Author: Shinychris
Spotify offers one click music buying from 7Digital
Spotify has improved the way its users buy music online. Up until now, users have had to use the "Buy From" feature to download individual tracks from its digital download partner 7Digital.
This meant completing a number of steps before being directed to an external website. But now Spotify users can choose to buy from a library of 8 million tracks without having to leave Spotify.
Rather than having to right-click on a track/album to discover if the music is available to buy they can now see exactly what music is available, with 'buy' buttons now visible either underneath the album cover or next to a particular track.
Pure Chronos iDock with USB PowerPort
Listen to your iPod/iPhone when you wake up with this latest Chronos iDock clock radio. Part of Apple's "Made for iPod" and "Works with iPhone" programmes, Chronos iDock Series II enables also boasts stereo DAB, DAB+ and FM clock radio.
Track and 'now playing' information is displayed on the Chronos iDock Series II screen and users can control their iPod/iPhone via the radio or remote control.
Based on the award-winning Chronos iDock and available in black or white it comes with enhanced controls including a rotary dial and larger, easy-to-use buttons. PowerPort provides charging for USB accessories such as a mobile phone charger, reading light or even cup warmer solving the problem of having insufficient power points next to the bed.
Other features includefour independent alarms (for waking to DAB/ FM, iPod/iPhone or a tone) adjustable sleep and snooze timers and a light sensor which automatically dims the display. An MP3/CD player or headphones can be connected and a matching remote control is also supplied.
Vodafone introduces Blackberry Storm2
Vodafone has announced the BlackBerry Storm 2 smartphone for customers in seven European countries as well as South Africa.
The second generation of RIM’s touch-screen smartphone, the BlackBerry Storm2 boasts the BlackBerry OS 5 with hardware and software enhancements such as improved touch screen and wi-fi. For more details go here.
During the busy holiday gift buying period customers in the UK and Ireland will be able to get the new smartphone first through Vodafone. It will also be offered exclusively by Vodafone in Germany, Netherlands and Spain and made available in France, Italy and South Africa in time for Christmas.
JVC pocket camera shoots HD Video
JVC has launched its first pocket flash memory camera, the new PICSIO GC-FM1. Combining true eight-megapixel stills and 1080p Full HD video it also offers image stabilisation for minimising camera shake, even when the 4X digital zoom is used, JVC claims.
Videos are recorded in the widely-used MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format and stored as .MOV files for easy sharing without the need for time-consuming and potentially damaging conversion. Storage is on SD/SDHC memory cards. To suit individual shooting situations, PICSIO provides four video and still recording modes.
About the size of a mobile phone the PICSIO is available in three colours – Black Ice, Blue Steel and Purple Passion and comes with a funky-looking geometric pattern and jewel-like appearance.
Polaroid is back – in an instant
Summit Global, the exclusive licensee of Polaroid imaging has announced the return of one of the most iconic camera brands.
Polaroid will once again manufacture a range of classic instant film products like the Polaroid “600” instant film, and also bring back a range of instant cameras to use them with, including the easy to use ‘Polaroid One’.
As well as focusing on traditional analogue film, Polaroid will continue to develop its digital instant platforms, enhancing the revolutionary ZINK (zero-ink) technology used in the Polaroid POGO Instant Digital Printer. This allows users to print photos instantly from a mobile phone or digital camera.
One new product that is planned is the Polaroid “TWO”, the digital version of the traditional instant camera as well as the Polaroid “THREE”, an instant digital Camera that produces 4inch x 3inch instant digital photos.
Vodafone announces cloud-based service, Vodafone PC Backup
Vodafone has announced a new partnership with Decho Corporation which will enable its business and consumer customers to back up digital content from their computer to a remotely hosted site.
Once a customer has backed-up their digital content they will always be able to access it, even if their primary device is lost, stolen or otherwise unavailable. Customers will also be able to view and share the content from their account via the web browser of a PC, laptop or netbook in the future, reducing the need to transfer between devices.
