Adidas takes on Nike+ on iPhone with MiCoach
Adidas has announced it will be offering its MiCoach system as a free application for iPhone and BlackBerry users.
Using GPS, users will be able to track their progress in real time when out and about doing sporty-type things, with voice coaching too to help keep you going.
Users can pick specific conditioning programmes for their sport, such as Football, Tennis, Running and Basketball with six documented training plans for each of the sports.
Train to stop being fat
Users can create personalised conditioning programmes online to tailor to their own fitness level and goals and download the voices of sports stars to provide motivation as they train – if the thought of Andy Murray whining at you to run faster is a motivation tool for you.
The miCoach app syncs automatically with a dedicated Facebook site, offering tailored programs and calendar, coaching and navigation options from the web and on your phone.
The applications also syncs up with micoach.com to give more information on your training, even down to things like shoe wear... so you know when to start checking for holes.
Available to download now from the Apple App Store and from 6 August from BlackBerry App World (although we've downloaded it already from there, so it may have gone live early).
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Logitech unveils S175i rechargeable iPod speaker
Logitech has unveiled the £149 Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S715i – a portable iPod/iPhone speaker offering eight drivers. The latest speaker from Logitech has a NiMH rechargeable battery, doing away with the need to buy new disposable batteries.
"With this system, we set out to deliver our next generation in sound quality for an iPod speaker dock," said Mark Schneider, vice president and general manager of Logitech's audio business unit.
Eight drivers
"The new Rechargeable Speaker S715i offers eight drivers – double our previous iPod docks – and includes a NiMH rechargeable battery so you can take your tunes with you.
"So go ahead, lose yourself in your music – and never worry about disposable batteries again."
The S715i comes with remote control and an included travel case that also has space for the power adapter and remote.
The Logitech Rechargeable Speaker S715i has a UK release date of this month for a suggested retail price of £149.
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Razer Lachesis given major overhaul
Razer has unveiled a refresh of its Razer Lachesis gaming mouse, boasting a 5600dpi laser sensor and customisable multi-colour LED lighting system. Razer's gaming mice are among the best on the planet, and the company has deemed it time to update its much-loved Lachesis.
"The all new Razer Lachesis is about giving gamers more personal choice and customisable options," said Robert Krakoff, president, Razer USA.
"With a multi-colour LED for customizable color and a built-in variable dpi, the Razer Lachesis gives gamers everything they need for this three-year fan favourite."
16 million
As well as allowing you to choose from 16 million different glowing colours (handy for picking out your machine at a dark LAN perhaps?) Razer's latest sensor bears scrutiny.
The Razer Lachesis has a 5600dpi Razer Precision 3.5G laser sensor and 1000Hz Ultrapolling for minimal latency.
The pricing is likely to be around £59, with a UK release date of September.
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Orange next up to offer BlackBerry Torch
The question of whether the BlackBerry Torch would be exclusive to Vodafone in the UK has been answered: Orange is going to offer it too.Details are a little sketchy at the moment, but Orange has confirmed via Twitter that it will be one of the providers of the next-gen BlackBerry:
"Good news: The new BlackBerry Torch 9800 with BlackBerry 6 will be coming soon to Orange UK. We will keep you posted with details..."
Coming soon
We imagine this means Orange will begin stocking the new BlackBerry Torch in September, given the 'announcement in coming weeks' response from RIM when questioned about a UK release date.
The new BlackBerry Torch, which is the first handset from RIM to feature a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, is a pivotal for the Canadian firm, with a new OS designed to take on the likes of the iPhone and HTC Desire.
So therefore it's good news more networks will be picking this one up – we're still waiting to hear back from O2 and others to see if they will be offering it too.
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Facebook nabs Facebook.me domain
Facebook has done a bit of cyber-squatter cleaning and grabbed the rights to Facebook.me, which was originally registered in the United Arab Emirates in 2008.While this looks like a clear cut case of trimming off someone who was trying to capitalise on the Facebook name, there are some reports that Facebook Me is set to become another launch for the social-networking giant.
New service?
Currently facebook.me (which uses the domain for Montenegro) is redirecting to Facebook but Mashable is reporting that Facebook Me is also the name of an app which turns your profile page into something that resembles Tumblr, the quick-sharing blog site.
The app takes your profile information and customises it into a number of different formats, bringing an extra layer of personalisation to the site.
There's no word from Facebook if Facebook Me will become an official spin-off of the site, but it will be interesting to see what happens to the domain in the future.
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Corsair unveils Hydro H70 CPU cooler
Corsair has unveiled the Hydro Series H70 ultra-performance CPU cooler – billing it as a significant evolution on the popular H50. The Corsair Hydro Series H70, like the H50, brings the benefits of water cooling in a sealed unit with no maintenance required.
The H70 brings several upgrades on its predecessor, including a double thickness radiator with higher heat-exchanging capacity and a pump/cold plate unit with increased efficiency.
Big fans
The H70 also boasts two 120mm speed-switchable cooling fans in a push-pull configuration.
"Thanks to the H70, you no longer need a fin array the size of a small shoebox to cool aggressively overclocked CPUs," stated John Beekley, VP of Technical Marketing at Corsair.
"The H70 stands toe-to-toe with any CPU cooler on the market, and does it with less noise, easier installation, and support of nearly every ATX-compatible case."
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Facebook for Android finally updated
Facebook for Android has finally been overhauled for the legions of Google-phone users.The new update brings a raft of changes, and offer some much-needed functionality to make the Android offering as compelling as the iPhone version.
The main updates are easily visible – a draggable notifications bar at the bottom of the screen will show you all new updates, and a photo-reel at the bottom of the screen gives you access to new snaps uploaded by your friends.
Updated access
You can also access events and respond to them within the application as well as commenting on photos without jumping to the mobile version of the site.
Sadly, Facebook hasn't got that element totally right on the new Android version of the application – you still get chucked out to the mobile site to read new notifications (although previews are shown in the notifications drawer).
But overall it's a lot better than before, and apart from that little notifications bump, you can stay within the application to do nearly everything – take a photo, upload it, port contacts to your phone etc.
It's available now from the Android Market, so head on over and download or update to start actually using Facebook on your HTC Desire or Samsung Galaxy S (or pretty much any Android phone really...)
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MySpace looking to news for radical redesign
MySpace is trying to claw back the millions of users it has lost over the years by shifting the onus of the site to offer general news stories and not just information regarding what your friends are doing.The fall from grace for MySpace is a well publicised one, so it is great to see that the site is trying something new to tempt social networkers back.
The new-look MySpace feed is very much a work in progress at the moment but ReadWriteWeb has managed to snag some screenshots of what it looks like and the results are pretty impressive.
They were found on the URL www.myspace.com/everything but this seems to have been taken down for the time being.
The layout is picture heavy and shows news feeds based on sports, celebrity and more feature-based stuff.
MySpace Everything
It's unclear just how this will segue into the way MySpace works, but it seems to be part of a hub page where users can choose what content appears on the screen.
This looks likely to be mixed into the normal newsfeed which houses the picture and status updates of friends.
The new setup has been created by a company called CrowdFusion and while there is no word if and when this will be integrated into the site, it does look a lot cleaner than the crowded feeds of Facebook.
MySpace needs something to jolt it back into the public's consciousness. Recent figures claim that the site brings in just 5 million UK uniques, compared to Facebook's 26 million. This is something, however, that MySpace is denying.
