YouTube launches attack on Viacom's video tactics
YouTube has launched a stinging attack on Viacom, who is currently suing the site, revealing how the company seems to want to have its cake and eat it when it comes to online videos.
In a blog, penned by Zahavah Levine, YouTube Chief Counsel, YouTube explains how Viacom has continued to use underhand tactics to get its videos on the site, despite the media company taking YouTube to court over its copyrighted material, and demanding $1 billion in lost royalties.
"For years, Viacom continuously and secretly uploaded its content to YouTube, even while publicly complaining about its presence there," explains the blog.
"It hired no fewer than 18 different marketing agencies to upload its content to the site. It deliberately "roughed up" the videos to make them look stolen or leaked.
"It opened YouTube accounts using phony email addresses. It even sent employees to Kinko's to upload clips from computers that couldn't be traced to Viacom."
This two-faced approach to how it treats YouTube was continuously flagged by Google, with the blog noting: "Viacom's efforts to disguise its promotional use of YouTube worked so well that even its own employees could not keep track of everything it was posting or leaving up on the site.
"As a result, on countless occasions Viacom demanded the removal of clips that it had uploaded to YouTube, only to return later to sheepishly ask for their reinstatement.
"In fact, some of the very clips that Viacom is suing us over were actually uploaded by Viacom itself."
Policing content
YouTube is using these revelations to prove to the world that it had no idea which video were illegally put on to the site and which were legitimately (although masked) posted by Viacom.
This is something the site is very worried about: "There is no way YouTube could ever have known which Viacom content was and was not authorised to be on the site," states the blog.
"But Viacom thinks YouTube should somehow have figured it out. The legal rule that Viacom seeks would require YouTube – and every web platform – to investigate and police all content users upload, and would subject those web sites to crushing liability if they get it wrong."
Long been a leader
The court battle between YouTube and Viacom has always been a very public one, but this blog suggests that it is about to turn nasty.
But YouTube is hoping that this transparency will make for a better web.
"YouTube has long been a leader in providing media companies with 21st century tools to control, distribute, and make money from their content online. "Working in cooperation with rights holders, our Content ID system scans over 100 years worth of video every day and lets rights holders choose whether to block, leave up, or monetize those videos.
"This is a true win-win that reflects our long-standing commitment to working with rights holders to give them the choices they want, while advancing YouTube as a platform for creativity."
A creativity that Viacom seems to want to both stifle and be a part of.
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Review: Canon LEGRIA HF S21
Sitting at the pinnacle of Canon's 2010 range of consumer camcorders, the LEGRIA HF S21 is a powerful and practical Full HD model with a 64GB flash memory, 3.5-inch LCD touchscreen and two (yes, two) SD card slots.
This is a camcorder targeted at enthusiasts and those who want premium image quality, maximum storage and almost-complete creative control.
The massive storage means the S21 can hold up to 24 hours of HD footage on the camcorder itself, and with Relay Recording you can continue recording to SDHC card; when one card is full the cam automatically continues recording to the second card.
With five recording modes (using bitrates from 24Mbps to 5Mbps) it's possible to select resolutions depending on how you want to view or share the movie – full resolution or web-friendly.
Shooting flexibility is an important area on the S21. As well as manual controls for focus, exposure and white balance – which can be controlled by a small, control dial on the left of the camcorder – there's also a range of pro-style features and a mammoth set of connections.
A zebra pattern setting gives a warning when a scene is over-exposed, allowing corrections to be made, while colour bars enable editors to match the output from two camcorders – ensuring they don't look dramatically different. Best of all is a 25p mode, which provides videos with a more-cinematic look.
An external mic can be fitted and there's a headphone output for monitoring sound recording. You can connect it up to a TV using composite or component output, or to maintain maximum quality use the mini HDMI terminal and hook it up to an HD TV. A USB port provides computer connectivity.
The LEGRIA HF S21's rivals are likely to include Sony's HDR-CX350 with its 32GB flash memory, 12x optical zoom and 7.1MP stills; and Panasonic's HDC-TM700, which features 32GB storage, 12x optical zoom and 7.89MP stills.
Bigger and bulkier than your average camcorder, the S21 isn't interested in fitting inside jacket pockets.
This is a camcorder that wants to be seen, and seen sitting atop a tripod is often the best place for it. It has a durable build quality and responsive control buttons, as well as a 10x optical zoom that's relatively smooth and easy to control.
The increased dimensions are partly down to that 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD, which offers a sharp and clear way of reviewing recently shot footage. The colour viewfinder – a rapidly vanishing feature – is a neat addition, too, though it could have done with being bigger.
The touchscreen LCD is a little disappointing, though, especially when it is needed to access and make selections from the menu. The problem is it's often unresponsive to the touch of a finger, leaving you looking like a tech-numpty as you repeatedly prod the screen.
It's wiser, and quicker, to use some form of stylus pen or pencil to scroll through what is often an intelligently laid out menu system.
There's no disappointment when it comes to image quality, however. You're simply going to drool over the sharpness, clarity and colour reproduction the S21 delivers. A close-up of a leaf reveals exceptional fine detail, and even when rapidly changing the subject and setting, the S21's autofocus and autoexposure systems react and adapt quickly to any changes.
Low-light doesn't deter the S21 and it produces watchable movies even in less-than optimum conditions. The camcorder's auto systems do noticeably boost the image brightness in low light, but without any major detriment to the overall picture.
The S21 is bundled with Pixela ImageMixer 3 SE software and in conjunction with a nifty HD-to-SD file conversion feature on the camcorder it's possible to share movies through websites such as YouTube.
Insert an SDHC into the cam and select the clip(s) you want to convert from Full HD to SD – these are then stored on the SD card. Open the software – you'll have the chance to enter YouTube log-in details – and use it to upload and share these clips. It's simple, intuitive and addictively easy.
Stills can be reeled off (using a four-mode flash: auto, on, off, red-eye reduction) at super fine, fine and normal settings, and the 8.59MP CMOS sensor delivers sumptuous colours and absorbing detail. As with movie clips, it's a straightforward process to create playlists and albums from favourite stills and videos.
The LEGRIA HF S21's manual modes alone would make it a camcorder in need of serious consideration, but it's really the superb overall movie and stills quality that makes it a standout. In this case, the proof of the pudding is all in the viewing and with the S21 you just have to drink it in!
We liked:
It's not a compact camcorder, but we liked that. The S21 doesn't reduce everything to miniature in order to serve a design ethos; it's about functionality and control.
Both movie and stills are ridiculously detailed and make for superior results, and it is even more encouraging to know you can tweak, change and play with features to better serve the type of images you want to create. The 25p film-like setting adds even more shooting versatility and serves to reinforce how far HD camcorders have come in the search for high-end visuals.
The ease of uploading, and sharing, movies is also an important virtue, and while the Pixela software is by no means pro-level, it does prove that not every facet of an enthusiast camcorder has to be overly complex to be successful. The option for HD-to-SD file conversion shows a clever understanding of what can often be a frustrating aspect of movie sharing – waiting for clips to upload.
We disliked:
In reality, most concerns are mere quibbles. The touchscreen would benefit from being more responsive, certainly, and a large eyecup would help cement the idea that using a viewfinder is the practical solution to framing and composition, rather than using the LCD screen.
Verdict:
The LEGRIA HF S21 is not for the frivolous. It's an expensive and heavily specified camcorder and one that requires time and dedication to create the best results. If that appeals to you then this is one of the most comprehensive and compelling HD camcorders on the market today.
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'Online piracy to cost 1.2 million jobs' claim criticised
A new report, 'Building a Digital Economy', which claims that web piracy will lead to the loss of 1.2 million jobs, has been rubbished by the UK Pirate Party.
While the report has the support of numerous MPs, Andrew Robinson, Pirate Party UK leader, says about the findings: "This is just the latest round in an industry-sponsored campaign of scaremongering that began with the infamous 'home taping is killing music' hyperbole in the 1970s and 80s."
"We are expected to believe that piracy damages paper pulp producers, accounting machine manufacturers and railway operators. Yet again, we are asked to swallow the lie that every download is a lost sale."
Focus more on investing
His remarks were made after the report found that retail losses caused by piracy will increase 560% by 2015, with the report stating: "Based on current projections and assuming no significant policy changes, the European Union's creative industries could expect to see cumulative retail revenue losses of as much as €240 billion by 2015, resulting in 1.2 million jobs lost by 2015."
Robinson dismisses this argument, explaining: "Most of the evidence available seems to indicate that more money is going into the creative industries than ever - those sectors and businesses that have embraced the internet and the distribution and marketing potential that it offers are flourishing and it is the other areas, if any, that are suffering.
"Perhaps organisations such as the BPI should focus more on investing their resources in new, progressive, and genuinely innovative business models and content rather than on advertising campaigns complaining how their outdated methods are failing."
Truly frightening
There are many who disagree with Robinson's remarks with Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC believing that "the growth of unauthorised downloading and streaming of copyrighted works was a major threat to the creative industries in terms of loss of employment and revenues. The scale of the problem is truly frightening now."
The report, commissioned by the International Chamber of Commerce, is said to be the first major look at the impact of piracy in the EU.
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In Depth: How long has Twitter got?
Twitter, launched in 2006, has become the web's hottest property.
With celebrity endorsement from the likes of Oprah, Lindsay Lohan and Stephen Fry, it now has 75 million very active users. But haven't we seen this all before?
The here today, gone tomorrow fickleness of the web's every shifting demographic has embraced, chewed up and spat out a legion of other services, from ICQ to MySpace. Once favoured toys, they're now forgotten and dusty, languishing at the back of the cupboard.
If we were to assume the same trajectory for Twitter, that would give it a projected lifespan of three, perhaps four more years. On the other hand, it could be one of the lucky ones - a Google, an Amazon or an eBay. It could a transformative service that changes the way we do things.
The consensus among the experts we spoke to is that while everyone believes the microblogging paradigm is here to stay, Twitter as a name is quite another matter.
"Twitter as a company has a limited life, but the spirit of Twitter will live on," says Steve King, Technical Director at digital agency Jigsaw, "Everyone now has a status: 'I'm in freezing Chicago' on MSN and 'Looking forward to the weekend' on Facebook. Soon, my fridge will be able to tell me when it has no milk..."
Paul Bates, UK Managing Director at marketing mavens StrongMail agrees, "The idea of sharing short updates to people you are connected to online will continue to gain in popularity, but whether we do this through Twitter or some other platform remains to be seen".
How will it make money?
The real problem seems to be one that bothers many web services; how will Twitter make money? Without cash Twitter will simply stop tweeting. Experts have plenty of suggestions. The platform itself is one route - and a popular one at that:
"What we find interesting is all the ways that Twitter functionality has been extended across platforms. For example, Twitterific for the iPhone, DSTwitter for Nintendo DS, OpenBeak for BlackBerry..." saysAdam Boyden, President of Conduit, an outfit specialising in online app distribution, "All this development bodes well for the Twitter platform."
"[Twitter] is well placed to extend its already strong APIs, enabling new services and applications to be built on top of it," saysMark Walton-Hayfield, Senior Enterprise Architect at technology consultancy Capgemini, "Essentially the APIs will become the business model."
REAL-TIME SEARCH: Google, Yahoo and Microsoft have struck deals with Twitter to access real-time search results. More solutions like this are needed to fund the service
Paul Beadle, Account Director with Brazil PR, suggests another route for Twitter: Acquisition; "[Twitter's] real time search and trending are vital. My bet is that eventually somebody like Google or Microsoft will buy it". The flipside of that is that the Twitter brand may not survive a buy out, like Netscape before it.
One thing's for certain. The traditional route for web services, advertising, would be a hard sell for customers. And as for premium accounts... "Monetising Twitter is a real concern," says Alex Morris, head of User Experience at Enable Interactive, "People are unlikely to pay for it and ads are about as welcome as a fart in a lift". Charmingly put and 100 per cent spot on.
Over the page, we look at some services that rose to the top of the online pile, only to tumble back down again - and consider the lessons that Twitter might learn from them as it gloomily contemplates monetisation.
Some sites and services go on and on forever. Others are like shooting stars; a brief flash of light before they descend in flames. Twitter should avoid the same mistakes this lot made.
Friends Reunited
At its peak, in 2005, Friends Reunited was a five year old social media pioneer with 15 million members chatting with old school pals. By 2007, after a change of ownership, the site's growth had stalled significantly - with a drop in active usage of 47 per cent.
UNWANTED FRIENDS: You have three unread messages from people you didn't even like when you last saw them fifteen years ago. Would you like to make a WeeMe?
The service's mistake? Other, better sites were offering for free what Friends Reunited forced punters to pay for. That, and the site design remained resolutely Web 1.0. One of those flaws has since been fixed - membership is now free - but Facebook now dominates the space.
The Lesson for Twitter: Be free at the point of access.
Friendster
Another early social media experiment, Friendster peaked in 2004 when it was ranked by Neilsen Online as the most visited site of its kind. In April of that year, MySpace toppled it from that spot. With friend networks, internal messaging and user profiles, its influence on Facebook is clear.
INTRUSIVE: Advertising became a bit of a problem for Friendster's userbase
Unfortunately, in the years following this peak, the site adopted increasingly intrusive advertising strategies, with pop-ups and banner ads. A refocused Friendster remains very popular in Asia though, and was recently acquired, overhauled and relaunched by a Malaysian based company.
The Lesson for Twitter: Don't spam your users.
MySpace
What is MySpace? A social networking site? A music download service? A place to host video or tout your nascent stand-up comedy career or play games? Once the online destination for wired teenagers, MySpace has had its moment.
MOVING ON: Concentrating on the teen and tweenie markets, MySpace became unfashionable when its first wave of users moved on and their Mums moved in...
The service announced layoffs of 30 per cent of its workforce in 2009 after being taken over by News Corp. Its primary purpose among users now is music promotion, but instead of fully capitalising on this good fortune, MySpace continues to be a jack of all trades.
The Lesson for Twitter: Focus on your unique selling point.
ICQ
If there's one start up story Twitter should learn from, it's ICQ. In 1996, it was one of the first instant messaging clients around and swiftly became popular. Current owners Time Warner claim there are still around 100 million accounts registered.
Compare that with Microsoft's Messenger service, which has over 330 million active users. And there's the rub. ICQ were first, but Microsoft nipped in soon after and did it better. As they so often do.
The Lesson for Twitter: Being first is not enough.
Netscape
Poor Netscape. Poor, poor Netscape. It went from being one of the web's best known brands to nothing more than an also-ran in the space of a few short years. Its flagship web browser Navigator was acquired along with the Netscape name in 1998 by AOL.
DEPOSED: Once it was King of the web, now Netscape's just a footnote in the history of the browser wars - and a generic AOL portal page
A long gestation period for Netscape 6 allowed Microsoft's Internet Explorer to rise to prominence in its place. After a series of increasingly ineffectual attempts to exploit the brand, AOL announced it was stopping support for all Netscape products in March 2008.
The Lesson for Twitter: Capitalise on your name while it's still known.
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Opera: 'Dramatic' rise since Microsoft's ballot page
Opera has seen a massive increased in downloads of its browser following the introduction of the browser ballot 'choice screen' into Microsoft Windows.
Microsoft ended years of arguing by producing a ballot screen that was rolled out in Europe through Windows Update to people who used Internet Explorer – the default browser and another Microsoft product.
The ballot screen gave people the option of choosing a different default browser, listing Opera alongside the likes of IE, Chrome, Safari and Firefox.
Opera has already told TechRadar that it has been delighted by the change it has seen since the ballot page went live, and the statistics show why.
According to three days worth of Opera data, the ballot screen has handed the company a massive boost across Europe – with the UK seeing an 85% increase in downloads for Opera 10.5.
Choice is good
"This confirms that when users are given a real choice on how they choose the most important piece of software on their computer, the browser, they will try out alternatives" said Hakon Wium Lie, CTO of Opera Software.
"A multitude of browsers will make the web more standardised and easier to browse".
According to Opera, the increase represents a doubling from normal download numbers on average – and the impact in some countries has been larger still.
Poland (328%) Spain (215%) and Italy (202%) top the list of increases, with the UK's 85 per cent actually one of the smaller changes.
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Facebook and Twitter integration coming to BBC iPlayer
Erik Huggers, the BBC's Head of Future Media and Technology, has revealed that social-networking tools are coming to the Player, with Twitter and Facebook integration already poised for launch.
Speaking at the Guardian's Changing Media Summit 2010, Huggers revealed that the next iteration of the BBC iPlayer (dubbed iPlayer 3.0) will launch soon and Facebook, Twitter and Bebo were already signed up as partners.
BBC goes social
"We are close to launching the third version of the iPlayer in beta which will have many more social functions embedded within it," explained Huggers to the Telegraph. "People will be able to bring their Facebook friends onto the iPlayer so they can share what they are listening to or watching with each other more easily."
For this content sharing to work, it looks like a password protection scheme will be put into place for the iPlayer, where you would have to add in your Facebook and Twitter log-in details to the site.
Once logged in, users would see 'coloured puffs' of information about what your friends were watching and so on.
iPlayer lite?
Alongside iPlayer 3.0, there will also be a lite version of the service launched which will be embeddable into other areas of the BBC website.
Although Huggers was coy about what this would look like, he did note that it would resemble the iPlayer's functionality.
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In Depth: 7 super cool Silverlight apps to try out
You're going to see a lot more Silverlight apps this year – and they won't all be running on Windows Phone.
Microsoft announced a near-final fourth version of its multimedia web technology Silverlight at its MIX conference in Las Vegas this week.
The corporation was keen to talk up Silverlight's rate of adoption and noted that installations are approaching 60 per cent of all "internet devices" worldwide.
Silverlight powers many casual games, with plenty solitaires and puzzles waiting for you. You can even indulge in a little 8-bit nostalgia, with a Silverlight version of the ZX Spectrum classic Manic Miner. It's still as difficult as it ever was, but the graphics are a lot better!
MANIC MINER: Get a dose of 80s nostalgia with the Silverlight version of the 8-bit classic
Or you can use Silverlight to send a virtual bouquet to a friend, picking the flowers from WellWisher.com.
Also entertaining are the Deep Zoom collections; you can zoom in at high speed – and high resolution. Often there are puzzles and hidden images or videos the deeper you zoom in.
One of the best Silverlight deep zooms is the Hard Rock Café's Memorabilia site . Made up of high resolution images of instruments and clothes, you can zoom right down to individual guitar picks. If rock's not your thing, then how about the moon? Try the Deep Moon site, set up to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing.
MEMORABILIA: Even the Beatles get Deep Zoomed in the Hard Rock Café's fascinating Memorabilia site
You can explore your own photos in a whole new way by converting them into a 3D world; Microsoft's Photosynth viewer is a Silverlight front end (although the hard work is done in the cloud).
PHOTOSYNTH: Silverlight walks like an Egyptian in the National Geographic's Photosynth of one of the pyramids
Check out the many neat Photosynths on the new Silverlight version of Bing Maps, which overlays huge amounts of information on the map – from nearby Twitter tweets to Flickr geotagged pictures positioned in 3D space (in Seattle and San Francisco).
Enable the new World Wide Telescope view, drop into a street view, and look up. As you pan above the horizon, the stars and constellations are drawn in, just as you'd see them if you were outside (and it was dark!). You can pick a date and time to see them as they'd have been (or will be) or explore all the collections made for the original World Wide Telescope without leaving Bing Maps.
BING MAPS: Silverlight tools add the sky above to its street view with Microsoft's World Wide Telescope
Silverlight apps don't have to be in the browser. Silverlight 4 applications can run in their own window on your PC or Mac, with access to the file system and to devices like your webcam.
Microsoft's sample Silverlight Facebook client is a well-designed and easy way to see what your Facebook friends have been up to. You'll also soon be able to use Silverlight to sell on eBay with the Simple Lister; use your webcam to grab the barcode from what you want to sell and the app will look it up and fill out most of the eBay forms for you .
Silverlight started as a video plugin and it still does it superbly – even better with the hardware-accelerated HD video with Silverlight 4.
If you watched the Winter Olympics online, you probably watched in Silverlight. In the US, instead of waiting for a DVD to turn up in the post from Netflix you can stream movies straight to your PC.
Microsoft Research's prototype voice voice recognition service MAVIS lets you search videos from the Microsoft Channel 9 site (and Microsoft's 2009 Professional Developer Conference); it uses a Silverlight video player because it can jump straight to 90 minutes through a two hour video to play the section with the word you've searched for – with virtually no buffering.
There are a couple of hundred more apps on the Silverlight Showcase which is (of course) a Silverlight application itself.
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Kindle for Mac beta released
Amazon has released a beta version of its Kindle application for Macs.
The computer based Kindle application allows people to access the books they have bought on the Kindle store through their PC and now Mac, to continue reading from the page you are at on your Kindle device (and vice versa) and view notes.
The Kindle for Mac beta version does not yet support the ability to make notes or full text search, but Amazon has insisted that plans are in place to extend this functionality at a future date.
Beta buy
The software is available for free although the beta tag means that it could well contain the odd bug.
Amazon's success for the Kindle has been a key factor in the growth of eBooks – although UK users are still required to ship the device in from the US.
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Exclusive: DivX: we took a leaf out of Google Chrome
DivX released its new updated software package this week, with DivX Plus offering a whole host of features for those who want easier sharing and playing of their media files.
Speaking to TechRadar, Ryan Taylor, Product Marketing Manager, Consumer Software and Services, revealed the company's inspirations for the streamlined approach it has taken with the software package, name-checking Google in the process.
"We certainly took a page out of Google's approach to Chrome," explained Taylor.
"That browser was so revolutionary in the way that it changed [the way] you thought a normal browser should look.
"So, we have given the DivX player some space and simplified it."
Redesigned software
The new DivX Plus Player does offer some impressive new easy-to-use features, such as smooth fast-forward and rewinding and the automatic addition of chapter marks to files which have none.
Taylor hopes that the player's new Google-inspired look will tempt new users into using DivX's services.
"We've completely redesigned every product in the line," notes Taylor.
"We wanted DivX to be paired back to its primary uses."
Perhaps the best feature, however, is the automatic conversion tool in-built into the player. Called DivX To Go, you just drop your file into it and it will be converted to a friendly codec which can be used on your Blu-ray player, DVD player, TV and PlayStation 3.
Unfortunately, you will still have to transfer the file to a USB but there is talk of adding streaming capabilities to the software.
"We don't want to talk about DivX To Go as a converter, but something which makes the transferring of files easier," said Taylor.
"There isn't network functionality at the moment but what you get for free is basic transcoding support which still retains the quality of the file."
DivX TV
While DivX partners Google in offering its web player to be compatible with Chrome, when Google's proposed TV service was mentioned, Taylor didn't seem to be aware of what was going on but was happy to divulge a bit about DivX's own web television platform DivX TV.
"We have our own DivX TV service coming out in the UK this year on LG's TVs but I don't know what Google's plans are.
"You should see DivX TV, though, in the UK by Christmas."
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Ofcom appoints ATVOD as VOD co-regulator
Ofcom has officially designated the Association for Television On Demand as the co-regulator on UK video on demand.
ATVOD is an industry body created by the key companies involved in UK video on demand - and it was created to vet one of the biggest boom areas of media.
"This is a landmark moment for Video On Demand services in the UK which offer programmes which are comparable to those shown on traditional TV channels," said ATVOD's newly appointed CEO Pete Johnson.
"Previously unregulated, such VOD services now fall under statutory regulation, and are obliged to notify ATVOD of their existence. The new rules broadly match those recently introduced across all EU member states.
"On UK services, children will be protected from the most extreme content, and for the first time use of product placement and sponsorship will be subject to controls and restrictions.
"We are delighted that Ofcom has decided to designate ATVOD as the appropriate authority to regulate this exciting and growing sector. We believe that its balance of independence and industry expertise will enable ATVOD to regulate effectively and without placing undue burdens on a fast developing industry."
Self-regulating
"Ofcom today designated the Association for Television On Demand ("ATVOD") as the co-regulator for editorial content on UK video on demand services that include TV-like programming," stated Ofcom, in a PDF release.
ATVOD had made several changes to its board to coincide with the announcement, with the appointment of new CEO Johnson joined by Ruth Evans as independent chair.
"ATVOD has a new Board comprising of five independent members - Sara Nathan (former Channel 4 News editor andfounder member of Ofcom Board), Tim Lefroy (Chief Executive of The Advertising Association), Nigel Walmsley (former broadcasting executive and member of the ASA Council) and Ian McBride (broadcast compliance specialist and current affairs executive) alongside Chair Ruth Evans," ATVOD told TechRadar.
"Four industry members, Daniel Austin, Simon Milner, Simon Hunt and Chris Loweth, have also been appointed with the role of providing a general industry perspective. These members are currently employed by BSkyB, BT, Virgin Media and Five.
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New addiction centre for 'screenagers' opens
A London doctor has started a new rehab programme for young 'screenagers' who he feels are addicted to videogames, the internet and mobile phones.
Richard Graham is a London-based consultant psychiatrist and has opened the new centre to help teenagers whose lives are impaired by their addictions to screen-based entertainment tech.
The UK's first centre for games addiction opened in Weston-Super-Mare last year.
"Mental health services need to adapt quickly to the changing worlds young people inhabit and understand how seriously their lives can be impaired by unregulated time online, on-screen or in-game," said Graham, who is based at Capio Nightingale Hospital in London.
Police often intervene
Police are often called to settle feuds between parents and irate children, who respond badly when their consoles or computers or phones are turned off or confiscated.
Graham's new 'screenager' rehab service is the the first in UK to be dedicated to children as young as 12.
Graham says other services are outdated, "borrowing from older models of addiction and substance misuse to very limited effect".
TechRadar has requested an interview with the consultant psychiatrist to find out more about his own approach and how this differs to traditional approaches.
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New addiction centre for 'screenagers' opens
A London doctor has started a new rehab programme for young 'screenagers' who he feels are addicted to videogames, the internet and mobile phones.
Richard Graham is a London-based consultant psychiatrist and has opened the new centre to help teenagers whose lives are impaired by their addictions to screen-based entertainment tech.
The UK's first centre for games addiction opened in Weston-Super-Mare last year.
"Mental health services need to adapt quickly to the changing worlds young people inhabit and understand how seriously their lives can be impaired by unregulated time online, on-screen or in-game," said Graham, who is based at Capio Nightingale Hospital in London.
Police often intervene
Police are often called to settle feuds between parents and irate children, who respond badly when their consoles or computers or phones are turned off or confiscated.
Graham's new 'screenager' rehab service is the the first in UK to be dedicated to children as young as 12.
Graham says other services are outdated, "borrowing from older models of addiction and substance misuse to very limited effect".
TechRadar has requested an interview with the consultant psychiatrist to find out more about his own approach and how this differs to traditional approaches.
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HTC fights back in Apple lawsuit
HTC has responded to Apple's alleged patent theft claims as it readies itself for the forthcoming court battle.
Apple has stated that HTC has nabbed a number of its patented ideas, from the simple 'swipe to unlock' gesture to deeper functions related to the UI itself.
Against Google
Given the weight of allegations levied at HTC's Android range, some critics have stated this is the beginning of a larger suit against Google.
But now HTC's chiefs have come out with a strong defence of their brand:
"HTC disagrees with Apple's actions and will fully defend itself.
"HTC strongly advocates intellectual property protection and will continue to respect other innovators and their technologies as we have always done, but we will continue to embrace competition through our own innovation as a healthy way for consumers to get the best mobile experience possible," said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation.
Cutting edge
"From day one, HTC has focused on creating cutting-edge innovations that deliver unique value for people looking for a smartphone.
"In 1999 we started designing the XDA and T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition, our first touchscreen smartphones, and they both shipped in 2002 with more than 50 additional HTC smartphone models shipping since then."
This one is likely to rumble on and on - but we hope that Android continues to run along at its terrific development pace.
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Review: Packard Bell Dot S2
The Packard Bell Dot S2 is a stylish and highly portable 10.1-inch netbook with some unique features.
Available in a choice of red, black and white, the compact 1.2kg chassis looks great. With its gun-metal interior, black keyboard and subtle blue lighting effects, this is one of the best-looking netbooks we've seen.
While the chassis measures just 26mm at its thickest point, its large battery protrudes from the base and adds 11mm to its depth. However, this does little to negatively impact on the machine's portability and the large battery provides a fantastic 463-minutes of power.
The keyboard employs large keys raised above the chassis. Usability is excellent and even larger-handed typists will feel at home. The subtly textured touchpad is equally usable.
The bright and vibrant 10.1-inch Super- TFT screen is also a joy to use. Images are rendered sharply and vividly, ensuring photos and videos look great, with impressive brightness and contrast levels.
While Intel's latest Atom N450 processor has been used, performance is as limited as you would expect from a netbook. Basic multi-tasking is possible, however.
Photoshop Elements
Somewhat surprisingly, considering this limited performance, Adobe's Photoshop Elements image editing software is pre-installed. While it is a nice touch and lets you touch up your home photos on the move, it is inevitably quite slow to respond when editing large photos.
An XSync USB-to-USB cable is also included. This lets you connect the Dot S2 to another laptop or desktop PC and transfer files, synchronise folders and even synchronise Microsoft Outlook data between devices. That is also a nice touch, but you'll either use it all the time or not at all.
Offering fantastic mobility, a stylish design and great usability, the Dot S2 is one of the best second-generation netbooks we've seen so far.
Add its unique features and low price and you've got a great mini-laptop that easily stands out from the already bustling crowd.
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Neuromarketing: ads that get inside your head
It is the ultimate ad man's dream. To have the ability to get inside their potential customer's head and understand what is going on in their brains.
And, by extension, how they can monitor customers' brain activity in order to develop better advertising campaigns to sell their products to them.
At South By Southwest Interactive this month, a panel of scientists and ad executives outlined the latest research on "neuromarketing" – a rather chilling term, that conjures up images of a Gibson-esque dystopian future, in which we are all helpless slaves to the mega-corps…
Campbell Soup recently launched a new packaging redesign based on its research into consumers' "neurological and bodily responses" to various mockups, with a sample of target customers hooked up up to EEG or MRI machines to show the company what happens in their brains when they see the new packaging.
Neuromarketing research
Firms performing neuromarketing research have ad budgets in the range of $30 million to $100 million, Dr. A.K. Pradeep, CEO of neuromarketing firm Neurofocus, told CNN Money.
"Increasingly, companies with less than that have been using this technology," Dr Pradeep added.
George Loewenstein, a Carnegie Mellon professor in the social and decision sciences department, has researched "the pain of paying" and concluded that when we are ripped off by a company it causes physical pain, with subjects' pain centers lighting up in the research lab when they think they are buying overpriced products.
But isn't that obvious? That your customers don't want to buy things they believe are overpriced?
Roger Dooley, of the journal Neuromarketing cites a recent study for a company that makes chips and salsa, noting that the moment a snacker lifts a salsa-covered chip to his mouth: "that moment is extremely evocative for the brain. Your brain just goes nuts."
Dooley adds that: "Too chunky won't work, and too runny won't work…Why do you need complex science to design the liquidity of a salsa? That's what Steve Jobs does. Every little thing counts to create a phenomenal experience."
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Google ups the cool factor for Android Maps
Google has revamped its Google Maps for Android application - again - bringing a raft of cool new features to its 4.1 upgrade.
The new application overhauls the UI to make things easier to see - for instance, there are no longer any tabs on the search results page, making things easier to see.
You can now swipe through these results, meaning you don't have to enter a search result, find it's the wrong one then take time to back up to the list - a simple swipe left or right will show you the next one.
Liking Latitude
If you're a fan of Latitude (we don't know of any, but they must be out there) there's now a dedicated widget for the home screen as well, making it easier to stalk the life out of your buddies.
And the coolest feature - if you're an Android 2.1 user (Google's official blog says Android 2.1+, so could that mean an update on the way?) you can also turn your home screen into one big, updating map using the Maps live wallpaper - presumably with your Latitude friends.
If you're rocking Android 1.6 or later, search the Android Market for the new Google Maps app and take things to the next level.
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Review: Digiquest 8600CI
We recently reviewed the DigiQuest 6630+USB – now we examine its identically priced sibling. The new 8600CI's front panel may look different but the key difference from the 6630 is the presence of a CI slot.
Naturally, this slot (which replaces the 6630's card reader) will give you more flexibility as far as pay-TV is concerned, but it's quite telling that some of the CAMs being sold today are more expensive than this receiver.
The 8600CI makes no concessions to PVR functionality or HD. But you do get DiSEqC, a UHF modulator, USB connectivity and what Digiquest claims is 'blind scan'.
A more serious shortcoming shared with the 6630 is the lack of an EPG. These two Digiquest receivers are, as far as we know, the only ones to lack an onscreen programme guide, yet there's an EPG button on the handset.
Build and connectivity
Compact this receiver may be, but its power supply is built in.
On the rear panel are the LNB input and loopthrough output, which are perhaps a little too close together for comfort. There are Scarts for TV and VCR, an RS232 port for firmware upgrades and a series of phono sockets that provide stereo audio, composite video, coaxial digital audio and a programmable 12V output for switchboxes and the like.
Operating controls are on the front panel. They include a joypad disc for volume/channel-change, menu access and standby. You can access the menus with these controls, but PIN-protected ones need the tactile but rather busy handset.
The single CI slot is behind a flap, beside the USB port. On the opposite side of the front panel is a four-digit LED for channel number and time.
The overall standard of construction is high. On one side of the case is the power supply, next to which is a larger board that contains, among other things, the main ALi chipset and CI slot. The tiny Sharp-made tuner lives on a plug-in board with the UHF modulator.
Setup
In the PIN-protected 'antenna configuration' option of the installation menu – one of five options on a pleasantly designed carousel – you can tell the receiver whether you're using a fixed or motorised (DiSEqC 1.2 or USALS) dish, and select from a list the desired birds. An 'antenna setup' option allows you to select the satellite(s) you've just added and configure them.
If you're using DiSEqC 1.0 or 1.1, the relevant switchbox positions for each satellite can be specified. The 8600 CI is compatible with DiSEqC 1.2 and USALS motorised dishes. For the former, east/west movement controls enable you to move the dish until the target transponder is found. Longitude and latitude can be selected for USALS mounts; satellites/transponders can then be selected and the dish moved to the automatically calculated position.
Useful features include signal/quality meters, dish-limit setting and the ability to specify the DiSEqC memory location to which a satellite is saved. You can scan a single satellite for free or all channels, with network searching if desired.
Another option engages blind search, which merely works its way through a list of pre-programmed transponders. There's no facility for the entry of PIDs, FEC or symbol rates, but you do get a 'multi satellite search' mode that automatically visits each satellite in turn. Sadly, it doesn't account for the time taken to move between satellites.
Basic use
A welcome feature is the 'find' button, which enables you to track down a channel by entering one or more letters of its name. Any channel that stands up to repeat viewing should be placed in one of the favourites lists. There are no fewer than 32 of these.
Defining favourites requires the main menu's 'edit channel' option, which has LNB input and loopthrough output TV Scart (RGB, composite) Stereo analogue audio outputs separate radio and TV channel lists. The channel editor will also let you delete, sort (by name or encryption status) or rename channels. Its default PIN protection can be disabled if desired.
The EPG may have been forgotten, but there's a manually programmable eight-event timer. Dedicated handset buttons access a sleep timer, engage the onboard teletext decoder, display subtitles, select soundtrack, zoom or freeze the picture of the currently selected channel and toggle between TV and radio mode.
There's also a nine-channel mosaic feature that presents you with a live 'thumbnail' of the current channel and still grabs of the eight consecutive ones. Multimedia JPEG or BMP still images stored on FAT32-formatted USB devices can be displayed on your TV.
MPEG video clips will play too, but other file formats like MP3 and DivX are ignored. Games Tetris, Othello and Sudoku are available.
Performance
Pictures from channels that maintain decent technical standards are well defined with realistically rendered colour to the extent where it's difficult to tell the 8600 CI apart from pricier receivers (some of which may even employ the same chipset). Listening to radio stations proves that audio is excellent, too.
Searches, menu access and channel-changing cannot be criticised in terms of their responsiveness, but the 8600 CI's sensitivity was found a bit wanting. Reception of the Hot Bird and Astra services was reliable, but trickier transponders on some other satellites proved out of reach.
Four thousand channels is a bit on the low side, and on one occasion the review sample ran out of memory. This may not be an issue if you're using a single-satellite setup.
But those with the ability to receive more than one bird should stick with FTA-only searches (unless the CAM and card needed to unlock specific channels are available) and delete services of no interest.
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Review: MSI Wind U135
The flood of netbooks appearing on the market is showing no signs of abating and the MSI U135 is one of the latest.
It's a comfortable, attractive machine that features cutting edge technology and good usability, but ultimately brings nothing new to the market.
The 10.1-inch screen is bright, making it easy to use in strong light, while the 1024 x 600-pixel resolution is surprisingly crisp, and you'll have no issues reading or creating word processors.
The bezel around the panel is very reflective, however and proves distracting.
The black chassis is chic in a rather subtle way but, like other shiny netbooks, quickly attracts fingerprints and smears.
However it's well put together and durable enough for life on the road.
The keyboard is great, providing a firm typing action which we quickly became accustomed to. The touchpad is large and responsive, but positioned so close to the keyboard that it's easy to brush while typing, causing irritating cursor behaviour.
Atomic CPU
Intel's Atom N450 processor provides standard processing power and, due to it being very resource-light, delivers a great 403 minute battery life, offering all-day usability.
Portability is further enhanced by the compact size of the netbook, and you'll easily fit it in most small bags.
The 250GB hard drive is more than capacious enough for all your files and folders, including any media libraries you may want to carry with you, and there's also a 4-in-1 card reader for easily downloading your photos from your digital camera's memory card.
802.11n Wi-Fi and 10/100 Ethernet provide decent networking capabilities, and a VGA-out port lets you connect to external analogue monitors with ease.
The MSI Wind U135 is a good netbook that ticks all the right boxes, with very little to fault. If you are in the market for a new machine, this is certainly worth considering.
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In Depth: 10 more things we've learned about Windows Phone 7 Series
We were all pretty intrigued to see what Ballmer would reveal at Mobile World Congress. Ee knew it was going to be Windows Mobile 7, but would it be up to scratch?
Let's face it, we're annoyed at the long-winded Windows Phone 7 Series moniker (not least because it ruins our headlines), but we have to say there's more than a glimmer of hope about what was unveiled.
And now we know more - from the MIX 2010 event where Microsoft shone a few more lights into the murky mysterious of WP7S. It's not a lot to go on, but enough to get a much clearer grasp over Ballmer's vision.
1. Putting developers first
The sheer weight of information unveiled about developer tools at the MIX event (which, admittedly is based around developers) showed that the Windows Phone 7 platform is all set up for apps.
CREDIT: Engadget
Devs will be able to take advantage of elements like multi-touch, the camera, GPS, push notifications and accelerometers to make cool new applications.
Steve Ballmer was also parodied in a demo app using Silverlight - onlookers were given the chance to watch a bobble-headed version of the chief yelling 'developers, developers, developers' over and over again.
2. Marketplace overhaul
If you're making apps, you need a place to put them. To that end, Microsoft has decided to overhaul the Windows Phone Marketplace, so it now features a panoramic design and 'active merchandising' to increase the discoverability of games and applications.
It also supports one-time credit card purchases, mobile operator billing and advertising-funded applications to increase the raft of options on offer - basically offering more ways to pay makes developers happier.
3. Bye bye multi-tasking - for now
For Windows Phone 7 Series, the OS will process Microsoft's core integrated experiences, including music and phone calls, in the background, but NOT those of third-party apps – very much like the iPhone.
The new Microsoft phones (Microphones? Oh, wait...) will, however, support push-notifications so that third-party apps can send you updates and status messages when the app itself is not running in the background.
And don't worry if you're a huge WiPho fan - this isn't Microsoft's final stance on multi-tasking - it's just set this way so the first release doesn't go all unstable and eat your battery.
4. There's real power under the hood
Microsoft used the MIX event to show off what can be achieved with the new WP7S (unsurprisingly).
In the unveiling, it showed off an application from the Associated Press (that included in-app advertising) as well as pointing out the ability to jump to pictures and video.
Basically, it seems that the apps will be able to draw from the phone's resources in a big way and still survive - which makes sense when you think it's going to have a 1GHz processor as a minimum in most devices.
5. No more memory cards
Here's a down side - there won't be any memory card support. Actually, check that - there will be support for them, but you can't get to them.
That's right - the two options will either be inbuilt memory, and gallons of it, with no memory card slot (think Nokia X6) or there will be a 'locked' memory card under the battery.
Why? We have no idea. It seems that if you can support hot-swappable memory cards, you should. It just makes life easier for the end-user.
6. One portal to rule them all
Those of you familiar with Windows Mobile 7 will be aware that you can get apps from, well, pretty much anywhere. Only the other day we think we installed a new alarm clock for 50p and a Crème Egg from the local WH Smiths.
But now, that gravy train has ended. With all the work that's gone into the Windows Phone Marketplace, Microsoft has stopped unlicensed third party apps from making their way on to WP7S devices.
This means app vendors like Handango will have their noses put firmly out of joint - it's a significant revenue stream gone bye bye.
But hey - Apple does it and makes loads of dosh. Why not follow that rich road to success? (See #9 to find out why).
7. Copy and paste dumped
We're used to seeing the functional-yet-frustrating nature of Windows Mobile from previous iterations, with the power of Exchange email and copy/paste ruined by the impossible to use touch systems.
And while the latter appears to have been somewhat fixed, Microsoft has gone the other way with the functional side - copy and paste is gone.
Microsoft apparently thinks its users don't need it - but surely the company learnt from Apple that this isn't the case?
No copy and paste, no Flash video, no multi-tasking - we're a little worried about the road Microsoft is heading down.
8. We still don't know what the first phones will look like
We may have been shown LG's first effort of a Windows Phone 7 Series device, but that's as much as we've learnt so far.
But then we thought we'd seen Samsung's first effort as well - the phone that it would be launching at Christmas to rival LG.
The problem was it looked surprisingly like the year-old i8910HD - so TechRadar did a little digging and found that it actually was just that.
And in a more intriguing twist - Samsung claimed it didn't even create it, that Microsoft re-badged the i8910HD off its own back.
9. We've been saved from a much poorer version
You may have read a few months back that Steve Ballmer knocked some heads together over the design of Windows Mobile 7, and that appears to have been a very, very good move indeed.
Microsoft showed off some slides of what the original version of Windows Mobile 7 looked like - it was much like the WinMo versions of yore, complete with hard to reach menus at the bottom and the teeny Windows icon to kick things off.
We're very glad that core was scrapped and a reboot of the system was made - what Windows Phone 7 Series eventually looked like was much, much better, and is a proper vehicle to help Microsoft back to the sharp end of the mobile game.
10. High res screens are still the way forward - for now
You should remember that Windows Phone 7 Series will be only running phones with WVGA (800 x 480) screens - we like that level of resolution.
But the problem is that that screen res can be a) heavy on the wallet and b) not necessary in some phones.
So to that end, Microsoft will be adding HVGA (480 x 320) to the mix in the future, which means slightly lower res video, and apps will have to be rescaled to run on lower-pixelled screen.
But Android has managed it with recent reboots, so there's no reason why Microsoft can't be a success with it as well.
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Wii iPlayer use puts on big growth spurt
Nintendo Wii users are flocking to use the BBC iPlayer – with the console making up 4 per cent of the total percentage of requests in February, overtaking the iPhone and closing in on the PlayStation 3.
The latest figures from the BBC show that Nintendo's Wii is accounting for an increasing number of iPlayer views, moving from 2.8 million to 3.2 million views.
With the PlayStation holding steady at 6 per cent of total views, Nintendo's console could feasibly overtake its rival if the growth continues.
The Nintendo Wii player was relaunched in November, after user complaints, and it appears to have had a big effect.
Usage still growing
Overall, the BBC iPlayer put on another strong month, with a record of 3.5 million requests every day, and although the audience is balancing out in terms of men and women, the audience is predominantly under the age of 55.
iPhone usage statistics were included for the first time since last November and now accounts for 4 per cent of iPlayer views, whilst Virgin Media's share fell slightly from 22 per cent to 21 per cent.
Eastenders Live was the most watched programme – almost twice as popular as the first of three episodes of Mock the Week that make up the rest of the top four.
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DivX Plus Software brings easier HD sharing
DivX has announced a new free software package which simplifies watching and sharing high-definition content.
The follow-up to DivX 7, DivX has decided to call it DivX Plus Software.
The bundle is made up of four separate pieces of DivX software. These are: DivX Plus Player, the DivX Plus Web Player, the DivX Plus Codec Pack, and the DivX Plus Converter.
Major step forward
DivX has redesigned its interface so if you are playing back DivX footage online or from the desktop it should be a simpler process. There's also the addition of smoother fast-forwarding and rewinding and if the file you are watching doesn't have chapter points, then DivX will automatically sort this out for you.
And it now supports 1080p HD H.264-based videos in the MKV file format.
DivX has also made file transfering that little bit easier. When you want to transfer files, all you have to do to make this work, is drag the file into the DivX To Go feature on the DivX Plus Player.
The file will then be able to play in all DivX certified devices - no matter what version of the codec your hardware supports.
If you want to drill a bit deeper into conversion - the DivX Plus Converter is for you. Formally something you had to pay for, DivX is now giving away a cut-down version for free.
"DivX Plus software represents a major step forward in our mission to create a seamless, high-quality media experience that empowers consumers to enjoy the content they care about not just on the computer but on any device in their lifestyle," explained Kevin Hell, CEO of DivX.
"Our new software connects the content that millions of users watch on their PCs to the millions of DivX devices all over the world, offering a bridge between the Internet and the living room."
The software bundle is available now. For more information, visit www.divx.com/software/divx-plus.
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Review: Samsung NB30
Samsung's netbook range has always impressed us, and the NB30, boasting semi-ruggedised features, is no different. It's ideal if you're looking to buy a machine for your child or simply want greater protection for your data.
The netbook features a hard drive with a freefall sensor. This detects when the machine has been dropped and docks the drive heads in a bid to minimise the damage to your data. This could prove very useful in the hurly-burly of a classroom environment.
The netbook is also resistant to spilt liquids and features a smart scratch resistant skin which not only protects the machine's components, but also means it doesn't suffer from the scratches and scuffs shinier machines quickly collect.
The 10.1-inch screen has a 1024 x 600-pixel resolution which is sharp and bright, and there's no shiny Super-TFT screen coating causing irritating reflections in bright light.
Excellent build
Build quality is excellent and, at 1.3kg, it's a very light machine, making it suitable for small children to carry to and from school and between classrooms.
The keyboard uses a design common to Acer laptops, whereby each key stands above the chassis. It provides one of the most intuitive typing experiences around.
Intel's new Atom N450 chip provides the NB30's processing power, and you'll find enough performance for running office applications with ease.
A benefit of Intel's latest processor is the extended battery life it provides. Samsung claims to have achieved an impressive 11 hours of battery from one charge, and during benchmarking we managed just less than ten hours.
Other features include a webcam for video chatting on the internet, Bluetooth, 802.11n Wi-Fi and even a USB port which can charge your peripherals even when the netbook is switched off.
We like what the NB30 has to offer. The semi-rugged features are still relatively rare on a netbook, and will prove to be a real selling point for many.
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Panasonic sells out US 3D TV allotment in a week
The arguments over whether 3D TV will finally catch on are far from over, but the signs are good in the US at least where Panasonic has apparently sold out its entire allocation of 3D television bundles.
Despite a price tag of $2899 (£1,897), Panasonic has had no trouble shifting its stock and the bundle of a 3D ready television, a set of 3D glasses and a 3D Blu-ray player has proven to be a big hit.
Hitoshi Otsuki, Senior Managing Director for Panasonic's overseas operations, said, "It's a great opportunity to turn around our TV business."
Thin on the ground
3D content remains thin on the ground, but with major companies investing heavily in the next generation tech that is a diminishing problem.
James Cameron's recent box office smash Avatar is proving 3D films are a huge hit with audiences, and UK broadcaster Sky has been pumping huge amounts of time and money into developing its 3D filming of live events like Premiership football, performing arts and tennis.
In truth, Panasonic's success may well be put down to the relatively limited number of 3D televisions available in the market, but content providers will be pleased to see that there is interest from consumers.
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Sony and Intel to partner Google on TV project
Google has teamed up with Intel and Sony to develop a platform called Google TV, which aims bring the web into the living room through new TVs and set-top boxes.
The Android-based system should allow people to perform connected tasks like updating and browsing Facebook, Tweeting or getting their favoured news feeds through RSS.
The move makes a lot of sense, with connected televisions proliferating and both Intel and Google desperate to translate their dominance in computing into the burgeoning entertainment device market.
Sony developing new TV brand?
Sony has also seen its market share slipping in the TV industry in recent years, so is in need of new technologies to give its TV and home cinema products and brands a new edge.
Of course, web access via the television is nothing new and there are already a number of TVs on the market that will let you surf the net, although the services are somewhat limited in scope at this point in time.
Google's plan is to open up its Android-based TV platform to developers to try to create a similar ecosystem to that seen in apps for smartphones over the last few years.
"Google is expected to deliver a toolkit to outside programmers within the next couple of months, and products based on the software could appear as soon as this summer," claims a report in The New York Times this week.
Logitech remote?
Logitech has apparently been approached to make peripherals for Google TV, including a remote with a tiny keyboard.
Specific details on the Google TV project are scarce, with the various deals still under negotiation.
"Google wants to be everywhere the Internet is so they can put ads there," one source with knowledge of the project told the NYT.
Google TV software will be open source so that device and TV makers will have easy and open access to it. Interestingly, the New York Times report also hints that Sony may well be developing a new TV brand to launch the technology under.
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Nissan to produce UK's first mass-market electric car
Nissan's commitment to building the UK's 'first mass-market electric car' has been welcomed by the government, who will hand the company a £20.7 million grant as it produces the LEAF.
Nissan will invest 420 million to safeguard and create more than 500 jobs in Sunderland for both the production of the LEAF and a new battery plant, with plans to make 50,000 vehicles and 60,000 batteries a year starting in 2013.
The LEAF, already being produced in two other countries, is a five-seater hatchback which Nissan claims will offer the same space performance and practicality of similar cars in its class, but without the emissions.
Vote of confidence
"This investment is a fantastic vote of confidence in the Sunderland plant and its excellent workforce," said Lord Mandelson.
"The automotive sector is of key importance to the UK. It supports R&D, technological innovation, skills and a supply chain that's a mainstay of the wider manufacturing sector.
"Today's news from Nissan, with support from government, shows that by working together we can achieve our aim of making the UK a world-leader in ultra-low carbon vehicles."
Dawn of a new era?
Andy Palmer, senior Vice President responsible for Nissan's global electric vehicle strategy, added: "The world is at the dawn of a new era in automotive transport. Nissan LEAF, which will go on sale later this year, is a five-seater hatchback that offers the same space, practicality and performance of a similar car in its class - minus the tailpipe emissions.
"Thanks to the UK's firm commitment to a low carbon future in terms of infrastructure, customer incentives and educational programmes, Nissan LEAF will be built at Sunderland, making the UK the third country in the world to produce this revolutionary car."
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