IT-Code-News: IT News Head Lines (Techradar) 08/12/2011

Microsoft shows-off Windows Store app platform

Microsoft has offered the first look at its forthcoming Windows Store for apps, that'll be a central feature of the new Windows 8 operating system.
At a preview event in San Francisco the Redwood-based company revealed that the app store will launch alongside the beta version of the new OS in late February.
Boasting the new-familiar Metro-UI the store will be indexed by Bing to make it easy to find apps from within and also by using the web-based app store.
The company says that the store will feature content from digital books from the likes of Disney, newspapers like The Telegraph and popular games like Cut The Rope and shopping portals like eBay.
There'll also be seamless app integration between your Windows PC and Windows 8 tablet.

A larger bite of the Apple

Microsoft says it is setting up the Windows Store to enable popular developers to earn more from sales, depending on how much they sell.
Like Apple, Microsoft will take a 30 per cent cut of all purchases until app app grosses $25,000. At that point Microsoft's share drops to just 20 per cent.
The company also says it's own app portal will be less rigid than Apple with free previews and in-app purchases available to developers, yet not enforced.
"Some stores force you into a business model that's good for them, but we make it easy for you to innovate not only with your app but also with your business model," said Microsoft's Antoine Leblond.
"To that end, Microsoft will make it easy for developers to build features like in-app purchasing into their apps but won't have rules for or against doing so."

Developers, developers, developers

The company is hoping to woo developers by citing the 500 million Windows 7 licenses sold around the world, pointing out the total is higher than iOS, OSX and Android.
The initial apps to populate the Windows Store will be invitation only and initially free as Microsoft launch looks to bulk up the content ahead of the full Windows 8 launch in 2012.
The company has also launched a Windows Store blog with a massively indepth explanation of the store's every intimate detail.

Facebook security flaw exposes private photos

Facebook has moved quickly to lockdown a security flaw which briefly allowed users to see your private photo albums, just by reporting a public photo as containing nudity.
As a means of making his point, the hacker was able to exploit the flaw to access the private albums of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg before posting them online.
Prior to the fix, it seems that reporting a photo as nudity or pornography would allow you to view other photos listed as private to enable you to make the social network aware of more violations.

Just a bug, says Facebook

A Facebook spokesperson admitted the flaw to Gizmodo, attributing the security lapse to a bug in a recent code push.
The statement said: "Earlier today, we discovered a bug in one of our reporting flows that allows people to report multiple instances of inappropriate content simultaneously.
"The bug allowed anyone to view a limited number of another user's most recently uploaded photos irrespective of the privacy settings for these photos.
"This was the result of one of our recent code pushes and was live for a limited period of time. Upon discovering the bug, we immediately disabled the system, and will only return functionality once we can confirm the bug has been fixed."
This revelation was the last thing that Facebook needed following its reprimand from the FTC in the United States over a series of privacy violations.

BBC Global iPlayer app coming to iPhone, iPod touch

The BBC is opening up its Global iPlayer app to the Apple iPhone and iPod touch, six months after launching as an iPad exclusive.
BBC Worldwide's subscription-based offering, which boasts a range of new and classic programming, is available in Europe and Australia and last week launched in Canada.
From this Thursday, December 8, those viewers will be able to access the service on all of Apple's iOS devices.
BBC Worldwide CEO John Smith says: "The global BBC iPlayer has seen great growth since the pilot first launched in July – both in terms of geographical expansion and technological developments.
"Moving to iPhone and iPod Touch allows us to take the service to a significant new potential audience and deliver fantastic programme content from the BBC and the UK's creative industry."

Independent shows and BBC Radio too

Further developments will bring independent TV shows that were not created by the BBC.
As part of a deal with the DRG programme distributor 'best of British' shows like Father Ted and Peep Show, which originally appeared on Channel 4, will also be included in the Global iPlayer app.
The Beeb also plans to integrate selected radio content, while Music, and Arts and Culture TV categories will also be added.
"This platform extension shows how Global iPlayer isn't just about moving TV to tablet devices, it's also about a mobile strategy – about truly getting TV everywhere in a way that it hasn't been before," Janna Bennett, President of Worldwide Networks and Global BBC iPlayer, said.
"We also want the global BBC iPlayer to be truly representative of the whole gamut of British creative output, to represent everything that is great about British content – not just the Best of British TV but the Best of British Culture."

Android Market UK premium apps now just 10p

A number of premium apps on the Android Market are going for the bargain-basement price of just 10p, as Google goes cheap-as-chips-chirpy for the festive season.
In a promotion which has just landed on the Android Market in the UK, 10 of the most popular apps on the Android Market are now priced at just 10p.
Google is calling this the 10 Billion Promo, as it is to celebrate 10 billion app downloads from the market – which is a significant number for the search giant.

Now we would be a cynical bunch to suggest that this is an easy way for Google to finally get Android users to give over their credit card details – there's far fewer Android apps bought than iOS ones – but it is promotions like these that get phone users to dip into their pockets and get acquainted with the payment system.
The apps which have been selected for the promotion:

SoundHound
Asphalt 6: Adrenaline HD
Minecraft: Pocket Edition
SwiftKey X Keyboard
Endomondo Sports Tracker
Great Little War Game
SketchBook Mobile
Fieldrunners HD
Color & Draw for kids:phone ed
Paper Camera

According to the US version of the promotion, the chosen apps will be changing everyday so you better get a hurry on and head over to the Android Market now if the above list takes your fancy.

Android Market premium apps now just 10p

SoundHound
Asphalt 6: Adrenaline HD
Minecraft: Pocket Edition
SwiftKey X Keyboard
Endomondo Sports Tracker
Great Little War Game
SketchBook Mobile
Fieldrunners HD
Color & Draw for kids:phone ed
Paper Camera

According to the US version of the promotion, the chosen apps will be changing everyday so you better get a hurry on and head over to the Android Market now if the above list takes your fancy.

7digital: iTunes has peaked

Apple's digital music dominance is slipping, says 7digital, suggesting that streaming services are eating into iTunes' chunk of the musical pie.
"iTunes has peaked," said 7digital's CEO Ben Drury at the company's annual meeting which TechRadar attended.
"Its market share is around 85 per cent for individual tracks," he explained, "but it's significantly lower for albums.
"iTunes' success has always been tied to the iPod's market share, which was very high - almost monopolistically high - but now people consume and acquire music on more devices and this alone is leading to the decrease in iTunes' market share."

Times they are a-changing

It's not all pointing and issuing a Nelson Muntz sytle ha-ha in Apple's direction, though. Drury concedes that the fruit-flavoured company will "still be number one for a long time".
But, for the first time it looks as though it may drop some share points: "In the UK, we reckon iTunes will see lower market share in 2012 than 2011 - and a lot of that is to do with Spotify.
"Spotify is pretty much owning and dominating the music rental market in the UK."
Which is nice of 7digital to say, before going on to insist that it is neither on the side of music ownership or rental, preferring to facilitate and encourage both.
The company also announced a new partnership with Microsoft which will see 7digital music services land on Windows Phone handsets and as part of Windows 8 next year.

7digital coming to Windows Phone and Windows 8 in 2012

7digital has announced that it is partnering with Microsoft to bring its digital music service to Windows Phone handsets in early 2012.
As well as heading to Windows Phones, 7digital is working with Microsoft on Windows 8 which means the new OS will come with the music download services baked in.
""I'm not sure exactly when Windows 8 will launch but I'm guessing Q2 next year," said 7digital CEO Ben Drury - that may sound a little bit optimistic but the latest rumours put a Windows 8 public beta release at February 2012 so you never know.

Nice birthday present

7digital celebrated its seventh birthday this year, and the British company has gone from strength to strength over the past year, having expanded into the US and a number of other countries around the world.
At the company's annual meeting, which TechRadar attended (we were invited, honest), xxxx revealed that nearly 100,000 new customers had signed up to its service in November 2011 alone.
The company's music library already comes with a number of manufacturers' products, including those made by RIM, HP, Samsung and Pure.

Video: EyeAsteroids - world's first eye-controlled game

TechRadar paid a visit to the Trocadero centre in London this week to get 'eyes on' with the world's first arcade game which uses just eye control to play – Tobii EyeAsteroids.
Yes, we were as dubious as you probably are right now about the technology but as you can see from our video below it works surprisingly well.
Speaking to Anders Olsson from Tobii Technology – a company that has spent year developing its eye tracking tech for a variety of solutions – it seems that EyeAsteroids is the first stab at a consumer product but there will be many more to come.
"We decided to put eye-tracking technology into a consumer product at the beginning of the year," explained Olsson.
"We were inspired by the Wii and Kinect and decided that this technology would be a good fit for gaming."

Eye spy

Tobii has already previewed its eye-tracking technology in a prototype Lenovo laptop earlier in the year and is keen to see it work in a number of gaming environments.
"We chose Asteroids as it is one gaming situation where you can use just your eyes and need nothing else.
"Eventually we want to see the technology combined with a joystick and other accessories."
Not that we are jumping the gun here but seeing Mirror's Edge or a FPS like Modern Warfare 3 with eye technology implemented may well blow our tiny brains.
Expect to see EyeAsteroids in an arcade near you in the New Year.
BrightCove : 1312712638001

Verizon blocks Google Wallet app

Google has been dealt a huge blow in its bid to push its NFC payment technology after the Google Wallet app was blocked by the Verizon network.
The carrier will not allow the app to be a feature on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone, which launches with the new Android Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.
The company said that it is waiting for Google to prove the app can provide "the best security and user experience" before allowing it to feature on any of its Android smartphones.
However, the Wall Street Journal believes that Verizon's own plans to join forces with rival networks to create its own mobile payment system could be behind its decision to block Google Wallet.
Verizon, along with AT&T and T-Mobile plans to begin trials for a payment service called ISIS, which is expected to begin trials in 2012.

Progress stalled

A Google spokesperson confirmed that "Verizon asked us not to include this functionality in the product."
Currently, the Sprint network is the only carrier in the US allowing Google Wallet as it continues limited trials in some US major US cities.

Leica issues M9 firmware upgrade

Leica has issued a new firmware upgrade for its M9 and M9-P full-frame digital rangefinder cameras.
Firmware update v. 1.176 fixes the issue several users had reported when using SanDick memory cards. According to a statement from the company, all card types available from SanDisk have been fully tested by the Leica expert technical team and the firmware guarantees full functionality.
The Leica M9 is the world's smallest full-frame interchangeable lens camera, while the M9-P, features the same internal specifications but also includes a sapphire crystal LCD screen with anti-reflective coating for improved visibility.

Issues

Users have been reporting various faults with using the Leica M9 with SanDisk cards are far back as July, with some reporting a loss of pictures and slow writing times. Back in November, Leica advised customers to avoid certain SanDisk memory cards until they were able to provide the firmware upgrade to fix the problem.
Now that the firmware has been issued, Leica confirmed that this advice is now withdrawn.
Leica also thanked customers for their ongoing patience and support, along with SanDisk for its "intensive technical assistance."
The Leica M9 can be picked up for around £4800, while the M9-P retails for around £5400.The new firmware upgrade can be downloaded from the Leica website.

