Exclusive: Google+ Local announced - opens up the world around you
Google has exclusively revealed to TechRadar that it is launching Google+ Local – a new way to discover what's happening in your surrounding area through the search giant's social network.
Teaming up with review and recommendation site Zagat, Google+ Local offers up reviews of restaurants, museums and the like within your vicinity, complete with a scoring guide and user-generated reviews.
Given that Zagat has been baked into Google+, Local will also make use of recommendations from people in your Circles – adding their views to the Local section of Google+.
With this new section of Google+ (which will get its own Local tab), Google is essentially cutting out the middle man and placing its service in direct competition with the likes of Yelp, Urban Spoon, TopTable and even taking on a significant chunk of TripAdvisor.
Zagat also has an app on Google Play, so it will be interesting to see how it will fare now it has been integrated into Google+.
Simple way to discover
Speaking about the new service, Bernardo Hernandez, director of product management at Google, said: "Today, we're announcing Google+ Local, a simple way to discover and share great local places like restaurants with Zagat scores and the recommendations of people you trust in Google+."This is part our ongoing effort to provide a beautiful, consistent experience across Google that helps people turn their intentions quickly into actions."
The Zagat recommendation system – which will replace the current 5-star scale with a 30-point scale – won't just be used in Google+ but will also be rolled out to a number of Google offerings, including Google Maps and will be also added to the mobile version of Google+.
From a business point of view, Google will be opening up Google+ that little bit more, so that they can verify local Google+ pages for their business, make edits directly to the page and take advantage of things like Circle and Hangouts on the social network.
All of this is coming soon, as is the ability to combine existing Google+ pages with new local Google+ pages.
Google+ Local is being rolled out globally and in 60+ languages.
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Exclusive: How the 3D Hello! magazine cover was created
This week, Hello! Magazine announced that it has produced the world's first truly 3D magazine cover. We spoke to the Managing Director of the company behind it to reveal the techniques of how it was created.
Although augmented reality magazine covers aren't anything new, this cover marks the world's first truly 3D cover. Those who wish to see the cover star, Gary Barlow, in all his resplendent 3D glory need to download the free app and point it at the magazine cover.
Callum Macmillan from TimeSlice Films told TechRadar, "We use a camera array, which is essentially imaging the scene. What you end up with is a CGI photograph, that's the asset. The clever bit of delivering it is putting the CGI object into augmented reality."
Cameras
Created in collaboration with TimeSlice and DigiCave, Macmillan was the one to actually take the photograph(s). It was shot with 42 Nikon D300S DSLRs, each equipped with 50mm prime lenses. Macmillan says those particular cameras were chosen for their image quality, and the ability to synchronise with each other.
The D300S is three years old now, Callum says that the company will be upgrading to new cameras soon - but for now he is keeping information on which model a secret.
As you might imagine, setting up 42 cameras has its own problems. "The difficulty with this is trying to take a camera array and fitting it in with a traditional celebrity photoshoot. We had to take the array up six flights of stairs and then rig it up in someone's kitchen," Macmillan says.
Macmillan is hoping that the technology will be more widely adopted throughout the industry, as magazines attempt to engage readers in new and interesting ways. This he says will enable the technology to develop and become smaller, lighter and quicker to use.
3D Modeling
Explaining the reasoning behind using 42 cameras, Macmillan says, "The number sort of varies, we have a lot of cameras and when you're doing 3D you need to have more than you think you will need. You've got to be able to capture every perspective that's necessary to make a 3D model from every angle."This kind of photography differs from other forms of 3D capture, which traditionally involves laser scanning. Macmillan explained that using lasers involves capturing only the form, meaning that a photographer still needs to capture the texture. When using DSLRs to produce a 3D image, both texture and form are captured at the same time, and it also allows for movement.
"The difference between using a camera array and laser scanning is that for a laser scan, the subject has to stand really still. With this, you are freer creatively. If they want to jump in the air, as long as you have a fast enough shutter speed and enough light, you can do that."
Capturing the scene is also quick with this method. "Although we rigged for about four and a half hours, we got the shot on the first take. All the cameras are fired at the same time, so takes as long as a click to capture the image. We did a couple more images just to be sure, but we had it from the first one."
Once the images are rendered, they are then processed by Digicave, which has its own proprietary software for creating the 3D imagery. "They turned that shoot around in about 12 hours," explained Macmillan. "It's actually pretty quick, but there's retouching and so on that needs to be done."
Macmillan believes that this technology has the capability to change both what magazine publishers can offer to consumers, but also how we think about photography. "The feedback we've had about it has been really encouraging, the tech enables us to look at photography in a totally different way. The big distinction to make is that no one has done a sculptural photo before, the real innovation is putting the photo into augmented reality.
The Hello 3D issue is out now, while the app is available as a free download.
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Analysis: Tim Cook: pleased to meet you
I'm not sure what my favourite Tim Cook quote from last night's AllThingsD interview is. "That's a great question. I'm not going to answer it"? "You're right. I'm not going to tell you?" "Who had the next question?"
If anybody believed they'd be able to trick Apple's CEO into revealing anything he didn't want to, they were sorely disappointed.
What's striking about the interview, I think, is that you really get a sense of the man: not just the core of steel that's taken him to the top of the world's most interesting company, but also the easy charm that makes him so famously likeable. It may well be an act, but if it is it's a really good one.
Tim Cook didn't just charm his interviewers and bat away their questions, though. He spoke about some of the big issues affecting Apple, and about his own place in the organisation. The whole thing felt like a man stepping out from underneath the shadow of Steve Jobs.
Substance to the style
In among the assertions of Apple's general awesomeness, there was some real substance to the interview. Cook wants to do "more semiconductor things in the US" as well as more assembly work, although he believes that the infrastructure simply isn't there for the latter.He wants Apple to be much more open — apart from about its future products — and to embarrass other tech firms into behaving better industrially and environmentally.
Cook also described Apple's attitude to various product categories. He admitted to "intense interest" in the TV market provided Apple can control the core technology, argued that tablets and PCs are and should remain as separate product categories, dismissed tablet/laptop hybrids and emphasised again and again that Apple's aim is to make the best products, not to build to a particular price point or match competitors' specs.
He strongly suggested that Ping, Apple's social network for music, is likely to be boiled down for glue, and he implied that Facebook integration is coming to iOS.
I think the atmosphere was different this year: Jobs' interviews were more tense, more adversarial — adversarial in a good-humoured way, but adversarial nevertheless. Cook's interview was a more cerebral affair, I think, and while Cook's a less magnetic speaker than Jobs I think he's just as convincing.
