Galaxy Ace surfaces on Samsung site
Samsung Indonesia might finds itself in a bit of trouble with the powers that be after adding the as-yet unannounced Samsung Galaxy Ace (S5830) to its website. The product page features a comprehensive gallery and specifications on the mid-range Android handset, including the fact that it will be running Android 2.2 (Froyo).
The Ace, which will be joining the Samsung Galaxy line-up, features a 3.5-inch touchscreen, 5MP camera with LED flash and an 800MHz processor.
The only card I need is…
With the tag line "Become an Ace", the phone presumably transforms even the basest mobile phone user into a dazzlingly skilled smartphone ninja.
We're assuming that the 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections, FM radio player and Samsung Kies software for syncing the handset somehow help with that.
When it comes to looks, we're sticking by our original assessment that it looks like a cheap iPhone.
All in all, we'd say the Galaxy Ace isn't looking too bad for a 'mini' handset, although we have no information on a UK release date or pricing as yet; we fully expect an official announcement at Mobile World Congress 2011 next month.
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Four games pirated for every one sold in the UK
British games publishing trade organisation UKIE has stated that for every game that is legitimately purchased, four are illegally pirated.UKIE says that, according to one of its members, the pirated-to-officially-bought games ratio is an alarming 4:1, although a spokesperson would not disclose how this figure is broken down by individual format.
Cost to the industry
UKIE also claims that game piracy cost the UK videogame industry a massive £1.45 billion in 2010.
"When people play a pirated game that money goes to a criminal, not to the industry," UKIE director general Michael Rawlinson said this week.
"That takes away jobs from young developers and graphic designers, so it actually stifles creativity and stops new games coming out."
Rawlinson then went on to add that this figure of £1.45 billion was based on a relatively conservative estimate.
"We took a conservative position of saying if this is only 1:1 across all titles it would have a retail equivalent value of £1.45 billion," said the games publishing rep. "We did not say this was the loss to industry.
UKIE is now looking to commission research to find out more about game piracy in the UK and, crucially, how to combat the problem to ensure that game creators and publishers get paid for their work.
The state of game piracy
TechRadar will be speaking with Rawlinson next month to find out more about the state of videogame piracy in the UK and what publishers and developers are doing (or could be doing) to deal with the problem.
Rawlinson said in a press release this week that: "Piracy is theft just like any other. The scale of this problem for our industry is clear: one UKIE member has estimated nearly a 4:1 (illegal:legal) piracy ratio on a 1 million selling game by tracking pirate gameplay.
"Money from piracy goes to criminals and not to local businesses and the UK's economy; it gives gamers sub-standard gaming experiences and it unfairly damages the individuals and small businesses whose hard work creates the games in the first place."
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Solicitors and Pirate Party call for ACS:Law investigation
ACS:Law may have announced that it has stopped sending out letters to suspected file sharers and that it has dropped its cases against 26 people, but it seems the company could be back in court again soon.This time, though, it may be prosecuted over the letters it has sent. That is if the Pirate Party and solicitors firm Ralli has anything to do with it.
According to TechEye, The Pirate Party has called for an investigation into the way ACS:Law conducted its business.
The Pirate Party believes that the European Commission should look into just what went on at the firm and whether directives and regulations on the subject were actually met.
Complex legal principles
Solicitor firm Ralli is also looking into the goings-on at ACS:Law and is advising "hundreds of consumers who allege that letters received from firms alleging copyright infringement amount to harassment".
Michael Forrester of Ralli's intellectual property and IT teams said to TechRadar: "The Court was told yesterday that ACS:Law, GCB Ltd and all other companies have stopped sending out letters to consumers.
"This is a welcome step forward, but we also need some comfort for the many people who have already received a letter and continue to protest their innocence.
"The Court may find a way of permanently stopping these firms from pursuing claims of copyright infringement in this way. We are dealing with cases where consumers have explained how they cannot possibly have uploaded or downloaded copyright protected material, but they are still pursued.
"It can be incredibly upsetting for people to receive these letters and they may well have a claim in harassment, so I am urging them to come forward."
Adding more than a hint of irony to the situation, in ACS:Law's plea to the courts to drop the copyright infringement cases, the boss of the firm, Andrew Crossley, admitted he was also suffering harrassment, notably death threats, bomb threats and email hacks.
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Exclusive: 4G is years rather than months away, says O2
O2 has told TechRadar that a 4G network for the UK is still years rather than months away.While certain areas of the USA and China already enjoy super-speed data and the ability to download high-def video via 4G networks, the UK is lagging behind.
"We're not in a position to outline timing detail on 4G," Tim Sefton, New Business Development Director at O2 UK, said.
"Our first trial in Slough was very successful, and we'll be running more trials over the next 12 months. But we're looking at years rather than months before we'll have a commercial 4G network in the UK."
Spectrum to blame
The delay is due in part to availability of spectrum and, with Ofcom not set to auction additional frequencies until Spring 2012, we could be waiting until 2014 to get in on the 4G action.
On the bright side, O2 reckons its network is pretty robust and, with 4G trials well under way, once the spectrum is finally available O2 should be hot to trot.
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The Social Network up for 8 Oscars
The Social Network has garnered eight Oscar nominations, including four of the major awards in the 2011 Academy Awards.Charting Facebook's rise and rise, the film is up for Best Picture, with David Fincher in the running for Best Director.
Jesse Eisenberg, who plays Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the film, will be fighting it out for Best Actor and Aaron Sorkin also gets a nod for Best Adapted Screenplay.
It's not quite a clean sweep for the Facebook movie though; hardly surprising given the absence of any strong female character to feature in the Best Actress category.
Score!
Its other Academy Award nominations include Best Cinematography, Best Editing and Best Soundmixing, as well as Trent Reznor's soundtrack getting a nomination for Best Score.
The Oscar nominations come as little surprise after The Social Network won three of the major prizes at this year's Golden Globes.
The Social Network faces some stiff competition in each of the major categories though; can the Facebook movie triumph over the likes of Black Swan, True Grit and Toy Story 3?
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Nvidia planning 3D tablet support this spring
A leaked roadmap diagram from Nvidia reveals that 3D tablet PCs should be on the way very soon.The Nvidia roadmap plan clearly shows that the graphics specialist is working on two new additions to its Tegra line of ARM-based chips – specifically, the Tegra 2 3D, and the Tegra 3.
3D tablets on the way
Tegra 2 3D is said to be arriving 'spring 2011' and is a 1.2GHz version of Nvidia's Tegra 2 chip with support for portable 3D displays on tablets and mobile phones.
TechRadar has put a call in to Nvidia UK for further information on its plans for 3D phones and slate PCs.
PC manufacturer LG is rumoured to be preparing a 3D version of its Android-based G-slate tablet, which uses Tegra 2. We've also put a call in to LG to ask them to confirm or deny these rumours.
Nintendo is planning to launch its new glasses-free 3DS handheld in the UK on 25 March next month, and we expect to see numerous 3D-capable mobiles and tablet PCs arriving throughout the year. Stay tuned for updates on this story from Nvidia and LG.
Elsewhere in graphics land, Nvidia's 1.5GHz Tegra 3 with four Cortex A9 cores and an improved GPU, along with support for Blu-ray and 1900x1200 output – being marketed to the home cinema and laptop industries – should be due at some point later this autumn.
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Interview: ARM talks Android 3.0 and the multi-core future of tablets
"We're worrying about systems that are going to be out there in 2014, 15 and 16," says with Bob Morris, ARM's Director of Mobile Computing as he talks to TechRadar about the future of mobile and tablet processors."There are some very interesting architecture changes that will be happening as we get further out. It's pretty cool."
