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• Review: Canon imageFORMULA P-150M
• New study links mobile use to child misbehaviour
• Report: Apple iPad 2 stockpiling will start in February
• OnLive to offer iPad app and movies
• Nvidia chips in 200 new notebooks in 2011
• Updated: Android 2.3: what you need to know
• Android 2.3 already out for Google Nexus One
• Google: NFC tech in Nexus S is 'game changing'
• Google Nexus S: In pictures and video
• Google Nexus S: UK release date is 20 December
• Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled
• In Depth: Google Nexus S: 10 things to know
• Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled
• In Depth: Google Nexus S: 10 things to know
• Buying guide: 11 best sound bar speakers for your HDTV
• Buying guide: 11 best sound bar speakers for your HDTV
• Google Editions launches as Google eBooks
• Will a 3D Apple iPod beat the Nintendo 3DS?
• Exclusive: Virgin Media vows to 'build on' 3D strategy
• Review: Sky 3D
• BlackBerry PlayBook demoed again on video
• Tutorial: How to reinstall Windows
• Nokia N9 specs leaked again - first MeeGo device?
• White iPhone 4 coming early 2011?

Review: Canon imageFORMULA P-150M Posted: 07 Dec 2010 01:30 AM PST Sheet-feed scanners come in very useful when scanning multi-page documents, and portable models are useful when working away from home. Canon's ImageFORMULA P-150M is small and light enough to fit in your bag; it's powered by USB and is plug and play, with no driver installation required. You just run the CaptureOnTouch Lite application from the virtual disk that mounts when you connect the scanner to your Mac. The P-150M can scan anything from A4-sized documents to business cards. It can be powered from a single USB port, but if you connect the supplied USB power cable to either a second USB port or the mains via an adapter (sold separately), it runs faster. It can scan in black and white, greyscale or colour, to JPEG, TIFF or PDF, and if you need to scan double-sided documents, its Duplex feature allows you to do so in a single pass. When powered by two USB ports, at the default 200dpi setting the P-150M scanned a single A4 text page in black and white in just 10.7 seconds. Although the characters were a little pixellated, the results were readable. Ramping up the resolution to 600dpi, we got a smoother, clearer document, but it took 28.6 seconds. With only one USB port used, it was only a little slower. But for all its speed, ease of use and scan quality, the P-150M lacks reliability. We tested two separate units, and when scanning documents printed on ordinary, 80gsm photocopier paper, both proved prone to misfeeds, paper jams and pages in the sheet feeder not being recognised. Canon claims it has a 20-page ADF, but it seldom got through this quantity without pulling a page in sideways and jamming at least once. It performed better with photographs and thinner paper, and also with pages that had been flat for a while and therefore lacked the slight curl found when fresh out of the printer or photocopier. Yet it's difficult to recommend a document scanner that struggles with freshly printed documents. Related Links TechRadar Reviews Guarantee Read more scanner reviews Related Stories Review: CoolerMaster CM Storm Inferno Review: Apple 27-inch Cinema Display

New study links mobile use to child misbehaviour Posted: 07 Dec 2010 01:07 AM PST A new study links misbehaviour in children to cellphone use amongst pregnant women. Researchers at the University of California in Los Angeles looked at data from 28,000 7-year-olds and their mothers who had participated in a long-term Danish study tracking 100,000 pregnant women between 1996 and 2002. Cellphone misbehaviour The researchers indicate that there could be a link between heavy mobile use amongst pregnant women and behavioral problems in their offspring. "It is hard to understand how such low exposures could be influential," Dr. Leeka Kheifets, an epidemiologist at the University of California Los Angeles said, but added that, "it is just something that needs to be pursued." The mothers of 3 per cent of the children said they had borderline behavioural problems, and a further 3 per cent displayed obedience issues or emotional problems. The research is outlined in the latest issue of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. Despite numerous studies, there is still no conclusive evidence that mobile use can damage health, according to The World Health Organization, the American Cancer Society and the National Institutes of Health in the US. Inattention to blame? Kheifets added that her research team also "looked at social status, we looked at the sex of the child, we looked at the mother's history of behavioral problems, we looked at the mother's age and stress during pregnancy and whether the child was breastfed or not. "One thought was that it was it not cellphone use but mothers' inattention that led to behavior problems," she added. "While it was important, it didn't explain the association that we found." Sceptics have been quick to dismiss the research, with David Spiegelhalter, a professor of Biostatistics at the University of Cambridge noting: "I am sceptical of these results, even though they will get a lot of publicity. "The authors suggest that precautionary measures may be warranted because they have 'virtually no cost', but they ignore the cost of giving intrusive health advice based on inadequate science." Related Stories Google: NFC tech in Nexus S is 'game changing' Google Nexus S: UK release date is 20 December

Report: Apple iPad 2 stockpiling will start in February Posted: 07 Dec 2010 12:41 AM PST Apple will begin to stockpile its new iPad 2 tablet by the end of February, according to anonymous sources within manufacturer Foxconn. The rumour of a shipping date for Apple's warehouses and not consumers comes from Digitimes which by no means guarantees its veracity. However, the time frame does not look too far away from what you might expect, given that Apple is widely expected to unveil its next generation iPad a year down the line from the original. April or May That would suggest an April release in the US, although a UK release date for the Apple iPad would most likely be in May or even June. Digitimes' sources suggest that 400,000 to 600,000 units will be shipped to Apple in the first phase, with production ramped up as the product goes on sale globally. Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn made the first iPad, and the suggestion is that the need for further testing has delayed the production of the successor to the device by a month. Via Digitimes Related Stories Updated: HTC Tablet rumours: what you need to know Sharp wants one million Galapagos tablet sales BlackBerry maker RIM looking to overhaul UI Three dwarves Orange iPad contract pricing BlackBerry PlayBook demoed again on video

OnLive to offer iPad app and movies Posted: 07 Dec 2010 12:17 AM PST Cloud gaming service OnLive is readying an Apple iPad app and planning on streaming movies in addition to games. OnLive's move into streaming movies will see the company take on established offerings in the market, such as the popular Netflix service in the US. In talks with studios OnLive is in talks with major film and TV studios, hoping to offer TV and movie content to its customers at some point in 2011. "Streaming technology is available to anybody," OnLive Chief Executive Steve Perlman said. "We want to work with the studios. All of these guys want to offer content, we're just here to distribute. "OnLive can deliver any experience that Netflix can," Perlman added, although declined to provide any plans for pricing models at this point. OnLive on iPad OnLive currently lets American gamers pay for streamed games individually, or pay a monthly $9.99 'all you can eat' flat-rate plan. Perlman stressed that games are still the main focus of OnLive, mainly because they still offer considerably higher margins than streamed movies. In other OnLive news, the company is set to release an iPad app called the "OnLive Viewer," – although you won't be playing OnLive games on your iPad any time soon, more's the pity. Rather, the (free) OnLive app will let users view trailers, see what's available for streaming to PC, and check out other player's "Brag Clips." Related Stories Sony PSP and PS3 outselling Nintendo's DS and Wii Will a Nintendo 3DS phone be a cheap videophone? Will a Nintendo 3DS phone be a cheap videophone? Biggest and smallest game launches of 2011 today Will a 3D Apple iPod beat the Nintendo 3DS?

Nvidia chips in 200 new notebooks in 2011 Posted: 07 Dec 2010 12:03 AM PST Graphics chip specialist Nvidia is set to feature in 200 new laptop designs in 2011, according to its chief executive. Chief exec Jen-Hsun Huang has outlined how Nvidia is set to feature in new notebooks next year, which will also feature Intel's forthcoming Sandy Bridge processor. Integrated graphics Intel's Sandy Bridge processors, featuring integrated graphics chips, are set to arrive early next year. The CPU manufacturer hopes that most computer users' graphics needs will be handled by its Sandy Bridge processors over the coming years. PC companies are likely to offer separate graphics chips to those that require a bit of extra graphics' grunt (such as gamers and users that want to edit high def video) until the market transitions to fully integrated CPU-GPUs. Nvidia had around 125 design wins with laptop manufacturers in 2010, so it looks like the company will considerably grow its share of the notebook market in 2011, with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) being Nvidia's main competitor in this growing market. Related Stories Exclusive: Confirmed: TiVo iPad app will come to Virgin Media service 30 million unused computers in the UK, says research

