The hottest topics at CES 2011 were, without a shadow of a doubt, tablets and 3D. Pocket-lint's already told you about all the tablets and, as an overall picture, we've even described the show in 3D but there's a subsection of the latter which made a bigger impact and appearance than most people thought it would - 3D, but without the glasses.

Autostereoscopic, or non-glasses based 3D, TV sets and technology has been around for a while but none of it commercially available. Until this year, it's remained the stuff of prototypes with just a few viewing angles to shout about. 2011's Vegas tech binge, though, has brought us plenty of news of real, genuine products that we'll be able to get our hands on in the not too distant future. So, here are the top 10 glasses-free 3D gadgets we saw at the show. 

Sony 10.1-inch portable 3D Blu-ray player

Using a LCD screen, this portable 3D Blu-ray player looked almost ready for sale. The resolution, which measures 1366 x 768 pixels (AKA HD-ready) is an issue since only half of that is shown to each eye, but in practice the 3D effect was impressive when viewed head-on.

LG 4.3-inch 3D LCD smartphone

Hiding away on LG’s monumentally-sized booth we found a “technology display”, CES-speak for a prototype - and often next year’s products. The actual device was hidden and only the screen was visible, but this concept claimed to have Full HD resolution. Detail wasn’t its strong point, though, but with just enough viewing angles, smartphones like this little gem are the future, no question. Claims to shift from 2D to 3D quickly, and be ultra-thin.

Toshiba 56- & 65-inch 3DTVs

Toshiba surprised everyone by unleashing these two monster autostereoscopic screens, but what really shocked the CES is that the company plans to sell them towards the end of 2011. There's still plenty of work to do on improving the viewing angles (only around nine distinct positions reveal a bonafide 3D image) but these were hugely impressive debuts from a brand that also unveiled its first passive 3DTVs.

LG 50-inch 3DTV

Hugely impressive - perhaps more so than Toshiba's 56-inch and 65-inch models - this prototype can only display 3D content from 3D Blu-ray and broadcast 3D TV. A tad blurry and with visible pixilation from the recommended 10 feet away (another issue) we were nevertheless surprised when an LG spokesperson told us that it was 3-to-5 years away from going on sale.

Sharp 3.8-inch & 10.6-inch 3D LCD TVs

Both prototypes, these two are destined for very different markets. With smartphones and tablets the presumed intention, Sharp's duo are switchable between 2D and 3D since they use parallax barriers that can show different images to each eye during 3D viewing, then become transparent for 2D content.

Sony 24.5-inch 3D OLED TV

Sporting a similar monolith design to the current batch of Bravias, this is perhaps the most desirable 3D screen at the CES. There was visible pixilation on the 1920 x 1080 panel, but from just a few feet away the depth, colour and contrast was excellent. Even the viewing angles were much wider than the black footprints on the carpet suggested.

LG Displays 7-inch mobile 3D DTV

Housed on an entirely separate and tiny booth in the CES’s Central Hall we found this 7-inch mobile digital TV. Complete with antennae, this rounded unit uses the side-by-side digital 3DTV system and switchable parallax barrier 3D tech; on the stand it was receiving a 3D broadcast from KLVX-MDTV, a public broadcaster in Las Vegas. The 3D image, measuring 416 x 240 pixels and upscaled to 800 x 400, appeared indistinct, but with a core 3D depth.

Sony MHS-FS3 Bloggie 3D HD camera

One of the few no glasses 3D gadgets slated for actual sale, Sony’s Bloggie captures Full HD 3D or 2D videos in MP4 format which can be viewed in 3D either on the 2.4-inch LCD on the device itself - with no 3D glasses required - or routed into a 3DTV for watching with glasses on (unless you buy one of Toshiba’s tellies, we suppose). It’ll also capture 5MP stills and up to 4 hours of footage onto its 8GB internal memory. Best of all, it should be out in spring for $250, so no pie in the sky here.

Toshiba personal 3D laptop

Based on the same panels developed for the brand’s 12- and 20-inch glasses-free 3DTVs that were showing, Toshiba also demoed its prototype 3D laptop for us. Uniquely, it’s possible to see a 3D image from anywhere, though the removal of the problem of restricted viewing angles brings another issue - only one person can see a 3D image. It does this by using the laptop’s webcam to track the movement of your eyes and adjusting the light output accordingly. It’s brilliantly innovative, though not yet 100 per cent effective - we noticed quite a few cracks in the effect as well as some blurring on one side.

3DFusion 42-inch 3DTV

Based on the technology used by Philips in its WOWvx screens that were seen at trade shows for yonks before the company stopped development, 3DFusion’s autostereoscopic TVs were showing at the Stratosphere Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. Intended for the digital signage (i.e. advertising) industry for now, 3DFusion nevertheless demoed its 42-inch screen with live 3D capture, as well as 2D-to-3D processing on-the-fly.

