Win a Natural Selection Limited-edition Toshiba Laptop

If someone was to say to you that a celebrity has been chosen as a natural selection, you will wonder why he or she would be treated in such a way. That is just what Toshiba have done with their Natural Selection Limited-edition series, all in a good cause though. Read more

2009 Nobel Prize for Physics Won by Communication Pioneers

The 2009 Nobel Prize for Physics recognizes pioneers in communication, Charles Kao, George Smith and Willard Boyle will share this year’s price. All three have been instrumental when it comes to communications and great to see that they have been rewarded for their achievements. Read more

Hello Kitty Parachute Paradise: Available for iPhone

A new game is available at Apple’s App Store, the game is called Hello Kitty Parachute Paradise (this was rumored in mid-July). The game costs $4.99 and could be a great purchase to keep your kids entertained, that said it is quite a fun game for all ages. Read more

Apple iPhone Virus: The antivirus solution

The days of Apple having invulnerable systems is long gone, with the Apple pop culture spreading worldwide and becoming ever more popular, it has in doing so, attracted the likes of hackers and exploiters too. Luckily the CEO of AVG (JR Smith) has come forward to calm the nerves of the Apple supporters whose faith in Apple’s security has been somewhat shattered over the last month due to articles like THIS one about the iPhone, and THIS one about the Mac keyboards. Read more

Microsoft Office 2010: Fending off EU antitrust regulators

Microsoft are to offer a file format “ballot” to Office 2010, it is hoped that this will help to fend off and block huge fines from European Union (EU) antitrust regulators. Two weeks ago, Microsoft offered a number of promises related to Office 2010 to the European Commission, this is to help address a number of antitrust concerns that was first picked up by officials back in January 2008. Read more

Jaguar Cuts 300 Jobs and Kills X-Type

Tata Motors has made the decision to cut 300 jobs at Jaguar as well as killing off the X-Type. This is the latest in a line of layoffs for the automaker. These layoffs for Jaguar Land Rover will affect its Halewood factory, the news of the job cuts and the killing of the baby Jag will come as a huge shock to the industry. Read more

Closing Chrysler Dealers: Opelika Dealership Reacts

A number of Chrysler dealers have reacted badly to the news that they have to close their dealership today. The Opelika dealership General Sales Manager Johnny Jones has said that it is not nice when someone informs you that your business is being taken from you, and there is nothing you can do about it. Read more

Samuel Morse Birthday: Morse code / single wire telegraph system

Today is the birthday of Samuel Finley Breese Morse, who was born on April 27, 1791 and died on April 2, 1872. Morse was an American Painter of historic scenes, but he will be remembered for his other achievements, for being the creator of a single wire telegraph system as well as Morse code. Read more

Zivix Headliner Prototype Guitar: Works in Guitar Hero and Rock Band

There are those of us who have tried our hardest to rock it on Rock Band and Guitar Hero, while playing along to tracks from the likes of Aerosmith or Guns N’ Roses. However, how many of you think that it is just a pointless exercise trying to rock it while pressing a few colorful buttons on that small plastic guitar. Read more

Christmas Day Family Fun and Games

The presents have all been opened, the Turkey has been devoured. What do we do next on Christmas day? In the 16th to 19th centuries, people would play ‘Snapdragons’ this game involves covering a plate of raisins in brandy and setting the whole thing alight Read more

Smiths Group Expects Savings of US$25m From Agreement With AT&T

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and Smiths Group plc (LSE: SMIN) today announced that the global technology business Smiths Group, has selected AT&T as its world-wide communications provider. The five year agreement reflects Smiths’ ongoing business transformation programme and will help Smiths to leverage its global scale, delivering improved productivity and cost reductions across the group’s five business divisions. The company expects to achieve annual savings of at least of at least US$5 million on its IT and related communications costs Read more

Hello Kitty 1GB USB drive exclusive to W.H. Smiths

It has to be said that the Hello Kitty USB drive might be more suited for the girls in the family or office, not saying that the Hello Kitty USB drive won’t look cool along with your rugby sports bag but hey it’s really up to your personal taste.

Needless to say that the Hello Kitty 1GB drive from Vertatim is in the Hello Kitty trademark pink for a limited period at WH Smith’s and will set you back £8.74 for the cute little kitty.