I think that when Tim Cook says receiving mail from Apple customers is a "privilege" he means it, and when he says about preserving Jobs' legacy that while he likes museums he doesn't want to live in one he means that too. Most of all, when he says that "the juices are flowing. We have some incredible things coming out" or talks about how we'll be "excited" and "really happy" about what Siri will do in the coming months, I'm not detecting a reality distortion feed. Roll on WWDC.
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HTC One X and Evo 4G LTE get the all clear in US
It looks like the HTC One X and Evo 4G LTE have done enough to satisfy US customs, as they have now been granted access to America.
We reported earlier this month that both handsets were delayed in the US while they were investigated by US customs, to ensure they were not infringing an Apple patent.
Last week we reported that some handsets were making it through customs, and today delays on the handsets have been completely removed.
HTC does not expect future problems
HTC said: "HTC devices have been released, as they are in compliance with the ITC's ruling" and "future shipments should continue to enter the US".This will come as welcome news to anyone who has already pre-ordered a One X or Evo 4G LTE and are still waiting for their device to arrive.
It's also good news for HTC, as its flagship One X handset will be available widely before the Samsung Galaxy S3 hits American shores sometime in June.
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Lovefilm nabs early Universal streaming exclusive for years to come
Lovefilm has just inked a multi-year deal streaming deal with Universal that will see its films come to Amazon's streaming service ahead of rivals like Netflix.
The Universal Pictures, er, pictures will be coming to Lovefilm's site in what's known as the second pay window; that's after a premium broadcaster like Sky gets its mitts on the movies but ahead of terrestrial TV and other services.
The deal means that Lovefilm will now be streaming the likes of Kick Ass, Despicable Me, American Reunion and Senna - valuable additions to a growing catalogue.
Subscribers can stream films on Lovefilm Instant via the web as well as apps on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, iPad, smart TVs and some Blu-ray players.
Curse you, tiny toilet
Over in the US, Lovefilm-owner Amazon is now streaming films through Xbox Live.The app, called Amazon Instant Video, also ties in to Kinect by allowing people to browse and control playback using gestures instead of the tedious old remote.
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Google Nexus 7 tablet shows up online
The Google Nexus tablet looks to of broken cover after appearing on an online benchmarking site.
Branded as the Nexus 7, Google's tablet looks set to be made by manufacturer Asus, who already has its own line of Android tablets on the market.
We expect that the Google Nexus 7 name points towards a 7-inch screen and the benchmark results reveal a resolution of 768 x 1280 for the display.
Calling on the power of four cores
The Nexus 7 should be a powerful little slate, as the report suggests it will pack Nvidia's 1.3GHz Tegra 3 quad-core processor.According to Android Police the Nexus 7 will run Android 4.1 – which they are claiming is JellyBean, although this has been rumoured to be Android 5.0, so we'll have to wait and see on this one.
The small form-factor will see the Google Nexus 7 take on the popular Amazon Kindle Fire at the budget end of the tablet market, and we hope to hear more on the Nexus tablet at Google's I/O event next month.
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In Depth: New Chrome OS: what you need to know
New Chrome OS: what you need to know
Google has redesigned Chrome OS with a more traditional desktop-style appearance. But why has it done it? And is it any good? Here's everything you need to know.Chrome OS was originally released last year inside Chromebooks laptops from Samsung and Acer. They were essentially netbooks with a different operating system than Windows.
But Chrome OS met with huge criticism – not least from this site - that it was too simplistic (the interface was just Google Chrome the browser with no desktop) and that it didn't really work when you weren't connected to the internet.
Google simply hadn't done enough work on making its tools work when offline. This is now set to change though – read on for more. Chrome OS could finally be in a position to challenge more basic versions of Windows.
- Read our Hands on: Samsung Chromebox review
- Read our Hands on: Samsung Chromebook review
Chrome OS is now on version 19
The new Chrome OS is actually version 19 of the operating system – updates have been constantly dripping down to older Chromebooks – Google has created eight releases of the software since Chrome OS launched.Chrome OS desktop
Chrome OS has been redesigned completely, with the "just a web browser" interface now complimented by a Windows 7-style desktop complete with Chrome icon instead of the Windows Start Menu orb. The apps display on the desktop also rather resembles Launchpad in Apple's Mac X Lion.Multitasking is now possible in multiple Chrome windows, but you can't pin apps to the desktop itself. You can, however, pin your most used apps to the task bar. Yep, just like in Windows 7. You can also flick Windows to view them side-by-side using the square box icon in the top right of the browser window.
Here's Google on why Chrome OS needed Windows.
Chome OS apps
Chrome OS uses the same apps you'd fine in the Chrome Web Store – the apps in Chrome still open in a Chrome browser window. That's because they are still web apps and aren't stored offline.However, this means that truly powerful apps are still beyond Chrome OS until cloud-based versions are built (while the amount of apps is also limited but growing), so you probably won't use a Chrome OS PC as your main machine. However, it could be a great hybrid solution for those of us who find a tablet too simplistic.
New Chome OS PCs
There are two new Chrome OS PCs announced by Google – first up is the re-booted Samsung Series 5 Chromebook which features an Intel Atom processor , 16GB SSD, 4GB RAM and a completely revamped touchpad for £379 or $449 (£429 and $549 for the 3G versions). Yep, that's still pretty expensive - would you really plump for one over a full Windows PC?
There's also the Chromebox, a small form-factor PC which we'd probably call a nettop. Again it's by Samsung.
Chrome OS speed
The big boon of Chrome OS is speed – it's quick and responsive because it's essentially based around Chrome the browser. Even though it looks like you're using a separate browser, all apps actually open in the browser window. The new OS also includes more GPU acceleration."We're pretty happy with the progress of Chrome OS," Google's vice president of engineering Linus Upson told TechRadar. "The new generation of hardware is two or three times faster so that is also something we're pretty excited about."
Chrome OS file system
There's still a big question mark over how usable Chrome OS is with different files. However, Google is working on this and says the next version will use Google Drive as its cloud storage file system. However, file handling is better, and the system can now open all Office documents and can work online or offline.Google has also allowed copying to the local drive from USB flash drives in Chrome OS. The files now accessible include Office docs, PDF, ZIPs, RARs and movie and sound files.
Chrome OS offline support
Google has been working hard to ensure that Chrome OS works a lot better offline. There is offline Google Mail while documents, music, photos and movies will also work offline in due course. The lack of offline Google Docs has been a massive problem, but Google promises this is imminent.
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Sony Xperia Go is strong and tough smartphone, not hideous
There's a new rugged smartphone in town: the Sony Xperia Go, set to replace the outdoorsy Xperia Active.
We first got wind of the Go back when it was known by its codename Xperia Lotus, and the leaks that emerged were pretty spot-on, as it happens.
The rumoured 1Ghz dual-core processor makes an appearance, as does Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and the water- and dust-proof qualities of its predecessor.