Updated: Android 2.3: what you need to know Posted: 06 Dec 2010 10:18 AM PST The Android 2.3 update has now been officially announced by Google, along with the first Android 2.3 handset. The new mobile OS was first shown off at the Web 2.0 summit on 15 November by Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Google had previously hinted on 12 November that the Android 2.3 release date was close, tweeting a photo of a pile of Android gingerbread men, with the message "Our cafes are baking something sweet". And now Gingerbread is out of the oven. Google says on its Android Developers' site that "the Android 2.3 platform introduces many new and exciting features for users and developers." Read on to find out everything you need to know about Android 2.3. Android 2.3 release date The Android 2.3 release date is pre-Christmas if you grab the new Nexus S. There's no word yet on when it will be available as an over the air update for existing handsets, but we imagine it won't be far behind, although it will be interesting to see if any handsets get left behind by the new update. Android 2.3 features and specifications Android 2.3 features include improved copy and paste and support for WebM video playback. The WebM Project confirmed that "WebM support in Android is expected in the Gingerbread release". WebM files are compressed with the VP8 video codec, which Google purchased and open-sourced earlier this year. Google has confirmed that "the platform now offers built-in support for the VP8 open video compression format and the WebM open container format." In terms of copy and paste, Android now has one-touch word selection. Pressing on a word enters a free-selection mode - you can adjust the selection area as needed by dragging a set of bounding arrows to new positions, then copy the bounded area by pressing anywhere in the selection area. And it's goodbye to trackballs with new Android 2.3 handsets, too. For text entry, you can slide-press to enter a cursor mode, then reposition the cursor easily and accurately by dragging the cursor arrow. With both the selection and cursor modes, no use of a trackball is needed, says Google. You can see it in action here. Android 2.3 also features support for VOIP/SIP calling, and for Near Field Communication (NFC) which lets your phone read information from objects when you press it against a reader. You can add a SIP address to any Contact and you can call them right from the dialler. Phone manufacturers and carriers will have control over this feature though, so it will depend on whether your carrier is being nice or not. As for the NFC, it's from NXP (formerly Philips Semiconductors). They're the guys responsible for London's Oyster cards. The NFC chip will need to have been put into the device by the manufacturer of course, so not all Android 2.3 devices will have this functionality. Multiple cameras are also now supported, including front-facing cameras. The OS can automatically choose which camera is the best for the particular application, such as taking photos or video calling. There's also now a Downloads application that gives the user easy access to any file downloaded from the browser, email, or another application. According to Google, "Downloads is built on an completely new download manager facility in the system that any other applications can use, to more easily manage and store their downloads." Android 2.3 user interface Android 2.3 also features an updated user interface. The Android Developers' page explains that "a simplified visual theme of colors against black brings vividness and contrast to the notification bar, menus, and other parts of the UI. Changes in menus and settings make it easier for the user to navigate and control the features of the system and device." The Android keyboard has been redesigned with reshaped keys which aim to speed up text entry. The keyboard now features multi-touch support enabling you to quickly enter numbers and symbols by pressing Shift+<letter> and ?123+<symbol>, without needing to manually switch input modes. The keyboard also displays the current character and dictionary suggestions in a larger, more vivid style that is easier to read. See the video below to check it out: Coincidentally, Android 2.3 also includes updated video drivers that improve the efficiency of OpenGL ES operations, for faster overall 3D graphics performance. The Linux Kernel has also been updated to 2.6.35 while the audio has also been improved. Android 2.3 battery life Android battery life has been criticised in the past, and Google says that Android 2.3 "takes a more active role in managing apps that are keeping the device awake for too long or that are consuming CPU while running in the background." The system will "manage" these apps and close them if appropriate to "ensure best possible performance and maximum battery life." Google adds that: "The system also gives the user more visibility over the power being consumed by system components and running apps. The Application settings provides an accurate overview of how the battery is being used, with details of the usage and relative power consumed by each component or application." Android 2.3 phones The first Android 2.3 phone to go on sale is the successor to the Nexus One, called the Google Nexus S. It features 16GB of internal memory, a 1GHz processor, a 4" screen and NFC support. You can see Android 2.3 in action on the Nexus S below: Nexus One Android 2.3 Android 2.3 could also be coming to the Nexus One soon. In a tweet on 7 November Alvaro Vasquez of the Open Handset Alliance said: "Prepare your Nexus One (Developer version) for Android OTA update 2.3 (Gingerbread) for the next few days:-D". [Translated from original language] HTC Desire Android 2.3 We're already seeing a whole load of tweets asking when the Android 2.3 update will be coming to the HTC Desire. We'll bring you more on that as we get it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Related Stories Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled Google Nexus S: In pictures and video In Depth: Google Nexus S: 10 things to know Android 2.3 already out for Google Nexus One Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled

Android 2.3 already out for Google Nexus One Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:54 AM PST It seems Google is keeping its promise to make Android updates simple in the future - Nexus One owners are apparently already getting Gingerbread (or Android 2.3). The news comes from Engadget and is still unconfirmed, but there are multiple reports of the next generation platform landing on the older handsets. This means that a whole host of new features will be available to Nexus One users, including improved keyboard text entry and new internet calling - although not from the likes of Skype, it seems. No NFC for you Download management and improved gaming through more efficient phone management should also be on the cards, but it won't be same experience level as the Nexus S users though. Obviously Near Field Communication and support for front facing cameras won't be relevant to Nexus One users, but you can at least console yourselves with the smug feeling that HTC Desire and Samsung Galaxy S owners won't likely be in the same position for months. Related Stories Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled Updated: Android 2.3: what you need to know Google Nexus S: In pictures and video In Depth: Google Nexus S: 10 things to know Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled

Google: NFC tech in Nexus S is 'game changing' Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:43 AM PST Google has described the NXP Near Field Communication technology in its Samsung-built Nexus S as 'game changing'. Google's Samsung-built Nexus S incorporates NXP's NFC technology, with the semiconductor maker announcing a strategic partnership with the search giant. NFC is a technology that allows a device to share and access data over short ranges – but at a speed that makes it very useful. NFC tech is a key part of the Google Nexus S – and the company has described the technology as 'game changing' for the Android platform and the Google Nexus S. Accelerated innovation "Android's openness has provided a great platform for accelerated innovations," said Eric Chu, Mobile Platforms Program Manager, Google. "We are always looking for creative ways to enhance and extend the utilities of mobile devices with new technologies. "With NXP's contribution, the introduction of NFC in Android provides developers, service providers, and device manufacturers a game-changing opportunity to deliver new services while enabling users to interact with each other and the physical world in ways previously not possible." Linking physical and virtual NXP was understandably delighted with forming a strategic partnership, and the company outlined its feelings for the NFC technology. "Today, NFC offers consumers a high level of convenience, interactivity and security with their mobile devices, and further enhances their smartphone experiences by linking the virtual world of applications with the physical environment," explained NXP. "Using natural touch gestures NFC devices can easily pair with accessories, interact on a peer-to-peer level to exchange data, and connect to a huge installed base of reader and tag infrastructures. Nexus S will offer consumers immediate access to read NFC tags." Related Stories Google Nexus S: UK release date is 20 December New study links mobile use to child misbehaviour

Google Nexus S: In pictures and video Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:33 AM PST You've probably seen the announcement of the new Google Nexus S and read all about the new technology crammed under the hood. But what about the back story? What about how it looks in the hand? And what the devil is that screen 'contoured to fit your face' all about? Well, we've rounded up all the images and videos about the Google Nexus S we can find, so you can check it all out in one place: Related Stories Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled Updated: Android 2.3: what you need to know In Depth: Google Nexus S: 10 things to know Android 2.3 already out for Google Nexus One Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled

Google Nexus S: UK release date is 20 December Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:31 AM PST The Google Nexus S will be available in the UK from 20 December – with Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy UK the first retailer to offer the handset. The follow up to the Google Nexus One is markedly different from its predecessor, bringing the first glimpse of Android 2.3 on a smartphone, Near Field Communication techand offering a novel curved screen. The Nexus S will be available for pre-order from 16 December and available four days later for those people who are keen to grab the latest Android 2.3 handset. Super AMOLED The Google Nexus S also offers a 4 inch Super AMOLED touchscreen with a 800 x 480 WVGA resolution. There is a 5MP camera, and the ability to film in 720p at 30 frames per second. The beating heart of the handset is the Samsung Hummingbird 1GHz processor and, according to Samsung, the phone comes with 16GB of internal storage. Related Stories Google: NFC tech in Nexus S is 'game changing' New study links mobile use to child misbehaviour

Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:00 AM PST Google has finally lifted the lid on the barely-secret Nexus S, complete with Android 2.3 at its core. The new phone is made by Samsung and features a whole host of next generation technology, including a 4-inch Super AMOLED display (which is apparently four times better for viewing in bright light), a 1GHz processor and a front facing video camera for video calling, although third party software is needed. The processor is Samsung's Hummingbird option, and comes with a discrete GPU so games look cracking on the screen, and also comes with 16GB of internal memory as well. Smart thinking If you look at the spec list, it's essentially the same as a Samsung Galaxy S, but with a couple of key differences. Firstly it comes with NFC communication (as CEO Eric Schmidt showed off in November) which Google says will allow the phone to "read information from 'smart' objects (e.g. objects such as movie posters or stickers embedded with NFC tags) by placing the back of Nexus S close to the object." The Google Nexus S also comes with a refined chassis as well, featuring what Google calls the world's first mobile phone with a curved screen, which Google says is "designed to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand and along the side of your face"... which sounds odder than it (hopefully) looks. Google Nexus S UK release date Andy Rubin, vice president of engineering at Google said, "Innovation is at the heart of Google, and Nexus S allows us to drive even greater innovation for the benefit of consumers, the Android ecosystem of partners, and the mobile industry. "This device combines hardware innovation by one of our partners, Samsung, with innovations to the Android platform, to raise the bar on what's possible when it comes to creating a powerful mobile user experience." Google is promising a 'limited' release of the Nexus S at the Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy, with a pre-Christmas UK release date announced. The phone will cost a whopping £549.95 SIM free, although will be offered on a slightly-more-palatable £35 a month deal with a free phone. Related Stories Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled Updated: Android 2.3: what you need to know Google Nexus S: In pictures and video In Depth: Google Nexus S: 10 things to know Android 2.3 already out for Google Nexus One

In Depth: Google Nexus S: 10 things to know Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:00 AM PST Google's promise to retire the Nexus brand after the Nexus One was a lie - the Google Nexus S has now been officially announced. Featuring a glut of new technology and the latest unfettered Android platform, it certainly looks like an early headliner for 2011. So check out our run down of all you need to know about the Google Nexus S, including when you can get it, how much it will cost, and which new tech-toys you'll get with it too. 1. It features next-gen technology The Google Nexus S comes complete with Near Field Communication (NFC), which is basically an extension of the tech you get with your Oyster Card or pass to get into your office building. However, the Google Nexus S can also read information too, meaning you could in the future hold your phone up to enabled movie posters and instantly download a trailer. 2. Google Nexus S UK release date If you're looking at this launch and thinking that it will be aeons until you can get your hands on this new super phone, we have good news. Google has given the Nexus S a 'pre-Christmas' UK release date through The Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy UK, so you'll be able to get your hands on one later this month. 3. The Super AMOLED screen is back again Despite rumours that the OLED tech was in short supply, the Google Nexus S will come with the latest generation of Samsung's superbly sharp screen. Featuring ultra-high contrast ratios (meaning the blacks are blacker and the whites are whiter) and offering a 1.5x higher brightness than LCD screens, Google is promising the Nexus S will be four times more visible in bright sunlight, which will be a godsend if true. 4. It features on of the fastest processors out there Using Samsung's 1GHz Hummingbird processor, the Google Nexus S will use one of the fastest-benchmarked CPUs for mobile phones available at the moment. We would have preferred to see a dual core design in there, but it's a departure from the Qualcomm offering we saw in the Nexus One and is a real vote of confidence in Samsung's proprietary tech. 5. Google Nexus S UK pricing The Google Nexus S doesn't look like it's going to be a cheap device thought - we're looking at a 16GB unit costing £549.95 SIM free. It will be a slightly less wallet-destroying £35 per month (with a free phone) but that will on a two year deal - so make sure it's the phone for you before you commit. However in comparison, the iPhone 4 costs roughly the same for the same storage (around £50 cheaper) but will still cost you £119 when buying on contract, showing how much more Apple's devices hit your pocket. 6. The Nexus S will be ace for gaming Featuring a separate graphics processing unit, the Google Nexus S will be able to process up to 90 million polygons per second, making it only slightly less powerful than a Nintendo Wii in your hand. As the Android Market gets filled with games from the likes of EA, this means that you'll be able to get a proper on the go gaming experience from your mobile. 7. Improved sensors mean better gaming On the same note as the GPU, the Google Nexus S features 'improved motion gesture sensors' for better quality of gaming and location tracking without needing to use the GPS. Plus it also includes a gyroscope, as seen on the iPhone 4, which is a big attraction as we love flinging our phone around or spinning on chairs to shoot aliens. 8. The Nexus S will fit your face Google has specified a slightly odd design for the Nexus S - it's curved on the back and on the front. The rear is designed to fit nicely in the hand, but the front is also curved to fit the contours of your face. Which means all the years we've spent training our faces to sit flush to our touchscreen phone are now wasted. 9. The Google Nexus S updates will be simple You may have seen a few users have expressed consternation at the time they've had to wait for Android updates - be it jumping from Android 1.6 to 2.1 or a simple Froyo update, everyone from Vodafone to T-Mobile, Sony Ericsson to Samsung has been castigated by customers demanding they release the next-gen tech. Google promises that this won't be the case with the Nexus S, saying it offers 'a "pure Google" smartphone experience, in which users will be the first to receive software upgrades and new applications as they become available.' However, this is likely to be only those phones not purchased from a network, as these guys are required to do the correct testing to make sure the phone can still make calls and receive data - which is usually the reason for the delays. 10. Will we see the Google Nexus S Android 3.0? You have to assume that Google wouldn't leave its flagship smartphone by the wayside when Android 3.0 / Honeycomb launches next year. Although it's supposed to be a tablet-friendly OS, the word is that a number of phones (with screens of around four inches and above) will get access to the update. We'd imagine that the Google Nexus S Android 3.0 release date will be around Q2 next year - although there's always a chance Mobile World Congress in February will see some tasty Android treats too. Related Stories Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled Updated: Android 2.3: what you need to know Google Nexus S: In pictures and video Android 2.3 already out for Google Nexus One Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled

Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:00 AM PST Google has finally lifted the lid on the barely-secret Nexus S, complete with Android 2.3 at its core. The new phone is made by Samsung and features a whole host of next generation technology, including a 4-inch Super AMOLED display (which is apparently four times better for viewing in bright light), a 1GHz processor and a front facing video camera for video calling, although third party software is needed. The processor is Samsung's Hummingbird option, and comes with a discrete GPU so games look cracking on the screen, and also comes with 16GB of internal memory as well. Smart thinking If you look at the spec list, it's essentially the same as a Samsung Galaxy S, but with a couple of key differences. Firstly it comes with NFC communication (as CEO Eric Schmidt showed off in November) which Google says will allow the phone to "read information from 'smart' objects (e.g. objects such as movie posters or stickers embedded with NFC tags) by placing the back of Nexus S close to the object." The Google Nexus S also comes with a refined chassis as well, featuring what Google calls the world's first mobile phone with a curved screen, which Google says is "designed to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand and along the side of your face"... which sounds odder than it (hopefully) looks. Google Nexus S UK release date Andy Rubin, vice president of engineering at Google said, "Innovation is at the heart of Google, and Nexus S allows us to drive even greater innovation for the benefit of consumers, the Android ecosystem of partners, and the mobile industry. "This device combines hardware innovation by one of our partners, Samsung, with innovations to the Android platform, to raise the bar on what's possible when it comes to creating a powerful mobile user experience." Google is promising a 'limited' release of the Nexus S at the Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy, with a pre-Christmas UK release date announced. The phone will cost a whopping £549.95 SIM free, although will be offered on a slightly-more-palatable £35 a month deal with a free phone. Related Stories Updated: Android 2.3: what you need to know Google Nexus S: In pictures and video In Depth: Google Nexus S: 10 things to know Android 2.3 already out for Google Nexus One Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled

In Depth: Google Nexus S: 10 things to know Posted: 06 Dec 2010 08:00 AM PST Google's promise to retire the Nexus brand after the Nexus One was a lie - the Google Nexus S has now been officially announced. Featuring a glut of new technology and the latest unfettered Android platform, it certainly looks like an early headliner for 2011. So check out our run down of all you need to know about the Google Nexus S, including when you can get it, how much it will cost, and which new tech-toys you'll get with it too. 1. It features next-gen technology The Google Nexus S comes complete with Near Field Communication (NFC), which is basically an extension of the tech you get with your Oyster Card or pass to get into your office building. However, the Google Nexus S can also read information too, meaning you could in the future hold your phone up to enabled movie posters and instantly download a trailer. 2. Google Nexus S UK release date If you're looking at this launch and thinking that it will be aeons until you can get your hands on this new super phone, we have good news. Google has given the Nexus S a 'pre-Christmas' UK release date through The Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy UK, so you'll be able to get your hands on one later this month. 3. The Super AMOLED screen is back again Despite rumours that the OLED tech was in short supply, the Google Nexus S will come with the latest generation of Samsung's superbly sharp screen. Featuring ultra-high contrast ratios (meaning the blacks are blacker and the whites are whiter) and offering a 1.5x higher brightness than LCD screens, Google is promising the Nexus S will be four times more visible in bright sunlight, which will be a godsend if true. 4. It features on of the fastest processors out there Using Samsung's 1GHz Hummingbird processor, the Google Nexus S will use one of the fastest-benchmarked CPUs for mobile phones available at the moment. We would have preferred to see a dual core design in there, but it's a departure from the Qualcomm offering we saw in the Nexus One and is a real vote of confidence in Samsung's proprietary tech. 5. Google Nexus S UK pricing The Google Nexus S doesn't look like it's going to be a cheap device thought - we're looking at a 16GB unit costing £549.95 SIM free. It will be a slightly less wallet-destroying £35 per month (with a free phone) but that will on a two year deal - so make sure it's the phone for you before you commit. However in comparison, the iPhone 4 costs roughly the same for the same storage (around £50 cheaper) but will still cost you £119 when buying on contract, showing how much more Apple's devices hit your pocket. 6. The Nexus S will be ace for gaming Featuring a separate graphics processing unit, the Google Nexus S will be able to process up to 90 million polygons per second, making it only slightly less powerful than a Nintendo Wii in your hand. As the Android Market gets filled with games from the likes of EA, this means that you'll be able to get a proper on the go gaming experience from your mobile. 7. Improved sensors mean better gaming On the same note as the GPU, the Google Nexus S features 'improved motion gesture sensors' for better quality of gaming and location tracking without needing to use the GPS. However, this doesn't sound like it includes a gyroscope, as seen on the iPhone 4, which is a big disappointment - we love flinging our phone around or spinning on chairs to shoot aliens. 8. The Nexus S will fit your face Google has specified a slightly odd design for the Nexus S - it's curved on the back and on the front. The rear is designed to fit nicely in the hand, but the front is also curved to fit the contours of your face. Which means all the years we've spent training our faces to sit flush to our touchscreen phone are now wasted. 9. The Google Nexus S updates will be simple You may have seen a few users have expressed consternation at the time they've had to wait for Android updates - be it jumping from Android 1.6 to 2.1 or a simple Froyo update, everyone from Vodafone to T-Mobile, Sony Ericsson to Samsung has been castigated by customers demanding they release the next-gen tech. Google promises that this won't be the case with the Nexus S, saying it offers 'a "pure Google" smartphone experience, in which users will be the first to receive software upgrades and new applications as they become available.' However, this is likely to be only those phones not purchased from a network, as these guys are required to do the correct testing to make sure the phone can still make calls and receive data - which is usually the reason for the delays. 10. Will we see the Google Nexus S Android 3.0? You have to assume that Google wouldn't leave its flagship smartphone by the wayside when Android 3.0 / Honeycomb launches next year. Although it's supposed to be a tablet-friendly OS, the word is that a number of phones (with screens of around four inches and above) will get access to the update. We'd imagine that the Google Nexus S Android 3.0 release date will be around Q2 next year - although there's always a chance Mobile World Congress in February will see some tasty Android treats too. Related Stories Updated: Android 2.3: what you need to know Google Nexus S: In pictures and video In Depth: Google Nexus S: 10 things to know Android 2.3 already out for Google Nexus One Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled

Buying guide: 11 best sound bar speakers for your HDTV Posted: 06 Dec 2010 07:23 AM PST Yeah, yeah, we know we told you all to buy a flatscreen TV, but unless you've paired it with a full-blown home cinema system you're probably wondering why it sounds worse than your old goggle box. And that's where buying a sound bar comes in. The innate thinness of plasma and LCD TVs make decent audio an almost impossible task, something that's given rise to a whole new generation of speakers. Known as sound bars, these one-box affairs are designed to sit underneath a flatscreen TV, either on an AV rack or bolted to a wall. Their appeal is obvious: many owners of traditional 5.1 home cinema systems don't use them. Put off by trailing cables and parking meter designs, some don't even finish unpacking them. Step forward the sound bar: they might vary wildly in price and features, but they all promise the same thing: cinematic sound without the fuss. Here are ten of the best sound bars available today, starting with the biggest sound bar bargains and working our way up to the best of the best. KitSound BoomDock - £90 This KitSound sound bar is real bargain basement stuff, but it's a good value quick-fix if money is tight. Designed primarily for an iPod – there's a dock atop this gloss black unit – the BoomDock is well named; this is all about bass. Armed with a 22W 5.25-inch subwoofer and analogue audio inputs on its rear to hook-up to almost any source, the BoomDock's red-lit LED display and a retro-style volume knob and input selector adorn the front of this diminutive unit that's more box than bar. There's a remote control and AM/FM radio tuner, and though it's at its best with loud music, action movies and especially high-octane games are given an audio push – just don't expect anything resembling home cinema surround sound. Sharp HT-SB200 - £99.95 This Sharp sound bar is definitely at the budget end of the spectrum, a fact reflected in its comparatively limited feature list, but if you want a no-frills way of boosting your TV's sound quality then this might fit the bill. It doesn't offer any built-in audio decoding for Dolby Digital and DTS, but it does provide 32W of built-in 2.1-channel amplification and some sound processing modes. But despite its lack of refinement the Sharp's sound is generally loud and gutsy, and it certainly offers a more exciting listen than any flatpanel TV we've ever heard. Plus, the same over-emphasis on treble that causes harshness on loud effects actually helps the Sharp to excavate lots of sonic detail from background ambience and effects during quieter passages. Read: Sharp HT-SB200 soundbar review Panasonic SC-HTB500 - £270 For this kind of money you might expect a weak feature count, but this Panasonic sound bar - the SC-HTB500 - is both 3D-compatible and has a wireless subwoofer. Using bamboo cone speakers to give dialogue more clarity, the SC-HTB500's HDMI in and out can pass-through a 3D signal. Its HDMI input also boasts an audio return channel (ARC), so does away with the need for separate audio cables if you want to send sound from a TV's built-in Freeview TV tuner to the SC-HTB500 – though your TV will also need an ARC-compatible HDMI (new Panasonic TVs do). Can also be wall mounted. Monitor Audio Radius One HD - £450 Monitor Audio's debut sound bar differs from the rest in that it's not designed to replace a 5.1-system, but to form part of one. Inside this sleek, compact unit are left, right and centre speaker drivers, but no rear ones, sub or pseudo surround sound processing. To complete the setup you can buy other Radius speakers separately, including R45HD rears and the R360HD sub, but that sort of defeats the object. Inevitably, when listening to Radius One HD on its own, it does feel lacking. It's designed to be teamed up with other speakers in the Radius range, which bumps up the cost and means you'll have to hook everything up with cables – the very thing soundbars are normally designed to avoid. It's not a criticism as such, it just means that the Radius One HD isn't aimed at your typical soundbar buyer. Read: FullMonitor Audio Radius One HD review Samsung HT-BD8200 - £550 The key feature on this Samsung sound bar is its super-slim design which makes it ideal for mounting on a wall underneath a flatscreen TV, though the HT-BD8200 isn't just a sound bar. Inside is a fully featured Blu-ray player, while a 100W active subwoofer – a glossy black affair that could be mistaken for expensive home cinema gear – communicates with the main system wirelessly. Read: Samsung HT-BD8200 review Pioneer HTP-SB510 - £600 This 3.1 Pioneer sound bar is designed to sit alongside a flatscreen TV. As well as coming from a company with noted audio heritage, the HTP-SB510also has something of a modular approach; it's a neat one-box solution as it comes, but Pioneer's S-SB5R satellite speakers can be added to create a proper 5.1 soundfield. Pushing its future-proof credentials is its ability to pass 3D video signals over HDMI. Teufel Cinebar 50 - £659 Among Teufel's vast range of home cinema speakers is its Cinebar 50, an all-in-one sound bar that adds a subwoofer. Offering Dolby Virtual Speaker-powered quasi-surround sound from one speaker, the wall-mountable Cinebar is fitted with enough ins and outs to take almost any audio feed, including optical and coaxial digital, as well as analogue, input. Unlike a lot of its competitors, the subwoofer is wired, though its MP3 & WMA-compatible USB ports is a nice extra. Yamaha YSP-2200 - £800 This Yamaha sound bar is one of the best in the buisiness. But then having virtually invented the sound bar category in 2005 with the YSP-1, it's no surprise that Yamaha's line-up of Digital Sound Projectors are among the best around. Super-slim and 3D compatible, this latest incarnation combines a subwoofer and 11 different Cinema DSP sound presets, though it's how it works that is the real attraction; 16 beam drivers and a couple of bass-reflex subwoofermini speakers, each with its own digital amplifier, bounce sound beams off the walls to create believable multi-channel surround sound that's calibrated to the exact dimensions of any room. Clever stuff – and now thoroughly affordable. KEF KHT8005 - £1,000 KEF's effort resembles a sound bar, but it's actually a traditional 5.1 system. Any decent sound bar worth its salt comes with a subwoofer and the KHT8005 is no different, but where it does differ is the two satellite speakers provided. They won't appeal if you're after a completely wire-free audio set-up, though rest assured that the left, right and centre channel speakers are all built into the main one-box unit. Designed for a 42-inch TV, the KHT8005 use KEF's noted Uni-Q drivers while its KUBE-2 subwoofer adds the depth that lone one-box systems can't manage. Yamaha YSP-4100 - £1,250 Designed specifically for those of us who aren't prepared to put up with a flatscreen TV's lack of audio talent, this Yamaha sound bar promises to deliver surround sound and, more importantly, powerful sound, from underneath one. A stunning 40 separate drivers send soundbeams around your living room, combining with a subwoofer to offer cinema-grade sound that's a jot more powerful than your average sound bar. With four HDMI inputs and one output you can use the YSP-4100 to switch the rest of your AV gear, it's even possible to link an iPod or iPhone via an add-on dongle that sits on the end of your Apple gadget and wirelessly sends uncompressed audio to the YSP-4100 using Yamaha's AirWired tech. Now that's what we call a proper all in one. B&W Panorama - £1,500 So can B&W's high-end Panorama sound bar offering set a new standard for one-box cinemas? There's no denying the convenience of the system. Essentially an entire speaker system in one submarine-shaped cabinet, they are designed for wall-mounting underneath your flatscreen TV, with many offering technologies that simulate a 5.1 soundfield. But while they are certainly practical and increasingly popular, they also usually involve a sonic compromise, and we've found the results are patchy at best. But despite the paucity of features in this model (no radio tuner, iPod dock or HD audio support) Bowers & Wilkins' Panorama is a formidable soundbar debutante. Read: B&W Panorama review Related Stories Buying guide: 11 best sound bar speakers for your HDTV

