Spotify: we want to be on your Xbox
Spotify could well be appearing on your games console in the near future, according to CEO Daniel Ek, as well as your TV and any other device that has access to the web.
Speaking at SXSWi this week, Ek noted that he would love to see Spotify on a number of web-connected platforms and that convergence is the key to making the music service work.
In his talk, he mentioned that Spotify's deal with 3 in the UK was working when it comes to mobile phones, but there is definitely more to come.
"We have been quite successful in Europe with our deals," explained Ek.
"What we have been able to do is give three-to-six months free Spotify usage with some smartphones.
"There has been an incredible take-up of this. Telia in Sweden has singled out Spotify as one of the three highlights in 2009 for the telco, which shows that they believe in us.
"We are seeing a similar sort of success with 3 in the UK, who is bundling the service with handsets only. Telia is bundling it with computers and TV access, however, and they are putting Spotify into set-top boxes as well."
Music like water
It is this bundling with other platforms that Ek sees as the future of Spotify, noting:
"We are only at the beginning with trying to figuring it out but one of the key things Spotify is pushing is people are consuming more music than ever, they listen to more music than ever with more diversity.
"If you look at the traditional way of buying music – it still works. People are buying music that they love but the vast majority of people just want access. They want to share music with their friends. Why shouldn't you be able to consume music on your BlackBerry if you pay for it?
"We want to enable your library on all these devices. Whether it is a set-top box, whether it's an Xbox or a mobile phone – that doesn't really matter for us. We want to make music like water."
This music utopia Ek wants is still some way off, though, as the service still hasn't launched in the US – something that was not missed by the largely American audience who attended the SXSWi event.
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Opinion: Is Fred West really stalking me on Facebook?
In cyberspace it seems that deceased serial killers can live on.
I know this first hand, because for the last few months a character calling themselves "Fred West" has been running a Fan Page in my honour.
There's even a picture of the murderer on his profile, and a status message that says he loves to "potter around under people's patios"
Facebook rules state that only authorised representatives of companies, celebrities and music groups are allowed to create Fan Pages - other users should create groups instead.
I wouldn't exactly classify myself as a "celebrity", but clearly "Fred West" did not have my permission to create a Fan Page in my honour.
Furthermore, friends, acquaintances, and people who might know me for my work in the computer security field, are joining the Fan Page in the belief that they are somehow connecting with me. They have no way of telling that I didn't create this Fan Page.
As someone who has received anonymous death threats from Facebook users in the past, I don't see the funny side in someone called Fred West creating a Facebook page about me.
I've reported the abuse to the Facebook team and asked them to remove the Fan Page, but no action has yet been taken and the page remains in place at the time of writing.
If Facebook simply tightened up the process for creating a Fan Page on its site, so that the creators needed to prove that they are genuinely affiliated to the celebrity or company they are making the page for it would drastically reduce the number of fake Fan Pages and make the site safer.
So, how about it Facebook? Isn't it time to implement some better checks if you want to enforce your own rules?
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Who's your computing tech champion of the last 12 months?
Voting is well underway for the TechRadar Awards 2010, but who's out in front so far?
This week on TechRadar we're looking at how the nominees are doing in the computing categories. Today and Friday we'll be following the computing companies and kit that are doing well in the polls, so you can see if you agree with the results so far.
If you haven't voted yet, why not do so - help get your favourite to the top spot (or keep them there)! Those out in front are by no means guaranteed to win, with voting going on for the next month, there's plenty of time for things to change.
Once you've voted, you can enter our competitions to one of four £5,000 YOYOTech high-end gaming PCs or one of 10 swish £799 Dell Adamo laptops.
Google currently leads the way to be chosen as our computing technology champion, but there are plenty of contenders. It was a great year for Microsoft, with the launch of Windows 7, while newcomer Spotify and Firefox producer Mozilla haven't put in too shabby a performance over the last 12 months.
The leaderboard for computing technology of the year is currently dominated by Apple's 27-inch iMac and the Intel Core i5. Which is your favourite? Or would it be one of the other nominees, such as Intel's Atom or Nvidia's Ion?
In software, Adobe Photoshop Elements, Microsoft's Windows 7 and Google's Chrome's are vying for top spot. Apple's OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard is just behind the leading pack.
In the race for best computing add-on the Western Digital My Book World Edition currently leads the way from Buffalo's TeraStation, but there's plenty of time still left to vote.
Have your say in these categories and many more across computing, home entertainment, mobile communication and gadgets at awards.techradar.com
We'll be looking at the state of play of more of the computing categories on Friday.
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Easier sharing and music management key to next-gen Spotify
Spotify CEO Daniel Ek has revealed that the company has been working on a next generation of Spotify for a number of months and that music management is the key to making Spotify even more successful.
Speaking at SXSWi in Texas, Ek told crowds that: "What we have been working on in the past six to eight months is the next-generation of Spotify.
"[We are asking] how can we make Spotify more connected, how can we enable the easier sharing of music and make the management of music?
"One of the things that we have realised is that people spend a lot of time on Spotify and they intend to manage their music which is a very interesting application and that is what is probably going to drive the different licenses."
Portability a main driver
Ek's future vision of Spotify is one which takes iTunes on head on, helping users manage their music easier and giving them more options to share what tunes they listen to.