Dubbed Vodafone PC Backup, the services will be available in consumer and business versions across several different territories over the next few months. The business version will also be supported by a web-based management console to enable an administrator to centrally control storage allocations and policies for multiple users.
Wikireader provides instant access to Wikipedia
Want to find out the origins of Halloween or when Samuel Pepys was born while walking round the park with your inquisitive six year old but don’t have an internet connection? Then the WikiReader might just be worth checking out.
A palm-sized electronic encyclopaedia designed for all ages, it contains more than three million English language entries from Wikipedia that can be immediately accessed any time, anywhere without an internet connection. Developed by Openmoko WikiReader turns on instantly and will work for months on two AAA batteries.
The large monochrome screen uses a touch interface, articles are scrolled with a stroke of the finger and hyperlinks selected with a simple tap. Updates for the WikiReader are provided quarterly and available for free download via their website. A yearly subscription plan for updated microSD cards is also available for $29.
“We created the WikiReader to be fun, easy, informative and entertaining for all ages,” said Openmoko CEO, Sean Moss-Pultz. “WikiReader is a whimsical look at the joy of learning in the digital age. It’s personal and it’s fun. We’re extremely excited about sharing our device with the world.”
Costing $99 the WikiReader is available from Amazon.com starting today.
For more information on WikiReader visit http://thewikireader.com.
Slim £99 camcorder from I Want One of Those
From I Want One of Those comes this slim camcorder. Costing just £99, it incorporates 8 x digital zoom as well as stabilisation and motion detection features.
Alternatively if you don’t want to shoot video you can store images or even music on the 64Mb internal memory (with the option of inserting an SD memory card for extra storage). You can connect the camera via USB to transfer pictures/video to your PC and also use the USB port to charge the device.
Switch on to switch off, Virgin Media research claims
A new report commissioned by Virgin Media and carried out by The Future Laboratory claims that two thirds of the UK loves being connected at all times and feels more relaxed when connected than when not.
These people have even been given a media friendly name: 'SOSOs' – those who switch on to switch off. Apparently SOSO behaviour is not only reflected in a love of being connected to technology but also by anxiety caused by the implications of not being connected.
Over a third (35 per cent) experienced anxiety when not able to use technology to stay in touch with their family, around a third (31 per cent) was most anxious about not being able to make money/work online and 27 per cent was most concerned with not being able to connect to friends. Anxiety is also apparent when technology can't be called upon to provide advice, whether through online maps (25 per cent), dating (21 per cent) or shopping for the best deals (15 per cent).
Says psychologist Nik Simpson: "At any moment, an urgent email may ping into an inbox, a client may call, an old friend may get in touch via Facebook or a family member may want to get in touch. Therefore, to disconnect from technology may mean missing something we cannot afford to. Always being connected actually becomes increasingly essential for peace of mind, further reinforcing SOSO values."
Amplichoir – sing Lollipop and win MTV EMA VIP tickets, maybe
Dell and MTV have joined together to produce Amplichoir. The idea is simple. You record yourself singing Lollipop (the music used in the Dell adverts of course) using a webcam and microphone and you can see and hear yourself by clicking on a thumbnail on the home screen.
Billed as the world’s biggest karaoke, it’s so far attracted around 500 people to participate. The incentive for people to take part – apart from the chance of singing a naff, but very catchy, song out of tune? The chance to win VIP tickets to the European MTV Music Awards and afterparty in Berlin on November 5th.
The prize includes flights and accommodation for you and a friend, stretch limousine transfers to and from the airport and awards, champagne and flowers in your room when you arrive, dinner for two at Fischers Fritz (the only 2 Michelin Star restaurant in Berlin), a relaxing massage in the Regent Spa, make-up/hairdresser to get you looking good for the awards and after-party, and an EMA Award presented to you on the red carpet. So what are you waiting for? Time to dust off that miicrophone and croon with the best of them.
