Google-owned AdMob has revealed that the Apple iPhone is far and away the biggest player in the world's mobile internet market, if October's online activity is considered.

AdMob has released its statistics for October that look at how many "requests" each of the major mobile phone operating systems made. Apple's iPhone, with a full fat Safari browsers and data bundles in many countries, dominates in the smartphone market.

During October, in terms of global smartphone traffic, the iPhone weighs in 50%. In the States, the figure rises to 55% (with HTC second at 22%), while here in the UK the iPhone commands a whopping 74% of all smartphone traffic.

In the UK, the next biggest player is Nokia, at 10%, lagging an astonishing 64% behind the market leader. HTC, also at 10% follows with Android nabbing the same percentile as far as OSes go.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phone industry AdMob Statistics iPhone Online Apple Nokia Biz

iPhone accounts for three quarters of mobile internet use in the UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:55:22 +0000

A 23-year-old man from Avon & Somerset has been arrested for theft of gaming accounts in the MMORPG RuneScape. The man is alleged to have "hacked and misappropriated" players' accounts, and was caught after developers Jagex reported the issues to the Police Central e-crime Unit.

The accounts are stolen by the use of phishing sites, which mimic official websites and ask players to input their usernames and passwords, which are logged. The thief then changes the password on the account to lock the original owner out. The problem is common in many online multiplayer games as players can have equipment and characters worth hundreds of pounds.

Jagex's CEO said: "Jagex maintains a specialist team to combat any law breaking within our games.?Where there is any evidence to suggest someone has committed a crime, as is clearly the case with any phishing or hijacking, we work closely with law enforcement agencies around the world to bring these people to account".

"Players invest years of time and effort into developing their RuneScape character so the theft of a RuneScape account shouldn’t be treated differently to the theft of any other valuable possessions such as a games console, television or car. Our internal investigations revealed that just a handful of individuals are responsible for over 95% of all account hijacking in RuneScape".

A police spokesperson confirmed: "A 23-year-old man was arrested in Avon & Somerset on the morning of Tues 24 Nov by officers from the Police Central e-crime Unit, following an allegation that a number of RuneScape gaming accounts had been hacked and misappropriated".

"People who seek to destroy others online gaming experience could be committing criminal offences, leaving themselves liable to prosecution. The PCeU will continue to work with the industry and investigate these allegations where appropriate".

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Tags: Gaming Online Runescape Jagex Security Viruses And Malware

UK man arrested for video game account theft originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:35:28 +0000

We all love a driving game, don't we? But no matter how much you spend on a gaming seat and steering wheel set up (and you can spend a lot of money if you want to), there's always that feeling that you're still sitting in your living room in front of your telly.

This simulator from Toyota is nothing like that.

Yes, I know it's not a game, but in the not too distant future it just might be. For now it's where Toyota test the next generation of car safety features.

But just imagine Need for Speed Shift in this little beauty.

If you've seen a video online that you want to tell us about email us? via the feed back form.

Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY - Toyota simulator originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Google's doing a bit of testing on a new Google.com homepage that is possible to access and take a poke around. If you're feeling adventurous, then head over to Google.com (not .co.uk or any other regional site), log out of your Google account if you have one and paste the following into the address bar:

javascript:void(document.cookie="PREF=ID=20b6e4c2f44943bb:U=4bf292d46faad806:TM=1249677602:LM=1257919388:S=odm0Ys-53ZueXfZG;path=/; domain=.google.com");

If all goes well, you can then reload the page and you'll get an image a bit like the one at the top of the page. It has a new logo, with much less shadowing, as well as the option to skip the results page if it includes a result that the vast majority of people click on.

There's also a permanent sidebar on the left that allows you to pick what kind of content you're searching for, some related searches, and other search options to help narrow down exactly what it is you're looking for.

What do you think?

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Tags: Software Online Websites Google Search engines

Test out Google's prototype homepage originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:50:45 +0000

What we love about this site is that we've all had ideas just like these. We've all sat round many a pub table and sketched winning ideas onto a beer mat and then spent the rest of the evening dreaming of how to spend the untold millions that are sure to pour in when we get our glow-in-the-dark rollerskates for cats onto the market. (No joy yet, but we're working on it...)

Anyway, Hamburger Blender lists all those amazing products that have been dreamt up and never quite put into production.

Shame really, this lot would seriously sort out the Christmas shopping round these parts.

www.hamburgerblender.com
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Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY - Hamburger Blender originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Some people are said to be born lucky. Others make their own luck.

This lot are certainly in the first group. You'd like to think that they all went on to savour every moment and live long, productive lives. But we reckon at least some of them will have been removed from the gene pool by now.

An astonishing collection of lucky escapes that will leave you marvelling at the fickle finger of fate.

You'll want to watch this one a few times. We have.

If you've seen a video online that you want to tell us about email us via the feed back form.

Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY - one chance in life originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

LogMeIn has launched a new product in beta called LogMeIn Express. The idea is to create a quick, simple to use, screen sharing solution that you can use to demonstrate something to a remote colleague or use for troubleshooting purposes.

To share a screen, you'll need to download a small application which installs very quietly on your PC. It'll pop up a window with a twelve-digit code that you give to the person, or people, that you want to view your screen. They put that code in on the website and get a flash window with access to your desktop on it.

In our testing we found it to be a little on the slow side, but definitely usable and handy for fixing little software problems for your technophobic parents and relatives. Or to broadcast a presentation for up to 100 people across your company.

What other handy uses can you think of for this tool? Let us know in the comments.

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Tags: Software Online Websites LogMeIn LogMeIn Express

LogMeIn offers beta of express version originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:31:32 +0000

So, have you upgraded to Windows 7 yet?

No? What’s putting you off? It’s not like it was for Vista, we can assure you of that, if nothing else.

Maybe it’s all the hassle of reinstalling all your favourite apps that’s putting you off.

Stop right there if it is, ‘cos Ninite is the one-stop-shop for a whole smorgasbord of favourite software and widgets for PC users.

Select what you want, click on the installer and Ninite does the rest for you.

It’s what the PC world has been waiting for.

www.ninite.com

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Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY - Ninite originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Twitter co-founder Biz Stone has re-iterated the wish to keep hold of the micro-blogging site, rather than sell out wholesale, but has said an initial public offering could be on the cards for the future.

"We are definitely not interested in selling the company", Reuters quotes Stone as saying at an Oxford University event.

"If an IPO's the only thing, then sure. But if there is some other way then that would be great too. Maybe some other new way will emerge".

With Twitter funding from investors said to have hit the $100 million mark, valuing the company at $1 billion, the pressure will soon be on for the site to turn a profit, plans for which were recently revealed as advanced, paid-for accounts for businesses.

"2010 is really going to be the revenue year. I don't know if we're going to be profitable, but we have plenty of time", Stone said.

In addition, Twitter could introduce advertising in 2010, but Stone hinted it would take a different tack from traditional display ads, stating: "Everyone's going to love it. It's going to be amazing".

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Tags: Software Twitter Websites Online Biz Biz Stone

Twitter's Biz Stone talks IPO, advertising originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:00:09 +0000

It warms the cockles of this journalist's heart to see that there are still people out there who just want to go faster and faster, just because they can. I'm not talking about boy racers in their Citroen Saxos making a nuisance of themselves on British roads though.

Meet Bloodhound. This latest British effort to break the land speed record is all about the numbers:

135,000 horsepower.

3 engines.

3G - the forces experienced by its driver, Wing Commander Andy Green.

Oh and 1000mph.

Crikey.

But what's best about this project is that there is a point to it, beyond just saying that it's the fastest car that's ever been made. The Bloodhound project will share its technical research with over 25,000 UK schools already enrolled in its education programme. That means those numbers will have a real relevance and might just inspire the next generation of engineers.

www.bloodhoundssc.com

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Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY - Bloodhound SSC originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Every child's dream has finally come true. Now you can have your very own magic wand, courtesy of Kymera.

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Not surprisingly, this gadget is selling like crazy as kids big and small fall over themselves to be able to wave a wand and control everything in their homes. I say everything, but it's only a replacement for your bog standard infrared remotes. You won't be changing your irritating little brother into a ferret just yet, or levitating the neighbour's cat out of your prized flower beds.

Fingers crossed for an upgrade soon though, eh?

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Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY - Magic Wand originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

It was with a certain amount of trepidation that I went searching for this one. It's not normally the sort of thing I'd type into Google.

I'd like to believe that the people behind this site didn't think about the sniggers and smirks that their URL might generate, but I reckon in this day and age there was a knowing smile from all concerned when they set it up.

Anyway, if you've ventured into a pet shop in recent years you'll have seen that accessories and clothing for dogs has become big business.

My dog is never happier than when she's wearing a head to paw covering of mud (or sometimes worse) so I find it hard to believe that there's much of a market for this stuff.

But there is and this site caters for the most discerning of canine tastes.

www.doggiestylestore.com

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Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY - Doggie Style Store originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Following on from recent additions on the theme of comics, nature and video gaming, Google is appealing to the foodie in all of us with new grub-themed iGoogle themes.

"We've partnered with a variety of top chefs and food industry experts to bring you some elegant new, food-focused iGoogle themes", says Google.

There's also new homepage gadgets that the online giant hopes will prove useful to cooks - especially considering the forthcoming Thanksgiving holiday in the States.

The new themes are available now from chefs such as Alton Brown and Paula Deen, "food artists" like Carl Warner and James Parker and famous bakeries like New York City's Crumbs Bake Shop and Magnolia Bakery.