One of the ways to do this is through mobile phones. Spotify's mobile app is only available to those who subscribe to the premium version of the service and it seems that phone handsets are a key are for the music service.
"When we introduced the mobile app in December and for us that is really the next step for what Spotify could be, because we believe that portability is one of the main drivers…
"We are looking a lot at bundling with different devices. With the exception of the iPhone today, most of the other handset manufacturers lack really good media players. We are seeing that people tend to use Spotify as a media player on Android handsets.
"It's been historically cumbersome to get music on to a BlackBerry or a Nokia and that is something that we want to sort out."
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Sky: Canvas will relaunch BT's television project
Sky's Chief Operating Officer Mike Darcey has suggested that Project Canvas is a mechanism for relaunching BT's television service, as he fleshed out the company's objection to the IPTV service.
With the BBC Trust already granting provisional approval, Sky is keen to point out that it is not merely standing in the way of IPTV, but that it has firm and clear reasons for its objection to Project Canvas.
In a column for the Guardian, Darcey explains the three principal objections to the BBC-led project – but saves his most damning critique for the conclusion.
Far beyond...
"The effects of that distortion could spread far beyond the original purpose of the licence fee," writes Darcey.
"BT, one of the UK's biggest companies, could well become one of the great beneficiaries of the BBC's investment in Canvas.
"When the BBC Trust comes to consider its decision, it must recognise that helping BT to relaunch its TV service is not the right way to use the licence fee."
Anti-choice and anti-innovation
The other objections to Canvas have been aired several times, and certainly not just by Sky – with manufacturers joining the likes of Virgin Media in objecting.
"First of all, industry will deliver common standards for broadband video delivery whether Canvas goes ahead or not," states Darcey.
"…All sections of the industry, as well as consumers, would be better served if a single standard is developed through the DTG, giving all content providers – free and pay – certainty over key issues such as compatibility and digital rights management.
"Second, far from being a positive development, the desire of the Canvas partners to impose an identical user interface on all compliant devices is anti-choice and anti-innovation.
"The reality is that consumers benefit when companies seek to differentiate their products, because that's what drives improvement. Let's not forget, the benefits of this horizontal approach, with multiple competing user interfaces, have helped Freeview reach many of millions of households in recent years.
"And third, internet-connected TV is already happening and will continue to spread over time as consumer demand grows in response to innovation by the market. The danger here is that Canvas deters commercial players from launching new products and services that would compete with a BBC-backed platform."
The objections certainly merit discussion, but with provisional backing already in place, it is clear that some companies stand to benefit more than others should the final rubber stamp be applied.
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Folding plug wins design of the year award
If there's one thing that needs a design change it's Britain's ugly three-pin plugs. Min-Kyu Choi knows this and that's why he has re-invented the three-pin plug with what is called the Folding Plug and bagged himself the most prestigious design award around in the process.
Last month, TechRadar revealed that Choi's design was up for the Brit Insurance Design of the Year award, with his flat-pack plug innovation. And it seems that the judges were so impressed they have awarded him first prize.
Created to look stylish next to his MacBook Air, the ultra-thin plug is genius in its simplicity.
It's made thin enough that it can be carried with ease in your laptop bag and it saves so much space, that even its multi-plug adaptor – which houses three folding plugs – is merely the same size as a normal UK plug.
Brutally ugly
Speaking about the award win, Deyan Sudjic, Director of the Design Museum, said: "It works, it looks good and I'm sure it will make him a wealthy man if it is marketed right.
"He's showing that design can be about doing everyday simple things really well and in this case transform something that is universal and brutally ugly."
The award win is even more impressive, considering it beat of competition which included a twin-seat electric aircraft from China.
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LG UK: We haven't sold 15k 3D sets to Sky
LG's UK branch has moved to clarify a Asian press release suggesting that Sky has bought 15,000 of its 3D televisions.
TechRadar understands that Sky is merely acting as a conduit for pubs to buy LG's 3D sets cheaply, and has not actually been stocking up some secret warehouse in deepest Osterley.
That is borne out by LG UK's slightly red-faced release, which admitted that the 15,000 figure quoted before was inaccurate.
Oopsy
"LG Electronics UK (LG), a leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics and appliances, clarifies its agreement to supply TVs for British Sky Broadcasting Group's (Sky) forthcoming 3D TV service," said LG UK.
"LG is currently working with Sky to bring 3D TV to pubs and clubs throughout the UK and Ireland. LG will supply 3D TVs nationwide to support the launch of Sky 3D, Europe's first 3DTV Channel The channel goes live in pubs and clubs from April 2010.
"A previous release issued 16 March 2010 referenced a commercial deal to supply 15,000 3D TVs to Sky.
"LG Electronics UK would like to further clarify the situation. The figure of 15,000 3D TVs is inaccurate. Sky is helping support its commercial customers purchase TVs direct from a UK third party."
So, someone had better tell the manufacturing plant to postpone the party, 15,000 sets is simply inaccurate.
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Interview: Microsoft's Sinofsky: HTML5 doesn't mean you don't need Windows
HTML5 is going to bring us some powerful and sophisticated web apps, says Steven Sinosfsky, President of Microsoft's Windows and Windows Live Division.
But if you're expecting the head of the Windows division to be worried about that, he suggests you think about how browsers will achieve their ambitions.