In fact, Sony says the Xperia Go comes with the highest level of dust and water resistance in a smartphone which is surprising given that it doesn't look like a brick that has, inexplicably, fallen from the ugly tree.
Android aficionados will be pleased to hear that the Gingerbread OS will be upgradeable to Android 4.0 (ICS) at some point in the future, although Sony's not letting on exactly when.
The only inaccuracy that the sneaky tipster came up with was the display resolution; the leak suggested we'd see a 480x854 display, but the Xperia Go comes rocking 480x320 pixels.
Resistable
It's not so bad, though, as the 3.5-inch screen comes with Reality Display with the Bravia engine that Sony is so proud of, and the glass is supposedly scratch-resistant so you can go rock climbing with it or just keep it in your pocket with your keys.Other juicy specs to feast your active-lifestyle eyes on include 8GB of internal storage (although only 4GB is actually accessible) plus a microSD slot, 512MB of RAM and a supposed talk time of up to 6h 30m from the 1305 mAh battery.
Of course you'll want to take snaps of all those rugged outdoor activities, for which the 5MP camera with LED flash and autofocus should come in handy (and there's the near-obligatory 720p HD video shooting capability too).
The Sony Xperia Go will be available in black, white and yellow in Q3 2012, with no word on price just yet. The US will be getting the handset under the moniker in Sony Xperia Advance.
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Buying Guide: Best camera remote shutter releases
Camera remote shutter releases explained
There are many reasons why you might want to trigger your camera's shutter remotely, and there are a range of wired and wireless remote releases that enable you to do this.Wireless remotes are particularly useful when taking group shots with yourself in the frame, or when it isn't practical to stand directly behind your camera at the time of capture, such as with some types of nature photography.
Cheaper wired remotes, meanwhile, are just as suitable as wireless types when you want to trigger the camera without touching the shutter release button, such as for macro photography where camera stability is vital to achieving a sharp image.
Prices start at around £15 in the UK and $22 in the US for the basic, key fob-like Canon RC-6 infrared remote or the wired Canon RS-60E3 controller. At the other end of the scale, the professional-minded Canon LC-5 weighs in at a colossal £335/$430, and enables you to shoot from up to 100m away from the camera.
At mid-range prices of between £30-60/$40-70 there's lots to get excited about. Features include wireless RF (Radio Frequency) connectivity; single, continuous and timer-delay shooting modes switched direct from the controller; some remotes even include options for controlling time-lapse shooting.
Wired or wireless
One distinction that's commonly made between types of remote controller is whether they're wireless, or connect to the camera via a cable. All controllers apart from the Canon RC-6, whether wired or wireless, have a cable that connects to the camera's remote control terminal.
With wired remotes the controller plugs into the terminal, giving you an operating range of about 60-80cm (extension cables are available to boost the range).
Wireless remotes have separate transmitter and receiver units, the latter of which connect to the camera's remote control terminal via its own cable.
There are two types of wireless system. The Canon LC-5 uses an infrared beam, similar to that of the Canon RC-6 controller, but much more powerful. The maximum operating range is 100m, compared with just 5m for the RC-6. All other wireless remotes here use an RF (Radio Frequency) link.
The only real advantage of an infrared system is that you can use it in countries and situations where the use of RF equipment is forbidden.
However, just like TV remote controllers that use a similar infrared link, you need a line of sight between the transmitter and receiver. This means that if someone or something blocks the controller's path of light between you and the camera, you won't be able to take your shot. RF links have no such constraints.
It's useful to be able to lightly press the shutter button on a remote controller to enable the camera to achieve autofocus and light metering, and then fully press it when you want to take your shot, as with the shutter button on the camera.
Most remotes have this type of two-stage shutter button. However, the Canon RC-6 instead has a one-stage button that needs to be fully pressed to activate autofocus and metering, after which the shot is taken either immediately or after a short delay.
Clever features
A benefit of using the remote control terminal rather than the camera's infrared receiver is that you have greater flexibility in drive modes. Instead of being limited to the self-timer/remote drive mode, you can also select the single or continuous drive modes.
Some controllers enable you to switch between single, continuous and a self-timer delay on the controller itself, rather than making adjustments on the camera. This can be a bonus if you're some distance away from the camera, as it saves you having to walk back and forth every time you want to make a minor change.
Advanced controllers often include timers for bulb (long exposure) shooting, so you can either use the controller as a stop watch or set the length of exposure; other features may include a time-lapse mode. Such functions are controlled via an LCD display and menus.
So, now that we know all that, here's our selection of our favourite camera remote releases.
Camera remote shutter releases under £35/$45
Hama RS60-E3 - £13 (around $20)
This is Hama's direct equivalent of the Canon RS60-E3 wired remote - it's pretty much the same size and it operates in exactly the same way. A two-stage switch enables autofocus and metering with a light press, and shutter release with a full press. The switch also slides forward once it's fully pressed, enabling you to lock it in place for bulb exposures or prolonged shooting in continuous drive mode.
The cable length is a bit more generous than on the Canon RS60-E3 equivalent, at 80cm rather than 60cm, but the two-stage button feels a little imprecise by comparison. Even so, it represents pretty good value.
Canon RC-6 - £15/$22
Bypassing the usual need for one of two types of terminal connectors, the infrared Canon RC-6 works with all current Canon cameras apart from the 1100D and variants of the 1D. Since Canon DSLRs only tend to have an IR receiver at the front of the camera, built into the hand grip, you can't operate the camera from behind.
But the RC-6 is particularly useful for self-portraits, with a range of five metres and a two-second self-timer delay, and unlike the older RC-5, the addition of a switch on the back panel also offers immediate shutter release. The main button is only a one-stage switch, so you can't activate autofocus and light metering in advance.
Canon RS-60E3 - £15/$22
Small and simple to use, Canon's RS-60E3 suits all cameras with a mini-jack remote control terminal, to which it connects via a 60cm cable. For tidy stowage, the cable wraps around the body of the controller and there's a dummy socket for the plug to fit into. The unit requires no batteries, and the only moving part is the remote shutter button assembly.
This has a good solid feel to it, with a precise two-stage mechanism for autofocus and metering with a light press, and shooting with a full press. Once fully pressed the button can slide forward to lock in place for bulb exposures or continuous shooting, without the need to keep the button manually pressed in.
Hahnel HRC280 - £15/$30
Ideal for photographers who have multiple cameras with both types of remote controller terminal, the Hahnel HRC280 fits both. The controller itself has a socket in which a cable can be fitted and locked in place, making it work with Canon, Pentax or Samsung DSLRs. Both types are supplied with 80cm cables, and you also get a two-metre extension cable; the controller therefore acts as a direct replacement for both the Canon RS-60E3 and RS-80N3 controllers.