Tags: Software Google Online iGoogle Home And Kitchen

iGoogle adds food themes originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:06:25 +0000

The music business ain’t no joke. Getting by is tough and getting started on the road to stardom isn’t all plain sailing. Even if you do get noticed and start to get your music out there for people to enjoy, the chances are that anybody selling it for you will be taking the lion’s share of the proceeds.

Textatrack is a little different. It’s aimed at independent artists and fans can download tracks and pay using their mobiles. Most of the cash then goes to the artist.

It’s a great new way of getting emerging talent’s stuff out there and we’ve already found quite a few acts we really like.

www.textatrack.co.uk

If you have a website that you want to tell us about email us via the feedback form.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY - Textatrack originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Vodafone has expanded its Twitter options in the UK by offering a new service that allows Twitter users to retweet messages via SMS.

Vodafone customers can already send and receive SMS Twitter updates and now they can use the same number to retweet the most recent interesting posts from the people they are following.

Now available to Vodafone customers in the UK, to use the service, customers should send "RT twitter username" to 86444.

As an example, to retweet the most recent message from @VodafoneUK, you would type "RT VodafoneUK" which keeps it simple as it only works with the latest tweet from the Twitter account.

Sent texts will be charged at the standard network rate, or taken from the customer's SMS bundle where appropriate, says Vodafone.

After sending their message, customers will receive a free SMS notification confirming the message that they have just retweeted to their followers.

Vodafone customers will continue to receive SMS updates from Twitter free of charge.

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Tags: Phones Mobile phone apps Vodafone Twitter Software Online SMS

Vodafone offers paid-for SMS retweet option originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:48:55 +0000

The BBC and commercial radio companies have unveiled the new online radio player we brought you news of recently, that "aims to offer the output of every licensed UK radio station and to let users search this content by subject, musical style, or even song title".

The UK Radioplayer, due for launch early next year, is described as a pop-up console which will be open to stream more than 400 licensed national, local, community and student radio stations.

The BBC says it will offer "a unique, constantly-updated live and on-demand audio service" and users will be able to store their favourite stations on pre-set buttons.

Official terms for the project have now been signed by the BBC, RadioCentre, Global Radio and Guardian Media Group but the service will be made available to all Ofcom-licensed networks.

Initially due to be available through computers, the Beeb says later versions are planned for smartphones and other internet-connected devices. We will keep you posted.

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Tags: Audio Radio BBC Internet radio Websites Online RadioCentre Global Radio Guardian Media Group Biz UK Radioplayer

Online UK Radioplayer plans revealed originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:20:50 +0000

Ever wondered what it would be like to be a dog? Let’s face it, your average pampered pooch doesn’t have too much to worry about. Fed, watered and entertained by their loving owners and all they have to do is occasionally wag their tail and pretend they’re glad to see you.

Now we can sample a little bit of what that might be like thanks to this innovative (and clearly very bored) gamer.

Makes moving Mario and Sonic around their new winter wonderland seem positively mundane.

Want one. Just for a day, mind you.

If you've seen a video online that you want to tell us about email us? via the feed back form.

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Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY ? Mood tail originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Seen the news lately? There’s a little bit of everything going on at the moment, don’t you think?

Political skulduggery, celebrity gossip, industrial intrigue. Keeping track is an epic undertaking.

If only there was somewhere you could go to get just the news you want, from the sources you trust.

Voila! Fingertips puts the news you want at your, er fingertips, by collating stories from the myriad news sources out there.

It makes reading the morning papers seem quite laborious once you’ve set this up.

The only thing I miss is the Sudoku,

www.fingertips.net?

If you have a website that you want to tell us about email us via the feedback form.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY - Fingertips originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Stephen Fry reflected yesterday that the Internet is like a city with all the same cultural joys and societal problems of the physical world. So, in many ways, it's of little surprise that bullying is as much a feature of the world wide web as it is of the playground.

In fact, according to statistics gathered by Beatbullying, whose Anti-Bullying Week currently runs until 22 November, almost a third of all cyberbullying begins offline. The Internet and mobile phones have just become an extension of that arena - further tools for the tormentors to wreak the abuse.

For parents, of course, it's a double bind. As with the playground itself, there are both positive and negative sides to the Internet. It's an enriching experience and a potentially harmful one too, in indirect ways - as with unsuitable sites - and directly with exposure to bullying and abuse.

The frightening difference is that although there is supervision - as with the teacher in the playground - in the online world, the numbers are just too many to monitor. Social networks like, Bebo, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube all have people to whom you can report abuse except, unlike teachers, they're not actively watching. Worse, is with that IM services and mobile phones, there's nobody watching at all.

This week, the world and the online community is banding together to draw focus to the growing problem and to bring government legislation and a duty to the owners of these virtual playgrounds to help rapidly reduce bullying online, as it has been in our schools since the 70s and 80s. While it's impossible to completely shield children from the chance of cyberbullying at the moment, there are a few tips for parents to help with the problem.

1) Join their networks

To prevent your children from taking part in Facebook, Twitter, Bebo and others is equivalent to some kind of social death for them. Banning from these sites or the the Internet altogether is only going to make you the focus of their frustrations. It will not help bring in the sense of trust which children would need to confide in you to let you know that they're having the problems in the first place, be it online or in school.

Instead a sensible approach, that we heard from one parent, is to make a deal whereby your children can join social networks so long as you can befriend or follow them too. That way, you'll be able to see the way they're behaving towards the rest of the world and whether their responses might suggest that they are being bullied. Equally, you'll be able to see if they are the bullies themselves.

At the same time, you have to respect what it is they might say outside of this realm. You're not going to build trust by picking them up on their every word. It might also be advisable not to be active on their network either. It may well cause some embarrassment and open them up to ridicule.

2) Education

Make sure your children understand how to protect their data on a basic level when online. Be sure that passwords are not told to people outside the family. One classic bullying attack is for someone to post under your profile pretending to be you. It's not uncommon for fall-outs between best friends, so make sure that these passwords are kept as safe as they should be. For the same reasons, teach your children to log out of their profiles when they leave a computer - particularly important when using public machines.

Finally, teach them how to deal with abuse if it does come their way. The best ways to manage hurtful comments is to delete and ignore them and to block the attacker from interacting with you again. Each site has its own privacy settings and ways by which you can achieve this.

3) Consider limiting internet use

This is a tricky one as ostensibly there's nothing wrong with people sitting on the Internet all day. In fact, many Pocket-lint readers would be quite happy if their children wired themselves into their desktops. That said, some people may wish to limit the amount of time their children spend online. If you are going to, then make sure the deal is equitable. If your child is being bullied it may be that it's near impossible to get them off the computer and is something worth looking out for.

4) Monitoring software

This is not for everyone and Pocket-lint is not here to tell you whether it's a good idea or not but monitoring software is an option. Company's like Symantech offer complete solutions for tracking any computer and internet use on the machine on which it's installed, and if you want to know exactly what your children are doing on line then this is a sure way of finding out. It also might circumvent the desire to place a limit on their time online.

The obvious things to remember, though, are that people do not appreciate being spied upon and that obsessively trawling through transcripts of conversations is just as dangerous for parents. What's more, the younger generations are almost always more tech savvy and they will know that this software is running if you're not careful.

5) Look for the signs

Children and particularly teenagers do tend towards all sorts of mood swings anyway but some of the signs suggested by the anti-bullying agencies are worth looking out for. They may become obsessed with being online at all times or opt for a total avoidance of it whatsoever. As with all kinds of bullying, they may fear going to school more than usual. They more also withdraw from their social circles or exhibit increased anxiety, depression or anger. If your child is showing some of these signs then they might be being bullied, but there's just as good a chance that they're not.
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6) Report abuse

As we said before, social networks may not be actively watching, but they will listen if users report abuse. Facebook promises to get back these e-mails within 72 hours and sites like Bebo, which itself was the forum for 30% of the cyberbullying attacks as uncovered by Beatbullying, has dedicated buttons for reporting these problems. In some cases, the bullies may be kicked off the networks but, if you're not satisfied with how they deal with your issue then you can always take it beyond them for action.

7) Involve the Police

Harassment and defamation online is illegal, as are malicious or threatening phone calls, emails or text messages. The police will take these incidents seriously. Make sure to keep a log of abusive phone calls or IM conversations as they happen as well as screen grabs of social networking abuse to present as evidence if necessary. Without proof that it's happening, there is little the police can do.

8) Video bullying

There are many well documented cases of cyberbullying on video websites, like Happy Slapping attacks. This is, of course, illegal and YouTube and others will immediately remove these videos. From your perspective, make sure to take a look at the user account of the person who posted the footage. There may be clues as to their identity - other videos or profile details - and it may also be possible to get help in tracking them down by their IP details.

Capturing a copy of the footage might also help for when presenting to the police. Do make sure to be discrete about this though. Remember that this evidence might be painful to see again for those bullied.

9) Be supportive and seek outside help

It takes a great deal of courage for anyone to admit they're being bullied, whether you're a child, teen or adult, so make sure that you are supportive as a parent, if you're lucky enough for your child to come to you for help. According to the survey, 69% of young people who have been cyberbullied would take advice from their peers online whereas not as many would go to an adult. BeatBullying runs a CyberMentor service where victims of bullying and abuse can talk via IM online with trained young people aged between 11-25. If you suspect someone of being bullied online, it might be a good idea to point them to CyberMentor in as subtle a way as possible.