Smartphones not killing camera sales

It's long been thought that the increasing capability of smartphone cameras is likely to be a threat to the sales of digital cameras, but no research from GfK has shown that the opposite is true.
Somewhat surprisingly, the result also shows that new digital compact system cameras, such as the Olympus PEN or Panasonic G series are also driving the market, and have not drawn customers away from the DSLR market. Growth of interchangeable lens products was up 17%.
The results of the research were revealed at the 2011 Imaging Summit in Nuremberg this week, with GfK global director of imaging Marion Knoche claiming that technical innovations were the main driving force for increased sales.
Admitting that smart phones are likely to have an impact on the sale of low-end digital cameras, with comparable pixel counts and autofocus capability, Knoche says higher end and more technologically advanced compact cameras were being demanded more as users became more enthusiastic about photography and wanted to take the next step.

Compact system cameras

Knoche highlighted that this is especially the case in China and the Asia-Pacific region, which also sees a higher proportion of compact system camera sales than in Europe.
Between January and September 2011, a fifth of all digital cameras sold had more than 16 million pixels, while the majority of mobile handsets sold still had fewer than five million.
Many mobile phones have obvious advantages over cameras, such as wi-fi capability and GPS technology, but more cameras are starting to see these kind of advanced features become inbuilt into the camera.
Via PhotoImagingNews

iPhone 5 hardware tests underway 'for high-res screens'

If you are someone who looks at their iPhone screens and cries because the Retina display isn't crystal clear enough to play Angry Birds on, then you're in luck as it is being reported that Apple's working on some new components to pack into its upcoming iPhone 5 which will be able to cope with a higher-res screen.
The GPU drivers that are being tested can achieve higher resolutions of 1280 x 720 and 1440 x 800.
Given that the current crop of iPhones managed a 960 x 640 display, this is a sizeable chunk of quality difference if the traditional 3.5-inch display is kept.

Screen situation

All this is according to German site Macerkopf.de, which believes it has on good authority that Apple is keeping its engineers busy with component testing, but it is not known whether a dual-core or quad-core chip is being put through Apple's exacting standards..
There are a few caveats to this information, however, and it is to do with the sizes mentioned not actually being scalable to the current iPhone 4/4S display.
As MacRumours points out, if these are indeed the new display details then devs will have a bit of a nightmare scaling their apps to the pixels on the screen – this is because the pixel count is not neatly doubled like it was for the iPhone 4.
There's been rumours for some time that the size of the iPhone screen is set to change, with many believing that the iPhone 5 is set to get a 4-inch display.

Kodak reshuffling to avoid bankruptcy

Struggling photography brand Kodak has hired law firm Sullivan & Cromwell's, in a bid to restructure its finances in order to avoid bankruptcy, according to reports.
Earlier in the year, Kodak employed Jones Day, sparking worldwide speculation that it was about to file for bankruptcy, as Jones Day is well known for working on such cases.
The reasons behind the switch in law firms remains unclear, however Kodak is remaining resolute regarding filing, seemingly keen to avoid it all costs.
Kodak has been facing increasing financial problems, with warnings last month that it could run out of cash if couldn't sell assets or raise new funds quickly. By the end of September, Kodak had $862m, down from $1.4billion a year previously.

Patents

As one of the early pioneers of digital photography, Kodak has a number of patents which it has been selling off in a bid to raise cash. Few details about the specifics of such sales have emerged so far.
Kodak is also attempting to sell its photo sharing and printing business, Kodak Gallery, with hopes for a large cash injection resulting in its sale. Recently, it sold its image sensor business, which helped develop the world's first digital camera sensor.
Last month, Kodak disclosed it was considering rescue financing, which is one of many options the company is considering.
Via Wall Street Journal

Review: Sony KDL-46HX923

Overview

Despite a rather up and down performance through 2011, Sony looks like it could be about to finish the year on a high. For rolling into town today is the brand's KDL-46HX923.
This 46-inch LCD set sits at the very top of Sony's range this year, a position that's mostly defined by the fact that it - along with its 55-inch 55HX923 sibling - is the only Sony set that uses direct LED lighting with local dimming rather than edge LED or CCFL lighting.
Sony's previous direct LED sets have generally been very impressive, so there's every reason to hope that this trend will continue with the 46HX923.
Naturally the 46HX923's appeal doesn't end with its direct LED lighting, though. The set also carries a full list of all Sony's key features this year, including active 3D playback, solid multimedia playback support, the 'Pro' version of Sony's new X-Reality picture processing suite, and access to Sony's mostly excellent Bravia Internet Video online service.
As you would expect, the 46HX923's flagship status means that it carries a fairly premium price tag: around £1650. If this is out of your reach but you fancy a Sony TV, then one step down in the range you get to the HX823 series, which carries a similar feature count to the 46HX923 but uses edge LED lighting instead of the all-important direct LED lighting system.
If you're a lucky member of the money's no object brigade, though, it's time to find out if the 46HX923 really is worthy of such a substantial wedge of your hard-earned cash.

Features

The single biggest selling point of the 46HX923, at least where AV enthusiasts are concerned, is its direct LED lighting. Positioning the LED lights behind the screen rather than around its edges and then providing the processing power to separately control the light output of individual LED clusters should allow the set to deliver a 'real' contrast range streets ahead of anything possible using edge LED lights. And so far as most movie lovers are concerned, contrast is definitely king.
The 46HX923's design will also be a major selling point to a lot of people. Its direct LED system means it's not the thinnest TV ever, but it benefits from Sony's 'Monolithic' design, which finds the screen and its black bezel sharing the same single 'plane' and opulent glinting finish. It's less showy than some rival 'designer' TVs, but we suspect this will enhance rather than hinder its appeal to more conservative households.
Spinning the set round uncovers a more than satisfactory collection of connections. There are four HDMIs - a number that seems to have become pretty much standard in the upper echelons of the TV market - with other highlights of two USB ports, a D-Sub PC port, a LAN port and, best of all, built-in wi-fi.

Multimedia agogo

The USBs support recording of material from the built-in Freeview HD tuner and playback of a good selection of multimedia file formats, while the fact that the 46HX923 can be added to a PC or broadband network means you can use it to either stream in multimedia files from your PC or access Sony's Bravia Internet Video service.
The variety of file formats the TV can support is pretty robust, but the real star of the multimedia show has to be the Bravia Internet Video service. This is arguably the best online TV platform around, at least to the extent that it delivers so much of the sort of video content that appears best-suited to an 'Internet on your TV' experience.
Highlights include the BBC iPlayer and Demand 5 catch-up services, a Sky News video headline 'app', Sony's Qriocity movie database, a Sony TV 'archive', and LoveFilm. Even the pretty expansive raft of more 'b-list'/minority interest video services have more gems tucked away in them than you find with rival online video services.
Add in Skype, Facebook, Twitter, the music 'arm' of Qriocity and an open Web browser, and the 46HX923 really does offer an awful lot of 'extra-curricular' activities to keep you busy. Though this does also create a couple of usability problems, covered later in the Ease of Use section.

3D and video processing

The 46HX923 inevitably carries 3D playback capabilities. And as Sony has yet to jump aboard the passive 3D bandwagon, the 46HX923's 3D talents are of the active, full HD variety, with two pairs of Sony's chunky but actually reasonably comfortable glasses thrown in for 'free'.
Furthermore, unlike some of Sony's 2010 3D sets, the 46HX923's 3D transmitter is built into the main TV body, rather than being an optional external extra.
Another sign of the 46HX923's flagship status comes from its video processing. For it boasts both X-Reality Pro (the top tier of Sony's new X-Reality engine) and MotionFlow 800Hz, which uses a combination of a 200Hz panel, a scanning backlight and frame interpolation processing to deliver an 800Hz-like effect.
The Pro bit of X-Reality Pro refers to an extra bit of processing power especially designed to work its magic on internet video sources.
Sony doesn't trouble itself to seek the endorsement of any third party picture 'authorities' such as the Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) or THX. But this doesn't mean that the 46HX923 isn't well equipped with calibration tools - even if some of them (particularly the 'colour management' system) are rather non-standard in their presentation.
There's certainly enough setting flexibility to get pictures looking either very close to the key video standards if that's the way you like things, or very dynamic and punchy if you prefer to go that way. Or both if you like different settings for different types of viewing.

Picture performance

For much of the time, the 46HX923's pictures are very good indeed - outstanding, even. As with previous Sony direct LED sets, for instance, the 46HX923 is capable of producing some very rich, deep black colours. Not on a par with the very best plasma TVs or Philips' recently reviewed 46PFL9706H, but a notch above anything you'll get from any of this year's edge LED TVs - even Samsung's.
The local dimming aspect to the TV's direct LED system, moreover, allows the 46HX923's deep black colours to be accompanied simultaneously - within the same frame - by very punchy colours and crisp, pure whites. In other words, there's no requirement to dim the overall brightness of the image to achieve a good black colour.
Local dimming can sometimes lead to shadow detail getting crushed out of the picture during dark scenes. But the 46HX923's brightness/contrast balance seems well judged, ensuring that even the darkest corners still contain enough low-light detail to avoid looking hollow and/or flat.

Colour

Sony's very first direct LED TVs suffered with a slightly green undertone at times. But this is not the case with the 46HX923, which instead pumps out really bright, vibrant but also natural colour tones across an impressively wide spectrum. There's almost infinite subtlety in the way colours are portrayed too, with immaculate blends and a strong sense of depth to objects and people, even when you're only watching in 2D.
Having said that the best plasma sets can produce deeper blacks than the 46HX923, it's only fair to stress that the 46HX923 can outgun plasma screens with its brightness.
Sony can generally be relied on to deliver excellent HD sharpness with its relatively high-end TVs, and the 46HX923 fits the bill perfectly. Turning off all the available motion processing reveals the set to have a pretty impressive innate response time that means there's only the faintest trace of resolution loss over moving objects.
Even so, it's good to see that the motion processing options the set offers are unusually assured in that - provided you stick with their lower 'power' settings - they are subtle in the way they work and don't throw up lots of unwanted side effects. So they're at least worth experimenting with, rather than just being better off avoided entirely as can often be the case with motion processing systems.

Standard definition

While the 46HX923 is clearly at its best with HD material, it's a more than solid standard def performer too. The X-Reality Pro engine is extremely able when it comes to adding detail to standard def sources without exaggerating noise - even when handling the often heavily compressed material you get from the Internet.
Colours are perhaps not quite as natural as they are with HD, but this isn't a big deal really, and doesn't stop standard def images from being perfectly enjoyable to watch.
There are a couple of issues to report with the 46HX923's 2D images, though: one predictable, the other weird. The predictable one is that very bright objects can exhibit a little 'haloing' when they appear against dark backgrounds. This is caused by the number of dimmable LED clusters not being numerous enough to deliver pixel-precise levels of light accuracy, and it's an issue found to some extent on all local dimming direct LED TVs.
The key point, though, is that the extent of the haloing is sufficiently limited and its brightness sufficiently low-level that it's seldom seriously distracting.
The weird issue is the appearance at the left and right edges of the screen of faint dark seams. These vertical lines appear about a cm from the screen's edges and are around half a centimetre across. Their location at the periphery of the image and their subtlety means you certainly aren't always aware of them, by any means. But they could become one of those things that you can't stop yourself looking out for.