We recently spent some time with Morris over a coffee, and he's happy to talk candidly about ARM's future plans and the implications of Android 3.0 for the company as well as the recent Microsoft announcement of ARM support.
Unlike many of ARM's employees who are based in the company's home of Cambridge, Morris is based in Austin, Texas.
"You'll see a couple more [Cortex] A9's that are coming out this year," says Morris, talking about the company's dual and quad-core chip core design currently being implemented by several SoC (System on Chips) including Nvidia's Tegra 2 and Texas Instrument's OMAP4.
"The A8 core was designed in Austin and released to our partners maybe four years ago, you're now seeing it in a lot of things.
POSITIVE FUTURE: Bob Morris is clearly very optimistic about ARM's future
"The A9 was done in France, and that went out probably two years ago and you're now just starting to see them come out.
The key core that will appear in the 2014-16 timeframe is the Cortex A15. "It's being designed in Austin and we're just starting to release that to partners, it will be at least two years before you see products."
Android 3.0 "exciting"
Talking about Android 3.0 Honeycomb, Morris finds it hard to hide his excitement. And it's no wonder given the amount of Android tablets that will hit the market with the new OS – virtually all running on ARM silicon.
ANDROID 3.0: This may just be a video, but Honeycomb's potential is clear
"There are some good implementations and I'm really excited about Honeycomb… how important it's going to [be]. Every tablet that's running Android [so far] has been where they've taken the OHA output and they've forked the operating system and done all the mods, driving larger screens.
"And anytime there's a change for the OS they have to make it and can't put any of the changes back into the main tree. It was very labour intensive and you didn't have consistency.
"Honeycomb looks like it's going to fix a lot of that stuff, a tablet release with Android Market embedded. You'll see [sales] start to ramp up.
"I think it's going to be a very interesting platform," Morris enthuses
"We're going out and looking at all the different drivers [for Android]. We want to make sure that all those drivers are tuned, just like we [helped] Google. Then we want to get the drivers back into the main [Android] tree. Boring stuff, but it has to be there."
Talking about the predicted growth in tablet devices in general, Morris says that "2010 was delivery, 2011 is all about scaling. Multi-core is going to be a big piece [as are] open OSes, what's happening with Honeycomb, we'll see what happens with Chrome OS [and] what's going on with RIM and HP. We're working with [manufacturers] and helping their time to market."
He's also expecting big things from ARM's architecture licensees such as Qualcomm, who take the blueprints from the UK company and build their own chips.
Multi-core performance
Morris is also keen to talk up the performance and battery life improvements available with multi-core processing on smartphones and tablets. He shows figures relating to Pandora browser performance using Android 2.2 (Froyo) on a dual-core ARM system – a 1.9x improvement over a single core system.
"If you have a 1GHz processor and you have a processor that's running two 550MHz cores they give you the same result on browser performance. But your power is 60 per cent… that's why you'll see this in handsets, they have the ability to throttle up and down. You have the ability for more battery life running multi-core.
"Most of the stuff we're running here today is A8. A9's what you're going to get into more. At the close of 2011 [or] 2012 you'll see our A15 come out and that will really raise the bar for performance. If you're really looking at what we think will be exciting regarding the Microsoft side, it's that this will be a very nice platform."
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Mio launches latest TV-capable satnav
Mio has launched its latest TV-capable satnav this week, with the Spirit V575 set to appeal to long-distance drivers and families looking for mobile entertainment on long drives and weekends away.The Mio Spirit V575 comes equipped with IQ Routes technology, a navigation and mapping service to keep you informed of traffic congestion and any road problems that might occur on route.
TV, satnav, child-minder
The new Mio satnav also doubles up as a touchscreen-controlled TV tuner, featuring a seven-day EPG to let you access hundreds of channels across Europe – ideal for bored lorry drivers and lonely salespeople out on the road.
The new Mio Sprit V575 also pack in a multimedia player so the kids can be kept nicely docile in the back of the car watching movies or listening to MP3s.
"The Spirit TV range has proven hugely popular with our customers," says Matthew Wallis, Country Director UK & Eire, Mio.
"Because of this we wanted to expand the range, while still keeping in line with Mio's philosophy of providing customers with cutting edge innovation in navigation. The V575 encompasses all this and provides more entertainment than ever before."
If watching Freeview TV on the go is something that appeals, then you can get all the details on where to buy the new TV-friendly satnav over at Mio.com (RRP in the UK is £149.99).
In terms of the unit's navigation tech, Mio's press release informs us that you also get "3D Junction Views for clear guidance at complex junctions, safety camera warnings, Text-to-Speech technology for spoken street names and Mio's QuickSpell keyboard, which intuitively suggests words as the user types."
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Orange sets sights on YouTube-like service DailyMotion
Orange has made a surprise acquisition for France-based video site DailyMotion. A cool 49 per cent of the YouTube rival has been snapped up by telecoms company Orange for €59 million, with more of the website to be bought up in the near future.
DailyMotion hasn't had the same success as YouTube in terms of audience figures, but it still figures regularly in the top 50 visited sites in the world – with around 90 million uniques and 1 billion videos streamed a month.
Second best
Its history is closely linked with YouTube, as both of the sites were registered within one month of each other.
Currently DailyMotion is the second biggest video-upload site in the world, with YouTube some way in front. Instead of relying on the general public for the majority of its content, though, this is done through myriad licenses with TV and film studios.
DailyMotion is starting to see some success in the US, too, with the site's viewing figures up 57 per cent in the country at the tail end of 2010.
Orange looks likely to try and buy the rest of DailyMotion as soon as it can, as it is likely Orange wants to own the whole company and not just 49 per cent of it.
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Samsung monitor looks sharp, converts 2D to 3D
Remember the curvaceous, slightly shark-like Samsung 3D TV we showed you just before the onslaught of CES? Turns out that it's actually a monitor, and one we'd happily have on our desks.Quite aside from the sharp design aesthetic, the monitor can convert 2D to 3D and is indeed an LED-backlit affair as we reported previously, with a contrast ratio of 1000:1.
There are 23 and 27-inch versions of the screen, as well as regular and HDTV/monitor options, with response times between 2ms and 5ms.
Outputs galore
With all these outputs on the HDTV version, Samsung is truly spoiling us – there's something to suit even the fussiest of connections: USB 2.0, HDMI, RF In, audio out, digital audio out, PC audio in, component, composite, Ethernet and RF out.
After all that, the regular monitors sound positively barren with just DisplayPort and HDMI.
The Eco-motion sensor built into all models will see the monitor automatically switch its screen off when you leave the room, which saves you the tedious job of remembering to do it yourself.
There's no official UK release date to speak of just yet, but March has been mooted for other regions; UK pricing will be stratospheric, no doubt.
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Asus shows off latest DirectCU II graphics card range
Asus has unveiled its new DirectCU II graphics cards with dual-fan cooling – offering both the latest AMC and Nvidia chipsets. Asus' latest graphics cards include the brand spanking new Asus HD GTX 560 Ti – utilising the latest Nvidia chip on the market - but also the rest of the GTX 500 series and the HD 6900 series.
The cards include the company's proprietary DirectCU II cooling technology which utilises copper heat pipes in direct contact with the CPU itself to reduce heat.
The cards also utilise "Super Alloy Power" technology – which is featured in the chokes, capacitors, POSCAPs and MOSFETs – and apparently offers a 15 per cent performance boost.
"Asus has launched an entire range of DirectCU II-enhanced graphics cards that include the latest technologies from both AMD and Nvidia GPU rosters," explains Asus.