The 2GB model will be available in pink, lilac and black and well cost you the normal price which is £17.99, W.H. Smiths are the only outlet you can get either of these USB drives until December 2008.

Source: Pocket-lint

Update: Research In Motion vs Apple 3G iPhone

Two weeks before the new Apple (AAPL) 3G iPhone was released, a ChangeWave consumer survey showed it was likely to have a tsunami-like impact on the smart phone market. But what does that mean for current market share leader Research In Motion (RIMM)? Read more

Verizon FiOS TV Service: More HD channels than rivals

America’s biggest city now has the biggest high-definition (HD) TV lineup as Verizon today begins selling FiOS TV service to customers in New York City. As FiOS TV is launched here, the service will offer 100 HD channels, giving customers more HD than Time Warner or Cablevision.

The new channel lineup will also be offered to existing FiOS TV markets in the New York metropolitan area, including parts of Long Island, the suburbs just north of the city, and northern New Jersey. Read more

Xbox 360 and Guitar Hero: Aerosmith

Powered by the electric blues-infused, “grab you by your throat” rock n’ roll made famous by the legendary Boston rockers, Guitar Hero®: Aerosmith® represents the franchise’s first band-specific offering. They could have hardly chosen better as Joe Perry’s explosive guitar work seems tailor-made for Guitar Hero glory Read more

3G iPhone from Apple: Chart shows Tsunami impact on smartphones

The new 3G iPhone from Apple (AAPL) is going to have a tsunami-like impact on the smart phone market, according to a new ChangeWave survey of 3,567 consumers conducted in the aftermath of Apple’s June 9th announcement.

At present, the Canadian Blackberry manufacturer Research in Motion (RIMM; 42%, unchanged) is the clear consumer smart phone market leader among smart phone owners.

But the biggest mover over the past 90 days has been the Apple iPhone (11%; up 2-pts), which continues to make major inroads in the consumer marketplace. Having gained market share for the fourth-consecutive survey, it is now close to wrestling the number two spot away from Palm (PALM; 14%, down 2-pts) which has sunk to a new record low.

“These numbers are good news for Apple,” said Tobin Smith, founder of ChangeWave Research and editor of ChangeWave Investing, “but it’s when we asked respondents about their planned smart phone purchases over the next 90 days that the tsunami-like effect of this marketplace transformation becomes crystal clear.”

The Coming Apple Tsunami - The survey found that a full 56% of respondents who plan to purchase a smart phone in the next 90 days say they’re getting an Apple iPhone – a huge 21-pt leap from the previous survey. The above chart shows just how dramatic a jump in market share this represents.

Going forward, RIM’s share of consumer planned purchases is set to take a hit over the next 90 days, falling 6-pts to 23%. Palm remains a far distant third with just 3% of planned purchases.

Note that the above chart focuses exclusively on the 10.5% of total survey respondents who say they plan on buying a smart phone during the next 90 days. The 10.5% represents a sharp jump from the previous survey in March, and it is the highest percentage of planned smart phone buyers recorded in a ChangeWave survey.

“The most likely explanation for such a large-scale projected increase in smart phone buyers going forward is the anticipation and publicity surrounding the imminent release of the 3G iPhone,” said Smith.

In another positive for the new 3G iPhone, better than one-in-two current iPhone owners (55%) say they’re Very Likely to buy the 3G iPhone for themselves or someone else in the future. And many don’t plan to wait long. Among this group, half (50%) say they’ll purchase within the first 90 days of release.

RIM Gets Set to Counterattack - While the 3G iPhone announcement has catapulted Apple ahead in terms of planned consumer smart phone purchases, it should be remembered that Research in Motion has a huge lead of its own in the corporate smart phone market. RIM is also still the leader among current owners in the consumer market.

Moreover, RIM isn’t sitting idly by while Apple rolls out the 3G iPhone. The Canadian manufacturer has multiple plans in motion to counter Apple’s momentum among consumers – including an already announced new product release (the Bold) and two likely additional product releases (the Thunder and Kickstart).

In an upcoming release, ChangeWave will report on what consumer respondents have to say about RIM’s new counteroffensive – and the ongoing battle for smart phone supremacy.

To download the chart along with additional Consumer Smart Phone findings, visit blog.changewave.com.