The two-stage shutter button doesn't quite have the same level of precision as the Canon remotes, but it's still very good, and it also features a slide-forward locking mechanism for bulb exposures or continuous shooting.
Hama CA-1 - £20 (around $31)
A neat little unit, the CA-1 is a wireless RF remote for cameras that have a mini-jack remote controller terminal. It's cheap compared with most of the RF controllers on test, although it has a relatively limited maximum range of 30m, despite having an extending aerial built in to the transmitter (see the Hama CA-2 review for more).
As with other wireless remote controllers, you can switch between radio channels to avoid interference with other people's kit, using easily accessible switches on both units.
Hama CA-2 - £30 (around $47)
The Hama CA-2 controller looks and feels identical to the CA-1, but has an additional three-pin connector to suit cameras such as the Canon EOS 5D and Canon EOS 7D. Unlike most wireless remotes, the receiver unit doesn't have the facility to clip in to the camera's hot shoe, so it merely dangles from its connection terminal, putting a bit of a strain on the plug and socket.
The extendable aerial on the transmitter is a bit flimsy, but you can shoot from a few metres away, even through walls, without the need to extend it. As with the Hama CA-1, there's compatibility for single, continuous, self-timer and bulb shooting, but drive modes have to be selected on the camera itself.
Camera remote shutter releases £40-60/$45-90
Canon RS-80N3 - £40/$45
A little larger than the Canon RS-60E3, this controller features a thicker, more business-like cable and plug that fits three-pin remote controller terminals as featured on the likes of the Canon EOS 5D and Canon EOS 7D.
The cable itself is a bit longer at 80cm, and if you require greater reach, Canon produces a 10m extension lead (ET-1000-N3), although it's very expensive to buy at around £80/$75 - twice the price of the controller itself. The build quality of the unit is impressive, and the two-stage operating button has a precise feel to it, complete with locking mechanism for bulb exposures and continuous shooting once the relevant drive mode has been selected.
Hama Wireless Remote DCCS - £40 (around $62)
Costing just a little more than Hama's CA-1 and CA-2 wireless RF remotes, its DCCS model is a much better option. There's no extending aerial on the transmitter but the range is much greater nevertheless, at 150m as opposed to 30m.
The transmitter features a drive mode switch with single, continuous, self-timer and bulb options, while the receiver also goes one better with its own two-stage shutter button, which can be used to trigger the camera in wired remote mode, even with no batteries fitted. An additional connection cable makes it compatible with Canon, Kodak, Olympus, Samsung, Fuji, Leica, Panasonic, Sony, Konica-Minolta, Nikon or Pentax DSLRs.
Hahnel Combi TF - £40/$90
A versatile remote with a wireless RF range of 100m, the Combi TF comes with both three-pin and mini-jack cables to ensure compatibility with all Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Panasonic DSLRs. Switches on the transmitter module provide options for immediate or four-second delayed firing, and there's compatibility for continuous drive and bulb exposures.
Uniquely among the units on test, the transmitter can also be mounted in the camera's hot shoe to enable firing of a remote flashgun, the only frustration being that the flash will only work in manual mode and not with TTL flash metering. Extras include a dual-colour LED that indicates a light press or full press of the two-stage shutter button.
Hama Timer Remote DCCS - £40 (around $62)
Unlike the Hahnel Giga T Pro II, this timer remote is wired rather than wireless, but boasts a similar range of shooting options. These include single, continuous and time-delay modes that can be selected using the controller, and bulb exposures using a timer that's displayed on the LCD panel.
A four-way pad makes for easy adjustment of settings for time-lapse shooting, including the number of shots in the sequence and the delay between each shot. However, it lacks the Hahnel's option to set dual parameters for short bursts of shots at intervals throughout a longer overall time-lapse sequence. Separate cables make it compatible with Canon, Kodak, Olympus, Samsung, Fuji, Leica, Panasonic, Sony, Konica-Minolta, Nikon or Pentax cameras.
Phottix TR-90 - £50/$61
The TR-90 is a timer remote that connects via an 80cm cable, without any wireless aspirations. As such it's similar to the Hama Timer Remote, but lacks the option of alternative cables for mini-jack or three-pin terminals; so while you don't need to spend extra money on connection cables, you do need make sure you buy the correct version to suit your camera.
There are no onboard controls to select different drive modes, so this has to be done on the camera itself. Its time-lapse option is simple to use, and long exposures can be captured using either the self-timer and locking shutter button mechanism, or by pre-programming the required exposure time. Cables are available to link it with Canon, Nikon, Fuji, Kodak, Sony or Olympus DSLRs.
Nikon MC-30 - £59/$57
This remote control attaches to any Nikon camera that features a ten-pin socket, such as the Nikon D300s, via an 80cm cable. The MC-30 replicates light-press and full-press actions on the shutter button and includes a locking mechanism for Bulb exposures. Build quality is good, but it's very expensive for a basic model.
Secureline Twin 1-R3 TRC/TRN/TRS - £60/$50
Available for upmarket Canon, Nikon and Sony DSLRs, this remote includes a receiver for wired and wireless shutter release, the latter with a 100m range and selectable communication channels. A half-price, wireless 'UT' version is available for DSLRs with infrared receivers.
Camera remote shutter releases £60/$90 and up
Hahnel Giga T Pro II - £60/$100
Like the other two Hahnel remotes on test, this one is available for Canon, Nikon, Olympus and Sony bodies. Along with a 100m wireless RF range, there's a full feast of features including adjustable self-timer delay, single, continuous and bulb modes, and interval settings for time-lapse shooting.
Better still, there are two independent interval options, so you can shoot a programmed burst of exposures at set intervals throughout a longer overall period. Everything's controlled via a neat interface based around a four-way pad and LCD display. Build quality is excellent, and overall the Giga T Pro II puts the Canon TC-80N3 to shame, while costing only half the price.
Phottix Aion - £80/$90
A significant step up from the TR-90, the Phottix Aion boasts wireless connectivity with a range of 60m, and comes with cables to fit both types of camera connection. The transmitter unit is packed with all the features you need for selecting different drive modes, programmable self-timer delays, adjustable long exposure (bulb) shooting and time-lapse photography.
There's even an adjustable exposure bracketing option for long exposures, and everything's wrapped up behind a neat control panel with LCD display. You can also use the controller in wired rather than wireless mode, connecting the transmitter direct to the camera using one of the supplied cables. It works with Canon, Nikon, Sony and Olympus DSLRs.
Canon TC-80N3 - £120/$136
Despite being a wired rather than wireless controller, the TC-80N3 still requires a single CR2032 battery to power its LCD display and all-round cleverness. Connecting to compatible cameras such as the Canon EOS 5D and Canon EOS 7D via a three-pin plug, the unit's features include a self-timer, long-exposure timer, interval timer and the option to set the number of shots in a sequence.