"On the AMD side, Asus offers the HD6970 and HD6950 graphics cards with DirectCU II while for NVIDIA, the GTX580, GTX570 and new GTX560 Ti all ship with the advanced cooling technology."
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Nvidia GTX 560 is unveiled
Nvidia's GTX 560 has arrived – bringing 384 CUDA cores, DirectX 11 and 820Mhz core clock speed. The GTX 560 is the latest graphics offering from Nvidia as the company continues its long-running competition for gamer hearts with AMD.
Following the path laid down by Nvidia's last two 500 series cards, the 560 offers around a 30 per cent improvement on the GTX 460 but, impressively, uses 20 per cent less power.
Footsteps
Although much of the tech under the bonnet is similar to the GTX 460, the GTX 560 follows in the footsteps of the GTX 580 and GTX 570 in its incrementally rejigged GPU architecture, offering extra streaming microprocessors – 8 to the 7 already in the 460 – and with it another 48 CUDA cores.
The clockspeeds of the GTX 560 might raise some eyebrows though.
At 820MHz and 1640MHz for the chip's core and shader speeds the touted GF114 GPU at its heart is clocked significantly higher than any card Nvidia has released in living memory.
Overclockers may wonder though just how much extra they'll be able to get out of the card, with the 560 clocked so much higher than any of its predecessors.
Expect the usual array of offerings from the key graphics card manufacturers – including a few overclocked offerings from Zotac alone.
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Review: Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 Ti
The graphics card dance continues to rumba on in the shape of Nvidia's GeForce GTX 560 Ti.It seems that pretty much every week of the last six months we've seen a new GPU design hit our desktops. If it isn't Nvidia refining and rolling out more and more spins of its rather speedy Fermi architecture it's AMD trying to keep pace with an opponent that had seemed to overtake it before rolling out its own brand new architecture.
On the Nvidia side the GTX 480, the first Fermi card out of the green company, turned up less than a year ago and since then we've had ten different cards based on that architecture turn up. Possibly more, we've lost count to be honest what with the vast array of OEM cards it's spat out in the intervening time.
Interestingly that long line of cards included rapid replacements of two of the first Fermi cards in the shape of the GTX 580 and then the GTX 570.
Following on from that we've now got the GTX 560 Ti, essentially the direct replacement for the awesome GTX 460.
Though that's not actually how it's running. The performance of the GTX 560 Ti actually means it's retiring the GTX 470 with the GTX 570 effectively retiring the GTX 480 and the GTX 580 just standing on it's own looking rather pleased with itself.
But we'll get on to the performance soon enough.
The fact the GTX 460 is still going to be kept around is interesting, and I for one am grateful for it. The excellent li'l card has only been around for a relatively short time and the pricing, especially now, is quite incredible.
I've found full-fat, 1GB versions of the GTX 460 around for £130 and the 768MB version for £113. There's nothing at that price-point that can even come close to it, and when you factor in SLI it's nothing short of astonishingly quick.
So what is this GTX 560 Ti malarkey then?
Well, it's harking back to olden times for Nvidia nomenclature. The last 'Ti' (according to Nvidia that stands for 'Titanium') cards we saw tipped up in early 2003 with the GeForce 4 series.
It's been brought back to denote the premium version of the GTX 560. Which intimates that we're going to see more spins of this volume-flogging card, though hopefully without the confusion that surrounded the 'Special Edition' GTX 460 which floated around the etailers like a poo in the swimming pool pre-Christmas.
In competition terms the GTX 560 Ti is being pitched directly against AMD's sub-£200 Radeon HD 6870, but is also touted by Nvidia as something that can also take on AMD's Cayman-powered Radeon HD 6950.
Architecturally we've already seen pretty much everything that the GTX 560 Ti has to offer. This is an incremental update, on exactly the same lines as the previous two GTX 5xx series cards.
That is to say the essential make up of the GF114 GPU itself is unchanged compared to the GF104 of the GTX 460, but the performance and power draw of the card has been improved thanks to more component-related reasons.
Like the two GTX 5xx cards before it the changes in the GeForce GTX 560 Ti begin at the transistor level. This includes the use of slower, low-leakage transistors on non-timing sensitive pathways with faster ones dropped in the more critical lanes where it's more important to go fast than run green.
There is also the GTX 5xx series' now-traditional extra Streaming Microprocessor (SM) included, making a total of 8 compared to the GTX 460's 7. The ROPs count hasn't changed, but that extra SM gives the GTX 560 Ti a grand total of 384 CUDA cores and 64 texture units to play with.
That gives this new card a lot more graphical processing power to play around with.
The cooling improvements seen on the GTX 580 and GTX 570 though aren't reiterated in the GTX 560 Ti. There's none of the vapour chamber tech that rests on the two GF110 chips, instead it's got an extra heatpipe linked into a larger heatsink and fan array.
This new card though isn't going to generate the sort of heat the GTX 580 and GTX 570 do, the former regularly topping the 80degree mark. To that ends the extra heatpipe/chunkier fan combo keeps it ticking over around the same figures as the GTX 460.
What has been tweaked though, compared to the previous two 5xx series offerings, is in line to keep it overclocking like the daemon the previous generation's card was.
The 4-phase power circuitry has reportedly been replaced with a more 'robust' one with speedier 5Gbps memory modules. Nvidia calls this making the GTX 560 'overbuilt'.
That's all according to Nvidia though; my lack of engineering qualification precludes me from pulling the power circuitry apart and investigating further.
Suffice to say the GTX 560 Ti has got some serious overclocking chops sitting inside that unassuming exterior.
The memory overclocking itself was limited only to what we could push it to within MSI's Afterburner GPU overclocking software. Hitting 2,404MHz on the memory clock is pretty impressive and, as you can see on the following page, adds up to some serious performance figures.
The performance boost over the GTX 460 is an impressive 30% almost across the board. Sometimes it's slightly higher and sometimes it's a little under, but for the most part it's pretty consistent with Nvidia's marketing spiel.
The overclocking performance is mighty good too, delivering in excess of a 10% increase especially in the DirectX 11 games.
The trouble is the Radeon HD 6950 has become the card of the moment. A combination of price drop and BIOS flashing has created an AMD card that is more desirable than anything we've seen out of the red team in a long while.
DirectX 11 tessellation performance
DirectX 11 gaming performance
DirectX 10 gaming performance
It's tough to argue with the performance of this card, especially considering Nvidia is looking to charge the same price for the GTX 560 Ti as it put the GTX 460 out for initially.
At an MSRP of £199 it comes in below the psychological £200 barrier, and sits close to the Radeon HD 6870 GPU that it is supposed to be competing directly against.
Firstly, compared to the GTX 460 before it you are garnering at the very least a 19% increase. That though is the percentage increase in the DirectX 10 Just Cause 2 benchmark, and even then at the lower res 1680x1050 scale.
When you look at the increase at the 2560x1600 resolution that jumps massively to a 37% increase.
Across the rest of our benchmark suite though the GTX 560 Ti is generally offering around the 30% performance improvement that Nvidia has promised us all along.
That improvement now makes the GTX 470 completely obsolete. The GTX 460 is going to stick around for a while yet thanks to an almost £100 drop in price since launch, still making it one hell of a card.
When we're talking about the AMD-shaped competition though the waters get a tad muddier.
The GTX 560 Ti is justified in the price difference between it and AMD's Radeon HD 6870 by virtue of the performance increase between the red and the green GPUs.
The Nvidia card has the edge in all but the legacy DirectX 10 games, and even then it's pretty much level-pegging. In the more technologically-demanding DirectX 11 games the GeForce GTX 560 Ti is able to hold its head up high.