Downloadable Content Transfer - keep gamers playing and paying

We have all heard about the Console war of Xbox 360, Sony PS3 and Nintendo Wii but now there is another war brewing in the games console world. This time it is directed at downloadable content and how the latest games have more downloadable options to keep gamers playing and paying.

The game developers know that adding better downloadable options will bring a lot more ways of making money after the game is sold and this area can be expanded over the life of the product. One example is a new game I have for the Sony PS3, SingStar 2 lets you buy the game at a cheap price and then download more songs after for around £1 each in the UK. This is good value; you get the song, a video and all the lyrics to sing along too. Our Playstation 3 now has over 60 songs added to the list of 30 that came with the disc at first.

The newest versions of all games are doing this, just look at the recently announced Rock Band 2 and other games like Guitar Hero: World Tour. These will give you many options to get downloadable content to expand the game after purchase. Once you have the content, what will happen when you upgrade the game?

With SingStar 2 your able to play all previously downloaded songs, as they are stored on the hard drive and linked to your online account but the songs on the disc of the first game cannot be taken off. This is a shame but you can still access them by putting in the disc.

Rock Band and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock have completely embraced this concept of downloadable content but you will get problems with some games. Content for Guitar Hero III will not work with Guitar Hero: World Tour or Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.

PS3 Daily show that Rock Band have done a better job when it comes to thinking about the user, this is because all content you downloaded for Rock Band will work with the second version. This seems common sense but then maybe not to every brand. What’s your view of making content work with all sequels?

Rhapsody to launch assault on Apple iTunes: while embracing iPod

When it comes to digital downloads there is only one big boy in town for most people, and that is Apple iTunes. Will it looks like they are about to face an assault from the likes of Rhapsody, as this digital music reseller is about to launch a $50 million assault on Apple’s download service. Rhapsody will be offering songs available to download online via partners who include Yahoo Inc and Verizon Wireless.

According to Reuters, the songs which are available for download will be in MP3 format, so if you are using the Rhapsody service you will be able to play them on iPods. This is a new move from Rhapsody, as they only used to focus on a subscription service. This allowed people access to unlimited song streaming for $13 to $15 a month, unlike the download service which Apple does.

Rhapsody, which is jointly, owned by Real Networks Inc and Viacom Inc’s MTV Networks will have a tough time on their hands to take on the might that is iTunes. Rhapsody Vice President Neil Smith has said “The fact the service has not been compatible with Apple Inc’s top-selling iPod digital player has limited Rhapsody’s reach.” He also added “We’re no longer competing with the iPod, we’re embracing it.”

Rhapsody will have some great help along the way though, as it will be the music store back-end to MTV’s music Web sites as well as iLike, this is one of the most used applications that is used on the social networking site Facebook. Rhapsody will also be available on cell phones via the Verizon Wireless VCAST Music service; it looks as though Rhapsody is launching this assault on iTunes from every angle. If a buyer has purchased that song over-the-air on to their mobiles, they will then be able to transfer it on to their computer, which can then be transferred on to their MP3 player, or iPod.

Rhapsody is not the only player to try and launch an assault on Apple’s iTunes, who have a 70 percent-plus market share of U.S. digital music sales. Just last month Napstar launched an MP3 store, and last year Amazon.com Inc and Wal-Mart Stores Inc both launched music download stores. However; as yet none of these has made a dent in the market share of iTunes, so will Rhapsody be any different.

7 reasons not to buy a new 3G iPhone

Everyone has reasons not to buy a product and also why to buy one, we look at one persons seven reasons not to buy the new Apple iPhone 3G and to help you see why you may or may not want to get the next version. Have a read of Chad W Smith’s reasons why he won’t be buying a new iPhone and let us know if you agree.

The 2-year contract - I’ve never had a 2-year contract in my life. For anything. My college was semester to semester. Heck, my marriage didn’t last a year. Being locked into a $30 data plan + whatever the calling plan is - per month - for the next 24 months. You realize that is over $700 - *just for the data plan!* - and that’s not counting the $199 for the phone itself. In the end, it will cost more than $1000 for the iPhone. To put that in perspective - I pay $10 a month for my phone now. The data plan alone - (keep in mind, there’s a voice plan to be added here too) - would cost me almost $500 more over the next two years. And, right now, I can cancel at any time with no ETF.

