Review: AMD Radeon HD 6850
AMD's Radeon HD 6870 hit the streets yesterday along with this, the cut-clocked Radeon HD 6850. But where does the smart money go?
A lot can happen in twenty-four hours. And indeed a genre-shifting amount has come to pass since yesterday in the frenetic world of graphics cards.
As ever, it all comes down to money.
In light of AMD's impending launch of it's second-generation DX11 graphics card, Nvidia slashed the prices of its GTX 460 and GTX 470 graphics cards. AMD then launched its 6870 and 6850, quickly followed by a similar slashing of its pricing.
This has meant there is a surprising gamut of prices being charged for the 6850 – ranging from £133 up to £159. For this reason we've held off on our 6850 review until now, as we're sure that the dust is finally starting to settle.
AMD is pitching the Radeon HD 6850 as "the best performing graphics card in the sub-$200 budget." In other words pricing is absolutely key to the very reason for this card.
The problem is, thanks to Nvidia's shenanigans, it's finding itself squeezed from above and below, trapped (price-wise at least) between the 768MB rendition of Nvidia's GTX 460 (available for as little as £117) and the full 1GB variant.
It needs to pull some serious magic out of its svelte silicon to compete there.
The AMD Radeon HD 6850 doesn't boast a completely new core though, more of a revamped version of the Cypress core, as found in the HD 5850.
Codenamed Barts Pro, the 6850's core has 960 stream processors, running at 775MHz. That's two-thirds of the shaders you'll find in the 5850, a difference the 50MHz faster clock speed is ill-equipped to make up.
The fact that AMD can run this core at higher clock speeds is due to a smaller die-size, 255mm2 as opposed to the 334mm2 found on the previous generation. You do get the full 32 ROPS mind, plus a slightly overhauled tessellation engine that improves performance at the more reasonable tessellation factors.
The 6870 and 6850 boast a new anti-aliasing mode too, termed MorphoLogical Anti-aliasing, or MLAA for short.
The interesting thing here is that it uses DirectCompute to process the full scene after it has been rendered, to produce results similar to 4x MSAA but faster and at a reduced memory footprint. There have been some improvements to the anistropic filtering engine too to smooth the transition between different levels of detail to reduce the effects of stepping.
Subtle improvements then, but improvements all the same.
In terms of the core specification then, the AMD Radeon HD 6850 (note that dropping of the ATI branding, it's not a mistake) ships at a core frequency of 775MHz coupled with 1GB of GDDR5 running at 1,000MHz (effectively 4GHz).
You'll need a single six-pin power cable for this dual-slot card, and you're good to go.
You can expect card manufacturers to produce overclocked, non-reference design versions from the get-go too.
The Radeon HD 6850 has been blessed by some last minute price shuffling to make it a much more interesting proposition that it was initially (AMD has shaved £30 off the price of the card).
Even so, against the slightly more affordable GTX 460 768MB it struggles to impress in our tests – losing out in our top three benchmarks.
Only the Heaven 2.0 benchmark really puts the card in a good light, thanks to the improved tessellation engine. All benchmarks ran at 1,680 x 1,050 and the highest settings.
DirectX 11 Tessellation Performance
DirectX 11 Gaming Performance
DirectX 10 Gaming Performance
The AMD Radeon HD 6850 isn't quite the must-buy card that we expected it to be, especially at its initial pricing. Now that the dust has settled a little on the pricing front it's a much a more interesting prospect, producing playable frame rates at what would have been the sweet spot for most gamers only a few days ago.
It's certainly not the worst graphics option out there.
Graphics cards aren't released into a vacuum though, and you're spoiled for choice if you've got between £100 and £150 to spend on your next graphics card.
The 6850 finds itself sandwiched between the two 460s, which makes for some tricky comparisons. It's not woefully out-matched, but those that can afford the shift up to a 1GB GTX 460 will reap the benefits, whilst a £20 saving and plumping for the 768 version produces similar performance.
Ultimately, which card you go for it largely defined by the value you place on the likes of Physx, CUDA and Eyefinity.
The spectre of Cayman-powered Radeon 6900s isn't a direct threat to the 6850, as such cards will undoubtedly appear north of the £200 barrier. Even so, their release may have Nvidia cutting into its margins yet again, something that the 6850 looks ill-placed to weather.
We liked:
Rolls in at the right price point (eventually), producing playable framerates in most recent games.Power consumption is low, as is noise production – although under full load it does reach a heady 81oC on the stock cooler.
We disliked:
Value for money lags behind the GeForce GTX 460s, and in straight cash terms a better bargain can be had in the form of the 768MB GTX 460.The reduced shader count affects raw performance too much, especially given the marginal frequency increase over its predecessors.
Related Links
 |  |
Read More ...
Last day for Windows XP preloads arrives
Today (22 October) is the final day that PC makers can pre-load Windows XP on to computers.This marks the end of an era for an OS which stood the test of time, mainly because its successor, Windows Vista, was royally criticised for not actually being very good.
This meant that many stuck to Windows XP instead of updating.
According to NPR, OEMs were told back in 2008 that 22 October would be the last day that Windows XP would be allowed on to new computers – a date which also happens to be the one-year birthday of Windows 7.
Still supported
Windows XP was launched nine years ago and while it is not being put on to new computers, as long as you have the most up-to-date version of the software (service pack 3) then the bods at Windows will still support the OS.
In fact it will keep supporting Windows XP all the way up to 2014.
That said, Microsoft recently announced that its latest version of its web browser, Internet Explorer 9, will not run on XP.
| |
Read More ...
In Depth: Can Nvidia compete with AMD's new graphics chips?
Has Nvidia got anything that can possibly compete with AMD's new Radeon HD 6000 graphics chips? AMD is currently in launch mode with its second generation DX11 GPUs and the pressure is on Nvidia to respond.For now, Nvidia retains the top spot in terms of single-GPU 3D performance. Initially, AMD is not launching the flagship chip of the new Radeon HD 6000 series. Instead, the first GPUs out of the gate will be the Radeon HD 6850 and 6870. And although very powerful, they won't threaten Nvidia's GeForce GTX 480.
However, in November the new Radeon HD 6970 arrives. It looks sure to blow the GTX 480 away. How will Nvidia respond?
The most obvious answer is simply to release a full 512-shader version of the Fermi chip, aka the GF100, as found in existing GeForce GTX 480 boards. Regular TechRadar readers will recall existing GTX 480 boards make do with 480 shaders. The GF100 packs 512 shaders, but the remainder are disabled for reasons involving power consumption and Nvidia's production yields.