It also works as a straightforward remote control, with the same basic functions as the RS-80N3, even with no battery fitted. It's simple to use, with a switch that cycles between the four main operating modes, a start/stop button, LCD display illumination switch and jog control for altering the settings.
Canon LC-5 - £335/$430
In addition to being a consummately professional piece of kit the LC-5 is real beast of a controller, with the receiver module and transmitter taking eight AA batteries between them. The unit is compatible with three-pin terminals on DSLRs such as the Canon EOS 5D and Canon EOS 7D, and there are three infrared channels to reduce the risk of your camera being fired by someone else's controller.
You can switch the camera to continuous drive mode and then select between single or continuous drive, or a 3.5-second delay, on the controller from up to 100m away. It works for bulb shooting but the two-stage shutter button has no lock, so you have to keep the button pressed for the whole exposure.
Verdict: best camera remote shutter release
For outright versatility, there's little to choose between the Hahnel Giga T Pro II and the Phottix Aion.
Both controllers offer a full array of drive modes, selectable on the transmitters, plus long-exposure options, programmable self-timer delay and fully adjustable interval settings for time-lapse photography. Both can be used in wired or wireless mode and come with cables to suit any DSLR.
For our money, the Hahnel just wins out thanks to its dual interval option, which enables you to set up short bursts of shots at intervals within a longer time-lapse sequence. It's also cheaper, and has a greater wireless range of 100m, against the Phottix's 60m.
The Hama Timer Remote is a good option for wired time-lapse shooting, while Hama's Wireless Remote is cost-effective if you don't need time-lapse options. For a basic remote, the Hahnel HRC280 is unbeatable value.
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Exclusive: Google: Android and Chrome OS will slowly converge
Google's vice president of engineering Linus Upson has told TechRadar that the company is categorically not working on a Chrome OS tablet, but does expect a slow convergence with the Android mobile operating system.
In a briefing to introduce the new Chrome devices from Samsung and a revised Chrome OS, Upson told TechRadar; "We are not working on a Chrome OS tablet."
"We have our hands full in delivering a wonderful experience on dektop and laptop and the Android team have their hands full bringing a great experience on phone and tablet. But the two teams are working together even more closely."
Microsoft proved the point
Upson believes that there will be a slow convergence between Google's two operating systems, but believes Microsoft's earlier attempts to run over multiple platforms and Apple's success with Mac OS and iOS indicate that different devices still need a different OS."The use cases in technology stacks on phone and tablet are very different to desktop and laptop, as are the user expectations, and the types of things you do are also very different," said Upson.
"That's why everyone has two different solutions for these problems. Apple has Mac OS and iOS, Microsoft has two – they just happen to call them both Windows – and at Google we do the same.
"But I think everyone does expect you will see more and more convergence and bringing together of [the two projects] so you can get the best of both.
Upson: "Microsoft demonstrated quite convincingly earlier this century that if you take one environment and jam it across all devices it wasn't going to work."
"Microsoft demonstrated quite convincingly earlier this century that if you take one environment and jam it across all devices it wasn't going to work so now you see a lot more caution. "Apple doesn't try to smash the two together and we're not trying to do it, but in time there will be a seamless user experience across all the devices."
Already started
Upson believes that this convergence has already begun in earnest, with Chrome on Android phones bringing some of the functionality of Chrome OS."New phones have got to the point where we can run all of Chrome which wasn't possible before ARM chips got faster and faster," he said.
"So we are able to bring the full Chrome experience to phone or tablet and you see this with Microsoft and Apple devices as well.
"With Chrome on Android and Chrome OS and Chrome on Windows or on Mac you get the same web browsing experience everywhere.
"…So we're seeing convergence slowly over time and doing the right thing for users.
"Everyone likes to call a horse race [between Android and Chrome OS] but we don't look at it like that at all. We look at what's the right thing to do for the user and how you build the right experience."
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Gary Marshall: Why is Chrome OS introducing a desktop?
Last year, Google's Sergey Brin said that traditional computers were "really torturing users" with their complexity. What the world needed was a faster, simpler operating system.
He was right, but unfortunately that operating system turned out to be Apple's iOS, not the Chrome OS Brin was promoting.
Ho ho!
It's safe to say that Chromebooks haven't exactly lived up to the hype, so Google's having another go — and there's a big new idea to go with the relaunch.
The big idea is... copy Windows! Ho ho again!
The same old story
I'm being a little unkind here, I know, but the appearance of a Windows-style desktop in Google's OS is worth a titter at the very least. Chrome was supposed to represent a clean-sheet rethink of what an operating system could be, but what we've ended up with looks considerably less radical than Microsoft's Metro interface for Windows 8.That's not necessarily a bad thing - people know and like windowed desktop OSes - but given the initial hype, it's rather disappointing. It's like Tesco promising to unveil a whole new kind of vegetable only to reveal a slightly smaller kind of carrot.
Interface aside, there's no doubt that Chrome OS is becoming a very slick product, but as I said back in 2010, "I really can't see why you'd want a Chrome OS notebook when you could buy a normal notebook and run the Chrome browser on it - or skip notebooks altogether and go with a tablet instead."
That was two years ago. Since then tablets have matured immensely, netbooks have been replaced by ultrabooks and Windows has been reengineered and reinvented. Chrome OS has moved on too, but to my eyes it's designed for a big but fairly dull market: the locked-down boxes you'll find in hotel internet suites, on check-in desks and in giant corporations' offices.
A far as the consumer market goes, I didn't understand the need for Chrome OS in 2010, and I don't understand it now: Google's got Chrome on OS X, Linux and Windows, it's got a perfectly good mobile OS in the form of Android, and while Apple's cutting its Google ties it's still the default search engine on iOS devices too.
Chromebooks are nice enough, but I suspect the number of people who'd buy one over a Windows 8 Ultrabook, the new iPad or a MacBook Air is vanishingly small.
For consumers, Chrome OS appears to be the Google+ of operating systems, the answer to a question somebody else has already answered.
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Tim Cook: TV is an 'area of intense interest'
Tim Cook has said on stage that TV is an "area of intense interest" for Apple, hinting that it could well be developing the standalone TV set Steve Jobs hinted at in his biography.
Speaking at the All Things Digital Conference in California last night, Cook said of the company's TV plans: "We are going to keep pulling the string and see where this takes us."
In a nod to the current Apple TV set-top box - which he referred to as 'a hobby' previously - he said: "We're not a hobby kind of company, as you know. We've stuck in this."
But pressed on whether Apple would make the iTV, he said: "You were right. I'm not going to tell you."
