The latest in funky, fruit-labeled phenomena, Apple TV, has been delayed until March. So, between the arrival of the PS3 and Apple TV next month, most of you will be in debt and begging on the streets by April.
Apple TV marks the company’s first foray into the living room set-top box market place and it looks likely that the delays are little more than extensive pre-launch flight checks. It won’t stop Apple from taking £200 of your hard-earned cash right now though.
Will the plug & play promise of Apple TV kill-off the less user-friendly, but more established, Media Centre PC approach?-Martin Lynch
news technology TV entertainment home geek apple
Trackback: http://blogs.vnunet.com/app/trackback/98394
Who needs robots when you can control actual animals? Robots, they're pretty conspicuous, but no one ever suspects the pigeon of foul play.
Chinese scientists claim to have figured out a way to control the flight of pigeons remotely, telling them where to go via micro electrodes implanted in their brains. The scientists claim they don't know what practical uses this new technology may have, but we think you can expect World War III to be more reminiscent of The Birds than Flags of Our Fathers. The future's getting brighter by the day. –Adam Frucci
Bird-brained Chinese scientists learn to fly pigeons [Yahoo News]
Trackback: http://blogs.vnunet.com/app/trackback/98393
If you've been sitting at the edge of your seat since we announced the second coming of the N-Gage, your day has come. That is, if you live in Finland. Starting today and lasting through mid 2007, Nokia is giving its new "N-Gage experience" a test run along with the help of Finnish cell provider, Elisa. Unfortunately, there won't be any side-talking this time around as Nokia already said they're not re-launching the N-Gage phone, but instead working on the platform of games which will play across most N-Series phones. – Louis Ramirez
Press Release [via Xataka Movil]
Trackback: http://blogs.vnunet.com/app/trackback/98392
Personally, I’m just happy to have any broadband, but a growing number of people are unhappy with their broadband service in the UK. Despite the avergae speed being a healthy 2MBps, ISPs are slipping up.
According to researchers, Point Topic, users are not as chirpy as they used to be. In just 10 months, user smiles are turning to frowns.
“The change since our last survey is striking. Within 10 months the satisfaction levels have declined significantly,” says Dr Katja Mueller, Research Director at Point Topic. “From 92% of respondents saying they were 'very' or 'fairly' satisfied in February 2006 with the service they receive overall, it has dropped to 77% in December 2006.”
Unsurprisingly, the quality of after sales service fell from just 7% being ‘fairly’ or ‘very’ unhappy with to 18.3% being not amused this time. Mueller says that many ISPS are more focused now on getting market share fast at the expense of good service.
Around 25% of those surveyed are ready to jump ship and get a new supplier in a situation where ‘churn’ looks likely to be 2007’s most noticeable broadband development.-Martin Lynch
news technology online PC broadband internet
Trackback: http://blogs.vnunet.com/app/trackback/98391
So you're on the phone on your way from work talking to you lovely wife about how "interesting" her day was: she put the kids on the school bus, cleaned the house, cooked dinner, etc. As it should be. However, you spot a hazard on the road then have to quickly tell her to shut up lest her breadwinner end up in an accident. Thanks to a patent filed quite some time ago, all you'd have to do is push a button. This sends a signal to tell her to please pipe down ("shut up") so you can concentrate on not crashing. Hey, that's how the filing reads. – Nicholas Deleon
Filing [USPTO via Patented: Mobile phone that tells your wife to shut up]
Trackback: http://blogs.vnunet.com/app/trackback/98390
The company with its arm wedged elbow-deep into your wallet has announced plans for a cut-price version of its outrageously expensive – and rarely seen – BDP-S1, Blu-Ray player [above]. Sony’s new BDP-S300 will cost just $599 (£305) later this year, compared to the $999 tag on the BDP-S1. Sony claimed it offers superior features to its big brother, including the ability to playback CDs. It is also about the same size as a normal DVD player which is good, since the BDP-S1 is the size of a small Japanese car.
So, $599 – not bad you’re thinking but let’s perform a little cross-continent, currency wizardry. Right now, I’m not even sure you can buy the BDP-S1 in the UK, although someone is selling one on Ebay for £899 + postage.
The Panasonic and Samsung Blu-ray players, the DMPBD10 and the older BD-P1000 cost over £1,000 and £520, respectively. The Sony BDP-S1 would most likely sit in the £800-900 bracket. That would make the new, cheaper BDP-S300 around £500, a long way from the US price of £305. And, still more expensive than first generation rival HD DVD players.
More importantly, £500 makes it £75 more expensive than the 60GB PS3, due next month. Anyone get the feeling that Sony wants people to buy PS3s first? –Martin Lynch
news technology gadgets blu-ray movies HDTV sony
Trackback: http://blogs.vnunet.com/app/trackback/98389
Editor and Contributor | Martin Lynch
Contributor | Tamlin Magee
