Apple iPad 2 to launch on 9 February?
Apple is rumoured to be preparing a launch event for 9 February to unveil the iPad 2, according to speculation kicked off by a leaked image of an iPad 2 containing exactly that date on the Home screen.Keen-eyed Apple-watching scouts over at 9to5Mac and Neowin suggest that the leaked image which shows the 9 February date on what purports to be a shot of the iPad 2 is good enough evidence to peg that date as the officially planned date for the reveal.
Extrapolation and raw hope
Extrapolating from the fact that the original iPad launch promo images had a 27 January 2010 date on the home screen – the same date as Apple's first tablet was announced – the rumour-mill is now alight with chatter that 9 February is set to be the day that Apple's iPad 2 is unveiled to the world.
The Apple iPad 2 is also rumoured to feature a front-facing camera with FaceTime support, gyroscopes for improved tilt control for apps and gaming, as well as a USB port and an SD card slot.
Of course, we will have to wait until Apple's PR team deigns to reveal the actual, final UK release date for the iPad 2 until we can find out which of the many rumours currently doing the rounds turn out to be true.
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Samsung Galaxy S2 gets more specs and new codename
The Samsung Galaxy S2 rumours keep rumbling on in, with more purported specs breaking loose. As well as an exciting new codename – Seine, presumably after the Parisian river – the handset's camera has received a spot more detail.
The sensor is rocking 8-megapixels and it's capable of recording full HD (1080) video. We're assuming that the 4.3-inch Super-AMOLED display can playback in pretty good quality too.
Personal cloud nine
Nocut News, the Korean site that broke this new round of leaks, also alludes to "Personal Cloud Computing" which could see the handset come with some online storage space as well as its built-in memory and microSD cards.
The rest of the leaked specs are pretty much known quantities – Android 2.3, a NFC chip, 1GB of RAM and a dual-core Samsung Orion processor are all mooted.
With Samsung promising more information on 1 February before the handset's official 13 February Mobile World Congress reveal, it won't be long before we can bring you the official word on the Galaxy S successor.
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Google Maps quietly launches fuel calculator
Google has snuck out a new feature on Google Maps which calculates the approximate fuel cost for your journey. Using the Get Directions feature, once your route has been calculated the estimated fuel cost appears at the bottom of the list.
From London to Bath in a standard car you're looking at £19.85 according Google, which uses a third party to pull in actual fuel costs.
Baby you can drive my car
You can change the fuel type from petrol to diesel, as well as customise what type of car you drive, depending on whether it's a high consumption, standard or compact model.
It's not clear yet whether or not the feature is available on the Google Maps Navigation app for Android, but it hasn't made an appearance on the iPhone-optimised version as yet.
Either way, it's quite a handy little addition to the desktop edition, and one that Google has kept strangely quiet – we would have thought a quick blog post about the environment and rising fuel costs and whatnot would have been right up Google's street.
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Yahoo switches on OpenID sign ins
Yahoo has finally gone over to the OpenID system, allowing people to sign into the network with their Google and Facebook logins. Yahoo is desperately seeking to become more relevant to the modern internet audience, and it has taken a positive step with the adoption of OpenID.
"Today we're excited to announce that on Thursday, 20 January, Yahoo opens to third-party user authentication with Facebook and Google logins (via OpenID) across the Yahoo! Network," said the company's statement.
Big potential audience
"Hundreds of millions of Facebook and Google users will be able to easily sign in and interact on Yahoo using their Facebook or Google IDs," it continued
"This eliminates the proverbial necessity of registering for yet another new ID and remembering yet another password.
"From Yahoo's perspective, any signed-in user engaging with Yahoo services is a valued user, whether she [sic] authenticates using a Yahoo, Facebook, or Google ID."
Yahoo is still a powerful influence on the internet, but the once mighty company has struggled to stay in touch with the likes of Google and Facebook.
This move at least gives the network a chance of attracting a new audience by making logging in simpler.
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Sony announces new PS3 preview events
If you fancy a chance of playing early preview versions of this year's biggest PS3 games, then Sony has your back – with the company announcing the first details of its new consumer-focused 'PlayStation Access' events this week.Sony's first UK PlayStation Access events take place inLondon from 4-6February and Glasgow from 18-20 February, with Sony promising early game demos and other PS3 and PSP teasers including giveaways, competitions and exclusives.
GT5 time trials
Sony announced: "Both events will be kicking off on the Friday evening, which will play host to our 18+ session. We will then have 4 more sessions that will take place over the course of the weekend, involving intimate developer sessions, a FIFA Interactive World Cup tournament, where we will be taking the winners from each session through to the FIWC UK Final.
If you've been caning Gran Turismo 5 for the last few months, then it is certainly worth making the trip to one of Sony's events, as the company is offering virtual drivers the chance to take part in Time Trial competition to win tickets to the UEFA Champions League Final at Wembley this coming May.
Sony promises that PlayStation Access "is here for good" and if you want to get involved then you can find out times and ticket pricing and further details over at the PlayStation Access site.
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Twitter sued for creating a network for the famous
Twitter is being sued by a company that claims that it came up with the idea of creating an interactive virtual community of famous people. With thousands following Rio's daily school run or Ashton Kucher's relationship with Demi Moore, the appeal of tweets from the rich and famous is clear.
But VS Technologies has apparently launched a lawsuit, claiming that it came up with the idea of famous people communicating online first.
Disclosure
"As it pertains to this lawsuit, very generally speaking, the '309 Patent discloses methods and systems for creating interactive, virtual communities of people in various fields of endeavor wherein each community member has an interactive, personal profile containing information about that member," says the complaint.
The company claims that its US patent number 6,408,309 is being compromised by famous people on Twitter.
Lawsuits of this nature are not rare in the US, but it remains to be seen if the court upholds the complaint.
VS Technologies is seeking compensation, so we'll keep an eye on whether the courts decide that this is a valid claim or patent trolling.
In the meantime, you can follow @techradar, safe in the knowledge that we aren't classed as famous people and therefore you won't get anyone into trouble.
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In Depth: Intel: 'We haven't missed the smartphone boat'
Intel believes it still has a "huge opportunity" in the smartphone market. That's according to the head of Intel's Software and Solutions Group Renee James. TechRadar grabbed a few minutes with James and colleagues Doug Fisher and Peter Biddle to talk about Intel's plans for the smartphone market, MeeGo and AppUp, Intel's application store.
Believe it or not, Intel's Software and Services Group (SSG) would be among the top five software companies globally if it were a separate entity to Intel – and that's before adding in the proposed acquisition of McAfee which James is personally responsible for.
But surely Intel realises it may have missed the boat in the smartphone market? "No I don't, obviously," says the senior vice president of Intel SSG. "I actually think we have a huge opportunity ahead of us as the smartphone market is growing and there are hundreds of millions of users untapped."
Android uptake "daunting"
James is clearly respectful of what Google has managed to do. "On one hand if you look at the data it is a bit daunting, the uptake of Android is staggering even compared to iOS.
"On the other hand there's a lot more devices to be built and the growth is still ahead of us. The transition to smartphones from feature phones is still in its early stages."
SMARTPHONE OPPORTUNITY: Intel's Renee James
Intel-based MeeGo devices appear set to debut at Mobile World Congress (MWC), but we'll also see the OS on other architectures too – specifically ARM.
"We agreed that [MeeGo] would be… open to all architectures. And we will see this happen this year. You're going to see a major focus at MWC to be as bold this year as we were last year... particularly in some areas such as the device area."
ARM support is crucial to MeeGo's success, says James. "You'll see ARM-based MeeGo devices this year."
MEEGO NETBOOK: The OS running on an MSI netbook at CES 2011
"Developers won't develop for a single silicon platform... except for Apple. It has never worked and [Apple is] lucky. If it didn't work for ARM, what carrier would [accept that]?"
As we saw at CES, we'll also see MeeGo on netbooks - or we will do if the manufacturers go for it.
McAfee and beyond
Asked about the McAfree acquisition, James is pretty candid about the prospects of the $7.7bn deal going through. "Next year I'll be really, really [excited] or I'll be like 'we won't talk about this any more'."
She seems like she's joking, but you get the feeling she's actually pretty serious. Mind you, so would we if we were planning on spending $7.7bn.
