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Techradar |
- Review: BK Electronics XXLS400DF
- Sony unveils HX100V and HX9V Cyber-shot cameras
- LG Optimus 3D confirmed for Mobile World Congress
- Virgin Media ups XL service to 30Mbps
- Intel recalls Sandy Bridge processor chipsets
- Intel recalls Sandy Bridge processor chipsets
- Exclusive: Sony Ericsson Neo set to launch at MWC 2011
- In Depth: Hands on: Sony Ericsson Xperia Play review
- Copyright infringed movies for sale on Apple App Store
- In Depth: Macworld Expo 2011: everything you missed
- Nintendo backtracks on 3DS eShop launch date
- PlayStation 3 gets game storage in the cloud
- ViewSonic launches VP3D1 processor for 3D projectors
- Facebook Deals: the UK bargains coming to Places near you
- Samsung adds LoveFilm streaming to its Blu-ray player range
- In Depth: 10 memorable milestones in tablet history
- Review: Edwards Audio TT1
| Review: BK Electronics XXLS400DF Posted: 01 Feb 2011 01:13 AM PST  This subwoofer has a classic sweet-sounding, 'hi-fi' analogue class AB amplifier in its guts, plus the suddenly trendy driver from Peerless called the XXLS 12. (The very same driver was used in the XTZ subwoofer). In this far smaller enclosure, the honest paper pulp-coned woofer is sealed in rather than differentially ported like the XTZ, and is far easier to set up as a result. It is a downfiring design in a box that would suit a 10-incher. It's certainly priced like a product of this size, with its rivals list having to be drawn from competing subs of up to £200 more in price! Our sample came in a shiny black finish and with not only a nicely made Speakon plug-on-a-wire to hook to your speaker outputs, but also a high-quality mono phono cord with plugs that are clearly handmade. The feet that hold the woofer boundary-loaded off the floor can have either PTFE studs or spikes fixed into their bushings, and the sub's controls are brilliant. For one, you get a separate gain pot for each of the high and low level inputs, because you are meant to use both. Use of a simultaneous speaker level input makes sure you get to amplify all the bass.
Also, you can switch the lowpass crossover filter out of circuit just for the phono or low-level input alone. This means you can use pure direct mode and feed the woofer with LFE you filter at your decoder/AVR, while the full range stuff sent to the speakers can feed bass into your woofer, unimpeded by mids and highs. In action, BK's sub is deliciously musical. It is tight and tracks a bass line with taut precision and almost no overhang. The opening sequence of the Blu-ray of Hancock was handled brilliantly, too: gunfire, big American trucks crashing into cop cars and helicopter rotor blades scything the air. But cut to Hancock drunk on a bench and the BK still delivers the bluesey bass line behind him, even deeper. Accurate and authoritative, this punches way beyond its weight and, bizarrely, out of its price point, too Related Links
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| Sony unveils HX100V and HX9V Cyber-shot cameras Posted: 01 Feb 2011 12:50 AM PST  Sony has unveiled the Cyber-shot HX series cameras, with the HX100V and HX9v bringing Full HD video capture, 3D and 'intelligent sweep panorama high resolution mode'. The higher end HX100V has a 30x optical zoom, considerably higher than the 9v's 16x zoom Both cameras boast a 16.2MP CMOS sensor. One-touch Full HD video, "DSLR-class" high-speed autofocus, GPs/compass and 3D functionality. That includes 3D sweep panorama and 3D still image capture to boot.
Full HD video "The latest power-packed Cyber-shot HX100V and HX9V from Sony offer Full HD video shooting at the touch of a dedicated button," adds Sony. "Recording video at 50 progressive frames per second (1920x1080 50p), both cameras can capture fast-moving action with exceptional smoothness and clarity." Sony also announced a new Partyshot dock that takes photos for you – presumably while you are getting hideously drunk and don't have a steady enough hand to capture Dora getting off with Jimmy behind the giant Yucca plant.
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| LG Optimus 3D confirmed for Mobile World Congress Posted: 01 Feb 2011 12:22 AM PST  LG has confirmed that it will show off the world's first 3D smartphone at Mobile World Congress in 2011. The LG Optimus 3D has been widely rumoured and even pictured,and LG has now confirmed that it will be unveiled in Barcelona later in February. 3D mobile devices are likely to be a common site in 2011, with Nintendo's 3DS handheld console arriving in March. Ready to show Although no UK release date has yet been announced for the LG Optimus 3D, the Korean electronics giant is ready to show off the handset in all its autosteroscopic glory. "At this year's Mobile World Congress, LG will unveil the LG Optimus 3D, the world's first 3D smartphone offering consumers a full 3D experience right in the palm of their hands," confirmed LG. The company also revealed that the camera will feature dual cameras to be able to take its own 3D film, along with an HDMI out. "The LG Optimus 3D addresses the lack of 3D content issue -- one of the biggest problems facing the 3D market -- with a complete platform for a one-of-a-kind experience on a mobile device," added LG. "LG's most advanced smartphone to date will feature a dual-lens camera for 3D recording, a glasses-free LCD panel for 3D viewing and diverse connectivity options such as HDMI and DLNA for 3D content sharing anytime, anywhere." 
