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- IM for Nokia takes on iMessage and BBM
- Apple eases off publishers with relaxed app rules
- Review: Thrustmaster F1 Wireless Gamepad
- Elbow gig shot in 3D by Panasonic gets Sky premiere
- Buying Guide: Best compact camera 2011: 25 reviewed and rated
- Review: Cyber Snipa Sonar 5.1 Championship
- Review: Transcend StoreJet 25M3
- Review: Advent Discovery MT1804
- Updated: PlayStation Vita release date and price revealed
- Review: SpacePilot Pro 3D mouse
- Review: SpaceNavigator 3D Mouse
- Review: Razer Onza Tournament Edition
- Review: Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX
- Review: Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750
- HP TouchPad UK release date and pricing revealed
- Google in hot water over Chromebook name
- Google Maps to get more offline capabilities?
- DVD and Blu-ray sales down, Hollwood to blame
- Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman and Txt Pro announced
- Updated: iPad 3 rumours: what you need to know
- PS4's focus should be social gaming, says Naughty Dog
- Updated: Windows 8 tablets rumours: what you need to know
- Tutorial: How to fix iPod, iPhone and iPad problems
- Ricoh launches rugged PX series cameras
- Sony VPL-HW30 affordable 3D projector launches
| IM for Nokia takes on iMessage and BBM Posted: 09 Jun 2011 10:22 AM PDT Nokia has decided to release a new instant messaging client to take on RIM and Apple's offerings. Dubbed IM for Nokia, this isn't a proprietary client offering, rather an amalgamation of different platforms into one easy space. This means Google Talk, Ovi Mail, Yahoo! Messenger and MySpace IM are all together in a single app. Anything Apple can do... However, while this is a good way to talk to friends across a wide range of applications, this feels like nothing more than a reaction to Apple's iMessage offering, as Nokia Messaging IM has been around for a while already with compatibility with most of the IM offerings. This is probably the fanfare for either a) the IM client moving out of Nokia's laboratories or b) the jubilant announcement that the literally dozens of MySpace IM users are now supported. It's a free download now available from the Ovi Store, so if you're rocking a Nokia N8 and fancy a new way to chat, check it out now. 
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| Apple eases off publishers with relaxed app rules Posted: 09 Jun 2011 10:05 AM PDT Apple has reworked its app subscription rules for publishers, somewhat relinquishing its vice-like control over news and magazine apps. Publications offering subscriptions no longer have to use Apple's previously mandatory in-app purchasing system to sell them. You can buy an app subscription from a news outlet or magazine from an external site now and Apple won't take a penny of the income from these sales. Smaller slice of the Apple Apple charges a whopping 30 per cent fee for any subscriptions bought through its App Store or iTunes services; this means the publishers only take 70 per cent of the price the reader pays. It has also relaxed its pricing rules, allowing iOS publishers to set their own prices for subscriptions, rather than having to keep in-app pricing at "the same price or less than it is offered outside the app". The flip side is that Apple has now banished 'buy' links that direct the user out of the app in order to purchase more content. The new guidelines state, "Apps that link to external mechanisms for purchases or subscriptions to be used in the app, such as a "buy" button that goes to a web site to purchase a digital book, will be rejected." It's pretty clear who this is aimed at – external e-book publishers. Apple wants all e-book purchases to go through iBook store so that it can nab that juicy 30 per cent fee that it still gets from every book sale. 
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| Review: Thrustmaster F1 Wireless Gamepad Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:26 AM PDT The Thrustmaster F1 Wireless Gamepad has clearly been designed with racing fans in mind. It certainly looks the part, and it's an official Ferrari product. Unfortunately looks aren't everything and the product itself feels a bit cheap and insubstantial, a far cry from the quality and precision of cars bearing the Ferrari logo. It's the buttons that let the Thrustmaster F1 Wireless Gamepad down, as they don't offer the same solid resistance that you get from some of the better gamepads. The feel of a gamepad is so essential that it is such a shame that the Thrustmaster F1 Wireless Gamepad is let down by this. In other respects this gamepad is very good. Its shape is modelled on Sony's DualShock controllers, and while it might be a design that isn't to everyone's taste it works perfectly well here. It's also wireless and compatible with both the PC and PS3, and if you look around you can find it for a bit cheaper than Sony's official controller. You can also configure the buttons for better control, although two of the buttons (R2 and L2) are positioned in a place that makes them uncomfortable to use, therefore making them all but useless. 
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| Elbow gig shot in 3D by Panasonic gets Sky premiere Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:24 AM PDT UK band Elbow will be shown off in 3D on Sky this weekend, after the band invited 3D cameras into film some dress rehearsals of their recent tour. The 75 minute programme features interviews with the band discussing the making of their latest album Build A Rocket Boys! And will have performances of 'Lippy Kids', 'Neat Little Rows', and other tracks from the album. The footage was shot on Panasonic's Professional Broadcast equipment, including the AG-3DA1 Integrated 3D Camera, BT-3DLH2250 3D Broadcast Monitor and 3D Viera TVs.
To see the documentary, you will have to tune into Sky 3D on 12 June. If you would prefer to watch the doc in 2D, then Sky Atlantic will also be showcasing the band. And for those that miss the event, 2D and versions of the documentary will be re-shown on 10 and 20 June on Sky 3D and Sky Arts. It's been quite a week for 3D. On Tuesday it was announced that Wimbledon will be shown in 3D for the first time on the BBC in July. 