"Security is an overlay over everything," James adds as she explains Intel's raison d'etre for the deal. "It cuts across enterprise as well as consumer and mobile devices as well as embedded. Security came up everywhere and we decided that McAfee was the only [company] that would be applicable to Intel's view."
MeeGo: openness the key
"We made a pretty bold statement [at MWC] last year," adds Doug Fisher, vice president of the SSG. "We said we were committed to merge the open source efforts between Nokia and Intel. We want to make sure developers have a common set of APIs to write to.
"I think there's a big opportunity still. [MeeGo] will allow for an open architecture. There are things we'll announce at Mobile World Congress that will shed a lot more light on why the value proposition [of MeeGo] makes a lot of sense for consumers and device manufacturers."
ATOM FOR PHONES: Intel is keen to push Atom into the smartphone space
Intel is talking up MeeGo as being a great platform for mobile networks as Intel can offer completely customisable and administer MeeGo devices. "The whole thing is customised," says Peter Biddle.
He's General Manager of AppUp Products and Services (APS) at Intel and is keen to talk about the sporadic systems used by mobile operators and how Intel can reduce customer churn for them.
"It's a real nightmare. Every major telco faces a problem where they have 10 radically different solutions. It seems unlikely that Google and Apple will be able to offer a single audit window to networks. We want to be able to offer telcos a single [interface]. Clearly there is an opportunity there."
"We seek to actively partner in the community. We are not seeking to block runtimes from running on our platform or exclude retailers or partners," says Biddle in a thin dig at Apple.
"We want to be the glue that bonds the ecosystem together, to fill the gap. What's the gap? There is a snackable app metaphor on the PC that is appealing to users."
Talking about Intel's software efforts on the PC, the AppUp software store, Biddle compares it to Apple's Mac App Store. "The internet is fallow ground for small developers. If you make software that's dependent on device you enter the walled garden or you have deployment issues. We want to give [them] the infrastructure."
Our meeting then draws to a close. James ends with a smile. "We're going to see you all at MWC though right? We have lots to talk about."
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Facebook launches new mobile site for feature phones
Facebook has launched a new mobile site for feature phones, with the social networking site now easily available on the vast majority of the world's mobile phones.'Feature phones' (essentially any phones that are not classified as smartphones) make up nearly 80 per cent of all mobile phone owners in the US, according to a Nielsen study from last June.
While early adopters and tech fans embrace the latest smartphones and apps, it is easy to forget that the vast majority of mobile phone users still don't use or own smartphones.
Millions more on mobile Facebook
Facebook's latest mobile app for the lower-end phone user will now give millions more users quick and easy access to their Facebook messages, events, pictures, news feeds, profiles and the rest.
The app gives users a better, almost smartphone-like Facebook experience that includes simple homescreen navigation, contact syncing and fast scrolling of updates and photos.
Over on the Facebook blog, the company's mobile program manager Mark Heynen notes:
"We want people to have a great mobile experience no matter what type of phone they carry. Smartphones have offered better features for sharing with friends but aren't used by most people around the world.
The Facebook rep notes that its new mobile website will work on over 2,500 lower-end mobile phones from the likes of Nokia, Samsung and LG.
The mobile app is similar in design to the 0.facebook.com site with Facebook listing 14 mobile operators worldwide offering free data access to users trying out the new Facebook mobile app for the first 90 days.
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Hands on: Nintendo 3DS review
It's fairly clear that the powers that be at Nintendo HD in Japan firmly believe that 3D is the future. "The 3DS will change gaming… again," executives said at the launch conference, citing the company's track record with the Wii and Wii Fit. The questions are: is their faith in the technology going to translate to a real game changer? And is tacking on the clever autosteroscopic 3D screen to ageing DS technology really the best way to take us to this utopian three-dimensional future?
From the outset, any kind of critique of the 3DS needs to be tempered with the very big disclaimer that the autosteroscopic 3D is very much a "suck it and see" technology.
For some, the addition of a genuinely well-designed top screen, the fact that it allows you to see 3D very effectively without the need for glasses, and the fact that the handheld has a slider that allows you to alter the effect to suit the way in which you hold the console to suit your vision will be groundbreaking.
But for others, the 3D will be a gimmick – not enhancing games but distracting from the playability or merely a nice trick that will quickly grow old.
The enhancements in the 3DS are not limited to the 3D screen, but it is fair to say that it is this addition that will define it, despite some nifty communications tools like StreetPass and SpotPass and, crucially, an analogue stick to join the almost bewildering array of input options already present in the DS platform
The Nintendo 3DS will live or die by the 3D – and despite a lacklustre launch line-up, the early indicators are that this will make sure the entire platform is alive and kicking for some time to come.
But this is, principally, a gaming device, so before we look at the potential for a cheap and readily available introduction to the increasingly rich 3D content that is beginning to arrive, we should consider the impact on gaming.
From TechRadar's point of view, the jury is not only out, but split down the middle and furiously arguing over the verdict. The details are: a handsome 800x240 top screen (which, because of how the autostereoscopic 3D works becomes an effective 400x240 pixels per eye). There is surprisingly little ghosting.
The first few games were enough to make us wonder if the 3D would have vastly different impact in playability depending on genre - but as we took in more and more, it became clear that, although the type of game does have a significant bearing, the way in which the developers use the tech is also pivotal, something which bodes well for the 3DS.
In the racing game genre, for instance, the theory is that having depth perception should have a clear impact on the way in which you play, allowing your eyes to pick up more visual clues about where exactly you should be breaking and when.
A tech demo of Mario Kart, for instance, showed that the previously haphazard throwing of a banana to force your opponent into a skid was helped immensely by a perception of the distance between cars. But another racing game being shown off felt tepid - with the addition of 3D bizarrely making the game feel flat and lifeless.
In truth, this should indicate that developers will begin to learn the tricks that make a game better and that 3D will become a tool rather than late bolt on to boost sales. This is eerily similar to the excuses being made by both the film and television industries, however, as they seek to learn a whole new set of lessons.
Fighting games are also worthy of mention - two of the key launch showcases were around Super Street Fighter IV 3D and Dead and Alive Dimensions, two major gaming names that are proudly suggesting that the third dimension is a massive boost as you seek to beat your opponent into a pulp.
The integration of the tech is certainly impressive, but questions about whether it genuinely enhances the games will remain, and with good reason. But in traditional gaming, perhaps the 3DS deserves the benefit of the doubt.
The 3D tech is not perfect - there are times when even careful setting of the slider prove pointless as a camera glitch makes your eyes cross and feels a little like that third whisky sour just kicked in - but by and large it's a very nice illustration of autosteroscopic 3D.
Some of the non-traditional games, however, and in particular the early augmented reality offerings, are still hugely problematic.
The principle is actually very cool – point your 3DS at a card on a table and it opens an augmented reality game where monsters bulge from the table top and swinging targets appear in mid air (as seen on the screen).
That's the theory at least, in practice, moving the 3DS to hit the targets interferes massively with the 3D and you have to hold it a fairly precise 35 cm away from the card to get the game started in the first place with any major deviation as you play the game pushing it into a minor hissy fit.
Another key 3D addition is the dual cameras on the DS, allowing 3D photographs to be taken. Although the resulting photographs aren't going to be winning any awards, it's a neat feature for the console, which kids young and old will enjoy.
Outside of the 3D, the 3DS has some significant additions that merit attention. First and foremost, is the new analogue stick - a crucial arrival for the DS platform and one that will be hugely welcomed by the developer community who have been crying out for its arrival.
Now, platformers, first person shooters and many other key titles become infinitely more playable on the 3DS. It could well allow more direct ports from the Wii, for instance. It's not a full analogue stick - but it's certainly a valid and valuable addition, and arguably as significant as the 3D itself in terms of impact to the gaming.
Next up is SpotPass - bringing you Wi-Fi access to content, including exclusive access to Shaun the Sheep from Aardman Animations, Sky 3D content and Eurosport. It's a nice feature in theory, and could be a popular one in practice - but highlights and short clips have been tried before as added value in portable devices and have not always proven to provide any real attraction .
Last but not least is StreetPass, a slightly creepy local service that trades off (admittedly minor) details about you, sparks up unseen 'battles' against other passing 3DSs and generally seems to get on with its life regardless of your existence.