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StarCraft II already biggest PC game of the year
Blizzard's mighty StarCraft II: Wings Of Liberty has already become this year's biggest selling PC game, with publisher Activision Blizzard selling 1.5 million games in the first 48 hours after launch.The publisher shifted well over a million copies within the first 24 hours of availability, with the game being released simultaneously worldwide on 27 July.
PC gaming alive and well
PC gaming is clearly very far from dead, with Activision Blizzard successfully orchestrating one of the biggest PC game launches of all time.
There were over 8,000 midnight store openings and launch events to celebrate the release.
StarCraft II: Wings Of Liberty shot straight to the top of the UK's all formats software chart, selling more copies in one week that the original Starcraft sold in its entire lifetime.
"We launched StarCraft II in 11 different languages and on five different continents because we wanted to make sure as many players as possible were able to log on and play on day one," said Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime.
"We're pleased that so many people around the world have already picked up a copy of the game, and we look forward to welcoming even more players to Battle.net in the weeks and months ahead."
Interestingly, Cowen & Company analyst Doug Creutz noted that, "StarCraft II is being monetised though revenue models in Korea which are considerably different from that of the rest of the world.
"Therefore, we believe that pure 'unit' sales (as measured in Activision Blizzard's press release) will account for a very small portion of Korean StarCraft II revenue and that the unit sales reported in the press release largely reflect the game's performance in other territories.
"We believe that the initial 1.5 million unit 48-hour sell through figure (largely ex-Korea) puts StarCraft II on track to meet or exceed our 2.4 million sell-though estimate through the remainder of the year in North America and Europe."
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Hands on: BlackBerry Torch review
The BlackBerry Torch is RIM's first slider phone, and the first time we've seen a 'normal' touchscreen too. It seems smarter than the Bold and better than the Storm, but what's the BlackBerry Torch like to use?First impressions are average - in packing a full QWERTY keyboard under the screen, the depth of the device is obviously going to be increased.
However the angular chassis looks a little squat, although when you get it in the hand for the first time, that feeling quickly dissipates.
The chassis has a nice chrome bevel around the outside, giving it the same flavour as the Bold 9700 and adding to the more premium feel. The odd faux-leather effect is also gone in favour of a more lined approach on the back cover, which we like.
The camera has been upgraded to a 5MP effort with flash, as well as packing face detection and continuous auto-focus, bringing it nicely in line with the current crop of smartphones.
Both open and shut, the BlackBerry Torch is easy to use in the hand - the weight distribution means one-handed typing is possible with both methods, which is sure to please die-hard BlackBerry fans.
The thickness is less of an issue than we anticipated as well. The size and height of the phone (111 x 62mm) offsets the 14.6mm thickness nicely, and the device feels better in the pocket than something like the Palm Pre.
The keyboard is as good as on the Bold 9700 - it has a nice raised feel to each button, and the spacing isn't too bad either.
We're sadly not talking about the ease of use present on the original Bold, but nonetheless it's a decent effort that BB fans will enjoy.
The trackpad is also a welcome addition to proceedings - sometimes you don't always want the freedom of a touchscreen, especially when using the physical keyboard. Flicking your fingers up and down can be a chore, and the trackpad makes things easier to navigate.
Interface
But it's not all about the chassis - although it is a decent upgrade, looks aside - as the new BlackBerry 6 OS is finally on show here too.
The main thing to realise about the new interface is that it just works well, with the onus clearly being on touchscreen phones.
The home screen has a little bar at the bottom that you access by dragging up - in here you have access to all your icons, seperated into groups like 'Media', 'Favourites', 'Most Used' etc.
This is a new approach to the reams of icons shown on previous BlackBerrys, and thanks to some excellent capacitve touchscreen tech, easy to use simply by swiping left and right.
Contacts and social networking
The contacts menu is overhauled too, with each person getting a magical little 'hub' surrounding their every messaging move. Be it text, Twitter, Facebook, MMS, SMS, Email, phone call... you name it, if their details are in the phone then it will show a collected version of your dealings.
For social networking, RIM has taken things up a notch with the BlackBerry 6 OS and the new BlackBerry Torch by adding in a Social Feeds. Here you can see all your Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and more as well as RSS feeds you've tapped into.
It's a nice touch that shows RIM is still keeping up with smartphone neighbours in recognising the importance of social networking - APIs are being released too so other social networks can get in on the act too.
Messaging
Messaging is still as good as ever - man, we love that unified inbox. The onscreen keyboard can be manipulated to work in QWERTY, narrow QWERTY, SureType and multi-tap, so whichever way you've learnt, the phone can facilitate that.
Of course, most will continue to slide out the physical QWERTY, but it's nice to have options.
Facebook, Twitter and as many email accounts as you can shake a stick at are all placed together in one inbox, making it so much easier to keep up with your communications, and the overhauling of the BBM application is likely to delight those that chat with their fingers on the move.
Internet
The new WebKit browser is something we've been waiting on for ages from RIM - we've all been crying out for a better web experience on BlackBerrys for what seems like a lifetime.
The new browser still struggled a bit with the TechRadar site, but still managed to load it faster than before on previous members of the RIM family.
However we were using Wi-Fi with a fairly low signal - we'd rather wait until our full BlackBerry Torch review to pass judgement.
The pinch to zoom worked well in getting closer to the text. Word wrapping was present too, but this took an age to activate, constantly leaving you with massive letters on the screen that mean nothing.
Overall the internet experience was massively improved over the previous BlackBerry line up though – no landing page to deal with and the whole feel added a lot thanks to the WebKit addition.
This won't move BlackBerry smartphones ahead of the competition though, rather help the Torch get closer to the front-running pack.
Media
If there's one area you could say RIM has lagged behind on over the years it's the media experience on the BlackBerry range.
Where the likes of Sony Ericsson, Nokia and Samsung were all experimenting with MP3 players, video and cameras, RIM's contingent was made up with businesspeople given a BlackBerry from work, so therefore didn't need it to take snaps or the like.
This means that RIM has been playing catch-up in the media space for a number of years, and hasn't quite managed it so far.
Sadly, the Torch isn't that media marvel either, and that's mostly down to the screen quality. Where the iPhone 4 has the Retina Display and the Samsung Galaxy S is packing the Super AMOLED, the BlackBerry Torch only has a half VGA display that's not even widescreen.
It's not terrible by any means, but it certainly lacks the visual pop of its smartphone brethren, and watching video on the phone was an average experience, especially on a 3.2-inch screen.
The music organisation is improved though, with album art spinning this way and that to make things easier to navigate.
However, we didn't get the chance to play any music, so we can't comment on the audio quality of the tracks... we'll be giving this the full run down in our full BlackBerry Torch review.
The media experience on the BlackBerry Torch isn't terrible, as things like Universal Search will head on over to YouTube if you can't find songs or videos you want to watch. It's just this phone isn't the media marvel we're hoping RIM throws our way one day.
Verdict
With the new BlackBerry Torch, it's clear RIM has taken a new direction to help maintain its position as one of the world's biggest smartphone manufacturers.
The addition of 'proper' touchscreen has helped make this phone feel like it belongs at the sharper end of the smartphone pack, and having a full QWERTY helps too.
However, we've seen attempts by RIM to extend the BlackBerry model before, with the KickStart and the Storm range, and those attempts have been met with lukewarm reception from BB fans.
We like the Torch though – despite the industrially chunky looks – and the new BlackBerry 6 OS is s step forward, so this new model might actually help move the range forward as RIM tries to stay fresh.
We're looking forward to getting our hands on a review unit soon, so expect our full and in-depth BlackBerry Torch review very soon.