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| Virgin Media ups XL service to 30Mbps Posted: 31 Jan 2011 04:01 PM PST  Virgin Media will replace its 20Mbps broadband with a 30Mbps service from 1 February for new customers, with existing customers given the option of staying on their old tier or paying a £30 one-off fee to upgrade. Although existing 20Mbps customers will not have to pay any additional monthly costs to get the extra 10mbps, they will have to pay a one off fee of £30 to cover "activation and exchange of their old modem and router for Virgin Media's state-of-the-art 'SuperHub." Jon James, executive director of broadband at Virgin Media, said: "As consumers continually demand more and more from their broadband, the unique power of our next-generation network means that we're able to turn up the dial to meet their needs. "With so many devices connecting to the internet at home these days, our new 30Mb service will give Virgin Media families that extra boost needed to make everything run smoothly, with speeds that don't slow down depending on where you live." To Infinity, and beyond! The new service comes in at £18.50, as long as you also sign up for a Virgin Media home phone which brings the price up to £30.74. "The new service offers unlimited downloads and with speeds cranked up to 30Mb, is expected to give customers faster average speeds than BT Infinity whether it's catching up on the latest TV shows, or downloading games and music," adds Virgin Media. "With the new 30Mb service Virgin Media customers can enjoy a consistently faster, unlimited service, for significantly less than BT Infinity products." The service also offers up to 3Mbps upload speeds – although this is currently being rolled out and is not available for all. 
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| Intel recalls Sandy Bridge processor chipsets Posted: 31 Jan 2011 10:36 AM PST  Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, has stopped and recalled all shipments of the 'Cougar Point' chipset, affecting all laptops and desktops which use its new Sandy Bridge processor. Intel explained that the problem was with its Series 6 chipsets that are used in all new Sandy Bridge-based laptop and desktop PCs. Costly chip problem It seems that the recall is down to the a problem with the SATA ports within the chipset, which "may degrade over time, potentially impacting the performance or functionality of SATA-linked devices such as hard disk drives and DVD-drives". Following the announcement of the problem, Intel has cut its first-revenue forecast by $300 million (£187 million) this week, with the total costs of repairing and replacing the faulty chip estimated to be around $700 million (£437 million). "It was the result of a series of stress tests conducted on the chipset. It didn't show up under normal testing," explained Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy. "The problem wouldn't happen immediately but after two to four years." The problem really could not have come at a worse time for Intel, with the company facing increasing competition from the booming and fast-growing demand for smartphones and tablet PCs, with Cambridge-based ARM currently leading the way in those markets. Intel plans to deliver a fix for the problematic Cougar Point chip in late February. For the time being, Intel assures those users with new Sandy Bridge PCs that they can "continue to use their systems with confidence, while working with their computer manufacturer for a permanent solution". 
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| Intel recalls Sandy Bridge processor chipsets Posted: 31 Jan 2011 10:36 AM PST Intel, the world's largest chipmaker, has stopped and recalled all shipments of the 'Cougar Point' chipset, affecting all laptops and desktops which use its new Sandy Bridge processor. Intel explained that the problem was with its Series 6 chipsets that are used in all new Sandy Bridge-based laptop and desktop PCs. Costly chip problem It seems that the recall is down to the a problem with the SATA ports within the chipset, which "may degrade over time, potentially impacting the performance or functionality of SATA-linked devices such as hard disk drives and DVD-drives". Following the announcement of the problem, Intel has cut its first-revenue forecast by $300 million (£187 million) this week, with the total costs of repairing and replacing the faulty chip estimated to be around $700 million (£437 million). "It was the result of a series of stress tests conducted on the chipset. It didn't show up under normal testing," explained Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy. "The problem wouldn't happen immediately but after two to four years." The problem really could not have come at a worse time for Intel, with the company facing increasing competition from the booming and fast-growing demand for smartphones and tablet PCs, with Cambridge-based ARM currently leading the way in those markets. Intel plans to deliver a fix for the problematic Cougar Point chip in late February. For the time being, Intel assures those users with new Sandy Bridge PCs that they can "continue to use their systems with confidence, while working with their computer manufacturer for a permanent solution". 
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| Exclusive: Sony Ericsson Neo set to launch at MWC 2011 Posted: 31 Jan 2011 10:27 AM PST  While it's no secret that Sony Ericsson has been planning phone releases at Mobile World Congress 2011 (as shown with our hands on: Sony Ericsson Xperia Play review), TechRadar has managed to dig out some new information about the forthcoming line up. We brought you news last year that Sony Ericsson was planning a couple of devices in the new year - the Anzu and the Hallon - to go alongside the PSP Phone. Well, the Anzu has been revealed as the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, and we can now reveal it will be joined by the Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo, according to a source close to the manufacturer. Yes, you know The One The Xperia Neo will be a similar form factor to the Sony Ericsson Vivaz, just as we predicted, and it will have an 8.1MP camera (with single LED flash) with the same EXMOR technology used in the Xperia Arc. Running Android 2.3, with the slight TimeScape overlay, the Xperia Neo will also be rocking the same Bravia engine as the Arc too - so video will look pretty darn good on the 854x480 resolution screen. Stay tuned to TechRadar ahead of Mobile World Congress 2011 - we've got a few more surprises for you up our sleeves we're hoping to share very soon! 