From the outset it looks a little like blind Pokemon, mixed in with a little bit of traffic like online dating, and despite the earnest imaginings of Yoshinori Ono as to the way it can enliven Streetfighter, is difficult to see at this stage how it is anything other than a pointless gimmick.
At the moment it's difficult to escape the feeling that the 3DS feels a little ill-formed - with the potential of the system on paper outweighing any actual proof that it can have a big impact. But this is Nintendo; a company that has a proven track record of making gimmicks work for the family market, and it would be premature to write it off.
It's a well-made handheld - a big improvement on its predecessors, and is unlikely to disappoint. This could be a great way of consuming 3D content - if you can bear the very small screen - and some of the games going forward look more impressive than the fairly skimpy immediate launch line-up.
But there is one massive point that could scupper the whole thing. The huge price - especially for UK gamers.
The 3DS is likely to cost around £220-230, and that pits it squarely against a full Xbox 360 with Kinect in the family-friendly market. And with a PSP2 announcement imminent, you could forgive people for holding on before they make that very difficult decision.
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Tutorial: How to share a printer using OS X
For all the talk of a paperless office, there are times when you need a physical copy of something – be it an airline boarding pass, a letter to sign or just a photo for the mantelpiece. Getting the document from your device to your printer is often tricky if your printer's in one room and the Mac you're working on is in another. But sharing a printer on your home network is really easy – and if you've got a MacBook with Wi-Fi enabled it means you can print from as far as your wireless network reaches.
We've put together this tutorial to look at a range of ways you can do it. Some of these methods will use kit you've probably already got, such as a USB printer and a wired or wireless router. But we won't stop there, because there are plenty of other ways in which you can share a printer on your network.
Throughout this tutorial, we'll be talking about the Print & Fax pane a lot – you'll find it in System Preferences, accessed via the Apple menu. And to avoid repeating ourselves as we go through, you need to make sure you install the driver software that came with your printer on each of the Macs you want to print from. Do this by putting the CD that came with your printer into your Mac's drive, or by downloading the latest version for your model from the manufacturer's website.
Remember also that once you share a printer on your network, it'll be available to PCs as well, so if you have an unconverted friend or relative visiting, they should be able to access it from their notebook.
First off, let's look at the simplest method of sharing a USB printer. This involves hooking it up to one computer (the host) and sharing it so that other machines on the network can print to it, provided the host Mac is switched on.
First, open the Print & Fax pane on the host Mac and, if the printer isn't already listed, click +. In the window that appears, you'll see it listed under Default. Below, give it a recognisable name, which could be anything from the make and model to 'My colour printer'. Use the Location field to let people know where it is – such as 'Downstairs study'. Then click Add.
Printer alert
If the printer is already in the list and you want to alter the Name and Location information, just click Options & Supplies. Once you're happy, tick the box marked Share this printer on the network. You may then see an alert that Printer Sharing is disabled.
In any case, click Sharing Preferences… and make sure the box next to Printer Sharing in the left column is checked. Your printer will appear ticked in the middle box – if you have more than one, you can pick and choose which to share.
If you have Snow Leopard, you'll see another box on the right. Use it to select who can and can't print to each printer. In most cases, such as your home network, you'll be fine leaving this set to Everyone, but you can add specific users if you prefer – just click + and add who you'd like to be able to print – it's best to give them the exact names they use to log into their Macs. Give each person a password that they'll have to type in to print.
All you need to do then is to add the printer on each computer you want to print from. Go into the Print & Fax pane and click +. Your shared printer should appear under the Default tab, showing the name and location you gave it. Click Add and you're ready to print.
Off on a print job
The downside to this method of sharing is that you need to have the host machine switched on (but not necessarily logged in) for the printer to kick into action. If the host Mac's switched off, the print job will remain on your local Mac until both are switched on simultaneously, at which point your document will hop across and roll off the press.
So while this setup is simple to configure and almost certainly doesn't require you to buy extra hardware, it's not the most convenient way to go about things. Having to go and switch on your host Mac, wait for it to start up, let the file print and then shut it down again, makes this less appealing.
So let's look at some other ways to share a printer. The first alternative is to hook your printer up to your broadband router directly, so that it's not dependent on a particular Mac being switched on. Some printers, primarily those aimed at small or home offices, will have an Ethernet port, which makes plugging them into any router straightforward.
For this system to work as efficiently as possible, remember to leave your router and printer switched on all the time, so that you can always print at the click of a button.
Setup will vary between printer models, and with some it'll just be a case of plug and play, especially if your router's set up as a DHCP server and you've got the printer drivers installed on your Mac. Simply click + in the Print & Fax pane and the printer should be listed under Default.
If it isn't, you may need to configure it manually using the IP Printing tab. This will probably involve looking up your printer's IP address, which you can do via its built-in display, and most models will print you out a sheet containing all the vital network details. For more information on setting this up, have a look at your printer's documentation.
We've always found an Ethernet link to be one of the easiest methods to set up and most robust in use, so if your printer and router have both USB and Ethernet ports, use the latter.
Networking USB printers
If your printer doesn't have an Ethernet socket, there are now many routers and network-attached storage (NAS) boxes with USB ports on them, to which you can connect a printer.
Apple's AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule both offer this functionality. These models even enable you to connect more than one device to their single USB port, using a hub. This means you needn't give up the hard drive you use for Time Machine backups in favour of a printer, for example.
It's worth noting, however, that not all router USB ports support printing, so check that your model does before plugging your printer into it (or going to the effort of investing in a new one). When it comes to setting this up, some routers may do all the donkey-work for you and the printer will appear in the Default area of the Print & Fax Add Printer window.
Have a look at the walkthrough below, where we take you through setting up and sharing a USB printer with a Time Capsule.
Third-party routers may not be so helpful, and could require you to use their web interface to enable the printer, and with others you may have to add the printer using the IP Printing tab in the Print & Fax Add Printer window. Depending on your router model, getting this to work can take quite a bit of fiddling around with settings and emails to the support team, but check the documentation that came with it first; it should give you step-by-step instructions on how to connect a USB printer so that anyone on the network can use it.
One device that saw everything working smoothly, was a new high-end Belkin router, which comes with software you install on each Mac. This guides you through the few steps required to print to a printer hooked up to the router's USB port.
If your printer's ever been linked directly to any of the Macs on your network, make sure you remove its entry from the Print & Fax pane on every machine before you connect it to your router and attempt to set it up. If you don't, its presence could cause conflicts when you try to print to it via the router. To remove it, select its old entry in the Print & Fax pane and click the – button.
One device we haven't mentioned yet is the AirPort Express. This is Apple's wireless printing and audio box, which, at under £90, is an affordable way to network your USB printer if you don't have a router with USB.
It links up to your existing network – wired or wirelessly – and enables you to share a USB printer. Switch on the printer and make sure the AirPort Express is connected to your network. Then all you need to do is open up the Print & Fax pane and click +. The printer should appear in the Default tab, so just click Add and you're ready to print.
If you want to share several printers in different locations, you can plug each one into an AirPort Express.
Wireless printers
Some printers will now do away with wires and enable you to print over Wi-Fi. This is an incredibly easy way of doing things, and in some cases doesn't even require you to have a router – but in our experience, it's easier if you do use one.
To set this up, make sure your Mac's connected to the router, either over Wi-Fi or via Ethernet. Then switch on the printer and connect it to your Wi-Fi router – the documentation that came with the printer will show you how to do this.
Once it's connected, open up your Print & Fax pane and click +. The Wi-Fi printer should appear under the Default tab. Click its name and your Mac should detect its driver on the Print Using drop-down.
In the Name field, you can give it a memorable title and enter a location for it, such as 'Study'. Then click Add, and your Mac will spend a moment connecting to the printer, after which you'll be returned to the Print & Fax dialog, with your newly added printer visible. You can now print to this from your Mac.
Again, remember to leave the router and printer switched on for this setup to work efficiently – some printers prefer their sleep mode.
How to share a USB printer via Time Capsule
01. Get started
Install the printer driver and Time Capsule software on your Mac, then connect the latter to the mains. In Applications/Utilities, open Airport Utility and select the device, then go through the steps to set it up. Let the device restart, then quit Airport Utility.