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| Buying Guide: Best compact camera 2011: 25 reviewed and rated Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:11 AM PDT Finding the best compact camera for your needs is never going to be easy because the compact camera market is a very crowded place. There are literally hundreds - if not thousands - of digital compact cameras out there, waiting for you to ogle them, to scratch your heads over them, and eventually hand over your hard-earned cash for them. Once the transaction is complete and you're unboxing your newest purchase, a nagging doubt enters your mind: did I make the right choice? The right choice, of course, depends on what you want from your digital camera. Maybe you're looking for a high-end compact camera to use on your DSLR's day off, or perhaps you want something more basic to help someone else get started in photography. Whichever compact digital camera you might be looking for, we've pulled together a selection of what we believe are the 25 best compact digital cameras on the market now. Best compact cameras 2011: High-end Fujifilm Finepix X100
Fuji turned plenty of heads with this retro-tastic beauty, which makes use of a revolutionary hybrid viewfinder that combines an optical and an electronic viewfinder in one screen. Looking to captivate hardened DSLR users, it offers plenty of control with an aperture ring, shutter-speed dial and raw mode. Read our Fuji X100 review Canon PowerShot G12
When it comes to the high-spec compact camera market, Canon has set the standard with the G-series, and raised the bar again with the PowerShot G12. The Canon G12 offers full manual control and raw shooting mode as well as smart auto, which lets the camera take charge. Add to this image stabilization, HDR capability and multi-aspect shooting, and you can see why this compact camera gives interchangeable lens cameras a run for their money. Read our Canon G12 review Nikon Coolpix P7000
The P7000 offers the full manual control that you'd expect from a pro-level camera, but comes with the automatic functions of a compact camera. The Nikon P7000 has 18 different scene modes to help you capture everything from fireworks to museum visits, automatically corrects red-eye, and it even has a smile timer. This could be the best compact camera for you if you don't want a DSLR in your bag. Read our Nikon P7000 review Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
With its f/2.0 Leica lens and high ISO capabilities, the Panasonic LX-5 is a great low-light companion. Its video mode allows you to record in HD, adjust the aperture or shutter speed when you're in creative mode, or have the camera take control in iA mode. You can even hook up this compact camera to an HD-enabled TV directly via the HDMI port, making this the best compact camera for any budding filmmakers out there. Read our Panasonic LX5 review Olympus XZ-1
This might be the most stylish of the pro-level compact cameras, but the Olympus XZ-1 has substance to back it up. There's full manual control with a range of nifty features, such as a histogram, but it also has a full range of automatic settings and fun 'art modes'. Add to this its bright Zuiko lens and HD video mode, and the Olympus XZ-1 is worth a long look. Read our Olympus XZ-1 review Best compact cameras 2011: Ultra-compact, high-end Canon PowerShot S95
Since its launch in summer 2010, scarcely a bad word has been uttered about the Canon S95. You've got full manual control via the lens ring, or you can let the camera decide with smart auto. The lens boasts a maximum aperture of f/2.0, you can make HD videos or shoot in raw. All of this - along with outstanding image quality, even in low-light - and the Canon S95 still fits in your pocket. Read our Canon S95 review Nikon Coolpix P300
The Nikon P300 might give the Canon PowerShot S95 a run for its money with an f/1.8 lens and slightly higher resolution, but do bear in mind that it doesn't have raw capability and its sensor is slightly smaller. If you can live with that, though, Nikon might be on to a winner of the pocket-sized camera wars with a compact camera that records excellent still images and video for less than £300. Read our Nikon P300 review Samsung EX1
Samsung's EX1 led the way for pocket-sized, low-light prowess: f/1.8 lens, a large sensor and a maximum ISO 3200. It comes with full manual mode, records 720p HD videos, records raw files for extra editing flexibility and comes with HDR capability, and it even has a range of filters to let you get creative. What's that? You'd rather that the camera did the hard work? It's got a fully automated setting, too! Read our hands on Samsung EX1 review Best compact cameras 2011: Travel compacts Nikon Coolpix S9100
The potential for blur with an 18x optical zoom is high, but the Coolpix S9100 does have sensor shift and electronic vibration reduction in place. There's an ISO 3200 setting for low light situations and an easy-to-use panorama mode that lets you pan vertically or horizontally, as well as a heap of automatic settings to make life easier and a bundle of special effects to let you get creative. Canon PowerShot SX230 HS
The Canon SX230 is a great little compact camera for still images, but it seems to have been taken to heart extra warmly by the video crowd. The PowerShot SX230 HS lets you record 1080p HD videos with stereo sound, in high-speed bursts or super slow motion. As for stills, the Canon SX230 enables you to take full control of your pictures or implement the smart auto mode with 32 different scene options. There's even a GPS function so you can track exactly where you took your pictures. Read our Canon SX230 HS review Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V
If you fancy venturing into 3D territory, the Sony HX9V lets you go there with both stills and video. Video is 1050p full HD, too. There's also a GPS function to record your location, and if you're new to taking pictures there are in-camera instructions. This compact camera does miss out on Aperture and Shutter Priority modes, but it does allow you to shoot fully manual. I reckon this could be the best compact camera to have if you're about to go off on safari! Read our Sony HX9V hands-on review Casio Exilim ZR-100 If its 12.5x zoom isn't enough, the Casio ZR-100 can virtually double this with its multi-frame SR zoom, which combines multiple shots to create one super-close, but sharp, image. Or you can get great landscapes with a 24mm wideangle shot. This Casio camera also boasts an HDR function, high-speed continuous shooting at 40 frames per second, and you can fiddle all you like with your photos in manual - or stick to automatic modes. Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ20
With GPS, HD video and 3D technology, the Panasonic TZ20 really does seem feature-packed. This Panasonic camera offers full manual capability as well as auto features that can be accessed via the rear touch screen. 'Intelligent zoom' means that the 16x optical zoom can be boosted to 21x with surprisingly good results, compared to what we're used to from digital zoom. Read our Panasonic TZ20 review Fujifilm FinePix F550 EXR
The Fuji F550 EXR gives you close-up and wideangle options, can geo-tag your images with its GPS function, has a ludicrously high maximum ISO of 12,800, makes HD video and even offers a panorama mode. Combine all of that with its SuperCCD EXR technology (better sensitivity, dynamic range and resolution) and you should be well on your way to taking brilliant images. Read our Fuji F550 EXR review Best Compact Cameras 2011: Super-zooms Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
The Canon SX30 has an impressive 24-800mm focal range, which it backs up with zoom framing assist to help keep distant objects in the shot. Smart Auto mode offers 28 different scenes, but full manual lets you take control. The Canon SX30 also lets you record 720p HD videos, get creative with a miniature effect, and snap away in low-light with confidence. Read our Canon SX30 IS review Nikon Coolpix L120