Buying guide: 11 best sound bar speakers for your HDTV Posted: 06 Dec 2010 07:23 AM PST Yeah, yeah, we know we told you all to buy a flatscreen TV, but unless you've paired it with a full-blown home cinema system you're probably wondering why it sounds worse than your old goggle box. And that's where buying a sound bar comes in. The innate thinness of plasma and LCD TVs make decent audio an almost impossible task, something that's given rise to a whole new generation of speakers. Known as sound bars, these one-box affairs are designed to sit underneath a flatscreen TV, either on an AV rack or bolted to a wall. Their appeal is obvious: many owners of traditional 5.1 home cinema systems don't use them. Put off by trailing cables and parking meter designs, some don't even finish unpacking them. Step forward the sound bar: they might vary wildly in price and features, but they all promise the same thing: cinematic sound without the fuss. Here are ten of the best sound bars available today, starting with the biggest sound bar bargains and working our way up to the best of the best. KitSound BoomDock - £90 This KitSound sound bar is real bargain basement stuff, but it's a good value quick-fix if money is tight. Designed primarily for an iPod – there's a dock atop this gloss black unit – the BoomDock is well named; this is all about bass. Armed with a 22W 5.25-inch subwoofer and analogue audio inputs on its rear to hook-up to almost any source, the BoomDock's red-lit LED display and a retro-style volume knob and input selector adorn the front of this diminutive unit that's more box than bar. There's a remote control and AM/FM radio tuner, and though it's at its best with loud music, action movies and especially high-octane games are given an audio push – just don't expect anything resembling home cinema surround sound. Sharp HT-SB200 - £99.95 This Sharp sound bar is definitely at the budget end of the spectrum, a fact reflected in its comparatively limited feature list, but if you want a no-frills way of boosting your TV's sound quality then this might fit the bill. It doesn't offer any built-in audio decoding for Dolby Digital and DTS, but it does provide 32W of built-in 2.1-channel amplification and some sound processing modes. But despite its lack of refinement the Sharp's sound is generally loud and gutsy, and it certainly offers a more exciting listen than any flatpanel TV we've ever heard. Plus, the same over-emphasis on treble that causes harshness on loud effects actually helps the Sharp to excavate lots of sonic detail from background ambience and effects during quieter passages. Read: Sharp HT-SB200 soundbar review Panasonic SC-HTB500 - £270 For this kind of money you might expect a weak feature count, but this Panasonic sound bar - the SC-HTB500 - is both 3D-compatible and has a wireless subwoofer. Using bamboo cone speakers to give dialogue more clarity, the SC-HTB500's HDMI in and out can pass-through a 3D signal. Its HDMI input also boasts an audio return channel (ARC), so does away with the need for separate audio cables if you want to send sound from a TV's built-in Freeview TV tuner to the SC-HTB500 – though your TV will also need an ARC-compatible HDMI (new Panasonic TVs do). Can also be wall mounted. Monitor Audio Radius One HD - £450 Monitor Audio's debut sound bar differs from the rest in that it's not designed to replace a 5.1-system, but to form part of one. Inside this sleek, compact unit are left, right and centre speaker drivers, but no rear ones, sub or pseudo surround sound processing. To complete the setup you can buy other Radius speakers separately, including R45HD rears and the R360HD sub, but that sort of defeats the object. Inevitably, when listening to Radius One HD on its own, it does feel lacking. It's designed to be teamed up with other speakers in the Radius range, which bumps up the cost and means you'll have to hook everything up with cables – the very thing soundbars are normally designed to avoid. It's not a criticism as such, it just means that the Radius One HD isn't aimed at your typical soundbar buyer. Read: FullMonitor Audio Radius One HD review Samsung HT-BD8200 - £550 The key feature on this Samsung sound bar is its super-slim design which makes it ideal for mounting on a wall underneath a flatscreen TV, though the HT-BD8200 isn't just a sound bar. Inside is a fully featured Blu-ray player, while a 100W active subwoofer – a glossy black affair that could be mistaken for expensive home cinema gear – communicates with the main system wirelessly. Read: Samsung HT-BD8200 review Pioneer HTP-SB510 - £600 This 3.1 Pioneer sound bar is designed to sit alongside a flatscreen TV. As well as coming from a company with noted audio heritage, the HTP-SB510also has something of a modular approach; it's a neat one-box solution as it comes, but Pioneer's S-SB5R satellite speakers can be added to create a proper 5.1 soundfield. Pushing its future-proof credentials is its ability to pass 3D video signals over HDMI. Teufel Cinebar 50 - £659 Among Teufel's vast range of home cinema speakers is its Cinebar 50, an all-in-one sound bar that adds a subwoofer. Offering Dolby Virtual Speaker-powered quasi-surround sound from one speaker, the wall-mountable Cinebar is fitted with enough ins and outs to take almost any audio feed, including optical and coaxial digital, as well as analogue, input. Unlike a lot of its competitors, the subwoofer is wired, though its MP3 & WMA-compatible USB ports is a nice extra. Yamaha YSP-2200 - £800 This Yamaha sound bar is one of the best in the buisiness. But then having virtually invented the sound bar category in 2005 with the YSP-1, it's no surprise that Yamaha's line-up of Digital Sound Projectors are among the best around. Super-slim and 3D compatible, this latest incarnation combines a subwoofer and 11 different Cinema DSP sound presets, though it's how it works that is the real attraction; 16 beam drivers and a couple of bass-reflex subwoofermini speakers, each with its own digital amplifier, bounce sound beams off the walls to create believable multi-channel surround sound that's calibrated to the exact dimensions of any room. Clever stuff – and now thoroughly affordable. KEF KHT8005 - £1,000 KEF's effort resembles a sound bar, but it's actually a traditional 5.1 system. Any decent sound bar worth its salt comes with a subwoofer and the KHT8005 is no different, but where it does differ is the two satellite speakers provided. They won't appeal if you're after a completely wire-free audio set-up, though rest assured that the left, right and centre channel speakers are all built into the main one-box unit. Designed for a 42-inch TV, the KHT8005 use KEF's noted Uni-Q drivers while its KUBE-2 subwoofer adds the depth that lone one-box systems can't manage. Yamaha YSP-4100 - £1,250 Designed specifically for those of us who aren't prepared to put up with a flatscreen TV's lack of audio talent, this Yamaha sound bar promises to deliver surround sound and, more importantly, powerful sound, from underneath one. A stunning 40 separate drivers send soundbeams around your living room, combining with a subwoofer to offer cinema-grade sound that's a jot more powerful than your average sound bar. With four HDMI inputs and one output you can use the YSP-4100 to switch the rest of your AV gear, it's even possible to link an iPod or iPhone via an add-on dongle that sits on the end of your Apple gadget and wirelessly sends uncompressed audio to the YSP-4100 using Yamaha's AirWired tech. Now that's what we call a proper all in one. B&W Panorama - £1,500 So can B&W's high-end Panorama sound bar offering set a new standard for one-box cinemas? There's no denying the convenience of the system. Essentially an entire speaker system in one submarine-shaped cabinet, they are designed for wall-mounting underneath your flatscreen TV, with many offering technologies that simulate a 5.1 soundfield. But while they are certainly practical and increasingly popular, they also usually involve a sonic compromise, and we've found the results are patchy at best. But despite the paucity of features in this model (no radio tuner, iPod dock or HD audio support) Bowers & Wilkins' Panorama is a formidable soundbar debutante. Read: B&W Panorama review Related Stories Buying guide: 11 best sound bar speakers for your HDTV