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| In Depth: Hands on: Sony Ericsson Xperia Play review Posted: 31 Jan 2011 09:40 AM PST  Here at TechRadar Mansions, we're a jaded bunch. Internet TVs? Meh. Wi-Fi enabled cameras? Who cares? Cats with cybernetic abilities? Couldn't give a monkey's. But there are some things we've always thought would be a good idea: jam and ham being sold together (possibly called Jham) and the PSP Phone. A PlayStation Portable with a phone inside it. And with the Xperia Play, we've got as close to that as we think we're ever going to get, as Sony's release of the NGP is the parent brand's attempt at a phone, with 3G connectivity built right in. So, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play has a lot of pressure on its shoulder buttons - does it live up to the hype? Thankfully, we managed to nab a unit to play with for a few hours, so check out our first impressions:
Early feelings are mixed - if you're going to have a phone with a slide-out gaming pad, then you'll need to temper your expectations of a slim device - the Xperia Play isn't the chunkiest phone in the world, but it's certainly noticeable in the pocket. The 4-inch screen is a fine size, and if the rumours about it being powered by the same Bravia engine as the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc (which were confirmed by our source) are indeed true, then this could be a really intriguing hybrid device.
The front of the phone is pretty sparse - we've got the same four hard keys controlling the Back, Home, Menu and Search functions as most Android phones - interesting to see the Search function pop up, as Sony Ericsson has jettisoned this key on its previous models, and the Xperia Arc too.
The charger port is still microUSB, although it's a slightly different variation with a more angular shape than others - our generic charger still worked fine though, so there's no need to worry on that front. Of more concern (although that word may be a little too dramatic) is the power button - it's seemingly hidden by the slide-out keyboard, so a little work might need to be done to the final release model to raise this up - it's a constantly used area as it also serves as the lock switch, so making it fiddly won't be a good idea.
We've never been fans of the 3.5mm headphone port being located on the side of a phone, although it is near the top on the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play - it gets in the way of the hand when trying to watch a movie.
Overall, the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play fits well enough in the hand - it's a chunky beast, make no mistake, but not as bad you might think - we're glad that things have moved on to the point where all this technology doesn't need a spare bag to cart it around. So, what about the bits under the hood? Well, the good news is we have another device running Android 2.3 - Gingerbread ahoy, and Sony Ericsson is sailing full steam ahead into the most up-to-date Android seas it can charter... or something. We do wish that it was a dual-core chipset powering things along - instead we have to make do with a single-core 1GHz next-gen Snapdragon processor. The reason for this seemingly under-powered hardware is the lack of anything to tax it - when the Sony NGP was announced, we also were told that the PlayStation Suite will be coming to the Android platform too.
However, it won't be the most taxing of games that come initially - it's only PSOne titles that are on their way, so even the iPhone 4 will be able to out-game the device at launch.
More annoyingly - we couldn't put together a side by side test as the portal simply isn't ready for that: as you can see, no games or content available in the PlayStation Pocket Portal - which means we can't test out the dual touchpads in the middle and work out whether they're a ridiculous alternative to proper joysticks or not. But the build quality and design of the Xperia Play are still available for a thorough going over, and it's interesting to see the direction Sony Ericsson has taken in terms of button placement.
The shoulder buttons, flanking the volume up and down keys, are the most noticeable - when the unit's gaming controls are exposed, it feels a little difficult to rest your forefingers on these comfortably.
One solution is to lay the whole finger across them, but then this exposes the risk of accidentally pressing one during gameplay. The slide-out pad comes with the full array of gaming hardware you'd expect, with the aforementioned touch pads actually relatively easy to access - we can't wait to give those a proper try.
The plastic control keys on the right and left are easy to hold and use - they may feel a little cheap the first time you fondle, but the sensation is robust and in keeping with the design of the Xperia Play.
We're happy to see that you can use the D-Pad to move around the Android screen in the same way as a small trackpad - it certainly makes entering text a lot easier when you have that much control over the cursor. The other little tweak PlayStation owners will love is the ability to go back using the Circle key - it feels very natural and is the kind of thing we're expecting from anything looking like the PSP Phone.
There's also a little menu key to help you access in game menus - however, it's odd that while most things will turn 90 degrees when sliding out the game pad, the home screen will not - rendering this menu key a little redundant at times. We're sure this is something that Sony Ericsson can rectify ahead of launch - other devices, like the HTC Desire Z, have managed to work out how to make Android home screens work in both portrait and landscape mode, so fingers crossed ahead of its release.