The Nikon L120 features a staggering 35mm equivalent focal range of 25-525mm, giving you wideangle and great zoom capability. You can get as close as 1cm in macro mode, too, making the Coolpix L120 the ultimate long-distance and super-up-close weapon. The vibration reduction feature is great at reducing camera blur as well. You can push the ISO to 6400, and of course there's video: 720p HD. If you know someone who wants to try a bit of everything with their camera, this could be the best compact camera for them. Read our Nikon L120 review Olympus SZ-30MR Does the Olympus SZ-30MR do it all? Olympus thinks so, and we're inclined to agree. This compact camera offers an amazing 26-600mm (35mm equivalent) super zoom lens that should take care of most shooting situations. To that, you can add dual image stabilization, SLR-rivaling 9 frames per second continuous shooting, a fun (if slightly pointless) 3D stills mode, and - of course - 1080p HD video. And you can even capture stills at the time as shooting a video. Nifty! Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX100V
This is one of the newest super-zooms out there, and Sony has packed in the features so it can compete in a busy market, from GPS to 3D stills, along with 1050p full HD video. The Sony HX100V can shoot 10 frames per second, its sweep panorama makes capturing vistas easy and there's even in-camera editing. Read our Sony HX100V hands-on review Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR
Whether you want full control or prefer the camera to make the decisions, the Fuji HS20 gives you the options. Its EXR technology helps to get the best out of every picture, and you can choose JPEG or raw formats. There's also a sweep panorama mode that's great fun to use. Simply find a panoramic view and wave your camera through the air to create a great-looking panorama. Read our Fuji HS20 EXR review Best compact cameras 2011: All-rounders Fujifilm FinePix Z90
Coming in six different colours and with its quirky sliding cover, the Fuji Z90 is a stylish-looking camera. Its touch screen makes for easy image and video capture, and there's an easy upload facility to put pictures directly on to FaceBook or YouTube. Digital image stabilisation helps to prevent blur, and there are some in-camera editing functions, too. This is the best compact camera for the fashion-conscious, Facebook-conscious teen. Read our Fuji Z90 review Pentax Optio S1 With a maximum ISO of 6400, autofocus tracking, some cool effects that you can apply to images, in-camera editing, and 720p HD video, this compact camera offers a whole heap of nifty features for your money. The pictures aren't bad, either. With a great price-point and a solid level of tech built-in, the Pentax S1 is the best compact camera for someone just getting to grips with how to use a camera. Canon IXUS 220 HS
A stylish stainless steel body conceals a camera capable of decent low-light shots, a Smart Auto mode with 32 different scenes, the ability to shoot without flash, HD video with super slow motion and high-speed burst options, along with a host of creative options, from fish-eye to toy camera effect. If you only want to own one camera and don't want to spend the Earth, the Canon IXUS 220 HS is the best compact camera for you and should be at the top of your list. Read our Canon IXUS 220 HS review Samsung PL120
The Samsung PL120's front screen allows you to preview self-portraits to make sure you get them just right and it shows animations to keep little ones' attention when you switch on the children mode. Add to that its range of effects, video mode, and in-camera editing function, and what you're looking at is a great heap of fun packaged into a quality camera that is the best compact camera for anyone with a young family. Best compact cameras 2011: Waterproof cameras Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT3
Panasonic's go-anywhere camera has a 4.6x optical zoom Leica lens, 3D photo capability and an optical image stabiliser. There's a built in GPS function, as well as an altimeter, a compass and a barometer. Whether your hazard of choice is sky- or scuba diving, you could do a lot worse than this little gem! Read our Panasonic FT3 review Olympus TG-810
Not only can the Olympus TG-810 be dropped in the sea, trodden on and withstand temperatures of -10° Celsius, but its GPS can record where you took your pictures, some of which you might have shot in 3D, and then you can upload them to your PC wirelessly using Eye-Fi connectivity. And don't forget its 5x optical zoom and HD video mode, either. I'm not sure how much wi-fi you get in the jungle, but if that's where you're head this should be the best compact camera for your journey! Sony Cyber-shot DSC-TX10
This camera won't look out of place beside the pool, and if you drop it in, it's no big deal. The Sony TX10 also happens to have a 4x optical zoom lens, takes panoramas and 3D images, and records HD videos. It's a great combination of stylish and practical and will suit anyone who wants their camera to look as good as they do, and take pictures to match. 
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| Review: Cyber Snipa Sonar 5.1 Championship Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:01 AM PDT If you're serious about PC gaming then a decent 5.1 surround sound setup is essential. It doesn't just help with immersion - although being surrounded by ambient noise certainly helps draw you into the game world - but it helps you pin point enemies as they hide around corners or sneak up behind you. Most sets of 5.1 headphones can be hit or miss, but the Snipa Sonar 5.1 Championship works really well. The eight individual drivers in these headphones give much better audio placement that other sets that reply on virtually recreating surround sound effects though stereo speakers. You can alter the levels with the inline remote control, or use the supplied software for greater control over each speaker. Using this software is recommended to calibrate each surround speaker to get the best possible effect. It's also a good demonstration of how well the surround sound works. The bass is particularly strong with these headphones, and explosions can leave you feeling like you've hit your head. Luckily the headphones themselves are very comfortable to wear, so any discomfort you might experience is more likely to be down to volume, not ergonomics. It's a very impressive experience, and while it's still no match for a full 5.1 speaker arrangement, it comes close. 
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| Review: Transcend StoreJet 25M3 Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:01 AM PDT Most external hard drives suffer from two main problems, especially when they are used for backing up important files. The first problem is protection. Unless the external hard drive uses solid state technology, it contains moving parts that can easily be damaged if the drive is dropped - disastrous if the drive contains important information. The second problem is speed - backing up entire hard drives to external drives can take ages, and the length of the process can put off many people from backing up regularly. The Transcend StoreJet 25M3 overcomes these problems admirably. It is encased in three layers including a shock absorbing silicone shell, and reinforced outer case. It has been drop-tested to US Military standards, and it shows. This is a seriously sturdy hard drive that can take most knocks and drops - ideal if you often take your external hard drive travelling with you. The second problem - speed - is circumnavigated here by the StoreJet 25M3's USB 3.0 compatibility, which gives data transfer speeds of up to 5GB/s - comparable with internal drives. A 'back up' button on the outer casing makes the process even quicker. 