02. Connect printer
Go into the Print & Fax pane and make sure the printer you're about to connect isn't listed there. If it is, click the – button. Then, hook it up to the Time Capsule's USB port, switch it on and re-open AirPort Utility. Right-click your device and choose Manual Setup.
03. Manual setup
Type the router password if prompted and you'll be taken to the main configuration screen. Click Printers along the top and you should see yours listed on the right-hand side. If you don't, make sure the printer's switched on and connected, quit and re-open AirPort Utility.
04. Change its name
Your printer will appear on the network under the name you can see here. Depending on the model and driver, this may not be the most memorable or appropriate moniker, so you can change it to anything you like, simply by selecting it and clicking Edit. Then click Update.
05. Further sharing
If the Time Capsule is your main or only Wi-Fi router, skip to Step 6, but if you're using it in addition to the router your ISP supplied, you'll need to enable the Share printers over WAN option. This will ensure devices on your main network can use the shared printer. Click Update.
06. Ready to print
Your printer's now ready to print to from any computers on your network, regardless of whether they're connected over AirPort or Ethernet. Just go into the Print & Fax pane, click + and you should see it under Default as a Bonjour printer. Select it and click Add.
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Apple slammed by environmental activists
Apple's products may seem squeaky-clean, but a coalition of China's leading environmental groups has accused the company of damaging the environment and poisoning workers."Behind their stylish image, Apple products have a side many do not know about, pollution and poison. This side is hidden deep within the company's secretive supply chain," says a statement released by the Green Choice Initiative.
The latest report issued by the group looks at technology firms' open and responsiveness when their suppliers are accused of damaging environmental practices.
No comment
Despite reports of poor working conditions, toxic fumes causing workers to fall ill and noxious waste being dumped, Apple has refused to comment directly or reveal any suppliers in its supply chain, using corporate confidentiality as its excuse.
A further 28 tech firms were surveyed as part of the report and although none forced their suppliers to account for their waste, Apple was ranked as the least willing to provide data or answer questions about its suppliers.
HP, BT, Samsung, Sony, Siemens and Alcatel were named the most responsive in the study.
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Sky News to produce Queen's speech - will it be 3D?
Sky News has been given the rights to produce the Queen's Speech, alongside the BBC and ITN.It will be produced by all three companies in 2011 and 2012, which brings in the distinct possibility that the whole thing will be shot in 3D by Sky.
While this isn't set in stone, a spokesperson for Sky contacted the Guardian and said the company was "exploring the opportunity" of using 3D technology for the speech.
The Queen isn't known for doing her annual address to the nation while performing death-defying stunts. So if it is shot in 3D, don't expect it to be the most riveting piece of 3D programming you have seen - but it would be a turning point for the technology.
For queen and country
Sky's is ramping up its 3D output in 2011, increasing its sporting and film output and adding significant meat to what is a rather barebones 3D channel.
But for 3D to thrive it needs to be used for all television and not just 'event TV', so the Queen's Speech could be a good starting point for this.
There's already been speculation that the upcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton will be shot in 3D, as well as the Diamond Jubilee celebrations, so why not make it one massive royal 3D rumble and end the year with the Queen's Christmas Message in another dimension?
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LG Optimus Pad to debut at MWC with 3D screen
LG is planning to launch the UK version of its Optimus Pad tablet at MWC 2011 and it will come with a 3D screen and 3D recording capabilities, according to a French news site.GPSandco is stating that an LG spokesperson in France confirmed some of the details for the new tablet, with the most exciting being the fact it can apparently record in 3D thanks to two separate webcams.
The 8.9-inch display will also be 3D-enabled, using auto-stereoscopic displays to do away with the need for glasses - which will be very cool if (as seems likely) true.
The LG Optimus Pad (we're still to hear the name for the UK at this point) will also have the same Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core heart as the Motorola Xoom, with two 1GHz processors powering the Android 3.0 OS.
Optimus Pad UK price?
The site is also claiming that USB ports and an HDMI connector will be included, and a variety of memory sizes will be added too, in the same vein as the iPad.
A possible LG Optimus pad price has been speculated on too, with the notion of €299 (£250) sounding like a very attractive proposition - although we'd be surprised if it landed at this price.
We've spoken to LG UK to get confirmation of these specs, but were met with the usual 'We don't comment on rumour or speculation' response - so we're not sure if the French LG spokesperson is bogus or not.
If a 3D screen on an LG tablet does emerge, then it will be a seriously strong USP for the brand at the start of the Android tablet race.
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Review: Toshiba 55WL768
Designing a 55-inch TV to look imposing but not overbearing is no mean feat. The mammoth, yet elegant 55WL768 is the result of Toshiba's collaboration with leading European design agency, Jacob Jensen Design studio, an outfit credited with the sumptuous looks of many a Bang & Olufsen TV.Edge-lit LED skinniness combines with a glossy black bezel, discretely backed by a metallic frame and invisible touch-sensitive controls hidden within the bottom edge of the frame.
This is no air-headed supermodel. The 55WL768 is Toshiba's flagship screen, boasting a clutch of image processing tricks, Freeview HD and satellite tuners, 3D playback and the best multimedia capability on any TV yet from this manufacturer.
Toshiba has been playing home entertainment catch-up of late and the 55WL768 will really need to deliver the goods to give it a boost in the ratings against the likes of Sony's KDL-55NX813 and comparable behemoths from the likes of Samsung and LG.
The headline feature is 3D playback but there's no 2D-to-3D conversion. This counts less against the 55WL768 than it should do because 3D is more of a sideshow than a main event, as the lion's share of viewing on any TV is 2D.
You are provided with only one pair of 3D specs, which is a pity, because the special event nature of 3D viewing means watching it is rarely a solitary pursuit and additional pairs cost between £75 and £100.
A big positive is that the screen's connectivity roster is comprehensive, with four HDMIs, Ethernet and dual USBs leading the way. Thoughtfully, the designers have placed two HDMIs face down and two facing to the side, providing flexibility for cable management depending on where the screen is mounted.
Multimedia is a mixed bag with iPlayer and YouTube the only 'Smart TV' services on offer. No movie streaming or access to popular connected services such as Facebook, Picasa and Bloomberg and no browser. This is not really good enough for a flagship set.
Anyone who's lived with built-in Wi-Fi access to iPlayer gets accustomed to the convenience and craves similar players from the other main channels. Some day all TVs will be made this way.
Networking is impressive with DLNA wireless connectivity built-in (or you can take a hike down the Ethernet path) plus there's a USB media player (although you can't record from the tuner to a disk using the USB connection)
Networking has an unusual twist: the screen can act as a digital media renderer. This lets you use a (Windows 7) computer to choose what content you want to display, rather than using the TV's remote control.
There are myriad of options for adjusting the picture with Active Vision M200 HD and Resolution+ the most significant. Active Vision quadruples the 50Hz rate to reduce blur and is complemented by a film stabilisation mode that has three settings for motion smoothness, hopefully without introducing artefacts.
The screen's other picture processing functions include an AutoView mode, which takes into account the room lighting and analyses the content being shown in real time. An ambient light sensor constantly adjusts the screen's backlight depending on the lighting condition in the room to provide a better viewing experience. In light rooms backlight is increased, in dark rooms backlight is dimmed. Other run of the mill viewing modes include two movie modes, standard, game and PC modes.
The intensity of the backlight can also be adjusted manually using the set's Backlight Adjustment Pro tool – but there is no way of reducing excessive backlight near the edge of the picture.
Regular adjustments for brightness, contrast, black level (aka static gamma) and colour can be made of course, although the latter is buried in a sub-folder called Expert Mode. This give you the option to switch off the red, green and blue components individually to adjust saturation and tint. You can also adjust the white balance in either 2pt or 10pt steps.
The remote control doesn't match the design standard of the set itself. It's very angular and has thin L-shaped buttons that look cool, but aren't as easy to use as they should be. At least there's a dedicated 3D button on the handset. The 3D specs are fairly comfortable, too.
One annoyance is that when watching Sky in 3D the Sky+ remote doesn't work while the TV is in 3D mode, so you can't pause or wind forward unless you switch back to 2D mode (with the screen split in two side-by-side images). This is not a problem exclusive to Toshiba: it also seems to affect Panasonic screens.