Switch on those shaders
Anyway, switching on all the shaders may seem like a no brainer. But here's the rub. It would only add up to a seven per cent increase in shaders. What's more, the impact of enabling those shaders in GF100 is said to be punitive in terms of power consumption. Very likely, it would take any graphics card based on GF100 over the 300W limit required for compliance with the PCI E graphics specifications.
Anyway, if the rumours are to be believed, Nvidia's yields are so low it may not have enough chips with 512 functioning shaders for a proper product launch. No, if Nvidia wants seize back the performance crown it so cherishes from the upcoming Radeon HD 6970, it needs a new flasghip GPU. That's exactly what's thought to be coming in the form of a chip currently known as GF110 and likely to be sold as the GeForce GTX 580.
At this point, we need to issue a health warning. Even by the usual standards of upcoming graphics chips, the rumours surrounding GF110 are exceptionally sketchy and self contradictory. However, as the codename suggests, it's not a major new architecture, rather a refresh of Nvidia's existing Fermi architecture.
The picture of GF110 that most frequently emerges looks something like this. The key feature everyone wants to know is the shader count and the figure that keeps popping up is 512. Yup, the same as the existing GF100. If that seems disappointing, further details provide a little context.
Texture tally
The texture count is widely expected to hit 128, more than double the 60 texture units of GF100. The memory bus of GF110 is also for the up, growing in width from 384 bits to 512 bits. What these specifications don't capture is the detail changes Nvidia may make to the chip's internals.
GF100 has problems in terms of thermals, efficiency and die size. It's a big old bruiser. Nvidia addressed some of these issues when it shrunk GF100 down to create the smaller GF104 GPU found in GeForce GTX 460 boards.
In fact, for GF104 Nvidia made the bold step of chopping out some of Fermi's general-purpose computing capabilities. If Nvidia really wants to maximise performance in the short run, it probably has to do the same thing with GF110.
It will be a bit humiliating, given the hype Nvidia attaches to the general purpose computing capabilities of its top chips. But it will make for a more efficient, effective GPU in applications that really count for big GPUs, games.
More to the point, streamlining the GF110 might just allow Nvidia to up the graphics performance without breaching that 300W PCI E barrier. After all, Nvidia is stuck with 40nm production technology from Taiwanese chip maker TSMC for the forseeable future.
Performance and efficiency gains courtesy of smaller transistors are not available for GF110, in other words.
Dual-chip alternative
For the sake of completeness, we should also touch on one further whisper doing the rounds. There is talk of a 768-shader GeForce GTX 580. At first glance, a 50 per cent increase in shaders seems impossible in terms of chip size and power consumption. It would simply be too expensive to make with 40nm silicon.
But what if the GTX 580 was actually a dual-GPU card? What if it was based on two fully-enabled GF104 chips? It would then sport 768 shaders, as well as the magic 128 texture unit figure that keeps popping up and 512 bits of total memory bus width.
It's even possible Nvidia may roll with both products – a quicker high end GPU that might just keep AMD's Radeon HD 6970 honest and a dual-GPU beast designed to be the quickest single card on the market.
But whatever Nvidia goes for, the key remaining question is when? The absolute earliest anything new and powerful from Nvidia is likely to appear is December. We reckon an early 2011 launch is more likely, especially if new silicon is involved. Watch this space.
| |
Read More ...
Exclusive: Orange confirms Samsung Galaxy Tab for 'early November'
Orange has confirmed to TechRadar that it will have the Samsung Galaxy Tab from 'early November'. The network always looked a likely to candidate to offer up the Tab when it launches on 1 November, but Orange has confirmed that this is the case.
"We can confirm we are planning to range the Galaxy Tab in early November," said a spokesperson.
"More details on pricing and availability, which have yet to be announced, will be made nearer the time."
Days away
Nearer the time would be in a matter of days, of course, with the eagerly-anticipated 7-inch Android tablet closing in its high-profile debut.
The Tab is expected to cost around the same as the iPad when it does arrive, but it will be interesting to see what price the networks can get the tablet down to with the various contract that they offer.
O2 are also among the stockists, as are Carphone Warehouse and Vodafone.
The Galaxy Tab runs Android 2.2, weighs in at 380g and the size is supposed to make the tablet more friendly to the pocket.
But the form-factor has already been criticised by Apple supreme Steve Jobs – who suggested that 7 inch tablets were already dead in the water.
| |
Read More ...
Vodafone offer us Nokia N8 and HTC Desire HD
Vodafone has confirmed that it is now offering the Nokia N8 and HTC Desire HD – two of the most desirable handsets around, with the former available in an exclusive green hue from the network. In a short statement Vodafone stated that it would be carrying both the N8 – Nokia's new flagship phone and HTC's Desire HD – a follow up to the immensely popular Desire.
"Vodafone customers can now buy two of the hottest new smartphones on the market, the HTC Desire HD and the Nokia N8, both of which are available now on the UK's best network," said Vodafone,
Desire HD
"The HTC Desire HD is available free on £35, 24 month price plans and customers buying the device online will get 900 minutes (compared to 600 offline) unlimited texts and 750MB (500MB offline) of mobile data," the company added.
"Buying online will also give you 5MB of European roaming data in your bundle.
"The Nokia N8 is the first smartphone to be based on the Symbian^3 software platform and is free on £30, 24 month price plans, including 300 minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB of mobile data.
"The N8 is available exclusively in green to Vodafone customers."
| |
Read More ...
Microsoft sells 240 million Windows 7 licences in first year
Microsoft is celebrating Windows 7's first birthday this week, revealing that there have so far been 240 million Windows 7 licences sold.This impressive number is made more impressive with the news that this makes Windows 7 the fastest selling OS ever.
The operating system, according to Microsoft, is on 97 per cent of new PCs and it has 17 per cent of the global OS market share.
Windows 7 Family Pack
A blog has been released celebrating the birthday and it has some, er, interesting facts and figures in it.
Did you know that Windows 7 users have used Jump Lists 339,129,958 times in the last month? Nope, we didn't know that either.
And apparently Aero Snap has been used 150,957,478 times in the last month as well. Who'd have thought it?
Microsoft has also announced a new addition to its Windows 7 range - Windows 7 Family Pack. This allows the OS to be installed on three PCs in a household.
The Windows 7 Family Pack is available now for £149.99.
| |
Read More ...
Microsoft sells 240 million Windows 7 licenses in first year
Microsoft is celebrating Windows 7's first birthday this week, revealing that there have so far been 240 million Windows 7 licenses sold.This impressive number is made more impressive with the news that this makes Windows 7 the fastest selling OS ever.