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| Review: Advent Discovery MT1804 Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:00 AM PDT You don't need a touchscreen PC. You just don't. But perhaps you don't actually need a reason. Maybe all you need is a machine with a compelling form factor, a bright screen and a bargain-basement price, which just happens to have touch tacked on. Maybe you need the Advent Discovery MT1804. Maybe. The fold-out hinge means that the Discovery is useful in a host of situations; you can angle it backwards if you're placing it on a kitchen worktop, for instance, or fix it at 90 degrees to your desk. You can even, if you really want, lie it flat on a surface without any discernable loss in stability. Unlike the Apple iMac there's no upward extension, though, so it's not particularly ergonomic on the desk unless you can find something suitable to place it on. Continuing the iMac comparisons, only because there's not much of this style in the PC market, the built-in DVD drive is awkwardly placed. On the iMac, the superdrive is in a slot flush with the case; here it's a standard pop-out laptop drive tucked away behind the screen to the left, which faces backwards when ejected. It's not easy to get to at all. It's the same with its ports - we would honestly prefer the overall thickness of the unit to have been extended and the ports dragged out to the very edges of the screen, rather than hidden away on the Discovery MT1804's rear outcrop. That said, big points are awarded for the inclusion of a power button for the panel on the left edge of the screen, meaning that you can save power while keeping the Discovery MT1804 in use. The Discovery MT1804 is not a performer, that's for sure. It wouldn't be unreasonable to call it weak, at least in appearance, because its single-core Celeron 900 processor isn't anywhere near the level of modern Core CPUs. However - being realistic - at 2.2GHz it's not completely without processing merit, and the latest Core line goes above and beyond the call of duty. The Celeron 900 is about as beefy as the current range of Atom chips, perhaps a little more so, which should put it into a little bit of perspective. That processor isn't helped by the rest of the core components. There's not much muscle in the graphics department, since the Discovery MT1804 sports an XXX integrated chipset, so you can forget about playing 3D games or doing anything particularly high-end on it. There's a bog standard 320GB HDD spinning at laptop speeds, so storage is reasonable but not remarkable, plus the standard 3GB RAM that you'll find on most cheap notebooks. So, specification wise, this really is halfway between a laptop and a netbook, wrapped in an all-in-one shell. There's not actually a standard for the PC all-in-one, so there's no point in complaining that it's underpowered: we doubt you'd get much more in a Windows 7 tablet, which would cost a lot more for a lot less. It's actually pretty well-designed, and we think it hits the intended note, bar a couple of heavy flaws - primary of which is that you're stuck with the standard number of laptop outputs. Use the wired peripherals included and you'll have filled two of the three USB ports immediately, which isn't ideal, particularly because said peripherals are pretty cheap and plasticky. But most important in this package, given its flexibility and the fact that you'll be smearing your fingers all over it, is the screen. And it's good, a bright widescreen 18.5-inch panel with unusually decent viewing angles, lacking only in resolution at 1366 x 768. It's the perfect size for a bedroom, neat enough for a kitchen counter and adequate for the desk. We've seen a few touchscreens, and this is not the worst. The Asus EeeTop, for example, uses a fairly heinous virtual touchscreen design that actually reads your finger position from a strip at the top rather than a matrix on the screen, leading to some awful calibration issues. We presume that the Advent Discovery MT1804 boasts a different design, because once you've run through the multi-point calibration process it's actually rather accurate. It supports limited two-finger multi-touch - so you're not going to be whipping out complex gestures - but its accuracy is pretty remarkable. The real problem, of course, is Windows: it's not a touchscreen operating system, however much Microsoft might want it to be. The interface isn't consistent; the buttons are too small; and as usual, the Discovery MT1804's default installation is filled with stuff you won't want or need. You'll have to clean it before you use it, and you will find yourself, like we did, reaching for the mouse more often than for the screen. In terms of muscle, Intel's Celeron 900 is meaty enough to allow the Discovery MT1804 to play 720p video, which can be squirted out of the HDMI port, although the built-in speakers don't really keep up with the video performance. They're rubbish, actually. 3GB RAM is more than enough to keep a few web tabs open and a 320GB, if you're frugal, should be a big enough hard drive for anyone. But here's the thing: reviews are really about cost/benefit analysis. Performance only really matters if it goes with value for money, and the Advent Discovery MT1804 passes this crucial test with flying colours. At £330, it feels like an absolute steal - particularly as it's about half the price at which the machine originally launched. You can even buy an additional laptop battery to improve the Discovery MT1804's portability if you want. A laptop would surely offer more flexibility, but that's not entirely relevant, because the Discovery MT1804 isn't trying to be a laptop: it's trying desperately not to be. Whether it has succeeded is really up to you. We like it more than we thought we would, because it's just strong enough that it would fit just about any low-power stand-alone computing position. This was a surprising test. We went in to it wanting to hate this machine, but the Advent Discovery MT1804 has a decent touchscreen, a flexible (if slightly wonky) design and a killer price. It completely threw us off our game. If you're looking for an all-in-one PC, it's definitely one to consider. If we had loads of cash there's no way we'd choose it over an iMac - touchscreen or not - because this doesn't have the power or the luxury screen fidelity of Apple's models, but as a cut-price machine suitable for just about every room of the house, there's no question that it does the trick. We liked The hinge, as long as it stays stiff over time, will enable you to position the Discovery MT1804 exactly as you want it, and that's a real selling point. Particularly if you're using this in the kitchen, that flexibility, and the touchscreen, will come in very handy. It's also able to pump out high-def video, which makes the Discovery MT1804 equally perfect for the bedroom. Its component selection, while not top-class, is hefty enough for the price. It's not huge, but you're not likely to run out of hard disk space quickly. There's no real graphics performance, but more than enough for office and internet tasks. The option of battery power is nice if you're going to take it from room to room. Oh, and did we mention the price? We did? Let's do so again. £330, for this package, is just excellent. It really is. Considering that the touchscreen works well, and that it's almost half its original RRP, the Discovery MT1804 is a nicely positioned machine. We disliked It's cheap, but it looks cheap too. The peripherals are pretty flimsy and the case design a bit confusing. The Discovery MT1804 lacks USB ports, has a DVD drive which is in an awkward place and facing the wrong way, and a fairly low-res screen. Basically, if you're looking for a powerhouse, a luxury machine, or even a PC that isn't baffling in its make-up, look elsewhere. 
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| Updated: PlayStation Vita release date and price revealed Posted: 09 Jun 2011 09:00 AM PDT UPDATE The UK pre-order price for the Sony PlayStation Vita has been revealed, with both Play and Game offering the handheld for £279.99 (3G) and £229.99 (Wi-Fi). As the more eagle-eyed of you will notice, this is a near like-for-like dollar and pounds pricing strategy, something us in the UK are unfortunately getting used to now. ORIGINAL STORY Sony's E3 conference revealed a few things about the Japanese Electronics giant, and not just contrition over the recent hacking scandal. The big news was that the Sony NGP has been renamed the PlayStation Vita and, more importantly, the release date and price have been announced. Sony has stated that the Vita will be coming to the US this Christmas. A UK release shouldn't be too far behind - a holiday UK release date would definitely see Sony in the race for most sought-after gift on our fair shores. Network dependent? The Vita will retail for $249 (£152) for the Wi-Fi only model but will likely cost closer to £200 when it lands on our shores - so if you're planning a winter getaway to the States you might save a few pounds. The 3G model will be coming in at a slightly pricier $299 (£182) but will likely be subject to heavy subsidies. Sony has announced that AT&T will be exclusive provider of the 3G Vita model in the US, which means we could see a similar situation over here with the likes of Vodafone or O2 nabbing the new portable console over their networks. So come on Sony - give us a PS Vita launch date and price already so we can start planning the emotional assault on our significant others. 