The important thing in all of this is to make sure you take action of some sort if you do think that your child, or anyone you know, is being bullied online. Remember that the victims far outnumber the bullies and the more those affected speak up, the more this issue is brought to light. The Internet is still young and it's taking time to learn how best to regulate it and for it to regulate itself. It will take time for the authorities to work out how best to deal with online attacks but so long as the bullied, and those who witness it, don't stand for the abuse, then the problem will be halted.

For further reading and advice, please visit BeatBullying.

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Related links:

• News - Facebook offers cyberbullying prevention advice
• News - WEBSITE OF THE DAY - Parentline Plus

Tags: Software Online Facebook Bebo Cyberbullying Social Networks Features

Help for parents on cyberbullying originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:05:29 +0000

You might be familiar, if you're a hardcore Spotify user, with @Spotibot - a Twitter bot that recommends bands that are similar to other bands, as well as the Better Spotify Links project. Well, the coder behind it - Andy Smith - has just completed his latest app - an automatic playlist generator for Spotify.

To make it work, all you have to do is put in a band or artist name, and pick how long you want the playlist to be. It'll generate the list, which you can then edit and extend, and once you're set you just click a button and paste the whole list into your Spotify play queue. Very simple, very easy, and very powerful.

The data comes mainly from Last.fm - a service that can establish links between bands by seeing which songs are often played next to each other. Last.fm does provide a discovery system like this one, but gives no way of skipping around within a track, pausing, or going back to a previous song. It only lets you skip forward to the next song.

It's a little bit like iTunes' Genius playlists too - however those will only play songs that you've purchased or otherwise acquired in MP3 format - and you're not very likely to have paid for content that you don't yet know, so its usefulness as a music discovery tool is limited.

Instead, Spotibot's automatic playlist generation is most like Pandora - a US-based music streaming service that also generates playlists from bands. However, Pandora no longer allows UK users to access its site, citing prohibitively high licensing costs as the reason for ceasing the service in Britain.

Spotibot brings an important music discovery feature to Spotify that has been missing since the app launched. It's still a beta - so you might get the occasional odd result, but give it a try, and let us know what you think in the comments box below.

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Tags: Software Audio Music Online Websites Spotify Pandora

Spotify gets Pandora-style recommendations originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:38:15 +0000

What happens when you take several grands’ worth of state-of-the-art gaming gear, including three Xbox consoles wired together, put it in the hands of a self-confessed uber geek and pit the whole kaboodle against one the best drivers in the world behind the wheel of a ?130,000 supercar?

Channel Five’s The Gadget Show set out to find out.

One lap of the Grand Prix circuit of Silverstone with the game version of the Porsche 911 RS2 going head to head with the real thing.

You might be surprised at the outcome…

If you've seen a video online that you want to tell us about email us? via the feed back form.

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Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY ? Forza v Porsche originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Microsoft has finally launched its Azure cloud computing platform, more than a year after it was originally announced. The software, which promises an operating system in the cloud, will be a "community technical preview" until the end of the year, and then go live for paying customers on 1 January.

The idea behind the system, which competes with Amazon's elastic computing service, is that developers will be able to build web apps on the service, and consumers will be able to store data that'll be accessible from any web connection.?The first month of the service will be free, and billing will start in February, said Microsoft's Ray Ozzie.

He added: "Customers want choice and flexibility in how they develop and deploy applications. We're moving into an era of solutions that are experienced by users across PCs, phones and the Web, and that are delivered from datacenters we refer to as private clouds and public clouds".

Azure will be priced from $0.12 to $0.96 per service hour depending on how much power you need. All virtual machines come with 1.75Gb of memory.

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Tags: Software Microsoft Azure Cloud computing Online

Microsoft's Azure cloud platform now available originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:45:42 +0000

Google has launched a new product to its experimental "labs" offerings called Image Swirl. It's an interface for sifting through the piles of pictures that appear when you conduct an image search and aims to group similar pictures together.

Google says that Image Swirl "builds on new computer vision research to cluster similar images into representative groups in a fun, exploratory interface". That interface consists of a number of stacks of photos that expand when you click on them into spider diagrams. It's a little bit like the Wonder Wheel that Google is experimenting with for search results.

For the moment Image Swirl will only work with 200,000 or so queries - not everything. That should increase over time and begin to include more obscure content. The search field auto-updates as you type, so you'll be able to see relatively quickly if what you're looking for is in there or not.

What do you think? Useful tool, or pointless flashy interface? Let us know in the comments.

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Tags: Software Online Google Google Image Swirl Search engines

Google lanches Image Swirl experiment originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:20:46 +0000

As?Twitter?continues to gain popularity with brands and people alike, how should you go about using it as a tool for communicating rather than a way of telling the world what you just had for lunch?

We sat down to watch the "Mayor" of Twitter, Chris Brogan, at Web 2.0 expo in New York to find out his top three tips for using Twitter to grow your social knowledge and reputation.

According to his bio, Chris Brogan advises businesses, organizations and individuals on how to use social media and social networks to build relationships and deliver value.

1. Use Twitter search

According to Brogan, Twitter search is a key tool here. "There is so much value not what your friends are saying, but what people are saying on Twitter, that you should use the search", affirms Brogan. ?

Before you jump in expecting to use it to find a new pair of shoes on Zappos, use it not as you would use Google, but rather to see stories develop and move in real time. "You should be listening more than saying", says Brogan.

2. Engage don't just shout

If you're like most, you use Twitter as a gloat machine, shouting about your achievements. This is bad says Brogan:

"Spend 12 times more talking about other people as you do talking about yourself. The more you talk about other people, the more you will gain respect, reputation, and trust", says the social media expert.

3. Use your mentions more than you are now

It's one of the biggest errors a Twitter newbie can make, just sucking up the noise.

"80% of my tweets are responses to other people", comments Brogan. "The result is that "I see you" and you are seen".

The concept here is that engaging in the conversation allows you to be a part of it, rather than just feeding information out into the masses without any purpose.

Photo by?James Duncan Davidson

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Related links:

• Link - Chris Brogan

Tags: Software Online Twitter Social networking Features

Three ways to get the most out of Twitter originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:29:58 +0000

So. You want to see what the latest trends are on Twitter. And you want to know what they are in a particular location. And you want to see the related tweets arrive in real time. But you don’t want to see tweets from, let’s say people called Derek. But you do want to see them arrive in a waterfall style animation and you do want to be able to change the searches you’re doing at any time. And as long as they refer to Lady Gaga and spaghetti, you’ll be happy.

Does this sound like you?

If you've answered 'yes' then Twitterfall is for you. Who ever you are.

Enjoy.

www.twitterfall.com

If you have a website that you want to tell us about email us via the feedback form.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY - Twitterfall originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Digg's founder and its CEO have said that they would like to offer location aware homepages, however the technology isn't there to offer that just yet.

Talking at the web 2.0 expo, the duo suggested that users will in the future would be able to see a localised version of the Digg homepage whether they were in India or Chicago.

"The noise out there is extreme" claimed a rather shy looking Kevin Rose before suggesting that a way to filter that could be to localise the content to you.

"I'm really interested in location based services," said Rose later in the fireside chat admitting that he had invested in FourSquare.

The social networking site is hoping that future changes, just as Digg Trends, will allow the site to grow from 40 million users a month to 100m, although the pair failed to give a time frame for when this will be achieved.

As for when or how they plan to make money Rose suggested a novel advertising idea:

"If you have a crappy advert advertisers should pay more"

No word on when that one will be rolling out.

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Tags: Software Online digg

Digg location aware homepage promised originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:58:34 +0000

Web visionary, Tim O'Reilly, has suggested that we could be heading into an "ugly time" on the Internet possibly mirroring the browser wars of the nineties.

Talking at the Web 2.0 expo in New York, O'Reilly warned that a number of moves by big organisations like Apple, Google, Facebook and Digg could make the Web a closed system.

O'Reilly believes that things like the Digg bar, Facebook warning you about going out into the Web, and the possibility of News Corp signing a specific deal with Bing over Google could all damage the way the Web works.

"Take the mobile phone industry for example. Apple decides who gets to put an app up, decides how it works. That's not how the web works," says O'Reilly.

Suggesting that we are going to see a showdown, O'Reilly believes that "exclusive" features for specific browsers or mobile phone operators will end in a "one ring to rule them all" scenario.

Offering advice to Google, O'Reilly says that they should be committed to being rigorous in ensuring that the user benefits rather than trying to "eat other companies' lunch" like launching Knol, Checkout, and Froogle.

Praising Microsoft for its embracing of the Wolfram Alpha and Twitter results, O'Reilly?quotes Jeff Jarvis of CUNY saying that companies should "Do what you do best. Link to the rest".

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Tags: Software Online Google Microsoft Apple Facebook Twitter

O'Reilly: Ugly times ahead for the Internet originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:36:44 +0000

Gift and gadget etailer iwantoneofthose has announced the launch of new site -? iwantoneofthosephotogifts.com - or IWOOTPG.com as it will henceforth be referred to on this site, because life is too short and RSI all too close.

In a nutshell, iwootpg.com can photo-ify pretty much any objet you might care to stick a cute photo of your girlfriend/child/puppy/stick insect on.

There's classic photobooks from ?6.00, canvases from ?27, make-your-own calendars from ?5, a set of ten greetings cards from ?4 and a ton of other bits and bobs that you can plaster with your photos such as playing cards, mousemats, mugs, clothing, hats, bags, etc, etc.

To see the full list of photo gifts hit up IWOOTPG.com now.

Tags: Gadgets IWOOT Cameras shopping Online Websites

IWOOT launches IWOOTPG.com originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:08:01 +0000

The Pirate Bay has shut down its tracker in an unprecedented move that will see the filesharing network take a more decentralised stance. Despite the tracker closing, the site itself will stay online and active - using both trackerless solutions and the unaffiliated OpenBitTorrent tracker.