Where it starts to be tricky for Nvidia is when we introduce the Cayman GPU powered Radeon HD 6950. If you shop around you can find it for dangerously-close to the £200 mark; we found a Sapphire card for £206.
Originally we were told the launch MSRP of the GTX 560 Ti was going to be around £210, and we're betting the pricing is going to shift around a good deal more between these cards in the coming weeks.
You'll find these cards both above and below that £199 price tag as etailers try and make money out of the new kid on the block while they can.
It's true that in the benchmarks the Radeon HD 6950 and the GTX 560 Ti trade blows, but the AMD card is regularly quicker at the higher resolutions.
The Titanium's overclocking chops means that it can close that gap considerably, and in some cases take the lead, with just a little judicious use of the OC stick. That said the Radeon HD 6950 can also be pushed well past its stock performance values.
Indeed, thanks to the same GPU being used in both AMD's Radeon HD 6950 and Radeon HD 6970, you can see if your HD 6950 can have its BIOS flashed to become a HD 6970 with minimal effort. Because of the security afforded by the Cayman card's dual-BIOS function switch it makes for a relatively risk-free manoeuvre, with a rather high success rate.
All it takes is a quick Google.
We've flashed our own Radeon HD 6950 with no problems whatsoever. Then you're looking at getting a £270 card for £200-odd.
Thanks AMD.
As always the caveat remains there's no guarantee that every card will take the BIOS flash so well, but it's definitely something to consider when you're weighing up your £200 GPU options.
The GTX 460 was an awesome card when it first tipped up, and the GTX 560 Ti is following in those footsteps. What's changed though is that those footsteps are far more well trod than they were when the GTX 460 came out.
There really was nothing to touch the GTX 460 in the beginning; indeed I said there was no other card in the £200-£300 pricepoint I'd rather spend my money on, thanks mainly to its overclocking prowess.
Now though that market is well and truly packed with excellent GPUs more than capable of delivering incredible performance for the cash.
The GeForce GTX 560 Ti has got its niche, but it's a very small one. It beats the Radeon HD 6870 hands down, but that was a rather stop-gap measure from AMD based on old architecture.
The revamped Cayman GPU in the HD 6950 though is far more capable.
And the DirectX 11 performance of its twin tessellation engines makes mincemeat of the system-stalling Metro 2033 benchmark.
The Nvidia card cannot claim that, stuttering away unable to hit even 2FPS at the top resolution.
Coupled with the BIOS flash shenanigans you can currently perform on the Radeon HD 6950 that is the card I would buy. And the one I'd recommend you pick up if you're looking at a £200-odd GPU.
There are also still a fair few GTX 480s in stock around the UK etailers going for around £250; if you can stump up the extra cash that's a bargain in anyone's graphics protocols.
That's also the cheapest Nvidia GPU capable of competing with AMD's Metro 2033 performance.
None of this means the GTX 560 Ti is a bad card, not by a long shot. It's just that in the short time since the GTX 460 arrived the £200-£300 GPU market has gotten a lot more crowded.
The GeForce GTX 560 Ti is trying to ride the crest of a wave that has long-since crashed against the shore.
Essentially AMD has caught up in the DirectX 11 race and cut its prices to really stick the boot into Nvidia. Thanks to the GTX 580 and GTX 570 it's still got the higher-margin, top-end of the GPU market sewn up, but AMD is now eating away at the higher-volume, mid-range sector.
That's a market which has been doing very well for the green team over the past few years.
So kudos to Nvidia for bettering the GTX 460 with the GTX 560 Ti, but the plaudits have to go to AMD's excellent Radeon HD 6950, especially now it's price has dropped to compete.
We liked
The GTX 560 Ti hits Nvidia's marketing claims of 30% better performance over the GTX 460 and isn't asking any more for it than it did for the previous generation.
The impressive overclocking capabilities of the card are also worth special mention, especially considering the card is recommended to come in below the £200 mark.
We disliked
To be fair there's nothing to dislike about the GTX 560 Ti. It's not over-priced at £200, it's just there's a competing card that outperforms it for pretty much the same cash.
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Notion Ink Adam: what you need to know
When it was first announced, the Notion Ink Adam tablet looked awfully like vapourware: a tablet that cost less than an iPad, delivered more horsepower than the average Android device and included an LCD screen that did a great impression of E-Ink sounded too good to be true.Apparently not: pre-orders are shipping, and we're mere days away from discovering whether the Notion Ink Adam is the gadget of the decade so far or 2011's Palm Foleo.
So what's all the fuss about? Here's what we know.
The Notion Ink Adam release date is now
The planned November release date came and went, but it's shipping now - sort of. The tablet hasn't passed EU approvals yet, but Notion Ink reckons that a UK release date is imminent.
The Notion Ink Adam specifications include a dual core processor
The Adam specifications revolve around a dual core Tegra 250 processor, which is based on ARM's Cortex A9 and tuned for 1080p high definition video. There's a gigabyte of RAM, 8GB of flash storage (which can be supplemented via the Adam's microSD slot) and a 10.1", 1024x600 display.
The usual Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G are present and correct along with a 3.2MP swivelling camera, compass and GPS, but the Adam has another trick up it sleeve: an optional Pixel Qi display that can turn off its backlight to deliver an E-Ink-style reading experience.
The Notion Ink Adam software is Android
The Adam will ship with Android 2.3, aka Gingerbread, but Notion Ink promises that the Adam will be fully compatible with - and updated to - Android 3.0 Honeycomb when Google finally finishes it.
The Notion Ink Adam's screen is causing a bit of controversy
There's a bit of a kerfuffle over the Adam's screen: the blurb promises "pure matte glass", but customers are finding that it's a glossy screen with a matte screen protector instead. In an email to Slashgear, CEO Rohan Shavan clarifies things somewhat: the panels themselves are matte, but there's low gloss glass on top of them.
The Notion Ink Adam UK price hasn't been revealed yet
The short-lived ordering page on the Notion Ink website - all orders have been sold out - listed four versions of the Adam, all priced in US dollars. The backlit LCD with Wi-Fi was $375.33 and Wi-Fi plus 3G was $425.33; the Pixel Qi LCD was $499.45 for the Wi-Fi-only model and $549.99 if you wanted 3G too.
At current exchange rates and taking VAT into account, that means the Notion Ink Adam UK price would range from £282 to £414. Cheap, isn't it?
Notion Ink is posting its own Adam unboxing photos
You can't fault Notion Ink's enthusiasm: where most tech firms wait for their customers to fill the internet with unboxing photos, Rohan Shravan has decided to post his own on the Notion Ink blog.
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Spotify app for Logitech Squeezebox goes live
Users of Logitech's Squeezebox Radio and Squeezebox Touch devices can now tune into Spotify thanks to the arrival of a new app.Announced earlier in January the Spotify application brings the on-demand service to Squeezebox devices – which means 10 million tracks and counting are now ready to be streamed.
The app is now live for both devices but you will need to upgrade to a Spotify Premium account if you want to access the service in app form.
App-reciation
Logitech isn't the first media streamer to get Spotify – Sonos pipped them to the post back in 2010 – but it is great to see the service coming to more and more devices.
Currently the Logitech Squeezebox has access to around 25 apps – these include Last.fm, Sky.fm and something called ShoutCast.
There's also a number of social-networking apps, including Facebook and access to Flickr.
To download the Spotify app, go to www.mysqueezebox.com/spotify and follow the instructions.
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Asus unveils PA246Q ProArt monitor
Asus has announced its latest 24-inch LCD monitor – with the PA246Q ProArt series bringing a native resolution of 1920 x 1200. The 16:10 monitor features a P-IPS panel that apparently offers up to 98 per cent reproduction of Adobe RGB colour space – which explains the ProArt moniker.