"The world for a while went down this path [with] the browser as this tiny little program you just ran on top of the OS, this cool thing that didn't care about the device hardware or the OS. That can work for a period of time but underneath the hardware is changing rapidly and eventually the hardware capabilities transcend that.
The browser needs an OS to utilise the GPU
"This idea that what you're running a browser on doesn't matter is very hard to maintain when the hardware is getting so capable. All browsers say they want to do location awareness now; that's hardware dependant. To do rotation you have to know that the thing got rotated. Browsers need to know what's going on on the hardware to move forward."
And HTML5 makes that worse, not better. "In the set of specs that will make up HTML 5 there are things that are going to have to take advantage of a whole new generation of hardware to be implemented.The whole way you have to architect and write a browser has to change to architect these things."
Take the DirectText font rendering in IE9 that uses the new vertical sub-pixel positioning in Windows Vista and 7 or the GPU acceleration he announced for IE9 last year, that other browser vendors quickly said they'd implement. It needs Windows (or another OS that lets apps use graphics acceleration) to work.
"The browser can't just use the GPU; you need a whole OS to understand the GPU. You have to understand which OS facilities are going to go and use it to take advantage of the GPU. If you want to be just-in-time capable you can't just say 'I want to use a core'; you have to ask the OS what core you can use.
"SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) is just the first example of this. When you think about what are these amazing programs people are going to write down the road, to take advantage of this whole new big opportunity of HTML5 you have to take advantage of the OS. We think using the APIs in Windows is a good thing - and we think writing a browser that uses them is the only way to really do a great job on HTML5."
He dismisses the idea that this gives Microsoft an advantage over other browser companies; "No browser vendor needs us to tell them what to do. If you want to use SVG, you're going to need to use the GPU.
He does joke for a moment that the programming interfaces IE uses are "all secret!" but then immediately points out that it's just DirectX – the same system hundreds of apps and games already use.
But does an OS really need all the features of Windows to run a browser? Couldn't a leaner system enable that kind of access to the hardware for the browser?
"This is one of those things that when I look at the assertions… it sounds good and then you just start listing question after question after question." It's a similar argument to the one he's made before about the cloud not being able to replace the local OS; "There's no SD card on the browser; if you have photos sitting on the SD card you have to find a way to get at them.
"If you want to do text to speech, where is the speaker? Where is the screen? Where are the accessibility tools? Where is all the code for text to speech going to reside so the browser can work with a screen reader? What about device drivers? Look at the Windows Control Panel; it has a bunch of things, none of which are in the browser… So everything has to migrate into the browser.
"Then you need the Start menu. Then you have the window management problem, so now you need the Start menu, the control panel and the taskbar. Now you need to manage files; you can emulate that with a browser but managing tens of thousands of MP3s on my external drive is a lot easier than going through a web browser.
"What if you want to print? You need a print queue and a dialog that lets you flip pages sideways and set the kind of paper you want to use… You don't just get to delete all the code and pretend you don't have those problems."
Security in IE9
Switching gears, we asked him about that perpetual IE bugbear; security – and his answer is cautious but confident. "HTML5 does increase the 'surface area' of the browser so there could be new kinds of attacks; with any new technology there is always this cat and mouse type of game.
"We're definitely focused on upping the game on that front as well – we're more aware of the implications of adding functionality.We think we're as on top of it as we can possibly be."
And what about the continuing criticisms of IE6 and the recent funeral (to which the IE team sent flowers)? "We're completely baffled by this whole thing. We have a bunch of people who come to work every day for years in this building and we're now on our third release of a browser since IE6.
"The fact that people are still running it is their choice to make – and it's not even the choice we would want them to make!" Even leaving aside how long ago IE6 was written,he suggests the attitude to it isn't perhaps quite fair compared to other platforms (like, say, iPhone - although he's careful to name no names).
"Some elements of this conversation I find puzzling; there are mixed signals from developers. IE6 is definitely an old browser and while it has lot of quirks, none of these standards existed when IE6 came out; people get the timelines confused.
"But it's a pretty large number of people using it. We see developers raising these issues in comments on our blogs… But on the other hand when some new fancy mobile device comes out people are very quick - for some tiny group of customers that's way smaller than the number of IE6 users – to do a custom page that reformats itself.
"For even 100th the size of the audience we have, they're happy to workaround all this, they're happy to make this entire shadow site. One [platform] might be growing, the other we're trying to shrink but the difference of two orders of magnitude is there."
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Review: Sony MHS-PM5K Bloggie
Sony's MHS-PM5K is a pocket-size camcorder offering full 1,920 x 1,080 resolution and the ability to shoot 5MP stills and take 360° videos.
Sony doesn't want you to call it by its product name though; it wants the PM5K to be known as the bloggie…
Why the bloggie? Well, for a start the compact dimensions allow it to be carried around easily, so it's on hand to record movies and stills of priceless moments, providing a visual index for you, your family and your mates.
Also, the lens can be rotated 270 degrees, and this makes it possible to swivel it around and deliver your own piece (or video blog) to camera; great for state-of-the-nation addresses and grumpy rants.
The MHS-PM5K bloggie also offers the opportunity for quick and easy online sharing of movies and stills.
It has a built-in USB arm and can be connected to either a PC or Mac. There's software embedded on the camcorder so no installation is necessary.
The software opens when it detects the bloggie has been connected and it's possible to log on to YouTube, Dailymotion or Picasa accounts and upload videos and images almost instantaneously. Integration with Facebook is being promised, as an update, in April.