Disgruntled telly addicts
He did say that TV is something "many people would say that this is an area of their life that they aren't pleased with," just as Steve Jobs did before him.He also reiterated Apple's key questions before entering a product category: Can we control the key technology? Can we make a significant contribution beyond what others have done in this area? Will this product be one that we want?
He added he doesn't think Apple "has to own a content business", concerning rumours it's had trouble getting studios on board.
Apple sold 2.8 million Apple TV set-top boxes last year, and 2.7 million already this year. He also added the company will be 'doubling down' on Siri (hinting new features and enhancements are coming soon), and said to "stay tuned" when asked about Facebook integration, saying he has "great respect for them".
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iPhone 5 backplate leaks, showing mini dock and bigger screen
These could be the backplates for the upcoming model of iPhone. And if they are, then a lot of the rumours we've reported look like they're on the money.
The images were picked up by 9to5mac and claim to be the chassis of the sixth generation iPhone.
The black plate itself appears to be mainly metal – possibly a nod back to the likes of the original iPhone, but there's a strip of potentially glass at the top and the bottom.
This inclusion of metal on the back of the iPhone 5 could be to accommodate NFC technology, which may struggle to make its way through the glass frame found on the 4S.
All change please
The smaller dock connector that's had a lot of column inches is present and correct, and the headphone jack has been moved from the top corner of the device to the bottom corner, a la iPod Touch.We could also be in for beefier speakers on the iPhone 5, seeing as the speaker grills has been redesigned.
There's also a new hole between the camera lens and LED flash. It's not clear what this is, but it could be a new home for the second microphone, used for capturing audio while videoing.
Take me home
The latest image leaks also reveal that the iPhone 5 is set to keep the physical home button – with Apple not fully embracing its multi-touch gesture controls just yet.The images indicate the iPhone 5 will be the same width as the iPhone 4S, it will be longer, meaning a bigger screen. We're expecting somewhere around 4-inches, so still not coming close to the 4.8-inch display on the Samsung Galaxy S3.
The backplate was offered up by iPhone repair experts iFixyouri. It was the first company to confirm that the iPad would come in white, so these could well be the real thing.
If these backplates are genuine, it'll be welcome additions for the new iPhone, though nothing earth-shattering. We expect the iPhone 5 to land sometime around October, hopefully packing the next iteration of Apple's mobile platform, iOS 6.
Keep up to date will all the news in our iPhone 5 release date, news and rumours article and check out the video round up below.
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RIM to cut jobs as it looks to return to profitability
Research in Motion is sounding the alarms as it confirms job cuts and a loss for the next few months.
RIM CEO Thorsten Heins has signalled that the company has a turbulent year ahead of it, and things look like they are going to get worse before they get better.
Heins said: "our financial performance will continue to be challenging for the next few quarters.
"The on-going competitive environment is impacting our business in the form of lower volumes and highly competitive pricing dynamics in the marketplace, and we expect our Q1 results to reflect this, and likely result in an operating loss for the quarter."
Calling in the cavalry
RIM has called in JPMorgan and RBC Capital Markets as the company starts a strategic review, which will involve significant job cuts – although the firm will still hire personnel in key areas."While there will be significant spending reductions and headcount reductions in some areas throughout the remainder of the fiscal year, we will continue to spend and hire in key areas such as those associated with the launch of BlackBerry 10, and those tied to the growth of our application developer community."
It's not all bad news though, with Heins revealing that RIM expects to increase its cash position and he points out the success of BlackBerry World 2012, the App World hitting 80,000 apps and positive development of the new BlackBerry 10 operating system.
RIM is in a tricky position and laying off staff is not going to win the company and fans, but Heins is confident that the firm will return to the top - although that rests heavily on the success of BB10.
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Review: Medion Erazer X7815
The Erazer range from Medion has been gaining ground in the minds of gamers, but even if you're not an avid Skyrim player there's still plenty to be had from the 17-inch daddy of the range, the Medion Erazer X7815.
You not only enjoy premium features like USB 3.0 and Blu-ray, but Medion has managed to keep the price fairly reasonable. There are compromises - the keyboard isn't the best we've used - but overall this is an exceedingly competent laptop.
In terms of design, the Erazer X7815 has a curved black chassis fashioned from moulded plastic, positioning it somewhere between a hulking games machine and an everyday laptop. It's not outlandish on the scale of an Alienware laptop or some of the MSI machines, but we still reckon you'd get admiring glances if you pulled it out in the company of gamers.
Part of that impact is its sheer size. It measures 427 x 287 x 58mm and weighs an impressive 3.8kg. Because of the 17.3-inch screen and thick bezel, it does feel more like you're sitting at a command module, than a laptop.
Of course, as you will have guessed, the Erazer X7815 isn't made for portability. Along with the weight, you also have a weak 128-minute battery life and an AC adapter that can only be described as a brick.
While we're on the limitations, we might as well touch on the keyboard. It may be well-spaced and comfortable, but it suffers from a couple of oddly-sized keys. For example, we frequently found ourselves hitting Caps Lock which sits snugly next to the A key, so typing takes some getting used to.
The touchpad is both comfortable and responsive but, unfortunately, the left and right click buttons are horrendously stiff.
Surround sound
The Erazer X7815 offers users a great media experience thanks to the punchy speakers to the left and right of the keyboard and the on-board Dolby Home Theater v4 sound equaliser. When we cranked up the volume, we were impressed at the clarity of the sound this laptop has to offer.
The 750GB hard drive also means you have plenty of space for your music collection, and there's also a 160GB SSD so boot-up time isn't compromised.
Of course, the reason we've included the Erazer X7815 in this group test is because of its 17.3-inch Full HD screen. Although the screen is bright, there's no Super TFT coating, so deep colours - black, especially - lose some of their glossiness in media playback. However, it does mean that you can play games or work in brightly lit areas and not be distracted by irritating glare from overhead lights or sunlight.
Both the Intel Core i7-2670QM processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 570M graphics card are powerful and there plenty of connections to take advantage of, like the aforementioned USB 3.0 and Blu-ray, as well as VGA, HDMI, and eSATA display connections.
Benchmarks
Battery life: 127 minutesCinebench: 18,219
3DMark 2006: 17,600
For out-and-out gaming we'd pick the Samsung Series 7 Gamer over the Erazer X7815, but in terms of general usage and value for money, this is a serious contender - and further confirmation that Medion is one to watch.
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Fuji made a buy-out offer to Olympus
An interview with Komori, president of Fujifilm, has revealed that the firm was ready to buy Olympus, the troubled camera-maker.
Speaking to the German journal Frankfurter Allgemeine, Komori said, "We were ready to buy Olympus. We made an offer to Olympus, but I think Olympus is trying to remain independent."