"The Asus PA246Q also comes with the Asus-exclusive QuickFit Virtual Scale and a highly adjustable stand to enhance users' productivity. DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-D and D-Sub inputs are included for easy connection to multiple devices," adds Asus.
sRGB
Other features include a sRGB mode and the capacity to display an impressive 1.07 billion colours.
This is a professional grade monitor – built for designers or people who really, really care if their colours are accurate.
We haven't been given a UK release date or price as yet, but we are checking right at this moment.
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Relive the '80s with new TDK Boomboxes
TDK has revealed its latest line of high-end designer boombox music players, leaning heavily on the fashion's current penchant for all things '80s. Ahh, the '80s. Cruising the town in our shell suits, boombox hiked up on our shoulders so we were never without a soundtrack to our impromptu breakdancing battles. Good times, good times.
With our aching joints and creaking hips we can now relive those glory days – thanks, TDK! Tapes may be dead but long live the boombox!
Booooooooom
There are two boomboxes on the cards and they're both lookers, with a glossy retro feel.
The three-speaker affair has a 6-inch subwoofer and an equalizer to give your music a "visual heartbeat". You can dock your iPod or iPhone via the USB cable, or kick it old school with a bit of FM/AM radio.
There's also a line-in connection for your guitar, should you be so musically inclined, and you'll be able to pick it up for £499 in the UK.
The two-speaker boombox is fairly similar, with two 6-inch coaxial drivers and the same "visual heartbeat" going on. The two-speaker boombox has a UK price of £399, and comes complete with an across body strap for that 2011-look.
But that's not all
Also announced are the TDK Sound Cube which is a compact version of the boomboxes for easy portability (yours for £299), and the ST800 High Fidelity on-ear headphones with an in-line equaliser for super-control over the music, with UK pricing set at around £249.
There's not a great deal of time to scour eBay for the perfect shell suit before the UK release date of February 2011.
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Updated: Top 40 best free iPhone apps
There are now well over 250,000 apps available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and, surprisingly, many of the best are free.The following list showcases our pick of the 40 best free iPhone apps, and includes iPhone applications for social networking, travel, news, photography, productivity and more.
If your favourites aren't covered, tell us all about them in the comments.
1. Facebook
Once an ugly duckling, but now - as of version 3 - a social-network-aware swan, Facebook is a triumph. The revised grid-based 'home screens' provide speedy access to regularly visited sections (news feed, notifications, and so on) and pages, and the experience is such that it in many ways beats the browser version.
2. Gorillacam
Pretty much from nowhere, Gorillacam arrived in December 2009 from the creators of the Gorillapod tripods. It mashes together a slew of features to hugely improve an iPhone's camera (timer, multi-shot, spirit-level, on-screen grid, 'press anywhere' capture), meaning you can bin a half-dozen standalone apps that offer similar things.
3. RunKeeper Free
The prospect of Nike+ but better and for free might sound unlikely, but that's what RunKeeper Free provides. The app uses an iPhone's GPS capabilities to track your jogging route, and provides mapping and details of pace and calories burned. Activities can be shared online, and treadmill runs can be entered manually.
4. Stanza
Kindle's grabbed many 'electronic book' headlines, but an iPhone or iPod touch is a perfectly competent alternative - at least if you have the right app to hand. Stanza enables you to download books from various sources (many of which offer free titles), and you can transfer your own ePub, PDF or eReader titles from the free Stanza Desktop.
5. Dropbox
Plenty of apps exist for transferring content between your computer and your device, but Dropbox is free and easier to use than most of its contemporaries. Dump files you want to sync in a folder on your computer and Dropbox for your device will enable you to access them, download them for offline viewing, and, in many cases, view them.
6. thetrainline
For anyone commuting by train, thetrainline is the free app to beat all others. Journey planning, offline results, timetables and a location-aware 'next train home' option are available via a clean, streamlined interface. The app's not quite as good as National Rail Enquiries, but it is very similar - and five quid cheaper.
7. Skype
It's imperfect and annoyingly lacks push notifications, but Skype is still an essential download. The interface is pleasingly simple and usable, enabling anyone with a Skype account to make free calls to other Skype users and cheap calls to anywhere in the world. If you're on Pay and Go, this is particularly handy, but the app also enables iPod touch users to utilise their devices for calls.
8. Movies
Although some aspects of cinema listings app Movies are disappointingly US-centric (notably regarding details on upcoming movies and DVDs), it succeeds where it matters. Select a film and the app figures out where you're located, lists nearby cinemas, and displays times your chosen film is showing. Efficiency can be further increased by pinning favourite cinemas to the top of the list.
9. TonePad
Virtual pianos and guitars are all very well, but purely digital musical toys are more suited to Apple handhelds. TonePad is the best of them, using a grid-based interface that enables you to turn notes on and off and compose pleasing and harmonious loops; your creations can be edited, saved and uploaded to share with other users.
10. Thomson Reuters News Pro
There are many free news apps, but Reuters News Pro offers a breadth of coverage that makes it a winner. Preferences enable you to tailor the app's output to the UK, and the toolbar provides swift access to news, pictures, videos and stock markets coverage.
11. Twitter (formerly Tweetie)
Tweetie was the iPhone Twitter client that other iPhone Twitter clients wanted to be. Its combination of polished interface, plentiful options and multi-account support meant everyone loved it - apart from cheapskates, because Tweetie wasn't free. Now, however, it is, because Twitter bought it, rebranded it as Twitter, and set fire to the price tag.
12. Comics
In all honesty, Comics is a little awkward compared to using it on an iPad, but you won't find a better comics experience on an iPhone. The app is free, as are dozens of downloadable comics - and once you run out of those, many more are available to buy. Reading works on a frame-by-frame automated 'zoom' basis, and is surprisingly usable.
13. Wikipanion
The Wikipedia website works fine on iPhones, but a dedicated app is a better bet. Wikipanion is a freebie which gives you quick access to article sections, in-article search, viewing options, bookmarking, and the ability to tweet about whatever odd fact you've just unearthed. Also, wonderfully, there are no ads.
14. Evernote
Clients to access the popular Evernote service for storing notes and ideas online are available for so many platforms that we half expect a ZX Spectrum app to be announced tomorrow. On the iPhone, Evernote is efficient and usable, enabling you to rapidly scan your notes and also create new ones.
15. Kindle
Now iBooks has arrived on the iPhone, you might wonder why you should bother with Amazon's Kindle. After all, the app's not as pretty as iBooks, nor is there an integrated store (you buy in Safari and sync purchases to the app). However, Kindle offers a massive selection of books compared to Apple's app and the reading experience is great.
16. Around Me
Around Me figures out where you are and lists local stuff - banks, bars, petrol stations and, er, Apple Retail Stores. The app's reliance on Google Maps info means there are gaps, but it's nonetheless handy to have installed when in unfamiliar surroundings, and the 'augmented reality' landscape mode is amusing, if flaky.
17. Dictionary.com - Dictionary & Thesaurus
A million definitions and 90,000 synonyms are available in the palm of your hand with this free, offline dictionary and thesaurus. The app is fast and efficient, includes phonetic and audio pronunciation of words, and its interface seems perfectly suited to the iPhone.
18. Air Video Free
Air Video Free can stream (and convert as necessary) video from any computer running the free Air Video Server. You only get access to a small number of items per folder or playlist, but some careful planning can get around that limitation.
19. Adobe Photoshop Express
If you're looking for Photoshop-style power, Photoshop Express won't impress. However, if you're after a quick, free, highly usable tool for making edits to your iPhone photos, Adobe's app is ideal. Use it for cropping, straightening, exposure adjustments, colour effects, sharpening and more.
