Group in partnership with UK publisher Seven Squared, and will cost $2.99 per issue. Tron: Legacy star Jeff Bridges will feature on the cover of the inaugural issue. As far as advertising goes, Branson added: "You can actually make advertising really good fun to delve into. think from an advertiser's point of view, it's going to make advertising a thousand times more effective than it was in the past." Rupert Murdoch is set to launch a new tablet PC newspaper called 'The Daily' later this month (although there are talk of delays), set to cost subscribers 99 cents a week. 
| ||
| Gary Marshall: Infinity Blade shows pros and cons of iPad gaming Posted: 30 Nov 2010 08:21 AM PST  Have you seen the trailer for Infinity Blade yet? The Unreal-powered hack-and-slash-a-thon is coming to the iPhone next month, and you'd be forgiven for thinking the developers had pasted a console video onto a phone. They haven't, and neither have the game gurus at Id Software who put Rage HD on the iPhone and iPad. Infinity Blade and Rage HD prove that phone gaming isn't just about cutting ropes and angry birds; it can be about cutting off heads and angry monsters too. It's great for game-deprived dads who don't have time to fire up a console and sit through eleventy-three cutscenes just to stab someone in the eye with a sword, it's a damn sight more interesting than staring out of the window when you're on the bus and it's dirt cheap compared to consoles where even crapware costs north of £40. Space, man It's not all good, though. iOS gaming really suffers from the iPhone and iPad's lack of expandable storage: Angry Birds only needs 17.7MB of space, but Splinter Cell Conviction wants half a gigabyte, Rage HD needs three quarters of a gigabyte and I'd imagine Infinity Blade needs even more. By bringing the console experience to your phone, these games are also bringing the console experience of forcing you to delete stacks of stuff to make room for a new game. It'll only get worse the more ambitious games get. It's not the most comfortable way to play, either. Ten minutes on an iPhone feels like four hours of Xbox. Maybe it's because console controllers use all your fingers, not just your thumbs, or maybe it's that they've got a bit of give to them that a sheet of glass doesn't. Or maybe it's just that they're not crammed into such a small space. Not for kids There's another irritation, too: kids. I don't mean kids playing the games when you're trying to concentrate on something else, although I'm sure that's annoying. I mean kids playing your games when you'd rather they didn't. Children and iOS devices get on famously, and the same swipes that enable them to find, launch and play Happy Mrs Chicken can just as easily bring up your favourite hack-and-slash epic or zombie holocaust. It's not too big a deal on a phone, because phones are still largely personal devices, but if my family is anything to go by then iPads are shared machines. To its credit, Apple does provide parental controls, but the implementation isn't ideal: if I want to stop my wee girl playing Rage HD, I also lose any other apps capable of displaying grown-up content – and when I want to shoot something, I have to go back into Restrictions, re-enable the grown-up stuff and try and remember to switch it off again when I'm done. Leaving the apps where they are and asking for a PIN if restricted would be a lot easier. I suspect that my moans are because iOS is the victim of its own success: as iOS is pulled into new and interesting shapes by developers, bits of it are bound to squeak a bit. Infinity Blade reportedly blew Steve Jobs' mind when he saw it, and I'm willing to bet that Apple expected iOS gaming to be more like Super Monkey Ball than 3D shooters and slashers. Similarly the iPad was launched without any real expectations of how we'd use it. Even Apple couldn't have predicted all the different apps people have come up with. iOS gaming is still taking baby steps. Can you imagine what it'll be like when it grows up? Infinity Blade release date is 9 December
| ||
| Twitter hits the Piccadilly Circus big screen Posted: 30 Nov 2010 07:34 AM PST  Coca-Cola is bringing Twitter to Piccadilly Circus in London, with the drinks brand using its ad sign as a place for Christmas Twitter messages. Coca-Cola has teamed up with design agency Sedley Place for the stunt, which is set to run until 23 December. To take part you have to tweet your message to @cokezone. We have no idea if the tweets are being monitored, but seeing as it is in one of the busiest thorough fares in London, we are expecting that someone will be putting a swear word filter on the thing. Unique platform "The Piccadilly sign provides Coca-Colawith a unique interactive platform and we're delighted that consumers can use it to spread their Christmas messages this year," said Zoe Howorth, market activation director (?!), Coca-Cola GB. "This activation puts our fans at the heart of the activity, allowing them to engage and communicate with people everywhere." 