Last year, Olympus was rocked by scandal. Beginning with the firing of its CEO Michael Woodford after just two weeks in the job, several years of accounting scandal were later uncovered. Shares in Olympus took a mighty tumble, and talks of partnerships with other brands were often talked about. Fujifilm and Sony were the two companies leading the pack in suggestions of buyout deals.
Earlier this week it was revealed that Michael Woodford has agreed an out-of-court settlement with his former employers. Thought to be worth several million dollars, the agreement will need to be approved by the Olympus board at its next meeting on June 8th.
Buy out
Komori also revealed that it was considering purchasing historic photography brand, Leica, but felt that Leica didn't fit with Fuji's own strategy.Fujifilm has seen a resurgence over the past couple of years as it has introduced premium cameras into the market. Beginning with the X100 in 2010, the X10 followed in 2011. The X Pro 1, Fuji's first interchangeable lens camera since 2006 has been making waves this year.
There are also other areas of expansion for Leica, outside of its camera business. Last year it moved into cosmetics, and Komori claims that the firm is also working on an anti-Alzheimer's drug.
It seems that Fuji has big plans for the future, watch this space.
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Monster launches a trio of new fashion-forward headphones
Audio Giant, Monster, unveiled a set of three high-end headphones - the Inspiration, Diamond Tears Edge, and the VEKTR - at the Monaco Grand Prix today.
According to Monster, these headphones were designed to bring high-quality audio, with added style for people that want headphones as a fashion accessory.
The Inspiration - $329.95 (£210.75) - is the first pair of headphones that are over the ear in design.
These noise-cancelling headphones are made for people that travel frequently, says Monster, and will block out any external sound.
In addition, the headphones have interchangeable headbands that will come in different styles, colors, textures and materials.
EDGE-y design
The Diamond Tears EDGE - $349.95 (£223.54) is the next set of headphones in the line. It sports an eye-catching diamond teardrop design, hence the name.
It features soft, plush ear cushions for listening comfort and the ControlTalk Universal mic and remote control for smartphones.
Diesel getting in the headphones game
Lastly, Monster unveiled the VEKTR - $279.95 (£179.06). These state-of-the-art looking headphones were made in conjunction with the fashion brand DIESEL.
You'll see the Diesel logo sported on both sides of the headphones and detail on the inside of the ear cups.
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Ice Cream Sandwich demoed on Motorola devices
Motorola is finally getting ready to unleash Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on its Droid Razr line of devices.
A series of videos released today from Motorola Japan show off the new OS running on a Droid Razr device.
Motorola provided its own skin for Ice Cream Sandwich, replacing most of the smartphone's icons and adding some useful new features.
The biggest change is that four shortcuts now appear on the phone's lock screen, with Motorola adding messaging and dialer shortcuts to the standard Android 4.0 camera and unlock options.
The standard camera app has also been updated to include a time-lapse option and the ability to take photos while shooting video.
Not all handsets getting update
It turns out not all Motorola handsets will get the upgrade to Android 4.0.Last week, the company said the new OS will only be available on its top end devices, rolling out first on the Droid Razr and Droid Razr Maxx.
The decision to restrict availability to Motorola devices is an interesting one in light of the manufacturer's recent purchase by Google.
You might think Google would want its latest OS available on all devices it now owns.
However, Motorola appears to have been given a fair amount of flexibility in dealing with its new parent company.
Motorola's skin for Ice Cream Sandwich builds on, and deviates from, Google's stock OS.
Sadly, there is still no date set for when Ice Cream Sandwich will actually arrive on Droid Razr and Droid Razr Maxx phones, but now at least we know what the OS will look like whenever that happens.
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Exclusive: Google explains why Chrome OS needed windows
Google has explained the leaps and bounds that Chrome OS has performed in arriving at its latest stage, and given an insight into some of the changes in the latest devices.
Chrome OS has had a limited impact in its time, but has certainly come a long way and Google's vice president of engineering Linus Upson told TechRadar, in a briefing with a handful of journalists, that the company has been working frantically to make things better.
"It's been about 9 months since we launched first Chromebooks with Acer and Samsung and we've been busily working to make Chrome OS better and better in that time," said Upson.
"In fact we've done eight releases of the software to make user experience better and faster for all of the people who have the first gen Chromebooks.
"Some of the major accomplishments that we've had in the first year include speed...making the javascript, webkit and the browser as a whole faster.
"We've added GPU acceleration so graphics run much faster. When we pushed out an update recently with accelerated graphics a lot of our users started sending email saying their computer had got way faster overnight and that had never happened before!"
File types
As well as making sure that Chrome OS is capable of dealing with any file type thrown the arrival of a more coherent system to sync with cloud storage Google Drive is clearly a major box ticked for Upson."The exciting thing is we've worked really hard to enable access for more file types," he added.
"You have always been able to click on web docs of course and pdfs would open in the web browser...but now you can open all Microsoft Office file formats. It's all built in, you click on a link and use instantly online or offline.
"In the release that's coming next we will have integration with Google Drive and that effectively becomes the file system for your Chrome OS.
"Across your PCs, phone and ChromeOS you access all your docs in the in the cloud, sync them and work with them offline."
Windows homage?
The arrival of a desktop, including a taskbar and multiple windows, will be a major talking point of the latest Chrome OS, and Upson talked about the need to change the UI to make multi-tasking easier."We had feedback that it was hard to multitask and people wanted to run two windows at the same time," he explained.
"At the same time we started to look at larger screens for the Chromebox and we wanted a more elegant windowing system so that people could use one window or run full screen if they wanted.
Upson: "...mail, documents media, music photos movies, we've nailed all of those offline use cases for people and then the online experience is second to none."
"We've revised the core user interface of Chrome OS and people have responded positively to that as we rolled it out. "The package of all these things together has taken us to a point where we are all very excited."
One major criticism of Google's Chrome OS has been the lmited functionality offline - but Upson believes that the company has "nailed" that in the improvements.
"For all the common use cases of offline: mail, documents media, music photos movies, we've nailed all of those offline use cases for people and then the online experience is second to none."
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Smartphones and tablets account for more than 20% of US internet use
As mobile devices like smartphones and tablets continue to become increasingly powerful, more and more consumers are using them to browse the web instead of traditional computers.
A new study from online ad network Chitika finds that smartphones and tablets make up more than 20 percent of web traffic in the U.S., with the lion's share coming from Apple devices like the iPad, iPhone 4S and iPod Touch.
Of those surfing the internet in the U.S., smartphone users account for 14.6 percent and tablet users make up 5.6 percent.
And Apple's devices make up 72 percent of that smartphone traffic (with Android coming in second at 26 percent), while Apple's iPad takes a whopping 95 percent of tablet traffic.
Mobile web browsing reportedly reaches a high point in the evening, when nine-to-fivers hit the couch and distract themselves with iPads and smartphones.