20. iHandy Level Free
One of the tools from the excellent iHandy Carpenter toolkit app, iHandy Level Free turns your iPhone into a spirit level. By default, it'll show just how wonky your device's accelerometer is, but tap the calibrate button and you get an accurate and great-looking level.
21. Instapaper Free
Set up an Instapaper account, create a bookmark in Safari on your device, and you can then send articles to Instapaper Free, for a superior and focussed offline reading experience. The app also acts as a superb taster for the paid version, which adds alternate themes and iPad support.
22. PCalc Lite
"But I've already got a calculator on my device," you might argue. True, but now you can stash default Apple apps in a folder, it's easier to justify replacing them with something better - and PCalc Lite is without doubt the finest free calculator for iOS, with a great interface and plenty of options. You can also bolt-on features from the paid version via in-app purchases.
23. iBooks
Having made a big splash on the iPad, iBooks has now arrived for Apple's smaller devices. Effectively iTunes for books, the app combines a reader and store, in Apple's typically usable and integrated fashion. Usefully, iBooks includes PDF support and bookmarks automatically sync across devices.
24. Red Laser
Now free, due to being snapped up by eBay, the Red Laser bar-code scanner is pretty accurate, even if you're still saddled with an iPhone 3G. It's great for checking prices while shopping, and also enables you to get your media collections into Delicious Library if you make use of AppleScript.
25. eBay Selling
And the reason for eBay buying Red Laser? This app, which makes it astonishingly easy to sell your unwanted stuff. Use eBay Selling to scan items; you can then research prices on eBay or import items for sale far more quickly than you can using a PC.
26. eBay Mobile
Unsurprisingly, eBay also has the buying side of its operation covered with eBay Mobile. The app supports iOS 4 multitasking, and, like eBay Selling, it's fast and efficient, to the point that it's preferable to using eBay's website on a PC.
27. Google Earth
"Hold the world in the palm of your hand," says Google about Google Earth, which enables you to fly across the planet by swiping your finger. More integration with content and features from Maps would be good, but Google Earth's Wikipedia articles and a Panoramio layer at least ensure it's a great app for seeing the world from your living room.
28. XE Currency
XE Currency is a fine example of an app that does what it needs to, without fuss. You configure a list of currencies, and it shows current conversion rates. Double-tap a currency to set its base rate or to define values for custom conversions.
29. Shazam
Shazam is an app that feels like magic when you first use it. It's deceptively simple—hold your iPhone near to a music source, and wait while the app listens and tells you what track is playing. But the sheer technology behind this simplicity is mind-boggling, and while Shazam doesn't always guess right (and only allows five 'tags' per month for new users, unless you upgrade to the paid version), it's worth a download.
30. Bump
Another contender for the 'surely, that's witchcraft?' award, Bump enables you to select up to four contacts, then 'bump' your device into another iOS device running Bump to transfer details, or to compare contacts. And, yeah, we know there's an email-based 'share contact' option in Contacts, but where's the fun in that?
31. Yell.com
As you might expect, Yell.com enables you to find local stuff. Select from a bunch of built-in categories or type in your own term for a list of local amenities, and use the map to navigate. Avoid the clunky augmented reality view, though.
32. BBC News
BBC News has a mobile website that works very nicely in Safari. However, when using it you'll find video isn't accessible. The BBC News app has some slightly quirky navigation (and occasionally questionable stability), but provides quick access to breaking stories, complete with playable videos and zoomable text.
33. Find My iPhone
For the paranoid souls out there (or the unlucky ones who've had their devices pilfered), Find My iPhone has now been freed from the paid version of MobileMe. Assuming you've a 2010 or later iOS device, you can set up a free account and locate your devices within seconds. (Note that older devices can also be added to Find My iPhone - you just need a recent one to get things going.)
34. Dragon Dictation
Fed up of typing on the tiny iPhone keyboard? Use Dragon Dictation instead, which happily converts your speech into text (with slightly spooky levels of accuracy for a freebie app). You can even punctuate ("Comma! Full-stop!"), and when you're done the app enables you to fire your thoughts at Facebook, Twitter, Mail or the iOS clipboard.
35. iHandy Torch Free
It's a torch! It's a cheesy neon light! It's a hypnotic spiral effect! With slightly annoying ads! (In reality, iHandy Torch Free is a mostly a handy app to have installed in case you get up for a midnight snack or toilet visit, don't turn on the light and want to avoid smashing your toe annoyingly hard into an unruly cupboard.)
36. TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide
TV Guide is an app that's come a long way. At one time, this was a disappointing UK TV listings app. Today, it boasts now-and-next and scrollable listings views, reminders, and calendar, Twitter and Facebook integration. Only avoid if you hate TV or don't live in the UK.
37. Zoopla Property Search
There are loads of property search apps on the App Store, but Zoopla is the best of them. Its listings are comprehensive and there's also local market data, including local sale prices and estimates on market value. The location button is a bit rubbish, but the app soon finds properties when you manually type a location.
38. IM+
If you're an instant messaging fiend, IM+ gives you access to GTalk, Yahoo, MSN/Live Messenger, AIM/iChat, ICQ, MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, and Jabber. With multitasking and push notifications in iOS 4, IM+ has been transformed from a curiosity into a must-have freebie app.
39. Atomic Web Browser Lite
The lite version of Atomic is missing quite a few features that are found in its paid-for version, including even basic multitasking support and content resumption on reopening the app. However, for times where you need a single-session browser that automatically dumps everything on exit, such as when buying gifts, this is a handy app to have installed.
40. Virtuoso Piano Free 3
Virtuoso Piano Free 3 won't turn you into a virtuoso, but it's a perfectly serviceable mini piano. You can amend the number of keys shown on screen, and buttons enable you to rapidly navigate the full keyboard. You get two built-in voices for playback, to which you can add variable levels of sustain.
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Updated: Top 40 best free iPhone apps
There are now well over 250,000 apps available for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, and, surprisingly, many of the best are free.The following list showcases our pick of the 40 best free iPhone apps, and includes iPhone applications for social networking, travel, news, photography, productivity and more.
If your favourites aren't covered, tell us all about them in the comments.
1. Facebook
Once an ugly duckling, but now - as of version 3 - a social-network-aware swan, Facebook is a triumph. The revised grid-based 'home screens' provide speedy access to regularly visited sections (news feed, notifications, and so on) and pages, and the experience is such that it in many ways beats the browser version.
2. Gorillacam
Pretty much from nowhere, Gorillacam arrived in December 2009 from the creators of the Gorillapod tripods. It mashes together a slew of features to hugely improve an iPhone's camera (timer, multi-shot, spirit-level, on-screen grid, 'press anywhere' capture), meaning you can bin a half-dozen standalone apps that offer similar things.
3. RunKeeper Free
The prospect of Nike+ but better and for free might sound unlikely, but that's what RunKeeper Free provides. The app uses an iPhone's GPS capabilities to track your jogging route, and provides mapping and details of pace and calories burned. Activities can be shared online, and treadmill runs can be entered manually.
4. Stanza
Kindle's grabbed many 'electronic book' headlines, but an iPhone or iPod touch is a perfectly competent alternative - at least if you have the right app to hand. Stanza enables you to download books from various sources (many of which offer free titles), and you can transfer your own ePub, PDF or eReader titles from the free Stanza Desktop.
5. Dropbox
Plenty of apps exist for transferring content between your computer and your device, but Dropbox is free and easier to use than most of its contemporaries. Dump files you want to sync in a folder on your computer and Dropbox for your device will enable you to access them, download them for offline viewing, and, in many cases, view them.