Related links:

• Feature - CES 2011 in 3D
• Feature - Cheap 3DTV for the masses?
• Feature - Internet TV - what's on offer and from whom

Tags: 3DTV Autostereoscopic Features CES2011 Sony LG Sony Bloggie 3D MHS-FS3 Toshiba Televisions

CES 2011: Top 10 glasses-free 3D gadgets originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:54:00 +0000

Is the 3DTV you just spent your savings on already a first-gen dinosaur? A few big brands at the CES seem to think so with several attempting to usher-in a new era of thoroughly affordable passive 3DTVs that use the same cheap glasses as 3D cinemas.

Several manufacturers, including LG and Toshiba, have revealed such intentions despite costly active shutters fixed as the dominant technology in the 3DTV market since its inception 12 months ago. Active 3D uses powered glasses to sync with the TV, something that enables a Full HD image to be flashed to each eye with every frame of the screen alternating with one for the left and then for the right. With 3D cinema-style passive glasses that isn't the case; the lenses are already polarised - much like a pair of sunglasses - and don’t need to be charged-up, but only send half a Full HD image to each eye with every frame of the video footage containing information for left and right at the same time.

Until now, LG has made the only consumer-friendly passive 3DTV, the 47LD950. At a shade under £2,000, it’s been a high-end set but, in 2011, there’ll be a big push on its LW5700 and LW7700 ranges of passive 3DTVs, which it has collected under the self-explanatory moniker Cinema 3D - so called because passive 3D is most usually the type found in movie theatres. Both of these TV ranges use LED backlighting and there’s even another, the LW450U, waiting in LG’s locker as well.

Panel maker company LG Displays used a separate press tour and conference and even suggested that it could drop active shutter 3DTVs from its line-up altogether and replace them with what it calls film patterned retarder (FPR) 3DTVs.

“Whereas first generation shutter glass technology introduced us to the possibility of 3D TV, next generation FPR makes 3D practical for mainstream use”, said LG Display CEO Kwon Young Soo.

“FPR will effectively allow manufacturers to create an incredible quality 3D TV experience that is healthy, convenient and affordable - all factors hindering the popularity of first generation 3D products.”

However, it's clear that isn’t the case, at least, not yet; on LG’s huge booth at the Las Vegas Convention Center were three brand new series of high-end 3DTVs that use active shutter technology - the PZ960 plasmas, and LW770T and LW9500 Full LED Nano sets. Crucially, a 32-inch Cinema 3D set will be available. Active shutter tech will start at the 42-inch screen size.

“In consumer research 88 percent told us they preferred the passive 3D experience”, George Mead, home entertainment consumer & product marketing manager at LG Electronics, told Pocket-Lint.

“Cinema 3D will be our main focus, but we will still offer active shutter sets, too. All will go on sale in the UK towards the end of March, and though prices aren’t yet available, Cinema 3D will come with a significant discount - and plenty of pairs of 3D glasses”.

Philips, which LG Displays confirmed would be a customer for its FPR panels, were not at the CES, but other confirmed clients - for North America, at least - are Vizio and Toshiba. The former, which indicated to us that it intends to phase-out its active shutter models, is showing 65-inch and 71-inch (the 71-inch in 21:9 “Cinemawide” letterbox shape) passive 3DTVs at the CES that are already on sale.

Although it refused to criticise active shutter tech, Toshiba used CES 2011 to launch a three-pronged approach to 3D. For as well as demoing some glasses-free 3DTVs for later this year, we gained access to the roped-off part of its booth to inspect its 42-, 47- and 55-inch TL515 polarised 3DTVs. A spokesperson for Toshiba told us:

“We’re the only brand to offer all three types of 3DTV - we’ll have active, passive and glasses-free. It’s all about choice. It’s a bit like DLP TVs; about eight per cent of people see a rainbow effect. If you don’t like active shutter 3D then you don’t have to switch to another brand”.

Samsung, Sharp and Panasonic have stuck solely with active shutter, though Sony’s booth at CES contained various glasses-free 3D gadgets including the Bloggie and a 24-inch OLED display. As always, of course, in the consumer electronics market, it’ll be the sales figures that decide which flavour of 3D ultimately triumphs.

Related links:

• Feature - CES 2011 in 3D
• Review - Sony Bravia KDL-40LX903
• Review - Panasonic HDC-SDT750
• News - Skype-enabled TV lineup grows at CES

Tags: Televisions CES2011 3D 3DTV Features LG Toshiba Samsung Sony Panasonic

Cheap 3DTV for the masses? originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:07:00 +0000

In the second of two parts, we asked a Mac head and a PC bod to give their five top reasons why one system beats the other.