The software is also used to 'uncurl' the 360 degree videos the bloggie is capable of taking with a supplied clip-on lens. This records panoramic movies, which though they look weird on normal playback, make a widescreen impact when unfurled using the software.
Sony has used the bloggie to take a bold step, too. On the PM5K's predecessor, the PM1, recordings could only be made to Memory Stick, but now Sony has enabled the bloggie to capture on SD and SDHC cards as well.
This particular bloggie is not alone as Sony has created a trio of models in the range, so besides the PM5K, there's also the PM5 (no 360 degree recording) and the pistol-grip design of the CM5, which features an HDMI output so you can connect it to a high-def TV.
The bloggie enters an already competitive arena, with sub-£200 pocket-friendly models currently en vogue and available from a multitude of established and less-well-known brands.
Kodak's Zi8 with its 2.5-inch LCD, 5MP stills and 1080p video is a natural rival but also jostling for space you'll find Apple's iPod nano, Samsung's HMX-U10 and the ubiquitous Flip HD.
The stakes are high, then, and it's a good thing Sony has tweaked the specs from the PM1 in order to deliver the PM5K. The resolution has been improved to deliver Full HD video of 1,920 x 1,080 as well as 1,280 x 720 at 60fps, and the screen has been increased from a feeble 1.8-inch to a more visible 2.4-inch.
It's an easy to use cam, which is mainly due to the bloggie having only a few, fuss-free controls. There's nothing to get tangled up in and the on-screen menu layout is dull – but in a good way.
On the downside, the record button is unresponsive. It's not tactile or fast enough, especially when the USP of the camcorder is being able to blog your life.
Connectivity is also something of an issue. There can be no complaints in having component and AV outputs, and the USB arm is a cracking addition, but after bumping up the resolution to Full HD it seems crazy not to include an HDMI output.
Yes, the device is online-orientated, but why give users the chance to record in 1,920 x 1,080 but not be able to connect via HDMI to a HD TV and see it?
Video performance is a mixed bag. There's no doubting the extra image detail that Full HD delivers and the bloggie's colours look spot on, but when movement enters the equation this bloggie just gets blocky.
Whether it's objects moving within the frame or a quick pan or tilt, images can become pixellated and display picture noise. Low-light performance is equally murky and jerky.
One slightly annoying quirk of the bloggie's operation means that although it features a comparably good 4x digital zoom, this can't actually be used when shooting in 1,920 x 1,080 mode.
Digital stills can be recorded at a variety of settings, not just the maximum 5MP resolution, and are accurate colour-wise and have an appreciable level of detail and clarity. The bloggie also has Face Detection tech and generally this picks up on the majority of grins and gurning.
Camcorders this size and specification really offer a fantastic and affordable solution for recording video and pictures.
They help to address the problems of carrying something that doesn't feel like a bulky burden and the fear of losing an expensive piece of equipment.
We liked:
The rotating lens, though a simple enough idea, does give the bloggie an edge when it comes to versatility, and when combined with the 360° lens it's possible to grab some truly different and exciting images.
Being able to share clips and images online so quickly is a real benefit and the bloggie excels in this department. It's such an uncomplicated process that it means there's no need to think twice at the prospect of broadcasting something online – provided it's not the content of the movie that you're embarrassed about.
And Sony should get a pat on the back for taking the plunge and making the PM5K SD/SDHC-card compatible, as it simply removes one of the reasons for not getting the bloggie in the first place.
We disliked:
There's no dodging the problems of jerky movement on some video footage, and it's frustrating to lose features – such as zoom – when choosing to shoot in 1,920 x 1,080.
The ability to record quickly and effectively is a must on a product like this and a more responsive record button has to be at the front of the queue next time around. While an HDMI socket may increase the price, it'd be a powerful addition to be able to view those Full HD images on a tiptop HD set.
Final verdict:
Great fun to use and supremely efficient when it comes to sharing movie and stills, the PM5K bloggie needs to up its game when it comes video capabilities because in many other areas it's a diverting and entertaining shooter.
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Dolby unveils new 3D audio format for Toy Story 3
Dolby has unveiled it is using a new audio codec for Pixar's latest movie Toy Story 3, called Dolby Surround 7.1
Select cinemas will be using the audio track which has been optimised for the current crop of 3D movies.
"For 40 years Dolby has not only provided content creators with the tools to create a more realistic audio experience, but has also enabled the exhibitor to deliver audiences the ability to experience the content as the creator intended," explained Page Haun, Senior Director, Marketing, Cinema Market Segment, Dolby Laboratories about the codec.
"The release of Toy Story 3 in a discrete 7.1 mix will raise the bar for movie theatre owners and their patrons."
3D audio
While Dolby Surround 7.1 is said to give 2D movies a nice aural boost, it's on 3D content that the format comes of age as it has designed to be more immersive – matching the three-dimensional qualities of the footage.
The 7.1 surround works by having four surround zones, which incorporates left surround and right surround and the all-new 'back surround left' and 'back surround right' zones. Within these 'zones' are eight channels of audio.
Toy Story 3 is out in the UK 23 June and will be accompanied by the short film Night And Day. The short is a bit of an experiment for Pixar as it features hand-drawn character which are filled with CG goodness.