| ||
| How to turn your iPhone into a 3D mouse Posted: 30 Nov 2010 07:27 AM PST If you have ever felt the need to navigate 3D holographic displays with your iPhone, then fear no longer, because a new app will allow you to do exactly that. US firm Provision Interactive promises to turn your iPhone into a fully-fledged 3D holographic controller with its new app.
Provision Interactive has enhanced the capability of its in-store 3D holographic displays to work with Apple's Mobile Mouse, as well as its new iPhone app. The new technology allows retailers to appeal to customers using interactive holographic displays, which they can control and interact with using their iPhones as a wireless air mouse, so you might be able to click on a particular area of the hologram to get more info, or see particular products from a different point of view. "Provision is always working on innovative ways to improve our 3D holographic technology and making it interactive was just our first step," says Curt Thornton, President and CEO of Provision. "Allowing consumers to interact with our holograms through a mobile device was always part of our plan and with Mobile Mouse it is now possible. "We want to connect our advertisers and brands directly to the consumer, both emotionally and physically, and with this iPhone app we've found a great platform to do that." The app uses the iPhone's built in accelerometer to translate hand motions into mouse movements on the 3D holographic display in the store. Provision is beginning the development of its own Smartphone application due to be released in 2011. Provision claims to be the leader in true 3D consumer display products. You can see more on their latest 3D tech over at www.provision.tv. 
| ||
| Pics of new LG Star superphone emerge Posted: 30 Nov 2010 06:31 AM PST  You know those phones that LG promised would be coming soon with Nvidia Tegra 2 power? Well, looks like we've got our first look at one. The LG Star has been snapped over at the Android Forums, and it's packing a number of high end specs that could help the Korean brand get a foothold in the smartphone market. An HDMI port is the obvious place to start, with a little cover presumably hiding a mini-socket with an adaptor in the box. There's also a four-inch screen, although we doubt it's the Super AMOLED variety used by arch-rival Samsung. It's running Android 2.2, but given the close proximity to Android 2.3/Gingerbread being unveiled, we're sure it could be upgraded prior to launch. Faster, better, stronger etc An eight-megapixel camera with LED flash is fairly standard fare these days, but more interesting is the benchmarking: the LG Star outstrips the competition quite markedly, according to the forum poster.
CREDIT: Android Forums Assuming the images aren't faked, the LG Star outstrips the likes of the Nexus One and Galaxy S by some margin, which should not only make it super fast, it could also be a lot lighter on the battery too. We were told that Tegra 2-powered phones were going to be given a Q4 UK release date, but given the proximity to the end of the year, we'd imagine the LG Star (which will likely be renamed to fit in with the Optimus line up) will probably be now seen at Mobile World Congress in February 2011. 
| ||
| Updated: iPhone 5 rumours: what you need to know Posted: 30 Nov 2010 06:15 AM PST  iPhone 5 (or the iPhone 5G, as some are calling it) rumours are flying thick and fast already. Will there be a rush release to erase memories of the iPhone 4's antenna problems? Will the 5th generation iPhone deliver ultra-fast mobile internet? Will it ever end up on Verizon in the US? Let's raid the iPhone 5 rumour fridge to find the tomatoes of truth amid the stinky stilton of baseless speculation. The iPhone 5 isn't the Verizon iPhone, and vice versa The Verizon iPhone rumour has been around forever, and one day it'll come true - but it won't be the iPhone 5. The Wall Street Journal said a Verizon iPhone was nearly ready back in October, and we'd take that one seriously: the WSJ is the paper Apple tends to share its secrets with. It says that "the [Verizon] phone would resemble the iPhone 4 currently sold by AT&T, but would be based on an alternative wireless technology used by Verizon, these people said." Which people? "People familiar with the matter". The iPhone 5 will have a different form factor to the iPhone 4 WSJ: "Separately, Apple is also developing a new iPhone model, said people briefed on the phone. One person familiar said the fifth-generation iPhone would be a different form factor than those that are currently available… it was unclear how soon that version would be available to Verizon or other carriers." The iPhone 5 specs will be evolutionary, not revolutionary According to the Chinese Economic Daily News (via AppleInsider), with the exception of Qualcomm chipsets - which would replace the current Infineon chipsets in the iPhone 4 - Apple's sticking with the same suppliers for the 2011 iPhone 5G components. We'd expect the basics of the iPhone 5 specs to get a bump - more memory, faster processor, more storage - but DVICE quotes a single insider who claims to have handled Verizon prototypes. The specs? A new antenna, 1.2GHz processor and a larger screen: 3.7" instead of 3.5". The iPhone 5 may also be made from a new kind of alloy, or maybe meat. The iPhone 5 specs may include a digital wallet There's been some speculation that Apple might include Near Field Communication (NFC) technology in the iPhone 5G, turning it into a kind of credit/debit card. However, as Techeye.net notes, "Apple has looked into NFC before" so this might not be imminent.