Google Editions launches as Google eBooks Posted: 06 Dec 2010 07:20 AM PST Google has launched Google eBooks in the US, a platform to sell digital books which will be seen as a direct opponent to Amazon. The success of the Amazon Kindle has shown the appetite for eBooks, and Google's ongoing project to digitise every book has proven headline grabbing – not always for the right reasons. But the search giant is now keen to leverage its massive audience in the eBook world – with Google eBooks allowing people (in the US, for now) to find and buy books from the Google eBookstore. It had been thought that Google would name its digital book store Google Editions - but has now plumped for Google eBooks Discover and buy "With Google eBooks, readers can discover and buy books from the Google eBookstore or get them from one of our independent bookseller partners," blogged Google Books product manager Abraham Murray. "Whether you buy a Google eBook from Google or from an online bookseller, they are all stored in your online library. "With Google eBooks, you can read books on devices from laptops to netbooks to tablets to smartphones to e-readers. "Using the new Google eBooks Web Reader, you can buy, store and read Google eBooks in the cloud. That means you can access your ebooks like you would messages in Gmail -- using a free, password-protected Google account with unlimited ebooks storage. "Being able to access your books from anywhere means that it doesn't matter what device you're using." At the current time Google will only say that it is hoping to bring Google eBooks and the Google eBookstore to the UK next year. Related Stories In Depth: Top 20 fonts for the web UK to have Europe's best broadband by 2015 Facebook revamps your profile page Google fails to buy Groupon In Depth: 20 search engines that do something different

Will a 3D Apple iPod beat the Nintendo 3DS? Posted: 06 Dec 2010 07:00 AM PST Games industry analyst Michael Pachter thinks that Apple will develop a 3D iPod to scupper Nintendo's first mover advantage gained with the forthcoming 3DS handheld. The analyst agrees that the 3DS is indeed a revolutionary gaming technology, but thinks that the lack of innovation with the Wii home console may well harm the future of Nintendo's handheld business. "On the handheld side, I see the 3DS as truly revolutionary, but expect Apple to copy it and improve the design with a 3D iPod, and to again begin to erode Nintendo's first mover advantage," Pachter predicted in an interview with Konsolifin.net this month. "Nintendo has iterated its handheld's frequently, and may succeed in holding Apple at bay; it will be interesting to watch." Holding Apple at bay As far as the home console battle goes, the analyst is less positive about Nintendo's strategy, noting: "I think Nintendo is so focused on introducing a revolutionary console, they missed the opportunity to iterate the existing [Wii] console and hold off the competition. Microsoft and Sony have released six or seven improved versions of their consoles, while Nintendo has done none this cycle. "By the time Nintendo figures out its future console, it will be too far behind in online multiplayer to capture more share from its competitors, and it may see its share erode if Kinect and Move cause Wii owners to upgrade." Of course, there are also those PSP 2 and PlayStation Phone rumours, along with the gaming potential of Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 to add into the mix. Whatever happens, 2011 is already shaping up to be an interesting year for fans of mobile gaming. Related Stories Sony PSP and PS3 outselling Nintendo's DS and Wii Will a Nintendo 3DS phone be a cheap videophone? Will a Nintendo 3DS phone be a cheap videophone? Biggest and smallest game launches of 2011 today OnLive to offer iPad app and movies

Exclusive: Virgin Media vows to 'build on' 3D strategy Posted: 06 Dec 2010 05:51 AM PST Virgin Media has told TechRadar that it will continue to "build on" its 3D strategy in the coming year, with the imminent arrival of its latest set top box making it much easier to find content. Like many others, Virgin Media's 3D content has been limited so far, although the company is well aware of the strides being taken by rival Sky. Sky 3D launched this year bringing an entire channel of 3D content from the worlds of film, sports and arts. Virgin Media's 3D content is available through its on demand service, and a strategic deal with Samsung "to bring its cutting-edge 3D TV viewing experience to the public", which means that the company has not forgotten about those customers that want to have access to content to play on their expensive 3D equipment. Building "We're still building on the 3D strategy that we put into place," Virgin Media's Cindy Rose told TechRadar. "We have a collaboration with Samsung so we will be doing a lot of stuff around 3D. "We are aware that some of our XL TV customers have spent a lot of money on 3D televisions sets and we want to make sure we give them content." Content is king For the time being 3D content remains thin on the ground, with bidding wars over high profile films like Toy Story 3 and Avatar which boost company's 3D line-ups. Sky's financial clout and its impressive investment in 3D content means that it is going to be in pole position for many of the high profile movies and other bits of content. However, as 3D content becomes more common, it is important that the likes of Virgin Media can be viewed as an option for people who are looking to upgrade their television to a 3D set. Viewers need a 3D capable television to watch the 3D broadcasts, but manufacturers like Virgin Media's partner Samsung are putting huge amounts of money behind the push for 3D. Related Stories Avatar 3D Blu-ray costs £225 on eBay UK Sony Bravia KDL-22PX300 offers built in PlayStation 2 Review: Triax T2-HD 115 Review: Technisat SkyStar USB HD Review: Sky 3D

Review: Sky 3D Posted: 06 Dec 2010 05:30 AM PST You might have noticed a little buzz around 3D recently, and why not – 3D TV sounds like a fantastic idea. James Cameron's Avatar demonstrated that the technology has advanced, even if the film itself is a steaming pile of stinky old sci-fi cliches, and after some short but intriguing demos from Sky, we wanted to know how it would translate into an experience you could enjoy at home. Sky has partnered up with LG for 3D, and we used an LG 47LX9900 active 3D TV. It retails at around £2,000, including two pairs of rechargeable glasses (extra pairs cost £100 each). In 3D mode, the screen alternates at 50Hz between left and right eye images, and the glasses contain LCD filters which block each eye at the same rate, synchronised by an infrared signal from the TV. The brain is fooled into seeing a stereo 3D image. The parallax view Depth is defined by parallax; caused by the separation of the left and right eyes, and 3D stereo cameras mimic this, creating positive and negative parallax to make objects to appear in front of or behind the screen. Too much, or too fast, and your eyes will have to refocus uncomfortably. Other factors can affect the 3D experience, such as image brightness and crosstalk, where the left and right images aren't cleanly separated so you see ghostly echoes. Ambient light also makes a difference: pitchblack is best as the glasses are highly reflective, and bright sunlight causes peripheral vision to flicker most unpleasantly with active 3D. Then there's Sky's transmission format – side-by-side – which squeezes the left and right images into a single HD frame at 1080i, which the TV then stretches to full width. This means they're not 1920 x 1080i, but 960 x 1080i, although Sky claims that lost horizontal resolution is less noticeable than lost vertical detail. Over two weeks we've watched a bit of golf, football, nature and film docs, some films, and we've seen Sky's 3D demo reel too many times. It's all free to Sky World HD subscribers, at least until there's a full schedule worth watching, and it works on existing Sky+HD hardware. However, as yet there's no 3D Sky Guide if you want to look at it while watching in 3D. It's just very fuzzy. There's a huge variation in quality, and some of Sky's older 3D experiments, like the Avatar 35mm Special, should be locked in a heavy box and thrown overboard. The nature docs Bugs! and CGI dinos of Sea Monsters made us look forward to David Attenborough's Flying Monsters 3D at Christmas. Monsters vs. Aliens had some fun moments, but some 3D effects designed for the big screen don't quite come off on TV, and when the effect goes wrong you stop enjoying the film. Sky's sports are well-filmed, but onscreen graphics often pop jarringly out of the screen, especially with the deep landscapes of golf. And while depth was initially a bonus, especially looking at the subtly pitched greens, it was hard to decide whether it was any better than the BBC HD coverage, because of the half-HD resolution. The 50Hz 3D refresh rate also makes movement far less smooth than 2D HD, when you can take advantage of the TV's 200Hz refresh. It's a backwards step, making balls and limbs disappear into a blur, and flattening the 3D image during tracking shots. Verdict If we had a choice between 3D and 1080p or even 2K resolution, we'd take higher resolution. The 'wow' factor of 3D is short-lived, and it's too often a roller coaster ride from the 'oooh' of a nicely composed 3D image to the 'ouch' when your eyes suddenly cross over. It's not good enough to buy a 3D TV. Not yet. Related Links TechRadar Reviews Guarantee Read more digital TV receiver reviews Related Stories Avatar 3D Blu-ray costs £225 on eBay UK Sony Bravia KDL-22PX300 offers built in PlayStation 2 Review: Triax T2-HD 115 Review: Technisat SkyStar USB HD Exclusive: Virgin Media vows to 'build on' 3D strategy