The operating system, according to Microsoft, is on 97 per cent of new PCs and it has 17 per cent of the global OS market share.
Windows 7 Family Pack
A blog has been released celebrating the birthday and it has some, er, interesting facts and figures in it.
Did you know that Windows 7 users have used Jump Lists 339,129,958 times in the last month? Nope, we didn't know that either.
And apparently Aero Snap has been used 150,957,478 times in the last month as well. Who'd have thought it?
Microsoft has also announced a new addition to its Windows 7 range - Windows 7 Family Pack. This allows the OS to be installed on three PCs in a household.
The Windows 7 Family Pack is available now for £149.99.
| |
Read More ...
Tutorial: How do I connect my laptop to my TV?
The question of connecting your laptop to your TV is one we're often asked, so we thought we'd put together the definitive guide to viewing and listening to all that media on your television.We'll look at ways of connecting to the latest flatscreen sets as well as older CRT models, plus investigate wireless options, including streaming content from your laptop to your TV via your network.
How do I connect my laptop to my TV with S-Video?
The S-Video port is found on most laptops with TV-out functions, and can connect your laptop to both analogue and digital TVs.
It doesn't provide High Definition (HD) quality, and only carries the video signal, so you'll also need to hook up a separate audio cable - typically from your laptop's 3.5mm headphone jack - to the audio inputs on your TV.
Your TV will need one of two things: either separate S-Video and phono audio ports, typically found on the front of the TV, or a SCART socket found on the back. You'll then need to purchase an S-Video cable of suitable length such as this 2m cable, along with a suitable audio cable. If necessary, you can then purchase a SCART adapter to connect the cables to your TV.
DOUBLE UP: You'll need two cables - one for audio and one for video - if connecting via S-Video
How do I connect my laptop to my TV with a VGA cable?
Most laptops offer a VGA output, ostensibly to hook up to a monitor, but it can also be used to connect to a suitable TV too: some flatscreen models come with the requisite VGA socket, in which case a standard VGA cable coupled with an audio cable (see above) will be sufficient - if you're lucky, you can view HD content this way.
If your TV doesn't have a VGA input, then you'll need to purchase a converter box to take the VGA signal and convert it into S-Video. This is an expensive option (£83 from Lindy, for example) that only produces so-so quality on a par with S-Video connections.
ANALOGUE: Older laptops should offer at least one analogue video option - usually S-Video or VGA
How do I connect my laptop to my TV using HDMI?
If both your laptop and TV have HDMI ports, then this is the most convenient solution that produces the best quality: HDMI supports HD resolutions, and carries both audio and video signals in a single cable. Prices start at just £4 for a 2-metre cable. You can also purchase HDMI-to-DVI-D cables for a premium if your TV only has a DVI-D port.
However, in some cases with older laptops you may need to use a 3.5mm audio cable in conjunction with the HDMI cable to get the audio to work, especially if your TV only has a DVI-D port.
EASY OPTION: HDMI is the simplest and best quality option if both your laptop and TV have the required port [image credit: Wikipedia]
How do I connect my laptop to my TV using Windows 7?
Connecting your laptop to your TV with the right cable is often only half the battle. You also need to switch your TV's channel to the input you're using, plus configure your laptop to re-route its display through the TV. This may happen automatically, but if it doesn't you have two things to try.
First, look for a monitor icon on a function key - pressing this will cycle through the available display options. Failing that, right-click the desktop and select Screen Resolution to detect and select your TV's display.
SET DISPLAY: Set up your laptop's connection to your TV from the Display Settings Control Panel
How do I connect my laptop to my TV wirelessly?
You have a number of options here. You could opt to wirelessly transmit the signal from your laptop to TV via its USB port. Q-Waves Wireless USB AV Kit costs around £90. The receiver plugs into a HDMI or VGA port on your TV. Its range is 10 metres, but only works when the receiver and sender are in line of sight, effectively restricting your laptop to the same room as your TV.
An alternative is to invest in some kind of media player, which sits on top of the TV. If your budget is tight, and you don't mind transferring your video, audio and photos to a USB flash drive or external hard drive, the Western Digital Mini Media Player is a good option at just £25.
£85 buys you the WD TV HD Live Media Player which can also connect to the internet or your network via a wired Ethernet port (wireless is only possible with an additional adapter) to deliver content from your laptop or supported websites like YouTube and Flickr.
Other models cost more, but bundle additional content - to see what's out there, check out our media streamer reviews.
WIRELESS: Q-Waves Wireless USB AV Kit allows you to transmit your laptop's signal wirelessly to your TV
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |
Read More ...
Microsoft unveils all-new Games for Windows Marketplace
Microsoft has announced a new PC game store – with a relaunched Games for Windows Marketplace representing a key move from the software giant.Microsoft has been under considerable pressure from the PC gaming world to show its support of the platform, with the perception that its Xbox business had stolen focus.
With Fable 3 on the horizon, Microsoft has now announced that it is intending to 'make buying great PC games easier than ever' with the introduction of a new Games for Windows Marketplace.
Steamalike
The service will, of course, draw comparisons with Steam - the offering from Valve that has become a central hub for PC gaming whilst Microsoft snoozed.
"With Games for Windows Marketplace, we set out to create a digital store built for PC gamers end-to-end," said Kevin Unangst, Senior Global Director, PC and Mobile Gaming, at Microsoft.
"And by integrating with our existing Xbox LIVE and Windows Live services, we've made it easier than ever for millions of gamers to see for themselves how easy buying PC games can be."
Microsoft recently announced that its push for PCs would be spearheaded by Fable 3 (which will be released first on Xbox), Age of Empires Online and Microsoft Flight.
That announcement was greeted with a fair amount of scorn from the PC gaming world – so it remains to be seen if the US giant is already facing an uphill battle.
"After years of failing to turn Games for Windows Live into a useful service to gamers, people are going to be sceptical of anything Microsoft try to do in the same space, said PC Gamer's Graham Smith.
"It's nice that they're trying, but with Steam already at 30 million registered users, they've a long way to go to catch up."
| |
Read More ...
Buying Guide: What's the best Acer laptop?
It can be hard to choose which laptop to buy, but once you've found the brand you want then what next? If you've settled on an Acer, then you're probably wondering what the best Acer laptop is for your budget. Here we've gathered together the top models for your delectation.
