2008 July

July 30, 2008

LG 47LG60 47-inch 1080p LCD HDTV

by Franz Bicar

The 47-inch LG 47LG60 1080p LCD HDTV can be compared to a fine glass of wine. This black and red HDTV has layer after layer of scintillating features. You get the 1920x1080p high definition images accompanied with a flourish of Dolby Digital surround sound from invisible speakers. A ...

Palringo luanches RMS for iPhone

by Brian Turner
iPhone owners can now download Palringoâ€™s rich messaging service (RMS) application from AppleÂ®â€™s new App Store. Palringo enables picture messaging, text-based messaging and, soon, vocal instant messaging over the iPhoneâ€™s data connection. Palringo integrates with several existing, popular instant messaging services: AOLâ€™s AIM, Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger, Gadu Gadu, ICQ, Jabber and Windows Live Messenger. People can also use ...

The world’s cheapest laptop

by David Allen

The world of cheap laptops has not been the same since the introduction of the "laptop for all" scheme; the question is now, how low can, they go? Well clearly, they can go lower; in fact, there is a new laptop on scene, which is a real contender for the title “The Cheapest Laptop in the World” The Impulse ...

BBC guilty of deceiving viewers

by David Allen

The media watchdog Ofcom has been showing the broadcasters the red card again. This time the BBC have been under the microscope concerning the issues surrounding the phone ins on TV shows such as Comic Relief, Sports Relief and Children in Need, as well as several radio competitions too. Ofcom have decided that the BBC staff responsible for the organising ...

Europe forces retailers to take batteries back

by David Allen

As from the 26th September all retailers who sell batteries or sell goods with batteries included throughout Europe will have provide a service where they will accept all waste batteries. This is regardless of whether replacements are purchased or not. This move comes as the dangerous contents of all batteries are ending up in landfills, considering that they ...

Vonage release Vonage Pro

by David Allen

Essentially Vonage is a VOIP provider, but with a distinct difference. The service allows the user to make and receive phone calls from their business of home phone while they are away. Vonage Pro utilises VOIP so that the user can make a call via the internet from virtually anywhere provided that they have an internet connection, but when ...

BT survey reveals internet fears

by David Allen

In a survey conducted by BT with has been named 21st Century Life, has thrown up some interesting figures when comparing the difference between the internet users in 1998 to the internet user of 2008! The amount of people who spend more than five hours a week on the internet has increased by a significant amount - in fact ...

Asus attack the PC sector

by David Allen

Most people have heard of the Asus Eee, the small laptop that despite being small on the outside is definitely big on the inside! Following the success of their small laptop, Asus are moving their technical know how into the PC sector with the Asus Eee Box, where they intend to attack this market in the same way that ...

Dell goes green with new Studio

by David Allen

The word Hybrid is normally associated with cars these days, but computer maker Dell have actually managed to incorporate this word into their product range with the launch of the new Dell Studio Hybrid PC. This computer is being touted as a rival for Apple, though Apple fans will probably find that quite amusing. Dell say that the PC ...

Pace see profits surge

by David Allen

With the digital switchover in full swing at the moment, it should be expected that a company whose business is directly related to digital TV would be doing well. For the West Yorkshire based set top box maker Pace their six monthly figures show that sales have been brisk. The company see nearly three million set top boxes ...

July 29, 2008

Westinghouse TX-42F430S HDTV

by Franz Bicar

Westinghouse has entered the market for inexpensive HDTVs. The Westinghouse TX-42F430S is one of their models meant as a stepping stone towards this endeavor. Similar to AOC's Envision series, Westinghouse meant for this set to produce good-quality images, omitting the advanced features and sophisticated design that is common ...

Battle for football fans begins

by David Allen

With the new football season only a matter of a few weeks away, the season has already started for the broadcasters looking to score with the fans who prefer to stay at home and watch their teams play. Sky has had the upper for so long that this new competition from Virgin Media and BT is new ground for ...

Mobileme messes up accounts

by David Allen

Apples Mobileme service offers email, address book and a calendar in a easy to use web application, further more iPhone users can sign up for a free trial just to see how things go and if the customer finds it useful enough to sign up for the fully paid up membership. However, alarm bells have been ringing when a ...

