Tag: shinymedia
Is Sony facing an uphill struggle with Blu-ray?
Andy Merrett writes…
Yes, it’s another instalment of the HD DVD versus Blu-ray debate / war, but this time things are a little different.
Instead of a war of words between various equipment manufacturers and official associations on both sides, this is to do with lawsuits.
We’ve spent a lot of time reporting on lawsuits – a lot of them come from Apple – but Sony has been hit with two in a single week. They both affect Blu-ray.
MMS-witness: citizens can text in pics of criminals
Waleli, a wireless innovations company, has developed a new system called MMS-witness that allows anyone with a camera on their mobile phone to assist in fighting crime.
It allows the police to easily accept pictures and movies taken by members of the public using mobile phones, and is supposed to increase the chances of a successful arrest by then sending relevant images back to police officers in the locality.
New study suggests digital gadgets are going to waste
A new survey of 1,000 adults by Virgin Media suggests that more is being spent on digital gadgetry than on home improvements.
Three-quarters of those surveyed said that they had spent over ten grand on electronic equipment in the past year — seven times more than on their homes.
However, one in twenty people are letting these devices go to waste, because they don’t know how to set them up. That apparently includes the likes of plasma TVs (how hard can it be?).
ViaMichelin launch X960 and X970T personal navigation devices
ViaMichelin has unveiled its new X960 and X970T personal satellite navigation systems. They’re compact devices, with the X960 weighing in at 136g.
As well as offering simple directions, they can also be loaded up with downloadable POI (Point of Interest) packs which can guide the user around interesting sites in the locality.
In addition, the X970T features free real time traffic information and a Bluetooth hands free function allowing incoming phone calls to be answered by touching the screen.
Daily Telegraph recreates its Chelsea Flower Show garden in Second Life
Though the real Chelsea Flower Show is now over for another year, the Daily Telegraph has recreated its garden in Second Life, claiming it to be the first of its kind in the virtual 3D world.
Inhabitants of Second Life can view the virtual garden by logging on and visiting the Kensington and Chelsea area of the virtual world (where else?)
Creative launch Xmod Wireless Music System
Creative has announced the availability of its Xmod Wireless music system that connects directly to a PC via USB and streams music wirelessly around the home using its Xtreme Fidelity quality-enhancing technology.
The Xmod Wireless connects to a PC and speaker system without the need to install drivers. The included X-Fi Wireless Receiver is then connected to a speaker system elsewhere in the home, up to 100 feet away, and can then be streamed between the two stations.
Philips launch six new portable DVD players with iPod integration
Philips has announced six new high-performance portable DVD players, two of which include an iPod dock which allows for the playback of video, audio and photos from an attached iPod.
First up are the widescreen DVD players, available in 7, 8.5, and 10.2 inch screen sizes. They all feature a full in-car mounting kit, internal power supply unit, two headphone jacks, USB connection, AV in and out, and digital audio output.
How David Beckham can prepare for a possible England recall
Beleaguered England coach Steve McLaren has hinted that David Beckham may be coming back to the squad.
McLaren’s quoted as saying he’s been “keeping an eye” on Beckham’s “form” (and with pictures like that, who hasn’t?). So how can our Dave ensure he’s in McLaren’s eyeline? By working the spotlight with an array of handy gadgets, of course.
Want to keep a closer eye on Beckham yourself? Then enter Lost Weekend’s amazing Beckham competition.
BT offering rewards for its loyal broadband customers. How about a lower subscription and higher bandwidth allowance instead?
Andy Merrett writes…
British Telecom has announced that, as a “thank you” to its loyal broadband customers, it will be offering them £500 worth of vouchers to spend on leisure breaks or online stores.
That’s all very nice for PR, but to be honest, I’m not a huge fan of these types of promotions. It won’t have cost BT anywhere near £500 per customer to give away these vouchers (which, by the way, I’ve not had a sniff of yet), there are usually some hefty terms and conditions on how they can be used (in other words, please spend more money), and really… all I want is a decent broadband service.
Google Translate adds new language conversion features to web searching
Google has announced that it’s added new features to Google Translate to make it easier to search for and read web pages in other languages.
Google already offers basic translation services on web pages and language phrases. Their updated system allows anyone to search for web pages in another language, and read the results in their own language.