But if you don't want to buy a Acer Aspire, check our 20 best laptops in the world piece. If it's an Acer Aspire One netbook you want, look at our 15 best netbooks.
1. Acer Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn
The Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn strikes a nice balance between power and mobility and has a lot to offer for such a low price. Built around a 15.6-inch screen, the 2.6kg chassis is nice and light for its size. While its 207-minute battery life is slightly bettered by the HP 620, it provides adequate mobility for commuting or use around the home.
Read our Acer Aspire 5551-P32G32Mn review
2. Acer Aspire 5810TG-354G32Mn
The Aspire 5810TG-354G32Mn is one of its more portable machines and offers stunning graphics power, but proves unfortunately limited in some key areas. More pleasingly, build quality is excellent and up to Acer's usual standards. The resilient plastics and gun-metal colour scheme create a high-quality feel that belies the low price tag. All panels are firmly fixed, so this is a machine that is sure to withstand the test of time.
Read our Acer Aspire 5810TG-354G32Mn review
3. Acer Aspire 7740
The Aspire 7740 boasts a rather mammoth 17.3-inch screen in proper 16:9 format. That means a pleasing 1,600 x 900 native desktop resolution, perfect for those widescreen cinema classics. The panel is only powered by Intel's latest mobile Arrandale Core i3 processor's integrated graphics, though. In 3D terms, then, you're getting a bit of a raw deal. But in terms of HD playback you're not going to be left wanting.
Read our Acer Aspire 7740 review
4. Aspire 5745PG-354G32Mn
The Aspire 5745PG-354G32Mn is one of the latest and it's an excellent machine that's hard to fault. Build quality is strong, with a solid chassis that's one of the sturdiest we have seen at this price. Design is minimal but sleek, with a glossy black lid and brushed aluminium finish on the palmrests.
Read our Aspire 5745PG-354G32Mn review
5. Acer Aspire TimelineX 4820TG-5454G50Mn
Acer's range of TimelineX laptops is built predominantly for consumers seeking performance and portability. To this end, the Aspire TimelineX 4820TG-5454G50Mn proves to be a great consumer option with its impressive power and stunning design.
Read our Acer Aspire TimelineX 4820TG-5454G50Mn review
Don't forget to check out our 20 best laptops in the world piece. Or, if it's a netbook you want, our 15 best netbooks.
| |
Read More ...
Adobe offers up HTML5 to Flash video tool
Adobe has announced a tool that will 'shift gracefully' from HTML5 to Flash, when the former's Many, including Apple's Steve Jobs, view the rise of HTML5 as the beginning of the end for Flash, but Adobe is keen to downplay this.
To that end, Adobe have announced a tool that it says will help out with the 'limited browser support' for the HTML5
Buzz
"HTML5 has received a tremendous amount of buzz, much of it driven by the potential for plugin-free video," said Adobe.
"However, the limited browser support for the HTML5
"To help customers overcome these challenges, Adobe has released an easy-to-use, totally CSS-customizable solution that shifts gracefully from the HTML5
"The shift takes place regardless of the screen - from phone to monitor to TV."
Adobe is expected to announce Air 2.5 soon, and has recently been in secret talks with Microsoft, fuelling suggestions of a possible buyout.
| |
Read More ...
Review: Meridian 808.3 Signature Reference CD player
Meridian has been at the forefront of CD player technology since 1984 and the 808.3 Signature Reference is its flagship disc spinner, so no digital stone has been left unturned in the quest to make its third incarnation the ultimate. As early pioneers in technology to reduce the 'ringing effect' of conventional digital filters, the 808.3 makes use of the latest apodising filters and resolution enhancement DSP technology.
Equally significant for Meridian devotees is the 808.3's ability to operate as a bridge or front end for a Sooloos digital media system and to send a digital signal to a pair of Meridian active DSP loudspeakers.
The finishing touch is that this is not just a CD player, it's also a preamplifier with digital and analogue inputs.
Cutting edge
The 808.3 looks pretty much like its predecessor, so we asked Meridian's Bob Stuart what had changed since the 808.2. He said that having developed the apodising filter – one that's designed to eliminate pre-ringing in both the digital signal being read off the disc and the ringing produced by filters in the original recording – the software was totally revised in the original 808.
For the 808.3, Meridian has revised all the hardware that runs that software. So the DSP (digital signal processor) remains the same, but the analogue and digital outputs are new and the reference oscillators or clocks have been totally redesigned.
This player still uses a three-stage FIFO clock circuit, but it's a totally new one. Even the transport has been changed to a CD-ROM drive made specifically for Meridian by TEAC, so although an upgrade will be available to take 808.2 players to 808.3 status, it will be a relatively expensive one.
The other significant change is that unlike the earlier version, the new player has a Sooloos board installed as standard, making this machine the highest-resolution playback device available for Meridian's media player. The Sooloos card will play files at up to 24-bit/96kHz, but more importantly, it means that it's possible to compare CD and streamed files on a level playing field, which makes it pretty well unique.
Having spent a lot of time with high-resolution audio developing MLP for DVD-Audio, Meridian has been working on ways to get a hi-res result from CD because of its massive depth of catalogue – after all, no other 'decent' format comes close.
For this purpose the 808.3's transport employs a multiple pass ROM drive, in order to recover as much data as it can and uses the aforementioned triple-stage clock circuit to bring jitter levels down to vanishing levels. It then upsamples CD's 44.1kHz to 176.4 and uses its apodising filter to remove any pre-echo or ring with minimum phase.
To say that this player is a technical tour-de-force is an understatement, it is bleeding-edge, state-of-the-art. In terms of the user interface, it's not entirely conventional, either.
There is, for instance, no 'on' button. Instead you need to select play or eject from the front panel or choose your source from the enormous, button-festooned, desk-top style remote. Given the level of technology it controls, a touchscreen handset would seem more appropriate.
You can, however, change the legends by changing the buttons on the handset. You can also operate the preamp from the unit itself by opening a flap above the control keys.
The back panel is quite involved too, with unconventionally arrayed analogue inputs lacking even the usual red and white channel indicators.
First class
The 808.3 is not built in the usual high-end style, there are no elaborately machined slabs of aluminium nor dangerously spiked feet, construction is more akin to the interior of a plush car. There are three standard finishes, plus a range of Meridian Select colours.
This sets the player apart from the crowd, although due to its size we couldn't fit it into the slots on our rack, so it had to sit on top. But build is clearly first class and flexibility in a different league to most – you'd have to look to Naim's HDX or the Resolution Audio Cantata to come close.