The overlay on the Xperia Play may be the element that's stopping this though, as it's roughly similar to the used on both Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 and the Xperia Arc - namely Timescape, but a watered down version. Had we never played with the Xperia Arc, we would have been really worried about this, but the Arc has shown us that the overlay can be a lot less troublesome now it's been 'unhooked' from the Android OS. This means Sony Ericsson can create updates more quickly, and the lag that was present in the X10 may have been reduced significantly.
We're not sure whether we'll ever warm to the 'Splines' method of showing off Twitter and Facebook updates, but we are in love with the 'pinch widgets view', where pinching the screen will show off all the active widgets running and let you jump straight to them. We're not sure we'll actually ever use the functionality, but it still looks pretty cool and will likely be very handy for a few people. The rest of the OS is simple Android with a smattering of Sony Ericsson functionality thrown in to the mix - for instance, the messaging keyboard has been upgraded to be a lot more accurate in our early tests, and this should mimic both the Xperia Arc and Google Nexus S in being a lot more intuitive.
The Music Player has been given the same update as before from Sony Ericsson, except in this case the MediaScape overlay has been dialled back to give you only the widget offering, rather than the full-blown experience. This is good, as it means users will be able to use and view their music a lot more simply than before, but will also still be able to access the same YouTube listings and the like via the infinity button to enhance the media experience. As we mentioned above, we were unable to test out the screen resolution or see if the Bravia engine was present and working correctly, but we imagine that that large, hi-res screen will be able to pump out the video with the best of the them - and thankfully there's a MicroSD card slot on offer too, making it much easier to hot swap content. There are still a few elements we couldn't properly test on our device, with things like the internet and call quality not available for test - however, we were told there will be a secondary noise cancelling microphone under the hood, so at least we can console ourselves with improved voice quality. Let's be clear: as with all our hands-on reviews here at TechRadar, we're still awaiting a few tweaks and updates before the final UK release date is confirmed, so we won't be passing final judgement until we get the finished review unit - which this very much is not.
However, there are a number of things that we hope will be sorted before the final release: the home screen orientation needs to be able to go landscape for one. Another nice feature would the shoulder keys acting as a camera shutter, making it easy to use the function without having to activate it on the screen. And of course, let's get some games on board as well - but we reckon that one just MIGHT be sorted in the next few weeks. We'll be at Mobile World Congress 2011 and will be front and centre when this phone is announced at Sunday's press conference - and stay tuned for our full Sony Ericsson Xperia Play review as soon as we can get our hands on a final model. 
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| Copyright infringed movies for sale on Apple App Store Posted: 31 Jan 2011 08:25 AM PST  Apple has been found selling Russian movies on iTunes that it has not got the copyright on. The downloadable iTunes films in question are in contravention of copyright laws, according to the BBC. Apple is selling the Soviet-era movies as iPhone apps without the consent of the filmmakers, the original copyright holders. Apple brand damage "This example shows how hard it is for consumers to know whether they are dealing with reputable distributors,"Michael Forrester, a solicitor from Ralli Solicitors LLP, explained to TechRadar. "Apple runs the risk of their brand being damaged by a tiny proportion of film distributors who allegedly have no regard for the rules. We have sufficient international treaties to enforce the complex copyright rules, but the complicated film and music transactions sometimes make the sector less than transparent." Movies that were made available to download via iTunes include Gentlemen of Fortune, Assa, The Diamond Arm, Kin-dza-dza and Cheburashka. Apple investigates rogue devs Mosfilm – the original owners of the copyright on the films – and the Joint State Film Collection (Obyedinennaya Gosudarstvennaya Kinocollectsia) claim to have not agreed to allow Apple to sell their movies on the app store. "It is illegal to present our films as applications either in iTunes or on any other internet site. It is permitted only on our own Mosfilm site", Svetlana Pyleva, Mosfilm's deputy director-general, told BBC News. "The only official internet site where you can watch legal Mosfilm content is the Mosfilm site. There are no third parties which we have permitted to use our content." Ms Pyleva added that Mosfilm had contacted Apple to raise the issue, and is hoping that "Apple will take appropriate measures and help us solve the problem". Apple is currently investigating the claims of copyright theft. 
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| In Depth: Macworld Expo 2011: everything you missed Posted: 31 Jan 2011 07:38 AM PST  While last week was owned by the Sony NGP, the Nintendo 3DS and the first signs of handsets destined for Mobile World Congress, our cousins at Mac|Life in the US were at Macworld 2011 in San Francisco. Apple may no longer attend the event, but it's still a key event in the Apple calendar for Mac hardware and software, as well as increasing numbers of iOS accessories and apps too. The Mac|Life team were there in force getting the latest Mac galleries, stories and interviews. The team interviewed Macworld Expo VP Paul Kent about this year's show and, most interestingly found out, that a large amount of the exhibitors are now talking about iOS and Mac peripherals for use on the road. "70 per cent of our exhibitors self-identify as providing "mobile" products - apps, utilities, peripherals or accessories," he says. "Mobile is the ubiquitous technical concept shaping the year and everything from productivity apps, to games to creativity software, to printers, accessories, cases and stands are adopting a 'mobile' strategy." Mac|Life also interviewed iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens to talk about deconstructing Apple kit. "I always find it fascinating when Apple cuts features at the last minute," he says. "I always wonder if it was an executive decision to save money, or if it wasn't feasible for some manufacturing reason. We found a space for a camera in the 3rd-generation iPod touch, but Apple didn't get around to adding a camera until the 4th-generation." "I think the most interesting decision they've made was the shift to "brick" machined metal cases across their entire pro line (and now the iPhone and iPad). That CNC manufacturing process was incredibly expensive when they first introduced it, but it has opened up huge opportunities for innovative design."