3D performance

Turning finally to 3D, the 46HX923's extreme brightness, strong colours and rich contrast serve it well, allowing its 3D image to look dynamic and engaging even though Sony's chunky but reasonably comfortable 3D glasses are usually considered to take more brightness out of images than most.
So far as issues with the 46HX923's 3D pictures are concerned, the set could perhaps work a bit harder to compensate for the colour shift introduced by the active shutter glasses. You also have to sit with your head bolt upright, for otherwise the picture can be tinted red or blue if you tip your head one way or the other.
By far the biggest problem, though, is that the 46HX923's 3D images suffer with crosstalk. In other words, it's routine to see double ghosting around some objects in 3D frames, especially those in dark backgrounds.
This blurring of dark backgrounds has been alarmingly common with 2011's active 3D TVs, and it really needs to be sorted out on 2012's sets if active 3D is to continue claiming the high ground against LG's rival passive 3D technology.

Sound, value and ease of use

Sound quality

Perhaps because the 46HX923 has a little more depth to play with than many premium TVs, it manages to produce a well-rounded sound performance with a fairly open mid-range that makes it very comfortable indeed to listen to - at least with relatively straightforward material.
Loud action scenes expose a little shrillness at the upper end of the spectrum and a very clear limit to the TV's bass handling capabilities, but the 46HX923 overall certainly sounds much better than the flat TV average.

Value

Considering how well it's built, how many features its got, how good its 2D performance is and how relatively expensive its all-important direct LED lighting is to manufacture, the 46HX923 seems fairly priced.
In fact, its price seems considerably more than reasonable if you also factor in the current promotions Sony is running with the TV, namely: giving away two pairs of active shutter glasses for free; bundling the necessary external camera for Skype; giving you £150 cashback if you send in a claim form before January 31st 2012; and most remarkably of all, allowing you to claim a free PS3 console with Uncharted 3 and two 3D Harry Potter Blu-rays!
Please note, though, that the PS3 offer only runs until December 12th...
The only pity is that you're paying for 3D pictures that can vary between very good and merely average, depending on what's being shown.

Ease of use

Given that the 46HX923 is Sony's flagship TV, it's a touch disappointing to find that it only gets Sony's standard remote control. There's nothing wrong with this remote per se; in fact it's rather well laid out and quite comfortable to hold. But it does feel a bit lightweight and plasticky, and so doesn't seem a good fit for the more opulent build quality of the TV.
There's also work for Sony to do with its TVs' onscreen menus. The main menu system is poorly presented, with too much reliance on obscure and small icons, too much scrolling through long lists of submenus, and seemingly little discernible logic to the way the menu lists are ordered.
The Bravia Internet Video menus, meanwhile, are thankfully a big improvement over the pretty hopeless efforts of Sony's 2010 TVs. Yet they're still less intuitive, attractive and efficient than those of the latest 'Smart TV' systems from Samsung and LG - despite not being clogged up as some rival systems are by swarms of largely pointless apps...
There are some ways in which the 46HX923 is pretty easy to use, though. For a start, it's more sensible with its picture preset modes than many rivals, which will doubtless appeal to people who have no interest whatsoever in endlessly fine-tuning settings for themselves.
It also works harder than most to help you economise, particularly with its presence sensor, which can turn the screen off automatically to save power if it detects that nobody is in the room while the TV is on.
Finally, it's good to find that a reasonable selection of features - including the brilliantly fun Track ID system that automatically identifies with startling accuracy any songs that might be playing on a TV show you're watching - can be accessed directly from the remote, without you having to resort all the time to the fiddly menus.

Verdict

The 46HX923 is designed to be Sony's 'statement' TV for 2011, sporting its fullest feature count in terms of picture technology and multimedia support. Its most important high-end touch is its uses of direct LED lighting, which experience has shown can deliver a truly premium level of performance.
It also looks lovely in its 'Monolithic' clothes, and ticks pretty much all our multimedia boxes with its video-rich Bravia Internet Video online service, DLNA support, USB playback, and USB HDD recording from the Freeview HD tuner.
As you would expect of a flagship TV this year, the 46HX923 also has active 3D support, with two glasses thrown in for free. Actually, the set's appeal is currently - though only for a little bit longer!! - greatly enhanced by further deals including cashback, free Skype cameras, and even a free PS3.

We liked

The 46HX923's design is very classy, and we're loving some of the limited offers Sony is currently providing with this TV - though the PS3 one may well have expired (forms have to be in by December 12th) by the time you're reading this.
The set's 2D picture quality is very good indeed too for the most part, especially where contrast is concerned, and its online video service remains the most broadly watchable of all the current 'smart TV' systems.
The screen's inherent brightness and colour richness serves it well when watching 3D too.

We disliked

3D pictures are fairly routinely troubled by obvious crosstalk noise. Also, there's a faint but still sometimes noticeable 'seam' just inside the left and right sides of the picture that once spotted can become increasingly annoying.
Sony's current operating system needs a revamp too, as it struggles to cope comfortably with all the features the set carries.

Final verdict

The 46HX923 mostly does a good 'flagship' job of showcasing Sony's TV talents this year. Its design oozes understated elegance, its connectivity is excellent, and its feature count is long, headed up by such key findings as direct LED lighting, active 3D support, a high-level video processing system, and what remains in some ways the best online video service in town.
Its 2D pictures are mostly outstanding, meanwhile, with vivid colours, a deep black response, a wide contrast range, excellent sharpness and good motion handling.
The 46HX923 falls frustratingly short of bagging an unqualified recommendation, though, on account mostly of crosstalk with 3D and some curious 'shadowy lines' down each of the TV's sides.

DSLRs banned from London tourist attraction

A historic tube station in Aldwych, which is a popular tourist destination, has banned the use of digital SLR cameras by visitors.
Now out of use, the station, which charges £20 for entry, has been used in a number of films and television programmes. A sign appeared outside the station reading "Due to their combination of high-quality sensor and high resolution, digital SLR cameras are unfortunately not permitted inside the station."
While many tourist destinations have a number of differing restrictions on photography, including not using flash or not taking photographs altogether, digital SLR cameras are not usually specifically banned from such places. Other areas, such as music venues have been known to ban DSLRs to prevent commercial photographers without a license or pemit from photographing acts.

Non DSLR cameras

The sign points out the "high quality sensor and high resolution" as the problem, but many non-DSLR cameras also feature such technology, including compact system cameras or the Fuji X100 which features an APS-C sized sensor in a compact body.
As the station is private property, the owners are free to make whichever restrictions they like, but it's likely many will worry about these kind of restrictions becoming more commonplace, especially as technology improves, and presumably has a negative impact on postcard sales.

Review: Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime

Overview

The burning question with the Asus Eee Pad Transformer prime release, as with any tablet, is this: is it better than the Apple iPad 2?
The immediate follow-up question is usually a bit less thrilling: can it beat the reigning champion of Android tablets, the super-slim and light Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1?
We'll explore both questions in depth, but for those whole don't like to wait around for the punch line, we'll say that the super-thin and light Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime might just be the best tablet ever made.
But first, the basics - in the UK, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime will go on sale in January 2012. There's only going to be one version over here, which is a 32GB SKU bundled with the keyboard,a charger, cleaning cloth, USB cable and earbuds.
This bundle will cost you £499, which is £70 more than the 16GB tablet-keyboard bundle that theoriginal Eee Pad Transformer came in when it launched earlier in 2011.
The most important spec on the new Transformer is the Nvidia Tegra 3 processor. Everything amazing about the Prime tablet rests on this quad-core, 1.3GHz chip.
HD videos play smoother (and longer, with up to 12 hours of battery use for video) than ever before. Games suddenly look fluid and dynamic, with water ripple effects, smoke, fog and explosions that mimic what you'd normally find in a PC game.
Asus eee pad transformer prime review

The super-crisp IPS display, which is similar to the one used on the iPad 2, is refreshingly easy on the eyes even in outdoor locations or with incandescent bulbs blazing around you.
The rear 8MP camera is a wonder of engineering. In several tests, HD videos recorded at 1080p looked smooth and clear, unlike the grainier results from the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Even the 1.2MP front-facing camera worked well for video chats, without the typical fuzziness of other tablets.
The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime also includes a free intuitive Asus webstorage app for offloading your files, and you can pop in a microSD card in a left-side slot up to 32GB each.

All of the typical connection options are here: Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1, a 3.5mm headphone jack on the right and a micro HDMI port (also on the left) for connecting to an HD TV.
The 263 x 180.8 x 8.3mm tablet is wider than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, although the screen, at 1280 x 800p resolution and 10.1 inches, is the same size.

At 586g, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is lighter than the iPad 2 but a touch heavier than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, although nobody will notice a few grams.
It's also the thinnest tablet on the market today, bar none.

The 25Wh lithium-polymer battery lasts for about nine hours on a charge for normal use. Asus claims a battery life of 12 hours if you watch mostly videos, because of the way the Tegra 3 manages power.
The tablet comes running Android 3.2 Honeycomb, but Asus says it's compatible with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, if you wish to upgrade when the update becomes available next year.

Features and interface

Features

We said up front that we will answer questions about whether the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime beats the Apple iPad 2 and the leading Android tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. Truth be told, some of the factors that will help you decide between the three similar tablets are subtle, yet important.
Let's start with the hardware design. All three tablets look remarkably similar. An untrained eye wouldn't know the difference between them.

Turn the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime over on its back, and there's a silver back cover that looks much more durable than the white plastic back of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and grey back of the iPad 2. The front IPS screen, made with Gorilla Glass, is also durable and sharp.
There's a proprietary charge port below the main horizontal screen on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime. This is the same port you use to pop the device into the laptop dock.

There are two extra ports that secure the tablet to the dock, and when housed that way, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime works reliably as a touchscreen laptop.
The dock isn't ideal for long typing sessions, and matches the quality of other lapdocks such as the one for the Motorola Atrix 2. In other words, they are functional and provide a mouse pad, quick access function keys, a USB port and an SD memory card slot. But otherwise it doesn't match the responsive typing of a regular full notebook computer.

Some of the port covers on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime's dock are a bit hard to remove. For example, the one that covers the USB port might require some prying loose with a knife.
Overall, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is easy to handle. It's wider than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, so is easier to grip, with a slightly wider bezel. But it seems a bit less portable for that reason as well.