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Review: Toshiba 32LV713
There's a reason why Toshiba puts sets like the 32LV713 at the centre of its strategy. Thirty-two-inch flatscreens account for around a third of total TV sales, with models from this manufacturer in particular becoming rapidly ubiquitous in UK homes. The 32LV713 is graced by a decidedly average-looking gloss black frame that curves backwards and inwards at the top and bottom and is just deeper than 27cm with the desktop stand fitted. Remove the latter and you'll have a depth of 9.5cm, which puts it at the chunkier end of the spectrum and thereby, perhaps, rendering it unsuitable for wall-mounting, although there are holes for a standard VESA bracket to the rear.
The smallest in Toshiba's LV Series, the 32LV713 has a larger sibling in the shape of the 40-inch 40LV713, which sports an identical feature set and a similarly low price-per-inch. The LV Series also includes 19, 22 and 26in versions.
If you're after a do-it-all flatscreen TV for the main room in your home, a set like the 32LV713 makes a lot of sense. It lacks features such as an LED backlight or anti-blur 100Hz processing, both of which are quickly becoming standard a rung or two above in the TV market, though it's no surprise that they don't feature on a sub-£400 set.
Armed with a standard-definition Freeview tuner (HD broadcasts are off the menu), the 32LV713 might appear a tad basic, though those with their own high-definition source (Virgin Media V+ or Sky+HD) won't notice.
The LCD panel is full HD, making it a suitable set for gamers and those with Blu-ray ambitions.
It just about covers the basics for those needing some multimedia action: a USB port on the side plays MP3 music and JPEG photos and is supported by some no-nonsense software.
The complete lack of video playback will be an issue for some, though pairing the 32LV713 with a reasonably versatile BD or DVD player should see DivX covered.
The rear panel houses just enough ins and outs. Two HDMI inputs are complemented by a third on the side-panel that sits alongside a USB 2.0 port, a headphone jack, a composite video input (with accompanying stereo audio inputs) and a CAM slot for adding Top-Up TV channels to the built-in Freeview tuner.
Elsewhere on the back are a set of component video inputs, a brace of Scarts, a VGA port for a PC, PC audio and a digital optical audio output. The latter enables audio from Freeview to be played through a home cinema, rather than the set's weak 10W stereo speakers.
There's no kind of internet video platform (as indicated by the absence of an Ethernet LAN port), though we're not convinced anyone is actually seeking-out 'connected' TVs just yet.
Light on picture processing, the 32LV713 uses Toshiba's basic Active Vision suite, though it does include Adaptive Luma Control, which adjusts the brightness and dynamic contrast of the panel according to what's contained within a frame of video.
The user interface is simple and functional, with no frippery to add clutter to the system. A four-way menu comprised of picture, sound, applications and preferences, it's coloured in a surprisingly muted combination of black, white and lime green, and provided with full HD graphics.
Our only criticism is that the 'Game' mode is hidden away in the obscure 'Preferences' menu; it should at least be up top, if not featured as a shortcut on the remote.
Like the TV, the remote is uncluttered with features, which helps makes for a unit that's both smaller and simpler to use than on most higher-end sets. Large buttons are the biggest draw, though at around two-thirds the size of most remotes, it can be easily held and operated with a thumb. Unusual shortcut commands include a large 'AD' button for toggling audio description on and off, a picture freeze button and a digital clock option.
There's also a 'Quick' command that reveals a shortcuts menu for changing the picture size, mode (Standard, Movie, User and Dynamic), accessing a USB stick, activating a sleep timer (for between 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 90 and 120 minutes) and setting-up Regza Link (for operating HDMI equipment from this remote). In our test the latter feature worked very well; we managed to control all the major functions of a Panasonic Blu-ray player without any problems at all.
Our only criticism of the remote is that the 'Menu' and 'Guide' buttons – as well as the 'Exit' and 'Return' keys – are too small, though at least they're clearly labelled.
Tuning in the 32LV713 is a cinch, with all digital channels found inside three minutes and logically ordered. Once they're installed, an attractive and responsive eight-day electronic programme guide can be inspected. Eight channels are listed within a floating window that takes up only a third of the screen, while the current channel – with audio – plays uninterrupted beneath.
It shows programmes over the next four hours on one channel at a time, so isn't as good 'at a glance' as other EPGs we're seen, but its non-intrusive design is further evidence of the light touch Toshiba has applied to every aspect of this TV.
Despite the lack of Toshiba's favoured Resolution+ upscaling circuitry, MetaBrain or Active Vision M100HD processing (just the basic variant is fitted to the 32LV713), the picture settings available on this set are impressive.
Accessed via the floating main menu, the picture page includes various presets and any changes you make can be saved. As well as the normal (contrast/colour/brightness) choices, there's a setting to adjust the power of the backlight, change the aspect ratio or toggle the colour temperature. Once again, any changes you make – and here that means, impressively, relatively fine adjustments to gain for red, green and blue – are saved under a 'User' preset.
Within that menu is a tab for 'Advanced video'. This includes options for a cinema mode (which is excellent), noise reduction (digital or MPEG – both are best left switched off), Active Backlight (on or off), 3D Colour Management and Base Colour Adjustment, whereby colours can be adjusted for hue, saturation and brightness.
There's also a control for adjusting the power (from one to 10) of the 32LV713's Adaptive Luma Control, a feature that monitors onscreen light levels and tweaks the brightness of the panel accordingly.
Leave it on movie mode and the 32LV713 does a sterling job with Green Zone on Blu-ray, and although skin tones do look a touch ripe, it's an otherwise well-saturated and accurate image.
We wouldn't normally advise using a set's built-in sharpness settings; a Full HD panel such as this ought to be able to show every pixel of a Blu-ray disc without recourse to much processing.
On the 32LV713, however, the Blu-ray picture does appear a touch softer than it should be; a close-up of Miller as he talks to a reporter in Green Zone doesn't reveal as much detail as on other screens. Adjusting the sharpness slightly brings a tiny improvement without introducing much in the way of artefacting.
That worry over native sharpness, however, virtually concludes our criticisms of the 32LV713.
Amazingly for a CCFL LCD TV screen, contrast is good enough to cope with Green Zone's many muted scenes; the conventional, 'always on' backlit panel is nuanced enough to produce both peak whites and black tones. A subdued shot of Miller in an armoured car shows a lot of realism in black areas of the image where previous models displayed bluish grey mush.
That said, the detail in both a shadowed background and within Miller's uniform isn't as high as you'll find on TVs costing twice the price.
Decent performance
That's no surprise, but it's no deal breaker either; the 32LV713 always presents a picture worthy of Blu-ray despite some obvious juddering during slow camera pans.
DVD upscaling is also surprisingly good and movies remain thoroughly watchable, though the odd jagged edge and noisy backgrounds testify that the 32LV713 lacks Toshiba's excellent Resolution+ circuitry.
Those all-important Freeview pictures are blighted largely by the TV's lack of sharpnesss, with edges soft and some endemic (but minor) noise, though the set's ability with both colour and contrast bring the overall picture up to scratch.
Strapped to the bottom of the 32LV713 are some uninspiring 10W Nicam stereo speakers. Lacking power and reproducing movie soundtracks without any kind of finesse, the 32LV713 nevertheless has a whole page of dedicated audio settings; Surround Sound appears to increase the volume and the width of the soundstage, as well as dragging out some details from a movie soundtrack that you won't otherwise hear.
As such, engaging this mode is essential rather than optional, but it doesn't introduce enough bass or width to compete with a separate sound system.
