Dreamy DAB Radio October 13, 2007

Read more Digital Audio , Gadgets , Gizmodo UK , MP3 , Music , Radio

Vita Audio has created a special edition of its award-winning R1 DAB radio called the R1 Dream.

It’s certainly dinky and comes dressed, unsurprisingly in white. There’s a decent LCD display and the whole thing is built solidly in a glossy wood and pressed steel box. Taking centre stage is the rotaDial, which Vita Audio, maintains eliminates button confusion by making this one dial the so-called, one button to rule them all.

There’s an FM tuner and it also sports ports for hooking up iPods and MP3 players, which is handy for getting those tunes out in the open.

At £180, it’s not cheap, but then it comes highly recommended by leading reviews mags. You can find it in HMV, John Lewis, House of Fraser, Selfridges and Harrods, as well as a host of audio stores. -Martin Lynch

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Ofcom Pushing For “Free Trial” Broadband October 13, 2007

Read more Broadband , Entertainment , Gizmodo UK , Online , PC

For many of Gizmodo readers, and the population at large, advertised broadband speeds are a long way from what is delivered by the ISPs. For many, what we're are getting for our money is nothing short of a rip-off.

Now, Ofcom’s independent consumer panel has written to the UK’s leading ISPs to find out just why people are not getting what they are paying for. More importantly, it has outlined a number of changes that ISPs might like to make, including a ‘try before you buy’ broadband period and a much clearer method of telling people just how fast [or snail-like] their actual broadband will be. Colette Bowe, Chairman of the Ofcom Consumer Panel said:

“We believe that broadband customers are not at the moment getting enough information. We are of course aware of the technical reasons for the “up to” terminology that you use. I would however like to have your views about how these technical issues might be better addressed in terms of giving clearer information to potential customers. We believe that broadband customers are not at the moment getting enough information.”

This is all long overdue but, nonetheless, very welcome. Jump now to see the key suggestions being put to the ISPs.-Martin Lynch