UK to get interactive crime maps

by David Allen

The decision by the Home Office to create an interactive series of maps, which would show immediately what sort of crimes had taken place at a certain location, would initially appear to be a good idea. However as the proposal is to show up every reported crime on the Google style maps, it may have a detrimental effect on ...

BT buys Ribbit

by David Allen

The deal that has been around for sometime now has finally been agreed. BT is being reported as paying around £53 million for the Silicon Valley based Ribbit. Ribbit are only a few months away from launching their latest development, which allows users to combine mobile phone calls with the internet and then convert into text. There are many ...

Dell’s Smartphone Plans Revealed

by Franz Bicar
A recent interview to Dell's CEO, Michael Dell, revealed the company's plan for smartphone development. Rumors have been circulating a long time ago on Dell's plans to enter the smartphone market. As one of the world's largest manufacturer and seller of personal computers and other computer-related products, Dell could definitely benefit and expand their services if they decide to venture ...

July 28, 2008

Comarch offers IPTV solution for satellite DTH

by Brian Turner

Comarch have released a new IPTV solution intended for Direct-To-Home (DTH) operators allowing them to offer interactive TV services over a telecom infrastructure. Using Comarch’s solution, DTH and telecom operators can cooperate to offer IPTV together with information services, online shopping and other TV services based on interactivity and high-quality multimedia ...

Future of TV leaked by Ofcom

by David Allen

There has to be suspicion when a document is leaked from an organisation the size the Ofcom, do people really leave papers in photocopiers? On the other hand, is this leak a plan to gauge the responses from all angles? Whatever the excuse, this document is a help for both ITV and Channel Four. On the one hand ITV have ...

Prisoners have playstation games taken away

by David Allen

As from the end of September prisoners being held in either England or Wales will no longer be allowed to play games that have a rating of eighteen. At the moment only prisoners who have demonstrated good behaviour or those who are not at a risk of suicide are able to use the playstations and the games. Last year the ...

The iPhone open to phishers

by David Allen

Probably one of the last things that a new iPhone user wants to hear are the words vulnerability and malicious websites. However, according to researchers there is indeed a vulnerability within the iPhone's email programme and the Safari web browser. Both applications are said to open to phishers who can fool the user into visiting suspect websites or by ...

Gateway stops online sales

by David Allen

The computer maker Gateway has been selling their products through their website and other retail partner sites since 2004, the initial idea was to cut costs and pass these savings onto the customers. Last year the company was taken over by Acer and the result of takeovers normally means a reduction in staff. These cuts in personnel have meant ...

BBC thinks about mobile TV

by David Allen

It has been a few months since the BBC’s year long trial of mobile TV, with no decisions made as to whether this would become a permanent and viable addition to the services being provided by the BBC. The BBC Trust are looking into the plans that has been the centre of some complaints, this process is expected ...

BBC’s Trustees watch Sky

by David Allen

On the face of it, this is something that is to be expected. After all Sky TV is serious contender for most broadcasters, especially now that the digital switchover is underway. So top executives watching the competition occasionally might be considered alright, in fact it could even be part of their job. However, it seems that being a trustee ...

Sony KDL32N4000 HDTV

by Franz Bicar

Home entertainment systems have become more easier to setup nowadays. This is probably because most televisions come in with the basic neccesities for a home entertainment system. The Sony KDL32N4000 is one of the sets that has everything - connectivity options, performance and display quality, and, a 5.1-channel ...

HTC Touch Cruise Review

by Franz Bicar

The HTC Touch Cruise was released late last year. It became one of the most popular handsets in the market. So now, I think it's time for us to take a look at what this device has to offer. The Cruise belonged to the same family as the HTC Touch and HTC Touch Dual, therefore, ...

July 26, 2008

Giant outdoor screens for London Olympics

by David Allen

The organisers of the 2012 London Olympics and BBC are planning to make sure that nobody fails to miss any of the action by bringing the London Olympics to the people of the UK. Olympic organisers have targeted sixty cities and towns throughout the UK, which will receive massive four hundred inch TV screens, and they will stay in ...

