Author: Paul Lamkin
Google Maps adds real estate option
Google has added real estate search to Google Maps in Australia and New Zealand. Properties for sale or rent can be viewed on the existing maps with additional photos and details available with a click of the mouse.
Private users’ listings are added via sites such as homehound and myhome and there are also estate-agent based listings available as well.
House-hunters input the area they are interested in and advance options such as type of properties, price range, floor area range, number of bedrooms, bathrooms and parking spaces.
The system was developed by workers at Google’s Sydney office and it is expected that the service will be expanded to the US first and then the rest of the globe.
With many individuals already using Google Map’s streetview to look around areas and particular streets that they are interested in, the move to include real-estate listings is a logical one.
(via The Age)
BT to ditch Phorm after public outcry
BT has dropped plans to continue with the hugely unpopular Phorm Webwise targeted advertising software.
The company, who has in the past been guilty of trialling the software without customers even knowing, has decided to drop out – apparently due to their commitment of investing £1.5bn into a super-fast broadband network for 10 million homes by 2012. It is reported that privately, however, bosses have become worried about the backlash against Phorm.
Phorm are playing down the damage caused by BT’s withdrawal – stating that there is still plenty of interest in their Webwise software. The BT decision comes on the back of a series of other knocks for Phorm though – Amazon, The Guardian, The FT and Wikipedia has all stated they won’t be using Phorm and the BBC also has also stated they are not currently interested.
(via The Guardian)
RUMOUR: Sony Ericsson Android handset leaked?
It seems like only minutes ago that we were reporting on Nokia’s possible Android-based smartphone. Oh, it was only minutes ago. Nevermind, you can never have too many Android smartphone rumours on a Monday morning – that’s what I always say.
The latest company to eye-up Android, give it a sly wink and cosy-up to it is Sony Ericsson. And a Danish website has the proof – or so they claim.
They’ve released a potentially leaked picture showing an Xperia-branded handset that supposedly will be running the Android OS. Codenamed Rachael, the smartphone is said to be powered by a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and has HSPA. There is also an 8.1-megapixel camera, like the Sony Ericsson W995. No sign of a slide-out keyboard though.
No details of a release date or prices yet but, as ever, when we know we’ll tell you. We promise.
Nokia to announce Android smartphone
Nokia is reportedly developing an Android-based handset that will be announced in September at the Nokia World Conference.
If the reports are accurate it would mean a massive change of direction for the Finnish giant who took full control of Symbian last year – in what was thought to be a direct response to the threat of Android to its huge market share.
Although Nokia are the world’s most successful company in terms of mobile handsets sold – their dominance in the smartphone market appears to be waning. A global share of 47% in 2007 was down to 31% at the end of 2008.
Nokia’s partnership with Intel, which we reported last month, and the possibility of Android-based handsets could spell exciting times for Nokia. We really like their latest smartphone offering, the N97, although it still doesn’t really come close to threatening the iPhone 3GS’s dominance. A Nokia smartphone with Android could really give Apple something to worry about though.
What this means for the much berated Ovi store is anybody’s guess.
(via The Guardian)
Nintendo continues to dominate console market
Data released from Gfk Charttrack has revealed that Nintendo is still well ahead of its competitors in terms of sales of the current generation consoles. In fact, the DS on its own has sold almost as many units as the Xbox 360, PS3 and PSP put together.
It’s not all bad news for Nintendo’s rivals however. In 2009 the Xbox 360 is the biggest selling console – selling 700,000 units. The DS and Wii have both sold more in the last 12-month period though – 2.7million and 2.3million respectively compared to 1.7million for the Xbox 360.
The total sales are as follows:
Nintendo DS: 9.1million
Nintendo Wii: 5.4million
Microsoft Xbox 360: 3.9million
Sony PlayStation Portable: 3.3million
Sony PlayStation 3: 2.2million
The figures will be of concern for Sony. They’ll be hoping that the upcoming PSP Go and the rumoured PS3 slim consoles will help them get back on track in a market that, only a few years ago, they dominated.
(via Gamezine)
Ashes Cricket 2009 – coming in August
Cricket games are never all that great, let’s be honest. Graham Gooch World Class Cricket on the Amiga was okay but the batsmen would run without prompting causing numerous, unnecessary, run-outs and many a smashed joystick.
But if there was ever a games console designed for a cricket simulator then surely it’s the Wii? Ashes Cricket 2009 by Codemasters will put that theory to the test when it is released next month.
The gameplay has the potential to be excellent. Codemasters is promising various shot types when batting including drives, cuts and slogs – hopefully you’ll also be able to reverse-sweep for six, KP stylee. When fielding, players will be able to polish the ball to affect its movement and bowlers will have to turn the remote during their action in order to swing the ball.
The features of the game sound pretty impressive too – the top eight test playing nations will be there along with real kits and real names. So no Harry Flentoff or Rocky Punting. All formats of the game will be present including tests and 20/20 and they’ll be played in 10 real stadiums with commentary by Jonathan Agnew, Shane Warne, Ian Botham, Ian Bishop and Tony Greig. No Bumble unfortunately.
Pre-order it from Game on the Wii for £29.99. It’s £37.99 on the PS3 and Xbox 360 and £24.99 on the PC – although they don’t sound as much fun as the Wii version.
Elonex introduces the eBook in partnership with Borders
Elonex has teamed up with bookshop giant Borders to launch the eBook. Or the eBook 600EB to give it its full title.
The partnership with Borders means that the eBook comes pre-loaded with 100 “all-time classics”. Presumably Napper Goes For Goal is one of the classics included – it is the greatest story ever told. The Borders’ e-book store has an additional 45,000 titles available to download.
The eBook is only 9mm thick and weighs just 180g. It has a 6-inch e-ink screen which can display eight different font sizes. It also has an SD card slot which can support up to 4GB. Elonex sells an accessory pack for the eBook for £29 which has a 4GB card as well as a leather case. Alternatively just buy a 4GB SD card from Play.com for £6.49.
Elonex states that, with a 4GB SD card in place, the eBook can hold 8,000 books. “With 8,000 books weighing the same as an elephant,” they say. “How else are you going to fit 8,000 books in your suitcase?” Quite why you’d need 8,000 books on you is open to debate though. Surely only Holly from Red Dwarf and, perhaps, Will Self have read 8,000 books.
Sorry if this post came off a little unenthusiastic, it’s just that with every e-book release, the giant Kindle sized hole in the UK becomes even more apparent.
The Elonex eBook will cost you £189.95 and will be available here very soon.
(via T3)
Asteroids the movie – what HD was made for
Asteroids is coming to a big screen near you. That’s no lie. The classic Atari title, originally released 30 years ago, is being made into a movie.
I’m expecting it to be quite intense viewing – plenty of complicated dialogue, elaborate plot twists and some Oscar-worthy performances from its cast.
Or maybe it will stay faithful to the original game and will simply be two-hours of a triangle-based spaceship blowing up some square-ish looking asteroids with little or no plot at all. Maybe they could even shoot it in black and white for added authenticity.
Universal has apparently signed up Matthew Lopez to write the script for the film which will be produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura.
It sounds like a winner. No honestly. Although it will have a hard job dislodging Super Mario Bros as the best ever movie adaptation of a game. Bob Hoskins as Mario – genius.
(via THR & @clashcityrocker)
Get yourself in the mood for the movie with a quick blast on the original game:
Microsoft withdraws controversial vomit advert
Microsoft has pulled an online advert from its dedicated Internet Explorer 8 website, Browser for the Better, after it sparked complaints from some viewers.
In the advert a wife looks on her husband’s laptop and vomits after seeing his browsing history. By the looks of it she had just finished off a bowl of custard. The husband then slips on her vomit whilst Dean Cain – yep, Superman Dean Cain – enters and explains how the whole situation could have been avoided with IE8’s private browsing feature.
Microsoft said the ad was supposed to be “tongue-in-cheek”. They said: “While much of the feedback to this particular piece of creative was positive, some of our customers found it offensive, so we have removed it.”
You can, unsurprisingly, still watch the advert on YouTube. Enjoy:
(via Brand Republic)
Apple responds to iPhone 3GS overheating risk
Apple has put an official warning on its website in response to the mass panic on the internet regarding the apparent overheating of many users’ iPhone 3GSs.
Apple warns that the device should only be used where the temperature is between 0º and 35º C, so presumably people living in Dubai, or somewhere equally as hot, can’t use their iPhones outdoors? Additionally iPhones should be stored where the temperature is between -20º and 45º and not left inside cars in hot weather.
The warning states that if the interior temperature of the device exceeds normal operating temperatures, the device may stop charging, display dimmer, have a weak signal or a temperature warning screen may even appear.
Some users have complained, via internet forums, that their devices have become warped or even turned a pinkish colour after overheating. Not good.
It’s not really Apple’s fault that we’re currently in the midst of a heat-wave but surely the iPhone shouldn’t be overheating when it’s being used within the temperature guidelines. Some users are complaining that this is exactly what’s happening – particularly whilst charging.
Have you been affected by iPhone overheating? Let us know using the comments function.
(via The Guardian)