The site said in a blog post: "TPB has decided that there is no need to run a tracker anymore, so it will remain down! It's the end of an era, but the era is no longer up2date. We have put a server in a museum already, and now the tracking can be put there as well".

Magnet links have also popped up all over the site, which is a way of downloading torrents without having to download a .torrent file first. Most modern clients support these links. Modern clients should also support DHT and PEX protocols that can be used to find peers to download from without a central tracker pointing the way.

It's not clear yet what this means for the legal departments of content companies who've spent the last few years trying to get these trackers shut down. Now that the sites are shutting down their own trackers with no adverse affect on filesharers, will the assault against individuals begin once more?

Or will it all be rendered obsolete by an improved licensing regime and more legitimate services? Let us know what you think will happen in the comments.

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Tags: Software Online Websites P2P Pirate Bay Filesharing

Pirate Bay tracker shuts down originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:24:25 +0000

Smartphones really are something aren’t they? You can leave the house with just one gadget that does it all now. And it does it all well.

But one thing that has been known to take the shine off many a smartphone's performance is the fact that opening up too many apps can just cripple them.

Nokia claims to have cracked that problem with the N900 and this little exploration seems to show it off nicely. Just how well it will work in the real world we’ll have to wait and see what the masses make of it.

And, as anybody who lives in a glass house will tell you: windows aren’t everything.

If you've seen a video online that you want to tell us about email us via the feedback form.

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Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY ? N900 multi-tasking originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Google has given its much-loved Translate service a lick of paint and a bucket of useful new features. The service can translate between 51 different languages - meaning 2550 language pairs - which Google claims represents over 98% of internet users in the world today.

There's a new layout, but the real stars of the show are the instant translation, phonetic input and text-to-speech engine, all of which are shown in the video above. The first allows you to see a translation of your text as you type it - in the same way as Google can display results before you finish typing a query.

The third means that you can hear translations spoken by clicking a little speaker icon. But the second one is the biggy - for Arabic, Persian and Hindi you can type words as they sound to convert them to native script in that language. That could be pretty useful if you're not packing a native keyboard.

Google says "We hope these improvements will make reading, learning and communicating in foreign languages easier and more fun". Do you agree? Tell us in the comments.

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Tags: Software Websites Online Google translate

VIDEO: Google Translate gets substantial update originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:58:16 +0000

This is Pocket-lint talking to you on behalf of the better part of yourself. Do your Christmas shopping now. Do it now and do it online. You know you/we are right. If you do it now, you can do it all from the comfort of your own home with not a single bit of car park stress, shopping centre hell and no festive argy-bargy whatsoever.

To help out, please find 101 of the best Christmas shopping sites on the Internet and, with 28 days still to get your deliveries in, you'll be laughing all the way to the Queen's Speech. Good luck, and remember that if the shop won't ship worldwide, there are plenty of mail forwarding services that will help you out.

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Home & Design

Art Lebedev - Russian deisgn studio store
gnr8 - Highly original cutting edge deisgns
Charles and Marie - "Quintessential lifestyle navigator"
Labour and Wait - Hyperchic kitchenware with Victorian inspiration
Jamie Oliver - Good quality kitchen and homewares from the TV chef
Present & Correct - Incredibly sylish modern stationary specialist
Conran Shop - Exclusive designer furniture and lighting
Scandinavian Design Centre - Swedish housewares emporium
Dutch by Design - Contemporary lighting and accessories
Where Did You Buy That - Vast repository of stylish, original housewares

Clothing & accessories

Fredflare - Retro-inspired, very stylish, very good value boutique clothing
Urban Outfitters - Well-known trendy high street store - check the US pages too
Etsy - Ludicrously good umbrella store for handmade and crafted items
Asos - Long standing online fashion store
Village Hats - Any kind of hat you could possibly be looking for
Saville Rogue - The only stylish football scarves on the planet
Threadless - Quirky printed t-shirts
Figleaves - Enormous hub of all things undergarment
Busted Tees - Even more t-shirts
Nordic Kids - Funky kids' clothes from 0-10

Cards & Printing

Moonpig - Irritating advert and personalised printing specialist
Kodak Gallery - Printing and gifts from household favourite
Oxfam - Card shopping with charitable heart
Save the Children - More cards, accessories and wrapping paper for charity
istockphoto - Stock prints and images and some equipment too
Photobox - Giant online printing, albums and photographic service
Cafe Press - T-shirt and gift printing specialist
Paperchase - Tasteful stationary and cards superstore
Photo-canvas - Straight to canvas photo printing
Snapfish - Excellent value worldwise photo printing service

Gifts

Spoonsister - Uncommon gifts and care packages US store
Firebox - Top internet emporium of assorted gifts and quirk
IWOOT - Other top internet emporium of assorted gifts and quirk
Prezzybox - As above but slightly fluffier
Cute Bitz - Slightly smaller and slightly quirkier
No More Sox - Online gift shop aggregator
Voucher Express - Haven of gift vouchers for DIY take on presents
Red Letter Days - Shop for gift experiences - motor racing, sky diving, etc
Framed Share - For a wall-hung sense of financial support and belonging
Lazybone - Weird, unusual and freaky gifts
Hammacher Schlemmer - US treasure trove of the unexpected

Food & Drink

The Causeway Deli - Gourmet shop of hard to get items; don't miss the Raspberry shortbread
First4Fruit - Next day fruit and assorted hamper deliveries
The Thrifty Shopper - Wine and beer home brewing kits
Cybercandy/Retro tuck shop - Sweets and chocolate of the word and time gone by
Beers of Europe - Terrible site, wonderful selection of beer and cider
English Cheesecake - Cheesecake of all sizes, flavours and for all ocassions
The Cheese Shed - Mail order, West Country, Artisan, homemade cheese
Leaf/TeaWorld/Rare Tea Company - three specialist tea shops for all your hot brew needs
Bean - As above but for gourmet coffee lovers
Fudge Kitchen - Simply the best tasting fudge ever

Bargains

Quidco - Cashback membership and shopping site
Cdiscount - Discount electronics, wine and furniture
MyVoucherCodes - Assorted discount code offers
Mad About Bargains - Community-based bargain news flashes
FindsYou.com - Post Office window style notice board online
Invisible hand - Silent running, always on Firefox plug-in works alongside all 100 of the others
Gumtree - Pot-based second hand online market
AbeBooks - Bargain books, second hand paperbacks, out of print editions
7dayshop - Low rent, low price tech store
eBay - Auctions, resale shops and lots of them

General

Amazon - Etailer giant
Ethical Superstore - Fair trade, eco-friendly and organic shopping
John Lewis - Dependable quality, good service, high street department store
M&S - This isn't just any online shopping site, etc
Tesco - Wide range, high value superstore online
Not on the high street - Unique online only products under one roof
Harrods - World's most famous department store with gifts to impress; hampers a must
Argos - Seriously good value but seriously check them when they arrive
Woolworths.co.uk - Still going but now under Littlewoods group; same ethos as ever
Debenhams - Mid-level UK department store

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Gadgets

Oregon Scientific - Action cams, weather gadgets and all sorts more
Gadget4all - Funny gifts and surprises for and from people all over the world
Think Geek - US hub of all gifts, gadgets and novelty
Gadget Shop - Alternative home of gizmos and assorted nonsense
Brando -? US site for USB stocking fillers, peripherals and accessories
USB Fever - As above plus easy worldwide shipping
Otherland - RC toys, gadgets, games and collectables
Science Museum - Robots, toys and science kits from a family favourite
Gizoo - UK site with gadgets for the desktop and home
Gadgets.co.uk - More gadgets and novelty with fast UK delivery

Electricals

Play.com - Big name online consumer tech retailer; plenty of stock and plenty of deals
Pixmania - Good value online electrical store good for imaging and AV
Maplin - Superb home for all your components, cables and electrical needs
MyMemory - SD cards, flash drives and all small storage devices
Battery Force - Batteries. Lots and lot of batteries.
YoYo Tech - Leading etailer in PC componenets and custom builds
Novatech - More components and budget PC systems too
Richer Sounds - Hi-Fi specialist store with bags of deals and cut price offers
Ebuyer - Cheap PCs, laptops and computing accessories
Mac Warehouse - Specialist online Mac retailer and Apple accessory store

Specialist

The Glow House/The Glow Company - If it glows, they sell it; something for the cheesy quaver
We are Fish - Home for biorb and fishkeeping
Hello Kitty World - Gifts, bags, clothing and more all from the House of Kitty
The Future Perfect Company - Gifts for the elderly
Cherly Cole Style - For the wannabe obssessive and the too young to know better
Gifts4Fishing - Ideas for the angler in your life
LEGO - Anything you like, so long as it's made of Lego
Wiggle - Hude discount cycle shop
BananaFingers - UK based rock climbing shop with gear, clothing and DVDs too
Store - Unique storage soultions from shoe boxes to cake tins and much, much more

That lot should be enough inspiration for you but if you've got any red hot tips of your own, then please let us know in the comments. Happy hunting.

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Tags: Gadgets Christmas Hardware Home And Kitchen Audio Gifts Online Websites shopping Features

101 life-saving Christmas shopping websites originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:38:55 +0000

Facebook's European director of public policy, Richard Allan, has written a blog post to address the slowly growing problem of cyberbullying on the service. It coincides with National Anti-Bullying Week in the UK, and?BBC Radio 1, BBC 1Xtra, and websites like Bebo, Habbo, MSN, MySpace and YouTube have teamed up to try and deal with the issue.