The back is metallic and durable, but not exactly scratch or smudge-resistant, as we found out. The Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 has a bit more of a pick-up and go feel to it only because the Asus is wider and felt just a hair wider and longer.
Asus eee pad transformer prime review

Interface

Asus packed some choice extras onto the Eee Pad Transformer Prime, but generally stuck to the basic Android 3.2 Honeycomb user interface. In fact, there are just a few extra widgets for quickly reading your emails, seeing the weather forecast and controlling music tracks.
There's a goofy app called MyZine that automatically adds your photos into a magazine-like layout, but it has a limited purpose and might be the first one you drag to the trash.
There are no extra app widgets like there are on the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet for adding favorites to an app wheel or an app launcher. Frankly, these additions offer a nebulous value beyond the stock operating system.
Asus eee pad transformer prime review

Asus used a slightly modified treatment for the bottom row of icons. There's a back button, a home button and a pop-up multitasking button that shows you open apps and enables you to switch between them. Here you can also click a small X that shuts down any open app to save memory.
There's not too much more to say about the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime's interface, because Asus kept things simple. There are no extra tools for storing apps like there is on the Toshiba AT100 (known as the Toshiba Thrive in the US), but some of those enhancements don't really add to the value anyway. The simple core Android OS makes the Prime easy to use.

Market and apps

Android Market and Apps

The Android Market included on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime has been upgraded with a new interface that is surpassingly easy to use. Following the lead of the well-designed HP TouchPad app store, there are panels with rich photos that draw your eye and make you want to purchase more apps. The new look also mimics the Windows Phone 7 look, in that it is image-centric to draw the eye.
Asus eee pad transformer prime review

Of course, once you drill into the Market a bit you will realise that this glossy magazine-like front-end interface is just icing on the old cake - the Market works about the same as always. You can rent movies and television shows through the Market as you can on other recent tablets.
Where Asus scores extra points is with the included apps. It has quite outdone itself for this model.
Asus eee pad transformer prime review

First, there's a MyLibrary app for ebooks, magazines and newspapers. Then not quite as extensive as the Amazon Kindle Store (OK, far less extensive), the Asus @Vibe store, which is really just a portal to Versent Books, lets you buy major bestsellers such as John Grisham's The Litigators.
Asus eee pad transformer prime review

Pricing is suspiciously the same as most Amazon Kindle store bestsellers. Some books were noticeably missing, including the latest Michael Lewis book called Boomerang, which is featured prominently in the Kindle store.
Asus eee pad transformer prime review

Asus @Vibe Music is a welcome addition. With functionally similar to the Google Music app, this music app works like Last.fm in that you can search for an artist and play their songs.
Asus eee pad transformer prime review

Each "station" lets you play random songs by that artist. The @Vibe store also lets you play songs you have purchased from the Asusvibe.com store, as long as you have used a supported Asus laptop or netbook.
Asus eee pad transformer prime review

Asus MyCloud is a handy cloud storage portal similar to Dropbox. You can use 2GB of storage for free, or pay about US$9 for three months of unlimited storage. Keep in mind, though, that the service limits file size to 500MB per file for the free account.
Also, while the app lets you offload files to the cloud, you can also access files on one computer that is sharing files through the service.
The Asus MyNet app works exactly like the Samsung Allshare service, in that you can set up a connection to and from another computer on the same router network to share music, photos and videos. We tested the app with a Sony all-in-one desktop PC and could easily share files between the tablet and the desktop computer.

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime we tested also came pre-loaded with a wide selection of pre-release Tegra 3 games, including BladeSlinger, ShadowGun and Davinci THD. These titles will be available through an app portal called the TegraZone, and generally cost about the same as normal Android games.

One important point to make about gaming on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is that the games look astounding - the best we have seen on any tablet. ShadowGun in particular uses water effects that look ultra-realistic for a portable device (although nothing like, say, Battlefield 3 on a console).

The most interesting comparison we discovered was between the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime playing the same game, Riptide. On the Prime, the water effects were much more convincing, with waves flowing back and forth and whitecaps that change as you drive your jet ski.
At the same time, the Apple iPad 2 may not play games as smoothly, but there is a much wider selection of games, and many are arguably more in-depth. For example, the gameplay for Infinity Blade II on the iPad 2 is far more advanced, with magic ring power-ups, duel-wielding options and collectible gems.
Many of the games on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime are more like visual effects demos, with limited gameplay value.

Screen

The 1280 x 800 resolution, 10.1-inch screen on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is sharp and easy to read.
We had no complaints reading an entire ebook on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime and browsing dozens of websites. Finger swipes and presses registered accurately, and typing was fast and responsive.
Asus chose to use a Super IPS display for the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime, and there are pros and cons with this.

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is not as bright, colourful, or crisp as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, so if you plan to watch movies and view photos routinely, the Samsung is the better tablet.
In comparing the exact same videos and photos on both devices, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime has a slightly dull and washed out look. The Apple iPad 2 looks marginally better than the Prime (they both use IPS displays) but not as vivid as the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Clearly, Asus decided to make functionality a higher priority than superior colour reproduction.
The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime works better than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in a variety of lighting conditions. There's even a super-bright outdoor mode that makes the display easier to read.
There is much less glare on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, which means the screen works better, for reading emails and books and for browsing the web.

Unlike some recent tablets, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime doesn't use haptic feedback for the keyboard or for any parts of the touchscreen. Presumably this is a trade-off with the IPS screen tech that makes it easier to view the tablet from an angle or to view the screen in bright sunlight or by a lamp.
It didn't hamper the experience of using the tablet, though some users might find that haptic feedback on other tablets gives you a tactile sense that the tablet has registered your finger press.
One surprise is that the screen uses an oleophobic fingerprint-resistant coating. Even more surprising is that it actually works. The chemical agent reduced grime and finger print build-up. We found that movie-watching was more enjoyable when there wasn't a thin residue coating parts of the screen.

Usability

The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is one of the most user-friendly tablets we've tested, and matches up easily with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Apple iPad 2 in terms of portability, user interface and media playback.
Between the three tablets, the only major difference is that the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is just a little wider and longer, even though the screens are all the same size. That's not a negative pronouncement, and in fact means the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is a bit easier to grasp for long web browsing sessions or for watching movies.
The original Asus Eee Pad Transformer felt bulky, overly thick and designed from a bygone age of Windows slates.

Asus skipped any dramatic interface enhancements and sticks to the basic Android 3.2.1 Honeycomb user interface. That means three buttons for navigating back, home, and to a pop-up app list on the lower left.
Asus eee pad transformer prime review

The newly designed pop-up menu on the lower left (which shows a taskbar for time, app downloads and open apps) is a pleasant departure, though. You can quickly see the Wi-Fi network you are using, your battery level and access settings.
There are three icons you can use to set the power level - eco mode, balanced and performance. You can also enable screen rotation, check Wi-Fi level and enable Bluetooth connections. There's an option for setting the brightness level, or using auto, and enabling the outdoor brightness.
Otherwise, this pop-up then shows notifications about recent downloads, schedule reminders and email alerts. You can also view Gmail chat messages here. In general, the new design for this pop-up works remarkably well for controlling basic functions on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime. The pop-up is well-designed as well.

One gripe, though, has to do with accessories. Sure, there is a lapdock included as a bundle for the UK version. However, the Apple iPad 2 offers many more choices for docking stations, covers, cases and even microphones you plug into the 30-pin connector.
The original Asus Eee Pad Transformer didn't become iconic in the sense that hardware accessory companies started making add-on devices for it. The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime may catch on, but we doubt it will develop the widespread third-party support that the iPad 2 enjoys, or even come close.
Battery life
For battery life, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime lasted about nine hours on a charge. We noticed that, when playing HD videos, the tablet lasted even longer than that, due to how the Tegra 3 manages power.

Media

Our first experience with media files was a bit of a letdown. We download the movie Conanthrough the Android Market and were greeted by an error message. Asus said it must be a Google problem, but the same file and same Android version on the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 worked fine.
Asus eee pad transformer prime review

Otherwise, all of our media tests were blazingly fast, smooth and played without any problems. One of the most impressive tests was for the Battleship trailer, which used a high frame rate, looked colourful and clear, and played in full 1080p resolution. Every video we tested played smooth and fast.
Music playback on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime also worked reliably and sound quality was excellent.

Like most tablets, the speaker on the Prime isn't exactly state-of-the-art quality, and is only serviceable in a pinch when you absolutely can't use headphones. Yes that is just the one speaker, instead of the two speakers we saw on the side of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
That said, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is just a bit louder than both the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Apple iPad 2 when we cranked up the volume, even if the sound quality wasn't that great and sounded a bit distorted at times.
No tablet on the market has really exceptional sound, though, and the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is in the same league.

Camera

Photos we took with the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime looked clear and colourful.
In a few cases, the colours weren't as vivid as those taken with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, but they were always sharper than the somewhat blurry images we took with the Apple iPad 2. All three tablets were used for the same photo comparisons below.
Taken with the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime...

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Taken with the Apple iPad 2

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Taken with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1...

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Asus doesn't offer any extended features for taking photos on the Eee Pad Transformer Prime, but you can change basic settings such as white balance and choose from a few scene modes including Indoors or Night.
None of the settings really add to the value of the camera or compete with a more powerful smartphone or digital camera. Photos, like the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime's screen, tended to look a bit washed out but still useable.
The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime has a much faster shutter release than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. However, the focus wasn't always as reliable. The Samsung tablet tends to focus slowly, but the results are sharper Asus.

See full-res image

Video

YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0bsHgWZQo4

One initial complaint when shooting video with the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime was that, when we recorded a 1080p video with the tablet, we noticed a few stuttering problems during recording. But playback of this file was smooth and didn't have any stuttering.
Asus recommended we try again without any apps running in the background, and the test recording didn't stutter at all when doing this, with smooth-as-butter playback.
Recorded videos also looked super-crisp, which is an important finding compared to the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, which tends to film grainy and almost unusable videos.
As it stands, no tablet is ideal for shooting photos or recording video, because you can't hold the device in a way that makes it easy to capture stills or video - there is often a shaky-cam look no matter how you hold them. The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is no different, although the somewhat more rigid design and wider bezel makes it a hair easier to grip.
In one case, while shooting a video, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime suddenly went in and out of focus sporadically, trying to focus on the subject. The problem never happened again, though.

Verdict

Is there any reason not to rush right out and get the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime when it starts shipping in January?
Not really. The Prime is an outstanding Android 3.2 tablet.
It is also the first tablet to use the Nvidia Tegra 3 processor for faster gaming, better movie playback, and long battery life.
The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is light and thin, with a durable design that will withstand a few spills, and even a drop or two. The device uses an understated slim design with a metallic back cover that seems durable.
The included Asus first-party apps add to the value: they enable you to store files in the cloud, buy music and books, and stream content from a desktop or laptop computer on the same network.
The two major reasons we would avoid this model are relatively minor.
One is that the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 does have a brighter, more colourful screen. Games and movies tend to pop off the screen in a more vivid way than they do on the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime. This is a trade-off though, because the Prime is also easier to view in direct light or from a side angle.
The other reason to delay an impulse purchase has to do with apps. Asus does include quite a few compelling first-party apps, and they make the device more enticing.
That's all well and good, but the Apple iPad 2 is still a better choice if you prefer quality apps that offer unique features. For example, many of the games on the iPad are superior to the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime in terms of gameplay options and variety.