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Windows Phone 7 to dump copy and paste
Windows Phone 7 Series took another battering after it was announced it won't support cut and paste.
After using it as a tool to mock Apple with in the past, Microsoft has admitted that the new mobile OS won't have the ability to use a clipboard.
According to Engadget, Windows Phone 7 Series won't carry the functionality simply because users don't want it - so says Microsoft.
Not the end
There is of course the chance that copy and paste will turn up in future releases, in much the same way that multi-tasking for third party apps will probably appear too.
But we're not sure about Microsoft's 'nobody wants it' stance - copy and paste functionality might not be the most important thing in the world, but it's certainly handy to have.
So releasing phones with no multi-tasking, no copy and paste and no Flash video support? That sounds eerily familiar - perhaps Microsoft doesn't need to follow Apple's path THAT exactly.
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Review: Samsung N210
Samsung's N210 netbook comes with a stunning battery life and a unique dual-boot configuration. Available in a choice of white or black, the slim 1.4kg chassis employs a stylish combination of glossy and matt plastics, and feels resilient throughout.
The popular isolated-style keyboard design is in evidence here, with all keys well separated and firmly attached.
While punctuation keys on the board's right side are frustratingly small, usability is generally strong, although larger-handed typists may struggle slightly.
Rather than the glossy Super-TFT screen coating used by most netbooks, a matt-finish TFT panel is used here. While it reduces colour vibrancy, it also eliminates reflections, making it easy to view in all lighting conditions.
Battery power
Equally key to mobile users is the fantastic battery life. While Samsung claims as much as 720-minutes of mobility, we got 624-minutes under test conditions, but this is a stunning result nonetheless and will easily keep you working for a full day away from mains power.
While the Windows 7 operating system (OS) is installed, a second, Linux-based OS is also in place. It provides usable and near instant access to the internet, with dedicated apps for Gmail and Twitter access, however it is likely you'll either use it all the time or not at all.
As with all netbooks, limited performance is on offer. However Intel's latest Atom technology has been used and allows power for basic multi-tasking, so you can easily work on two or three simple applications simultaneously – such as word processors and email clients.
While the N210 does little to push the market forward, it effortlessly fulfils expectations of what a second-generation netbook should be capable of. With stunning mobility, an impressive user interface and a comfortably usable screen, it makes it easy to recommend.
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YouTube introduces Musicians Wanted for indie bands
YouTube has announced that it is offering budding musicians the chance to make money on the site, with its new Musicians Wanted section.
The partner programme was announced at SXSWi and sees the Google-owned video upload site let up and coming bands flout their skills online, with a chance that their popularity will earn them money.
"Whether you make hip-hop, folk, noise-rock, jazz or a genre of your own invention, we are looking for all types of original music video content," explained YouTube Music Manager Michele Flannery.
Ad spend
To get on to Musicians Wanted, you need to apply through the site's partner programme.
If you are then selected by YouTube, you will have your own dedicated page where you can add gig listings, links to buying your music and your live videos and music.
To get money from the site, you will get the 'majority' of advertising revenue. And you will also get a share of funds if your music video is embedded on to other sites.
So, if you are unsigned and need money, then Musicians Wanted sounds ideal. Just make sure that your music videos are actually videos – as static clips will not be accepted.
There is one caveat. The service seems to be only in the US at the moment. We're hoping that it will be rolled out internationally soon, though, as it sounds like the site is on to a winner.
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Review: Asus G60J
Here we have the new Asus G60J, a gaming laptop with a Intel Core i7 Q820M at it's beating heart. But before we can properly review this laptop we have to dispel some myths surrounding core counts.
Add cores and get more performance. It's a simple strategy and one to which AMD and Intel, those perennial rivals in the PC processor business, are fully signed up to. At least, they both are on the desktop PC. Shift your focus to laptop PCs and the situation isn't quite so clear.
The arrival of Arrandale, Intel's new 32nm dual-core processor, has really given things a nice shake. It's stupidly quick for a dual core chip. So quick it makes us wonder whether the downsides of quad-core technology in portables, including fat form factors and borked battery life, are really justified.
As it goes, Intel seems to have smelled the coffee on this one, too. That, presumably, is why the cheapest Core i7 quad-core mobile chip is pegged just 10 per cent higher on the price list than fastest of the new dual-core Core i7 variants. Hardly a resounding vote of confidence in the self-evident superiority of quad-core, is it?
Anyway, if any laptop can convince us of the merits of four cores and fully eight threads – don't forget about HyperThreading – in a portable PC, it's surely the G60J from Asus.
Uniquely among our sextet it sports a Core i7 820QM, a quad-core processor that's second only to the stupidly overpriced 920XM in Intel's mobile hierarchy. Ostensibly, it's clocked at 1.73GHz, but thanks to Intel's auto-overclocking Turbo feature this chip can hit speeds just over 3GHz. That's the theory, anyway.
In our testing, running heavily threaded software, such as video encoding results in a clockspeed of 2GHz. Even in single threaded benchmarks you'll see no more than 2.7GHz. That's significant, because the fastest Arrandale dualies run well in excess of 3GHz, even with all four threads on full reheat.
The upshot of all this is that Intel's new dual-core i7 mobile chip is altogether too close for comfort in performance terms.
Solid gaming
Quad-core doubts aside, the G60J is an extremely polished bit of kit, just as you would expect from Asus.