For its part, Allan has offered five tips to users to prevent them from being a victim of aggressive wall posts and chats. Firstly, only accept friend requests from people who are your friends. Secondly, use the Block feature to deal with people who you don't want seeing your profile.

Thirdly, Allan recommends that you report any abusive behaviour to administrators, and also says that you should customise your privacy settings so that you're in control of your info, and just delete posts you don't like - because bullies often just want a reaction.

Oh, and if there's someone posting messages to you that you don't like, Allan says that "you should consider removing the sender from your friends list". Seems simple enough, but could easily be forgotten in the heat of the moment.

Have you had a cyberbullying issue that you've successfully resolved? Share your tips for combating online bullies in the comments below.

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Tags: Software Online Websites Facebook Social Networks

Facebook offers cyberbullying prevention advice originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:37:07 +0000

Rather than go down the Pizza Hut route of offering a full fledged iPhone app, Dominos has taken the Papa John's path by offering an optimised version of its site for those with iPhones.

Said to be "specially made for the phone" Domino's iPhone option is accessed online from www.dominos.co.uk or www.dominos.ie and offers all of the features of the main site, but "optimised into a bite sized form".

The "app", created by Vexed, went live on 13 November and is said to have already seen "thousands of orders" from mobile pizza fans across the UK and Ireland.? ?

Sales and marketing director for Domino's in the UK and Ireland, Robin Auld, said: "The translation of our site onto the iPhone has already proved popular with our customers".

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Tags: Phones Dominos iPhone apps Online Software Vexed

Dominos claims to offer iPhone app originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:10:20 +0000

We may not know much about art (it’s been said before, after all), but we do know we like this site.

Vetika sells limited edition art, prints and photography from some of the best emerging talent around. And at prices that won’t break the bank.

The perfect Christmas present awaits here and there’s nothing quite as special as being given a piece of art – it shows that somebody has spent time and effort choosing something just for you.

The site itself looks gorgeous too.

www.vetika.com

If you have a website that you want to tell us about email us via the feedback form.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY - Vetika originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A survey of 2000 internet users in the UK from GfK NOP has found that iTunes still remains by far the most popular music service, but that new entrant Spotify is shooting rapidly up the charts, despite having only just celebrated its 1st birthday.

The survey asked participants which music services they used, and 11% said Spotify. That puts it in fourth place behind Real Player (13%), Amazon (24%) and iTunes sitting at the top with 50% approval rating. Spotify sits ahead of the slightly older Last.fm (7%), MP3.com (5%) and Napster (4%). 60% of users stream music direct from the Web.

In the navigation arena, Google Maps dominates with 72% of those surveyed saying they used it. The AA came in second place with 40% and Multimap was third with 35%. Behind that came Mapquest (7%), MSN Maps (4%), Yahoo Maps (4%) and Streetmap (3%).

When it comes to social networking, new boy Twitter draws for second place with MySpace - but both only have 4% of people who use them as their main social network. Bebo is even lower with 2%, but Facebook romps home with over 74% of users picking it as their favourite.

IM is similarly dominated by one provider - Windows Live Messenger. 50% picked it as their main provider, with 16% going for Facebook chat, Yahoo IM coming in third with 8%, Skype at 6%, AIM at 5% and Google Talk coming in at just 2%.

Webmail is closer - 33% opt for Hotmail, but Yahoo Mail was chosen by 14%, 10% picked their own ISP's service, and only 6% have "Gone Google" and picked up a Gmail account. Interestingly, a further 6% said they used email provided by a social network - is this MySpace mail?

Lastly, Skype wins out when it comes to VoIP - 60% of respondents picked it as their favourite online voice-calling app. Google Talk was second with 13%, and VoIP.com and Gizmo came in third with 3% each.

Of course, while the best provider is winning the day in some categories, others are dominated by bloated former giants commanding the attention of people who are too lazy to make a change. Which would you pick as your favourite in each category? Let us know in the comments below.

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Tags: Software Online Websites Music IM Mapping Software Social Networks Email iTunes Spotify MySpace Twitter Facebook Amazon Lastfm Gmail Hotmail Skype Yahoo Microsoft Google Statistics

iTunes still most popular music service by far originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:41:43 +0000

Get out your bunting - Get Safe Online week 2009 has officially begun. Get Safe Online is an initiative between the government, the Serious Organised Crime Agency and various private sector partners which aims to educate individuals and small businesses on how to keep safe online.

The scheme has been running for 5 years or so and is headquartered at GetSafeOnline.org. In the past, the focus has been on topics like identity theft and phishing, but this year the main thrust has been to educate people about the dangers of becoming a "mule".

As explained in the video above, a "mule" is a person whose bank account is used to launder money. You sign up (usually through a job ad) with your bank details, you receive cash, and then forward it on to other people via wire transfer. They want you because your account has been clean for years, you have good credit history, and as a result you're less likely to get caught.

If you are caught, though, you're implicated in a web of crime, liable for all those transfers, likely in lots of debt (because the cash that appeared in your account is confiscated) and your credit history will be ruined. Not a good idea.

So next time you spot one of those appealing-looking job ads, or someone contacts you out-of-the-blue with a job offer for a vague-looking company, it's probably best to ignore it. Be safe out there.

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Tags: Software Online Websites Security Viruses And Malware Viruses And Malware Get Safe Online Video

VIDEO: Get Safe Online Week 2009 begins originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:06:19 +0000

Here are the nominations for Best Software, Service, or App in The Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009.

The following products were chosen because we feel they represent the best software, service or app on sale in the last 12 months that are available in the UK.

The nominations are:

Spotify

Windows 7

Tweetie 2

Dropbox

Sky Player for Xbox

A notable commendation should also go to Snow Leopard from Apple.

Now in its 6th year, the Pocket-lint Gadget Awards, thought to be the longest running in the UK, pick the best gadgets and gizmos from the last year released in the UK.

Pocket-lint's vigorous vetting process means that all the gadgets up for nomination have to have been seen by a member of the Pocket-lint team (so far over 600) and have to have been available in the UK between December 2008 and December 2009.

The awards, voted by a panel of leading gadget journalists from around the world, including the staff from the Pocket-lint team, will decide the real must-have gadgets of the year, rather than those simply deemed cool or anticipated, being the definitive guide for consumers looking to buy gadgets.

Winners will be announced at an Awards evening in London on Monday 7 December.

If you would like to order tickets to the event please visit our awards event page.

Public voting will start on Wednesday 18 November.

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Related links:

• Link - Vodafone Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009

Tags: Software Online Spotify Microsoft Tweetie 2 Dropbox Sky Xbox 360 Pocket-lint Awards Pocket-lint Gadget Awards 2009

Best Software, Service, or App 2009 nominations originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

So, here it is. The much talked about Space Chair ad from Toshiba.?

It's really quite something when you see what they had to go through to make this work and the results are sure to receive some kind of awards.

Toshiba have been running various competitions to win stuff by asking how high you think the chair has gone and where it will land. Check out their Twitter feeds to see what's what and if you're quick you might be in with a shot of taking away some new Toshiba gadgets.

If you've seen a video online that you want to tell us about email us via the feed back form.

Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY - Space Chair originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

The world is changing at an alarming rate. Technology is making our lives faster, better and easier to manage and most of us can’t imagine where we’d be without a mobile phone and an internet connection.

But, as always, there’s a price to pay.

Bullying isn’t about the bigger kids grabbing the little kids by the scruff of the neck and shaking them until their dinner money falls out of their pockets any more.

These days, cowards who use any means necessary to inflict anguish on their victims can subject people to prolonged campaigns of intimidation and humiliation. SMS, email, social networking, YouTube – they’re all used to devastating effect by bullies, and it’s time to do something about it.

This week is Anti-Bullying Week and this is one site that every parent should bookmark. It gives loads of great advice on spotting signs of bullying and what to do about it.

www.besomeonetotell.org.uk?

If you have a website that you want to tell us about email us via the feedback form.

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Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY ? Parentline Plus originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

An interesting tech deal for you today, which should suit gamers, as SwapGame.com has announced its new online trade-in service, giving you credit - not cash - for unwanted games, thereby reducing the price of your next purchase.

The launch comes on the back of a SwapGame poll that suggests that, here in the UK, people have around ?1.8 billion of unused video games with a third of those having "over ?100". Thankfully, SwapGame is coming to the rescue with its timely service.

Despite some reports suggesting the average game trade-in value at SwapGame.com is around the ?25 mark, on typing in a few game titles, it turns out the site will give you ?5.18 for Grand Theft Auto IV on PS3 with the Xbox 360 version getting a little more at ?5.44, whereas Modern Warfare 2 will end up banking you around ?20 on both formats.

Postage is free, the site has plenty of titles to choose from and there's no traipsing around the shops - so you'll have to weigh up the pros and cons yourself if you feel trade-in prices might be on the low side.

There's a link here so you can make a full investigation - please leave your thoughts below - and we'll have another tech deal for you on Monday.

Tags: Gaming Online Websites SwapGame Daily Tech Deal

Daily Tech Deal: SwapGame launches game trade-in service originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Did you know that water floats? In water? Serious question.?

It might seem daft to say that, but it's true.

In fact, water goes beyond floating - it actually bounces, as these amazing super slo-mo pictures prove.

I can't wrap my head around the maths of it all, but it's the effect that makes rain drops drop-shaped and allows insects to walk on the surface of ponds.

Regardless of the science, it's amazing to watch.