But that flexibility is a good deal more useful in a full Meridian system than elsewhere; few others make active speakers with a digital input for instance. While it is fully equipped for custom install and the Meridian Sooloos media player, it doesn't have anything as basic as a USB input, so you are stuck with relatively expensive routes on the streaming front.
That said, this is not a budget product. It is designed to work in high-end systems be they of the same make or otherwise. In the latter case, the onboard preamplifier is very useful, with its six analogue and five digital inputs it is better equipped than many standalone preamps.
It's slew of Meridian-specific features makes it hard to put a value on in terms of features and build per pound, but you are undoubtedly getting top-notch technology for your money and a system that is as future-proofed as they come.
Unmasked
Once warmed up, the 808.3 bathes you in detail whatever the disc and the better the recording, the richer the soundstage becomes. Keith Jarrett's Jasmine is a simple piano and double bass recording, but the sound it reveals is almost orchestral when the full harmonic structure of each instrument is exposed. It is also great to be able to enjoy the subtleties of timing that the two musicians display so fully, this player is nothing if not great at revealing fine detail.
This applies to spatial information too, you can hear all the phase shifts on Radiohead's In Rainbows, the degree of manipulation of which being far more extreme and dynamic than most players let you hear.
Swapping from the RCA phono to XLR balanced outputs gives you more power and even great image depth with no apparent trade-off so this is the way to hook up the player if you have the option. The more we listened, the more we heard with this player, it's uncannily good at exposing the notes that other players can't reach – sounds that are usually masked by louder ones in the mix being particularly apparent.
It also allows you to pick out individual instruments or voices and follow them alone or to listen to the music as a whole which is a very good sign. With Kraftwerk's Tour de France, the vocal is etched into the air between the speakers, shaped and focussed to a degree that's not often encountered and this reveals a lot about the quality of recording in the first place.
What's perhaps even more impressive is the way this player deals with less spectacular recordings. Metallica's Black album is quite a nasty-sounding lump, but the 808.3 manages to distract you with some of the most formidable bass on record. It can't remove the excessive compression, but does highlight the way that the drums were recorded for maximum buttkickage and sifts out the many layers of guitar overdubs used to create the 'thickener' effect that proved so influential.
Small minority
The above results were achieved in a system fronted by PMC fact 8 speakers and powered by a Gamut D200 MkIII power amplifier using the 808.3's onboard preamp.
Moving the player into another system with ATC active speakers proved less successful, because the Meridian didn't play to that system's skills of dynamics and timing, but it made the most open sound that this system has yet produced with CD. Which proves that however good a source is, it needs the right ancillaries to be able to strut its stuff.
In some ways, the 808.3 is a player for the intellect more than the emotions, its sheer resolution can distract you from the tune, but it keeps you fascinated and allows you to enjoy the older and less sonically appealing albums in your collection.
If you want to hear precisely what's going on in a composition and enjoy an uncannily open soundstage then the Meridian 808.3 is in a very small minority of top-notch players.
Related Links
| |
Read More ...
Acer leapfrogs HP to top EMEA PC rankings
Acer has regained the top spot ahead of Hewlett Packard for computer shipments in Europe, the Middle East and Africa – although it actually sold less units in the key Western European market. Acer and HP have battled it out for top spot in the past year, and it was the former's performance (60 per cent growth) in central and eastern Europe (CEE) that allowed it to take top spot – despite IDC describing it as a 'soft quarter overall' for the vendor.
HP also made gains in the CEE region, with a 45 per cent growth, but also struggled in Western Europe.
Dell bounce
Interestingly, an impressive bounce-back from Dell saw it actually grow in Western Europe – recording a 12.2 per cent increase in shipments to the EMEA region as a whole.
Asus and Lenovo also recorded what IDC described as 'a solid performance' with the former logging an impressive 26.8 per cent growth year on year and the latter notching up a huge 61 per cent growth.
"Beyond the Top 5 – Toshiba displayed softer results overall, which contributed to push the vendor to sixth position, but lined up a strong performance in the CEE and MEA regions, while Samsung and Apple continued to deliver strong performances and gain share in the consumer space in particular, added IDC's report.
"Samsung continued to gain share in Western Europe, but the largest push this quarter was seen in the CEE region, while Apple benefited this quarter from additional momentum around the iPad and Apple branding, which contributes to support demand for Apple products."
| |
Read More ...
Review: Leema Stream III and Pulse III
It's been over two years since Leema Acoustics introduced its entry level Stream CD player and Pulse amplifier, so it's not surprising that such a technologically savvy company would consider the time right for a revision. What was unexpected is the degree to which they have changed in appearance. Not only do they come in a range of colours, but the Leema Stream III CD player now has a slot in place of a drawer, digital in and outputs (including USB) and a brand new DAC.
The Leema Pulse III amp has sprouted an array of digital inputs and an MM/MC phono stage alongside its analogue inputs and is ready for virtually any source you'd care to throw at it.
And in true Leema style, both components can be run as one using its LIPS comms bus. The controls have changed, too, instead of regular keys we now have the Navimech, a long name for a circle of five buttons. But why has Leema moved to a III suffix?
Slots a fun
Apparently there was a Stream II in between this model and the original, so logically this should be Stream III and Pulse II but that makes for confusing marketing, so they are now both III.
So what's changed apart from the casework? Well the slot will give you a clue that the disc drive is new and has a new servo to match, this being controlled by custom firmware. It feeds Leema's new Quad DAC which comprises a Wolfson receiver designed to minimise jitter and the company's favoured Crystal CS434x converters.
Leema's Mal Nicholls is particularly pleased with this DAC, because its de-jittering skills are applied to all the digital inputs. He reckons that this factor brings the quality available from optical connections in line with those from coaxial ones which are traditionally the best-sounding.
The minimalist button array on the player's Navimech is not the most conventional, nor the easiest to use because there are none of the usual symbols to denote functions due to each button being multipurpose. The supplied remote also eschews symbols, but is easier to read.
The array of digital connections on the back of the Stream player includes three S/PDIF outputs and one input in coaxial form. It also has a USB output which is something of a rare beast. It's included so that you can make high-quality rips from CD to a PC. Leema recommends Audacity software for this purpose.
The Pulse amp also incorporates a DAC, but the USB connection here is the more conventional bi-directional variety that accepts signals from a computer. According to Mal this is not the usual and fashionable asynchronous variety of USB, but the Wolfson receiver does brings jitter down to levels associated with conventional digital connections. It's only limitation is that the Burr-Brown USB receiver only offers a sample rate up to 48kHz.