PCs are better because:

You rarely hear "not available on the PC"
When was the last time you heard that the latest bit of software isn't available for PC? It just doesn't happen. The latest Google apps always launch on PC first, the latest Adobe software, PC first, SlingBox, networking software all PC first. If you want the latest software and plenty of it, PC is the way to go.

So much cheaper I can have two
PCs are great value for money. Don't see any £200 Apple Macs floating around do you? Go PC and you can save around double that you would pay for "Apple tax" - and still get a faster machine in most cases.

You can play the latest games
Like games? Then you'll be wanting a PC. When was the last time you saw someone playing games on the Mac? It's for getting artsy crafty isn’t it? Whether it's a first person shooter like Battlefield 1942, real time strategy like Command and Conquer or a massive multiplayer online role playing game like World of Warcraft you're going to need a machine that is powerful enough to cope now and easily upgradeable in the future. You can't even replace the battery on those MacBook Airs let alone the graphics card.

You can build a system that is best suited for your needs
The PC is all about tinkering with your system to get the most out of it like a performance sports car. Want better graphics? No problem. Want more storage? Hey, you can do that too. With thousands of manufacturers making parts, there is so much choice, you can choose the best bit for you rather than get stuck with what Apple says you can have. When you get the right bits for your system you can then tune it to make it even better. Why not overclock your processor? If it can do it, you need to push it to the limit.

You can get something that will fit in your handbag
That MacBook Air might be thin but it's not a touch on the size of PC netbooks from Asus, MSI, Acer, Dell, HP, LG, and anyone else who's got one for sale. Small and light the netbook class of models are the most portable computers around. It's not just netbooks though, PC desktops come in lots of different sizes and guises as well rather than something that's just plain old silver.

Related links:

• Link - Five reasons Macs are better than PCs

Tags: Hardware Apple Microsoft Software Apple MacBook Pro Leopard Features

Five reasons PCs are better than Macs originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 11:00:00 +0000

Gamesdog.co.uk, our sister gaming site is reporting that EA's boxing game, Fight Night could be making its way on to the console from Nintendo to challenge Nintendo's Wii Boxing title.

In an interview with boxing website doghouseboxing.com, Fight Night producer Michael Blank revealed that EA is currently discussing bringing the hit boxing franchise to the Wii.

"We're talking about it right now. We're contemplating and we definitely feel there are some exciting things we can do with the Fight Night franchise and the Wii", said Blank.

He also notes that Wii Boxing is a "very simple experience" and Fight Night is very much a simulation of the sport.

"...we need to take those Wii controls and tailor it to what the Fight Night consumer might want to experience. We are looking at it right now and I am sure you will something some time in the future on the Wii", concludes Blank.

Wii Boxing is just one of the Wii Sports titles that you get with the console. Other games include bowling, tennis, and baseball.

Tags: Gaming Nintendo Wii Sports games Nintendo EA

EA's Fight Night could be coming to the Nintendo Wii originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 14 Feb 2007 11:31:37 +0000

An online community of people keen to know more searched Google.com this week to find details of [Anna Nicole Smith]'s sudden death, and the equally strange news that a third man, [Prince Frederick von Anhalt], is claiming paternity of the late Ms. Smith's 5-month-old baby girl. Also in the tabloidian arena is the saga of NASA astronaut [Lisa Nowak], charged with the attempted murder of romantic rival [Colleen Shipman] after a dramatic drive and encounter.

The tumultuous week didn't keep searchers from engaging in more predictable post-game evaluations of the [Superbowl commercials] and the half-time show, which featured musical artist [Prince]. Searchers were also wondering whether the heavy snowfall across the midwest and northeast US would cause [school closings] - or perhaps just how long they would last. Also this week, Oprah Winfrey featured a life philosophy called [The Secret] on her show, which claims to be able to help you make more money, lose weight, fall in love, and have a successful business. [Drew Barrymore]'s new movie "Music & Lyrics" premiered in LA, and a judge refused to dismiss charges against the only military officer charged in the [Abu Ghraib] prisoner abuse case.

Google's Zeitgeist results for the top gainers on Google.com, when comparing search queries that have risen by a significant percentage for the week of February 4-10, 2007 are:

Google.com Gainers

1. anna nicole smith
2. superbowl commercials
3. prince
4. colleen shipman
5. lisa nowak
6. the secret
7. school closings
8. drew barrymore
9. prince frederick von anhalt
10. abu ghraib

Related links:

• Link - Google Zeitgeist

Tags: Software Online Websites Email

Anna Nicole, The Super Bowl, And Nasa Star In The Google Weekly Zeitgeist originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:21:15 +0000

BT has announced the launch of two new videophones. The new Videophone 1000 and Videophone 2000 are broadband-enabled video telephones, which lets users see who they are talking to.

Calls are made using a broadband line with a BT Broadband Talk account.