Stable Sound, meanwhile, appears to reduce the volume and hides background sound effects, though it's real duty is to overcome sudden changes of volume during advert breaks.
The 32LV713 could certainly do with the kind of audio projection technology found on Toshiba's higher-end sets that projects soundwaves onto nearby hard surfaces, thereby amplifying them. On this particular Toshiba, audio is a significant letdown, though for £380 it would be churlish to single out this set on that score.
The 32LV713 manages a versatile picture that does just enough good work across all sources to make this a good value all-rounder for a living room. Its sound may not match its pictures, but if you're spending this amount on a TV you may have some budget left to find a home cinema system, though we'd only recommend going to those lengths if you're into watching movies; for Freeview programmes its speakers just about suffice.
And with more than acceptable – and thoroughly versatile – pictures, JPEG/MP3 playback and a well thought-out user interface, the 32LV713 is a good value package.
Excellent picture quality and a friendly operating system make this Toshiba an improvement on some of the brand's previous efforts. As such, it competes well at the budget end of the market where 100Hz, Freeview HD and online dimensions are nowhere to be found.
We liked:
A simple and clearly presented user interface, together with a remote control that's fast and easy to use makes the 32LV713 an enticing prospect for anyone after a simple flatscreen TV. Add excellent pictures and a wealth of tweaks available for advanced users and the 32LV713 is quite a package.
We disliked:
For a chunky set such as this, speakers could do with an upgrade and could be more powerful than they are. Standard definition, though always watchable, isn't upscaled as smartly as it could be, though that's no crime at this relatively small size – and remarkably low price.
Verdict:
It may not possess the bells and whistles of the TVs the big brands like to shout about (including Toshiba), but this budget set has an enviable all-round performance that should see it do well in the mass market.
If you can find it bundled with a home cinema system, all the better, because this is a television that impresses only with pictures and usability. Those after Freeview HD, networking or an online dimension should look elsewhere, but anyone after a TV with quality at its uncomplicated core may find their match in the 32LV713.
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RIM hits back at BlackBerry security issues
RIM was the centre of a worldwide security issue this week, when both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia decided to ban the use of BlackBerry handsets due to data encryption concerns.RIM has finally hit back at the criticism of its security architecture in a statement which it hopes gives reassurance that its handsets aren't subject to security problems.
In the statement, RIM notes it has "spent over a decade building a very strong security architecture to meet our enterprise customers' strict security requirements around the world.
"It is a solution that we are very proud of, and it has helped us become the number one choice for enterprises and governments."
"In recent days there has been a range of commentary, speculation, and misrepresentation regarding this solution and we want to take the opportunity to set the record straight."
Copy rights
In setting the record straight RIM comments that the encryption system it uses on the BlackBerry does not allow anybody access to encrypted data – not even itself.
"RIM cannot accommodate any request for a copy of a customer's encryption key, since at no time does RIM, or any wireless network operator or any third party, ever possess a copy of the key," the statement explains.
"This means that customers of the BlackBerry enterprise solution can maintain confidence in the integrity of the security architecture without fear of compromise."
It's unclear if this statement will make the UAE and Saudi Arabia change its minds – both look likely to block the service in the coming days.
But it may put other countries at ease who are watching the situation closely before they make a decision on whether to ditch the handsets or not.
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Updated: Top 30 best free iPad apps
On comparing iPad apps with iPhone equivalents, one thing rapidly becomes clear: apps for Apple's tablet are pricier. Many great free iPhone apps cost 59p or more in their iPad incarnations, and the quality level of what's still free is often ropey. But among the dross lie rare gems - iPad apps that are so good you can't believe they're still free.
Of those we unearthed, here are our favourites. (Note that apps marked 'universal' will run on your iPad and iPhone, optimising themselves accordingly.)
1. AccuWeather.com Free for iPad
Annoyingly, most free iPad weather apps refuse to believe that the UK has any weather (or that the country exists), and so AccuWeather gets props for merely working. Happily, AccuWeather also proves to be a decent - if quirky - weather app. The interface is odd (but fun) and there's a 'lifestyle' page that determines how your current local conditions might affect over 20 activities, including dog-walking and stargazing.
2. Adobe Ideas 1.0 for iPad
Adobe Ideas 1.0 for iPad is a digital sketchpad which offers simple vector-based drawing tools and works nicely as a standalone app for jotting down creative ideas or as a companion to Adobe Illustrator. Usefully, you can trace over photos, email drawings as PDFs, and avoid worrying about mistakes, since there's a 50-level undo.
3. Air Video Free (universal)
Despite naysayers whining about the iPad screen's 4:3 aspect ratio, it's a decent device for watching video, but it lacks storage for housing large video collections. Air Video enables you to stream video (converting it on-the-fly, if necessary) from your Mac or PC. The main limitation of the free version is that it only shows a few items(randomly selected) from each folder or playlist.
4. Beatwave (universal)
Beatwave is a simplified Tenori-On-style synth which enables you to rapidly build pleasing melodies by prodding a grid. Multiple layers and various instruments provide scope for complex compositions, and you can save sessions or, handily, store and share compositions via email. You can also buy more instruments via in-app purchases.
5. Bloomberg for iPad
With an eye-searing white-and-orange-on-black colour scheme that's a little like being repeatedly punched in the eyes, Bloomberg isn't an app you'll want to spend all day staring at. However, for business news, stocks, and major currency rates, it's a usable and efficient app.
6. Comics (universal)
On the iPhone, Comics is innovative, but zooming each panel and constantly rotating your device gets old fast. By contrast, the iPad's screen is big enough to display an entire page without the need to zoom or scroll. And with dozens of free comics available via the bundled store, comic-book fans should lap this app up.
7. Dictionary.com - Dictionary & Thesaurus - For iPad
We approached Dictionary with scepticism, since most free dictionary apps are sluggish interfaces to websites. That's certainly what this looks like, but it works offline, providing speedy access to over a million words and 90,000 thesaurus entries. The app's search is also reassuringly fast.
8. Dropbox (universal)
Dropbox is a great service for syncing documents across multiple devices. The iPad client works like the iPhone one (hardly surprising, since this is a universal app), enabling you to preview many file types and store locally those marked as favourites.
9. Evernote (universal)
Like Dropbox, Evernote (a free online service for saving ideas—text documents, images, web clips—that you can then access from multiple devices) works like the iPhone version, and benefits from the iPad's larger screen, which enables you to see and navigate your stored snippets more easily.
10. Feeddler RSS Reader for iPad
Feeddler RSS Reader for iPad is fairly basic as RSS readers go, but once you've pointed it at your Google Reader account it's efficient, stores text offline, enables you to browse by feed, and has a built-in browser so you're not booted to Safari when you want to visit a link. As with many iPad apps, you get a full-screen view in portrait mode.
11. The Guardian Eyewitness
A showcase for engaging photography, The Guardian Eyewitness provides a daily, visual reflection of global events. You get access to the most recent 100 photos, which can be viewed full-screen or with a caption and 'pro tip'. You can also save photos to your iPad or share them via email.
12. iBooks
Going head-to-head with Kindle, iBooks is a decent ebook reader, backed by the iBookstore. As you'd expect from Apple the interface is polished (if not quite up to the standards of iPhone app Eucalyptus), and on downloading the app you get a free copy of Winnie the Pooh.
13. IM+ Lite (universal)
Although third-party multi-tasking is coming to iPad this autumn, it's not here yet, making things tough for instant-messaging fans. However, IM+ Lite enables you to run a number of IM services (including Twitter and Facebook) in a single app, and there's also a built-in web browser for checking out links.