The Pulse III amplifier also has a revised power supply, which is said to offer improved transient current capability. It's still specified as 80 watts (into eight ohms) and nearly double that into four, which is a healthy rating and about par for the price.
What is above par is the range of inputs on offer – not only are there the four digital inputs, but there are five analogue inputs as well. Of these, AV direct is a unity gain input for an external AV processor and AUX/MP3 is an either/or shared input between the front and rear sockets which effectively gives you a sixth input.
The phono stage, which accepts both MM and MC cartridges, has benefited from refinements trickled down from Leema's Element phono stage.
Finally, there are the previously mentioned comms link LIPS connectors, which allows one component to control others in the system. This system allows the Stream to control volume, input selection and on/off in the Pulse.
For example, if you are using another input, say tuner, and want to play a CD, simply pressing play will select the CD input on Pulse, set the volume to the default minimum and place the player in play. If you then select another input, the CD will stop automatically. LIPS naturally gets more useful the more Leema components you use.
Cool casework
The paint finish was chosen to keep costs down but it makes for a very smart-looking chassis, the sculpted lines and coherence of the controls bringing the two units into strong aesthetic union.
The tiny display is not the easiest to interpret, however, because Leema has had to use some unusual abbreviations to fit certain messages in, but the every day ones are pretty clear. What's less useful is that the Stream display will only show elapsed track time and not track number whilst in play. On a long disc especially, the latter would be more useful and we're surprised that there isn't the option to display it.
The sheer array of inputs in both number and type is spectacular and should keep the most technophilic enthusiast happy for years to come.
Two-way street
The presence of the same DAC in both components means that you can compare the analogue with the digital input from the Stream via the Pulse and this was duly tried. Once we had got used to the way the amp drops volume when changing inputs (a rather irritating 'safety' feature) it became apparent that the two approaches are very close, but that a digital connection made with a good quality Chord Signature cable has the upper hand when it comes to fine detail and bass power.
In theory, the analogue connection should be better as the CD player has the better DAC, so cabling could be the key here. Both routes deliver a superbly timed and precisely focused sound that can easily distract from the important business of reviewing.
The Stream is a very engaging player, its ergonomics may not be that fabulous, but such foibles are soon forgotten once it has a good disc in its slot. It produces palpable depth and body in the context of an open, transparent presentation that makes the most of fine recordings.
Josephine Cronholme's Your Wild Garden is one such piece and the way that her crystalline voice is placed solidly between the speakers is entrancing. The player is precise without being edgy, in fact it's relaxed and natural-sounding and while it doesn't have the dynamic thrills of our more expensive reference its refinement is unusually high.
The Pulse has a little more character, inasmuch as its presentation is slightly restrained and a little over-smoothed compared to dearer alternatives. This gives imaging more focus than usual, but also holds back the full scale of the recording's acoustic.
On the flipside it means that less refined discs sound just that little bit cleaner, which can be a bonus if your musical tastes are catholic.
There's plenty of detail, too, it's presented in a coherent and timely fashion so that the music comes first, but if you want to listen into the mix there's plenty to find.
In order to get an idea of how well Leema has executed the USB input, we hooked up a laptop using both USB and TOSLINK optical cables and persuaded the PC to swap between the two. The difference was negligible, whereas the last time we tried this the result was night and day in favour of the TOSLINK connection.
The phono stage was also put through its paces with a low-output moving coil cartridge. The gain had to be turned up pretty high, but it delivers a fine, low noise result, nonetheless.
We had the opportunity to listen to the Stream in a completely different system and indulged in some of the more challenging selections from Frank Zappa's back catalogue. This further enhanced the impression of musicality that the player gave with its partnering amp, by delivering a well-articulated, invigorating and musically engaging version of events.
Polished performers
This pairing looks good, is clearly well made and offers great flexibility in terms of integration with other sources of both hi-fi and computer persuasions. But most importantly it lets the music transport you.
Its timing skills, in particular, are very strong and this combined with a polished presentation makes for highly engaging home entertainment.
Of the pair the Stream III seems slightly the stronger, but they work extremely well together and this, combined with their range of inputs, helps them raise the bar in this sector.
Related Links
| |
Read More ...
Buying Guide: What's the best Sony laptop?
It can be hard to choose which laptop to buy, but once you've found the brand you want then what next? If you've settled on a Sony, then you're probably wondering what the best Sony laptop is for your budget. Here we've gathered together the top models for your delectation.
But if you don't want to buy a Sony Vaio, check our 20 best laptops in the world piece.
1. Sony VAIO VPC-EB1Z0E/B
With a Blu-ray drive and 1080p Full HD screen, there's no lack of multimedia power in this great 15-inch laptop. It's not just good for play, though. The brilliant keyboard makes typing on this Sony a breeze.
Read our full Sony VAIO VPC-EB1Z0E/B review
2. Sony VAIO VPC-EC2SOE/ WI
The VPC-EC2SOE/ WI offers great everyday performance, excellent usability and a healthy features list. A more powerful graphics card would have made this an unstoppable force, but don't let that bother you unduly if you're not a gamer.
Read our full Sony VAIO VPC-EC2SOE/ WI review
3. Sony VAIO VPCF12M0E/B
Combining stunning performance, great usability and HD features, the VPCF12M0E/B is a fantastic machine at this price. Costing hundreds less than some equivalent laptops, it stands head and shoulders above the competition.
Read our full Sony VAIO VPCF12M0E/B review
4. Sony VAIO VPC-Z12V9E/X
The VPCZ12V9E/X is a winning combination of style, power and chic design quality in a stunning ultraportable package. With Intel's Core i7 technology providing the best performance we've seen to date, this is easily one of the best laptops you can currently buy if you can afford it.
Read our full Sony VAIO VPC-Z12V9E/X review
5. Sony VAIO VPCZ11Z9E/B
The slim, lightweight VPCZ11Z9E/Bpacks a Core i7 processor and 6GB of DDR3 RAM into one neat package. Its discrete graphics card means it's even suitable for gaming. While the price is high, there's no doubt that this ultraportable laptop sits comfortably among the upper echelons of the current market.
Read our full Sony VAIO VPCZ11Z9E/Breview
Don't forget to check out our 20 best laptops in the world piece. Or, if it's a netbook you want, our 15 best netbooks.
| |
Read More ...
IDC: iPad has slowed down European netbook sales
Slowing netbook sales and the rise of media tablets like the Apple iPad have had a huge impact on the key Western European PC market, with just half a per cent in growth from 2009's third quarter. The European, Middle East and African regions have seen a 10.5 per cent increase in PC shipments in the past three months, but the lucrative Western European market has slowed to just 0.5 per cent growth, year on year.