The chassis is a quality item, nicely screwed together, hewn from some pleasantly tactile plastics and finished with a few funky flourishes, including a subtly backlit keyboard – all the better for nocturnal frag fests.
It's also tolerably compact for a powerful 16.5-inch laptop PC. Moving on to gaming performance, the G60J shares its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260M graphics chip with the Alienware M15x. The 260M is one rung down from NVIDIA's top mobile GPU, mustering 112 stream processors to the 285M's 128, and delivers solid, if not spectacular performance in most games.
Still, it's enough to ensure only the Alienware is faster and even then only just. It's all looking good for the G60J, then? Not quite. Apart from the wallet-wilting £1,700 sticker, the G60J's greatest weakness is its 16.5-inch LCD panel.
The 1,366 x 768 native resolution is pretty mean, even if it does ensure that the GPU has less work to do when driving it natively.
But that certainly doesn't make up for the awful viewing angles, the resulting watery colours and feeble contrast. At this price point, that's borderline unforgivable.
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Gary Marshall: Why IE9 is the Bono of browsers
When Microsoft unwrapped an early version of IE9 yesterday, it proved beyond doubt something we've suspected for a while: IE is the Bono of browsers.
The similarities between the Irish singer and a Windows web browser might not be immediately obvious, but they're there.
In their early days U2 were underdogs, and no matter how good their records the critics would say "U2! You are rubbish! And your singer has a stupid name!"
Early IE was like that too. Netscape was the critical darling, and early IEs were greeted with derision.
Being underdogs suited U2. They made better and better records, got better and better at doing gigs, and eventually everything came together. U2 released The Joshua Tree, a brilliant album that conquered the planet.
It was the same with Microsoft. Internet Explorer 4 was its Joshua Tree.
Naturally, things went badly wrong for both U2 and Microsoft immediately afterwards. U2 were no longer underdogs, and they followed The Joshua Tree with Rattle & Hum, a film-and-album package that made even life-long fans want to punch them.
The criticism stung so much that it forced U2 into underdog mode again. The next record, Achtung Baby, was a career highlight - and it put them on top of the world again, so they responded with more duff music. The lukewarm reaction to Pop resulted in Bono "reapplying for the job of the best band in the world", and the result was All That You Can't Leave Behind. According to Rolling Stone, it was "their third masterpiece."
Microsoft needs to be the underdog
There's an obvious pattern here: when U2 are underdogs, they're great. When they're not, they're not. Microsoft suffers from the same thing.
Just look at Windows Mobile, which has been lacklustre for ages. Now Apple and Android are coming to eat its lunch, Microsoft is rediscovering its mobile mojo.
Exactly the same thing's been happening in browsers. As soon as its browser ruled the web, Microsoft stopped bothering; if it weren't for Firefox, IE6 might still be the most recent Microsoft browser. However, thanks to Firefox and Johnny-come-latelys such as Chrome, Microsoft is in underdog mode again, and that's really apparent in the IE9 preview.
The most interesting thing about the IE9 preview isn't the tech: it's the attitude behind it. Take Sunspider, the benchmarks that give a good indication of a browser's JavaScript performance.
When reviewers - rightly - pointed out that IE8's Sunspider results were woeful compared to every other browser, Microsoft sent them patronising How To Review Browsers documents and dismissed Sunspider as unimportant. This time round Microsoft has sorted out the Sunspider performance and it's running around shouting "Benchmarks! Benchmarks! Benchmarks!"
A brand new tune
Of course Internet Explorer, like Bono, will always have its enemies. There are people out there for whom the very thought of Bono makes them want to punch a nun, and there are people out there who will forever associate the words "Microsoft" and "browser" with security problems and poor standards support.
With IE9, though, Microsoft is singing a brand new song of security, and of standards support, and of hardware acceleration. Provided Microsoft doesn't mess it up, the release of IE9 could turn out to be - yes! - a Beautiful Day.
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Five HD channel announced for Sky
Just days after losing its slot on Freeview HD, Five has announced that its HD channel will launch on Sky this summer.
Ofcom decided that Five's plans for HD were not solid enough, withdrawing a slot on the Freeview multiplex, but the broadcaster has not given up on high definition, with the channel to launch on the Sky satellite platform.
Five offering will include its wealth of US offerings, such as the various flavours of CSI and FlashForward, and also sport and movies in HD.
Five becomes the 42nd channel announced by Sky, and the latest in a wealth of recent announcements from both the satellite giant and cable rival Virgin Media.
Opportunity mux
"This is an exciting opportunity for Five," said Charles Constable, Five's Director of Strategy.
Our programme schedule is more suited to HD than that any other major free-to-air commercial broadcaster given the wide range of high quality series we broadcast, such as our top-rated line-up of US dramas.
"We're delighted to begin our HD journey with Sky."
UK leader
Hilary Perchard, Sky's Director of Product Management, added: "We're delighted to announce the addition of Five HD to Sky+HD, the UK's leading high-definition service.
"Sky remains committed to delivering customers the best HD service available, and this means continuing to launch high-quality channels right across the schedule.
"With the best of free and pay TV now in HD, there's never been a better time to embrace HD."
Five HD will be available without additional subscription to viewers with Sky+HD boxes, a Sky viewing card and an HD-ready television set.