BT are promising BT Videophone users high-definition sound quality and a full colour screen. The Videophone is future proofed so it allows automatic upgrades and it also has a built-in address book function.

All that’s needed to use the Videophone is a broadband line, a compatible router and a BT Broadband Talk account, which can be set-up online.

Calls between Videophones within your Broadband Talk calling plan are charged at 10p per minute.

If the person you're calling doesn't have a Videophone, the conversation will not include video and the call will be charged at standard BT Broadband Talk call rates.

The recommended retail price for the BT Videophone 1000 is £149.99. BT has also released their Videophone 2000, which contains the same functions as the 1000 but connects wirelessly and retails at £199.99.

Related links:

• Link - BT

Tags: Phones Landline Phones BT

BT launch Videophone 1000 and Videophone 2000 originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 09 Feb 2007 12:32:26 +0000

Garmin has announced a new version of the zumo motorcycle navigator, the zumo 400. Following on from TomTom's dedicated bike system Garmin's new offering has been designed to be used while wearing gloves.

The new unit features glove-friendly design with left-handed controls and oversized touchscreen buttons. The waterproof (IEC 529 IPX-7 standards) device is preloaded with regional map data (UK and Ireland if bought in the UK). It includes an extensive and detailed points of interest database – including hotels, restaurants, petrol stations, ATMs, and attractions. In addition zumo 400 owners may also enter customised points of interest, such as camping sites or favourite picnic spots.

The zumo is also preloaded with speed camera information. The unit gives clear audio visual alerts when approaching cameras and warns you if you’re going too fast. The database is updated regularly to capture any location changes of fixed and mobile cameras. To ensure accuracy riders can subscribe to download the latest information whenever they want. The service is free for the first 3 months.

The zumo 400 also has many state-of-the-art security features to ensure the safety of the navigator. It includes a locking motorcycle mount with waterproof power and data cable connections. The mount is designed to withstand the severe vibration environment commonly experienced in motorcycle riding.

The zumo also features Garmin Lock, a unique theft prevention system that disables the zumo from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location. If the user does not know the PIN or secure location, the zumo will be inoperative.

The zumo 400 is expected to be available from March 2007.

Tags: Car And GPS GPS Garmin Motorbikes

Garmin launch bike friendly zumo 400 originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Fri, 09 Feb 2007 12:27:14 +0000

ILFORD has announced today the second step towards the completion of its wide format media range, OMNIJET.

The company has said that the latest additions have been created to cater for customers seeking a specialised host of media. All films have been designed to use with pigment and thermal ink jet printers using aqueous dye or pigment based ink sets. Products include:

Newly announced is the Instant Dry Matt SA Vinyl, Instant Dry Satin Banner, Instant Dry Satin Banner Textile, Instant Dry Matt Banner, Instant Dry Matt Canvas and Instant Dry Matt Canvas packs.

The Instant Dry Matt Self Adhesive Vinyl is a 4mil (175gsm) white opaque, matt, vinyl with a permanent adhesive. This allows the media to permanently bond to virtually any mounting substrate.

The Instant Dry Satin Banner is a 7mil (120gsm), white polypropylene film and is ideal for producing indoor graphics such as banners and short term outdoor graphics.

The Instant Dry Satin Banner Textile is a 6mil (115gsm), white polyester fabric and is an excellent solution for creating cost-effective banners.

The Instant Dry Matt Banner is an 8mil (130gsm), white polypropylene film. It is ideal for producing indoor graphics such as banners and short term outdoor graphics (with pigment inks).

The Instant Dry Matt Canvas is an 15mil (330gsm), cotton/polyester blend. It is a robust stretchable canvas with a high resistance to cracking and provides superior framing performance. It is ideal for producing indoor digital prints.

Related links:

• Link - Omnijet web

Tags: Cameras

ILFORD add to OMNIJET paper stock range originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 18 Jan 2007 14:25:21 +0000

Microsoft has announced that it is adding a digital photography challenge to its Imagine Cup this year.

The Imagine Cup’s Digital Photography Competition calls students around the globe to explore their creativity by using technology to solve real-world problems.

Last year over 65,000 students from 100 countries participated in the Imagine Cup which Microsoft say is like a “software development Olympics”.

The theme for the Software Design Invitational this year is “imagine a world where technology enables a better education for all” and, picking up this theme, the Digital Photography Competition encourages photographers to use Microsoft’s tools and technology to unleash their ideas and communicate a story about education using only photos as the communication medium.

To enter the competition, entrants will be required to submit a photo essay of up to ten images.

The deadline for first round submissions is 11 May 2007.

Following a review of all the entries, six teams will be selected on June 8th 2007 to fly out to Seoul, Korea to compete in the International Final to battle for a share of the $15,000 total prize fund.

Microsoft has said that the judging panel will consist of notable, industry figures and academics as well as this year’s sponsors BT, Capgemini and HP.

The team who finishes in third place will collect $3000, second place runners-up will celebrate with $4000 and the overall winners of the Photography competition will get $8000.

Related links:

• Link - Imagine Cup

Tags: Cameras

Imagine Cup 2007 calls student photographers to represent the UK originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 17 Jan 2007 12:22:27 +0000

Bonusprint has launched a guide to digital photography to help people get the most out of their digital cameras.

The free guide, available from its website, aims to give those new to the area hints and tips on getting up and running quickly and covers everything from framing pictures to using memory space correctly.

It's all fairly straightforward stuff, but for those not in the know and just discovering digital over traditional film its sure to be very helpful.

Bonusprint¹s guide to making the most of your digital camera:

1. Practice makes perfect - the beauty of digital photography is that you can take lots of photos to get the right shot. Don¹t be afraid to try the same picture in a number of different ways - there is no waste because you only need to print the images that you like.

2. Experiment with your camera ­- digital cameras and even camera phones now come packed with features and it's very tempting just to use one setting for all of your pictures. Try using different settings, such as sepia for an aged effect, night mode to create mystery and bright light for warmth, or turn the flash on or off to see what mode suits different conditions and environments.

3. Framing -­ Be aware of the shapes in your image and use them to create a frame or direct the viewer to the subject (for example, a diagonal road or fence can lead the eye to the picture¹s focus). You can also look to edit or crop the photo after you have finished to maximise the effect and get precisely the image you are looking for

4. Memory space ­- While digital cameras and camera phones do have space to store digital images, the memory stick is not infinite. Make sure you download and print your pictures, so that you always have space on your camera and don¹t miss any opportunities.

5. Share the delight -­ When you have taken pictures you are pleased with don't just keep them to yourself on your camera or computer, there are plenty of ways you can share them. Why not set up an online album like the one available at www.bonusprint.co.uk/webalbum? This gives you the option to add captions and send a secure link to those you'd like to view the images. They can also order copies of the prints directly so you don't need to worry about printing for everyone.

6. Be creative -­ there are so many different ways that you can enjoy your pictures, why not get your image printed onto a canvas print to hang on the wall or record a holiday or wedding in a photo book? There are lots of different ideas including calendars, mugs, jigsaws, and greetings cards and all of them can be personalised with your own picture and messages to produce something unique for you.

7. Have it to hand ­- Now you have a new gadget to play with, make sure you use it. Don't let it sit in your cupboard for the next year, take it out with you and have it to hand so you can be spontaneous to keep your memories alive and share your experiences with friends and family.

Related links:

• Link - Bonusprint

Tags: Compact cameras

Bonusprint launches digital photography guide originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Wed, 17 Jan 2007 12:00:58 +0000

Epson has announced that it is launching A3+ and A2 Enhanced Matte Poster Board sheets ideal for storefront graphics and point of purchase (POP) displays.

Photographers, artists agencies and POP print shops have the benefit of a flat matte surface combined with the rigidity of a mounted print at 1.3mm thick.

Developed exclusively to work in conjunction with Epson UltraChrome K3 printers it produces non-gloss images with high-colour gamut, excellent highlight and shadow detail. It is available in A3+ and A2 packs.

The Enhanced Matte Poster Board is 850gsm and can be printed on both sides. It features two layers which are produced from Elementary Chlorine Free (ECF) paper and a further two layers which carry the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) label. The FSC label allows consumers to recognize products that support the growth of responsible forest management worldwide.

The A3 boards will cost £39.19 while the A2 cost £60.14. Epson also offers the boards in a 24 x 30in and 30 x 40in size. They cost £64.01 each.

Tags: Cameras

Epson launches Enhanced Matte Poster Board in A3+ and A2 originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:29:35 +0000

Our sister site Gamesdog.co.uk is reporting that Ubisoft has announced that its to launch a video game based on the new Rocky Balboa film starting Sylvester Stallone.

The new game, which will be available on the PSP on 26 January, will allow gamers to relive the fights from the new film as well as old fights from previous movies including Apollo and Drago from Rocky 4.

“Ubisoft’s previous Rocky-themed video games have been hugely popular and we are really excited to be working closely with MGM on Rocky Balboa”, said John Parkes, EMEA Marketing Director at Ubisoft.

Rocky Balboa is the latest story in the saga of one of Hollywood’s most beloved characters, Philadelphia boxer Rocky Balboa.

Tags: Gaming PSP Sports games Ubisoft

Rocky Balboa coming to the PSP originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 14:36:27 +0000

While the powers that be spend their time trying to figure out ways of getting motorists out of their cars and on to public transport, it appears it's the cost of petrol that's really putting a bee in the car bonnet of UK drivers.