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| Review: SpacePilot Pro 3D mouse Posted: 09 Jun 2011 08:55 AM PDT There are two things you notice immediately about the SpacePilot Pro 3D mouse. The first is its very unorthodox looks. A small LCD screen and a large dial are surrounded by a number of different buttons. The second thing you'll notice is how heavy the device is. This is not a device for holding in your hands as its very unwieldy and uncomfortable to hold. The instructions suggest you place the SpacePilot Pro 3D mouse to the left of your mouse and keyboard - the assumption being that it will join them to form an essential trio for controlling your computer. At first controlling a computer using the SpacePilot Pro 3D mouse feels more like a struggle than a natural evolution of control. Frustrated, we found ourselves regularly returning to the comforting familiarity of the keyboard and mouse, leaving the SpacePilot Pro 3D mouse sitting redundantly on our desk. However, as with most new control schemes, after a while using the SpacePilot Pro 3D mouse, things start to fall into place. The large dial in the centre can help with zooming in and rotating 3D objects, and once you've got to grips with the controls it can help with 3D modelling. Programs such as Google Earth also benefit from the new controls, but you can't help but return to the mouse and keyboard every now and again to help you get your bearings. 
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| Review: SpaceNavigator 3D Mouse Posted: 09 Jun 2011 08:49 AM PDT The SpaceNavigator 3D Mouse is the smaller version of the more professional-orientated SpacePilot Pro 3D mouse. A lot of the additional features of the professional model have been stripped away, leading to a more streamlined and cheaper 3D mouse, but one whose functionality is far more limited. The SpaceNavigator is made up of the control nub and one solitary button. The nub can be pushed, pulled, turned and twisted to give you better control over 3D objects. When using this mouse to manipulate 3D objects it works well, although it takes a bit of time to get completely comfortable with using it. It is not designed to replace either the keyboard or the mouse, but to work alongside them to offer better control in 3D applications. While the SpaceNavigator eschews the more opulent features of its more expensive sibling for a more palatable price, the lack of a lot of those extras actually ends up making it a less appealing purchase unless you're just starting out in 3D design. 
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| Review: Razer Onza Tournament Edition Posted: 09 Jun 2011 08:45 AM PDT You might be forgiven for thinking at first glance that this is an official Xbox 360 controller. The shape and design are almost completely identical, and the build quality is absolutely top-notch. There are a few subtle differences however, which prove to be extremely important in separating the Razer Onza Tournament Edition from Microsoft's offering. To begin with the D-pad is much improved and is actually useable - something that Microsoft's official controller can't boast. This is essential not only for 2D platformers, but also for fighting games. Another great addition is the glowing face buttons that can help to make gaming in the dark - or low light levels - a lot easier. The Razer Onza Tournament Edition also comes with two buttons carefully placed at the back of the pad that can be used to re-calibrate on the fly. You can also twist the analogue thumb sticks to tweak their sensitivity without pausing your game. The gamepad itself feels incredibly comfortable, using the same ergonomic design as the official Xbox 360 pad. It's quite a bit lighter, as well - due to the lack of wireless functionality removing the need for batteries. While it would have been nice to have it wireless, the long cord goes some way to compensating for this. 
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| Review: Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX Posted: 09 Jun 2011 08:35 AM PDT The trackpads on netbooks and laptops can often be uncomfortable to use, especially if you use them for long periods of time. A good solution to this is to get a separate mouse that you can use alongside your laptop. This can bring its own set of problems, however, because if you don't have a desktop, where can you use your mouse? The Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX's answer to this lies with its 'Darkfield' technology, which allows this mouse to be used in places and on surfaces that most other optical mice fail dismally at. It works well, with shiny surfaces, glass and even laps making adequate mouse mat replacements. If you work at your desk for long periods of time, this is not the mouse for you. But if you're often on the road and need a mouse to make using a laptop easier, then this is definitely worth considering. 
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| Review: Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 Posted: 09 Jun 2011 08:26 AM PDT There's a lot to admire about the K750. Its headline feature is that you do not need to keep replacing the batteries, unlike other wireless keyboards. For anyone who has experienced trying to type when a wireless keyboard's batteries are on their last legs, this is a big plus. As long as the keyboard gets enough light, you can keep on typing without interruption. Making sure the keyboard remains charged isn't too much of a problem either - the battery life is around three months in complete darkness, though of course it's not recommended that you use computers in complete darkness anyway. If you have left the keyboard in a drawer for a long time, a quick press of a button lets you know if the keyboard has enough charge. Not needing to go through disposable batteries makes this a very ecologically friendly keyboard, and the 100 per cent recycled packaging that it comes in reinforces this green ideal. The keyboard is incredibly thin, which makes it easy to carry about and store, however it isn't as comfortable to type on than more ergonomically designed keyboards. The keys themselves feel similar to those found on laptop keyboards, so if you find those uncomfortable to type on, then you should avoid this keyboard, no matter how green it is. 
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| HP TouchPad UK release date and pricing revealed Posted: 09 Jun 2011 08:01 AM PDT HP has finally announced the pricing and availability of the HP TouchPad and the pricing competes with the Wi-Fi version of the iPad 2. The HP TouchPad is HP's first stab at a tablet with WebOS. Boasting a 9.7-inch screen, the tablet has been seen as true rival to the iPad – as long as HP sorts out its app store, as there are less than 10,000 available at the moment. But with HTML 5 compatibility and Flash 10.1 supported, the HP TouchPad is well stocked to take on both Apple and Android. Pricing for the HP TouchPad has just been announced and you will be able to get the 16GB version of the tablet for £399. If you opt for the 32GB model, then this will retail for £479. There's no 3G version available as of yet. The HP TouchPad UK release date is 1 July, but you can start pre-ordering the device as of 19 June. 