PAY PHONE: Apple patents show how a near field communication-equipped iPhone 5 could act as a kind of credit card The iPhone 5 release date will be in the summer… Apple's established a rhythm with iPhone releases, with new models appearing in late June or early July each year. It's a safe bet that the iPhone 5 release date will also be late June or early July. As Beatweek magazine points out, Apple's A-Team can't be everywhere at once; by staggering the releases of the iPad 2 and the iPhone 5, they get to work their magic on both devices. …or maybe the iPhone 5 release date will be earlier iLounge said its source reckoned Apple would push the iPhone 5 release date forwards - possibly to January 2011 - because of the iPhone 4 antenna problems, although iLounge itself said the claim was "hard to believe". The source could be confusing the Verizon iPhone and the iPhone 5. The iPhone 5 specs may include LTE support At least one analyst thinks the iPhone 5 will support LTE, super-fast mobile broadband, in the US. That would make the iPhone 5G a 4G phone, which won't be confusing at all. LTE is certainly coming - AT&T plans to roll out its LTE service in 2011 - but an LTE iPhone has been rumoured for a while. USA Today floated the idea of an LTE iPhone on Verizon last year. The iPhone 5 price won't change If the iPhone 5 is an evolutionary step like the move from the iPhone 3G to the iPhone 3GS then we'd expect the price to stay more or less the same, although in the UK higher VAT rates may well mean a higher price tag. 
| ||
| Updated: iPad 2 rumours: what you need to know Posted: 30 Nov 2010 06:00 AM PST The internet loves Apple and it loves ill-founded speculation, so it's hardly surprising that iPad 2 rumours were flying before the first iPad even reached the UK. With only weeks to go before its expected unveiling the iPad 2 release date, specs and price are still closely guarded secrets, but that doesn't mean there aren't some juicy rumours, inspired guesses and possibly even Apple leaks to consider. Here's our pick of the latest iPad 2G rumours. iPad 2 specs: cameras and a gyroscope Gizmodo reckons that FaceTime support's a given, and that means a front-facing camera like the iPhone 4. BuzzBizzNews echoes the camera story, suggesting twin cameras. It also suggests that there'll be a three-axis gyroscope like there is in the iPhone 4. EETimes says Apple has been testing gyroscopes but decided not to put one in the original iPad. iPad 2 specs: a USB port Rumours suggest that the iPad 2 will have a USB port, which BuzzBizzNews says will enable users to "upload movies, documents and photos". We're not convinced it's for that, because Apple is moving increasingly to wireless. The iPad prints wirelessly. The iPad streams media wirelessly. Why add USB? More likely, we think, is a MicroUSB port or adapter so the iPad meets new EU regulations on mobile device chargers. iPad 2 specs: GSM and CDMA AllThingsDigital quotes analyst Brian Blair, who says that Apple may be readying a "world iPad" that uses both GSM and CDMA networks, enabling it to get online anywhere in the world. CDMA, incidentally, is the technology used by Verizon in the US. iPad 2 case: thinner and more like a MacBook Brian Blair also says: "the new iPad is thinner than the existing model and is essentially made from one piece of metal with no pins needed. We understand it requires a new type of manufacturing process as a result, similar to the company's unibody approach seen in MacBooks." iPad 2 specs: retina display Will the gorgeous screen from the iPhone 4 make its way to the iPad? The Apple Blog thinks so: "You can be sure that Apple's Retina Display, or something very close, will make its way to iPad". Then again, such a screen would massively increase the number of pixels, increasing the demands on both the iPad's processor and its battery, so a