There was a whole load of Mac hardware debuting at the show and you can see some of the best in this Mac Hardware at Macworld Expo 2011 gallery. Likewise, there's also this gallery of the best iOS Hardware at Macworld Expo 2011, and some of the best cases from the show, too. The team found 10 great apps for navigating San Francisco, then looked behind the scenes at the setting up of the show, which took place in Moscone West this year. You can check out some of the best of the other images from the show here and here. The best of the other kit on show:
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| Nintendo backtracks on 3DS eShop launch date Posted: 31 Jan 2011 07:10 AM PST  Despite originally promising that the new Nintendo 3DS eShop would arrive at the same time as the console's launch in March, Nintendo has now delayed the launch of the new game download store till May. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has now confirmed that the 3DS eShop will be arriving this coming May, despite earlier promises from a Nintendo UK spokesperson promising that the download store would arrive on March 25. Worldwide launch for 3DS store Iwata was speaking on an investor call last week, confirming that the 3DS download shop would be provided by a firmware service arriving late May 2011, "at almost the same time around the world." Nintendo's new eShop will offer DSiWare, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance and 3DS-exclusive games and demos. Nintendo will also introduce a new web browser and a means of transferring your current DSiWare purchases to your new 3DS this coming May. Issues with current DSi shop Iwata accepted that to date: "Wii Shop Channel and Nintendo DSi Shop, which are based on internet-browser technology, have not provided the users with a sufficiently easy and accessible interface because switching from one screen to another takes time. "As it is critical in digital software distribution that the software available there won't be buried and go unnoticed, we will be running a drastically redesigned shop for Nintendo 3DS in which you can more comfortably purchase software through download." Nintendo 3DS finally arrives in the UK on 25 March. 
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| PlayStation 3 gets game storage in the cloud Posted: 31 Jan 2011 05:57 AM PST  PS3 gamers will soon be able to save their games remotely in the cloud, as opposed to saving them on their console's hard drive, according to latest reports. Sony has apparently already started briefing developers about the forthcoming cloud-storage feature on PS3. The PlayStation cloud PlayStation 3 gamers will be able to pull their saved games from the PlayStation Network onto any cloud-enabled PS3 or future devices such as the recently revealed NGP (PSP2). The service will be made available to paying PlayStation Plus subscribers only initially, according to Kotaku. Sony is also giving developers the option of opting out of adding the cloud-saving feature into their PlayStation games. In a remarkable feat of literalism, Sony's said to be calling the feature "Online Saving", which should be arriving on a PS3 near you very soon as part of the forthcoming 3.60 firmware update. TechRadar has contacted Sony Computer Entertainment Europe for further updates on plans for the new cloud-storage on PlayStation feature. 
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| ViewSonic launches VP3D1 processor for 3D projectors Posted: 31 Jan 2011 05:04 AM PST  ViewSonic has announced the VP3D1 – a processor that can take 3D TV, film and gaming content into a format that can be displayed natively on its 3D projector range. ViewSonic Europe will show off some of its latest kit at the ISE show including the 10,000 lumen Pro9500 and a double sided ePoster which has been deisgned to replace old backlit signs. But a highlight for 3D fans will be the VP3D1 which will convert 3D sources to a more projector friendly format – with ViewSonic showing off the technology alongside its PJD8200 home cinema projector. Conversion "ViewSonic is also launching its 3D processor solution. The VP3D1 converts 3D TV, Film and Gaming content into a format that can be displayed natively by the ViewSonic 3D ready projector range," explained ViewSonic. So, if you happen to have one of ViewSonic's 3D projectors – you may soon be able to hook up your favourite gadgets to get the full experience. Although we don't yet know the pricing or UK release date. 