Toshiba's Freeview EPG is unusual too with black text on white. It certainly packs in the info, with a grid of 13 channels shown over 1.5 or 2.5 hours. Aural but not visual continuity is maintained with the live broadcast.
The set's operating system has a dated feel to it, lacking the panache of models from the likes of Sony, LG and Samsung. It's by no means unpleasant to look at or work with but, as with too many screens, some functions that should be easily accessed are buried in sub-menus.
The iPlayer is user-friendly, and it's easy enough to hunt around for recently broadcast gems in HD or standard definition. Note that you can't navigate along the timeline and some shows suffer with an audio lag.
Setting up a wireless connection with a BT Home Hub proved straightforward but a Toshiba Windows 7 netbook required a wired Ethernet connection. File playback is unsurprisingly flaky but the screen should be able to play DivX, AVI and MKV video files. Taking the USB flash drive option seems more reliable.
One of the biggest challenges of edge-lit LED technology is ensuring an evenly lit image. Toshiba hasn't quite mastered the art on the 55WL768, which has pools of brightness along the edge of the frame. Fortunately, you are only really likely to notice it with solid dark images such as title sequences.
The vast majority of viewing on the 55WL768 is likely to be done with 2D HD sources and it's a pleasure to be able to report that this set serves up some pretty high quality stuff.
The secret is to find the settings that suit your environment and stick with them. Bumping Resolution+ up to its maximum setting does wonders, eking out greater detail in the 2D Avatar Blu-ray so that the bristles in Sully's beard are almost as clear as you get on the best screens. Without Resolution+ engaged the picture can look a little soft.
Otherwise, there is little not to like with accurate colours, excellent contrast and plenty of brightness. Broadcast HD is equally enjoyable, especially movies and sport on Sky.
Standard-definition shows on Freeview are acceptable with Resolution+ engaged, if a little softer than their HD counterparts. The biggest weakness – also present on HD sources – is MPEG noise over large amorphous areas but it's nothing like as noticeable as on Toshiba's 40WL753, for example.
It's worth playing with Active Vision and the Film Stabilization settings, which work in tandem. With the Active Vision engaged camera movement is smooth and there are no artefacts but Film Stablization must be kept to a minimum. Film Stablization and Active Vision M200 Pro are to be avoided with movies or filmic material as they detrimentally affect the look but can improve sports viewing.
It pays to know that if Active Vision and Film Stablization are off, switching Active Vision on automatically sets Film Stablization to its standard setting. Switching Film Stablization off also deactivates Active Vision M200 Pro.
Starting with both off, putting Film Stablization to its highest setting automatically turns Active Vision M200 Pro on yet setting Film Stablization to standard or middle doesn't engage the latter. Got that? Good.
The viewing angle of the screen is excellent, with no drop-off in contrast or brightness at extreme angles.
The 55WL768's 3D performance does give cause for concern. It's not so much crosstalk, which is better than average (but only just), it's more the lack of depth. With the Monsters vs Aliens 3D Blu-ray you just don't get the same sense of objects projecting either into or out of the screen.
Brightness levels are affected more than they should be, but even so it's impossible to get 3D with the same amount of punch as you'd expect from a 55-inch screen.
It's not the fault of Toshiba's 3D Blu-ray deck (used as a source) either as Sky 3D also suffers by comparison with rival screens. Take David Attenborough's superb Flying Monsters programme. Too many of the carefully staged shots lose impact and the loss of resolution makes some long shots akin to watching a VHS tape. It really makes you wish they'd made it in 2D.
As big screens go, the audio performance of the 2 x 10W speakers is fairly decent. They have a broad dynamic range that makes dialogue easy to hear in most environments.
There are some useful audio features. SoundNavi is a function that configures the speaker control settings according to the setting, either on a stand or wall-mounted.
Dolby Volume evens out unwanted sudden changes in volume that can occur during commercial breaks and when switching between channels or sources. The screen also has Voice Enhancement, Dynamic Bass Boost and two surround sound settings, Spatial and Cinema.
It's worth tinkering with the settings, depending on what you're watching but a separate sound system is of course essential when watching a drama or movie.
Value
In the 55-inch 3D LED sector you can pay £2,500 for Sony's stunning Bravia KDL-55NX813, £2,300 for LG's 55LX9900 or just £2,000 for a Samsung UE55C8000. Clearly the Toshiba 55WL768 is the least expensive model at £1,800 so represents good value - even if its connected TV offering is no match for its rivals.
If you're prepared to sacrifice a few inches and switch to plasma Samsung's excellent PS50C680 can be snapped up for no more than £1,000.
Toshiba's 55WL768 does most of the things you expect of a flagship model. That its connected TV offering is less exciting than its rivals is reflected in its price and at least iPlayer is provided. It doesn't look quite as thrilling as some of the other screens out there, but a lot of thought has clearly gone in to making it as user-friendly as possible.
Like so many 3D models, it does a lot better with 2D material than 3D, serving up some stunning HD images that will keep movie, drama and sports fans more than happy.
We liked
An appealing yet understated design with clever placement of the connections on the back panel. Dynamic, punchy and realistic images make watching HD broadcasts and Blu-rays a delight. Resolution+ really does eke out every last drop of detail. Hooking up wirelessly to a broadband router is a cinch, too.
We disliked
Active Vision has benefits for sport but makes filmic material look weird. Film Stabilization just seems to complicate matters. DLNA networking requires someone with good IT skills to set it up and the remote control could do with improvement.
Verdict
As is so often the case, it's the 3D performance that proves to be the Achilles' heel of an otherwise impressive slimscreen. The 55WL768's 3D performance is lamentable and its multi-media capabilities are a bit of a mixed bag, but it is an excellent 2D screen.
Take 3D out of the equation and you have Toshiba's 55WL753, which is a 2D-only version of the 55WL768 and would be well worth considering. If 3D and/or connected TV are your bag, though, you'd be best advised to look elsewhere.
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HTC Flyer tablet to hit Mobile World Congress?
We'd put money on the fact that HTC will unveil its first tablet product at Mobile World Congress 2011 next month, but will it be the HTC Scribe or the HTC Flyer? When the Taiwainese firm applied for a trademark application for a tablet computer named the HTC Scribe, it seemed likely that this would be the first HTC tablet.
However, Digitimes quotes "sources at handset component suppliers" who name the slate as the HTC Flyer.
Honey, I blew up the Desire
Looking like a blown-up HTC Desire, the 7-inch tablet described by these sources is set to hit the USA in March running Android 2.3 and an update to Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) is more than likely in the following months.
Other markets look set to get the HTC Flyer a little later, indicating that the UK release date will be some time in Q2.
The release dates are intended to push sales ahead of the launches of the BlackBerry PlayBook and Motorola Xoom; there is certainly some stiff tablet competition ahead.
The mysterious sources also added that there are two more tablets in the works from HTC, slated for a June release with Android 3.0 on board from day one.
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Spotify closer to US launch, signs up Sony
Spotify is one step closer to launching in the US after signing a deal with Sony, one of the big four music labels in America.Although Sony hasn't officially confirmed that a contract has been signed, Cnet is noting that it has had word from multiple sources that a deal is definitely in place.
This is great news for Spotify, which has been inching closer to getting its service launched in the US, expanding it beyond its current European reach.
US launch not quite imminent
It will be interesting to see if Sony signing on the dotted line will make Universal, Warner Music and EMI take note of the music streaming service and finally crack America, as one big signing is still not enough for a full launch.
Back in November's Spotify's accounts were looked into by Music Ally and it was found that Spotify was looking at a £16.6 million loss in 2009.
Spotify put this figure down to "strengthening and expanding" the business. With this in mind, the service will be eager to get into the lucrative American market sooner rather than later.
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Review: Philips 40PFL9705
Sandwiched between two very well reviewed 32-inch 32PFL9705 and 46-inch 46PFL9705H sets in Philips' high-end 9000 Series, the 40-inch 40PFL9705 is an expensive TV and is closer to the spec of the stunning £4,000 58-incher 58PFL9955H than it is to supermarket cheapies.Alongside Philips' unique Ambilight mood-lighting feature, the 40PFL9705's cutting edge credentials include direct, – or 'full' – LED backlighting, connected TV status and 3D readiness.