If you've seen a video online that you want to tell us about email us via the feed back form.

Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY - water bouncing originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Google has introduced a couple of small changes to how its communication platform Wave behaves, in response to public demand. After users complained that public waves were clogging up inboxes, Google has tweaked the functionality so that waves are now "followed", and it's possible to "unfollow" a wave.

The new "unfollow" option replaces the old "mute" one. A Wave that's been unfollowed, however, can still be found through a search or if you've put it in a folder or saved search. The waves don't disappear, so don't worry about losing one.

The language is straight out of rival communications platform Twitter, which allows users to "follow" and "unfollow" each other. It's interesting to see Google employ that language in what it's pushing as a totally new, built-from-the-ground-up, communications platform.

Intriguingly, Google ends its blog post saying: "We're also thinking of expanding the following concept to let you follow people, groups, and searches" - could Wave be about to become more of a full on Twitter competitor? We'll keep you posted.

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Tags: Software Online Google Google Wave Twitter

Google makes Wave a little more Twittery originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:08:59 +0000

Google has a bit of a thing about speed. After releasing Chrome - probably the fastest browser around, if a little bare-bones - and minimizing page load times for its search engine, Google has now announced a research project called SPDY (and pronounced "speedy") that it hopes will further double the speed of getting around the Web.

SPDY is, in layman's terms, a way of getting browsers and the servers that deliver websites to talk to each other faster. Or, as Google says in less simple terms: "SPDY is at its core an application-layer protocol for transporting content over the web. It is designed specifically for minimizing latency through features such as multiplexed streams, request prioritization and HTTP header compression".

At the moment, browsers and web servers use HTTP to chat. HTTP arrived in 1996 as a standard, and since then has served as the foundation of the Internet. But Google's now looking at new, faster, ways of that chat occurring, and has built a web server and Chrome client that supports the SPDY protocol.

A pair of Google's software engineers, Mike Belshe and Roberto Peon, say that in lab conditions the top 25 websites loaded up to 55% faster when accessed over simulated home network conditions. However, performance in real-world conditions hasn't yet been investigated.

If you want to take a peek at what the team's been up? to, then you can check out the documentation and code for the project. If you're not feeling up to sifting through browser protocols, then sit back and await what Google reckons could become a significant turbo boost for the Web.

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Tags: Software Websites Online Google SPDY Chrome

Google announces SPDY project originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:16:05 +0000

Google has announced that its YouTube video-sharing site is going 1080p. It's available to test right now on some videos, but will be going live for all users at some point next week. Until then, you can see some 1080p content by appending "&fmt=37" to the end of the URL.

Google says: "As resolution of consumer cameras increases, we want to make sure YouTube is the best home on the web to showcase your content. For viewers with big monitors and a fast computer, try switching to 1080p to get the most out of the fullscreen experience".

YouTube has accepted 1080p uploads for some time, but downscales them to 720p in the processing phase of the upload. Luckily, however, the originals are stored, so YouTube will be re-encoding and converting any existing 1080p videos in its database.

When the feature goes live for all users, we'll update this post.

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Tags: Software Websites Online YouTube Google HD Video streaming Video

VIDEO: YouTube gets 1080p HD functionality originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:31:15 +0000

Microsoft?has, it might come as a surprise, announced the official launch of Bing?in the UK on Friday.

"Following a period of trial and continued in-depth analysis of consumer usage and behaviour, the service has been put through its paces and Bing is now shedding its beta tag", the company said in a statement.

Having carried the beta tag for the last 5 months, Microsoft’s European Search Technology Centre believes now is the time to shed the beta moniker and go legit.

UK visitors will get a localised UK homepage, Visual Search, the promise of more instant answers, Twitter search capabilities, shopping data via Ciao, and Bing Maps.

"Bing is ready for the UK consumer, with our revolutionary way of searching the Internet proving very popular. ?Features such as Categorised Search, Twitter and Visual Search, are providing a different and intuitive experience, and are enabling us all to make informed decisions and discover more of the web – faster", said Ashley Highfield, VP and MD for Consumer & Online, Microsoft UK.

However UK visitors won't be getting all the latest updates at the same time as the US.?Wolfram Alpha?for example is still nowhere to be seen. ?

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Tags: Software Online Search engines Microsoft Bing

Bing sheds beta tag in UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:18:10 +0000

It’s official – the Eighties are back.

For those of us who had to endure them the first time, it’s something of an ordeal. Legwarmers, a perm, hoop earrings and no socks was never a good look. Especially on blokes.

But, a new generation is embracing the decade that taste forgot and Russell Athletic are fuelling the fire with this great 80s-izer.

You can make you own 80s style movies. Upload a photo and watch your new onscreen persona breakdance or jazzercise.

Hours of fun reminding your thirtysomething mates of what we all lived though the first time or educating the younger generation about just how bad it really was.

The 80s-inspired gear that Russell Athletic are selling is actually pretty cool though and does make me a bit nostalgic.

80s-izer.russellathletic.eu

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If you have a website that you want to tell us about email us via the feedback form.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY ? 80s-izer originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

It's all too easy to go to YouTube as a knee jerk reaction whenever you want to find a video on the internet. In fact, the term has passed into common parlance to refer to any user-generated internet film footage much the same as Google has come to refer to search. But if you take the time to have a look around, you'll notice some perfectly good video services in their own right, such as the very popular Vimeo. Some of them, in fact may even be better. So, how does our alternative example compare with the big kid in the playground??

Ownership

Like all good internet phenomena both Vimeo and Youtube were started by some budding entrepreneurs but have both since been bought up by corporate giants. However Google chooses to present its offices and ethos, its power and influence are second to none online making the company officially The Man as far as the world wide web goes. So, as a user and contributor to YouTube you are supporting the big G machine and all it stands for whether you like it or not. As it happens, it may not stand for anything that bad at all but it's worth bearing in mind.

Comparatively speaking, Vimeo is the little guy, but not by much. Owners IAC have over 50 consumer brands including notably Bloglines, Ask, CollegeHumour and Urbanspoon. You're certainly not saving the manatees by choosing Vimeo over YouTube but it might be a factor for the more corporate conscious.

Content Allowed

Vimeo will not host any commercial videos, gaming videos, pornography or anything else not created by users. YouTube is a little more stringent in its demands, if perhaps only subtly. Google's requirements are the uploads should not be defamatory, contain pornography, copyright violations and material that might encourage criminal behaviour. Much of this, of course, is very reasonable and very necessary given the size of the audience. However, as a smaller player, Vimeo does not have to include such overt holds on subjects with such grey areas like whether a video may or may not spark illegal activities. There have also been issues with other subjects including religion and incidents like the Hillsborough football disaster. Vimeo may well have problems in the same areas but there's no particular hard and fast rules on the matter.

Both sites will delete certain videos they deem unacceptable. YouTube relies on its community to flag videos in breach of the terms rather than vetting each on individually. The system works well but it does mean there's more of a chance of catching something inappropriate before its taken down. Whether you view that as an advantage or disadvantage is up to you.

Copyright issues

Being more much more in the spotlight, YouTube has famously had many more issues with copyright than any other video service. Both Viacom and, more recently, PRS in the UK have sought damages and pulled their content from the pages. Doubtless Vimeo would face the same problems but its smaller size means that these larger companies aren't bothering to look for their material there with quite the same fervor. Consequently, you're more likely to Premier League football, Saturday Night Live sketches, music videos or whatever else you might be looking for without finding that the content has disappeared.

The other issues over copyright to note is that YouTube ?gave over IP addresses and the details of millions of its users to Viacom in the landmark court case. Doubtless the same precedent would apply to such an injunction against Vimeo but with less legal action likely, there's less of a chance of having your data involuntarily shared with a third party.

Library

On the other hand of course, Vimeo's catalogue represents a drop in the ocean compared to the force of nature that is YouTube. YouTube has 20 hours of footage uploaded every single minute. That's nearly 2 million minutes of new video each 24 hours. Vimeo's 13,000 daily uploads is impressive especially given that 10% of those are in HD but it's just a different league. If you want to find a clip or you just want choice, YouTube is the place to be.

Video Quality

Vimeo's greatest boast is that it hosts the highest quality user video on the internet. While the site was quick to adopt 720p HD, YouTube has done the same as of this year. What's more, sometimes a lower quality is preferable. YouTube differentiates with both YouTube Mobile and YouTube TV which are optimised depending on where it is you're looking at the films. That's a handy data saver that Vimeo doesn't offer.

Where Vimeo still can shout though is in terms of video bit rate. The service offers up to 5,000 kbits whereas YouTube delivers around 2,000. Naturally, you're not always going to get that magic 5,000 with Vimeo but the footage does look noticeably smoother. That said, YouTube offers better audio bit rates with anywhere up to 256kbps but you'll only get up 128 with Vimeo although it is at least in stereo.

Uploading

Both services can cope with just about any video file you care to throw at them but they have different rules as to the quantities of data that you're allowed to add. YouTube has set a maximum length of 10 minutes to any one video unless you happen to have a partner account. No file can be larger than 2GB in size either. With Vimeo there is no maximum length of footage but the maximum file size is only half the size at 1GB and with a basic account you're only actually allowed to upload 500MB per week which might not get you that far.

The limit on Vimeo never used to exist until Plus accounts were introduced which offer multiple channels per user, no advertising, priority encoding and 2-pass re-enocding which gives better quality results. So, to some degree, the original users' accounts were downgraded with the introduction which did not go down to well, leaving one wondering whether it's something Vimeo might be happy to do again.