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| Facebook Deals: the UK bargains coming to Places near you Posted: 31 Jan 2011 04:43 AM PST  Facebook Deals launched in the UK this week, and there are already a number of companies clambering over themselves to offer the best deals for you to check into through Places. The likes of Starbucks, Mazda and even Alton Towers, are offering deals exclusively to those who check into their places of worship through Facebook Places. Interestingly, Facebook has said that it won't be getting any money whatsover from the deals that are in place through the new service - although we reckon there will be a knock-on effect for those who currently advertise on the site. For those interested in Facebook Places and the incentives now offered, here's a list of the first deals to hit the UK from today and throughout the year. Tower powerAlton Towers is opening its doors 18 February exclusively to anyone who checks in through Facebook Places on that day. You can also tag (up to) three friends and they get free entry. The first 100 people to check in also nab a free one night stay in one of the themed Resort Hotels. The Valentine's Day mascaraValentine's Day marks Debenhams and Benefit's big giveaway. On 14 February, 1,000 free mascaras and makeovers will be given to the first 10 check ins at each Benefit counter at Debenhams stores across the UK. The car's the starIt's not just retail outfits getting in on the action. From today and until 7 March, the car bods at Mazda will be offering the chance to win one of five Mazda MX-5 Miyako's for the summer! And you will also offer up 20 per cent discount to customers interested in buying the MX-5. O2's factor of 10O2 is now offering 10 per cent off all accessories, including gaming kit in all of its stores. And if you can wait until the 5 February, the first four customers will receive a free Xbox 360 in 26 of its stores and the first two customers will receive a free Playstation3 in 18 stores when bought with any new or upgrade mobile consumer contract only. You can find out which stores are in on the deal, by going to the O2 blog. Starbuck-erbergFrom today, the first 30,000 customers who check in to participating Starbucks stores will receive a free tall filter coffee. And if you are hungry, then customers can also get a free piece of cake with the purchase of two drinks at participating stores on any Saturday throughout February. Oh baby, I like it rawYO! Sushi is from today giving away £60,000 worth of food – which equates to 2000 meals. The first 1000 diners to check in to a participating restaurants, tag their friend and show a member of staff the confirmation message on the screen will get the food and drink. Ushering in Facebook DealsUsher is using Facebook deals to make you wanna see him at the O2 Arena. Essentially chek in at the Arena to get 20 per cent off Usher's new album and a free remix of his track Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home). You can get both of these from the official merchandise stand on the London dates of his OMG Tour this week. Charity begins at PlacesNot all these deals are serving you with discounts you know; there's also a little bit of charidee as well. From today Argos will donate £1 to its national charity partner Teenage Cancer Trust for the first 10,000 customers that check-in at an Argos stores this week. Benetton has also chosen to support a charity. Starting today and throughout February, Benetton will donate £2 for each check-in in select stores in Europe. The charity benefiting from this is Architecture for Humanity, an association which applies design and architecture to social projects. 
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| Samsung adds LoveFilm streaming to its Blu-ray player range Posted: 31 Jan 2011 04:03 AM PST  Samsung has announced it is now offering the LoveFilm movie-streaming app through its Blu-ray players and Blu-ray home theatre systems. While LoveFilm - which was recently bought by Amazon - has been available on Samsung TVs for over a year now, through the company's Internet@TV service, it is the first time that the app has been available on all connected Blu-ray systems. To access the app, you need to have a subscription for LoveFilm that costs £5.99 and above. If you have this in place, then you can stream movie content as well as rent Blu-rays and games through the post. Gateway to great content "Adding the LoveFilm streaming service to all Samsung Blu-ray players and Blu-ray Home Theatre Systems is great news for us at Samsung as we're dedicated to providing our customers with relevant and exciting content, all from the comfort of their own home," said Andy Griffiths, vice president, consumer electronics, Samsung UK . "The Internet@TV service offers viewers a gateway to access great content in an exciting new way, unlocking the full potential of our connected devices. "Services like LoveFilm will offer our customers more variety, choice and entertainment from our innovative products." The LoveFilm app is also available through Sony televisions and the PlayStation 3. 
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| In Depth: 10 memorable milestones in tablet history Posted: 31 Jan 2011 03:00 AM PST  You could argue that, until the iPad came along, everybody liked the idea of a tablet device but didn't know what they'd actually do with one. As a result, the history of tablet computing is littered with white elephants and false starts. As the old PDA market proved, it's not enough to simply get the hardware built. You've got to have intuitive software and an effortless user experience to go with it. Finally, the timing has got to be right. As you'll see from some of the milestones in this list, great ideas can flounder if you have them too soon. 1. The Dynabook (1968) You could say that the idea for a tablet computer was born back in the 1960s. When Alan Kay and the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center dreamt up the 'Dynabook', they envisaged a portable device that would give children easy access to digital media. It was the perfect name for a new and dynamic device that would act as a paper and pencil, artist's easel, typewriter and musical instrument. In short: an OLPC way before its time. 2. GRiDPad (1989) While we dreamt of a futuristic Dynabook or electronic Star Trek data pad, what we actually got was the hefty-looking GRiDPad. Built by the GRiD Systems Corporation, this early tablet PC ran MS-DOS, supported stylus input on a 10-inch monochrome screen and had enough juice for about 3 hours of battery life.
[Image credit: vintagecomputer.net] Impressed? Analyst Andrew Seybold was. "The GRiDPad is a creative breakthrough in laptop computer design", he wrote in 1989. "It may well capture the title of 'the computer for the rest of us'." But price stood firmly in the way of this computing revolution. If you thought that the iPad was expensive when it launched, the GRiDPad cost a wallet-emptying $2,370. It was followed by similarly overpriced and underpowered rivals, which included the Momenta Pentop (1991), the Compaq Concerto (1992) and the AT&T EO PC (1993). 3. Tandy Zoomer (1992) The PDA is an important part of the tablet story. While the GRiDPad had been a failure, GRiD engineer Jeff Hawkins hit on the idea of taking the tablet and shrinking it down to a more portable size. Hawkins founded Palm Computing to pursue the project and, together with Tandy and Casio, they produced a touchscreen device called the Zoomer.
But it was still a struggle to get anybody to buy it. As Infoworld's Kevin Strehlo wrote back in 1993: "I still can't recommend depending on a pen-based computing device to anyone but a UPS delivery person or someone who fills out forms for a living." 4. Apple Newton MessagePad (1993) As I mentioned earlier, timing is everything. John Sculley, the CEO of Apple in the early nineties, coined the phrase Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) to describe the Newton MessagePad. The handheld device appeared less than a year later, featuring an ARM 610 processor ambling along at 20MHz, 640K of RAM and a 336 x 240 display.
[Image credit: www.msu.edu] Most people agree that Apple's Newton platform was ahead of its time. Three years to be exact, which is how long it took Jeff Hawkins and Palm Computing to come out with the Palm Pilot 1000 (1996). It marked the beginning of the PDA era and a temporary end to any tablet ambitions. 5. Microsoft Tablet PC (2000) Fast-forward to the millennium and Microsoft teased its idea of a tablet PC during Bill Gates' keynote speech at Comdex. But it wasn't until 2002 that Gates boldly (and famously) stated that: "the Tablet is a PC that is virtually without limits – and within five years I predict it will be the most popular form of PC sold in America." He was more than a little out.
If you look at the success of the iPad, Microsoft got three aspects of its tablet strategy disastrously wrong. First: "the Microsoft vision for a Tablet PC is that it's a full Windows computer" said Tablet PC general manager Alexandra Loeb in 2000. Wrong. "A Tablet PC needed to be the primary PC…" No. No. No. "It's targeted at business computer users who spend some part of their day away from their desks." Again, wrong. Worse still, what Microsoft showed in prototype form ultimately became a weighty, bland, disappointingly grey device running Windows XP. Full marks for Microsoft's vision, a big fat zero for real world execution. 6. Compaq TC1000 (2003) Of course, there was a brief moment in 2003 when we thought that the tablet PC's time had come. It had come in the sexy shape of the Compaq TC1000, a silver tablet/notebook with a detachable 10.4-inch touchscreen. It looked the part, weighed the part and, if all you used it for was browsing the web, it acted the part too. But matching Windows XP with a Transmeta Crusoe processor wasn't the wisest of choices. The performance was lousy.
[Image credit: Wikimedia commons] In the years that followed, manufacturers searched for a form factor that would excite more than the usual early adopters and tech journalists. They dabbled with the Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) in 2006, then the Mobile Internet Device (MID) and the netbook in 2007. But what we really wanted was an iPad (or equivalent). We just didn't know it yet. 7. Amazon Kindle (2007) While gadget fans waited for somebody to launch a usable tablet that wasn't trying to be a PC, Amazon went off on a technology tangent with the Kindle. While the first model was underwhelming, it proved beyond doubt that the time was right for ebooks and e-readers to make their move. For Amazon, the Kindle was the perfect way to nudge customers beyond ordering physical books.
And by making the Kindle software available on the iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone 7, Mac and PC, customers could buy an ebook once and read it on any device they wanted to. 8. Apple iPad (2010) Apple launched the iPad in April 2010 with a 9.7-inch display, 10-hour battery life, powerful 1GHz A4 processor and access to the biggest app library on the planet. Like most Apple products, it wasn't just early adopters and gadget-obsessed fanboys who slapped down their money and shouted: "I want one!" It was dads, mums, grans and your mates down the pub. The surf-from-the-sofa, pinch/zoom, Angry Birds allure of the sweetly-designed iPad also brushed over its technical shortcomings. Flash support… (cough)… no camera… (cough)…
The iPad was followed bravely by the Android-powered Dell Streak and a gaggle of Archos tablets that you'll struggle to remember. Only the Samsung Galaxy Tab made any sort of impression. Samsung cleverly chose to sidestep a direct confrontation with the iPad by delivering a solid, Android-powered tablet with a smaller 7-inch screen. 9. Motorola Xoom (2011) Technology moves at a brisk pace these days and if you thought the iPad was good, the Motorola Xoom has the potential to take your breath away. It beats down Apple's device in almost every area. Note the 10-inch (1280 x 800 pixel) display, 1GHz dual-core Tegra 2 processor, front and rear-facing cameras and additional SD card storage. It also runs Android 3.0, which is designed specifically for tablets and provides the wind in this perfect technology storm.
Find out more about the Xoom and other wannabe iPad-killers. 10. Hybrids and iPad 2 (2011) The Xoom and its rivals are setting an impressively high standard. So where do we go from here? Will we see even faster tablets; thinner tablets; bigger tablets; smaller tablets and higher resolution tablets? Yes to all of the above. The tablet market is enjoying a frenzied gold rush and manufacturers will be keen to try anything (and everything) to stand out from the crowd. That's not to say that there won't be more white elephants and false starts. There's little doubt that Apple will pull itself back into technical contention with an updated iPad 2. But the real innovation might lie with hybrid devices like the Lenovo LePad, a standalone Android tablet that becomes a more potent laptop when docked snugly into an IdeaPad U1 base. Or perhaps there's scope to return to the idea of using dual displays to take advantage of multi-tasking. NEC is already experimenting with this in its Cloud Communicator device, as is MSI. And didn't Microsoft have the Courier dual-screen prototype back in 2009? Maybe they should dust that off and give it another go? Did you own an Apple Newton or one of its less usable rivals? Are you enticed by the prospect of an iPad 2 or Android tablet? Let us know below… 
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| Posted: 31 Jan 2011 02:42 AM PST  The Edwards Audio TT1 starts at a very reasonable £325 without a cartridge, but is also available with an Edwards Zephyr £60 cartridge for £375 (a £10 saving when purchased with the deck as a complete record-playing package). This cartridge is similar to the popular Goldring Elektra, supplied with this review sample on the highly respected Rega RB250 [OEM] tonearm. Clearly this turntable is targeted at those who want to be able to enjoy their vinyl without having to remortgage their homes or sell any of their internal organs to fund the investment. Rega revisited The TT1 differs from the timeless Rega P2, upon which it is based, in that it features a clear, naked acrylic platter. No mat is fitted nor recommended – "unless you really want to mess up the performance," says the designer. He continues, "We tried all sorts of mats and they all made the player sound worse. "The core design of the P2 has been fine-tuned over twenty-five years or more and it is hard to improve it now without measures that push the retail price through the roof. "Conversely, it is easy to tip the balance and ruin its performance with ill-considered modifications. We thought about modifying the bearing to use ruby, which we know makes a worthwhile improvement, but that costs far too much at this price level. Maybe we will offer it as an after-market upgrade someday. "For now we simply use an enhanced grade of oil, which produces a clearly audible improvement in the sound. We will be releasing a power supply upgrade for the TT1, which will also benefit standard Rega turntables and those using the same motor." Many modifiers spend vast sums of money tweaking their RB tonearms. But, on an entry-level turntable this makes as much sense as bolting a Formula 1-specification engine into a Toyota Yaris. Having the arm rewired and a discrete earth connection made (about £65 from Audio Origami), and maybe replacing the counterweight and stub (around £30 from Moth) might be sensible limits here. Silver wiring, for example, seems way over the top in this instance, unless you have money to burn and an enormous passion for tweakery. Revealing performer The TT1 is a delightfully simple design, which virtually guarantees its build integrity: there is so little to go awry. The platform on which it is based, the Rega P2, or Planar 2 as it was known in its early years, was always the de facto and totally consistent sound-quality benchmark by which other turntables were judged. As far as most people were concerned the question about any other turntable – at any price level – always was, and still is, "Does it outperform the Planar 2?" A great many turntables, even today, still fail to come near reaching its reassuringly high standards. It might not be the most explicitly revealing performer on the planet, but it has a wonderful overall balance of attributes that make it exceptionally easy to enjoy and appreciate. In short, it communicates music's fundamentals and more with great conviction and ease. The Edwards Audio modifications help it climb a rung or two further up the performance ladder. Tight bass The TT1 starts off well by tracking securely and not making a meal of surface noise. It is very quiet even with old and frequently played albums. It further surprises by producing a stable, solid soundstage with a respectable representation of front-to-back depth on suitably recorded albums.
It exhibits a very acceptable, close-to-neutral tonal balance that is fully exploited by the bass, drums, guitars and vocals on Rockin' Jimmy's album Rockin Jimmy and the Brothers of the Night. First off, the bass plays clear tunes with distinct and precisely pitched notes, all perfectly in tune with the lead and rhythm guitars and not muddied or obscured by the kick drum or any euphonic warmth. Cymbals cut distinctly through the mix and they, the rest of Chuck DeWalt's kit and Gary Cundiff's positively driven bass, urge every track along with real determination. Piano has solid intonation and there is no wateriness or wavering about its presentation. The 180g pressing of Gwynneth Herbert's All the Ghosts, further shows how the bass is tight, tuneful, fast and weighty. Her voice has all the quirky character and expressiveness we heard when we saw her perform live. The TT1 conveys the emotion and humour of her performance with alacrity and never reduces her – or any vocalist – to sounding like a Karaoke performer. Equally, it renders the relationship between the singer's phrasing and the band's playing with true lucidity and precision. The TT1 sounds characteristically Rega Planar-like, but there is a shade more bite and 'edge' – in a positive sense – that gives music an enhanced vigour and rhythmic urgency. Tough proposition Overall, the TT1 has all the positive qualities of the Rega P2 and the Goldring Elektra is a highly complementary choice of cartridge. The combination succeeds in conveying all the attributes necessary to make music engaging: it has dynamism and is secure in its portrayal of pitch information. It is well-balanced tonally and has a pleasing openness about its sound: it lets you listen beyond the first layer of a mix and enjoy, say, the backing vocalists' contributions to a song. At its price, it is a tough proposition to beat. Related Links
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