TV adverts could get longer

by David Allen

The media regulator Ofcom has relaxed the way that advertising appears on commercial television. This could mean that viewers switching on late at night or even in the daytime, could find themselves watching a whole hours worth of adverts in one hit, that’s about twelve minutes altogether. These changes will start in September and will apply to ITV, ...

July 25, 2008

Touchscreen handsets drive record LG sales

by David Allen
South Korea-based LG Electronics has reported its results for the second quarter, with record handset sales pushing net profits up 84% to US$695 million. The mobile phone and consumer electronics manufacturer shipped a record 27.7 million handsets, an increase of 45% on year. Consumer electronics also performed well, with crystal display TV sales up 86% and plasma TV sales up 31%. Total ...

Tiscali sues BT for 'malicious' advertising

by David Allen
Broadband provider Tiscali is taking legal action against British Telecom for 'defamation and malicious falsehood'. BT sent a letter to thousands of Tiscali customers warning them of Tiscali's immanent closure and encouraging them to switch broadband providers. The letter from BT was headlined 'Tiscali chief plots sell-off'. It continued: 'We can understand why you're wondering what might happen to your Tiscali broadband service. 'And ...

Be Broadband no deal with BPI

by David Allen

Be Broadband may be one of the smaller broadband suppliers in the UK, but they are certainly not one to bow down to the power of the BPI and the power behind it. However, because they have not signed up to the agreement with the BPI as the six ISP’s did, this does not necessarily mean that their ...

Global broadband penetration

by David Allen

Only five countries can claim to have broadband penetration over sixty per cent, unfortunately the UK is not one of them. Although at fifty eight per cent of households with a broadband connection, the UK is in joint seventh place with France and Sweden. Country Broadband Penetration - (2007) - (2012) South Korea - (93.0%) - (97.0%) Netherlands - (74.0%) - ...

Virgin Media has super fast plans

by David Allen

According to the media regulator Ofcom, at the moment the average broadband download speed in the UK is 4 Mbps but Virgin Media has plans that will increase the UK average speed and provide some lucky users speeds of up 200 Mbps by 2012! With connect speeds that fast, households would be able to so much more over the ...

Sharp LC-32D43U LCD HDTV

by Franz Bicar

The elegant 32-inch Sharp AQUOS LC32D43U sets the standard for high performance combined with high style. It has the next generation of Sharp's proprietary Advanced Super View/Black TFT Panel, providing high brightness, 1200:1 native contrast ratio, 6ms Quick Shoot response time, and wide viewing angles. There's also a built-in ...

July 24, 2008

Tiscali takes legal action against BT

by David Allen

Legal action has been started between Tiscali and BT. This follows the complaints about the letters that BT sent out to the customers of Tiscali, as an attempt by BT, to try to force the hands of the customers in switching internet service providers. BT’s plan was to get the customers of Tiscali to think about the future of ...

Parents to be punished for kids downloading

by David Allen

Many parents claim that their kids know more about the computers and the internet, than they do. However, that excuse is not going to be tolerated for much longer as the top six ISP’s in the UK BT, BSkyB, Virgin Media, Orange, Tiscali and Carphone Warehouse have signed an agreement over file sharing with The British Phonographic Industry ...

Broadcasters donate airtime to fight obesity

by David Allen

From now until the Olympic Games in 2012 there is going to be a government lead campaign, which is going to put the subject of healthy eating right in front of the nations TV viewers. All the main commercial broadcasters including Sky, Channel Four, Five, ITV and Virgin Media will be giving up millions of pounds worth of ...

ITV wins the FA Cup

by David Allen

With the football season only a matter of weeks away, thoughts of the FA Cup may not be on the minds of those fans whose teams are playing in the higher leagues. However, for the non-league and lower league teams this is an important time as the FA Cup actually starts next month. Seeing this as a great opportunity ...

Intrusive online adverts are annoying

by David Allen

The average internet user who just wants to surf the net or maybe even buy something online, there are many things that could annoy them. Nevertheless, one of the main things that will annoy an internet user is advertising, to be more precise pop ups and loud adverts. Recent studies show that nearly three quarters of internet users leave ...