Promotion/Humiliation

With well over 1 billion views each day, YouTube is a far more powerful promotional tool than Vimeo will ever be. If you're big on YouTube, you're famous whether you like it or not. For filmmakers, photographers, musicians and creatives in all sorts of fields, YouTube can be and has been a platform where people have hit the big time. It's still very possible on other services but it's a simpe case of numbers. If you want your work to be seen by as many people as possible, then YouTube is the way to go.

Community

YouTube is for the masses while Vimeo has an air of refinement about it. As a result, there's not only a better quality of video content but also a more friendly comments stream to say the very least. If you want some fair appreciation of your creation, then upload to Vimeo. YouTube is strictly for the thick-skinned.

Downloadable

One very nice touch with Vimeo is that you can download just about all of the videos. So, long as you're a signed up member you can get the footage as the original file that it was uploaded as to keep and enjoy at your leisure. Although there are plug-ins and add-ons and ways that you can do this on YouTube, it's far more convoluted and often doesn't reap particularly good results.

Support

At CES at the beginning of the year, just about every TV manufacturer released a range of internet connected, widget-based products for the living room. Almost all of them had a YouTube widget. Nobody, was that fussed about a small service like Vimeo. Things will change as time goes on but, just as with the iPhone in the mobile phone field, other companies look to support the big player and it's YouTube that we'll find easiest to access wherever we happen to be.

Purpose

With the recent deal to bring ad supported film and TV content onto YouTube, it might not be a case of which of the two services is better than the other but more a case of which is appropriate for your needs at that moment. The commercial route takes Google's video service more towards the likes of Hulu and iPlayer with a shift of focus away from its user generated roots that Vimeo still holds on to. It just depends what you feel like watching. So long as it all stays free, then everybody's happy.?

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Related links:

• News - YouTube intros skippable pre-roll adverts

Tags: Software Websites Online YouTube Home Cinema Video on demand Vimeo IPTV Features

Vimeo vs YouTube - which is the better video service? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:58:02 +0000

If you don't fancy shelling out the best part of ?6000 for a pair of Pioneer DVJ-X1s and a decent crossfader, here's a cheaper alternative for budding VJs. It's called "Two You Tube Videos And A Motherfucking Crossfader", and it does exactly what it says on the tin.

Just search for a couple of tracks - we recommend Always Blow On The Pie and Chocolate Rain - hit play on both of them and then crossfade between the two to your heart's content. You can then save your mixes using an open source audio editor like Audacity.

Alternatively, you could use a screencasting application to broadcast your skillz over the Web to a doting audience. Try it out.?www.twoyoutubevideosandamotherfuckingcrossfader.com.

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Tags: Software Websites Online Music DJ

Add a crossfader to YouTube originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:25:38 +0000

YouTube has begun a "small test" of a new kind of advertising on the site, in an attempt to finally meaningfully monetise the billion videos it serves on a daily basis.

While initial testing for pre-roll adverts on the world's most popular video site did not go well with "abandonment" rates said to be as high as 70%, the site is now going at it again with skippable pre-roll advertising.

"We are constantly working to find the right ads for the right content on YouTube, so as to create an experience that works for our users, partners, and advertisers", says YouTube in a blog post.

YouTube has tried various ways to make big money from advertising. InVideo "overlay" adverts have been live on the site since 2007, much to the disgust of many users when they were introduced, while last year YouTube began a click-to-buy scheme.

"We know what you're thinking", says YouTube, "Who would choose to watch an ad when they can skip it?"

The answer, it seems, might not inspire confidence: "Well, that's what we're trying to find out".

YouTube suggests short (say, 15 second) pre-rolls have seen success as have particularly creative efforts - the "quality and relevance" of an ad making users want to see it play out.

"Skippable pre-rolls [can] create a win-win-win for everyone on YouTube. For users, this format gives them more control over their experience. For advertisers, we're working toward a solution where they pay for ads that users actually watch and engage with".

What are your thoughts on pre-roll ads? Does a "your video will start in 10 seconds" message drive you mad? Have your say in the comments box below.

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Tags: Software Websites Online YouTube Home Cinema Video on demand Advertising Biz

YouTube intros skippable pre-roll adverts originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:06:03 +0000

A newly global online dating site is angling for publicity by stating that Brits are among the ugliest people in the world.

The site, which asks "do you want to guarantee your dates will be beautiful?", works on the premise that those who want to join have to submit an image which its approved users then vote on to democratically decide whether or not you are good-looking enough to join their elite ranks.

Apparently fewer than one in eight British men and only three in 20 British women who have applied to BeautifulPeople.com have been accepted, reports Reuters from a BeautifulPeople.com statement.

In the last month the site has rejected nearly 1.8 million people from 190 countries, admitting just 360,000 "beautiful" new members.

"I would say Britain is stumbling because they don't spend as much time polishing up their appearance and they are letting themselves down on physical fitness", BeautifulPeople.com's MD said. "British people just aren't as toned or glamorous".

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Tags: Software Online Websites BeautifulPeople

Dating site stats reveal Brits are ugliest people originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:28:22 +0000

For consistency, Funny or Die have been difficult to surpass in recent times when it comes to bringing new comedy to the masses online.

They’ve just started their own YouTube channel, which is well worth bookmarking, and this is one of our favourites.

Almost Twins head to Hollywood to show Tinseltown the meaning of a true high five. Check out Bit and Chew from these guys too.

Silly, but we like it.

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If you've seen a video online that you want to tell us about email us via the feedback form.

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Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY ? High Five Hollywood originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

This is an argument that has raged since Adam and Eve first clapped their eyes on that apple.

Who is smarter - men or women?

I know the answer in my house: Mrs H knows everything.

I just think I do.

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www.trivialpursuitexperiment.com

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Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY ? Trivial Pursuit ? Battle of the Sexes originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Wolfram Alpha has announced that it will be supplying Microsoft's Bing search engine with some of its results.

Following the launch of an API for developers to tap into the computational search engine, Wolfram Alpha has announced that it will now be making nutritional and mathematical data available to Bing users.

"By using Wolfram Alpha, Bing recognizes the complementary benefits of bringing computational knowledge to the forefront of the search experience", says the Wolfram Alpha team.

Bing is hoping that the roughly 90 Million Americans that are on a diet every year will turn to them to find out how fat they really are.

"When you search for specific food items on Bing, you’ll get a nutrition quick tab that allows you to learn more about it. You also get a nutrition facts label at the bottom of the results page that summarizes all information on that food item in a very familiar and friendly format", said Microsoft.

The new feature is expected to roll out in the next couple of days.

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Tags: Software Online Bing Wolfram Alpha Search engines

Bing turns to Wolfram Alpha to help with search results originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:17:24 +0000

Google has "dramatically" reduced the cost of its online storage linked to its Picasa Web Albums service and Gmail accounts.

The online giant is now offering twice as much storage for a quarter of the old price of its 20GB plan, on top of the free allowances available to everyone.

Picasa and Gmail users can now buy 20GB for $5 per year, apparently a result of not just hard drive storage prices dropping, but because Google has been "working hard to improve our infrastructure to reduce your costs even further".

Google says 20GB is enough space for more than 10,000 full resolution pictures taken with a 5-megapixel camera.

Price plans also include 80GB for $20 per year, 200GB for $50 per year, 400GB for $100 per year and 1TB for $256 per year.

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Tags: Software Online Websites Storage Google Picasa Cameras Gmail

Google "dramatically" cuts Gmail and Picasa online storage costs originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:32:04 +0000

So, have any of you been drawn into conversations about the Large Hadron Collider in recent months? Is it the most ambitious and exciting scientific experiment ever? Or is it potentially the end of the world as we know it?

Those crazy eggheads in Geneva seem to be quite enthusiastic about both options, but that’s scientists for you.

But how does it all work? In this clip, one of said eggheads explains what happens using a pop-up book to help. You can buy this book soon and then ‘make your own’ hadron collider at home.

I’m guessing it’s not to scale.

If you've seen a video online that you want to tell us about email us via the feedback form.

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Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY ? Hadron explained originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Apps make life worth living don’t they? There’s 85,000 of the things available just for the iPhone and in the past few months everybody’s been jumping on the appy bandwagon.

Flickr are no exception as they launch their App Garden.

I say ‘launch’, but it’s more of a rebranding. They used to call this bit ‘services’, which, let’s face it, does tend to conjure up images of a Little Chef somewhere on the A14.

Anyway, this is the place to come for all the little bits and pieces to make your Flickr your own. There’s all kinds of tools for photographers and artists to make your images stand out from the masses.

www.flickr.com/services

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Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY ? The App Garden originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

@Shitmydadsays, the funny twitterer that supposedly writes down the stuff his 73-year-old dad says has landed a TV deal with CBS in the US.

In what is thought to be the first Twitter TV deal signing, the twitter stream will be turned into a TV show.

According to TV industry rag thrfeed.com/: "Will & Grace creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick are on board to executive produce and supervise the writing for the multicamera family comedy, which Justin Halpern [the creator of the twitter stream] will co-pen with Patrick Schumacker".

The news follows a deal by Halpern for a book called "Shit My Dad Says"

The comedy's title will change if it gets on the air.

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Tags: Software Online Twitter

Shit My Dad Says lands TV deal originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:49:51 +0000

Rather neatly, Hawaii has become the 50th US state to be pictured in Street View on Google Maps. Offering imagery of Oahu and Maui, the site has categorised collections including "hometown favourites of President Obama".

Although no doubt Scunthorpe, Glasgow and Swansea offer some delightful aspects in Street View, the Hawaiian vistas could be said to be particularly picturesque - for beach lovers, at least.