nine-inch Retina Display is a challenge. If Apple's solved it we'll see you down the Apple Store the second it goes on sale. iPad 2 specs: a seven-inch screen? All of Apple's rivals have plumped for 7-inch displays, which means their tablets are lighter than the iPad. Will Apple follow them into seven-inch territory? iLounge says prototypes exist, while earlier this year DigiTimes predicted not just a seven-inch iPad 2, but a 5.6-inch iPad 2. Apparently the smaller iPads would target ebooks while the current iPad would target multimedia entertainment, "sources stated". We're doubtful. Apple already does a mini-iPad with a retina display. It's the iPod touch. The idea of a smaller iPad 2 took another knock in November, when 9to5Mac reported that the iPad 2 adverts have already been shot - with current-generation iPads playing the role of iPad 2s. The iPad 2s will be digitally added nearer the time, and of course that's much harder to do if the iPad 2 is smaller than the iPads the actors are actually holding. iPad 2 specs: a faster processor KitGuru "has been hearing rumours from the Far East" that the iPad 2 will be a seven-inch job with a 2GHz processor and an HD video camera. It reckons the processor will be based on ARM's Cortex A9, the 1GHz dual-core processor that you'll find in the BlackBerry PlayBook. iPad 2 specs: more memory This is a no-brainer: the iPhone 4 has twice the memory of the iPad (512MB compared to 256MB), largely because the iPhone does multitasking. Since the iOS 4.2 release, iPads do multitasking too. 256MB already seems a little bit stingy. The iPad 2 release date is probably in the Spring Rumours suggested that the iPad 2 would be rushed out in time for Christmas, but if that's Apple's plan they're being awfully last-minute about it. Early 2011 seems like a much better bet, and it fits with Apple's annual product cycle: the first iPad was announced in January and shipped in the spring. The iPad 2 price won't change much Unless there's a new seven-inch model we'll be amazed if the iPad 2 price is dramatically lower than the model it replaces: Apple isn't struggling to shift units and rivals are charging similar prices. Cheapo tablets do exist, but they're rubbish. 
| ||
| China blocks Wikileaks over latest stunt Posted: 30 Nov 2010 04:21 AM PST  China has announced that it has blocked Wikileaks due to its latest scandal, which saw 250,000 secret documents offloaded for public consumption. China has decided to block the site because it wants to keep its relations with the US, er, happy. Hong Lei, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, said about the new leaks: "China takes note of the government reports. We hope the US side will handle the relevant issues. "As for the content of the documents, we will not comment on that." It's a rather muted response, but one that suggests it is up to the US to sort out where the leaks are coming from before something more serious is released. Name dropped China's name was mentioned in the documents released. It was in connection with the hack of Google which forced the search giant to pull out of China. The documents said that China's Politburo (a Communist group) was behind the hack.While this isn't proof, it is an allegation that China will certainly want to shy away from. This isn't the first time that Wikileaks has been blocked. It was banned in Australia back in May after it released details of what sites were blocked Down Under. The ban on the site in Australia has since been lifted. 
| ||
| Cowon launches world's first auto-stereoscopic 3D PMP Posted: 30 Nov 2010 04:17 AM PST Cowon announces this week that it is first to market with the world's first ever glasses-free (or 'auto-stereoscopic') 3D personal media player. Cowon's new 3D PMP runs Windows CE 6.0 and is fully compatible with Windows 7/Vista/XP/2000/ME, Mac OS X and Linux v2.4.