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Review: ATI Radeon HD 5570
Here we go again on the ever-expanding product merry-go-round with AMD. This time it's the ATI Radeon HD 5570 sloting in at twenty five notes short of a ton. Another price point covered then!
If you've checked out the HD 5830 review then you'll already have an idea how we feel about the sheer weight of graphics cards being disgorged by the AMD product machine. If you want the perfect example of just how confusing the situation is then look no further than the Radeon HD 5570.
Essentially it's a slightly lower-clocked HD 5670 that's been put on a diet so it's a half height card. Despite the fact that it's a lesser card it seems most retailers are looking at the HD 5570's diet as an eminently desirable quality hitting as it does the same pricepoint of its weightier sibling.
The HD 5570 does come with a full 1GB of graphics memory, but unfortunately it's limited to the cheaper DDR3, and compared with the stock HD 5670's 512MB GDDR5 it doesn't make a lot of difference. In fact thanks to the lower clockspeed you're still actually losing about 20% of the performance of the HD 5670.
Still, we were able to get almost playable framerates out of the HD 5570 at 1680x1050 on the highest settings with 4x AA. This then is where the card starts to be interesting and almost justifies its seemingly high price; with this li'l GPU you'll be happily playing the latest 3D games, maybe not on the highest settings, but on your tiny media centre.
It's still frustrating that you have to pay a specific price premium just to get your hands on a weaker card because it is slapped on a thinner PCB, and for a little cheaper we'd be more than happy with the wee beastie.
So it's only the pricing that lets AMD's HD 5570 down; a half-height card with a heart then...
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Virgin nabs HTC Desire in massive Android update
Virgin Media has announced its new line-up of mobile phones - and it's gone gaga over Android.
The company will now be adding the Samsung Galaxy Portal and the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 to its ranks, joining the incumbent Android model, the LG Intouch Max GW620.
And on top of that, Virgin Media will be joining the circle of operators offering the HTC Desire, making it the sixth to do so.
Budget and bigger
The LG Intouch Max GW620 and the Samsung Galaxy Portal are both now available free from £22 per month - which makes sense given they're both more skewed to the budget bunch of Android enthusiasts.
The bigger hitters, the Xperia X10 and the Desire, will both be coming this April. As with other operators, we don't have any idea about tariffs, but Virgin Media assures us they will be compelling.
We're loving the Android wave hitting the UK public at the moment - the HTC Legend and Desire are looking likely to be big hitters, so it's good that at least one of these is being offered to Virgin Media customers.
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Review: Choiix 1.2.3. Swapper
Here we've got an easily swappable 2.5" HDD caddy, hence the imaginative product title, the Choiix 1.2.3. Swapper.
And simple it most definitely is with the device pulling apart easily and only a couple of rubber grommets holding the drive in place and the caddy together. All you do is plug your li'l HDD into the base, slide the plastic case over the top of it and replace said grommets.
I was pleasantly surprised at how solid the Swapper was when assembled. I hardly expected the rubber bits to hold out where normal screws would have been used, but there was no problem at all.
The only problem I have with the Swapper though is that it will only cater for standard SATA 2.5" HDDs and is completely incompatible with the same size of SSD.
Now, we know SSDs are still rather expensive and a little too pricey to wave around as portable storage, but there have got to be early adopters out there not willing to keep their first gen SSDs in their systems at home.
Still, it's a simple plug 'n' play beastie and does its job admirably.
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Internet trade in rare animals exposed
Online trading in rare animals could well drive a rare salamander to extinction, according to latest reports from conservation groups.
The Kaiser's spotted newt (Neurergus kaiseri) is found only in Iran, and could well be the first animal to be made extinct by unregulated e-commerce and trade in rare species.
Warnings from conservationists
Amphibian enthusiasts are willing to pay up to £200 for one of these beautifully-coloured newts, but many don't realise that they could well be driving the species to extinction.
Conservationists warn that dealers are advertising rare breeds such as the Kaiser's spotted newt on the internet. A recent investigation by the wildlife trade monitoring agency Traffic found 10 websites claiming to stock the species.
The wild population of the rare newt is found in only a few streams in Iran's Zagros Mountains, and monitoring of the numbers showed that the population was down by 80 per cent between 2001 and 2005 and that it is now classed as critically endangered, with under 1,000 mature individuals left in the world.
A proposal to ban the trade has been put forward by Iran at the conference of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites), in Doha.
"The internet itself isn't the threat, but it's another way to market the product," said Ernie Cooper, of Traffic Canada. "The Kaiser's spotted newt, for example, is expensive and most people are not willing to pay $300 for a salamander. But through the power of the internet, tapping into global market, you can find buyers."
Regulating online and virtual markets in rare species online is a huge and growing challenge for Cites members, who hope to develop closer collaboration with Interpol, the international law enforcement agency to combat the problem.
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Fake Steve Jobs gets new TV gig
Dan Lyons - better known for penning the hilarious 'Fake Steve Jobs' blog – has teamed up with one of the writers of classic US comedies Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, to create a new TV comedy that satirises the culture of Silicon Valley.
Online film and TV network EPIX has signed Emmy award-winning writer Larry Charles to work together with Lyons on a one-off single-camera half-hour comedy called iCON (geddit?).
Valley culture
The aim of the comedy is clearly to satirise and poke fun at the culture of Silicon Valley and its superbrands such as Apple, hence Dan Lyons being involved in writing the show.