The light source arranges 224 individually controlled diodes behind the LCD panel to enable local dimming and therefore wider contrast and deeper blacks. It's the costliest, but most effective way of implementing LED backlighting.
It's largely being phased out by other brands, which are increasingly relying on cheaper, and slimmer edge LED designs (where LEDs fire only from the sides of the panel), so it's nice to see Philips' high-end credentials continue.
The 40PFL9705 is also 3D capable, though you'll have to attach the bundled 3D transmitter to add that third dimension.
There is, however, one small omission that may seriously hamper the 40PFL9705's chances of mass-adoption (apart from its high price). Due to a misjudgement concerning Freeview HD's popularity, the 40PFL9705 is fitted with a bog-standard Freeview tuner only.
That could compromise the appeal of this otherwise delectable TV – and that's a huge shame, because nothing in the 40-inch category touches the 40PFL9705 for sheer image quality.
Forget Freeview HD and 3D for a while; the most important feature on the 40PFL9705 is its Perfect Pixel HD picture processing suite. Designed to help it combat the dreaded crosstalk problem while displaying 3D video, the 400Hz feature deserves some explaining.
It is a 200Hz panel plus a 200Hz scanning backlight that, Philips claims, only illuminates the pixels once the LCD crystals have had a chance to settle on the new image, rather than in the transition period (which causes the echoes and artefacts on almost all 3D LED LCD TVs). In this way it achieves a stunning (again, claimed) response time of 0.5 milliseconds.
Perfect Natural Motion is a frame interpolation engine that's worth investigating, though it can introduce artefacts to moving objects as it goes about its job removing judder from Blu-ray discs.
Classy on the outside, too, this 40-incher has a brushed aluminium frame and is among the most solidly built TVs you'll see. Weighing a hefty 20kg, it is a relatively portly 69mm deep.
Ambilight is here in its Spectra 3 guise. Three strips of LED lights on the set's rear adjust in colour and brightness to match the onscreen picture, creating a dynamic light show that's arguably more immersive than 3D video.
Away from the lights are plenty of in and outputs, all of which are housed in an extraordinarily compact design that crams almost everything into the TV's rear left-hand corner. Three HDMI inputs – one featuring an audio return channel – sit alongside a couple of Scarts, component video, a PC input, optical audio output and Ethernet LAN.
Although as a basic Freeview set it doesn't require Ethernet connectivity, it's included here to power its DLNA networking and Net TV functions – though there's also a built-in Wi-Fi module.
A side panel adds a fourth HDMI input, a Common Interface slot (for Top-Up TV viewing cards), an SD Card slot (for the possibility of future movie downloads via Net TV, but not capable of playing back digital media files of any sort) and two USB 2.0 ports, though the latter are squashed rather too close together; attaching external USB hard-disk drives is possible, but two USB sticks can clash.
Net TV now includes widgets for Box Office 365 alongside YouTube, Picasa, Dailymotion, Screen Dreams, radiotime, funspot, MeteoConsult, France 24 and an open Opera web browser. Box Office 365 contains some old comedy and drama from ITV alongside Audiolounge's small selection of films and MOR live music largely from the 1970s and 1980s.
On-demand IPTV may be the future, but for now there's nowhere near enough content to threaten the likes of Virgin, iPlayer, Sky or the Xbox.
Lastly, don't underestimate the usefulness of the 40PFL9705's 30W speakers that are about three times more powerful than most flat TVs.
Philips has bundled its PTA 3D upgrade pack – comprising two sets of active shutter 3D glasses and a 3D transmitter – with the 40PFL9705. This is a wise move, because no corners (Freeview HD notwithstanding) should be cut on a £1,800 TV.
The XpanD-made glasses come with three interchangeable nose grips and are certainly lighter than most, though 'best 3D glasses' is a rather empty title at present.
Whether you can excuse the 40PFL9705's lack of BBC One HD, ITV 1 HD and BBC HD et al is another matter entirely, but the standard digital tuner is impressive. An eight-day electronic programme guide is easy to use, but while it fits in stylistically with the 40PFL9705's user interface, it's not nearly as attractive as on other digital TVs. There's also a channel list presented as a grid, again, in keeping with the overall feel of the TV.
Hidden far away in the settings menu is the full suite of picture processing Philips calls Perfect Pixel HD, some of the major features of which should probably be more prominent – perhaps Perfect Natural Motion, 400Hz Clear LCD and the Surround sound option should have dedicated shortcuts either (much) higher-up in the interface, or on the remote.
The latter would partially spoil what is one of the loveliest remote controls ever made. Rounded, metallic and soft to the touch, Philips – unlike most manufacturers – clearly spends a bit of money on its remotes
Digital file support from a USB stick or external hard-disk drive is pretty good. MP3 and WMA music plays, while photos are restricted to JPEG only. Video is well covered, with the 40PFL9705 playing virtually everything we threw at it; DivX (AVI), DivX HD (MKV), MP4 and MPEG all play.
The only files it tripped-up on were WMV HD, MOV and AVCHD (M2TS and MTS) files – the latter from HD camcorders, which could be an issue for some. When attached to a Mac on the same network, the 40PFL9705 managed to stream DivX (AVI) and MP4 video files only.
Net TV may have some new content, but it's so slow to respond and refresh. The open web browser is just as frustrating; without Flash or other plug-ins, the kind of video-rich websites you'll most likely want to view on the 40PFL9705 just won't work.
When it comes to 3D, plasma sets from the likes of Samsung and Panasonic have the lead – and the 40PFL9705 does nothing to change that. What it does do is offer one of the most comfortable 3D viewing experiences – thanks to some incredibly lightweight glasses – while mustering a cleaner picture than you'll find on any other 3D ready LCD TV.
What those glasses also do is increase the perceived contrast on the screen to a level that is roughly on a par with plasma, but crosstalk still lurks; even in a still 3D image it's still possible to spot double images and echoes.
A moving truck in Open Season on 3D Blu-ray swings into a car park, causing a stepped image that's uncomfortable to watch. In another sequence a background of fir trees is a messy mix of left and right-eye images that looks totally unreal, while a solitary large red truck in the foreground of another shot appears to have a lot of company.
Back in the 2D world, the 40PFL9705 does a sterling job. Philips aptly named processing engine, Perfect Pixel HD, is here equipped not only with a 400Hz mode, but also a Super Resolution mode.
The most controversial effect is given by Perfect Natural Motion, which is available in three strengths and seeks to add some fluidity to Blu-ray discs. Neither setting is particularly subtle, with even the weakest setting introducing a shimmer around fast (and even some slow) moving objects during Open Season, though whether it's worth the trade-off with judder-free images will be up to the individual.
Super Resolution adds an extra few percent to both the still and moving image's full HD detail, while that 400Hz setting virtually obliterates any motion blur. Having said that, exceptional colour and contrast – thanks to than LED backlighting – are the key traits of the 40PFL9705's hi-def 2D picture.
Switch to Freeview and it's obvious that there's some powerful upscaling going on, though it's a shame there aren't any HD channels to gawp at on this highly capable set.
Across all sources the viewing angle doesn't appear to be a huge issue, though if you do watch the 40PFL9705 from the wings you will notice some colour drain.
It's lacking slightly in the mid-range, but there's no denying that the 40PFL9705 has the finest speakers you'll find on a 40-inch TV. With plenty of room to play with, Philips has put a subwoofer at the centre of the back of the TV and reserved the underslung space for the tweeters.
A sound field high on low frequency and treble detail proves just about right for movies, and music doesn't sound too bad, either – a motley collection of MP3 files on a USB stick get a decent treatment. Meanwhile, the Surround mode on the 40PFL9705 proves a little disappointing, with no noticeable widening of the stage.
Value
Few TVs enjoy the serious build quality of Philips' high-end sets, and the 40PFL9705 maintains that tradition. Direct LED technology is expensive and it's certainly possible to bag a much bigger plasma TV for less cash.
The lack of Freeview – or even a built-in 3D transmitter – might also put some off, but the 40PFL9705 does have some unique talents. Net TV still isn't up to much, despite the open web browser, but Ambilight is as impressive as ever, and the remote control is something else: you won't find anything nearly as slinky partnering a cheaper.
Add some cutting-edge 2D images and acceptable 3D pictures and the 40PFL9705 seems well positioned.