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| Google in hot water over Chromebook name Posted: 09 Jun 2011 07:45 AM PDT Google has found itself with a lawsuit on its hands over the Chromebook name, with ISYS Technologies saying the word is too close to some of its own trademarks. The lawsuit has been set up because it has rights to ChromiumPC, a title it feels is being nabbed by Google with Chromebook. ISYS Technologies has asked for a temporary restraining order on any manufacturer that is associated with Chromebook – this includes Google, Acer, Amazon.com, Best Buy and Samsung. A statement from Kirton & McConkie, which is the lead attorney on the lawsuit sheds some light on Google and how it acquired the Chromebook name and also some information on Speedbook – the name Google originally wanted to use for its netbook range. When in Chrome "When Google's plans to use Speedbook for a new PC hardware product were derailed by the owner of another Speedbook mark in late 2010, Google switched its behind-the-scenes efforts to Chromebook for PC hardware products while delaying ISYS' trademark registration by filing unnecessary extensions of time until Google publicly launched its new hardware PC products on 11 May," explained the statement. "This causes damage and irreparable harm to ISYS. ISYS seeks an expedited review of the matters, invalidation of Google's claims to rights in the mark Chromium and an injunction to prevent the sale of computer hardware by Google bearing a mark confusingly similar to ChromiumPC, namely." The lawsuit is similar to what happened with Smartbook, a word Qualcomm wanted to use to describe a range of portable computers. This idea was scuppered by Smartbook AG as it forced legal action. The whole affair came to a a close in February this year, after nearly two years of legal wrangling. 
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| Google Maps to get more offline capabilities? Posted: 09 Jun 2011 06:21 AM PDT Google Maps, the stupidly good and free mapping service from the big search engine in the cloud, could well be getting a significant upgrade: offline maps access. At the moment Google Maps does offer a cached version of its maps – through an Android update and only for selected places – but it looks like this could be fleshed out and actually let you search for new map destinations without the need of a data connection. Get your maps out This is something TomTom and Garmin already offers but they do this for a premium. If Google did offer this then it would be offering the same sort of functionality found in Nokia Maps, which comes with selected Nokia handsets, and is pre-loaded on many HTC handsets too. And if offline maps are offered, then there's no reason Google couldn't add its Navigation service to this – something that would make every GPS manufacturer quiver with fear. According to All About Phones, the new feature is expected to land this summer. 
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| DVD and Blu-ray sales down, Hollwood to blame Posted: 09 Jun 2011 06:02 AM PDT The state of the home entertainment market has been analysed by the NPD group, which suggests that DVD and Blu-ray sales in the US in 2011 are way down on 2010's figures. The report, which has the strangely upbeat title of 'Consumers Still Positive On Blu-ray' noted in the last six months, DVD and Blu-ray sales were down nearly 9.7 per cent compared to last year. A mixture of consumer confidence and a lack of decent titles from Hollywood is to blame. Titles not hot enough "Because fewer hot titles came out of the theatres in time for first quarter release, the physical video-disc market was a bit disappointing – especially coming off of a good first quarter last year. "While Blu-ray may not be the replacement for DVD that many once hoped for, it is certainly adding strength to the physical video-disc market. This added stability is helping to extend the life of discs, even as digital options gain in popularity." Another report by Futuresource does reveal that Blu-ray is starting to become the favoured physical disc of choice for movie buyers. This is according to Reg Hardware, which reckons that if things gather the same pace as they are at the moment, then Blu-ray will account for 41 per cent of home entertainment sales in 2012 and DVD just 26 per cent. 
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| Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman and Txt Pro announced Posted: 09 Jun 2011 05:41 AM PDT Sony Ericsson has used the medium of Facebook to release details of two new phones, the Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman and the Sony Ericsson Txt Pro. Both handsets have features that point to the teenage market. As you can tell by the name, the Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman is part of SE's music-orientated line of handsets. It even has a Zappin key that allows you to listen to preview tracks on your phone before you decide that's the tune to annoy everyone else on the bus. Alongside this must-have feature, the handset boasts a three-inch capacitive screen, a camera and Wi-Fi.
The Sony Ericsson Txt Pro is, amazingly, for those who like to text. Because of this it has been given a QWERTY slide out keyboard, the same three-inch capacitive screen and a 3.2MP camera. There's also a friends application so you can see what your mates are up to on Facebook, Twitter and the like. The Sony Ericsson Mix Walkman UK release date is the same as the Txt Pro's; the third quarter of this year. 
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| Updated: iPad 3 rumours: what you need to know Posted: 09 Jun 2011 04:48 AM PDT The iPad 2 is out, and the rumour factory's already moved on: it's predicting iPad 3 specifications including chips, cameras and retina displays - with a little bit of help from mysterious, unnamed people who can't possibly be identified. How very convenient. So what's the word on the street about the next iPad? Read on to find out. But first, our colleagues at T3.com have rounded up the latest rumours in the iPad 3 video below: iPad 3 release date This is the biggest rumour of all: an iPad 3 mere months after the iPad 2. An unnamed Apple employee says that the iPad 2 was a bit of a rush job, and "the third generation iPad is the one to make a song and dance about." Respected Apple watcher John Gruber added fuel to that particular fire by strongly hinting that the iPad 3 release date will be in September 2011. Gruber, who was musing about the HP TouchPad's potential summer release said: "Summer feels like a long time away. "If my theory is right, they're not only going to be months behind the iPad 2, but if they slip until late summer, they might bump up against the release of the iPad 3." If Gruber is right about this and the iPad 3 features in an Apple autumn line-up, then it looks like Apple is going to start offering a new iPad every six months. The iPad 3 UK release date is a mystery With Apple apparently unable to meet demand for iPad 2, we'd expect a staggered release date for the iPad 3 too: if the US gets the iPad 3 in September, we'd expect the UK iPad 3 release date to be in October, or possibly even November. However, Apple could always follow the pattern it has with the previous two iPad launches and do it in the new year. The iPad 3 specs include a dual-core processor... It's possible that the iPad 3 will have a brand spanking new processor, Apple's A6, but if the rumoured release date is correct then time is awfully tight: we'd certainly expect to see an A5, not an A6, in the iPhone 5 when it turns up this summer. Apple may well surprise us, of course, but we'd expect to see the same processor and graphics as the iPad 2 in the iPad 3: an A5 processor with PowerVR SGX543MP2 graphics. This one comes down to the iPad 3 release date: if it's 2011, expect an A5. If it's 2012, see below. ...unless iPad 3 has a quad-core processor If the A6 is the next stage in the line - and we don't see a new iPad until 2012 - we could also be looking at a quad-core chip from Apple. Quad-core designs will be coming from all ARM partners late this year. iPad 3 display A retina display was widely predicted for the iPad 2, but of course the current iPad doesn't have a double-resolution display: for now, that's something you'll only get in the iPhone 