14. Kindle (universal)
Amazon's Kindle iPad app for reading over 500,000 books available at the Kindle Store is a little workmanlike, and doesn't match the coherence of iBooks (you buy titles in Safari and 'sync' purchases via Kindle). However, Kindle's fine for reading, and you get options to optimise your experience (including the ability to kill the naff page-turn animation and amend the page background to a pleasant sepia tone).
15. Movies by Flixter (universal)
One for film buffs, Movies figures out where you are and tells you what's showing in your local cinemas - or you can pick a film and it'll tell you where and when it's on. The app is functionally identical on iPad and iPhone, but again the extra screen space improves the experience.
16. PaperDesk Lite for iPad
Effectively a souped-up digital notepad, PaperDesk Lite for iPad enables you to combine typed words, scribbles and audio recordings in user-defined notebooks. Pages can be emailed (typed text is sent along with a copy of the entire page as a PDF), although be mindful that this free version restricts you to three pages per notebook.
17. PCalc Lite (universal)
PCalc Lite's existence means the lack of a built-in iPad calculator doesn't bother us (in fact, we'd love to replace the iPhone Calculator app with PCalc Lite as well). This app is usable and feature-rich - and if you end up wanting more, in-app purchases enable you to bolt on extras from the full PCalc.
18. Reuters News Pro for iPad
Annoyingly, spurious 'anti competition' complaints meant the BBC News app took a while to come to the UK; in the meantime, Reuters offered the next best free news app for iPad with its Reuters News Pro for iPad. It's a little US-centric, but can be skewed towards UK coverage via the Settings app, and it's worth downloading for a more international take on news coverage than BBC News provides.
19. Twitterrific for iPad
The iPad version of Twitterrific reportedly marks a new beginning for the app, which the developers think has become too complicated on iPhone. On iPad, things are more bare-bones, but this ensures Twitterrific is a simple, good-looking and usable Twitter client.
20. Wikipanion for iPad
The Wikipedia website works fine in Safari for iPad, but dedicated apps make navigating the site simpler and faster. We went back and forth between Simplepedia and Wikipanion, eventually plumping for the latter, largely due to its efficient two-pane landscape view with excellent bookmarking and history access.
21. eBay for iPad
Use eBay for iPad and you'll never touch eBay in a web browser again. It's fast and efficient, beautifully showcasing important details and images in its main results view; the app also enables quickfire sorting and drag-based definition of price-ranges. It's a little feature-light (no notifications), but eBay promises aspects of eBay Mobile will be integrated soon.
22. Soundrop (universal)
Soundrop is a minimal generative sound toy which offers an endless stream of balls, which make noises when they collide with and bounce off of user-drawn lines. The overall result is surprisingly fun and hypnotic. For more advanced features - save, multiple instruments, gravity adjustment - there's a £1.19 in-app 'pro' purchase option.
23. Granimator
Wallpaper apps litter the App Store, but are mostly dull, offering photos of brick walls or bored animals. Granimator is a bonkers art tool, enabling you to choose a background and spray all manner of shapes around. Compositions can be fine-tuned by dragging objects, and then shared to Flickr, Twitter or your device's Photos app.
24. Google Earth (universal)
It's not the smoothest app in the world, and it lacks some elements from the desktop (such as street view), but Google Earth is nonetheless a joy on the iPad. Touch gestures are an intuitive means of swooping around the planet, and the optional layers enable you to display as much or as little ancillary information as you wish.
25. Explore Flickr (universal)
Explore Flickr provides an engaging way to discover new photography. On launch, your iPad screen fills with a grid of thumbnails, drawn from flickr.com's top daily images. Tap one to view (and, if rights permit, download to your device), or just leave the app lazily updating (every now and again, a thumbnail spins to reveal a new image) while your iPad charges in its dock.
26. Rj Voyager
One for budding iPad DJs, Rj Voyager enables you to choose from a selection of bundled tracks, turn parts on and off, and edit parameters in real-time via an intuitive, futuristic interface. Play through headphones or a decent sound system, and the result is infectious.
27. BBC News (universal)
With the BBC's website still reliant on Flash video, this BBC News app - now finally available in the UK - provides access to latest stories, including video elements. Categories can be rearranged, stories can be shared, and the app's layout adjusts to portrait and landscape orientations.
28. Epicurious (universal)
Tens of thousands of recipes at your fingertips (assuming you have a web connection) ensure Epicurious is worth a download for the culinary-inclined. The app even composes a shopping list for recipes; it's just a pity the app doesn't include measurements for those of us who use that new-fangled 'metric' system.
29. WordPress (universal)
This official, open-source WordPress app is perhaps a bit basic for composing anything but text-based blog posts from scratch, since the editor is HTML-only (sorry, WordPress Visual editor fans—both of you). However, it's great to have installed for making quick edits to existing content and for managing comments.
30. TV Guide for iPad
It's crazy that TV Guide for iPad omits the website's search and the iPhone version's ability to flag upcoming shows with alarms, but otherwise this is a first-rate TV guide for UK viewers. The interface is silky smooth, and you can easily omit channels you don't watch.
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63% would back UK cyber-spying on other nations
A whopping 63 per cent of people who took part in the latest Sophos security survey think that it is okay for the UK to spy on other countries using hacking and malware. Although 40 per cent of those surveyed added the proviso 'only if we're at war with them,' the general consensus was that it is fine to use cyber-spying at the government level.
Just 37 per cent of people gave an unequivocal 'no' as the answer.
Not enough
Sophos' [PDF] half-year report also revealed that only six per cent of people think that the government is doing enough to protect the population from cybercrime. 40 per cent didn't really know and 54 per cent were unhappy with what is being done.
"There have still been no confirmed incidents of core physical services such as power and water supplies, nuclear power stations or traffic control systems being exploited by cyberterrorists to date," says Sophos' report.
"While some hints of the potential danger of such attacks have been hypothesized by researchers, others such as security guru Bruce Schneier21 have described the whole concept of cyberwarfare as a distant danger that has been overhyped, suggesting that in reality what many have called 'cyberwarfare' is in fact simply cyber-espionage or cyber-activism rather than all-out attack.
"Nevertheless, the US government has invested huge sums in new systems to protect both critical infrastructure and businesses from potential cyberdangers."
Obviously the figures can't really be considered representative of the UK as a whole, but it's interesting to see that people want our authorities to flex their muscles in the cyber-arena.
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Girl Guides slam Photoshop culture
Britain's Girl Guide Association is calling for all Photoshopped and airbrushed images in the media to be clearly labelled.Girlguiding UK is adamant that girls are increasingly feeling unnecessarily pressured to look like the airbrushed pictures of celebrities that surround them every day.
Head Guide Liz Burnley says that the ubiquitous nature of such Photoshopped pictures in celebrity magazines presents young girls with "unobtainable ideals" and is calling on the government to regulate the use of such pictures with compulsory labelling.
Surgery and weight-loss pressures
A recent Girlguiding poll of 1,109 girls revealed that a shocking 50 per cent of those girls aged 16 to 21 have considered having surgery to enhance their looks, while 42 per cent of 11 to 16-year-olds admitted that they closely watch what they eat.
"We know how profoundly they feel the pressure to conform to a particular body image and how badly they can be affected by these unobtainable ideals," said Ms Burnley.
"We are proud to support the calls of our members who believe that it is time that the prime minister addressed their concerns and acted in the interests of girls and young women across the country."