The battle between edge and full LED arrays is not yet settled, but the 40PFL9705's performance suggests that the former is for those after a slim TV with decent contrast, whereas the latter is for anyone after a TV with exceptional all-round skills – and the 40PFL9705 is certainly that.
We liked
Rich in contrast and colour, this set's 2D pictures – with hardly a trace of motion blur – are among the finest around. A user-friendly interface, peerless remote control, adaptable Ambilight features and luscious build quality make for a TV that exudes class.
We disliked
Perfect Pixel HD is a wide and powerful suite of enhancements, but it is rather hidden from view and it would be no surprise if many customers never experiment with it. That's a shame, because they'll miss out on the 40PFL9705's top-draw 2D pics.
For now, 3D on the 40PFL9705 rates as merely average, but it's a slightly less uncomfortable experience than on other 3D LCD TVs. It's also probably 10 or so inches too small to provide fully immersive 3D action. The lack of Freeview HD is also a massive ommission.
Final verdict
With flatscreen TVs now such a common commodity it's becoming almost impossible to find something unique. Almost, but not quite; Philips has long been a brand you might expect to find selling TVs for peanuts in the high street – and that hasn't changed – but it's also the only mainstream brand whose high-end TVs have retained both their high price and delectable mix of style and brilliance.
The highly capable 40PFL9705's combination of fine 2D with half-decent 3D, brilliant build quality, Ambilight and some of the best speakers around – together with a thoroughly high-end feel – carry on that tradition.
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Nokia releases first DAB radio headset for phones
Nokia has announced that its DAB radio headset for mobile phones has finally gone on sale. First detailed in October last year, the headset allows certain Nokia smartphone users to listen to the UK's digital radio stations as well as take hands-free calls.
The headset only works with the Nokia N8, C7 and C6-01 at present, but will also be compatible with the company's upcoming Nokia E7.
A nice extra
As we noted in our hands on Nokia E7 review, the Symbian^3 slider is almost good enough to be a PMP on its own, so the DAB headset will be a nice addition.
The DAB headset is the first of its kind, so it's really a shame it's only compatible with certain Nokia phones.
The headset is available now, with UK pricing set at £45.
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Sony Ericsson Vivaz 2 gets the hands-on treatment
A mobile phone review site has got its hands on the Sony Ericsson Vivaz 2 (aka Hallon) and whipped up an extensive preview. We first brought you news of the Sony Ericsson Hallon, the successor to the Vivaz, back in December when our sources informed us that Sony Ericsson would ditch Symbian and go with Android for the reboot.
Mobile Review took a good long look at a pre-production model, and decided that the Hallon is "a well balanced and skilful device, something that we had not seen from Sony Ericsson for a long time now".
Screen stats
Slightly larger and heavier than its predecessor, the Vivaz 2 has "a 'quality' feel", according to Mobile Review.
The screen is described as larger than the Vivaz's 3.2-incher but smaller than 4-inches, with 580x854 pixel resolution – it's also using the Sony Bravia engine to power the Super LCD display like that of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc.
Gingerbread
With Sony Ericsson's proprietary interface on top of the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) OS, the company has decided to ditch MediaScape and instead go with the default Android apps for music, photos and videos.
TimeScape is still on board, however, with some extra 3D visuals to jazz things up.
The menu interface has been updated too, and is described as "a bit of an improvement". What an accolade.
Impressive video recording
As the offspring of the Vivaz, you'd expect video recording to remain a focus and Mobile Review was quite enthused about the Hallon's abilities, saying that video up to 720p "performed flawlessly".
The camera sensor is an 8-megapixel affair, the same Exmor R sensor as that of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc which we detailed earlier this week.
Inside, we're looking at a 1GHz Qualcomm processor with 512MB of RAM to back it up; the previewer also reckons it can get around 3 days of phone-time out of the battery, which is impressive if true.
If Mobile Review is to be believed, we should see the Sony Ericsson Hallon (if that is indeed it's real name) get a UK release in April 2011, with UK pricing around £300.
We're expecting this to be one of the new phones debuted at Mobile World Congress 2011, where Sony Ericsson is expected to be bringing out the Xperia Play (AKA PlayStation Phone) too - so stay tuned for our in-depth hands on Sony Ericsson Vivaz 2 review.
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Amazon buys LoveFilm
Amazon has reached an agreement to buy the share of LoveFilm it didn't already own. In 2008, LoveFilm bought Amazon's UK and German DVD rental business and German markets and as a result Amazon became the largest shareholder of LoveFilm.
"LoveFilm has been innovating on behalf of movie rental customers across Europe for many years and with the advent of the LoveFilm player, they are further delighting customers by streaming digital movies for their immediate enjoyment," said Greg Greeley, Amazon's Vice President of European Retail.
"LoveFilm and Amazon have enjoyed a strong working relationship since LoveFilm acquired Amazon Europe's DVD rental business in 2008, and we look forward to a productive and innovative future."
Amazon has already got a strong connection with LoveFilm. But it is the digital arm which is bound to be the most lucrative in the coming years and this is what Amazon has surely got its sights on.
Deal is a winner
Simon Calver, Chief Executive of LoveFilm International, said about the news: "The deal is a winner for the members who love LoveFilm because of its value, choice, convenience and innovation in home entertainment.
"With Amazon's unequivocal support we can significantly enhance our members experience across Europe."
The actual amount of remaining shares bought to have the total company control was a cool 58 per cent, with the Guardian believing that this means Amazon has spent £200 million on the service.
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Amazon buys LoveFilm
Amazon has reached an agreement to buy the share of LoveFilm it didn't already own. In 2008, LoveFilm bought Amazon's UK and German DVD rental business and German markets and as a result Amazon became the largest shareholder of LoveFilm.
"LoveFilm has been innovating on behalf of movie rental customers across Europe for many years and with the advent of the LoveFilm player, they are further delighting customers by streaming digital movies for their immediate enjoyment," said Greg Greeley, Amazon's Vice President of European Retail.
"LoveFilm and Amazon have enjoyed a strong working relationship since LoveFilm acquired Amazon Europe's DVD rental business in 2008, and we look forward to a productive and innovative future."
Amazon has already got a strong connection with LoveFilm. But it is the digital arm which is bound to be the most lucrative in the coming years and this is what Amazon has surely got its sights on.
Deal is a winner
Simon Calver, Chief Executive of LoveFilm International, said about the news: "The deal is a winner for the members who love LoveFilm because of its value, choice, convenience and innovation in home entertainment.
"With Amazon's unequivocal support we can significantly enhance our members experience across Europe."
The actual amount of remaining shares bought to have the total company control was a cool 58 per cent, with the Guardian believing that this means Amazon has spent £200 million on the service.
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Review: Philips 32PFL7605H
Conventional (CCFL) LCD will be extinct by the end of 2011 at this rate. Philips' 32PFL7605H is the latest in a procession of startlingly affordable, relatively small edge LED TVs and its diode-driven backlight delivers benefits ranging from its super-svelte chassis through to enhanced picture quality.The pleasingly extensive features include Ambilight, open internet access and Pixel Precise HD processing and there is a high degree of multimedia support, with all sorts of video, photo and music files being playable via either USB storage devices or DLNA PCs. You can make the TV Wi-Fi ready, too, if you add an optional USB adaptor.
The feature count isn't totally comprehensive, though, as the set sports neither 3D support nor a Freeview HD tuner. The former omission is entirely forgivable on a £620 edge LED set, but the missing HD TV tuner is harder to stomach, although this is a flaw common to every set in the current lineup.
The 8000 series above the PFL7605H adds 3D playback via a bundled pack and introduces the more powerful Perfect Pixel HD video processor. If money's no object, meanwhile, the 9000 Series, with direct LED lighting and superior 3D capabilities (except on the 32-inch model), is well worth investigating.
The backlight makes for an extremely svelte TV and a distinctive metallic silver livery and rounded corners complete an extremely pleasing picture.
Ambilight Spectra 2 ranges rows of LED lights down the set's left and right sides to cast pools of coloured light onto whatever is behind the set, changing the hue and intensity to suit whatever is onscreen, usually uncannily accurately.
It might sound gimmicky, but the feature is now so sophisticated that is can even compensate for the colour of your walls and repeated tests of the system suggest that it makes long-term viewing less tiring and more engaging.
The surprisingly generous connections kick off with four HDMIs, one of which is built to the v1.4 spec, enabling it to offer an audio return channel to your AV receiver. If you're a multimedia type of person, you will also doubtlessly get plenty of use out of the provided USB and Ethernet ports, both of which enable playback of most of the main photo, music or video format types from USB storage and DLNA PC devices.
The Ethernet also provides the portal to Philips' part weird, part wonderful online service, NetTV. The weird part is the section devoted to ring-fenced content controlled by Philips and is designed to work well with a TV operating system. There is plenty of video content, but sadly most of it is subscription only and it doesn't help that much of it is foreign (ie, non English) language.
The wonderful, currently unique aspect of NetTV is that is enables you to surf the web at large via a built-in Opera browser. This has limitations (it doesn't work with plug ins, for instance) and having to input lots of text and navigating web pages using a TV remote isn't ideal, but having more or less unfettered access to the internet feels genuinely liberating.
The last really important feature of the 32PFL7605H is its picture processing. Pixel Precise HD might only be half as powerful as the top-end Perfect Pixel HD engine, but it is still extremely potent and outperforms most if its rivals in such important areas as colour, contrast and motion handling and gets an added boost from 100Hz scanning.
If it isn't to your taste, every individual facet of the processing is adjustable via the onscreen menus.
The 32PFL7605H's ingenious remote control combines an elegant, tactile design with a remarkably low button count while managing to handle the vast amount of features at your disposal with ease.
The onscreen menus are similarly well considered; they're not particularly pretty, but are mostly logically organised and it is clear that considerable time and effort has gone into striking the optimal balance direct button feature access and selection from the onscreen menus.
The only downside to the system is the extent to which you need to get involved with the 32PFL7605H's various processing tricks. This is because some of the tools available can make pictures look worse if you set them too high or apply them to the wrong sort of material and Philips still doesn't seem particularly adept at adjusting all the processing options automatically.
In other words, you'll need to revisit the picture set up menus quite regularly if you want to get the best from the 32PFL7605H.
Put some effort into optimising the picture and the rewards can be considerable. Sharpness with HD sources is prodigious compared to many similarly priced rivals, thanks to a combination of raw clarity, and detail reproduction, while Pixel Precise all but entirely eradicates motion blur and judder.
The high processing settings needed to achieve this, though, result in a picture that looks a bit too smooth to be real, especially with film sources. Plus, the complete removal of motion artefacts require the HD Natural Motion and 100Hz systems to be set to their highest level, which can result in shimmering noise around moving objects.
Running the motion compensation circuitry on a low level seems to work best, though it is worth experimenting with pushing up higher for some material and turning it off altogether for others.
The processing also helps deliver a well above average standard-definition performance. All but the lowest-quality Freeview sources are rescaled to the full HD screen with good sharpness and without too much noise and there's little, if any, sign of any reduction in colour accuracy.
Tones, while certainly vigorous and bold, look a notch more believable at all times than they do on most comparable sets, enjoying a surprising degree of subtlety when portraying such tricky fare as skin tones and detailed landscapes.
While the 32PFL7605H's is often a potent, engaging force to behold, however, it fails to excel with black level response. Dark scenes are a little greyed over, arguably more so than with its TV's 40in sibling, the 40PFL7605, making dark scenes feel a little flatter and less richly detailed than brighter moments.
The 32PFL7605H also suffers slightly more noticeably from backlight inconsistencies than the larger version, with thin strips of extra brightness in a couple of places along its bottom edge and one along the top. Thankfully, these don't spread across much of the picture, but can still be a little distracting during very dark footage.
Pixel Precise HD doesn't upscale standard-definition material quite as cleanly as the newer Perfect Pixel processing engine and is more prone to leaving shimmering around moving objects if you've got the Natural Motion circuitry operating, but its strengths are still considerable for a £620 edge LED TV.
One final weakness that's pretty much a given with LCD is that the screen isn't particularly tolerant of wide viewing angles: contrast drops off and colours lose saturation from as little as 35º off-axis.
Sound
The 32PFL7605H is a decently accomplished audio performer with a mid-range wide enough to leave vocals sounding rounded and credible and trebles sounding clear without becoming harsh, sibilant or over dominant.
There's even a small amount of bass in the mix, though as usual with a very slim TV, this remains an area where things could be improved.
Value
Performance and features are both sufficiently high compared to Toshiba's ridiculously cheap 32SL738 model to justify the Philips' extra cost comfortably.
The 32PFL7605H catches the eye by being unusually cheap for a Philips TV, but its early appeal runs much deeper than that. For a start, it looks classy, thanks to a slim profile and an unusual metallic silver bezel finish, not to mention the Ambilight light pools spilling from its sides.
It's also got all the connections you'd expect to find on a more expensive TV, including extensive multimedia capability. Particularly good to find for £620 are the set's DLNA support and online features that include open internet access.
The video processing, while not Philips' most advanced, is still impressively potent for the money and does a very good job of making standard and high-definition pictures look very impressive, provided you're willing to revisit the setup options reasonably frequently.
With some decent audio to accompany the good pictures, the only thing stopping the 32PFL7605H bagging a maximum overall mark is a slightly uninspiring black level performance.
We liked
Televisions as attractive and distinctive as the 32PFL7605H are rare beneath £650. It's exceptionally well equipped for multimedia, features one of the best remote controls around, and is, for the most part, a good performer.
We disliked
The set's black level response and backlight consistency aren't quite as accomplished as those of this TV's larger siblings and you need to spend more time than usual in the TV's many onscreen menus in order to keep getting the best out of the set, as some of the processing options can cause problems with certain types of material. The omission of a Freeview HD tuner is also unfortunate.
Verdict
The 32PFL7605H puts sophisticated LED technology within reach of a mainstream audience with no significant compromises to performance.
The set also manages to cling to an impressive roster of features despite its affordability, with highlights being its potent video processing mix and its online capability, especially open web access.
The 32PFL7605H falls marginally short of top marks on account of not having a Freeview HD tuner and problems with deep black level response, but it's still really good value, especially for someone after a quality second room set.
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Gary Marshall: Twitter needs a dumbass detector
When the news of Steve Jobs' medical leave broke on Twitter the other day, I checked the news agencies before retweeting: Twitter is famous for spreading utter nonsense, and it wouldn't have been the first time people tweeted news that someone had simply made up. Sadly the Jobs story was true, but many social media stores aren't.
We had two not-true stories yesterday. The first was that there was a crazed gunman in Oxford Circus; the second was that the Crazed Gunman in Oxford Circus panic came from a throwaway tweet by a fashion stylist.
As a Met spokesman told Thinq.co.uk, "There was a hypothetical written scenario about an armed individual in Oxford Street as part of a training exercise, which somehow got into the public domain. This was picked up by the social media as a real event."
Social media Chinese Whispers and thoughtless retweets tend to be more innocuous than tales of crazed gunmen, but they can still be annoying: a few days ago otherwise sensible people were retweeting "an actual letter that was sent to a bank by a 96-year-old woman", a newspaper humour column that has been floating around the Internet for the last 12 years.
Still, it made a change from hoaxes claiming that X person had died in a hangliding/gardening/snowboarding accident: this year's crop already includes Justin Bieber and Nelson Mandela, both of whom are very much alive.
Winding up the Beliebers
Sometimes the retweets are malicious, so for example the Bieber's-dead tweets were intended to annoy the singer's fans.
Most of the time, however, they're perfectly innocent. We see a bit of news, think "Oh my God!" and pass it on to our followers. Social media doesn't have time for fact-checking, or for thinking "hang on, this sounds like every email forward my mum has ever sent me"; fast matters more than facts.
Unless social media installs a dumbass detector, it's only going to get worse. When our Facebook friends and Twitter followers are measured in the hundreds, keeping on top of everything is a full-time job that none of us has the time for - so instead we scan our feeds like magpies, pulling out the shiny bits we want to share. Who cares if it's correct? We see it, tweet it and move on.
The good news is that this is nothing new. As Mark Twain said in 1918, "a lie can make it half way around the world before the truth has time to put its boots on" - although it's unclear whether he really did say that then, or if he said it at all.
It seems we've been spreading nonsense since we first learned to grunt. Technology just makes us better at it.
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