4. Could a Retina Display be one of the features Apple didn't quite get into the iPad 2? Could be! It's the very first thing on our iPad 3 wish list. Rumours of an HD screen on the iPad 3 gathered pace on 12 April 2011 when Digitimes reported that Apple is asking panel makers to provide screens that are capable of displaying higher image quality than the iPad 2. On 26 May 2011, we reported that the iPad 3 could launch with a Samsung-made AMOLED screen, following rumours that Apple has been in talks on the matter with Samsung execs. The iPad 3 hardware could include an NFC chip Apple's very interested in Near Field Communications, and one particularly tasty rumour at Cult of Mac suggests that the iPhone 5 will use NFC to take over nearby Macs, enabling you to use your data and settings with a flick of the wrist. Since the iPad 3 will follow the iPhone 5, if NFC's in one it'll probably be in the other too. The iPad 3 specifications will include more storage The iPad 2 has the familiar 16/32/64GB storage options, but as flash storage comes down in price a 128GB option for the iPad 3 isn't impossible - although that might depend on the current horrible situation in Asia, where the tsunami has caused chaos in parts of the electronics industry. The iPad 3 features could include a Thunderbolt port Two generations of USB-free iPads suggest that Apple just isn't interested in adding one, but the new Thunderbolt port found in the 2011 MacBook Pro could be another story: it's a combined accessory/display connector with astonishingly fast performance. There could be more than one iPad 3 TUAW says the iOS 5 code features new code files for USB devices in the iOS 5 firmware, Through this, TUAW found references to an iPad3,1 and an iPad3,2. The iPad 3 may live in the cloud This has been talked about and leaked about for so long that, on the same principle that even a stopped clock is right twice a day, it's bound to come true eventually: a cloud-based MobileMe for storing your stuff on Apple's servers. A new iPad with iOS 5 and a new MobileMe would be lots of fun. The iPad 3 specs might include an SD card slot This was widely predicted for iPad 2 and, like the retina display, didn't materialise. One for version 3, perhaps? Using a separate adapter to read camera cards is rather inelegant and clunky. The iPad 3 specification should include a better camera The rear-facing camera on the iPad 2 isn't brilliant: an iPhone 4 camera and flash would do nicely. The iPad 3 could feature a carbon fibre case Apple has hired a carbon fibre expert, senior composites engineer Kevin Kenney, fuelling speculation that the next iPad could be encased in the lightweight material. The iPad 3 price might be higher than the iPad 2 The iPad 2 didn't herald a price hike, but if the iPad 3's coming in September we don't think a massive iPad 2 price cut is very likely - which suggests that if the iPad 3 does appear then, it might be more of an iPad Pro - with a price to match. 
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| PS4's focus should be social gaming, says Naughty Dog Posted: 09 Jun 2011 04:33 AM PDT Naughty Dog, the creator of Uncharted, has been speaking about what it thinks the PlayStation 4 should deliver when it arrives, and it seems that a focus on social could well be on the cards. Speaking to NowGamer, Christophe Balestra, co-president of Naughty Dog said about the PS4: "I expect it to be more of a social experience, it'll be a machine that will let you connect to all things, it will be like the centre of the house, so you can watch TV, listen to music, see pictures… I don't know." Social butterfly And if he didn't push the social aspect enough, he also explained: "I think the social experience will be very, very important." The likes of Activision has recently been pushing the social side of gaming, with the announcement of Call of Duty: Elite, a subscription service that's set to tap into the massive amount of users who play CoD online. Sony used this year's E3 to focus on the PlayStation Vita, it's next-gen handheld console. It will be interesting to see if E3 2012's focus shifts to a replacement to the PS3. 
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| Updated: Windows 8 tablets rumours: what you need to know Posted: 09 Jun 2011 04:31 AM PDT Microsoft's been pushing tablet computers for the best part of a decade, so you can imagine how happy the iPad's success makes them. But Microsoft doesn't give up easily, and Windows 8 tablets will emerge. So what's Steve Ballmer going to be shouting about when he shows them off? Windows 8 tablets will have a new touch interface As we saw from the recent Windows 8 preview, Windows 8 tablets will have a marvellous new interface that looks rather like Windows Phone 7. "Fast, fluid and dynamic, the experience has been transformed while keeping the power, flexibility and connectivity of Windows intact," says Microsoft's head of Windows Experience Julie Larson-Green.
"Although the new user interface is designed and optimized for touch, it works equally well with a mouse and keyboard. Our approach means no compromises — you get to use whatever kind of device you prefer, with peripherals you choose, to run the apps you love. This is sure to inspire a new generation of hardware and software development, improving the experience for PC users around the world." Windows 8 tablets' release date In December 2011, the New York Times wrote that Microsoft would unveil tablets running Windows 8 at CES 2011 in January, which proved to be incorrect. The NYT credited an unnamed source for the leak, which suggests that Microsoft's keynote will be enlivened by the arrival of the next generation of Windows, as well as Samsung and Dell tablets. As it turned out, no Windows 8 tablets were shown at the show. However, the Windows 8 release date may be sooner than you think. Speculation is rife that a Windows 8 beta will surface at PDC, a developer conference being held by Microsoft in September 2011. The dates for the conference were announced by Microsoft at its MIX event on 12 April 2011. That means Windows 8 tablets could be out by early 2012 - after CES 2012. According to Bloomberg there will be no Windows for tablets until 2012. As we reported on 4 March 2011, sources told Bloomberg that a tablet-friendly version of Windows will be tested at the end of this year and not released until the summer of 2012.
Microsoft may launch its own Windows 8 tablet New rumours suggest that Microsoft is working on an own-brand tablet to launch running Windows 8. The speculation comes from Taipei, with sources claiming that the tablet will make use of a Texas Instruments chip and will launch by the end of 2012. Digitimes, which first published the rumour, claims its sources say that Microsoft is also looking to launch a tablet brand, as it did in gaming with the Xbox. Windows 8 tablets manufacturers It's no surprise to see the names Dell and Samsung in the NYT piece: both firms have close relationships with Microsoft, although it's interesting to see Microsoft getting groovy with an Android tablet manufacturer. We'd expect to see something like the leaked "Lap PC" from HP too. UPDATE: On 9 May 2011, we reported on a rumour of a forthcoming Nokia Windows 8 tablet. The info comes from phone commentator Eldar Murtazin, who wrote on the Mobile Review forum that Nokia will launch a tablet in 2012, possibly pushed back to 2013. Windows 8 tablets will probably look like iPads While Dell makes some unusually shaped tablets already, the Samsung tablet is "similar in size and shape to the Apple iPad, although it is not as thin." Unlike the iPad, "it also includes a unique and slick keyboard that slides out from below for easy typing." Windows 8 tablets will be designed for business use "The company believes there is a huge market for business people who want to enjoy a slate for reading newspapers and magazines and then work on Microsoft Word, Excel or PowerPoint while doing work," the NYT says, quoting the inevitable "person familiar with the company's tablet plans". Windows 8 tablets will have apps and an app store Apps are a big part of Windows 8, with Microsoft convinced that "app development will move to the web" and building a Windows Store with manufacturer-specific entrances. Again, we saw a lot more detail on this from the Windows 8 preview.