Motorists are now more concerned about the cost of petrol than any other issue currently affecting our roads, according to a new Yahoo! Cars study. In a poll of more than 1500 drivers, half said the threat of rising fuel prices was their overriding worry. Rising insurance premiums, car tax rises, speed limit reductions and motorway tolls and parking restrictions each polled only under 6%.

Perhaps surprisingly - especially for Londoners and other urban dwellers threatened by such a scheme - congestion charging was the bottom answer, with just 3% of respondents feeling it was the issue that concerned them most. Speed cameras (15%) and the worsening state of British roads (9%) were the only other issues which caused significant concern for drivers.

Despite petrol price cuts announced by leading supermarket chains and the end of the peak petrol usage season in the United States, a litre of unleaded is still on average around 95p and diesel at 97p, following increased Middle East tension and petrol pipeline problems in Alaska.

Yahoo! Cars spokesperson Hazel Checkley said: “Many British people are heavily dependent on their vehicles - from the school run mum to the delivery driver - and it’s not always easy to cut down on your mileage, but the increases in petrol prices do seem to be encouraging consumers to search for more economical alternatives".

"At the same time, rising consumer demand means more manufacturers are also introducing greener alternatives. Over the last year, we have seen a significant increase in both searches for more eco-friendly cars and a greater range of these cars on the market.”

Tags: Car And GPS Cars

Motorists more concerned about petrol prices than anything else originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 24 Aug 2006 15:27:02 +0100

Scooby Doo's Mystery Machine has been voted as the best fictional car of all time, in a new survey.

The children's cartoon was first launched on TV back in 1969 on CBS, and has been remade several times, most recently as a film starring Sarah Michelle Geller and Freddie Prinze Junior in 2002.

Fans across the world have copied the Mystery Machine by driving around in Chevrolet Sportsvans, painted blue and green and covered in flowers.

The poll of 3000 people was conducted by Toys R Us in conjunction with the launch of Disney Pixar's new movie Cars.

It revealed that Herbie, the number 53 love bug, takes second place as the most memorable fictional car.

The Beetle, which has a life of its own, has appeared in five movies to date, including Herbie Rides Again (1974), Herbie Goes Bananas (1980), and the most recent box office hit, Herbie Fully Loaded (2005).

Third place in the poll goes to comic book superhero Batman's Batmobile - the original 1966 model began life as a Lincoln Futura concept car.

TOP 20 BEST FICTIONAL CARS OF ALL TIME

1. Scooby Doo's Mystery Machine
2. Herbie
3. The Batmobile
4. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
5. Harry Potter's Flying Car
6. The A Team Van
7. Fred Flintstone's Car
8. Austin Powers 'Shaguar'
9. Dick Dastardly's Mean Machine
10. Kitt - in Knightrider
11. The Delorean - Back to the Future
12. The Italian Job Minis
13. James Bond's Aston Martin
14. Penelope Pitstop's pink car
15. Del Boy Trotter's Reliant Van
16. General Lee - the Dodge Charger in The Dukes of Hazard
17. The Pink Panther car
18. Thunderbirds Fab 1
19. Starsky and Hutch Ford Gran Torino
20. The Grease Lightening Car

Tags: Car And GPS Surveys Toys R Us

Scooby Doo Mystery Machine voted best fictional car of all time originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 01 Aug 2006 13:45:39 +0100

The $100 laptop project, One Laptop Per Child, is claiming that four developing countries have ordered 4 million laptops (one million each).

A spokesperson for the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) programme revealed that Nigeria, Brazil, Argentina and Thailand have all tendered commitments to purchase one million Linux laptops.

The Linux-based laptops come with their own power sources (including wind-up) and offer a dual-mode display, which gives users a full-colour, transmissive DVD mode and a secondary black and white reflective and sunlight-readable display.

The computers operate at 500 MHz, about half the processor speed of commercial laptops, and will run on Linux rather than Microsoft's or Apple's operating systems as previously hoped by the two companies.

MIT plans to have units ready for shipment by the end of 2006 or early-2007. Manufacturing will begin when 5 to 10 million machines have been ordered and paid for in advance.

However not everybody is keen on the new cheap alternative. India has recently expressed concerns over the untested technology.

Earlier this year, Bill Gates rubbished the MIT $100 laptop saying:
“The last thing you want to do for a shared-use computer is have it be something without a disk ... and with a tiny little screen”.

Tags: Hardware Laptops OLPC Intel

One Laptop Per Child announces 4 million pre-orders originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 01 Aug 2006 13:03:07 +0100

A new survey by Logitech has found that almost half of us spend more time with our computer mouse than our partner or pet.

In a survey of just over 2000 people, 41% say they spend over 5 hours on an average day in the company of a computer mouse. Furthermore, 6% of us spend over 10 hours a day with our mouse, at home or at work.

Compared to spending time with partners or pets, only 32% of us spend more than 5 hours a day with a partner and only 15% over 5 hours with a pet.

However in an effort to get people to spend more money on the peripheral, Logitech say that although 25% of people are happy to spend more than £1000 a year on their loved ones, 80% of mice get less than £10 worth of accessories, treats, and repairs a year.

Common complaints include leads getting in the way and mouse balls needing to be cleaned. The company's recommendation? To invest in a cordless laser mouse of course.

Related links:

• Logitech - Official website of Logitech

Tags: Hardware Mice And Keyboards Logitech Bluetooth USB gadgets

Survey finds people spending more time with mouse than partner originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 01 Aug 2006 12:51:04 +0100

Vodafone UK today announced that it will be launching the Vodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem, a new version of its 3G broadband data card designed especially for users of the latest generation of laptops, desktops and Apple MacBooks, later this year.

The device, which will be available in the autumn, will allow customers to access Vodafone's high speed 3G broadband service by simply plugging it into the USB slot on their computer.

Vodafone, says it has launched the new device in response to "the demand for 3G broadband from users of the latest generation of laptops".

Currently only laptops with a PC Card slot are able to use the current range of data cards available from the operator.

Customers using the Vodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem will be able to benefit from download speeds of around 1.4Mbps and upload speeds of up to 384 Kbps, across Vodafone's growing 3G broadband footprint.

John Lillistone, head of enterprise data services, Vodafone UK, commented:
"The Vodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem is designed so that anyone, regardless of their choice of computer, can access high speed data while on the move".

Related links:

• Vodafone - Official website of Vodafone

Tags: Phones Mobile phones 3G Mobile broadband Vodafone

Vodafone to launch USB Modem based 3G data card originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 01 Aug 2006 12:36:43 +0100

T-Mobile has opened up its web'n'walk internet service to its pay-as-you-go handset customers today hoping to draw in more users.

The announcement, designed to open up the mobile internet to everyone, will give T-Mobile pay-as-you-go customers the ability to email and surf the web whenever and with complete control on costs.

T-Mobile has said that 1 kilobyte of data will cost under 1p however to encourage more use, the company is capping the cost of browsing to £1 a day for unlimited access if the customers is signed up to Mates Rates, Text Appeal and Everyone pay-as-you-go plans.

Users are not penalised for accessing the internet several times a day and spending less than £1 during each session, as the cost of each separate session counts towards the £1 threshold.

Related links:

• T-Mobile - Official website of T-Mobile

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Phones industry T-Mobile

T-Mobile bring web'n'walk to pay-as-you-go customers originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Tue, 01 Aug 2006 12:27:25 +0100

Sky is planning a major design overhaul of its basic entry-level digibox, sources have revealed to Digital Spy.

According to the site that covers showbiz and satellite news stories, "the new design for 2006 sports a silver wrap-around cover. Control buttons have been moved to the top of the box, with the four status LEDs remaining on the front. The main new design feature is a blue Sky logo in the middle of the front panel; when the box is on, this will illuminate in a soft blue colour. When a button is pressed on the remote, the logo will brighten for a couple of seconds before returning to the lower illumination level.

The new boxes, despite the radically updated design, will not have any functionality changes compared to Sky's existing digiboxes".

A spokesperson at Sky told us: "We're always looking to enhance our product range. We'll be able to provide more details as and when our plans are further advanced".

We will keep you posted.

Related links:

• Sky - Official website of Sky

Tags: Home Cinema PVRs Sky

Sky looks set to change set-top box design originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 22 Dec 2005 14:07:59 +0000

Seiko has announced an ultra-slim watch featuring an electrophoretic display (EPD) that will be available in March 2006.

Called the Spectrum, the limited edition (only 500 are being made) watch features a microcapsule-type Electrophoresis display module, offering a thin flexible design that could bend around your wrist.

Seiko is promoting the benefits of the watch as having a high contrast display of pure black and pure white particles, which allow the same contrast as on a printed page and twice the contrast of a LCD panel.

The company is also boasting a thin design, low power consumption because you don't need a backlight and no restrictions in size.

The watch is the result of a joint development effort, combining ‘Electronic Ink' technology developed by E Ink Corporation in the USA and Seiko Epson's advanced display manufacturing and electronic circuitry techniques.

The watch will cost around £1000 when it is released next year.

Related links:

• Seiko - Official website of Seiko

Tags: Gadgets Watches Seiko

Seiko creates E Ink wrist watch originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 22 Dec 2005 12:02:07 +0000

Never one to miss an opportunity 3, the 3G operator in the UK, is offering its customers an alternative to the Queen's Speech courtesy of the Gorillaz's bass player Murdoc.

Available free to customers on Christmas Day, the speech embraces a range of diverse subjects that are highly unlikely to be on the agenda for the traditional version on the BBC.

Donning a crown and perched on a throne, Murdoc rants and raves about the political, social and artistic highs and lows of the past year. From the ascent of James Blunt to the demise of the Routemaster bus, Murdoc weaves the landmark events of 2005 into his own ‘state of the nation' address.

Murdoc comments, "We've all had so many ‘ups and down' over the last year with toxic vapour clouds, earthquakes, face transplants, floods in Glastonbury and the end of the old ‘routemaster' buses ... but it's not all good news. On the bad side, we've had new music from James Blunt - who needs valium? - Westlife, and more films from ‘Harry Potter'. So it really does look like we're just one step closer to the Apocalypse, eh?".

The 3 minute speech will be available to download free on 3 from Christmas morning until 31 December. To access the speech customers simply click the Planet 3 button on their handset and then click on the Gorillaz icon on ‘Today on 3'.

Murdoc's alternative Queen's Speech is part of a season of music exclusives on 3 including the the mobile video premiere of Madonna's single Hung up, the world's first mobile video sequel for Hard Fi's Cash Machine and the world video premieres of James Blunt's Goodbye My Lover and Pussy Cat Dolls' 3rd single Beep.

Related links:

• 3 - Official website of 3

Tags: Phones Apps Music downloads Audio

Gorillaz’s to give alternative Christmas speech originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 22 Dec 2005 11:48:58 +0000

Anti-virus companies are warning Instant Messenger users to be wary of joke messages and e-cards as they may contain the Santa Claus worm.

IMLogic, a company that specialises in virus detection in Instant Messenger programs warned last night that the IM.GiftCom.All worm presented itself as a harmless Santa Claus file, apparently sent from someone known to the recipient.

Victims who clicked on a file link would see an image of Santa Claus but in the background the worm would be loaded on to their computer, IMLogic said. The worm would then send the same message to people on that person's address list possibly spreading like wildfire across the Internet.

The Santa worm is the latest tactic to be used on IM networks. Past tricks have included offers of movie clips to the latest release of "Star Wars" that instead led to an infected computer.

Anti-virus company Sophos said that this was just the latest such malware to be making the rounds as instant messaging and chat programs, provided by companies including AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo!, came under fire.

The anti-virus companies are worried because in the run up to Christmas a lot of people send joke programs - e-cards, Christmas cards and viruses play on that.

Tags: Software Online Viruses And Malware

Santa Claus Worm delivers bad present to IM users originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 22 Dec 2005 11:26:21 +0000

Lexar has announced it is to bundle Google applications like Picasa, Google Toolbar and Google Desktop Search applications on its line of USB flash drives.

The offering is the first time consumers will be able to install Google applications from a USB flash drive directly to their desktop to edit photos, find files and search the web using the Google applications without the need for an internet connection.

Customers who purchase a Lexar JumpDrive simply have to plug the device into the USB port, on their computer, where the user will be prompted with instructions to easily install the free applications.

If the user accepts installation, Google products automatically install to their computer and are then removed from the USB flash drive leaving it free for storage.

Lexar JumpDrive products with Google applications will be available worldwide beginning in January 2006.

The company has yet to confirm whether there will be a premium to pay for the additional programs, however considering you can download all three applications from Google for free we expect it will be free as a bundled extra.

We will keep you posted.

Related links:

• Lexar - Official website of Lexar

Tags: Hardware Storage Lexar LG Phones Apps

Lexar to offer Google apps on USB drive originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 22 Dec 2005 11:14:05 +0000

The distributors behind the "Crazy Frog" ringtone service has been fined £40,000 because for misleading customers about the real cost of the service.

Service provider mBlox was also ordered to refund all 338 people who complained to premium rate services (PRS) regulator ICSTIS.

Many customers were unaware that when they bought the ringtone it was for a subscription service rather than a one-off payment.

The ICSTIS' adjudication follows a lengthy investigation and subsequent Oral Hearing with mBlox, its information provider, Jamba, and their legal representatives.

The panel in a statement said: “The Hearing Panel found that the promotions required a lot of interpretation, application and patience from consumers. It observed that a great deal of thought had gone into producing the advertisements but, in contrast, little time appeared to have been spent on the terms and conditions. These omitted significant information and were unclear about what the service actually entailed”.


ICSTIS Director George Kidd said: “The Hearing Panel has made clear that consumers should not be made to work to find out what any premium rate service involves or costs. Although the Panel found that there was no fraudulent or malicious intent behind the service, the companies concerned showed a careless disregard and unprofessional attitude to consumers in failing to be clear on the exact nature of the service”.

In a statement mBlox has said it "fully accepts ICSTIS' adjudication on the appropriateness of the Crazy Frog promotion”.

Tags: Phones Mobile phones Phones industry

Crazy Frog fined for misleading customers originally appeared on Pocket-lint on Thu, 22 Dec 2005 10:58:43 +0000