We liked

More than any other spec, we liked the Tegra 3 processor on this tablet. It's fast and nimble, pumping new life into apps we've used for the past nine months and speeding up the operating system overall. HD movies played smooth and fast, without the typical stuttering (for the most part) of other tablets.
The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is one light and thin tablet. In fact, it's the thinnest tablet available. Any thinner and we'd start wondering about durability.
Battery life was good, at about nine hours, and video playback lasts up to 12 hours.
Games were visually superior to every other tablet. Smoke and water effects looked convincing, and frame rates were exceptionally high. Most apps ran faster than we've seen on any other Android tablet, without any stuttering, memory pauses, or crashes of any kind.
The lapdock, which is included in a bundle for the UK and sold separately in the US, is a smart addition. It turns the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime into a notebook for typing longer documents in a pinch, and has a built-in mouse pad and USB port.

We disliked

We're fans of the IPS display tech, because it means getting more use out of tablets in a variety of lighting conditions and at a side viewing angle, but the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime's screen is still just slightly less colourful than the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
To test this theory, we asked various people in the office to give us their first response to the same photo on both tablets, and everyone said they preferred the Samsung's screen.
There's also still a lingering question about apps compared to those available for the iPad 2. We just can't get around the fact that the iPad has superior apps - one called Djay that works like a real DJ turntable, the Apple first-party apps such as GarageBand and Keynote, games such as Infinity Blade II that offer deeper gameplay and so on.
Asus can't do too much about this problem, but if you want to have the best apps for a tablet, the iPad 2 is a better choice.
Of course, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime won't attract nearly as many third-party hardware companies to make add-ons for the device, even if Asus does offer a handy lapdock accessory. That's not a ding against the Transformer per se, but a praise for how popular the iPad has become.
Camera and video quality were good, but we ran into a few snags here and there. The resulting photos were usually sharp and focused, but not as colourful as those taken with the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Final verdict

There's a nagging sense with the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime that holds us back from declaring a sweeping victory compared to the Apple iPad 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Overall, when you consider the specs, we know the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is the better tablet. For hardcore tech enthusiasts, this is the tablet you want, because it has the latest next-gen processor and supports true HD movie recording and playback.
For the masses, and just for the overall top spot in the tablet market, the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime can't compete with the iPad 2 for app selection and quality.
And we have to give the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 the nod for a superior screen. That's hugely important: the screen is what you look at all day.
The Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime is faster than any tablet, and matches the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and the Apple iPad 2 for size and weight.
But we can't quite declare the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime the winner overall. The iPad 2 still has that honour.
For Android tablets, we'll say that the faster, lighter Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime ties with the excellent-screened Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1.

XXX web domains now available to all

The ICM Registry has decided to open up the web's seedier side to all and has made the .XXX domain available to all.
Domain names are available on a (snigger) first come, first served basis and there are approximately 100,000 domains which have gone live.
Speaking about the availability of the new domains, Stuart Lawley, CEO of ICM Registry, said: "While adult entertainment is enjoyable to many adults, it is not appropriate for all audiences.
"We created .XXX to address the unique needs of the online adult entertainment industry. The public response has been overwhelming as consumers and the adult entertainment providers are excited about the benefits and infinite possibilities of .XXX."

X rated

One major detractor of the .XXX domain is, well, a big chunk of the pornography industry.
There's been something of a backlash from porn websites which believe that by segregating the web in this way will be detrimental to the income created from websites with adult content.
One of the bonuses, however, of signing up to the domain is that it is regulated. According to the ICM Registry, all sites will be 'wiped clean' of viruses as they are McAfee Malware scanned.
Head over to the ICM Registry now where they have an aptly blue-tinged countdown to the 'unleashing' .XXX websites which at time of writing was a mere 80 minutes away.

Review: Epson Moverio BT-100

Overview and features

Picture the scene: you're in an aircraft cabin, pulling the long haul.
The colour is draining not only from your face but also from that cheap LCD screen in the seat in front of you. Suddenly a cinema screen rolls down and a 3D movie starts to play, but only to you – and you even manage to see the drinks trolley in your peripheral vision.
Forget virtual reality; Epson's newest innovation – on sale now in Japan, and destined for the UK early in 2012 – is designed to create a portable, transparent home cinema experience for bored business travellers, though there's more to it than mere movies.
Armed with a Wi-Fi connection, the Moverio BT-100 can get online, and though it's not possible to download apps and games, its browser does support Adobe Flash video (as well as MPEG and H-264 videos manually transferred via a PC).
The BT-100 runs an Android operating system. Version 2.2, to be exact, though it's customised so much that it will be unfamiliar to most. It is controlled using a touch sensitive trackpad, which also houses a 4GB SD card to go with the internal 1GB of memory.
Battery life is rated at about six hours, and the product ships with a neat black carry case (though the whole package is rather large).
business travelers

As a portable home cinema, the BT-100 is rather behind the times in featuring a 960x540 pixel resolution for each eye, which is a quarter the resolution of a full HD image.
Is the BT-100 a direct rival to Sony's HMZ-T1? It's bound to be endlessly compared, but they're different beasts; the HMZ-T1 is about total immersion, and probably has a gaming future, while the lighter BT-100 is more mobile (the clue is in the 'Moverio' moniker) and doesn't give such a closed experience.
In short, Epson's effort is no 'Personal 3D Viewer' – it's actually marketed as the 'first consumer see-through mobile viewer'.

Performance and verdict

Put the BT-100 on and it immediately feels different to Sony's effort. For a start, it's lighter, and doesn't have as much weight on the front, something that makes it easier to wear for longer periods.
That's not to say that this headset is exactly comfortable. Most of the electronics appear to be in each side, which is also where both the headphones and the cables protrude from.
The headphones are of generic design, and quality, but could – theoretically – be upgraded. They are supplied separately as single earpieces that attach to each arm of the BT-100, each with a cable about two inches long.
As far as cables are concerned, that's just the beginning; you also have to put up with a thick cable from each arm that stretches down to the smartphone-sized trackpad.
Using that rather old-fashioned looking trackpad is easy enough, and swiping through the Android carousel-style interface is a cinch. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi was disabled on our review product – an early prototype – so we were not able to test the BT-100's web browsing capabilities.
However, we were able to call up the browser and inspect the setup process, which is almost identical to a smartphone running Android. Besides, we can't see the point of web browsing on video glasses – especially on some that are aimed at business travellers on long haul flights.
BT-100 trackpad

Having not thoroughly tested it, we ought not to criticise, but this does appear to be a novelty feature; we all have a touchscreen smartphone in our pocket anyway.
No, the BT-100 is all about video. Where the image appears to be in your field of vision depends on where you look; stare off into the middle distance and you'll see what appears to be a giant cinema screen about 300 inches in diameter, but you can just as easily watch the same image as TV-sized picture on a wall or object a couple of feet in front of you.
It takes a while to get used to, but it made us smile as soon as we put the glasses on – and that's always a good sign, especially for a new genre of gadget.
BT-100 front facing

On our demo product we had several videos pre-installed, including trailers and an MP4 file of Knight & Day. The latter was presented in widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio, and appeared plenty detailed enough, though hardly comparable a Blu-ray disc.
Moverio bt-100

It's not the sharpest image we've seen, and nor was it the most steady – we noticed the odd shudder and blur – but it was comfortable enough for around half and hour of viewing, and on pure video quality actually slightly above our expectations.
It's best used in dim light, but works okay anywhere but the brightest of surroundings – though the smoked glass frontage is best left in place (it can be removed, but with devastating consequences).
Not surprisingly for a product with two eyepieces, the BT-100 can also show 3-D video. However, the native transparency of the product means that watching in 3-D is not as immersive as it could be, though we noticed none of the ghosted images, crosstalk, or brightness issues that blight some 3-D TVs and projectors.
Sadly, it's also not as 3-D as it could be, either; depending on where you aim the product, the picture can appear to be a long way away, but there is little depth within the 3-D image itself – though it is perceptible. Note that the BT-100 is only compatible with the side-by-side 3-D format.
Moverio bt-100 usb

There is, however, one problem with the BT-100 that strikes at its core usefulness for airline passengers. Is it the fact that the transparent image is projected onto random objects – typically super-imposed onto a switched-off LCD screen in the airline seat in front?
Actually, no, we experimented with viewing the image over a host of different objects and in varying degrees of brightness, and although the lines and shape of the background is occasionally obvious (and you would never 'aim' the BT-100 at a window or other light source), that's not the major problem. The big issue is sound.

Take any random long haul cabin and the ambient noise – the engines, the aircon system, the screaming children – can reach 50 decibels. That's why noise cancelling headphones have been such a success in the last five or so years, and they are sorely missed here.
We're not talking bulky, battery driven designs that cost £250; decent, and fairly cheap, earbuds that are capable of blocking out most aircraft sounds should have been provided. Regular business travellers will already have noise cancelling headphones of some kind, so using the BT-100 will mean making a compromise on sound.

Verdict

Without the sense of isolation that blights Sony's effort, Epson's see-through home cinema experience is a tad easier on the senses, though we're not sure the two should be compared too closely.
While Sony's HMZ-T1 is a 3D gaming accessory, the Moverio BT-100 is a business traveller's indulgence, though both are first-gen efforts with significant drawbacks.
As a hands-free alternative to an iPad or smart phone, the BT-100 is a good first effort, though a little rough around the edges – hopefully the second generation attempt will have noise cancelling headphones and a few less cables to contend with.

PSN set for 'best Christmas ever' despite 2011 hack woes

Sony seems to have put this year's mega PlayStation Network outage firmly behind it, revealing that the network is set for its best Christmas ever.
As well as pontificating on just what the company learned from the hacking scandal, as well as pointing out that loads of companies have been hacked this year, not just Sony you know and no credit card details were actually taken and, if you think about it, it's probably not really Sony's fault at all, Sony Network Entertainment head Tim Shaaf explained that the only way is up for the PSN.

Those pesky hackers

"We had a kind of a wake up call in terms of the nature of the [hacking] community we have to deal with, but I think this is going to be a fact of life as we go forward," he said, speaking at a roundtable event that TechRadar attended.
"We're not going to let it slow things down. We were, of course, concerned that customers wouldn't come back to the network, but the vast majority of customers came back right away.
"And since then many more customers have joined – in fact, we'll have our best Christmas ever this year. As far as customers are concerned, the balance of benefit and risk isn't skewed to risk side.
"There's just unquenchable thirst for this internet stuff."
Yes, that internet stuff is mighty compelling. Sony reckons it will release around 300 million new devices in the next couple of years, and it hopes to make all of them connected to its streaming services offered on the PlayStation Network, as well as opening its doors to devices on other platforms.
The PlayStation suite is already on its way to non-Sony-made Android phones, while plans for music streaming via Music Unlimited on iOS devices will also be revealed soon.