Susan Ringwood of the eating disorder charity Beat is working with Girlguiding UK on the campaign. Commenting on the influence of airbrushed magazine pictures, Ringwood noted:
"Young people with eating disorders tell us that being surrounded everyday by pictures of unnaturally 'perfect' bodies makes their own recovery so much more difficult to achieve.
"We know the difference it would make to all young people's self-esteem and body confidence if they could be sure which of the images they see are natural and true to life."
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Review: Sony Bravia KDL-32EX503
If you're after something more than just a basic flatscreen TV, this polished affair from Sony makes for a tempting option. This 32in LCD TV lies near the bottom of Sony's Essential lineup, ranking below screens in the brand's Network, Signature and Cinematic ranges.
Confusingly, even the Essential series is carefully graded in terms of features, with the KDL-32EX503 sandwiched between the KDL-32EX403 (£550), which cuts out both Edge LED and 100Hz, and the much slimmer KDL-32EX703 (£900), which has both.
That leaves the KDL-32EX503 without an edge-lit LED panel, but it's unfair to call this a low-end LCD TV and it does have 100Hz. It may be firmly in the middle of Sony's lineup, but its combination of a Freeview HD tuner and a re-vamped online content hub makes the KDL-32EX503 worth some serious consideration.
The KDL-32EX503 effectively replaces the popular KDL-32W5500 from last year, adding a Freeview HD tuner, a wider compatibility with video files via either a USB stick/drive or DLNA networking and the possibility of wireless connectivity.
On the marketing for this set you'll find 'Wireless LAN ready' plastered all over it. In practice, this means that the set's USB input can accept a wireless dongle, though that's an optional extra.
In terms of looks, a metallic grey panel along the screen's bottom is all that interrupts an otherwise standard – and rather wide – gloss black screen surround. If anything it recalls the rather utilitarian, serious look of Sony's hi-fi systems, though we've certainly reviewed more solidly built flatscreen TVs.
Despite its relatively high-end looks, the KDL-32EX503 is a fat flatscreen; even without its desktop stand it reaches 96mm, which is around a third deeper than its LED-lit (and £200 pricier) sibling, the KDL-32EX503. A heavy desktop stand is included in the box and must be manually attached, though it does enable the TV to swivel once assembled.
Sony's KDL-32EX503 isn't lacking in top-drawer features. Most buyers will be after its integrated DVB-T2 tuner that makes Freeview HD channels a possibility; here BBC HD, ITV1 HD and 4HD (England)/S4C Cirlan (Wales) are supported by an eight-day electronic programme guide that squeezes in a thumbnail of the current live channel.
It may lack any kind of LED backlighting, but the KDL-32EX503's standard CCFL-lit LCD screen sports a full HD resolution. Behind that panel Sony's Bravia Engine 3 picture processing suite works its magic, which includes the trickery of MotionFlow 100Hz (to create a smoother, blur-free image) and a frame interpolation 'Film' mode (which ought to eradicate judder during Blu-ray movies).
Connections
Here's a TV that has high definition at its heart; on the rear are two HDMI inputs, which are joined by two more on a side panel to the left. On that same panel you'll find a composite video input alongside analogue stereo audio inputs, a headphones jack and a slot for a conditional access module (CAM).
That's crucial, given the likelihood that Sky Sports channels will soon be available via viewing cards from subscription services such as Top-Up TV. Our only complaint is that the side panel only hosts a single USB port.
Fine if you're planning to attach a USB memory stick or USB hard disk now and again to play digital files, but if you decide to spend £69 on a UWA-BR100 Wi-Fi dongle from Sony it will henceforth be permanently occupied. Besides, most serious flatscreen TVs now include two USB ports.
The rear panel is equally exhaustive, featuring a wired Ethernet LAN port near both video and audio inputs for a PC, a couple of RGB Scarts and a set of component video inputs. Outputs cover audio and include analogue stereo audio ins and outs and an optical digital audio port.
Compatibility
Both the USB and Ethernet LAN ports have much to do. Sony's latest Bravias handle digital files via USB far better than in previous years, though it's not exactly exhaustive; DivX, MPEG2 and AVCHD files can be played back.
Note the lack of a number of common file types such as WMV, though the biggest omission has to be DivX HD – such high-definition MKV video files are handled by an increasing number of flatscreen TVs.
Those same files are also available to play from a PC on the same broadband home network. This DLNA feature is powered by the Ethernet LAN port, which is also responsible for getting the KDL-32EX503 online.
And it's partly Bravia Internet Video that makes the KDL-32EX503 so likeable.
A huge improvement on 2009's woeful AppliCast content platform, the 2010 version includes some excellent widgets covering YouTube, Eurosport, Lovefilm (£9.99 subscription required), Lovefilm trailers (free), Five, Daily Motion and (presumably for this summer only) a FIFA portal that constitutes an impressively large archive of World Cup official films, shorts and compilations.
There are plenty of other widgets, such as Howcast.com, ON Networks, FordModels, GolfLink.com, Singing Fool and Livestrong.com, which seems to be the result of a deal with a US-based online publisher.
That the KDL-32EX503 is such a joy to use is largely down to its use of the XrossMediaBar user interface, as debuted on the PlayStation 3. It can be a bit baffling at first, but it doesn't take long before navigating the axes is second nature.
As well as now/next information for all digital (and analogue) TV channels, the XMB presents connected devices (USB sticks, a Blu-ray player or a PS3) as part of the TV's architecture, and it's a cinch to skip between sources and settings.
Also on the XMB are icons for the widgets that make up Sony's Bravia Internet Video platform. It's worth mentioning that the service is stuffed with too many widgets. Aside from the big content providers, there are heaps of US-centric portals that are of little worth and do detract from the service by crowding-out the useful widgets. That said, the uniform interface for each widget is well designed, relaying on high-resolution grids and thumbnails and proves simple to use.
Also popping up on the XMB axis are external devices such as a USB memory stick, or a PC connected via DLNA. Music and photos are no trouble, with both MP3 music and JPEG/RAW photos treated well, though compatibility with TIFF, BMP and GIF pictures would be appreciated – as would support for WMV music and some lossless formats.
Video is less convincing. Sony has expanded the video codecs it supports and we managed to get MPEG, AVC, AVCHD, MP4, DivX, XviD and AVI files to play without any problems, though one MP4 file was played with audio only and some DivX files were displayed in their native size rather than fullscreen.
To skip past the dross you'll need to master Sony's clever new remote control. A concave design with a battery compartment that slides out, the layout is logical and, for the most part, it's very comfortable to operate.
Buttons are clearly labelled and just about large enough for clumsy hands, though we did find that the all-important blue 'Home' button is a tad too close to the directional arrows and did cause us to make mistakes. Rather oddly there's a standby button on the remote's rear, though we're not sure it serves much purpose.
This set's forerunner, the KDL-32W5500, did have issues with motion blur and contrast and we're pleased to say that these no longer exist.
While showing Invictus on Blu-ray it's immediately obvious that the KDL-32EX503 is among the finest non-LED sets around.
Close-ups during Nelson Mandela and François Pienaar's meeting reveal a decent degree of sharpness, though the most impressive aspect is how clean the image is. It's so spotless that we'd go as far as to say that this is the most cinematic picture we've yet seen on a LCD TV.
Bright colours
Colours are another highlight. Backed-up by an enviable contrast ratio that sees deep blacks and peak whites produced without problems, colours are natively warm. That can make skin tones a touch too rosy, but it's a cinch to take the edge off by recourse to the TV's settings; Live Colour's power can be tweaked, while a huge choice of presets (cinema, games, photos etc) should please undemanding users.