Browsing with Windows increases
Chitika's analysis also found that Windows Phones are increasingly used for web browsing, now comprising as much as a third of what Blackberry users surf.And when it comes to "old-fashioned" computers, roughly 85 percent of internet use comes from Windows PCs, while Mac OS X comes in at 13 percent.
Mobile web usage will likely continue to increase as smartphones and tablets continue to grow in power.
Experts did not immediately respond to TechRadar's requests for comment.
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Smartphones and tablets account for over 20% of US internet use
As mobile devices like smartphones and tablets continue to become increasingly powerful, more and more consumers are using them to browse the web instead of traditional computers.
A new study from online ad network Chitika finds that smartphones and tablets make up more than 20 percent of web traffic in the U.S., with the lion's share coming from Apple devices like the iPad, iPhone 4S and iPod Touch.
Of those surfing the internet in the U.S., smartphone users account for 14.6 percent and tablet users make up 5.6 percent.
And Apple's devices make up 72 percent of that smartphone traffic (with Android coming in second at 26 percent), while Apple's iPad takes a whopping 95 percent of tablet traffic.
Mobile web browsing reportedly reaches a high point in the evening, when nine-to-fivers hit the couch and distract themselves with iPads and smartphones.
Browsing with Windows increases
Chitika's analysis also found that Windows Phones are increasingly used for web browsing, now comprising as much as a third of what Blackberry users surf.And when it comes to "old-fashioned" computers, roughly 85 percent of internet use comes from Windows PCs, while Mac OS X comes in at 13 percent.
Mobile web usage will likely continue to increase as smartphones and tablets continue to grow in power.
Experts did not immediately respond to TechRadar's requests for comment.
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Internet Defense League protecting against 'corruption'
Freedom of the internet is under constant assault from "entrenched institutions and monopolies" and "confused or corrupted" politicians, said the Internet Defense League (IDL).
The new organization has a plan to help prevent controversial legislation like the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) from gaining traction, and it involves an internet "bat signal" that will easily enable mass protests.
The IDL is led by Tiffiniy Cheng of Fight for the Future, "a nonprofit working to expand the internet's power for good," and Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of reddit, which touts itself as "the front page of the internet."
By registering with the IDL, anyone with a website can sign up to receive a notification when any internet-threatening legislation rears its ugly head.
"The Internet Blackout was just the beginning," according to an IDL statement.
Along with the note will come the code to embed a warning banner on members' sites that will alert visitors about the harmful legislation, and presumably allow them to easily sign a petition and take other actions.It began with SOPA
The idea for the registry, which the iDL itself likens to the "bat signal" used to alert Batman when his attention is required, evolved from the mass internet protests and website black-outs that caused Congress to dismiss the overzealous SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) earlier this year.WordPress, reddit, and the Cheezburger network (FAILBlog, Know Your Meme, etc.) have signed up with the IDL, and Wikipedia is reportedly considering membership as well.
Ultimately the list's effectiveness will depend on how many - and which - sites decide to take part.
The Internet Defense League's mission statement
"Internet freedom and individual power are changing the course of history," reads a message on the IDL's website."But entrenched institutions and monopolies want this to stop. Elected leaders often don't understand the internet, so they're easily confused or corrupted."
The site continues, "The Internet Blackout was just the beginning. Together, our websites and personal networks can mobilize the planet to defend the internet from bad laws & monopolies."
The Internet Defense League's current targets are Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and CISPA, two very real threats that have yet to be squashed.
IDL representatives did not immediately respond to TechRadar's requests for comment.
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Internet Defense League protects internet from 'corruption'
Freedom of the internet is under constant assault from "entrenched institutions and monopolies" and "confused or corrupted" politicians, said the Internet Defense League (IDL).
The new organization has a plan to help prevent controversial legislation like the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) from gaining traction, and it involves an internet "bat signal" that will easily enable mass protests.
The IDL is led by Tiffiniy Cheng of Fight for the Future, "a nonprofit working to expand the internet's power for good," and Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of reddit, which touts itself as "the front page of the internet."
By registering with the IDL, anyone with a website can sign up to receive a notification when any internet-threatening legislation rears its ugly head.
"The Internet Blackout was just the beginning," according to an IDL statement.
Along with the note will come the code to embed a warning banner on members' sites that will alert visitors about the harmful legislation, and presumably allow them to easily sign a petition and take other actions.It began with SOPA
The idea for the registry, which the iDL itself likens to the "bat signal" used to alert Batman when his attention is required, evolved from the mass internet protests and website black-outs that caused Congress to dismiss the overzealous SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) earlier this year.WordPress, reddit, and the Cheezburger network (FAILBlog, Know Your Meme, etc.) have signed up with the IDL, and Wikipedia is reportedly considering membership as well.
Ultimately the list's effectiveness will depend on how many - and which - sites decide to take part.
The Internet Defense League's mission statement
"Internet freedom and individual power are changing the course of history," reads a message on the IDL's website."But entrenched institutions and monopolies want this to stop. Elected leaders often don't understand the internet, so they're easily confused or corrupted."
The site continues, "The Internet Blackout was just the beginning. Together, our websites and personal networks can mobilize the planet to defend the internet from bad laws & monopolies."
The Internet Defense League's current targets are Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and CISPA, two very real threats that have yet to be squashed.
IDL representatives did not immediately respond to TechRadar's requests for comment.
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GameStop now carrying Android tablets along with free games
GameStop is breaking into the tablet business, with more than 1,600 stores nationwide now carrying a selection of top Android tablets.
Retail stores will carry tablets from Samsung, Acer, Asus, and Toshiba, each bundled with pre-installed software and free games.
And, some GameStop stores will carry the Asus Transformer Prime and TF300T, Samsung Galaxy Tab, and the Acer Iconia series.
Each tablet will come with a suite of free games, the Kongragate gaming app, and an issue of Game Informer Digital.
We contacted a local GameStop store, where the sales representative confirmed to us that the five free games included are Riptide GP, Sonic CD, Shadowgun, Cordy, and Sleepy Jack.
Time for a change
This is not GameStop's first foray into the tablet market, but it's a significant new step.Late last year the retailer ran a trial run stocking Android tablets in 200 of its stores, which has proven successful enough for a more national launch.
GameStop stores already carry refurbished iPads, which are sold as is without any pre-installed apps or games.
Stores accept trade-ins on iPads, though there has been no announcement whether Android tablets will be accepted for trade-in as well.
GameStop is also making an increased push for digital markets, launching its GameStop Mobile service earlier this year for smartphones.
The company is also rumored to have its own streaming game service in the works to rival Onlive, which would run on Android tablets using a Bluetooth controller.
With the increased push toward downloadable games and tablets, GameStop is making a much-needed business move.
The only question is whether GameStop is too little too late with its mobile gaming adoption.
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