In Depth: Apple iTV rumours: what you need to know

Apple iTV rumours: what you need to know

We love our Apple TV, but we're not sure Apple does: the firm's more interested in getting iPads into your living room than Apple TVs under your flat screen.
It turns out that that's because Apple is thinking bigger. Much, much bigger: it wants to sell you the entire TV set, not a little box beneath it.
Apple iTV design
Forget the current hockey-puck form factor: the rumour mill is unanimous that the third generation Apple TV will be a proper TV.
The Telegraph says that "sources within the company" say that Jeff Robbin, the man who helped create the iPod, is leading the team.
Remember that hockey puck we told you to forget about two sentences ago? You might want to remember it again, because 9to5Mac has found a reference to a new Apple TV (AppleTV3,1; the current model is 2,1) in the latest build of iOS. That could indicate an upgrade to the current Apple TV before the new sets ship.
Engadget predicts an A5 processor and 1080p video.
Apple iTV specifications
Australian tech site Smarthouse says that the Apple iTV will come in three sizes, including 32" and 55" models. Sources at "a major Japanese company who are involved in manufacturing the TV" reckon the sets will have the same processor as the forthcoming iPad 3, which presumably means an Apple A6.
Smarthouse isn't usually the go-to site for Apple rumours, but its report echoes similar claims by respected Apple analyst Gene Munster, who told the recent Future of Media conference that Apple will make its TV in a range of sizes.
Apple iTV operating system
As with the current generation, the third generation Apple TV is likely to run iOS, albeit in slightly disguised form. Compatibility with other iOS devices is a given: current Apple TVs already accept video streamed via AirPlay and access shared iTunes libraries. We'll be amazed if the iTV doesn't get apps.
Apple iTV and iCloud
Steve Jobs told his biographer: "I'd like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use. It would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud. It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine. I finally cracked it."
Apple iTV remote control
Munster says the iTV will come with an ordinary remote control, and will be controllable with iPhones, iPod touches and iPads, but the real remote control will be Siri.
Apple's voice recognition system will be the heart of the new Apple TV, enabling you to choose channels and control the TV's functions with voice alone. That means " the simplest user interface you could imagine" is voice.
Apple iTV programmes
While the iTV will get content from iTunes and iCloud, it's not going to be completely separate from current TV broadcasters: Munster says that you'll still need a cable TV subscription and decoder because Apple doesn't have enough content.
Apple iTV price
Gene Munster reckons that the iTV will be twice the price of a similarly sized TV.
Apple iTV release date
Most rumours predict a 2013 Apple iTV release date, but the more optimistic observers think Apple won't want to miss 2012's Christmas shopping season. The New York Times says that price, not technology, is the problem: Apple is waiting for the cost of large LCD panels to fall further before building iTVs.

TVs and cars are the future of music streaming, says Sony

Having taken care of games consoles, smartphone and tablets, Sony reckons that televisions and cars are the next bastion of music streaming.
Speaking at a roundtable discussion TechRadar attended about the future of the digital music sphere, Tim Shaaf, president of Sony Network Entertainment, cited research that suggests 161 million people will be subscribed to a digital music service by 2016.
And alongside hardware bundles and ad-funded enticements, it's televisions and cars that will boost that figure over the next five years.
"It's clear from all our research that people are listening to music at home and in their living rooms, which is why we started this service in the living room," he said, alluding to Sony's Music Unlimited service which is available over the PlayStation Network.
"But getting people used to streaming music through their televisions is the hardest leap to make – we've had so many decades of training about how it works and how it fits into your lifestyle."

Doin' swell

And what of the automobiles? "We're extremely excited about this because customers make choices about which cars to buy based on entertainment. It's a huge opportunity," said Schaaf.
"But it's going to take time as you have to solve complicated connectivity issues, ensure driver safety… but it's coming."
Omnifone, the company that powers Sony's Music Unlimited service (as well as providing streaming for BBM Music, HP and Sony Ericsson), agrees that music streaming is about to hit the road:
"Cars and the next really big movement for digital music subscriptions," said CEO Jeff Hughes. "There's a growing acceptance that you have to pay for music – it's a real parallel with the pay TV market – at first there was reluctance but people got used to the idea of paying for extra television channels."

Gaga for gaming

But Universal is looking to social gaming to publicise its digital music offerings, so look out for more Gagaville-style gaming crossovers.
"Zynga has a huge audience and has really cracked the freemium model," said Oliver Barnes, the director of global digital media business at Universal Music Group.
"What it's done is built a really effective pool of users willing to pay for virtual goods online. We're working with a lot of social media gaming companies because they know how to monetise online."

Updated: Best DSLR: top cameras by price and brand

Best Canon DSLRs

Choosing the best DSLR for your needs can be a decision fraught with difficulties, not least because there are so many capable models on the market that it's hard to know which camera is the top digital camera for your needs.
At one end of the scale manufacturers compete fiercely to provide the easiest entry point into DSLR photography, with intelligent exposure modes and in-camera guides to make the journey as painless as possible, while at the other they battle to deliver the most environmentally-sealed, fastest-shooting models complete with high-resolution sensors, detailed LCD screens and, of course, video recording.
Such variety means that the consumer is more likely to end up with a camera tailored to their requirements, but finding the best camera for your needs is a question of weighing the many pros and cons attached to each.
The following guide has been designed to make your decision easier. We've broken down the specs of all the manufacturers' top DSLRs that are current or still available to purchase in order to help you choose the best Canon DSLR, best Nikon DSLR or digital SLR camera from any of the other manufacturers, to suit your needs as a photographer.
Within each section you will find, for instance, the Canon DSLRs' or Nikon DSLRs' key functionality broken out so that you can compare which camera offers the best specs at a glance.
We've also picked out our best digital camera buys for a range of budgets, starting from the novice with some savings to blow through up to the professional who may require a more solid workhorse.
Best Canon DSLRs
What's the best Canon DSLR? In this section we'll take a look at the best Canon DSLRs that are either current models or still available for purchase.
We've included the price, key specs and a short synopsis of each Canon DSLR to give you a better idea of which camera is best for your needs.
Canon EOS 1100D 
Price: £369 (with 18-55mm kit lens), 12.2MP, HD video: 720p 
Best canon dslrs

With its on-screen Features guide and Creative Auto options, the EOS range's most junior member has beginner DSLR users in mind, but it goes on to offer HD video recording and the same 63-area iFCL metering system as seen on the enthusiast EOS 7D.
Read our Canon EOS 1100D  review
Canon EOS 550D 
Price: £540 (with 18-55mm kit lens), 18MP, HD video: 1080p 
Best dslr: top cameras by price and brand

The 550D improves on the pixel count, LCD resolution and burst rate of its EOS 500D predecessor, but with an external microphone socket, variable video frame rates and range of video functionality it's designed with budding Scorsese's firmly in mind.
Read our Canon EOS 550D review
Canon EOS 600D
Price: £599 (with 18-55mm kit lens), 18MP, HD video: 1080p
Best dslr: top cameras by price and brand

Building on the basic specifications of the 550D, the EOS 600D sweetens the deal with an articulated LCD screen, built-in wireless flash control and a handful of funky Creative Filters for instant processing effects. You can even rate your images in-camera should you want to pick out any favourites.
Read our Canon EOS 600D review
Canon EOS 60D
Price: £769 (body only), 18MP, HD video: 1080p 
The sole double-digit EOS member may offer the same 18MP resolution as its cheaper siblings, but with a sturdy aluminium body, pentaprism viewfinder and 5.3fps burst mode it belongs in the hands of the enthusiast.
Read our Canon EOS 60D review
Canon EOS 7D
Price: £1149 (body only), 18MP, HD video: 1080p 
Best dslr: top cameras by price and brand

An 18MP sensor paired with a blisteringly fast 8fps burst rate is just the beginning, as the EOS 7D goes on to list a 100% pentaprism viewfinder, 19-point AF system and dual-axis electronic levelling functionaltity as further incentives over the 5D Mark II.
Read our Canon EOS 7D review
Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Price: £1544 (body only), 21,1MP, HD video: 1080p 

A landmark full-frame model, and successor to the equally revered original EOS 5D, the 5D Mark II boasts a 21.1MP sensor, full HD video recording and a maximum sensitivity of ISO 25,600. Thankfully it's all encased in a water-resistant magnesium-alloy body.
Read our Canon EOS 5D Mark II review
Canon EOS 1D Mark IV 
Price: £3499 (body only), 16.1MP, HD video: 1080p 
The darling of action photographers around the world, the video-equipped EOS 1Ds Mark IV places two DIGIC IV processors in the driving seat to deliver 10fps burst shooting and a maximum sensitivity of ISO 102,400, as well as a 45-point AF system which saturates the frame.
Canon EOS 1Dx
Price: £5299 (body only), 18.1MP, HD video: 1080p
Best dsl: top cameras by price and brand

Canon's amalgamation of its 1D and 1Ds models, the 1Dx aims to cater for a variety of professional users with its EOS 1Dx. Although its resolution is a step down from the 21.1MP of the previous 1Ds Mark III, its 12fps burst mode – expandable to 14fps in the Super High Speed Shooting mode – as well as a 61-point AF system and maximum extended ISO setting of ISO 204,800 set a new standard for the pro market. No doubt Nikon will soon have an answer to this.
Read our Hands on Canon EOS-1Dx review

Best Nikon DSLRs

Best Nikon DSLRs
What's the best Nikon DSLR? In this section we'll take a look at the best Nikon DSLRs that are either current models or still available for purchase.
We've included the price, key specs and a short synopsis of each Nikon DSLR to give you a better idea of which camera is best for your needs.
Nikon D3100
Price: £479 (with 18-55mm kit lens), 14.2MP, HD video: 1080p 
Best dslr: top cameras by price and brand

The D3100 replaces the D3000 as Nikon's most basic DSLR, adding 4.2MP to the sensor and (finally) the ability to shoot Raw and high-quality JPEGs at the same time, as well as the now-standard live view and HD movie recording options.
Read our Nikon D3100 review
Nikon D90
Price: £779 (with 18-105mm kit lens), 12.3MP, HD video: 720p 
Best dslr: top cameras by price and brand

The first DSLR to have been equipped with HD video recording, Nikon's mid-range D90 proves itself to being an all-round capable performer with its high-resolution 3in LCD, 11-point AF system and 4.5fps burst rate. It's not the newest Nikon DSLR, but being bundled with an 18-105mm kit lens does give it a slight edge over the more typical 18-55mm kit packages.
Read our Nikon D90 review
Nikon D5100
Price: £679 (with 18-55mm kit lens), 16.2MP, HD video: 1080p 
Best nikon dslrs

Building on the framework of the D5000, the D5100 adds a larger and more detailed LCD screen which now articulates from the side, and boosts sensor resolution to 16.2MP (matching the D7000). It also provides a series of special effects which may be applied to both images and videos, while further improvements have been made to its video functionality, too.
Read our Nikon D5100 review
Nikon D7000
Price: £949 (body only), 16.2MP, HD video: 1080p 
Best dslr: top cameras by price and brand