The MotionFlow 100Hz feature also works well, though it needs to; switch it off and the KDL-32EX503 struggles with the action on the Ellis Park Stadium pitch, with noticeable blur – activate it and the action definitely becomes smoother.
Film mode isn't nearly as powerful as on rival sets. True, the sense of realism it creates isn't as giddy as on other TVs, but as it inserts guessed-at frames of video into the action, ponderous pans across the cityscape don't suffer from nearly as much judder.
This light touch is welcome since no artefacts, such as flicker or ghosting, are introduced. It's a trade-off, of course – there is noticeable judder during some shots – and it would be nice to see a stronger effect.
Superb input quality
Elsewhere the KDL-32EX503 delivers a superb picture from other sources. Freeview HD channels shine the brightest, but even standard-definition channels are shown without issue.
Making Freeview look solid and clean on a relatively small 32-inch screen size is hardly unprecedented, but it's surprising how many brands drop the ball here – the KDL-32EX503 manages to suppress all but a few traces of picture noise, though a static sheen can sometimes be seen during moving images.
Usually roundly ignored by flatscreen TV makers, Sony has taken the time to fit the KDL-32EX503 with some useful audio.
Don't get carried away and expect home cinema quality – sound here is only just good enough, but that's still an improvement on most sets. Most useful is a 'Dynamic' setting that pushes bass up to acceptable levels for everyday TV watching, while Clear Voice virtually cancels out bass and the Standard setting is similarly thin.
There is a pseudo-surround mode that does widen the sonic landscape somewhat, but it does so at the cost of the lower frequencies.
It may be firmly in the Bravia basement, but the KDL-32EX503 seems fair value to us. Its combination of some useful online features and all-round versatile connectivity with excellent picture quality and a Freeview HD tuner makes for an interesting package for a small room.
The price of TVs with integrated Freeview HD tuners is, it has to be said, artificially high at present and we expect premium prices to drop as the new platform becomes the default.
With LED panels still commanding a premium price, Sony has left the technology off the KDL-32EX503, with few complaints from us – it sports one of the best, most contrast-capable LCD panels around.
The premium feature here is Freeview HD, though there's plenty of other aspects – styling, user interface, picture and sound quality – that help the KDL-32EX503 become a competitive offering for anyone after something a bit more advanced.
We liked:
The interface does at great job of uniting this TV's diverse range of features, managing to put everything from internet TV, Freeview channels and USB sticks in the same place.
Cinematic brilliance with Blu-ray, clean upscaling of DVD and Freeview HD, and some decent audio are among the highlights.
We disliked:
While nicely styled, the remote could do with a tweak or two when it comes to layout. The set's film mode performs well and doesn't introduce any video nasties, though it would be nice to have a stronger setting so that viewers can make their own minds up.
A more comprehensive digital file compatibility mix is also needed for playback from USB and via DLNA, while Bravia Internet Video needs thinning down: less would be more.
Verdict:
If you demand an ultra-slim screen and all-new Edge LED backlighting, Sony's KDL-32EX703 is what to head for, though for our money the KDL-32EX503 is better value; excellent contrast and colours team-up with a luscious interface and some novel online features to create one of the best value and most impressive LCD TVs around.
Related Links
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Motorola and Verizon set to launch TV tablet
Motorola is teaming up with Verizon to develop a tablet TV device set to rival Apple's popular iPad.The Financial Times reports this week that the fruits of the new partnership will be devices that allow users to watch television on the move.
The device may launch as early as this coming autumn in the US, although there has been no official announcement from Verizon or Motorola to date.
Pay-TV on the move
The new tablet TV is expected to run on Google's Android OS and be tied in to Verizon's FiOS digital pay TV service.
Motorola and Verizon's tablet TV will have a ten-inch screen and will also feature two cameras, plus it will be able to share its Wi-Fi connectivity with other devices, according to unnamed sources close to the project.
It will also support Adobe's Flash software, which is something that the Apple iPad doesn't offer users, with Apple backing the HTML 5 standard on iPhone and iPad.
Verizon Wireless owns a 25 per cent share of the US TV market and a 29 per cent share of the US broadband market.
Sanjay Jha, Chief Executive of Motorola's mobile devices business, said back in May of this year: "We're very focused on participating in this convergence between mobility and home, and I actually think you will see some products from us in a very short period of time."
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YouTube celebrates hitting 10 million Facebook likes
YouTube is celebrating after 10 million people Facebook Liked the online video giant, with the Google owned service thanking fans for making it more popular than Ronaldo and even 'music'. Facebook Like has been a major hit with fans of the social network, which recently hit the 500 million users mark.
One in every 50 Facebook subscribers have apparently taken time out to acknowledge their like for YouTube, to the delight of Community Manager Mia Quagliarelly.
"Today our Facebook page hit an important milestone: over 10 million of you have clicked that "Like" button, making us more popular thanCristiano Ronaldo and -- whoa --music?!" blogged Quagliarelly.
Sights set
YouTube is not the most liked thing on Facebook, however, but Quagliarelly has set the sights on those ahead of them.
"Now, that's pretty awesome, but honestly we won't rest until we rock those vampires, sweep by the Prez and topple Lady Gaga."
YouTube staff have even made a quick video giving Facebook users their own special brand of 'Like'.
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Sterilising water bottle wins Dyson award
A water bottle that uses ultraviolet light to sterilise drinking water has won the UK competition in this year's James Dyson award.InventorTim Whitehead is now looking to win the overall £10,000 prize fund with his innovative sterilising tech.
Pure and simple
Whitehead, a design and technology graduate from from Loughborough University, came up with the idea for the clean water bottle while travelling in Africa.
The Pure bottle means that there is no longer the need to use chlorine and iodine tablets to purify drinking water
Whitehead's design will be put forward for Dyson's global final this coming October.
Whitehead said of the Pure bottle tech: "I thought that there must be a way of using new technology to clean drinking water. I began experimenting with using ultraviolet light to sterilise water quickly, without any distortion to taste."
How does it work?
The tech is both simple and effective. Users put dirty water into an outer chamber and then a filtering inner chamber is plunged through the water.
After the initial filtering, the water is finally sterilised by a wind-up ultraviolet bulb, which takes only 90 seconds.
Whitehead's prototype has been shown to eliminate 99.9 per cent of bacteria and viruses.
Dyson Award judge Professor Matthew Harrison, of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said of the tech: "Pure provides a practical solution to a real problem - how to get clean drinking water in the most hostile of conditions.
"It has the potential to make a real difference to people's lives."
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Sharp to launch 3D smartphone later in 2010
Japan's Sharp Corporation is set to take on the Apple iPhone and the forthcoming Nintendo 3DS later this year, with plans to launch a 3D-ready smartphone.Sharp's new 3D smartphone will feature a 3D-ready panel that, just like the Nintendo 3DS, can be viewed without the use of 3D specs.
Nintendo's 3DS is expected to arrive in the UK later next spring, with pricing and official launch details still to be confirmed by the Japanese gaming giant.
3D on the phone
A company spokeswoman announced the news this week, also adding that the smartphone should feature an in-built 3D-ready camera.
Sharp is Japan's biggest mobile phone maker, although doesn't currently own a significant amount of the fast-growing market for smartphones worldwide, which is dominated by the likes of Apple and Research in Motion (RIM).
Sharp manufactured the Kin phone for Microsoft earlier this year, which was soon cancelled after poor sales in the US.