BlackBerry PlayBook demoed again on video Posted: 06 Dec 2010 05:09 AM PST RIM's new iPad competitor, the BlackBerry PlayBook, has been shown off again in a detailed video to highlight some of its high end features. At a network event in Canada, the new device was put through its pace for a few minutes, highlighting a few things users can expect. The first was two styles of gestures - the normal way of flipping through screens, and then using the frame, so pulling down from the top will open up controls, much like the Android way of seeing notifications. Video also featured prominently in the walkthrough, with the 1080p capabilities on show and working smoothly, despite the early build. The next generation The RIM spokesperson said: "We wanted to make sure devices like this are a true crossover, moving away from merely messaging and into a combination of media, internet and more." The video even continued playing as the internet was brought to the foreground, and also when dropping out to view the multi-tasked apps in thumbnail, which seems pretty impressive. Sadly the browser isn't fully up to speed, not harnessing the dual core power of the PlayBook, but we should see more as the Q1 2011 release date (for the US at least) draws ever nearer. Via BB Leaks Related Stories Updated: HTC Tablet rumours: what you need to know Sharp wants one million Galapagos tablet sales BlackBerry maker RIM looking to overhaul UI Three dwarves Orange iPad contract pricing Report: Apple iPad 2 stockpiling will start in February

Tutorial: How to reinstall Windows Posted: 06 Dec 2010 04:45 AM PST Why would anyone want to go through the painful process of reinstalling Windows? Surely it's a lot of fuss and bother, plus all that worrying about things going wrong? And what do you really gain from the procedure? Well firstly, a Windows reinstall is not as painful as it might seem, although it is time-consuming and does require a measure of preparation before taking the plunge. Second, if your PC has started to show signs of age – if it takes longer to start up, programs are sluggish in operation and you're beset with problems such as unexpected crashes and error messages – then it's time to clean things out and start again. A fresh Windows installation puts you back in charge of your computer, but every time you perform it – which should be at least once every two years in our opinion – you'll have to put aside a few hours or even an entire weekend to do the job properly. That's because the actual reinstall process, which takes less than an hour, is only a small part of the whole job. You can't just step in, reinstall and continue on your merry way: you need to back up your files and settings so you don't lose anything as you go, source program installation discs and product keys and make sure you have access to the drivers you need. And once you're done with that, you need to restore your programs, files and settings, as well as download outstanding updates and set up Windows the way you like it. In this tutorial, we'll take you through the entire process for one last time. Give yourself plenty of time now to get things set up exactly to your satisfaction because you'll be taking a snapshot of your PC in this perfect state. Then, in future, instead of going through the whole process again, you simply restore this image, taking a fraction of the time. Don't believe it's possible? Read on to see how easy it is to make reinstalls a thing of the past. Step 1: Get backed up Everyone should have a backup plan for their computer, whereby important or irreplaceable files, documents, photos, emails and more are backed up to an external device, such as a USB or network hard drive. But if you've so far resisted the urge to protect your data and settings, now is the time to bite the bullet and make sure you're fully backed up. This is because the process of reinstalling Windows is a destructive one, wiping all data from your hard drive and putting in a shiny new Windows installation. You need to make sure you've got copies of everything that's important to you, or you'll lose it all. There are two types of backup you can choose: file-based, whereby specific files and settings are selected for backup, and image-based, which takes an exact copy of your drive, ensuring that nothing is lost. We recommend you take one of each kind of backup for extra security, with the image-based backup giving you a fail-safe in case you forget a specific important file or setting. This fail-safe can also restore your computer should something go wrong with the installation process. Tools of the trade There are perfectly adequate backup tools built into Windows itself, but they're not universal to all versions of Windows, so we've picked two of the best free backup tools: GFI Backup Home Edition for files and settings, and Macrium Reflect Free, which you'll use to create both your fail-safe backup now and your perfect computer snapshot later on. Start by installing Macrium. Once done, launch the program and let it register itself over the internet. When the main screen appears, click Create a backup image of an entire disk or selected partition(s) under Backup Tasks. Click Next, then select the hard drive or partition that your copy of Windows is installed on before clicking on Next again. Choose your backup device – local hard disk, network drive or CD/DVD burner (not recommend for backups with Windows Vista or Windows 7) – and then click on Next followed by Finish and then OK to start the backup. Once complete, open the Other Tasks menu and click Verify to check your backup isn't corrupt, then pop a blank CD or DVD into your drive and choose Other Tasks > Create Rescue CD. Leave the default Linux option selected, click Advanced, tick Compatibility Mode and click Finish to create the rescue CD. Label this and store it in a safe place. You'll need to boot from the rescue CD whenever you want to restore a drive image – should something go wrong with the reinstall process, for example, or when you want to recover your perfect PC setup in the future. Back up files and settings It's time to back up your files and settings. People running Windows 7 and Windows Vista can use the built-in Windows Backup tool: click Start, type "backup" and launch the Backup and Restore tool when it appears in the list. Follow the prompts to create a backup. Windows Vista users get more choice over what exactly they're backing up, but Windows 7 users should make sure they select Let me choose when prompted to avoid taking a system image – this will simply replicate what you've already done with Macrium Reflect Free. Once the backup has been taken, you're ready to move on to the next step. Windows XP users don't have this user-friendly backup option; instead, take a look at GFI Backup Home Edition. This enables you to choose exactly what to include in your backup – files, settings, email and even Registry keys. It's something more advanced Windows 7 and Windows Vista users might also like to check out, but it's not as user-friendly or as easy as the Windows Backup option. Step 2: Save settings Your data and settings are backed up, and you have a fail-safe backup in case you forget an important file or the reinstall process doesn't go to plan. But don't reach for your Windows installation disc just yet. There are some further steps you still need to take. First, make sure you'll have internet access after you've reinstalled Windows, so you can download all outstanding drivers and updates quickly and easily. If your computer is directly connected to the modem via a USB cable, you'll need to source the drivers from the modem manufacturer or internet provider, plus make a note of the settings you need to connect to the internet (do check with your provider though – they may provide a program that does all the hard work for you). If you connect to the internet through a router or via Ethernet cable, you'll need network drivers – if you're restoring Windows from a recovery partition or disc, these will be included; if you're using a Windows installation or upgrade disc, download the drivers you need now from either your computer manufacturer or the manufacturer of your wireless adapter. Next, check you have any program discs and product keys or serial numbers you might need – check your email for product keys purchased over the internet and write them down. If you can't find certain product keys, enlist the help of third-party software: Belarc Advisor is free, but if it can't help, download the demo of Recover Keys from http://recover-keys.com – if it's able to locate the product key you're looking for, you'll need to pay US$29.95 to access it. Step 3: The re-install process You've backed up all your files and settings, have the drivers you need to restore your internet connection and got all the programs and product keys you need. You're ready to reinstall Windows for the last time. If your computer came with a manufacturer's recovery disc or partition, then check the box for more details on what to do next; if it came with a Windows installation disc (or you've purchased a Windows 7 upgrade disc), then read on. First, place your Windows installation disc into the drive, disconnect all non-essential USB devices (such as printers and scanners), then restart your computer. As it starts up, look for an option to select your boot device – press this key and select CD/DVD. When prompted, press any key to boot from CD or DVD, and the installation process will begin. People running Windows XP should now switch to the printout of the PDF file on the cover disc, which offers a complete step-by-step guide to the reinstall process. Windows 7 and Windows Vista users should follow our simple step-by-step guide below. Step-by-step: Reinstall Windows quickly and easily 1. First steps When prompted to choose a language, click on the Time and Currency format drop-down menu and select English (United Kingdom) – it's right above the default English (United States) setting. Click Next followed by Install Now. 2. Select hard drive Read the licence agreement, tick the box and click Next followed by Custom (advanced). Select your Windows partition or hard drive and click Drive options (advanced). Click Format, read the warning and click Yes to format the drive. 