Striking a balance between the enthusiast D300s and the ageing D90, the D7000 provides the capable combination of a 39-point AF system, full HD video recording and a sensitivity range up to an equivalent ISO 25,600 setting. Nikon has also been generous enough to throw in two SD card slots and a virtual horizon feature, and even an intervalometer for time-lapse shooting.
Read our Nikon D7000 review
Nikon D300s
Price: £1070 (body only), 12.3MP, HD video: 720p 

The winning formula of the D300 with the added extra of video functionality, the D300s is a solidly-crafted mid-range DSLR. While its focusing system and higher frame rate place it above the cheaper D7000, its resolution and video quality both fall a little short by comparison and an upgrade is beleived to be just around the corner.
Read our Nikon D300s review
Nikon D700
Price: £1899 (body only), 12.1MP, HD video: none 
Best dslr: top cameras by price and brand

It's showing its age a little and the lack of video functionality may put some off, but this solidly-built full-frame model is still a favourite among professionals thanks to its 51-point AF system, wide sensitivity span and 5fps burst shooting. The D700 is wide anticipated to be replaced in the near future.
Read our Nikon D700 review
Nikon D3s
Price: £3548 (body only), 12.1MP, HD video: 720p 
The action photographer's dream, with a blistering 9fps burst mode (which rises to 11fps in the DX format), a 12.1MP sensor and HD movie recording. Other niceties include a viewfinder with 100% coverage, a shutter that is claimed to last for up to 300,000 cycles, and a staggering maximum sensitivity equivalent to ISO 102,400.
Read our Nikon D3s review
Nikon D3x 
Price: £4940 (body only), 24.5MP, HD video: none 
Externally similar to the D3s, but with a higher resolution sensor on the inside to justify the premium of almost £1500. Developed with studio and landscape work more in mind, you also don't get quite as high a frame rate nor as wide a sensitivity range as the D3s, and there's also no video recording.
Read our Nikon D3x  review

Best Sony DSLRs

Best Sony DSLRs
What's the best Sony DSLR? In this section we'll take a look at the best Sony DSLRs that are either current models or still available for purchase.
We've included the price, key specs and a short synopsis of each Sony DSLR to give you a better idea of which camera is best for your needs.
Sony A35
Price: £444 (with 18-55mm kit lens), 16.2MP, HD video: 1080i
Best dslr: top cameras by price and brand

Billed as an upgrade to the A33, but dropping the articulating LCD in favour of a fixed alternative, the A35 brings a newly-designed 16.2MP sensor and Picture Effects for instant creative treatments. The 7fps burst rate is also slightly faster than its predecessor's, although this is only available at a reduced resolution of 8.4MP.
Read our Sony Alpha a35 review
Sony SLT A55 
Price: £600 (with 18-55mm kit lens), 16.2MP, HD video: 1080p 
Best sony dslrs

The A55 works on the same lines as the cheaper A35 but adds GPS functionality, 10fps burst shooting and a more powerful battery. Its construction also allows for continuous focusing while recording movies, something lacking on most DSLRs.
Read our Sony SLT A55  review
Sony A65
Price: £749 (body only), 16.2MP, HD video: 1080p 
Best dslr: top cameras by price and brand

At almost £400 less than the A77 model, but with the same 24.3MP sensor, 2.4million dot OLED viewfinder and 1080p video mode, the A65 may be considered something of a bargain. It's also based on the same SLT design as its senior stablemate, with a semi-translucent mirror enabling full-time phase detection AF.
Read our hands on Sony Alpha 65 review
Sony Alpha a77
Price: £1129 (body only), 16.2MP, HD video: 1080p 
Best dslr: top cameras by brand and price

The flagship model in Sony's SLT series, the A77 combines many of the features found in the cheaper A65 but throws in a faster frame rate and a more sturdily built body into the mix. You also get a additional LCD screen on its top plate, as well as a second command dial and flash sync socket, together with faster flash sync and maximum shutter speeds.
Read our Sony Alpha 77 review
Sony A900
Price: £2189 (body only), 24.6MP, HD video: none
A capable and well-specified full-frame DSLR, the a900 blends a 24.6MP CMOS sensor with 100% pentaprism viewfinder, and goes on to offer a 5fps burst mode, high-resolution 3in LCD screen and built-in image stabilisation. There's no sign of live view, though, which also means that video functionality is missing.
Read our Sony A900 review

Best Pentax DSLRs

Best Pentax DSLRs
What's the best Pentax DSLR? In this section we'll take a look at the best Pentax DSLRs that are either current models or still available for purchase.
We've included the price, key specs and a short synopsis of each Pentax DSLR to give you a better idea of which camera is best for your needs.
Pentax K-r 
Price: £395 (with 18-55mm kit lens), 12.4MP, HD video: 720p
Best dslr: top cameras by price and brand

Despite its low price, the K-r boasts a compelling spec sheet which includes a high-sensitivity equivalent to ISO 25,600, a 6fps burst shooting and a high-resolution 3in LCD screen. Other notable additions include an 11-point AF system, built-in Shake Reduction and compatibility with both rechargeable lithium-ion and AA batteries.
Read our Pentax K-r  review
Pentax K-5
Price: £729 (body only), 16.3MP, HD video: 1080p 
Best pentax dslrs

Pentax's current flagship model brings together a 16.3MP CMOS sensor, 7fps burst shooting and full HD video capture, while its magnesium-alloy body is weather sealed. Just as impressive is the 100% coverage of its pentaprism viewfinder, and its sensitivity span of ISO 80-51,200.
Read our Pentax K-5 review

Best Olympus DSLRs / Best Sigma DSLR

Best Olympus DSLRs
What's the best Olympus DSLR? In this section we'll take a look at the best Olympus DSLRs that are either current models or still available for purchase.
We've included the price, key specs and a short synopsis of each Olympus DSLR to give you a better idea of which camera is best for your needs.
Olympus E-5
Price: £1338 (body only), 12.3MP, HD video: 720p 
Best olympus dslrs

The flagship Four Thirds DSLR, the E-5 upgrades the resolution and processor of its predecessor, while also squeezing in an articulated 3in LCD with a 920,000dot resolution on the rear. An HD movie mode also makes an appearance, and the xD card slot has been dropped in favour of the more common SD standard (in addition to CompactFlash).
Read our Olympus E-5 review
Best Sigma DSLRs
The list of best Sigma DSLRs will be short, but this is because Sigma has just one: the Sigma SD15. A further DSLR, the pro-grade SD1, has also been announced, although it's yet to become as readily available as the SD15.
Sigma SD15
Price: £750 (body only), 14MP, HD video: none
With the SD1 still not available, Sigma's sole DSLR offering is the SD15, a model which improves on the previous SD14 with a revamped processor, larger and more detailed LCD abd a 77-segment metering system.
Read our Sigma SD15 review
Sigma SD1
Price: £5199 (body only), 46MP, HD video: none
Sigma's answer not just to professional DSLRs but medium format systems too, the SD1 sports a new 46MP sensor as well as a magnesium alloy body and an 11-point twin cross AF system. Other features of note include 3in LCD screen with a 460,000dot resolution as well as pentaprism viewfinder.

Best DSLR cameras under £500

Best DSLR cameras under £500
Whether you're a beginner or simply looking for a back-up to your main DSLR, there are a lot of great DSLR cameras on the market for less than £500 which offer a wide range of features and pretty solid results.
In this section we'll help you choose which camera offers you the most, for less. Below are our top five best DSLR cameras under £500.
1. Pentax K-r

It may be one of the cheapest DSLRs on the market, but the K-r comes with some impressive functionality for its sub-£400 price tag. This includes a 6fps burst mode, 11-point AF system, maximum sensitivity of ISO 25,6000 and a 3in LCD screen with a 920k dot resolution. An absolute bargain.
Read our Pentax K-r  review
2. Nikon D3100
Best dslr: top cameras by price and brand

Nikon's most junior DSLR rounds up full HD movie recording, an 11-point AF system, 3in LCD and a respectable resolution of 14.2MP, and delivers it all for less than £450 with an 18-55mm VR kit lens included.
Read our Nikon D3100 review
3. Canon EOS 600D

Although the EOS 600D still retails at just over the £500 mark, a current cashback offer means that the body alone can still be had for an overall sub-£500 price. This makes it the best-specified camera in this group by some margin, although if you don't already have compatible lenses these will need to be bought separately.
Read our Canon EOS 600D review
4. Sony A35

The replacement to the A33, Sony's latest SLT model upgrades the sensor to a 16.2MP unit and arrives with a range of Picture Effects and a lighter body. Sadly it loses the articulating LCD screen of its predecessor, but at less than £450 it's the cheapest current model in the SLT line. As such, it's ideal for novices who envisage themselves shooting stills and videos in equal measure.
Read our Sony Alpha a35 review
5. Canon EOS 550D

Although the EOS 550D has now been replaced by the EOS 600D, it may be worth considering if you want to save some money. It is, after all, very similar in many respects, with the same 18MP CMOS sensor and 1080p video option, although it doesn't offer the 600D's articulating LCD screen.Thanks to a current cashback incentive, however, it's priced at almost £50 cheaper than that model.
Read our Canon EOS 550D review

Best DSLR cameras from £500-£1000

Best DSLR cameras from £500-£1000
If you're willing to cross that £500 threshold, you can get some truly special cameras these days.
Many of the new Canon DSLRs and Nikon DSLRs released this year, for instance, boast features like full HD movie recording or articulated LCD screens that give photographers a whole new range of creative options and flexibility.
To help you choose which camera is right for you, below are our top five best DSLR cameras in the £500-£1000 price bracket.
Best dslr cameras between £500-£1000

1. Canon 600D
Taking a current cashback offer into account, the EOS 600D can be bought for around £550 with its 18-55mm kit lens, which makes it one of the best-value models in the group. For that you get an 18MP sensor, a high-resolution, articulating LCD screen, and 1080p video recording with stereo sound.
Read our Canon EOS 600D review
2. Sony A65

Arguably the best value Sony Alpha model currently available, the A65 is replete with technology straight from the more expensive A77 model, and is available for as little as £749 without a kit lens – perfect for those planning to upgrade from previous Alpha models. It includes a 24.3MP sensor, together with a 10fps burst rate and a maximum sensitivity option equivalent to ISO 25,600, in addition to the 2.4million dot OLED viewfinder which has already been widely praised for its clarity.
Read our hands on Sony Alpha 65 review
3. Pentax K-5

A current cashback offer prices the K-5 at just under £700 with its kit lens, which is excellent value for money when you consider what it offers. Features include a 921,000dot LCD, 7fps burst mode and a wide sensitivity range right up to an equivalent ISO 51,200 option.
Read our Pentax K-5 review
4. Nikon D5100