The Cowon 3D's display is a 4.8-inch 800 x 400 widescreen and the device is also capable out outputting 1080p video via a HDMI slot. There is the choice of two Flash-compatible browsers including Opera Mobile. Additionally, the Cowon 3D also includes a documents app, a voice recorder and dictionary apps.
Wi-Fi is limited to 802.11 b/g, with the manufacturer claiming that the device has a battery life that extends to 45 hours for audio or 10 hours for video playback. The Cowon 3D comes with either 32GB or 64GB of Flash memory is available in 32GB or 64GB, expandable via an SD card slot.
| ||
| Pure One Flow: world's cheapest connected radio launched Posted: 30 Nov 2010 03:47 AM PST  Pure has launched the world's most affordable 'connected' radio this week, a single portable that will let you access internet radio, in addition to all of your usual FM and DAB favourites. The Pure One Flow is the fifth member of Pure's One family and will cost £99.99 – a decent price for those who want to dive into the thousands of internet radio stations on offer. "One Flow achieves a new price in premium digital and internet radio, but it does so without compromise," says Colin Crawford, Pure's director of marketing. "So you get all the benefits of broadcast digital radio, plus new on-line content and you even get access to our revolutionary FlowSongs service to buy music direct from your radio. ONE Flow really will deliver internet-connected digital radio for everyone." New era for internet radio Pure's One Flow will automatically hook up to your local home Wi-Fi connection to access thousands of internet radio stations and podcasts, as well as loads of BBC Listen Again content. You can also use Pure's Lounge service, which helps you save your favourite internet stations and podcasts. To go alongside this Pure recently launched a Lounge app for iPhone. Describing the look of the latest connected radio, Pure says: "With its luxurious, black satin-touch finish, satin-chrome dials and considerably enhanced audio performance, One Flow looks and sounds fantastic – and its intuitive interface including a new home button for easy navigation to the source menu makes it extremely easy to use. "One Flow is also an ideal travelling companion, providing up to 25 hours of portable listening per charge when fitted with the optional rechargeable fit-and-forget ChargePAK E1 (£34.99)." For more check out www.pure.com. 
| ||
| Copyright clampdown sees 82 websites shut down Posted: 30 Nov 2010 03:43 AM PST  82 websites in the US have been shut in what is one of the biggest one-day closures of illegitimate sites on the web. Dubbed as Cyber Monday Crackdown, the domain names that were shut down were mainly linked to sites that distributed copyrighted and counterfeit goods. It was an apt day to do the web clean-up, because this week is said to see the biggest in online shopping as people look to the web for their Christmas present purchasing. "As of today, anyone attempting to access one of these websites using its domain name will no longer be able to make a purchase," said the release from US customs. "Instead, these online shoppers will find a banner notifying them that the website's domain name has been seized by federal authorities." Online retailers targeted The statement continued: "The coordinated federal law enforcement operation targeted online retailers of a diverse array of counterfeit goods, including sports equipment, shoes, handbags, athletic apparel and sunglasses as well as illegal copies of copyrighted DVD boxed sets, music and software." Although most of the domains were those that sold dodgy goods, there were a number of torrent sites also seized in the clapdown. According to TorrentFreak, Torrent-Finder was also part of the mass website closure. Although this was a US-lead operation, it is interesting to see site crackdowns on such a level happen – even though this was a bit of a PR push to tie in with Cyber Monday. 
| ||
| Copyright clampdown sees 82 websites shut down Posted: 30 Nov 2010 03:43 AM PST 82 websites in the US have been shut in what is one of the biggest one-day closures of illegitimate sites on the web. Dubbed as Cyber Monday Crackdown, the domain names that were shut down were mainly linked to sites that distributed copyrighted and counterfeit goods. It was an apt day to do the web clean-up, because this week is said to see the biggest in online shopping as people look to the web for their Christmas present purchasing. "As of today, anyone attempting to access one of these websites using its domain name will no longer be able to make a purchase," said the release from US customs. "Instead, these online shoppers will find a banner notifying them that the website's domain name has been seized by federal authorities." Online retailers targeted The statement continued: "The coordinated federal law enforcement operation targeted online retailers of a diverse array of counterfeit goods, including sports equipment, shoes, handbags, athletic apparel and sunglasses as well as illegal copies of copyrighted DVD boxed sets, music and software." Although most of the domains were those that sold dodgy goods, there were a number of torrent sites also seized in the clapdown. According to TorrentFreak, Torrent-Finder was also part of the mass website closure. Although this was a US-lead operation, it is interesting to see site crackdowns on such a level happen – even though this was a bit of a PR push to tie in with Cyber Monday. 
| ||
| European Commission to investigate Google Posted: 30 Nov 2010 03:32 AM PST  The EC will launch an investigation into Google's dominance of internet search following complaints by its competitors. Google is the hugely dominant search engine in Europe, but allegations have been made that it has used this dominance to push other search engines down in its rankings. The complaints have not been made by competitors like Microsoft or Yahoo, but by French legal search engine ejustice.fr and British site Foundem. "The European Commission has decided to open an antitrust investigation into allegations that Google has abused a dominant position in online search," the Commission said. Small fish? Although the nature of the complainants may lead to some suggestions that the complaints are unlikely to be upheld, it should be remembered that both Intel and Microsoft have picked up huge fines following allegations of abuse of market dominance. Google has said that it will work with the European Commission to "address any concerns", adding that there was always room for improvement in its search algorithms. Google has had a tough time in Europe recently, with the StreetView row – in which the search giant was found to have been collecting unsecured Wi-Fi data – coming to a head in many major countries in the region. 
| ||
| Buying Guide: 12 best gifts for iPhone owners Posted: 30 Nov 2010 03:12 AM PST  There's no shortage of iPhone gadgets on the market in time for the holiday season, but how do you separate the best iPhone accessories from the also-rans? With our help, of course! We've compiled a list of 12 of the hottest iPhone accessories and add-ons for you here. Buy that special iPhone-owner in your life one of these for Christmas and you can be sure of a happy New Year. 1. Sonos ZonePlayer S5 - £349
If you're after the ultimate in cool iPhone gifts then this wireless multi-room audio solution that you can control from your iPhone will be a hit. The Sonos ZonePlayer S5 can access your iTunes library on your Mac or PC, and you can control it with a free iPhone app. Buy the Sonos ZonePlayer S5 for £317 at Simply Electronics 2. Mophie Juice Pack Air - £79
It's more expensive than other battery boosters, but the Juice Pack Air looks the part. When you're getting low on power just press the charge button to give your iPhone a boost. You can basically double your battery charge, and connecting to your PC using a USB cable enables you to sync while its connected. Buy the Mophie Juice Pack Air for £79 at Amazon 3. Just Mobile AluPen - £14
Stand out from the crowd with a stylus for your iPhone! This pencil-like creation is made of aluminium and a rubberised nib means it works with the iPhone 4. It's great for handwritten notes or tapping on the on-screen keyboard. Buy the Just Mobile AluPen for £14 at Amazon 4. Scosche IPUSBM flipSYNC - £16
This great little Christmas stocking filler is perfect for iPhone 4 owners. Measuring less than 5cm when closed, it flips out to reveal a USB to iPhone 30-pin connector, and can easily be attached to your keyring for portability. Buy the Scoshe flipSYNC for £16 at Amazon 5. Revo AXiS - £199
If you're looking for something to put by your bedside to plug your iPhone 4 into then the Revo AXiS has to be amongst the best of the bunch. It's touchscreen controls give you access to internet, DAB and FM Radio, and of course it can charge your iPhone and play any music it contains. Add in wireless streaming of music from your Mac or PC and a strong robust sound and you've got a winner on your hands. Buy the Revo AXiS for £199 at Amazon 6. Moshi Moshi 04 - £142
The Moshi Moshi is a great idea - at first glance it's a Bluetooth speaker set for your iPhone, but if you detach the top part it becomes a handset which you can walk around the house with. Buy the Moshi Moshi 04 for £142 at Amazon 7. Fivepoint gloves - £25
Keep your hands warm this winter when you use your iPhone thanks to the innovative Fivepoint gloves. The tips are conductive, so you can still use the iPhone 4's capacitive mult-touch screen without taking them off. Buy the Fivepoint gloves for £25 at Amazon 8. Time Speaker Dock - £39.99