PC sales have been watched carefully during the credit crunch – with one of the most important areas in technology providing an interesting look at consumer spending.
And according to the latest figures from IDC, the market is still growing with shipments up to 27.8 million PCs in the third quarter of 2010.
Mini-notebook
However, the good news is tempered by the revelation that what IDC terms 'mini-netbook' sales have dropped by a quarter.
"After robust trends in 1H10 [the first half of the year], growth in Western Europe slowed to single-digits, with shipment levels recording a flat 0.5% growth year on year," said IDC.
"The deceleration was directly impacted by weaker than expected mini notebook demand, which led to a 25 per cent drop in shipment levels.
"Demand for netbooks had already started to slow down in prior quarters, but the arrival of new media tablets contributed to shifting interest further away and accelerated the trend."
Apple to blame?
IDC's decision to point the finger at the tablet is an interesting one, with suggestions that the Apple iPad has led a move away from the traditional laptop market.
"Mini notebooks had started to slow down in 1H10, but increasing noise and announcements around Media Tablets have contributed to accelerating the trend, and also impacted notebook renewal intentions from a share of wallet standpoint," said Eszter Morvay, research manager, IDC EMEA PC Tracker.
"Some users already purchased an iPad, and many others adopted a wait and see position as more products develop towards Christmas."
Of course, Apple has just released its most 'mini notebook' with the 11 inch MacBook Air, and Mac sales are buoyant.
| |
Read More ...
ViewSonic 22-inch touchscreen monitor unveiled
ViewSonic has decided that the time is right to get into the touchscreen monitor market, with the announcement of the VX2258wm.This 22-inch monitor has been primed for your fingers – it uses Infrared Optical Imaging technology which apparently provides accurate multi-touch capabilities.
The monitor has 1080p Full HD resolution, built in ClearMotivII Technology and has a dynamic contrast ratio of 100,000:1.
ViewSonic isn't new to touch technology. At this year's IFA it showcased its dual-booting Windows/Android ViewPad 100 touchscreen tablet.
You've got the touch
Although the monitor has been primarily designed for use with Windows, as it's 1080p, Blu-ray discs should look pretty good on it as well.
Just remember to wipe the finger marks off the thing first.
You might want to add a better sound system to the monitor, though, as its in-built speakers are a mere two watts each.
The ViewSonic VX2258wm is available now and costs £189.
| |
Read More ...
Sky rolls out planets to push Sky 3D
Sky has celebrated the arrival of more content for its Sky 3D channel with helium filled representations of our nearest planets and floating them above London's Greenwich Observatory. The stunt was brought about by the arrival of The Universe: 7 Wonders of the SolarSystem, a 3D documentary that will make its bow on Sky 3D soon.
Nine helium balloons styled up as planets from our solar system were floated and illuminated to create a 'unique spectacle'.
Sunday
The documentary will air on Sunday 24 October – and if you can bear the odd over-enthusiastic American scientist is well worth a watch for some cool 3D effects.
"The phenomenal universe we live in has captured the imagination of generations for centuries and we wanted to add yet another dimension," said John Cassy, Sky 3D's Channel Director.
"It's taken a team of 17 people over 100 hours to recreate the Solar System over the London skyline, with the impressive Jupiter dominating this celebration of The Universe on Sky 3D."
The Sky 3D channel is available at no extra cost to Sky's top-level package subscribers, and showcases sport, arts and 3D movies.
| |
Read More ...
Dell XPS laptops boast Skype and 3D functionality
Dell has revealed it has added two new laptops to its XPS range, which come complete with 3D and Skype capabilities.It's the first laptop on the market with Skype certification, according to Dell.
"Providing the ultimate mobile entertainment experience, Dell's family of new XPS laptops deliver pulse pounding JBL and Waves sound design, a cinema-like HD video experience featuring cutting-edge graphics from NVIDIA, and the industry's first Skype-certified laptops with HD video streaming webcams so you can stay close to friends and family," explains the release.
XPS expess
Inside are Intel Core i processors and the latest NVIDIA GeForce 400 series graphics with Optimus technology. The laptops are 3D capable and come equipped with Nvidia's 3DTV Play software
The laptops are available in 15 (XPS 15) and 17-inch (XPS 17) flavours and are said to offer "classic style" but also "premium performance".
The Dell XPS laptops are available now from www.dell.co.uk. Starting prices for the new XPS laptops are: £529 including XPS 15 and £629 for the XPS 17.
| |
Read More ...
Asus unveils EAH6800 graphics cards
Asus has announced its EAH6800 Series graphics cards, using AMD's latest technology. AMD's latest Radeon HD cards have now been announced, and Asus is hoping that its additions to the reference card – like Voltage Tweak – will mark it out in the market.
"Featuring even more processing power than the successful EAH5000 Series of graphics cards, the new ASUS EAH6800 Series continues to serve PC enthusiasts with cutting-edge technology and a range of exclusive performance-boosting improvements to the AMD reference design," said Asus.
EyeFinity
"Both the EAH6850 DirectCU/2DIS/1GD5 and EAH6870/2DI2S/1GD5 cards feature AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology, AMD HD3D technology and DirectX 11 support," the company added.
"In addition, exclusive Voltage Tweak overclocking technology offers a 50 per cent performance boost over the reference design.
"The EAH6850 DirectCU and EAH6870 also ship with factory overclocked cores set to 790MHz and 913MHz."
The EAH6850 DirectCU is apparently factory overclocked to perform at 790MHz a 15MHz increase on the stock performance, and copper heat pipes are also, Asus claims, a significant enhancement on the reference design.
| |
Read More ...
Asus unveiled EAH6800 graphics cards
Asus has announced its EAH6800 Series graphics cards, using AMD's latest technology. AMD's latest Radeon HD cards have now been announced, and Asus is hoping that its additions to the reference card – like Voltage Tweak – will mark it out in the market.
"Featuring even more processing power than the successful EAH5000 Series of graphics cards, the new ASUS EAH6800 Series continues to serve PC enthusiasts with cutting-edge technology and a range of exclusive performance-boosting improvements to the AMD reference design," said Asus.
EyeFinity
"Both the EAH6850 DirectCU/2DIS/1GD5 and EAH6870/2DI2S/1GD5 cards feature AMD Eyefinity multi-display technology, AMD HD3D technology and DirectX 11 support," the company added.