The D5100 has a number of advantages over the D3100 beneath it, such as the 16.2MP sensor and the 921,000dot LCD screen, the latter of which can be pulled away from its body, as well as a marginally faster burst rate and wide sensitivity range. Currently it can be had for around £650 with its 18-55mm kit lens, which makes it around £200 cheaper than the D90 above it.
Read our Nikon D5100 review
5. Canon EOS 60D

The EOS 600D may have stolen some of its bigger brother's attention, having the same sensor and LCD screen, but there are plenty of reasons why it still deserves consideration. It has, for example, a faster burst rate and a more refined focusing system, as well as a sturdier build thanks to the aluminium used in its construction. It also outguns the EOS 600D with its pentaprism viewfinder, which is both bigger and brighter by comparison.
Read our Canon EOS 60D review

Best DSLR cameras over £1000

Best DSLR cameras over £1000
If you're serious about your photography and are willing to spend a bit more money, there are some truly exceptional digital SLR cameras to choose from.
Improved AF systems, faster burst rates and higher sensitivities are just some of the features you can get from the top digital cameras in this price bracket.
To help you choose the best camera for your needs, below are our five best DSLR cameras priced more than £1000.
Best dslr: top cameras by brand and price

1. Sony A77
Sony's best-specified APS-C model, the A77 is a considerable upgrade over previous generation Alpha models. The high resolution of its 24.3MP sensor is matched with an equally impressive 2.4million dot OLED electronic viewfinder, while a 12fps burst mode, full HD video and an articulating LCD screen make it suitable for all kinds of stills and movie recording.
Read our Sony Alpha 77 review
2. Nikon D7000

Slotting between the D90 and D300s, Nikon's D7000 offers a compelling mix of mid-range specifications including a 39-point AF system, 6fps burst mode and full HD video recording. You also get a high resolution of 16.2MP and an equally impressive maximum sensitivity of ISO 25,600.
Read our Nikon D7000 review
3. Canon EOS 7D

The full-frame EOS 5D Mark II may still be preferable where video recording is concerned, but the cheaper EOS 7D brings a more complete focusing system, faster burst rate, wireless flash control and a number of additional improvements to the table, at an even better price.
Read our Canon EOS 7D review
4. Nikon D300s

Nikon's D300 was a phenomenally popular DSLR, and the D300s upgrade made it even better. Inside its tough magnesium alloy shell lies a 12.3MP sensor which is capable of 720p movie recording, together with a 921,000dot LCD screen, 7fps burst mode and 51-point AF system. It's another Nikon camera that is widely tipped for replacement soon though.
Read our Nikon D300s review
5. Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Whereas the original EOS 5D became legendary for its stills capabilities, its Mark II upgrade became equally as revered for its HD movie recording. Full HD recording with stereo sound, variable frame rates and a microphone input are provided as standard, while stills photographers can take advantage of its 21.1MP sensor, maximum ISO equivalent to ISO 25,600 and large pentaprism viewfinder.
Read our Canon EOS 5D Mark II review

Tutorial: How to make Android child-friendly

How to make Android child-friendly

Tablets are big Christmas hits for children - but the Vtech Innotab and LeapFrog LeapPad aren't exactly great for big kids.
And with the recommend price of £80 for both being busted on Ebay for as high as £150, and individual story cartridges costing upwards of £30, a low-cost Android tablet or phone would make a more economical and flexible choice - not to mention being more useful for you.
And of course, you might already have an Android tablet or phone. So how can you make it suitable for kids to use?
The problem with giving children such an advanced internet-connected device to a child is not only the ability of the child to break the device through fiddling with settings, but the idea of what they could stumble upon if let loose on the web or internet chat.
Google has been pretty slow to address any of these concerns. Android Market content settings were introduced right at the end of 2010 and through the Android Market settings you're also able to implement PIN protection for purchases.
However, to lock down other aspects of the device, we need to turn elsewhere. And we've uncovered a number of really useful and free apps that, when combined, will help transform your Android device into a safe play area.
Our aim is threefold: to limit app access, to limit phone and internet access and to create an easy to use interface. Ideally we'd also like to control internet access to certain applications and filter web sites, but as you'll see this is complicated by certain limitations.

Restricting apps

For people after a quick and simple "sandbox" there are two fun app options. The first is called Toddler Lock. It's a free, child-friendly lockscreen that interactively draws shapes, patterns and makes happy sounds but otherwise keeps your valuable Android device locked.
Slightly more advanced but just as simple to implement is Famigo Sandbox. This locks down the device and leaves only parent-selected apps available. If you have kids apps already installed it does a good job of automatically spotting these. The interface is colourful, big and fun, locks out the phone and internet and provides a preapproved selection of extra apps to add.

Greater flexibility

If you want a more DIY approach, one that'll provide greater flexibility and can grow with the needs of your child, then we'll show you how to make an Android device child safe in the step-by-step below, providing only the applications you want, a interesting interface to use and even safe internet access, if you so choose.
Going beyond this is down to you. The great thing about Android devices is their access to the Android Market, this instantly provides access to hundreds of thousands of apps, almost 150,000 of which are free.
1. The Go Theme
Make android child friendly

By default Android has tiny icons and text, even for adults, and it's a bit boring to look at. Install Go Launcher EX for free and then the Cartoon Theme. That will pretty things up no end, but everything is still quite small, and as standard there's nothing you can do about this. Try installing Bigger Icons Widget, which helps a lot. If you have Root access then using LCDDensity to increase the DPI will increase the size of everything to kiddie levels.
Make android child friendly

2. Lock down
Make android child friendly

Our main worry is to block access to all apps that we don't specify. As a matter of course you should fire up Android Market, press menu and select Settings. Make sure you enable Content filtering and add a PIN for purchases. Next grab App Lock - it's free and will PIN protect all the apps that you want it to.
3. Setting profiles
Make android child friendly

With all of the apps locked down it's now time to do the same for internet and phone access. You could just go into Settings, disable the networks and wireless, but there's no guarantee things won't get turned back on by accident. We suggest Setting Profiles Lite, which offers a way of configuring a host of settings including data connections, sounds and notifications from a single place.
4. Profile shot
Make android child friendly

Setting Profiles Lite only offers a single profile but that's enough. Tap Menu and New profile. Once you've given it a name you're able to control the wireless, data and volume settings amongst other things. With that created make a rule about when those restrictions should apply, all day is one and you can activate the profile via the status menu.
5. Safe browsing
Make android child friendly

At this point you should have a good looking and a safe Android environment to leave your children playing around in. The Android Market is locked off, the internet is locked and so are any mobile connections. If you do want to allow internet browsing the bad news is that options are limited for site filtering but Safe Browser at least provides white and blacklists and access to filth-free sites.
6. Firewall and more
Make android child friendly

Unfortunately there is no comprehensive website filter or blocking tool. We'd have liked a blanket ban and a system to white list only our chosen sites. If you know one let us know. You can implement filtering via Wi-Fi routers and Android does have firewalls but these tend to only work on rooted devices, such as the flexible DroidWall.

HTC Flyer Honeycomb update to land today

HTC has announced that it is sending out an update for the HTC Flyer today, which will add Android 3.2 Honeycomb to the tablet.
With all this talk of Ice Cream Sandwich, it's easy to forget that there's still many a tablet on shelves that isn't yet equipped with Honeycomb, Google's first OS dedicated to tablets.

Taking a Flyer

The update is coming to Europe first and then will head to the US after, according to HTC's post on its Facebook page.
"Ready for some 'sweet' news? The GSM version of the HTC Flyer tablet, available in Europe, is beginning to receive updates to Honeycomb beginning today!" said HTC's hyperbolic post.
"Honeycomb brings a ton of improvements to Android on tablets, including the latest version of HTC Sense for Tablet with enhanced Internet browsing, Mail, Calendar and more all optimized for the 7-inch screen.
"Not to be outdone, the Wi-Fi version of the HTC Flyer will receive its Honeycomb update soon, too! Stay tuned for more details."

UK's favourite viral ads of 2011 listed

YouTube has published the UK's favourite viral videos for 2011, with T-Mobile's royal wedding the corporate message that won the most views.
It comes as no surprise that an ad around one of the events of the year should top the list, but the 24 million (global) views it has garnered are impressive.
Saying that, we wouldn't be holding our breath for a place in the Queen's New Year Honours list if we worked for T-Mobile.

Chrome

Second place is YouTube owner Google with its Chrome ad, with Asos' urban tour picking up third place and Volkswagen in fourth.
YouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kav0FEhtLugYouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cKpvwlSGOIYouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AObQRfT_7TUYouTube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R55e-uHQna0
Dara Nasr, Industry Head of Display for YouTube UK said, "2011 has been a bumper year for online video advertising.
"Advertisers are increasingly taking advantage of the social nature of online video by creating ads that are likely to be shared, liked and commented on."
The downside, of course, is that every man and his dog is now trying to create the next big viral ad, which means a deluge of dreadful as well as the odd gem.
1. T-Mobile - The T-Mobile Royal Wedding
2. Google Chrome - Google Chrome: Jamal Edwards
3. Asos - The ASOS Urban Tour in London- preview
4. VW- The Force: Volkswagen Commercial
5. Listerine - Listerine Mouth vs. Life
6.Kia - The New Kia Picanto
7. John Lewis - John Lewis Christmas Advert 2011
8. Twinings - Gets you back to you
9. Flora - Flora Cuisine Vernon & Gladys introduce new healthy way to cook
10. Nokia - Nokia N8 Pink - Freedom

Available Tags:Microsoft , Windows , Facebook , security , BBC , iPod , Android , UK , Windows 8 , Windows Phone , Google , iPhone 5 , iPhone , hardware , Kodak , Sony , Asus , Epson , hack , Apple , HTC ,

Thursday, December 8, 2011

IT News Head Lines (Techradar) 08/12/2011

A larger bite of the Apple

Developers, developers, developers

Just a bug, says Facebook

Independent shows and BBC Radio too

Times they are a-changing

Nice birthday present

Eye spy

Progress stalled

Issues

Compact system cameras

Screen situation

Patents

Overview

Features

Multimedia agogo

3D and video processing

Picture performance

Colour

Standard definition

3D performance

Sound, value and ease of use

Sound quality

Value

Ease of use

Verdict

We liked

We disliked

Final verdict

Non DSLR cameras

Overview

Features and interface

Features

Interface

Market and apps

Android Market and Apps

Screen

Screen

Usability

Usability

Media

Media

Camera

Camera

Video

Verdict

We liked

We disliked

Final verdict

X rated

Overview and features

Performance and verdict

Verdict

Those pesky hackers

Apple iTV rumours: what you need to know

Doin' swell

Gaga for gaming

Best Canon DSLRs

Best Nikon DSLRs

Best Sony DSLRs

Best Pentax DSLRs

Best Olympus DSLRs / Best Sigma DSLR

Best DSLR cameras under £500

Best DSLR cameras from £500-£1000

Best DSLR cameras over £1000

How to make Android child-friendly

Restricting apps

Greater flexibility

Taking a Flyer

Chrome

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