There are better phones. That’s right, you heard me. There are *BETTER* phones. The key word being “PHONE”. The iPhone is this weird jack-of-all-trades / master-of-none device. It’s not a very good phone. I don’t want a slippery phone. I don’t want a smudgable phone. I don’t want a phone that I can’t blind-dial. I don’t want a phone that I can’t swap the battery out of. I don’t want a phone I can’t swap the SIM out of. I don’t want a $200 phone that can’t voice dial. Then there’s the lack of MMS, the lack of external storage, the lack of copy and paste for crying out loud… It’s not a very good phone.

There are better pocketable Internet devices. The Nokia Internet Tablets kick the iPhone’s ass when it comes to pocketable Internet. Let me prove it in one word. FLASH. Yeah. Real desktop Flash - on a device that has a much higher resolution screen, with a physical keyboard. I owned an N800 for almost a year, and it rarely was far away from me. And that model didn’t have a keyboard. But it did have an 800 x 480 screen, a real AJAX/Flash capable browser, (there was never a site I couldn’t use/view on my N800 - and I use Google Docs, Blogger, and YouTube a lot). Tons of open source software (that didn’t have to be approved by Steve Jobs, or anyone else - other than ME, to work on MY device). It did USB in and out - Bluetooth, FM radio, a much faster processor, and 2 SD slots… The newer models have all that, plus GPS, plus a physical keyboard. And the new Pandora (the reason I don’t have my N800 anymore) will be even more powerful processor, game controls, and the convenient no-in-pocket-accidental dialing clamshell design.

There are better media players. The iPod Touch comes to mind. It doesn’t have a monthly fee. But there are also things like the N8×0 series I was talking about. Or the Archos PMPs. Something with removable storage, something with a bigger screen, something that can play anything. But, seriously, if you just want the iPhone for its media potential - get the iPod Touch. You’ll pay more upfront (now) - but that’s all you’ll pay. Plus, it’s thinner, and you can get more storage. Plus, you can afford to buy a descent phone to go with it.

There are better smartphones. Ok - you want an all-in-one. You don’t want a phone and an Internet device. Get a BlackJack II. Get a BlackBerry. Get an EnV. Get something that will work as a modem. (I really can’t believe the 3G iPhone still won’t let you Bluetooth pair with another device for Wireless Internet. I should be able to pair the iPhone up with my MacBook and go online.) Get something that will copy & paste - (that is insane - that’s GUI 101 - that’s features the most basic computers back in the 1980s had). Get something that can open Office documents and PDFs! Get something with a physical keyboard.

There are better media phones. This might be harder to prove. But that’s just because I’m not a big media phone guy. But to me, external storage is a given. To me, video recording is a given. To me, a decent camera is a given. To me, MMS is a given.

There are better GPS devices. Like say, um, any dedicated GPS device. And many GPS enabled phones. Voice recognition is pretty key here. Being big enough to see while mounted in a car is too.

The 3G iPhone may not be perfect, I will certainly be upgrading but not everyone feels the same. Do you relate to Chad’s reasons?

Could The Beatles be heading to Guitar Hero or Rock Band?

It has been announced that legendary band The Beatles are currently in talks with Activision and MTV, on trying to expand their licensing deal to include video games. This deal could be worth millions of pounds and could of course lead to their appearances on Activision’s Guitar Hero, or MTV’s Rock Band.
The report suggests that this deal could be reached within a matter of weeks, so it will be interesting to find out more specific information on this as regards to Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Not everything is straight forward though as all the master recordings of the songs are owned by company EMI, and would need to be approved by them first, while another company Apple Corps manages all of their business interests. These are probably the main reasons why we are yet to see any of the Beatles tracks on Rock Band yet.

It is an interesting time ahead though for the rhythm genre as it may not be long until we see some of the Beatles tracks gracing the likes of Rock Band or Guitar Hero. A recent post on PS3Daily stated that Guitar Hero and Rock Band are now as popular as ever, as Guitar Hero: Aerosmith was the latest game to follow the current trend.

How many of you would like to see a dedicated Rock Band game based solely on The Beatles, I personally think it would be very popular, as it could target a whole new audience for the developers, not to mention, getting the younger generation playing classic rock music.

Source: Read

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