6. thetrainline
For anyone commuting by train, thetrainline is the free app to beat all others. Journey planning, offline results, timetables and a location-aware 'next train home' option are available via a clean, streamlined interface. The app's not quite as good as National Rail Enquiries, but it is very similar - and five quid cheaper.
7. Skype
It's imperfect and annoyingly lacks push notifications, but Skype is still an essential download. The interface is pleasingly simple and usable, enabling anyone with a Skype account to make free calls to other Skype users and cheap calls to anywhere in the world. If you're on Pay and Go, this is particularly handy, but the app also enables iPod touch users to utilise their devices for calls.
8. Movies
Although some aspects of cinema listings app Movies are disappointingly US-centric (notably regarding details on upcoming movies and DVDs), it succeeds where it matters. Select a film and the app figures out where you're located, lists nearby cinemas, and displays times your chosen film is showing. Efficiency can be further increased by pinning favourite cinemas to the top of the list.
9. TonePad
Virtual pianos and guitars are all very well, but purely digital musical toys are more suited to Apple handhelds. TonePad is the best of them, using a grid-based interface that enables you to turn notes on and off and compose pleasing and harmonious loops; your creations can be edited, saved and uploaded to share with other users.
10. Thomson Reuters News Pro
There are many free news apps, but Reuters News Pro offers a breadth of coverage that makes it a winner. Preferences enable you to tailor the app's output to the UK, and the toolbar provides swift access to news, pictures, videos and stock markets coverage.
11. Twitter (formerly Tweetie)
Tweetie was the iPhone Twitter client that other iPhone Twitter clients wanted to be. Its combination of polished interface, plentiful options and multi-account support meant everyone loved it - apart from cheapskates, because Tweetie wasn't free. Now, however, it is, because Twitter bought it, rebranded it as Twitter, and set fire to the price tag.
12. Comics
In all honesty, Comics is a little awkward compared to using it on an iPad, but you won't find a better comics experience on an iPhone. The app is free, as are dozens of downloadable comics - and once you run out of those, many more are available to buy. Reading works on a frame-by-frame automated 'zoom' basis, and is surprisingly usable.
13. Wikipanion
The Wikipedia website works fine on iPhones, but a dedicated app is a better bet. Wikipanion is a freebie which gives you quick access to article sections, in-article search, viewing options, bookmarking, and the ability to tweet about whatever odd fact you've just unearthed. Also, wonderfully, there are no ads.
14. Evernote
Clients to access the popular Evernote service for storing notes and ideas online are available for so many platforms that we half expect a ZX Spectrum app to be announced tomorrow. On the iPhone, Evernote is efficient and usable, enabling you to rapidly scan your notes and also create new ones.
15. Kindle
Now iBooks has arrived on the iPhone, you might wonder why you should bother with Amazon's Kindle. After all, the app's not as pretty as iBooks, nor is there an integrated store (you buy in Safari and sync purchases to the app). However, Kindle offers a massive selection of books compared to Apple's app and the reading experience is great.
16. Around Me
Around Me figures out where you are and lists local stuff - banks, bars, petrol stations and, er, Apple Retail Stores. The app's reliance on Google Maps info means there are gaps, but it's nonetheless handy to have installed when in unfamiliar surroundings, and the 'augmented reality' landscape mode is amusing, if flaky.
17. Dictionary.com - Dictionary & Thesaurus
A million definitions and 90,000 synonyms are available in the palm of your hand with this free, offline dictionary and thesaurus. The app is fast and efficient, includes phonetic and audio pronunciation of words, and its interface seems perfectly suited to the iPhone.
18. Air Video Free
Air Video Free can stream (and convert as necessary) video from any computer running the free Air Video Server. You only get access to a small number of items per folder or playlist, but some careful planning can get around that limitation.
19. Adobe Photoshop Express
If you're looking for Photoshop-style power, Photoshop Express won't impress. However, if you're after a quick, free, highly usable tool for making edits to your iPhone photos, Adobe's app is ideal. Use it for cropping, straightening, exposure adjustments, colour effects, sharpening and more.
20. iHandy Level Free
One of the tools from the excellent iHandy Carpenter toolkit app, iHandy Level Free turns your iPhone into a spirit level. By default, it'll show just how wonky your device's accelerometer is, but tap the calibrate button and you get an accurate and great-looking level.
21. Instapaper Free
Set up an Instapaper account, create a bookmark in Safari on your device, and you can then send articles to Instapaper Free, for a superior and focussed offline reading experience. The app also acts as a superb taster for the paid version, which adds alternate themes and iPad support.
22. PCalc Lite
"But I've already got a calculator on my device," you might argue. True, but now you can stash default Apple apps in a folder, it's easier to justify replacing them with something better - and PCalc Lite is without doubt the finest free calculator for iOS, with a great interface and plenty of options. You can also bolt-on features from the paid version via in-app purchases.
23. iBooks
Having made a big splash on the iPad, iBooks has now arrived for Apple's smaller devices. Effectively iTunes for books, the app combines a reader and store, in Apple's typically usable and integrated fashion. Usefully, iBooks includes PDF support and bookmarks automatically sync across devices.
24. Red Laser
Now free, due to being snapped up by eBay, the Red Laser bar-code scanner is pretty accurate, even if you're still saddled with an iPhone 3G. It's great for checking prices while shopping, and also enables you to get your media collections into Delicious Library if you make use of AppleScript.
25. eBay Selling
And the reason for eBay buying Red Laser? This app, which makes it astonishingly easy to sell your unwanted stuff. Use eBay Selling to scan items; you can then research prices on eBay or import items for sale far more quickly than you can using a PC.
26. eBay Mobile
Unsurprisingly, eBay also has the buying side of its operation covered with eBay Mobile. The app supports iOS 4 multitasking, and, like eBay Selling, it's fast and efficient, to the point that it's preferable to using eBay's website on a PC.
27. Google Earth
"Hold the world in the palm of your hand," says Google about Google Earth, which enables you to fly across the planet by swiping your finger. More integration with content and features from Maps would be good, but Google Earth's Wikipedia articles and a Panoramio layer at least ensure it's a great app for seeing the world from your living room.
28. XE Currency
XE Currency is a fine example of an app that does what it needs to, without fuss. You configure a list of currencies, and it shows current conversion rates. Double-tap a currency to set its base rate or to define values for custom conversions.
29. Shazam
Shazam is an app that feels like magic when you first use it. It's deceptively simple—hold your iPhone near to a music source, and wait while the app listens and tells you what track is playing. But the sheer technology behind this simplicity is mind-boggling, and while Shazam doesn't always guess right (and only allows five 'tags' per month for new users, unless you upgrade to the paid version), it's worth a download.
30. Bump
Another contender for the 'surely, that's witchcraft?' award, Bump enables you to select up to four contacts, then 'bump' your device into another iOS device running Bump to transfer details, or to compare contacts. And, yeah, we know there's an email-based 'share contact' option in Contacts, but where's the fun in that?
31. Yell.com
As you might expect, Yell.com enables you to find local stuff. Select from a bunch of built-in categories or type in your own term for a list of local amenities, and use the map to navigate. Avoid the clunky augmented reality view, though.
32. BBC News
BBC News has a mobile website that works very nicely in Safari. However, when using it you'll find video isn't accessible. The BBC News app has some slightly quirky navigation (and occasionally questionable stability), but provides quick access to breaking stories, complete with playable videos and zoomable text.