Windows 8 tablet specifications aren't strange or startling We'd expect Windows 8 tablets to have similar specifications to other iPad rivals such as the Galaxy Tab or BlackBerry Playbook, essentially netbooks in a different form factor: a gigahertz processor, a gigabyte of RAM, 802.11b/g/n wireless and multitouch capacitive displays. Expect lots of connectivity too, with USB ports a key selling point. Windows 8 tablets will run on ARM, Intel and AMD chips On 18 May 2011, Intel confirmed that there will be separate editions of Windows 8 that run on ARM processors as well as standard x86 processors from Intel and AMD - all companies involved are serious about tablets, though ARM has stolen a lead; all major tablets on the market are ARM-based. The x86 versions of Windows 8 will feature a Windows 7 compatibility mode, while ARM versions won't. Windows 8 tablet prices should be similar to Android ones Windows 8 tablets will be up against iPads, Android tablets and Chrome OS netbooks, so if they're not priced very aggressively they're going to be a tough sell. 
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| Tutorial: How to fix iPod, iPhone and iPad problems Posted: 09 Jun 2011 04:12 AM PDT What can you do if iTunes can't see your device when you connect it!? When you plug an iPhone, iPod or iPad into your Mac, the on-screen battery indicator will change to show it's charging or plugged in. Make sure you're not just seeing a normal battery; if you are, try a different USB lead, another USB port and be sure it's connected directly to your Mac and not an external hub. Furthermore, a device won't show up if it's very low on charge - wait a few minutes until it's got a bit more juice in it and it should appear. If the connection is okay but iTunes is still not recognising it, run Software Update to make sure OS X and iTunes are both up to date. Try switching both your Mac and the device off and then on again. Some software, including security and anti-virus apps, can cause problems, so try disabling or uninstalling these to see if that helps. Have you got any other iPod or iPhone-related software on your Mac? Uninstall and restart. "I've lost the music on my Mac but I have it on my iPod"
To protect against music piracy, Apple doesn't enable you to copy music from your iPod to your Mac, but in a case like yours, you have a legitimate need to get music you own off your iPhone or iPod onto your Mac. Download Senuti. There's a free trial available or the full version costs $19 (about £12). Install it, open the app and plug in your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Your music and playlists will appear in the window - select the songs you want and click Transfer. "Syncing my iOS device without losing what's on it" This isn't easy, because you need to transfer your iTunes library to the new machine in order for the iPhone or iPod to continue syncing as normal. On the old Mac, run Software Update to be sure you're running the latest version of iTunes. Next, open iTunes, press Commad+, to open the Preferences and click Advanced. If it isn't already, the Keep iTunes Media folder organised box must be ticked. Doing this will move all your music into one place. The area above it will show you where the iTunes folder's kept (usually in /Users/yourusername/Music). Locate it in Finder and copy it to your new Mac's desktop (via an external hard drive or USB stick). Now find the iTunes folder on the new Mac. The old must replace the new, but if you've already got media on the newer machine, move its iTunes folder elsewhere on the hard drive for now. Then put the iTunes folder from your old Mac into /Users/yourusername/Music on the new one and fire up iTunes. All being well, your media library will appear safe and sound and you'll be able to sync away to your heart's content. "Charging is not supported by this accessory…" If you see this message there could be a number of reasons your device won't charge. The power from the accessory or USB port may be too low, the cable may not be supported or there could be dirt in your dock connector. Try using a different accessory, cable and USB port, and carefully clean the dock connector in your device. How to improve iOS battery life
If your battery seems to be running out on your iOS device rather quickly, there are a couple of things you can do. Disable any features on the device you're not using - 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Push, Location Services and so on - and dim the screen's brightness. Avoid constantly skipping through songs (a better idea is to create playlists on your Mac of tracks you know you want to listen to?). It's also worth recalibrating your battery, which you can do by running it through a full charge cycle. Essentially, this means running it right down and then charging it fully. Repeat this process once a month. For more information about how to care for your iPod, iPhone or iPad battery and keep it living longer, have a look at www.apple.com/batteries. Quick tip Newer iOS devices can generally be unplugged from your Mac whenever you please, but we'd recommend you don't do this mid-sync. Older ones need to be properly ejected first to prevent damage to the contents, so click the eject symbol next to their name in iTunes or drag the icon to the Trash and wait for the OK to disconnect message on the iPod screen. 
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| Ricoh launches rugged PX series cameras Posted: 09 Jun 2011 03:42 AM PDT Ricoh has unveiled its new line of rugged PX cameras designed for outdoor use in a wide variety of conditions and situations. Ricoh claims its new PX series of digital compact cameras can be used underwater for 60 minutes at a depth of 3 metres, while any dirt or soil from outdoor use can be washed off safely without damaging the camera. Ricoh also claims its PX camera can be dropped from heights of 1.5 metres. The Ricoh PX boasts 16-megapixel CCD sensor and Smooth Imaging Engive IV image processing engine, as well as a 28-140mm 5x optical zoom, subject-tracking AF and a start-up time of 1.4 seconds. Available from early July, the Ricoh PX price tag will be £179.99. 
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| Sony VPL-HW30 affordable 3D projector launches Posted: 09 Jun 2011 03:39 AM PDT Sony has unveiled a new addition to its 3D projector range, the Sony VPL-HW30. The HW30 joins last year's VW90, but it is promising a price that's a lot healthier for home cinema enthusiasts. The Sony VPL-HW30 offers a High Frame Rate SXRD Panel (1920x1080), which produces crisper images with blur reduced. Couple this with MotionFlow, 70,000:1 and brightness of 1,300lm and what you have are specs as sharp as the image quality.
Sony is also trying to counteract the thorny issue of crosstalk with its 240Hz panel drive system. It will also upscale 2D to images to 3D, which is a bonus considering the lack of 3D content out at the mo. The VPL-HW30 supports Sony's new range of active shutter specs, snappily titled TDG-PJ1, and the new Sony transmitter, the TMR-PJ1. Both of these will be sold separately to the projector, however. As for price, the HW30 will retail for around 3,300 Euro (£2,900). When you consider its predecessor cost in the region of £6,000 this is a significant mark down. The VPL-HW30 UK release date is July. 
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