Telephonetics VIP partners Lagan on government call technology

by Alan Harten
Telephonetics VIP, voice automation and speech recognition specialist, has integrated its Contact Centre telephony with the Enterprise Case Management solution from Lagan, a government software supplier. The integration of Telephonetics VIP’s Contact Centre telephony which is designed to ensure effective routing of incoming calls, the concept is aimed at trying to ensure that the customers call is quickly and easily directed ...

Orange and Asus compete with iPhone

by David Allen

Orange are planning an all out attack on the iPhone as they are launching a new range of packages which will bundle Orange mobile broadband with a Asus Eee PC 900 mini laptop. The Asus package is targeted at individual users, who will get the Orange mobile broadband dongle on the Internet Everywhere tariff, this allows the user up ...

LG 50PY3DF Plasma HDTV

by Franz Bicar

The LG 50PY3DF is a well-designed 50-inch plasma television. Tests and reviews showed that the set performed really well and could compete to most plasma HDTV's in the market. It's certainly not perfect and it doesn't support everything, but overall, it is a good enough HDTV for everyone. The ...

Motorola Z6c Review

by Franz Bicar
Earlier this year, RIM released its Blackberry 8830 into the market. It has most of the functions a traveling executive needs. Samsung has the same type of phone with their Motorola Z6c. It offers most of the functions expected from a business handset. The Z6c has the same slider design as most Motorola Rizr phones. In fact, some users find hard ...

July 23, 2008

Ericsson Q2 profits fall 70%

by David Allen
Ericsson, one of the biggest telecoms companies in the world, has reported its second quarter results with profits down 70% on year. Net income for the Sweden-based company - the biggest supplier of wireless networks in the world - fell to 1.9 billion crowns (£160 million) compared to 6.4 million crowns for the second quarter of 2007. The news comes less than ...

The Home Hub is good for BT

by David Allen

It has only been two years since the Home Hub became part of BT’s arsenal to use in order to increase their customer base in the UK. With over three million of these devices being delivered to their customers, it has proved itself against the competition. The Home Hub has played a big part in BT marketing plans, not ...

Sky to launch online music

by David Allen

The UK’s largest pay for TV company Sky are to begin offering a music subscription service through their website, after signing up with the largest music producer in the world, Universal. With this agreement, Sky will be able to compete directly against Apples iTunes, but with other deals in the pipeline with other music providers, this would actually put ...

Freesat offers more channels

by David Allen

It was only last week when the satellite version of Freeview, known as Freesat announced that they would be adding the regional variations of the BBC and ITV to the network. Now they are announcing even more additions in their attempts to try to encourage viewers who are thinking of the digital switchover to choose their package over ...

Fox shows available on iTunes UK

by David Allen

Some of the most popular TV shows from the States are going to be made available in the UK through the iTunes website from today. 20th Century Fox have been responsible for many the popular programmes which have appeared on terrestrial and satellite TV in the UK like: 24, Bones, My Name is Earl will be made immediately available ...

Microsoft to sell user generated games

by David Allen

Users of the Microsoft XNA tools suite will soon be able to upload their own game creations to the community games section within the Xbox live marketplace, where they can be sold to other users. XNA has tools that help amateur games developers to put into reality the ideas that they have in their heads. Most gamers have ideas ...

EU gives mobile phone firms more time

by David Allen

It was not that long ago when the European Telecoms Commissioner, Viviane Reding was thumping her desk and demanding that the mobile phone industry get their collective houses in order and sort the question of data roaming charges out once and for all. But with the mobile phone firms dragging their feet, in true European style, the commissioner has ...

Samsung Katalyst Review

by Franz Bicar

Despite its unique name, the Samsung Katalyst is not that different from other Samsung slider phones out on the market. It measures around 2 inches tall by 4 inches wide by 0.7 inch thick, it has an understated gray-and-chrome design, with slightly blocky corners and a soft curve along its sides. But it's not the design ...

Satellite:

Cable:

Digital TV

Mobile Phones

Computers

Internet: