Author: Shinychris
Remastered Star Trek as CBS comes to Freesat
See Mr Spock and Captain Kirk as they were meant to be seen warts and all as the digitally remastered version of the original Star Trek comes to Freesat. Three new CBS channels are due to launch on Freesat, November 16 – CBS Drama, CBS Reality and CBS Action – replacing Zone Romantica, Zone Reality and Zone Thriller.
Other classic shows on the three channels include Dynasty, Moonlighting and Models Inc. Freesat, the subscription-free satellite TV service offers over 140 channels and free high-definition (HD) programmes from the BBC and ITV. CBS Drama, CBS Reality and CBS Action will be on channels 135, 136 and 137 respectively.
www.freesat.co.uk
LinkedIn announces integration deal with Twitter
LinkedIn, the social networking site aimed mostly it seems at young professionals touting for work, has announced a partnership with microblogging platform Twitter. As a result of the deal, members will now be able to share status updates between their LinkedIn and Twitter accounts.
The integration of the two networks through the Tweets app allows members of LinkedIn to automatically share their updates on the professional network with their Twitter followers. They can also select Twitter status updates to share with their LinkedIn network by adding the #in hashtag to tweets on the microblogging site. LinkedIn members will be able to track and manage their Twitter feed from within their LinkedIn profile.
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 51 million members, including 11 million in Europe and almost 3 million in the UK. However it seems that many people who have LinkedIn profiles spend very little time updating their status or their profile. LinkedIn will no doubt be hoping that the Twitter integration will make their service a little more dynamic. The new service will be available in the next
For more information check out the LinkedIn blog at: http://blog.linkedin.com/
Yamaha's Tenori-On Orange – cool but affordable
OK, it may look like the board the fourth official holds up to tell you how much injury time there is at a football match, but actually it's the latest version of an intriguing musical device from Yamaha.
First launched at the end of 2007, the Tenori-On is a 16 x 16 matrix of LED switches which allows you to play music intuitively to create a visible musical interface. The device comprises 16 layers and each layer can be assigned separate notes and voices. Apparently, it's already proved popular with artists such as Bjork, Yoko Ono and Little Boots, but now Yamaha has launched a new wallet-friendly (ie. cheaper version) for us normal folk.
The new Tenori-On 'Orange' offers the same levels of creative power as the original but Yamaha has replaced the very cool but expensive magnesium casing of the original with a heavy duty and durable plastic casing. Prices have yet to be confirmed but it will be significantly cheaper than the original £949 model.
Have your eyes snapped with Sony Ericsson
Celebrity photographer Jillian Edelstein has snapped the best of them including Kate Moss, Simon Pegg and Bill Nighy (pictured). Now she’s working with Sony Ericsson on a new project called Eyes Wide Open to promote the launch of its latest Satio handset on Vodfaone.
The idea is simple: to capture images of 121 eyeballs in only 12.1 hours. Sony Ericsson is searching for people from all over the country and all walks of life to take part in the project.
MySpace offers music videos and artist dashboard
In a bid to play catch up with Facebook and Twitter, the guys at MySpace – remember them – are launching a wave of new music products for the social networking site.
At the Web 2.0 summit in San Francisco last night MySpace CEO Owen Van Natta announced several new MySpace Music services for users including a MySpace Music Videos product, MySpace Music Artist Dashboard and Apple/ iTunes integration.
BlackBerry Bold 9700 offers improved camera and battery life
In an event at its European R&D facility in Bochum Germany today, RIM finally took the wraps off the much rumoured new BlackBerry Bold. Billed as the Bold 9700, though we wonder if consumers might call it the Bold 2, the new device is smaller (109x60x14.1mm) and lighter (122g) than its predecessor and has undergone a few key cosmetic and technological changes.
In many ways the design of the handset is a more akin to the Blackberry Curve rather than the square-ish straight lines of the original Bold 9000. As well as being more curvaceous the 9700 is also slightly smaller, though the keyboard sand screen size aren't too different from its predecessor.