33. Find My iPhone
For the paranoid souls out there (or the unlucky ones who've had their devices pilfered), Find My iPhone has now been freed from the paid version of MobileMe. Assuming you've a 2010 or later iOS device, you can set up a free account and locate your devices within seconds. (Note that older devices can also be added to Find My iPhone - you just need a recent one to get things going.)
34. Dragon Dictation
Fed up of typing on the tiny iPhone keyboard? Use Dragon Dictation instead, which happily converts your speech into text (with slightly spooky levels of accuracy for a freebie app). You can even punctuate ("Comma! Full-stop!"), and when you're done the app enables you to fire your thoughts at Facebook, Twitter, Mail or the iOS clipboard.
35. iHandy Torch Free
It's a torch! It's a cheesy neon light! It's a hypnotic spiral effect! With slightly annoying ads! (In reality, iHandy Torch Free is a mostly a handy app to have installed in case you get up for a midnight snack or toilet visit, don't turn on the light and want to avoid smashing your toe annoyingly hard into an unruly cupboard.)
36. TVGuide.co.uk TV Guide
TV Guide is an app that's come a long way. At one time, this was a disappointing UK TV listings app. Today, it boasts now-and-next and scrollable listings views, reminders, and calendar, Twitter and Facebook integration. Only avoid if you hate TV or don't live in the UK.
37. Zoopla Property Search
There are loads of property search apps on the App Store, but Zoopla is the best of them. Its listings are comprehensive and there's also local market data, including local sale prices and estimates on market value. The location button is a bit rubbish, but the app soon finds properties when you manually type a location.
38. IM+
If you're an instant messaging fiend, IM+ gives you access to GTalk, Yahoo, MSN/Live Messenger, AIM/iChat, ICQ, MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, and Jabber. With multitasking and push notifications in iOS 4, IM+ has been transformed from a curiosity into a must-have freebie app.
39. Atomic Web Browser Lite
The lite version of Atomic is missing quite a few features that are found in its paid-for version, including even basic multitasking support and content resumption on reopening the app. However, for times where you need a single-session browser that automatically dumps everything on exit, such as when buying gifts, this is a handy app to have installed.
40. Virtuoso Piano Free 3
Virtuoso Piano Free 3 won't turn you into a virtuoso, but it's a perfectly serviceable mini piano. You can amend the number of keys shown on screen, and buttons enable you to rapidly navigate the full keyboard. You get two built-in voices for playback, to which you can add variable levels of sustain.
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Internet discounts latest PSP2 photo 'leak'
Squeezing as many last minute rumours out of the PSP2 as possible before its official reveal on 27 January, a photo posing as an official hand-out detailing the device has made its way online.While many sites have been eager to suggest this is the illusive new gaming device, we are just as eager to point out that it probably isn't.
We'd expect more from Sony than these scrappy handouts and, quite frankly, we're hoping for a better looking PSP2.
Hmm, looks familiar
This version looks a lot like the spy shots of the PSP phone prototypes that have been floating about for some time.
Accompanying the suspicious device are a stylus, SD memory card and a PSP2-branded memory stick.
As some sites have pointed out, the PSP2-branded stick is based on an old PlayStation design; Sony is unlikely to go back to this legacy look.
Making these images into a picture of a handout rather than an original digital file also helps to hide key evidence of Photoshoppery, like the changes in resolution of an image that has been cobbled together from other pictures.
So, basically, it's probably not the PSP2, rather the work of some eager young Photoshop aficionado. But hey, we'll know for sure in just two days - until then we're sure the rumour mill will keep turning.
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Virgin Media rolls out 100Mbps to 150k more homes
Virgin Media has rolled out its superfast broadband to another 150,000 homes in the UK, offering its flagship 100Mbps service to the towns including Pentwyn, Southport and Hatfield. With BT regularly updating us on its fibre optic exploits, Virgin Media has now decided to publicise its own steady growth.
The company has now rolled 100Mbps broadband out to 350,000 homes across the UK.
Developments
Jon James, executive director of broadband at Virgin Media said: "From establishing the UK's first ever broadband service to the launch of 100Mb just ten years later, Virgin Media has led the greatest developments in digital Britain.
"We've invested many billions of private money in order to build a growing network that already passes approximately 13 million homes across the UK.
"We're racing to get these ultrafast speeds across this entire area as fast as we can to meet demand."
The towns that have now got the 100Mbps service are Cheshunt, Hatfield, Pentwyn, Southport and Treforest.
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ACS:Law stops seeking money from file sharers
ACS:Law, a firm that sent out letters to alleged file sharers, has told a court that it is no longer seeking money from the people it was accusing of piracy.For more than a year now, ACS:Law has been under scrutiny for its target of supposed illegal downloaders.
In January 2010, Which? Computer highlighted the fact that ACS:Law was sending out letters to people oblivious of offences occurred, while the BPI criticised the mass mail-outs, explaining that it wasn't its "favoured approach" to stopping online piracy.
Immense hassle
A massive data leak from the company in September 2010 brought ACS:Law back into the news and since then there have been doubts about the company's practices, which had been working on behalf of its client MediaCAT.
In court this week, ACS:Law announced that it has now stopped actively pursuing 27 people for copyright infringement.
A statement by solicitor and boss of ACS:Law Andrew Crossley, said about the turnaround: "I have ceased my work... I have been subject to criminal attack. My e-mails have been hacked. I have had death threats and bomb threats."
"It has caused immense hassle to me and my family."
Judge Birss allowed the case to be discontinued but wasn't happy with the way it was handled, saying in court: "I want to tell you that I am not happy. I am getting the impression with every twist and turn since I started looking at these cases that there is a desire to avoid any judicial scrutiny."
While Crossley has denied this is the case, he did note that there are no new letters pending to be sent out to file sharers.
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Preliminary ruling sides with Apple and RIM over Kodak
Kodak's patent dispute with Apple and RIM over digital imaging technology in the iPhone and BlackBerry smartphones is in trouble after the US International Trade Commission's preliminary ruling suggested no violation had taken place. The ITC believes that Eastman Kodak's 2001 patent has not been infringed in BlackBerry and iPhone handsets, although a final decision will not be made until 23 May.
The news has not dented Kodak's confidence too much however, with chief intellectual property officer at the company, Laura Quatela, telling the Press Association: "We fully expect the ITC commission will ultimately rule that the patent claim at issue is valid and infringed by Apple and RIM."
LG and Samsung
Kodak and its mass of patents in the relam of digital imaging have rarely been out of the headlines in recent years as the company fights with major corporations.
The decision to sue Apple and RIM was made more than a year ago – just after winning a claim against Samsung and agreeing a one off payment of $550 million (c£344m)
Another complaint against LG netted Kodak another $414 million (£259m).
The case continues.
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Preliminary ITC ruling sides with Apple and RIM over Kodak
Kodak's patent dispute with Apple and RIM over digital imaging technology in the iPhone and BlackBerry smartphones is in trouble after the US International Trade Commission's preliminary ruling suggested no violation had taken place. The ITC believes that Eastman Kodak's 2001 patent has not been infringed in BlackBerry and iPhone handsets, although a final decision will not be made until 23 May.
The news has not dented Kodak's confidence too much however, with chief intellectual property officer at the company, Laura Quatela, telling the Press Association:"We fully expect the ITC commission will ultimately rule that the patent claim at issue is valid and infringed by Appleand RIM."
LG and Samsung
Kodak and its mass of patents in the relam of digital imaging have rarely been out of the headlines in recent years as the company fights with major corporations.
The decision to sue Apple and RIM was made more than a year ago – just after winning a claim against Samsung and agreeing a one off payment of $550 million (c£344m)
Another complaint against LG netted Kodak another $414 million (£259m).
The case continues.
From PA via Yahoo
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