TechRadar has contacted Sharp UK for further information on the plans for 3D-ready smartphones later in 2010, so stay tuned for updates.
Via Reuters
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Hands on: BlackBerry Torch review
The BlackBerry Torch is RIM's first slider phone, and the first time we've seen a 'normal' touchscreen too. It seems smarter than the Bold and better than the Storm, but what's the BlackBerry Torch like to use?First impressions are average - in packing a full QWERTY keyboard under the screen, the depth of the device is obviously going to be increased.
However the angular chassis looks a little squat - although when you get it in the hand for the first time, that feeling quickly dissipates.
The chassis has a nice chrome bevel around the outside, giving it the same flavour as the Bold 9700 and adding to the more premium feel. The odd faux-leather effect is also gone in favour of a more lined approach on the back cover, which we like.
The camera ahs been upgraded to a 5MP effort with flash, as well as packing face detection and continuous auto-focus - bringing it nicely in line with the current crop of smartphones.
Both open and shut, the BlackBerry Torch is easy to use in the hand - the weight distribution means one-handed typing is possible with both methods, which is sure to please die-hard BlackBerry fans.
The thickness is less of an issue than we anticipated as well - the size and height of the phone (111 x 62mm) offsets the 14.6mm thickness nicely, and the device feels better in the pocket than something like the Palm Pre.
The keyboard is as good as on the Bold 9700 - it has a nice raised feel to each button, and the spacing isn't too bad either.
We're sadly not talking about the ease of use present on the original Bold, but nonetheless it's a decent effort that BB fans will enjoy.
The trackpad is also a welcome addition to proceedings - sometimes you don't always want the freedom of a touchscreen, especially when using the physical keyboard. Flicking your fingers up and down can be a chore, and the trackpad makes things easier to navigate.
But it's not all about the chassis - although it is a decent upgrade, looks aside - as the new BlackBerry 6 OS is finally on show here too.
The main thing to realise about the new interface is that it just works well, with the onus clearly being on touchscreen phones.
The home screen has a little bar at the bottom that you access by dragging up - in here you have access to all your icons, seperated into groups like 'Media', 'Favourites', 'Most Used' etc.
This is a new approach to the reams of icons shown on previous BlackBerrys, and thanks to some excellent capacitve touchscreen tech, easy to use simply by swiping left and right.
The contacts menu is overhauled too, with each person getting a magical little 'huib' surrounding their every messaging move. Be it text, Twitter, Facebook, MMS, SMS, Email, phone call... you name it, if their details are in the phone then it will show a collected version of your dealings.
For social networking, RIM has taken things up a notch with the BlackBerry 6 OS and the new BlackBerry Torch by adding in a Social Feeds. Here you can see all your Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and more as well as RSS feeds you've tapped into.
It's a nice touch that shows RIM is still keeping up with smartphone neighbours in recognising the importance of social networking - APIs are being released too so other social networks can get in on the act too.
Messaging is still as good as ever - man, we love that unified inbox. The onscreen keyboard can be manipulated to work in QWERTY, narrow QWERTY, SureType and multi-tap, so whichever way you've learnt, the phone can facilitate that.
Of course, most will continue to slide out the physical QWERTY, but it's nice to have options.
The new WebKit browser is something we've been waiting on for ages from RIM - we've all been crying out for a better web experience on BlackBerrys for what seems like a lifetime.
The new browser still struggled a bit with the TechRadar site, but still managed to load it faster than before on previous members of the RIM family.
However we were using Wi-Fi with a fairly low signal - we'd rather wait until our full BlackBerry Torch review to pass judgement.
The pinch to zoom worked well in getting closer to the text - word wrapping was present too, but this took an age to activate, constantly leaving you with massive letters on the screen that mean nothing.
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In pictures: BlackBerry Torch 9800
We managed to nab a few minutes with the new BlackBerry Torch 9800, so check out the new slider from RIM in detail.The new phone is packing the latest BlackBerry 6 OS, which promises a huge number of extra features and is tailor made for the touchscreen.
RIM has also packed a lot of new tech into the Torch as well - Zero Shutter offers quicker photos, the new WebKit browser with pinch to zoom technology is on show, and the chassis is nothing like anything in the BlackBerry range.
So check it out for yourself - the new BlackBerry Torch 9800.
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Vodafone to launch BlackBerry Torch 9800 in UK
Vodafone had told TechRadar that it will be one of the first carriers to bring the BlackBerry Torch 9800 to the UK, with more details soon to go live on its website.As it has done with most of the major handsets on the market, those interested in getting their hands on the BlackBerry Torch 9800 will be able to pre-register their interest.
There's no word on how much it will cost on the network, but judging by previous high-end BlackBerry handsets, the chances of a £30-£35 a month deal on a 24 month contract seem pretty high.
New direction
Vodafone has now put the pre-order page live, so head on over and take a gander at the new phone on a red-topped site.
The BlackBerry Torch 9800 is the first slider handset for RIM and comes equipped with new BlackBerry 6 OS.
We're still waiting for UK pricing or a UK release date, but there will be an official European announcement regarding more carriers in the "coming weeks".
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Vodafone to launch BlackBerry Torch 9800 in UK
Vodafone had told TechRadar that it will be one of the first carriers to bring the BlackBerry Torch 9800 to the UK, with more details soon to go live on its website.As it has done with most of the major handsets on the market, those interested in getting their hands on the BlackBerry Torch 9800 will be able to pre-register their interest.
There's no word on how much it will cost on the network, but judging by previous high-end BlackBerry handsets, the chances of a £30-£35 a month deal on a 24 month contract seem pretty high.
New direction
Vodafone has yet to put the pre-order page live, but we'll update you when the site goes live and you can be one of the first to nab a new BlackBerry slider.
The BlackBerry Torch 9800 is the first slider handset for RIM and comes equipped with new BlackBerry 6 OS.
We're still waiting for UK pricing or a UK release date, but there will be an official European announcement regarding more carriers in the "coming weeks".
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Exclusive: Vodafone users angry at HTC Desire 360 update
The Vodafone UK forum is alight with posts from angry owners of the HTC Desire who feel they have been duped with the latest firmware update for their handsets.While most were expecting the firmware update that landed this morning to be Froyo – Google's latest OS – it turns out the update was something called 2.1-update1 which commenters are calling a "branding update".
We gave you news earlier this week that Vodafone is bringing Froyo to Desire "as soon as possible", with the phone company explaining: "We are working with HTC and Google to push the new 2.2 Android firmware out to Vodafone HTC Desire customers as soon as possible.
"We'll update customers when we have a confirmed release date."
Unfortunately, customers were told today that a new firmware update was on the cards, raising expectations only for them to get smacked down.
The new update actually brings the Vodafone 360 service to the Desire, which consists of the following apps: Music Shop, Shop and Web.
The web homepage of the Desire has also been changed to a Vodafone one.
Update woe
As a result of this, the official Vodafone forum is now filled with unhappy customers, one of which contacted TechRadar about the situation.
We got on the phone to Vodafone to see what the situation was and a spokesperson for the company told us: "We would like to reassure customers that the Froyo 2.2 update is on its way.
"When we announced the HTC Desire we said that the device would be pre-loaded with 360 services.
"Unfortunately, there was a delay in bringing these services to the Desire so that is what the latest over-the-air update brings."
While you can't blame Vodafone for updating its Desire handsets to bring 360 functionality, the timing of the update is a rather cruel one for customers waiting (im)patiently for Google's latest Android update - an update which has already been released to unlocked versions of the HTC Desire.
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