If the show can match some of the highlights of Lyons' The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs we will surely be in for something of a treat.
iCON is already being hyped as "nothing less than a modern Citizen Kane" and will be distributed via all of EPIX's channels — cable TV, the streaming video site and the video-on-demand service.
Via Mashable
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Sony: Motion gaming will not replace controllers
PlayStation exec Jack Tretton has insisted that the recent trend towards motion sensors will not kill the traditional gaming controllers.
The SCEA-man insisted that the arrival of Sony's PlayStation Move, as well as the popularity of the Nintendo Wii and the forthcoming Project Natal from Microsoft, were not a threat to more traditional gaming.
"We have a 15-year heritage in this business which in some industries that is a short time, but in the game industry, it is a lifetime," Trenton told G4 at GDC.
Accuracy
"PlayStation has come to stand for accuracy, cutting edge technology, and we certainly give Nintendo all the credit in the world for what they have accomplished with motion gaming, but we really feel we ushered that in with the original EyeToy."
"So what we feel we have progressed to is the next generation of motion gaming experience where using the controller and the camera, we're able to get the most immersive, most realistic, motion gaming experience gamers have ever seen.
"The key though for the consumer is choice. We don't want to force motion gaming down their throat, so for the shooter fan, it's gonna be 'well, I like motion gaming but I prefer my DualShock', so that's going to be there for them.
"The thing about this motion gaming is that it's an add-on, and enhancement, and an extension of what already exists, not a replacement."
Well, thank God for that, trying to take people out with a pointed finger in Team Fortress 2 just doesn't cut it.
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Razer makes gaming mouse for lefties
Left-handed PC gamers finally have a reason to celebrate, with gaming peripheral aficionados Razer releasing a mouse specifically designed for southpaws.
The Razer DeathAdder is already a popular gaming mouse, but its design made it difficult for the left-handed to get on with.
However, the California based company has rectified that with a special leftie's edition of the mouse, which will make a refreshing change for those who have been making do with a mouse that squeaks both ways.
Requested
"Leftie gamers have long been requesting that we develop a gaming grade mouse that is designed exclusively for the left-handed gaming community and we really value the feedback we receive from our fans," said Robert "Razerguy" Krakoff, president, Razer USA.
"Not many gamers know this, but I am a southpaw myself and feel truly excited to have a mouse that fits perfectly in my left hand. There is really no substitute for gaming with your naturally dominant hand."
According to Razer the DeathAdder Left Hand Edition boasts five programmable Hypereponse buttons, as well as 1000Hz Ultrapolling technology, and a 3500dpi Razer Precision 3.5G infrared sensor.
The Razer DeathAdder Left Hand Edition will cost €59.99, which will probably work out at around £54.99 or so.
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Dave Perry slams OnLive's pricing strategy
Game developer and cloud gaming pioneer Dave Perry has slammed the pricing strategy of competing cloud gaming service OnLive, claiming that the decision to charge gamers $15 a month subscription plus the cost of games can only benefit his own Gaikai service.
The excessive cost of OnLive's streaming service will drive people away, thinks Perry who said that OnLive's recent announcement on pricing at GDC has been a "shot in the arm" to his own Gaikai project.
Too expensive
OnLive's streaming service will cost a subscription of US$15 per month on top of then asking users to pay for each game individually, which, according to Perry, is a fundamental flaw.
"[OnLive] have done an amazing job with the user interface [but] the cost per data centre to do all of that streaming is very expensive," Perry told GamesIndustry.biz.
"That's why they have a subscription. Would you pay US$15 a month for it? You're paying for the games on top of the service. You're paying US$15 only to have the opportunity to buy the games. US$15 gives you no games. If you decide, 'I don't want to keep paying that subscription', you've just lost access to your games bought at full price."
He added: "We were just as surprised as everyone else when we heard the final business model. That's why it's a shot in the arm to us because now we're just perfectly positioned. You can play Call of Duty over there for US$15 or you can come here and try it for nothing. When you buy it from us, you own it, for the rest of your life. When you buy it from over there you have to keep paying a subscription to keep access to it."
TechRadar has contacted Perry for further comment and more information on his own plans for Gaikai. Stay tuned for updates.
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Exclusive: Samsung points finger at Microsoft for Windows Phone 7 device
It turns out Samsung hasn't come out with its own version of a Windows Phone 7 Series device – it was Microsoft all along.
We looked at the photos recently published of Samsung's supposed WP7S mobile, and couldn't help but notice the chassis looked blindingly similar to the Samsung i8910HD.
So we did a little digging, and found that it's the very same device – just given a facelift by Microsoft.
"The launch was from Microsoft, not Samsung, and they used the i8910HD to demo Windows 7," said a Samsung spokesperson.
"It's not yet clear whether existing i8910HD users will be able to upgrade to Windows 7 as this demo was a one-off."
So what is it?
So Microsoft must have an upgraded i8910HD on its hands, as we know the minimum spec to be a 1GHz processor with a WVGA screen – the Samsung model has none of these.
It does, however, have the three buttons on the front. These were originally for calling, menu and hanging up – but Ballmer's Bunch has popped the Start, Search and Back keys on them instead.
We'll put our necks out here and say this Symbian phone won't upgrade to Windows Phone 7 Series – but we'd love a device with 720p video recording, if you don't mind.
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