The major ergonomic change is the inclusion of the trackpad which first debuted on the Blackberry 8250. This is a swipe style feature which makes it much quicker to cycle between the applications in the interface.
One of the major criticisms of the original Bold was its poor battery life. RIM has not only addressed this but its representatives are making a major feature of the new Bold's battery life. The company claims that even with heavy usage it can run for three days without a recharge. Standby time is apparent y a very impressive 16 days and RIM claims that the MP3 player will run for 33 hours before it runs out of juice.
RIM has also improved the quality of the camera with the new model sporting a 3.2 mega pixel snapper with improved lighting sensitivity. Other facilities include 3G, Wi-Fi, storage from a bundled two Gigabyte card, 480×360 65k 2.44inch screen, a camcorder, GPS, Bluetooth, BlackBerry Messenger and access to the BlackBerry app store
Unlike the recently launched Storm 2, which is a Vodafone exclusive in the UK, the Bold 9700 will be available in November from most UK networks with Vodafone and T-Mobile lined up to receive it first.
Teufel iPod dock alarm clock radio
European loudspeaker firm Teufel is to introduce, the iTeufel Radio – a portable FM/AM radio, alarm clock and iPod dock rolled into one. Reminiscent of an old wireless with its wood finish, the iPod charges while docked and the alarm can be set with a tone or station chosen by you. A remote control enables you to control functions and sound from the comfort of your sofa or bed.
BBC Trust blocks plans for iPlayer sharing
According to Paid Content, the BBC Trust is blocking plans for sharing the iPlayer.
In a September 29 proposal that wasn’t made public, BBC executives said it wanted to create a company to license the VOD (Video on Demand) service to public sector companies. But the BBC Trust – the Beeb’s regualator which is supposed to look after the interests of the licence payer – is blocking the proposal.
The report concluded “that the open iPlayer plans in their proposed form, combining both commercial and public service elements, were too complicated. We were not convinced that there was enough potential value to licence fee payers in the public service part of the proposal, and we have therefore rejected the BBC executive’s proposals for an open iPlayer federation.
The BBC first proposed sharing the iPlayer in December 2008. In its wide-ranging Digital Britain consultation submission it proposed UK public sector broadcast partnerships which it claimed could save counterparts £120 million by 2014.
Via Paid Content
Film studios ban stars from Twitter
Hollywood studios are banning A-listers from leaking information via Twitter over fears the film industry is being damaged.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, a recent contract issued by Disney has banned confidentiality breaches via ‘interactive media such as Facebook, Twitter or any other interactive social networking site, blog or other internet-type site.’
Apparently, rival studio DreamWorks has issued similar guidelines, meaning Cameron Diaz and Mike Myers, who are due to make a Shrek film next year, could be two of the stars affected.
An entertainment lawyer told the Hollywood Reporter: ‘Hollywood has a long history of controlling what talent says in the media. This is just a new area of media that hasn’t been controlled yet.’
Last month American Idol judge Paula Abdul dramatically announced that she had quit her role on Twitter. Fox News later issued an official reaction but the news had already spread worldwide.
Vodafone 360 Samsung H1 to launch on 30 October
The first handset to deliver Vodafone’s integrated social media platform, Vodafone 360 (www.360.com), can be ordered from today at www.vodafone.co.uk/360.
Tailor made for Vodafone, the Samsung H1 smartphone boasts a 3.5inch, high definition OLED screen, 16GB memory, WiFi, GPS, a maximum talk time of over 400 minutes (3G) and a 5 megapixel camera
Vodafone 360 automatically syncs all contacts from your phone, Facebook®, Windows Live Messenger™ and Google Talk™, and will soon also include. It also automatically backs up all phone content to the internet.
The Vodafone 360 Samsung H1 will be free on 24 month contracts of £35 and above, available at www.vodafone.co.uk/360. With an unlimited data package included, customers signing up will have the confidence to get the most out of Vodafone 360.