The Time Speaker Dock works in conjunction with a free app to create a gorgeous, fully-functioning analogue clock that also charges your iPhone. There's also an alarm clock, FM radio and snooze and sleep functions. Buy the TIME Speaker Dock for £39.99 at Play.com 9. Sennheiser MM 450 Travel - £226.95
Bluetooth headphones are a great idea - no wires to tie you down and great sound quality too. These Sennheiser's aren't cheap, but they impress thanks to built-in play/pause volume adjust and skip track controls. Buy the Sennheiser MM 450 Travel for £226.95 at Amazon 10. Altec Lansing inMotion Compact iMT320 - £43.19
If you want a portable speaker dock then you need something that works off both batteries and mains, and sounds incredible. The iMT320 fits the bill perfectly, and it won't break the bank either. Buy the Altec Lansing inMotion Compact iMT320 for £43.19 at Amazon 11. Guitar Sidekick - £29.99
The Guitar Sidekick attaches snuggly between the nut and the machine heads of your axe, holding your iPhone at just the right angle, which makes it perfect for the budding guitarist who wants to follow along to tablature as they play, using apps like TabToolkit. Buy the Guitar Sidekick for £29.99 at Amazon 12. Etymotic hf3 - £125.50
We all know that Apple's iPhone earphones aren't ideal. If you want to get something that's much better quality we'd recommend these noise-isolating earphones. Stunning sound, a three button controller and a mic. What more could you want? Buy the Etymotic hf3 for £125.50 at Amazon More iPhone gift ideas: 6 of the best iPhone earphones Top 10 best iPhone 4 accessories 4 of the best iPhone Bluetooth headsets 
| ||
| HTC Gratia UK release date still on track Posted: 30 Nov 2010 02:57 AM PST  Reports that the HTC Gratia has been delayed have been refuted by HTC, which confirms the UK release date hasn't changed. The Gratia was supposed to begin rolling out across Europe in November, and while HTC has left it late, the phone has begun to ship in territories like Sweden and Italy. This prompted some sites to claim that the handset was delayed, but TechRadar contacted HTC for clarification and we received this response: "HTC Gratia is now available across several European markets, and is on track to be released in the UK in Q1 2011 as originally planned. "We are looking forward to seeing people's response to HTC Gratia." Non-sense We still wish that the Gratia would come with the upgraded version of HTC Sense, but this looks pretty unlikely at this point for the dinky handset. The price of the phone is oddly expensive over in Europe: €399 (£335) in Sweden, for instance. If you were hoping that this pint-size handset was going to rival the HTC Wildfire, then you're going to be waiting a little longer for something else, it seems. 
| ||
| Panasonic Jungle gets some public testing Posted: 30 Nov 2010 02:44 AM PST  Public testing has started on the Panasonic Jungle gaming device in the US. A select group of the great unwashed have been asked to try out the handheld console that's looking to take on the might of the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS. The Panasonic Jungle is an interesting beast in the handheld market. It's a console that's primed for online gaming and, in particular, MMOs. The Jungle houses a QWERTY keyboard, runs Flash and has all the normal gaming buttons you would expect. It's a Jungle out there It's not a device that the lucrative MMO market has embraced just yet, however. While there's a trickle of titles announced for the Panasonic Jungle, including a BattleStar Galactica game, they have been thin on the ground. Lucky, then, that the Jungle is also targeting the Machinima market, with something called Online Underground. This isn't Panasonic's first stab at a console. The company also launched the 3DO way back in 1994. Considering the 3DO didn't exactly set the gaming world alight, Panasonic will be hoping that it has more success with its Jungle jaunt. 