3. Sit back and wait Click the Next button and Windows will start the installation process proper. Sit back and wait while this process completes – once it is finished, Windows will restart again. Ignore any prompts to boot from CD or DVD and wait. 4. Set up basics Start by entering a username for your new profile, plus the name of your computer, which will identify it on your network. Click Next to enter a password and hint for your user profile. Click Next again to enter your Windows product key. 5. Set up network Click Next and enter the product key you'll find inside your Windows box. Click Next, then click Use recommended settings. Verify (UTC) Dublin, Edinburgh, Lisbon, London is selected under Time Zone and click Next again. 6. Network connection If you're wirelessly connected and Windows automatically installs your Wi-Fi drivers, you'll be prompted to connect: select your network and enter the passkey if necessary. Finally, choose Home and let Windows complete the set-up process. Step 4: Missing drivers Once Windows has been restored or reinstalled, it's time to get your PC back in working order. If you reinstalled from an installation disc, you'll need to reinstall any missing drivers. Press the Windows key and R, type devmgmt.msc and press Return to access Device Manager, which gives you a quick view of drivers that are missing. Start by restoring network or modem drivers so you can get online. If you downloaded other drivers, reinstall these too. If drivers are still missing, install DriverEasy – let this scan for outdated and missing drivers, then follow the instructions to download (save them to a folder on your backup device) and install each in turn. By now, Automatic Updates should be downloading outstanding updates. Ordinarily, you might find yourself downloading updates over a period of days, but speed things up by continually revisiting Windows Update from the Start > All Programs menu. Once done, it's time to take your first drive image. If necessary, plug in your external backup drive and wait for Windows to recognise it and install any necessary drivers, then click Start > Computer to see what drive letter has been assigned to it. Reinstall Macrium and take a drive image of your new installation, following the steps you took to take your fail-safe backup. Think of this as your 'baseline' – if something goes wrong with the next step, just boot from your Macrium rescue CD and follow the instructions to restore this drive image. Step 5: Partitioning hard drives One of the most timeconsuming parts of reinstalling Windows is setting up and sorting out all your data and settings again. The simplest way to get past this problem is to store all your files and some settings on a different drive to Windows and your programs – that way, should you ever have to restore Windows in the future, your data is already in place. You don't need to invest in a second hard drive to do this – instead, a process called partitioning enables you to divide a single hard drive into two or more smaller drives, enabling you to keep your data separate from Windows on one drive. Once this step is complete, click Start > Computer and you'll see your new drive appear. The next step in the process involves moving key folders such as My Documents to your new data drive. Start by creating a folder on your new data drive into which all your data will be moved. Open up this folder and create more folders for all your files, such as Documents, Music, Photos, Videos and so on. Windows 7 and Windows Vista users should now click Start followed by your username to access your personal user folder. Next, right-click on the Documents folder and choose Properties > File Location or the Location tab. Now click on the Move button. Select the Documents folder and click OK. When you're prompted to move your existing files to this folder, click Yes. You can repeat this step for the other folders found in here too, including Desktop, Pictures, Videos and Music. Doing so now ensures that you'll never have to back up these folders prior to reinstalling or restoring Windows in future – more time saved! Windows XP users can move their documents, pictures, videos and music folders in one go: just right-click My Documents on the desktop or Start menu and choose Properties, then click on Move. Step 6: Reinstall programs Now is a good time to take a second drive image using Macrium Reflect Free – make sure you only select the drive containing Windows (drive C in most cases). Once done and verified, delete the original 'baseline' image you took earlier and use this in its place if necessary. Now you can start reinstalling your programs – don't reinstall everything at this point; concentrate on core apps such as your email program, Microsoft Office and so on. Don't forget to install your security software as well. Make sure your programs are registered and up to date. Also look to move key data from your Windows drive to your data drive – for example, if your email is stored in Windows Mail, Outlook Express or Windows Live Mail, look for a Store Folder option under Maintenance, and point this towards your data drive: look under Tools > Options (Windows Mail and Outlook Express) or Options > Mail (Windows Live Mail) for an Advanced or Maintenance tab. Now it's time to restore your backup: launch the Windows Backup and Restore tool again. Select Restore – Windows will have no record of the backup you made prior to reinstalling, so choose 'Select another backup' (Windows 7) or 'Advanced restore > Files from a backup made on a different computer' (Windows Vista) to locate it. It's a similar tale with GFI Backup Home Edition – click Restore, select Restore individual files and folders and click OK twice. Click Import Task, select your back-up job, then restore folders to their new destinations by selecting the folder and clicking Restore to. Select the destination folder and make sure you untick Include original path before clicking OK. Other settings such as Registry, Email and User can simply be restored by clicking on Restore. Once restored, make sure you take a new backup so your data and settings are safely stored on your external device. Never reinstall again Everything is now in place to prevent you from ever having to reinstall Windows from scratch again – all you need to do is take one more drive image with Macrium and you're done. Call this your perfect PC set-up. In future, instead of going through the reinstall process, simply restore this 'perfect' drive image. Then take the time to update Windows and all your programs (including your security software), and take an updated image to replace your old one for future use. 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Nokia N9 specs leaked again - first MeeGo device? Posted: 06 Dec 2010 04:29 AM PST Now, take this with a huge pinch of rumour salt, but the Nokia N9 has popped up once more with more information on prospective specs. A Twitter conversation between two authors of Nokia blogs has yielded some surprising (but curiously detailed) specs on the forthcoming Nokia N9, prompting speculation the phone is on its way. The rumours state that not only will the Nokia N9 have a 4.2-inch OLED screen, but it will also be bringing a 1600mAh battery, and have a 1.2GHz processor. Next-gen gaming A dedicated gaming engine will also be able to display 190 polygons per second, which would put it way above any phone on the market at the moment, and well up there with some dedicated consoles. Other tidbits from the exchange include a 12MP camera with Carl Zeiss Optics and 768MB of RAM - like we said, very much speculation at the moment, but it's possible there might be a grain of truth, despite the sources not being revealed. We'll keep an eye on Nokia to see if something around Mobile World Congress is announced - but knowing the Finns' strategy, we'll see the first MeeGo phone unveiled at the start of 2011, but not actually get our hands on it until Q4. Related Stories Updated: Android 2.3: what you need to know Google Nexus S: In pictures and video In Depth: Google Nexus S: 10 things to know Android 2.3 already out for Google Nexus One Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled

White iPhone 4 coming early 2011? Posted: 06 Dec 2010 04:25 AM PST Apple might have made an uncharacteristic slip over the launch of the white iPhone 4. Marketing signs from Jobs' Lot includes a telling sentence: 'The white iPhone 4 will be available Spring 2011'. CREDIT: 9to5Mac Now, we're no detectives or anything, but we'd guess this may mean that Apple will soon launch a white variant of the iPhone 4, ending months of speculation that it may never appear. It'll be all-white The marketing materials than mention the white iPhone 4 only speak about it in the US market, but we have to assume that Apple has sorted out the supply issues around the variant and will begin offering it worldwide. Apple confirmed the white iPhone 4 delays on multiple occasions through 2010, saying the device was 'more challenging to manufacture than originally expected', but hopefully that doom and gloom will soon be lifted. Related Stories Updated: Android 2.3: what you need to know Google Nexus S: In pictures and video In Depth: Google Nexus S: 10 things to know Android 2.3 already out for Google Nexus One Google Nexus S - first Android 2.3 phone unveiled

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