"In addition, exclusive Voltage Tweak overclocking technology offers a 50 per cent performance boost over the reference design.
"The EAH6850 DirectCU and EAH6870 also ship with factory overclocked cores set to 790MHz and 913MHz."
The EAH6850 DirectCU is apparently factory overclocked to perform at 790MHz a 15MHz increase on the stock performance, and copper heat pipes are also, Asus claims, a significant enhancement on the reference design.
| |
Read More ...
Weird Tech: Human LED billboards FTW
People walking around with the Chinese symbol for "cheese" or "horse" tattooed on their arms is bad enough, but now there's a new terrifying way for the underclass to express themselves coming - embedded LED lighting systems. John Rogers and his team at the University of Illinois have been doing their bit for extreme body art by creating waterproof, bendy LEDs, which are soft and durable enough to be inserted under the skin.
TOKYO FLASH: Built-in TV remote controls?
It's a great way for David Beckham to enhance his earnings potential by flashing "GILETTE MACH 3" in red type across his shoulders. The boring, serious medical implications that we feel duty bound to report include making illuminated gloves for surgeons, so they can see what they're doing when wrists-deep inside people's chest cavities.
Blah blah hovercars blah blah jetpacks etc etc
It appears that famed scientist and inventor Ray Kurzweil has been reading a bit too much high concept sci-fi. Speaking at a future-looking event recently, he claimed that we'll soon be able to make "back ups" of our brains, with the required technology to do so hopefully available within the next 20 years.
DUMP: Would quite like to see a video copy of our early teenage sexual fumblings
Bonkers Kurzweil imagines a relatively near future when "thousands of nanobot" machines trawl our bodies, somehow managing to get our experiences and memories out of our brains. And, probably, directly onto Facebook and Twitter.
Money/sense overload error
Notorious gaudy phone customiser and headline grabber Stuart Hughes has really taken it too far this time. He's spurned today's austerity society by somehow managing to create an iPhone with an asking price of five million pounds attached to it - see image above.
The phone has been embedded with around 500 little diamonds. He's also put gold on it, which hopefully won't have too much impact on the phone's already slightly dubious signal quality. And it doesn't come in a box - it'll arrive (at Kanye West's house) in a 7kg carved granite chest. Stuart's making two of them. Stuart's living in hope.
Twitter The Twithog is better
Super Twario, as long as it doesn't get ordered off iTunes by Nintendo before these words hit the internet, is an amazingly clever take on Twitter.
If you find endlessly scrolling down a little old hat, the app takes your Twitter timeline and displays it horizontally - making the act of reading updates about the working days of people you hardly know slightly more fun.
TWARIO WORLD: The game twosts two twollars on twiTunes (the game costs two dollars on iTunes)
It's not just a static list, either - Tweets are scrolled by players/readers tilting the phone, with tapping and swiping helping you race through the "levels" quicker. It's Game Centre enabled so there'll be plenty of Achievements to talk about on Twitter.
| |
Read More ...
HP Slate 500 finally announced
HP has finally taken the wrapper of its tablet device, the HP Slate 500, and announced that it is coming to the US. It's been a long time coming for the HP Slate 500. TechRadar managed to try out a prototype of the device at CES 2010 back in January and it has been 10 long months since that announcement.
The last time we heard something about the HP Slate 500 was when a video of it in action emerged and we were, well, a little underwhelmed.
The tablet is being pitched at business professionals and has been given some modest specs.
Tablet talk
Inside is an Intel 1.86GHz Atom Z540 processor, Graphics Media Accelerator 500 chip, 2GB of RAM and 64GB SSD.
The resolution of the 8.9-inch screen is 1024×600 and thanks to a Broadcom Crystal HD accelerator, it should play hi-def content without a hitch.
There are also two cameras on the HP Slate 500 – a VGA on the front and a 3MP camera on the rear.
The tablet also makes use of a Wacom active digitizer, so the device is primed for note taking and it uses Windows 7 as its OS.
The HP Slate 500 will be available first from the US for $599. A UK release date is not yet set, though. Apparently the Slate will be "evaluated for further market expansion".
So, if you want one, you better hope the US take a shine to the device.
| |
Read More ...
HIS releases Radeon HD 6850 and 6970 graphics cards
HIS has announced its latest HD6850 and HD6870 graphics cards, bringing HD3D, EyeFinity, EyeDefinition and EyeSpeed technology. Hightech Information System's latest offering uses the newly announced AMD HD 6850 and 6870 graphics solution.
"Hightech Information System Limited is proud to unveil the new HIS RadeonTM HD 6850 & 6870 graphics cards," said the HIS release.
Performance experience
"Equipped with HD3D stereoscopic technology and three powerful features - EyeFinity, EyeDefinition and EyeSpeed, the new HIS RadeonTM cards offer an incredible application performance experience and flawless high-resolution imagery for an enhanced gaming experience."
The cards bring HD3D technology – although you will need a pair of HD3D glasses to benefit from two separate beyond-1080p pictures.
The cards are available now for £149.99 for the Radeon HD 6850 and £199.99 for the Radeon HD 6870.
| |
Read More ...
Virgin Media Player app for Nokia N8 unveiled
Virgin Media has announced a new Virgin Media Player app for the Nokia N8 that will allow its customers to "watch their favourite programme" from the company's mobile TV library.Virgin Media also announced the addition of the Nokia N8 to its roster of phones, which will come pre-loaded with the Virgin Media Player app, but is not limiting the application to its mobile customers.
"Virgin Media today announced the addition of the new Nokia N8 to its mobile service," said the company.
Pre-loaded
"The brand-new Nokia N8 is the first handset to come pre-loaded with the 'Virgin Media Player' app which gives customers the ability to watch their favourite programmes from Virgin Media's growing library of mobile TV content whenever they want, wherever they are.
"The Virgin Media Player app will also be available to download free from the Nokia Ovi store for any Nokia N8 customers on any mobile network."
The Virgin Media Player launched earlier this year, but the company is keen to expand the usage and sees the N8 as an ideal device.
Launch partner
Jonathan Kini, director of mobile at Virgin Media said, "The Nokia N8 is a fantastic entertainment handset and the perfect launch partner for our new Virgin Media Player app.
"With more and more consumers enjoying entertainment on the go, the combination of the Virgin Media Player service and the Nokia N8 provide a compelling way for consumers to keep up with their favourite shows as well as enjoy best in class connectivity features to stay in touch with family and friends."
The Nokia N8 will be available for no extra cost on a £40 contract from Virgin Media.
| |
Read More ...
No comments:
Post a Comment