| ||
| Posted: 30 Nov 2010 02:00 AM PST  Disgo is an Irish-based electronics retailer that produces a variety of consumer devices. The Disgo 6000 is the company's Android tablet and makes a portable but flawed choice. Unlike the Apple iPad and Dell Streak, the Disgo features a resistive touchscreen. It's not nearly as responsive as we would have liked, and the keyboard is terrible to use and won't suit typists. In fact, if it wasn't for the bundled stylus easily pulled from the back of the device, the tablet would be borderline unusable. Only when using the stylus does the system work sufficiently and we found scrolling between home screens and through menus proved relatively intuitive compared to the Elonex eTouch 1000ET. The 7-inch screen features an 800 x 480-pixel resolution that is functional, but lacks the colour, vibrancy and detail to make the best of photos and videos. Those keen on viewing their media on a tablet should consider the Apple or Dell instead. Google's Android operating system (OS) runs the show and, while it's recognisable visually, it isn't nearly as easy or intuitive to use as it is on the Dell – largely due to the low quality of the resistive screen. There isn't even the official Android Market apps store included, with the tablet-centric SlideMe included instead. There are some interesting apps available for download but, overall, they are lacking in both the quantity and quality of the official Android Market store. The 1GHz processor struggles to run the OS as smoothly as it should and we experienced some lag when running most tasks. As a result, the tablet is frustrating to use on a regular basis, so even at this low price point it is hard to recommend.
A 2GB MicroSD card is included, which will fill up pretty quickly if you intend to carry around music and movies, but you are able to expand storage to a maximum of 32GB if you wish. Sturdy build The 7-inch design ensures this is a tablet you can easily slip into a jacket pocket, with sturdy build quality also impressing, but the 209-minute battery life is limiting. 802.11n Wi-Fi is included and, once up and running, we found the wireless web experience to be good but not exceptional. Connectivity-wise, the two mini USB ports and HDMI-out are more generous than the iPad. Should you want a device for carrying high-definition movies which you can watch on an HDTV at home, this will serve you well, if you upgrade the storage. All in all, the Tablet 6000 sadly isn't a device we can recommend. Portability is merely satisfactory and while the spread of ports is decent, we consider the Apple and Dell a wiser investment and money much better spent. Related Links
| ||
| Review: Sony VAIO VPCEE3E0E/WI Posted: 30 Nov 2010 01:30 AM PST  Sony has released a few different models in its entertainment E-Series and the VAIO VPCEE3E0E/WI is the most affordable entry we've seen. However, although you get the same trusted Sony quality at a lower price, this model also has some limitations. For instance, the AMD Athlon II processor is underpowered compared to every laptop in comparison to the similar priced the Advent Eclipse E300. We managed some light multi-tasking, working on a few office applications at the same time, but the likes of the Lenovo IdeaPad Z560 produced a much smoother level of performance. As well as the basic processor, Sony has included an integrated ATi graphics card to keep costs low. While multimedia performance can't match the Lenovo, it beats most of the others. Only older games will run smoothly, but photo and video editing are both possible. Sony's usual high build quality is evident, with a solid white plastic chassis that stands out from other laptops. A metallic finish to the lid gives a premium feel, while the unique sparkly design to the palmrest is thankfully very subtle and barely noticeable in certain light. The isolation-style keyboard is one of the best, with well-spaced keys that are a comfortable size, despite the inclusion of a numeric keypad to the right of the board. Only the directional keys are a little cramped. The touchpad is just as usable and clearly defined and textured, so your fingers don't stray.
Portability is less impressive, however, with only 157 minutes of battery life available when away from mains power. This is less than we expect of modern laptops and only marginally better than the Advent, which lasted 152 minutes. A weight of 2.6kg means you can take to the road when needed, however. Crisp images The display is not as bright as the Lenovo or Samsung R530-JA02UK, but with a resolution that matches the other 15.6-inch laptops, images look just as crisp. The glossy Super- TFT coating enhances colours, but makes this screen highly reflective and near-impossible to comfortably use outdoors. The 320GB of storage space is average, but networking is strong with 802.11n Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet providing speedy connectivity. Four USB ports can be used to connect peripherals, although three of them are positioned very close together on the right edge. An HDMI port is also available, and separate SD Card and Memory Stick Pro Duo card readers allow direct access to portable storage. The VAIO VPCEE3E0E/WI is a mixed bag. Great build quality and usability can't disguise the slightly limited performance, while portability is hampered by the poor two and a half hour battery life. Related Links
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from techradar To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment