Samsung planning 42-inch OLED TV in 2011
Samsung is planning to release a whopping 42-inch OLED TV by 2011, according to latest reports from the Far East.
Samsung Mobile Display are starting a trial production of a 42-inch OLED-TV with the new 5.5 generation production line in Cheonan in the third quarter of this year.
42-inch OLED TVs at CES 2011
Sammy's 5.5 Generation (1500x1100mm) OLED production line is planned to be ready for mass production of large OLED TV screens by the first quarter of 2011.
So we could well be seeing some large-screen OLED TVs making an appearance at CES in Vegas next January.
Which begs the question, might OLED actually be 'the next big thing' for the TV manufacturing industry to latch-onto next year, once the current hype around 3D technology has ran its course?
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BT to launch touchscreen iPad rival
Is BT really about to take on Apple? The Telegraph reports that an iPad-esque prototype device was demonstrated at BT's yearly strategy day in London yesterday.
Details are sketchy, but The Telegraph suggests it will be a touch smaller than the iPad and use a Bluetooth headset to make and receive calls. It will also be able to send and receive texts.
The news comes as it emerges O2 will offer customers the Dell Mini 5 tablet - formerly known as Streak. It runs Android.
Most interesting about the BT news is who might be building such a tablet device for the company – will it simply be a rebranded version of an existing or imminent tablet, or completely new hardware? We'd bet the former.
The company's chief executive Ian Livingston said the new device was a cross between a PC and the "telephone of the future."
He also suggested the device could have applications, though we'd warrant that these will be more like the web shortcuts found on the JooJoo than bespoke iPad-alike apps.
As we reported yesterday, BT also said during the strategy day that it would be launching the OnLive gaming service in the UK.
Via Telegraph.co.uk
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Rumours of a Sony Vaio tablet PC resurface
Sony is rumoured to be working on a tablet PC to compete with the Apple iPad.
The idea of a Vaio-branded tablet PC will no doubt excite fans of Sony's high-end mobile computing brand, although there has been no 'official' word from Sony to confirm such plans.
Bloomberg spoke with Sony's SVP of IT Products Mike Abary. He informed the financial newsgatherer that Sony has been exploring the tablet PC market "for a number of years," adding that the marketplace currently has some "interesting opportunities."
Funny that! And of course it is purely coincidental that Apple is about to launch its iPad in the UK later this very month…
Sony has a habit of playing a watching brief when it comes to new and emerging markets, having taken some time to enter the netbook market with the Vaio P and Vaio X ultraportable ranges.
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Updated: 10 best 3D TVs in the world today
Our constantly updated list of the best 3D TVs in the world
Slip on a pair of £100 3D glasses, nestle in front of a brand new £2,000 TV and switch on a £350 3D Blu-ray player and you'll likely warm to the notion that 3D is more than just an illusion.
It's created by your brain processing two separate images coming to it via your eyes, and while this stereoscopic approach can be done relatively cheaply, the big manufacturers have plumped for a rather expensive format that relies on rather clumsy, heavy glasses.
It's called Full HD 3D, and, to be fair, it's the best form of 3D currently available.
We've seen the demos; Full HD 3D might sound like a very expensive hobby for now, but if it's movies you're into then it's your best hope if you're at all interested in the third dimension.
Before your scowl at the prospect of your 50-inch plasma being deemed 'obsolete', bemoan the lack of 3D content, and balk at the high cost of a new breed of 3DTVs, consider this; our list may concentrate on 3D, but the TVs we've gathered here have plenty of other dimensions.
The 3D glasses are optional … and with TV prices being slashed by 25% every year, 3D TVs should be within reach of us all inside the next three years or so.
So, which is the best 3D TV? We've got ten ranges to show you...
Samsung C9000 series 3D TVs
Having just released its BD-C6900 3D Blu-ray player for a cool £350, Samsung is about to unleash its huge 3D-ready range of TVs.
The flagship is the C9000 line-up of LED TVs, the 46-inch UE-46C9000 and 55-inch UE-55C9000. Prices are yet to be confirmed, but expect to part with the best part of £2,000 to get your hands on these fully featured screens.
Both are Full HD and come with Freeview HD tuners and 200Hz panels (that's key – a fast blur-free panel is crucial for 3D to work).
The C9000s use an Edge LED backlight system - that may not be quite as impressive as Full LED tech in terms of achieving deep blacks, but it does ensure the frame has a depth of just 8mm.
It's not all about the look, either; both models include four HDMI, two USB 2.0 slots (one of which can be used to hook-up a hard drive to add SD and HD recording functions), wireless DLNA networking and Internet@TV (which includes apps for BBC iPlayer, YouTube and Lovefilm).
The C9000s seem a high-end proposition even without 3D (and the largely novelty 2D-to-3D conversion); an iPhone-esque touchscreen remote control lets you watch Freeview channels on a LCD screen while something else is displayed on your TV.
Panasonic VT20 Series 3D TVs
Read: Panasonic TX-P50VT20 3D TV review
Panasonic isn't messing around with entry-level and mid-range 3D sets; instead it's going for the high-end with its two-strong Full HD 3D VT20 plasmas.
A proponent of plasma tech for yonks, the latest Vieras have the same engineering team behind them that produced Pioneer's now defunct Kuro screens a few years ago.
These 50-inch (TX-P50VT20, £2,000) and 65-inch (TX-P65VT20, £TBC) models feature a 600Hz Sub-field Drive (not that plasma struggles with motion, as LCD/LED screens can – something that may make these screens ones to watch for 3D) alongside Intelligent Frame Creation Pro, Infinite Black Pro (look out for Pioneer's Kuro legacy here), Viera Cast and a suave metallic design.
Uniquely, the THX Certified VT20 Series include both Freeview HD and Freesat HD tuners, DivX HD from USB sticks, Wireless LAN (via a USB adaptor), and PVR functionality if you attach a hard drive. You'll also receive two pairs of 3D goggles with each set.
Philips 8000 LED series 3D TVs
Philips' 8000 Series is 3D-ready in the most basic sense; the Dutch brand will make a 3D upgrade pack available separately – at extra expense.
The pack will include two pairs of Active 3D glasses and a wireless transmitter to allow them to talk to the TV, though extra glasses will also be available.
As such, you might expect the 37-inch, 40-inch, 46-inch and 52-inch models in Philips' 8000 Series – all of which sport Full LED panels – to be relatively affordable, but that's rarely the case with Philips.
And for good reason; loaded with Ambilight, above average audio and inky black images, it's produced some of the finest LED screens in recent years. Will its success translate to 3D? Find out in June when the 8000 Series is scheduled to go on sale.
LG 47-inch LD920 3D TV
LG has been a touch passive aggressive with its 47-inch LD920 screen, but in a good way; this, the only passive 3D screen (read: lighter, more comfortable glasses with no batteries) has been largely designed solely for pubs taking a feed of Sky's upcoming 3D channel.
Specifically, it's for watching Premier League matches in a few pubs across the UK and Ireland. Intended for commercial use only, this passive 3D screen can't display pictures from a 3D Blu-ray player, though its does have a Full HD resolution.
In terms of 3D, it can host only Sky's 3D service, which may be 3D, but won't be broadcast in high definition. If you're one of the 2.1 million Sky+HD homes waiting for the start of Sky's 3D channel later this year, you'd be much better off settling for an active – and much more versatile – 3D set, though this is the telly you're likely to get your first glimpse of 3D on.
Samsung C7000 Series 3D TVs
Read: Samsung 40C7000 3D TV review
We've already reviewed the 40-inch from this Series, a 27mm-deep LED screen that lacks the special remote of its C8000 and C9000 siblings, and should be considered a 'budget' 3D screen – though at £1,800 for a 40-inch TV, that's a purely relative term.
Also available in 46-inch (UE46C7000, £2,000) and 55-inch (UE55C7000, £2,800) sizes, the C7000 Series has the same features as the pricier series' (Full HD, 200Hz, wireless DLNA and Internet@TV), but is stylistically different.
In an attempt to make up for its 27mm 'bulge', the C7000 Series sports a 'Mystic Earth' textured – and coloured – styling. Identically specified plasma versions that sport an oxymoronic 'brushed black touch of colour' will follow in a few months.
Sony LX900 Signature Series 3D TVs
Sold under the Bravia banner, this three-strong rage counts a 40-inch (KDL-40LX903 £TBC), 52-inch (KDL-52LX903, £TBC) and 60-inch (KDL-60LX903 £TBC) within its ranks.
Representing Sony's stab at 3D glory, all three are bestowed with the 'Signature' moniker and are laden accordingly; don't expect even the 40-inch to come in at less than £1300.
Inside a 'monolithic' design that appears to be based on Bang & Olufsen's TVs, these Signature sets are built around Edge LED panels and include a Freeview HD tuner, WiFi, Bravia Internet Video (BBC iPlayer and YouTube), DLNA and, crucially for 3D, Motionflow 200Hz PRO and Image Blur Reduction.
Philips 9000 Series & Cinema 21:9 3D TVs
It may have swerved Freeview HD in its latest batch of high-end Ambilight LED TVs, but there was no way Philips could ignore the 3D era.
Not due to hit shops until August, Philips' 9000 Series comprises 32-inch, 40-inch and 46-inch models that will ostensibly be high-end Ambilight LED TVs with 3D capability thrown in via an upgrade pack.
Details are scant, but Philips has also confirmed that in 'late summer' it will also launch the second generation of its 56-inch 56PFL9945H Cinema 21:9 LCD TV, which will be Full HD 3D Ready.
The existing £4,000 version features a 2.39:1 aspect ratio 2560 x 1080 pixel resolution LED screen that apes the dimensions of projection screens found in cinemas. Expect it to be shown at September's IFA consumer electronics fair in Berlin.
LG LX9900 Series 3D TVs
Get back from a night at the pub watching footie in 3D on its 'passive' LD920 screen and you're going to need the LX9900 – a Full LED 3D Ready TV that comes in two sizes.
Part of LG's step-up Infinia sub-brand, the LX9900 boasts a 3.16cm depth and a single layer design – the glass across the panel stretches over the frame, something we've seen before on LG tellies.
The 47-inch (47LX9900, £TBC) and 55-inch (55LX9900, £TBC) both host Full Led backlighting and TruMotion 400Hz scanning, and these special-sounding sets push the envelope further by building-in Freeview HD, Bluetooth, DLNA, Netcast (YouTube, Accu Weather, Picasa), USB 2.0 (DivX HD).
Unfortunately, the 3D glasses are sold separately.
Samsung C8000 Series 3D TVs
The mid-range of 3D-ready screens from Samsung, its C8000 Series is exclusively LED-based for now.
Plasma variants are likely to appear later in the year, which perfectly demonstrates Samsung's attitude to the competing screen technologies; it loves plasma, but LED TVs sell better. Much better – and with a metallic silver look and four-pronged silver spider (or 'quad') stand, it's no surprise.
There is a 32-inch version (the UE-32C8000), but that's not 3D-ready; third dimension seekers should search out the 40-inch (UE-40C8000, £2,000), 46-inch (UE-46C8000, £2,200), 55-inch (UE-55C8000, £3,000) or 65-inch UE-65C8000 (£5,000).
All feature 200Hz, Wireless DLNA, Internet@TV, four HDMI and USB, though there's no 2D-to-3D converter on board.
The brushed titanium plasma variants will add a square stand, a Real Black Filter, a Motion Judder Canceller and a Cinema Smooth option.
Sony HX900 Cinematic Series 3D TVs
It may lack the silky design and flagship name that its sisters in the 'Signature Series' claim, but Sony's three-strong Cinematic screens are where videophiles ought to head.
For as well as 3D compatibility, these panels are Full LED, which means local dimming – which, in turn, means the best picture quality around (unless you're in the camp that still thinks, with some justification, that blur-free plasma still rules and could be re-born with 3D).
A 40-inch (KDL-40HX903, £TBC), 46-inch (KDL-46HX903 £2,200) and 52-inch (KDL-52HX903 £2,500) are available under the Cinematic banner, with Freeview HD, Wi-Fi, Bravia Internet Video, Motionflow 200Hz PRO and Image Blur Reduction all present.
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LG BD570: budget Blu-ray with Wi-Fi
LG has announced a new budget Blu-ray player – the LG BD570, which is already available online for under £200.
The killer feature is built-in Wi-Fi, enabling the access of extra content via LG NetCast such as images from Google's Picasa Web Albums or YouTube among other services.
The Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) also enables you to access content from other DLNA-compliant devices. There's also BD-Live support as well as the option to connect up a USB hard drive to play DivX and MKV content.
It will also upscale SD content from DVDs.
The new player is a new successor to the LG BD390, a player we were particular fans of when it was released last Autumn.
The BD570 connects to most TVs with a single HDMI cable, ensuring viewers always see the highest possible picture quality with both Blu-ray discs and regular DVDs, which it up-scales to 1080p resolution.
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EU critical of Facebook's default privacy settings
An EU ruling claims that it is unacceptable for Facebook to make people's profile information public without their prior consent.
Facebook has been sent a letter from the European Union's Data Protection Working Party this week to alert the social networking company of the EU's concerns.
Unacceptable privacy settings
The Data Protection Working Party highlights the fact that Facebook's recent changes make private information publicly viewable by default and is simply "unacceptable".
Facebook profiles should be set to a default whereby info is only shared with "self-selected" contacts, claims the EU.
"Any further access, such as by search engines, should be an explicit choice of the user… It is unacceptable that [Facebook] fundamentally changed the default settings on its social-networking platform to the detriment of users.
"Providers of social networking sites should be aware that it would be a breach of data protection law if they use personal data of other individuals contained in a user profile for commercial purposes if these other individuals have not given their free and unambiguous consent."
Facebook in a statement, following the EU's letter: "We already enable users to exclude themselves from being indexed by search engines, and recently introduced granular data permissions for applications," "We are happy to continue working with the Data Protection Working Party."
Facebook has over 400 million users worldwide.
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In Depth: 26 reasons Apple fanboys have got it all wrong
With the possible exception of the people who think Barack Obama is a robot controlled by Hitler, Apple fans are probably the most loyal, vocal and organised pressure group on the planet.
Slag off Apple and they'll fact-check you to death - but while some Apple criticisms are lazy, the firm they're defending is often less than perfect.
From weird products to disturbing corporate behaviour, here are 26 things that give us the Sad Mac icon.
1. Apple TV
If any other company said to its customers - after it had taken their money - "Yeah, we know it's crap, but it's just a hobby" we'd be at their front door with flaming torches.
2. AT&T
We don't even live in America, and Apple's devilish deal with AT&T still annoys us. Our friends on the other side of the Atlantic still can't take advantage of iPhone tethering because AT&T can't cope with the potential increase in traffic. Madness.
3. Banned, blocked or crippled apps
You can't download a Google Voice app because Apple's in a huff with Google. You can't use Skype on 3G yet because certain networks didn't like the idea. Apps that do a better job than the iPhone's woeful Wi-Fi detector get blocked because they apparently use super-secret API calls. You get the idea.
4. Blu-ray support
Where is it?
5. Censorship
Some 5,000 apps have been pulled from the App Store for sexual content - but apps such as Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Models are still allowed.
The EFF's app was rejected because it had a YouTube video with the F-word in it, even though the iPhone's YouTube app could access the same footage. Award-winning cartoonists' apps get pulled because they might offend the odd idiot.
A Vanity Fair writer's app gets banned; coincidentally he's often quite critical of Apple. And so on. There are so many App Store bans that there's an entire website dedicated to tracking them.
ACCEPTABLE ON THE IPHONE: You can't have scantily-dressed women in your app, unless Apple decides you can have scantily-dressed women in your app. Hope that's clear [image credit: Apple]
6. DRM hypocrisy
"…any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers" - Steve Jobs, 2007. That apparently only applies to music: DRM is on pretty much everything else, from iBooks to iTunes movie downloads.
7. Fear
Apple's culture of secrecy, it's alleged, is partly responsible for the death of a 25-year-old Chinese worker who committed suicide after losing a prototype iPhone. It's claimed that Apple subcontractors are so scared of the firm's wrath they put unbearable pressure on their employees.
8. Finder
Snow Leopard's version has addressed many of the issues that make the Finder a love/hate program, but in our experience it's still slow, crashy and occasionally annoying. Power users prefer Path Finder.
FINDER FAIL: Many power users prefer the Path Finder application to OS X's built-in Finder
9. iTunes
The bigger your iTunes library the more swearing you'll do at iTunes - especially if you've stuck your stuff on an external drive, which seems to cause iTunes no end of confusion. We've lost track of the number of times we've had to recreate our library from scratch.
10. iTunes for Windows
They're not even pretending to try with this one.
11. iPod Hi-Fi
It was bigger than a house and it didn't sound that great. Yours for £250.
12. iTunes LP
When Jobs unveiled iTunes LP, his lack of enthusiasm was palpable. Why bother making and launching a product you don't like, a product that costs tens of thousands for each release? Six months later, just 29 albums were available in the format. Maybe it'll take off on the iPad. Maybe it won't.
13. iWork syncing on the iPad
Information Week's headline says it all: iPad cripples iWork Documents.
14. Media control freakery
Have you noticed how critical reviews of Apple kit always come out long after launch, and yet nice reviews are available immediately or even prior to launch? Funny, isn't it? It's almost as if the whole thing was managed somehow!
15. Ridiculously OTT product placement in US TV shows and movies
It's not quite Hugh Laurie bellowing "Let me diagnose that USING MY MACBOOK PRO!" while shoving iPods into weeping sores, but it's not far off it.
16. Safari's sneaky installer
On Windows, Safari 3.1 was pushed to iTunes users via Apple's software update tool, which is a rather underhand way of promoting your software - even if the move worked.
17. Schoolboy behaviour towards Adobe
Not wanting Flash on your products is fair enough, but timing the announcement of new terms and conditions so it overshadows Adobe's CS5 launch is schoolboy stuff.
18. Secret USB support that might not be around for long
The iPad's camera connection kit enables you to connect some USB devices, such as headsets, and they work just fine - for now. Unfortunately all such devices are unsupported, so Apple may well kill them in the next OS update.
UNSUPPRTED: You can use the Apple Camera Connector to connect USB devices to your iPad - but future OS updates may disable them [image credit: Apple]
19. Taking the mickey out of early adopters
Remember the 4GB iPhone and the initial price tag that Apple quickly dropped? Early adopters are still being stung. Does anybody honestly think the next iPad won't have the cameras we expected in the first version?
20. Total pricing control
We can't think of any other firm whose products sell in so many places without any difference in price. There are ways to cut the cost of Apple ownership, but the price you pay is generally the price Apple says you'll pay.
NO DEAL: You don't expect a discount in an Apple Store, but with Apple you shouldn't expect a discount anywhere [image credit: Apple]
21. Unboxing videos
Apple's largely responsible for this baffling facet of tech culture.
22. Unreplaceable parts
Seamless products without user-replaceable parts may look good, but they also mean that simple repairs - replacing the hard disk in an iMac, for example - become expensive undertakings.
23. Using child labour
Apple isn't the only firm doing it, but it's one of the most profitable ones. Apple's margins are massive, and it can afford to insist on better conditions in its subcontractors' factories.
24. Vertical integration
Apple's returned to an age-old business model: vertical integration. iPods don't work with any software but iTunes; iTunes doesn't work with phones or MP3 players Apple doesn't make. The integration has reached a peak with the iPad, an Apple computer based on an Apple processor running Apple's operating system, whose applications must come via Apple's App Store, and whose paid-for content will largely come via iTunes. It's the ultimate lock-in: if you decide in the future to buy a rival's product, you'll be starting again from scratch.
25. Withholding features
Whether it's the iPhone's original lack of cut and paste or the iPad's lack of a genuine HD connector (it does 720p but the component AV cable only does 576p), Apple has a tendency of shipping products with key features absent until it's time for a brand new bit of hardware - at which point the missing features are billed as major new features.
And last but definitely not least:
26. The reality distortion field
The underdog so many people rush to defend is one of the world's richest corporations with a bulging and fiercely defended patent portfolio, a fearsome legal team and what - to some, at least - appears to be a pet police force. Apple often appears more bully than bullied.
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Gold iPad worth £130,000 now available
If you are in the market for a solid gold iPad and have a spare £130,000 to spend, then you will no doubt be thrilled to hear that Stuart Hughes has exactly that - available for exactly that amount of money.
"For the most elite individual, we bring you the the worlds 1st solid gold and diamond ipad," writes the esteemed Mr. Hughes.
"Encrusted with 25.5 cts of 'IF' Flawless diamonds, a magnificent total of 53 individually set sparkling gems dwell beautifully in the solid 22ct Apple logo. The rear and screen surround are made from a single piece of solid 22ct gold, weighing an immense 2,100 grams.
"This most luxurious iPad's appearance is outstanding even down to the precise polishing to reveal its most beautiful harmonious appearance. A magnificent combination of top of the industry technology and unrivalled craftsmanship was invloved in creating this masterpiece. This item is of a limited edition of only 10 units to be made."
Saudi Kings and Diamond Apples
Meanwhile, the rest of humanity, which makes up around 100 per cent of the population, might be wondering: "Why the hell does this guy bother mocking up this stuff? Surely nobody actually buys this nonsense?"
If you are a Saudi King and the proud owner of a brand new 22ct solid gold iPad featuring 53 diamonds sparking around the Apple logo, then you can prove us wrong by sending us an email (with pictorial proof please) to the usual address…
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In Depth: Will Steam kick off a Mac game explosion?
Valve's superb Steam service finally launched for the Apple Mac this week, with the sublime Portal being the first title available for Mac gamers to try out for free.
Most importantly, Valve also plans to introduce its Steamworks suite of publishing and development tools to games developers, free of charge.
The developer is also now set to release its forthcoming games simultaneously on PC and Mac, (with Portal 2 being the next major release on the schedule). Plus, it promises that the service will 'just work' – with no need for the excessive tinkering, updating and graphics-card one-upmanship that so often plagues the PC gaming experience.
"The first collection of Mac titles will demonstrate 'Steam Play,' which allows customers to purchase a game once and play it on all Steam supported platforms," Valve's announcement read, whetting the appetites of Mac gamers worldwide.
Mac gaming to blossom?
Gamers and developers alike have been pondering the implications of Valve's announcement and what it might mean for the future of gaming on Apple laptops and desktops. Is this going to kick off a new, slightly-belated 'renaissance' in the Mac gaming scene? Or are PC gamers going to continue to crow about their cutting-edge gaming PCs when their Mac-owning mates mention Steam?
Graham Smith, Deputy Editor on PC Gamer certainly thinks that Mac gaming is going to be given a significant (and much-needed) shot in the arm by Valve's recent announcement, telling TechRadar: "I'm sure this announcement will boost the gaming scene on the Mac, purely because it means that Mac gamers can buy loads of fantastic games."
"Having Steam available on their desktops just means that they are going to be made far more aware of what is available," adds Smith, reminding us that if you go into a high street games store the Mac games section is either non-existent or (at best) pretty hard to find! Being able to download great games from Steam fixes this problem in one go.
TechRadar spoke with a few leading games developers, industry analysts and Mac gaming experts to find out more.
Nick Parker, games industry analyst from Parker Consulting feels that recent developments in Apple gaming, including Valve's launch of Steam for Mac, will mean that, "the entire games industry eco-system will be looking to support all Apple platforms and that any games delivery system made available to Mac users will be tapping a rich vein of interested, potentially more hardcore gamers with deeper pockets."
As for the developers point-of-view, Marc DeForest, CEO of S2 Games - developer of Heroes of Newerth – is also confident that gaming on Mac is becoming a more significant force to be reckoned with.
"While PC has always been the dominant platform, Apple/Mac is quickly gaining ground as a viable platform for hardcore gamers," DeForest told TechRadar. "We've developed all three of our games for MAC, PC and LINUX and we've seen a huge increase in MAC client downloads, especially with our latest game, Heroes of Newerth. I think the trend will continue and we'll see more and more hardcore 'PC' games available for MAC in the very near future."
"I think it's a great opportunity to grow a fairly lucrative area of the market given there are precious few outlets for Mac games in general," says Martyn Brown, Joint CEO of Team17 Software and the man behind the mighty Worms franchise. "Given that Apple strangely never supported their laptops/iMacs through a readymade solution, such as App Store, means that I think that this cannot fail to be successful.
Half Life 2: Mac gamers can now download great games via Steam
"Generally speaking there's not a huge overhead in producing Mac editions of PC titles and now that there's a viable platform for digital publishing I'd expect support for it to blossom quickly. Team17 certainly has plans to support Mac platforms through Steam and we look forward to announcing further details on that later in the year."
What of other independent iPhone developers, those who have flocked to make games for Apple's new (and potentially highly lucrative) iPhone platform in the last year or two?
"It's an odd one, but incredibly interesting - the reams of independent iPhone devs now have a serious delivery platform to mitigate a move into OSX game development, but have to really step up to a much more professional development environment to make it viable," argues Peppermint P's Tony Coles, a specialist PR for games developers.
"Though they'll have a Mac already, so it's perhaps not that steep a curve - and traditional PC developers need to migrate to the Apple APIs, though with Intel chips on both formats, porting should be straightforward," adds Coles.
"With PC games so reliant on the DirectX APIs for graphics, sound and human interfacing, it'll be interesting to see if PC devs take to the Mac equivalents (like Apple's implementation of OpenGL) with the same gusto but it seems that much of the usual crowd of PC middleware is available for OSX, so it could be relatively painless, should Steam for Mac prove popular enough to warrant the time investment."
A sea-change for Mac gaming?
MacFormat writer James King certainly seems to think the recent launch of Valve's Steam marks a sea-change for gaming on Macs.
King notes, in the latest issue of MacFormat, that: "For years gaming on the Mac was possible, but undesirable; the userbase relative to PC was low, almost no-one had a graphics card that was designed for gaming, and because of compatibility issues (Endian differences, DirectX incompatibility, and so on) games had to be made from scratch rather than ported."
No more.
Where gaming has previously been a side-line interest for Apple, it seems that the explosion of interest in games on the iPhone has led to a new focus on desktop and laptop gaming on Macs.
"Four years on, those 'new consoles' are starting to look weary in comparison to what a specced-up Mac or PC can handle, and, suddenly the Mac looks attractive," adds King.
"Moreover, the iPhone plays games better than the PSP or DS, and its micropayments system has revolutionised gaming, being arguably the only platform that's matching pace with the on-going social gaming revolution. Instead of £40 games that require systems worth hundreds of pounds, now you can get quality games for pennies."
PC developers that are now willing to commit to the Mac platform (on record) are still few and far between, but off-record chats with developers shows that there is a willingness to consider Mac as a gaming platform now.
"The additional cost to developers to develop for Mac is minimal compared to the initial cost of development," notes the MacFormat man, who adds, "it's already becoming apparent that the cross-platform differences and tribalism are being rapidly eroded.
"So it's likely we'll see the Mac taking its place alongside the other platforms, receiving simultaneous releases. However, the majority of gaming, on any platform, is going to be online and free."
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Acer to launch first Google Chrome OS device next month
Acer is set to launch its first devices running the new Google Chrome operating system in early June. The launch is set to take place at the Computex show in Taipei.
Computex runs from the 1-5 June, so we'd expect further details on Acer's plans for Google Chrome OS powered computers then. VentureBeat reports that Acer is among Google's first partners on Google Chrome.
Chris Dibona, Head of Open Source at Google said Google, previously told TechRadar that Google was definitely working with Asus, Acer, HP "and maybe MSI" when quizzed about the companies Google was working with. We've previously seen it running on an Asus system.
TechRadar has spoken with an Acer rep in the UK who was quick to serve us with a 'no comment'.
"Acer makes perfect sense for a launch partner--the demo unit at the announcement of Chrome OS was an Acer netbook, though Google security kicked me out from behind the podium before I could take any pictures (they were polite but firm)," writes Fastcompany's Dan Nosowitz.
Chrome OS may well prove to be popular with low-powered netbooks – as it may well allow them to run considerably faster and provide extended battery life.
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Review: Western Digital My Book Studio 2TB
Western Digital's My Book Studio 2TB desktop drive boasts a similar feature set to its portable stablemate the Passport Studio, reviewed last issue.
It's bundled with the WD SmartWare application, supplied on a Virtual CD that mounts with the hard drive. This enables you to back up your data, set an access password and customise the impressive 12-character label on the drive's display, which is based on e-label technology and therefore always on, even when the drive is switched off. You can write anything you like, but it's always in block capitals.
The display also offers a capacity indicator showing how much free space remains. As this disappears if you use the drive on a computer that hasn't got SmartWare installed, it's far more at home sat on your desktop.
Turbo drivers for fast copying are also included, and you can switch off the Virtual CD if you don't want it to appear on your desktop.
Connectivity is through USB 2.0 or FireWire 800, with a FireWire 400 adapter also included in the box.
In our tests the drive performed admirably, offering solid write speeds and read speeds that out-perform most external drives of its type. Given the feature set, My Book Studio is great value for money at £165 for 2TB too.
In fact, its only significant drawback is it can't be used as a boot volume due to its integrated virtual disc, but its feature set, performance and sheer value for money more than make up for this.
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In Depth: 5 phones that should be made in mini form
You might have seen that a growing number of phones are being released - then being put into some sort of magic machine, reduced by about 30%, and re-released under a new name.
The trend for 'mini' versions of phones was originally seen as either a) fixing a problem with its bigger brother (the Nokia N97 Mini for instance) or just trading on a brand name (as many suspected the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 Mini of doing).
But perhaps we were being unfair and deriding these compact companions too early - since then a number of standalone miniature versions, like the HTC HD Mini and the T-Mobile Pulse Mini, have come to the fore.
So if this is a trend that's set to continue, there are a few phones we'd like to see made a little bit smaller - so crank up that mini-maker and throw these phones in, mobile manufacturers...
1. The Nokia X6 Mini
Back in September last year, we were slightly gobsmacked by the phone that was shown to us on stage at Nokia World - the Nokia X6 looked like the business for mobile music.
The first capacitive touchscreen from Nokia, 32GB of storage and full subscription to Comes with Music? Yes please...
But the phone itself wasn't much to write home about: it's slow thanks to packing Symbian, and the Comes with Music experience is frustrating too.
So think of a Mini version - not necessarily smaller (although we don't need as much screen space) but thinner, as the current X6 is very chunky.
Offer around 16GB of storage, simplify the Comes with Music UI to make it easy to find the latest tunes, and if you've got time squish Symbian^3 in there to make it a lot faster. Then we can talk.
Likelihood of miniaturisation: 3/5
2. The HTC Desire Mini
We're not saying there's anything wrong with the HTC Desire; in fact, it's the best phone we've had on test all year.
But it's a big ol' beast, despite its thin frame: a 3.7-inch screen is too much for some people, and it's still pushing towards the more expensive end of the price plans.
So how about this: shrink it down to slightly smaller than the Legend, put Android 2.2 in there (for some speed benefits) and downgrade the processor to around 600MHz, as the Legend has already shown the Sense UI can work fine on that system.
That would bring it down to a much nicer price point, as well as keeping the same feeling that's made the Desire so popular... a winning combination.
Likelihood of miniaturisation: 4/5
3. The iPhone Nano/Mini
OK, we know what you're going to say... but this does still make sense as a product, despite the fact it's been rumoured for years.
While the current iPhone is winning hearts the world over, like the HTC Desire it's still too big (and too pricey) for a lot of people.
The iPhone OS has demonstrated that it can run on 400MHz processors, and the App Store would still work as long as the screen resolution was kept at HVGA levels too.
We can't see Apple dropping the touchscreen, so gestures would have to come to the fore to enable more functions - like music playback and mapping, you could use the multi-touch to enable more functions on a tighter screen.
Although, if we're honest, we can't see Apple making this at all... the iPhone chassis size has been roughly comparable through four generations, and it won't be until the iShine starts to wear off might we see a new product category.
Likelihood of miniaturisation: 1/5
4. The Sony Ericsson Vivaz Mini
We were more impressed than we imagined with the Sony Ericsson Vivaz recently - we had it down as a middling Symbian touchscreen phone again.
But it's more than that - yes, the OS is a little predictable in that it's slower and a little erratic, but the photography side of things is sublime, with the 8MP camera and HD video recording.
We've seen Symbian working just as well on smaller, cheaper phones, so why not do the same with the Vivaz? If you manage to do that and get the price point down to around £150 (we know we're asking a lot here...) while keeping the high end photography, Sony Ericsson would have a real competitor to the Flip Mino HD range on its hands.
Likelihood of miniaturisation: 3/5
5. The Samsung Wave Mini
We know this phone isn't even out yet, but trust us, it's going to be a good one, especially for Samsung fans.
The specs alone are mouth-watering: HD video, new Bada OS, integrated social networking, push email, sensitive touchscreen - plus it has the jaw-dropping SuperAMOLED screen.
Samsung already has the Genio range for the budget end of things, so all that we would need to see here is the Bada OS and the SuperAMOLED screen popped onto smaller chassis with slightly lower specs - we bet there are a lot of people who would LOVE to have a gorgeous screen and the new OS but without the luxury of a wonderful camera too.
We bet this one is already on Samsung's roadmap already - the Bada lineup is set to grow and grow anyway, and this would simply make perfect sense.
Likelihood of miniaturisation: 4/5
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Review: Panasonic TX-P46G20
The Panasonic TX-P46G20 is the first TV equipped to handle Freeview HD and Freesat HD broadcasts, making this one of the most highly specified TVs ever made. Well apart from its smaller brother, the Panasonic TX-P42G20.
It has four of the very latest HDMI 1.4 inputs, Ethernet for the VieraCast internet video service, Wi-Fi networking and even PVR recording via USB. You can record one (Freeview or Freesat SD/HD) programme at a time while watching a live programme on another tuner and timeshift TV. However, the hard drive must be self powered and recordings can only be played on the TV.
Intelligent design
The image processor is the latest incarnation of Panasonic's NeoPDP engine with 600Hz Sub-field Drive Intelligent Frame Creation (IFC) Pro. This describes the process whereby 12 extra sub-frames are inserted into each of the 50 frames scanned per second. The result is super-smooth, judder and flicker-free images.
Throw in a native contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1, more picture tweaks than there are buses in London and you have what amounts to one of the most cutting-edge screens on the planet, and not bad value for £1,300.
The gloss black styling is a bit run of the mill, but it doesn't distract from the picture. Installation is commendably straightforward for such a multi-faceted machine, with the option to add non-Freesat satellite channels manually or automatically via settings for Astra 2/Eurobird, Astra 1, Hotbird or a user-specified satellite.
Freesat's EPG has the standard, multi-genre home page and the GuidePlus enhanced Freeview EPG is little better, featuring tawdry-looking ads where you would hope to see a window of the live channel. Shows that are simultaneously broadcast in HD are flagged up on the BBC channels but, unlike Sky, you can't actually tell what is native HD.
The main drawback of IFC – which is not easy to switch off – is that a lot of content shot with a film grain (either original or simulated) often looks like low-budget video and introduces unwanted haloing around moving subjects. A bit of judder is infinitely preferable.
At least IFC is automatically disabled when watching Blu-ray movies in 1080p/24Hz, and the THX mode is optimised for THX discs.
Images are beautifully precise in terms of detail, resolution, and especially colours, which are so much more accurate than LCD or LED. The screen's other fortes are HD sport (with IFC on) and broadcast HD on Freeview and Freesat.
It also makes a jolly good fist of standard-definition content too, with commendably little MPEG noise.
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Review: Panasonic TX-P46G20
The Panasonic TX-P46G20 is the first TV equipped to handle Freeview HD and Freesat HD broadcasts, making this one of the most highly specified TVs ever made. Well apart from its smaller brother, the Panasonic TX-P42G20.
It has four of the very latest HDMI 1.4 inputs, Ethernet for the VieraCast internet video service, Wi-Fi networking and even PVR recording via USB. You can record one (Freeview or Freesat SD/HD) programme at a time while watching a live programme on another tuner and timeshift TV. However, the hard drive must be self powered and recordings can only be played on the TV.
Intelligent design
The image processor is the latest incarnation of Panasonic's NeoPDP engine with 600Hz Sub-field Drive Intelligent Frame Creation (IFC) Pro. This describes the process whereby 12 extra sub-frames are inserted into each of the 50 frames scanned per second. The result is super-smooth, judder and flicker-free images.
Throw in a native contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1, more picture tweaks than there are buses in London and you have what amounts to one of the most cutting-edge screens on the planet, and not bad value for £1,300.
The gloss black styling is a bit run of the mill, but it doesn't distract from the picture. Installation is commendably straightforward for such a multi-faceted machine, with the option to add non-Freesat satellite channels manually or automatically via settings for Astra 2/Eurobird, Astra 1, Hotbird or a user-specified satellite.
Freesat's EPG has the standard, multi-genre home page and the GuidePlus enhanced Freeview EPG is little better, featuring tawdry-looking ads where you would hope to see a window of the live channel. Shows that are simultaneously broadcast in HD are flagged up on the BBC channels but, unlike Sky, you can't actually tell what is native HD.
The main drawback of IFC – which is not easy to switch off – is that a lot of content shot with a film grain (either original or simulated) often looks like low-budget video and introduces unwanted haloing around moving subjects. A bit of judder is infinitely preferable.
At least IFC is automatically disabled when watching Blu-ray movies in 1080p/24Hz, and the THX mode is optimised for THX discs.
Images are beautifully precise in terms of detail, resolution, and especially colours, which are so much more accurate than LCD or LED. The screen's other fortes are HD sport (with IFC on) and broadcast HD on Freeview and Freesat.
It also makes a jolly good fist of standard-definition content too, with commendably little MPEG noise.
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Weird Tech: Humphrey the Dog has become a fan of Sausages
"Connect and share the animal in your life" is the tagline of Mypetbook, which goes on to describe itself as "just like Facebook but for pets". So expect your rabbit to dramatically quit the site over privacy concerns about the usage of its photographs shortly after signing up.
If you live in an oppressive inner-city bedsit and your landlord won't even let you have a goldfish, don't worry - any pet-less readers out there can still sign up and join in the pet-anecdote fun, with plenty of example wild animals available to be registered as surrogate pets, if you like animals but aren't yet ready to commit to the challenge of keeping one alive.
Live out your pet-having dreams, and then, once the novelty has worn off, spend your time browsing profiles for photographs of hot pet-owners.
HurtTorrent
If you saw all the fuss generated by low-budget Oscar-winning film The Hurt Locker and decided, on a whim, to download a legally dubious copy off the internet simply for research purposes and to see if your opinion tallied with that of the Academy Awards panel, you might want to not accept any signed-for letters over the next few months - the lawyers are coming.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the distributor of the film is about to sign off a multi-million dollar copyright suit which could end up targeting "thousands" of avid BitTorrent users that ISPs named as Hurt Locker downloaders.
HURT FEELINGS: The "I wouldn't have paid to see it anyway" excuse will be rolled out en masse
In previous cases, those found guilty have been charged "settlement fees" numbering in the thousands of dollars in order to call off the prosecutions. Which still works out cheaper than paying for popcorn and a coke at a UK cinema.
Student loan
Four students have raised nearly £16k after signing up to a crowd-sourcing, fund-raising website and announcing the aim of making an "open source" competitor to Facebook. With several high-profile media people throwing large sulks over Facebook's overly-complex privacy rulings, the boys' scheme arrived at a perfect time - and they raised the cash within days.
16,000 THANKS: We have an idea for a blog. Donations gratefully received
The end result is, or at least might eventually be, Diaspora, but that's not the interesting thing. The interesting thing is that four students netted themselves a massive pile of cash after floating an idea on the internet. Just don't spend it all on office equipment and rent, boys. That's always been the big mistake.
Red Heat
The mighty state of North Korea has apparently achieved a significant first in the history of science - nuclear fusion. The stuff of legend, successful nuclear fusion is the ultimate dream of every man who's ever progressed further than GCSE level science, providing us with endless stacks of cheap, clean power.
Apparently North Korea has it cracked, in a development announced, according to the BBC, on the birthday of the country's founder Kim Il-sung. The international community is said to be demanding "pics" or will continue to believe that it "didn't happen".
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Review: Klipsch iGroove SXT
The Klipsch iGroove SXT packs a mean punch for a small device. It’s just 30cm long and light enough to sit comfortably on most shelves, but its audio quality is surprisingly detailed.
It doesn’t (and couldn’t possibly) define the shape of the sound as comprehensively as a unit with discrete speakers, but it performs very well for a mid-priced compact dock.
Bass isn’t very prominent in the mix, and with no equaliser, it won’t get any stronger. Although far from poor, it won’t satisfy those who like their audio bass heavy. The overall balance between treble and bass is good, which makes for a wonderfully clean sound.
The iGroove SXT is now bi-amplified, meaning each driver has its own amplifier, so you can crank up the volume surprisingly high before you get distortion.
Its feature set is fine, but not exactly exceptional. A 3.5mm aux port offers compatibility with most audio devices, and there’s an S-Video output for watching movies on an external monitor, if you’ve a compatible iPod or iPhone.
The remote is standard fare, with power, mute, volume control and track skip. There’s no radio tuner, and despite its small size and weight, there’s no battery option – a pity, as it would make a great portable device.
A 1000mA fast-charging circuit can recharge a flat iPhone in around an hour and a half.
The Klipsch iGroove SXT combines a clean, detailed sound with a good balance between the bottom and mid-range. It’s a great dock for all-round use but less so if you like a lot of bass in your music.
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BlackBerry tablet 'confirmed' - but just as an add-on
The much-rumoured BlackBerry tablet has been 'confirmed' as real, but it's certainly not an iPad competitor.
BGR has some 'exclusive information' about the forthcoming device - it will be an 8.9-inch slate device, but won't have Wi-Fi or 3G on board.
Instead, it will be packing Bluetooth and will act as a secondary device to your BlackBerry, connecting up and stealing the Wi-Fi or 3G signal.
Not that, but something else
This means it's less of an internet tablet, and more of an e-book reader cum email extender cum pseudo-web-browser - essentially all the things you can do on your BB's really teeny screen in a much bigger format.
Word is that this BlackBerry tablet is due for a release around Christmas time - although there are murmurings from clandestine areas (or a man in a suit that told someone else something) that it might even be earlier than that.
We've no idea why RIM would think this is plugging a gap in its portfolio - but there are a lot of people committed to the BlackBerry tribe already, so perhaps having a massive screen complementing it would make sense.
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Spotify brings 'in-app browser' to iPhone app
If you have Spotify on your iPhone then you may well have noticed that there is an update to the app available this week, which introduces a range of social music sharing features to the iPhone.
It follows Spotify's recent desktop client update, which we notified you about late last month, which featured much-improved Facebook and Twitter integration, amidst a host of other new features.
In-app browser for sharing tunes
Now version 0.4.5 of the Spotify iPhone app has launched, bringing a similar range of features to the phone. (Unfortunately, Android and Symbian users will have to wait a while until they get the same features on their phones).
You can now access the Spotify music Inbox on your iPhone to listen in to tracks that other users suggest you might like. The app will also try to find tracks that you want to listen to on compilation albums – in the case of the original album not being available on Spotify's huge music library.
Spotify for iPhone also features an in-app browser which lets you open Twitter and Facebook pages in order to share your music without shutting down Spotify first. Ingenious.
For more head over to Spotify.com
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Skype launches five-way group video chatting
Skype's new beta finally launched this week, with the option to host group video chats for up to five of your Skype contacts being the most interesting new feature of the service.
All of your contacts that you wish to bring into your group video chats must also have the Skype 5.0 beta installed on a Windows PC for it to work. Mac users are promised a similar service later in 2010.
Bringing families together
"With the latest version, you'll be able to bring the whole family together for a chat, for lunch, or even for a birthday," notes a post on the Skype blog.
"You'll be able to spend quality time with your best friends, planning a trip, or even hosting a book club. And you'll be able to meet with colleagues from across the world without leaving your desk.
"Once you're all set up, it's easy to start a group call – just use the Add button to invite people into the conversation, and click the Video Call button.
"Group video calling is just one in a set of new premium features you'll see us roll out during 2010. We haven't set prices for these premium features yet, but rest assured that we're still absolutely committed to bringing you free voice and two-way video calling."
Group chatting test
There are already competing VoIP services such as VoxOx and ooVoo that offer group video chats as options, but Skype is by far the most popular internet telephony company to launch such a service to date.
You can check out the Skype 5.0 beta for Windows and a preview of the brand new version of Skype over at the Skype website.
And if you want to get involved in group video chats you can download the new version of Skype now and encourage all your Skype contacts to do the same.
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Rumour: Apple to launch cloud-based iTunes in June
Apple is rumoured to be launching a cloud-based iTunes music streaming service at next month's Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco.
And while Cupertino remains resolutely schtum on the rumour, as is usually the case, the NME points towards the timing of Apple's closure of Lala on May 31, which happens to be one week before Apple's June 7 WWDC event, as evidence that something is brewing on the iTunes front for next month's event in San Fran.
iTunes learns from Spotify
Of course, right now, this is little more than unfounded speculation, although the rumours of a forthcoming cloud-based iTunes service have been gaining ground for some time, with the PR successes of services such as Spotify and We7 clearly pointing the way forward for the digital music industry.
Might Apple, that 'elephant in the corner of the room' in terms of digital music distribution, learn from those cloud-based offerings and figure out a way to convince its customers to purchase web-connected iPod touches and iPhones to access cloud-based music libraries in the same move?
Put like that, it seems likely that a cloud-based iTunes offering is coming soon. Whether or not it will be announced at WWDC in June or later this year in September is the real question.
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WIN! Pair of FA Cup Final tickets with FirstPlay Episode 006
Sony's on-console magazine show FirstPlay is giving away a pair of tickets for Chelsea v Portsmouth at Wembley this weekend.
To enter, simply download Episode 006 from the PSN and answer the following question:
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days is set in Shanghai. In the FirstPlay screenshot gallery, we say this is a better location than which British town?
Send your answer as a message through FirstPlay by 8am Friday 14 May and the folks at FirstPlay will pick a winner at random. Winners will be contacted for their postal address so tickets can be couriered on the same day.
For more information on this, head over to GamesRadar.
And to learn a bit more about FirstPlay, which is a stablemate of TechRadar, head over to www.firstplay.co.uk.
Good Luck!
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Please note that this competition is only open to UK residents over 18 years of age.
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James Cameron wants more money spent on 3D TV shows
James Cameron has been flying the flag for 3D once again, pleading to TV producers that they should invest in 3D now.
Speaking at a technology forum in Seoul, he explained the challenges filmmakers face in converting 2D content to 3D and noted that more should be done to shoot things in 3D first, saying: "[Companies] can't be afraid to shoot in 3D because tens of thousands of people all over the world are shooting in 3D every day.
"We're going to have 3D TVs all around us... and we're going to need thousands of hours of sports, comedy and music and all kinds of entertainment."
Live 3D
To remedy this, Cameron is hoping that TV producers forgo their concerns about money and focus on creating 3D content, explaining: "There's not going to be the time or the money to convert [2D to 3D]. It's going to have to be shot live.
"We're going to learn how to do live shooting. The cost will come down on live 3D production.
"You've got the channel, you've got the sets… the missing piece is content. You've got to get the content."
Cameron is one of the few directors who can speak with confidence about 3D, considering his three-dimensional opus Avatar is officially the highest-grossing film of all time.
Saying that, it was also one of the most expensive films to make, due to the fact the 3D technology he used was created from the ground up.
Sony, LG, Samsung and Panasonic will be pleased that Cameron is still tub-thumping for 3D, as these are the main companies who have invested heavily in bringing 3D TVs to the market.
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iPad pre-order delay hits lazy early adopters
Apple has once again underestimated the power of the iPad and is having to delay the shipping of more recent pre-orders of the product until 7 June - a full 10 days after the official 28 May release date.
The computing company revealed the new dates on its website, meaning that if you pre-order now you won't be getting your shiny new tablet until June.
Essentially this means that those early adopters who pre-ordered, er, early won't be affected but 'late' early adopters who lackadaisically thought they could wait a little longer will have to wait a few more days before they get their hands on Apple's slate.
UK delay
The UK launch of the Apple iPad has been a long time coming for some. While Apple announced the device back in January, UK details including pricing didn't come until April.
And by this time the UK was told that they wouldn't get the device until the end of May.
It seems that Apple is overwhelmed with the consumer demand of the iPad and has even limited the ordering to two iPads per customer.
When it comes to data bundles, Vodafone, Orange and O2 all unveiled their data plans this week.
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