In addition, Street View has added imagery from Mexico for the first time, covering Mexico City, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Puebla, Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Cozumel.

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Tags: Software Online Google Maps Street View

Hawaii becomes 50th US state in Street View originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:48:41 +0000

20 years ago the Berlin Wall came down bringing with it an end to the iron curtain and freedom to many people.

At the time the wall was covered in graffiti with people sending their message of hope for a better world.

20 years later, and people of the Web can do the same without having to take a trip to Berlin to see what's left.

Using the power of Twitter (what else did you expect) all twitterers have to do to get involved is tweet a message followed by #fotw.

Doing so throws your message up on an imaginary wall that constantly updates.

Poignant, moving, and fun it's the berlintwitterwall.com/

If you have a website that you want to tell us about email us via the?feedback form.

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Tags: Software Online WebsiteOfTheDay

WEBSITE OF THE DAY - berlintwitterwall.com originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Electronic Arts has confirmed it is to acquire social games giant Playfish. Playfish will be incorporated into EA Interactive, a division of EA that produces games for the Web and mobile devices.

EA will purchase the company that specialises in Facebook and casual games for approximately $275 million in cash and $25 million in an equity retention arrangement.

"Social gaming, with its emphasis on friends and community, is seeing tremendous growth and this is the right time to invest to strengthen our participation in this space", said Barry Cottle, senior vice president and general manager of EA Interactive.

Meanwhile Kristian Segerstrale, CEO and co-founder of Playfish added: "The industry is undergoing dramatic transformation and joining EA is the ideal opportunity for us to push forward our goals to lead in the social entertainment evolution on a faster and much larger scale".

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Tags: Gaming EA Playfish Acquisitions Biz Online Software

EA acquires Playfish originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:29:22 +0000

News content from The Times and The Sun could soon be noticeably absent in online searches and news aggregators if News Corp's chairman and CEO, Rupert Murdoch, has is way.

Murdoch, not shy to speak out about how he feels Google has threatened the newspaper industry, has said he will consider removing his papers' content from Google's search index, possibly as early as next year.

"I think we will [remove our websites from Google's search index] but that's when we start charging", Murdoch told Sky News Australia, referring to the pay wall he is planning for online content.

"The people who simply just pick up everything and run with it – steal our stories, we say they steal our stories - they just take them. That's Google, that's Microsoft, that's Ask.com, a whole lot of people ... they shouldn't have had it free all the time, and I think we've been asleep".

Meanwhile The FT reports Murdoch actually threatened to sue the likes of the BBC when asked about how he plans to charge for content when the same stories are covered by broadcasters such as the BBC and ABC.

"But we are better", said Murdoch. "And anyway, if you look at them, most of their stuff is stolen from the newspapers now, and we’ll be suing them for copyright".

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Tags: Software Online Google Search engines Biz News Corp Rupert Murdoch

Murdoch to block Google searches on News Corp content originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:11:57 +0000

Mozilla's internet browser Firefox celebrates its 5th birthday today. "Five years ago today, Mozilla launched Firefox 1.0 with the belief that, as the most significant social and technological development of our time, the Internet is a public resource that must remain open and accessible to all. Within the first four days of launch, more than 1 million people had downloaded a brand new browsing experience", the open source organisation says in a blog post.

"In just five years, that number has swelled to over 330 million users worldwide; almost a quarter of Internet users worldwide choose Firefox. Today, Firefox ships in more than 70 languages and offers users more than 7000 add-ons to help customize their browsing experience".

When Firefox launched Microsoft's Internet Explorer alone controlled a whopping 99% of the browser market. Fast forward 5 years and Firefox enjoys a 23% browser market share, although with increasing competition from the likes of Opera, Apple and Google. Hit play now to see the (slightly indulgent) celebratory video above.

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Tags: Software Online Browsers Firefox Mozilla Statistics Video

VIDEO: Firefox celebrates 5th birthday originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:46:16 +0000

Sesame Street is 40 years old.

That's a lot of songs and lot of of silly voices, but that's also a lot of very happy kids who learnt to spell and count thanks to the furry fuzzballs and their infectious personalities.

Happy Birthday all of you.

If you've seen a video online that you want to tell us about email us via the?feed back form.

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Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY - Sesame Street originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

LinkedIn has announced it is testing a new "site navigation experience" that will show up for certain users.

The new design sees a "global navigation bar" at the top of the page that provides what's said to be convenient access to all LinkedIn services while overall there's said to be a cleaner, less-cluttered look.

The revamp also intros more simplified local navigation within each of the LinkedIn areas (Profile, Contacts, Groups, etc.) meaning more room available for page content.

"One of the key features of the new design is that it allows much more space for page content - information about you and your professional network", says LinkedIn.

The site is currently asking for feedback about the new design for those that can see it, as well as from those using the older format.

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Tags: Software Online Websites LinkedIn Social networking Biz

LinkedIn testing a new site design originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:04:44 +0000

Could all of Google's web applications be getting an interface refresh that would make them more like Google Wave? Screenshots published by Engadget appear to suggest that may be that case, though it's not clear how far the changes are away.

In Wave, it's possible to collapse and expand modules like the navigation bar, contacts window, inbox or individual Waves, as well as minimizing them to the top of the screen to appear as a drop-down menu. The screenshots appear to depict the same setup applied to Gmail, and Google News.

Apparently "the goal is to provide a consistent experience throughout all Google Apps and blur the line between the browser and the website (e.g. drag and drop, right-click, etc)". That could imply a similar interface for Chrome OS too, as well as future Google products.

We'll bring you more on this when we hear it.

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Tags: Software Online Google Gmail Google Wave Rumours

Google apps getting more Wave-y interface? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:49:14 +0000

If you’re a footy fan, then it’s fair to say you might have spent a fair amount of time this weekend shouting at a TV screen somewhere, am I right?

Let’s face it: the refs don’t know what they’re doing, the players are overpaid and pampered, so there’s a lot to shout about.

Now though, you can make your shouting count. This site is all about voice controlled football.

No, I didn’t believe it either…?

www.speechsoccer.com

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If you have a website that you want to tell us about email us via the feedback form.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY ? Speech Soccer originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal has called for the annual 2-minute silence to extend online this year.

The organisation has asked Twitter users to observe the 2-minutes' silence on Remembrance Day by sending no tweets during this period via its Twitter account.

The tweet "2 minute silence on Twitter 11:00am GMT on 11 November #2minutesilence RT plz" has been retweeted widely, suggesting the Twitterverse is happy to get behind the idea.

The 2009 Poppy Appeal - that helps fund the Royal British Legion's charity work with servicemen and their families - currently stands at ?1,266,920.

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Tags: Software Websites Online Twitter Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal

Poppy Appeal calls for Twitter silence on Remembrance Day originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:54:07 +0000

A 23-year-old Minnesota woman has declared that she'll be streaming a live video of the birth of her first child on the Web, allowing anyone to watch.

Lynsee, who's refusing to share her second name, had just moved to the Twin Cities of Minneaspolis-St. Paul when she found out she was pregnant. She signed up to a social network - MomsLikeMe - and created a group called Watch Lynsee Grow after she answered an email from the site administrator looking for contributors.

The birth will be shot from two cameras - one in the hospital room with a cameraman, and one mounted in the corner. Lynsee will also have access to a computer answering questions from anyone registered on her group on MomsLikeMe.

"We wanted to share this experience, said Lynsee, adding: "If I were in a classroom, I'd be teaching about development. It was a way for me to teach... A way for me to use myself as a textbook".

Opinions on the Web range as to whether this is a publicity stunt for MomsLikeMe, a sign of a technologically enlightened younger generation comfortable with an erosion of privacy, or an "overshare" from the family. How do you feel about it? Let us know in the comments.

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Tags: Software Online MomsLikeMe

Woman broadcasts birth on the Web originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:26:42 +0000

As The Flickr Collection by Getty Images has hit over 60,000 images, the site has announced a "formal Call for Artists".

This means that any of the 40 million-plus Flickr members can submit their work to be considered for the collection through the Call for Artists group on Flickr, rather than wait to have their image spotted by the Flickr team.
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There's detailed guidelines over on the group page, but basically all Flickr users can now submit 10 images "that represent what you consider to be the best of your work".

The Getty Images creative team will then evaluate submissions based on style, subject matter and technical skill and let sucessful members know if their images will get into the group for possible licensing.

Tags: Software Online Websites Flickr Getty Cameras

"Call for Artists" from The Flickr Collection by Getty Images originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:31:16 +0000

It's being reported that a street has been named after a Twitter username in the Palestinian West Bank. In the Askar refugee camp, close to the city of Nablus, a road has been named "@ arjanelfassed tweetstreet", after the user @arjanelfassed.

A Dutch charity, Jouw Eigen Straatnam, charges 100 euros for each of the street names in the camp, and all the proceeds go to the Palestinian Child Care Society, which funds "cultural and expressive after-school activities", according to El Fassad.

El Fassad says: "Since a refugee camp by definition should not remain permanent, selling street names of the camp is a creative way to connect people and support these children after school. Naming the street to?my Twitter account?is a symbolic way to connect both online and offline with the children of Askar".

Perhaps we need an @stephenfry street in the UK?

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Tags: Software Online Twitter

Palestinian street named after Twitter account originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:04:02 +0000

It’s Friday (thank goodness) and the end of another hard week.

Here’s a little musical treat for those of you who really appreciate that middle of the day feeling, which, on a Friday, always seems that little bit better.

We love lunch too. Dinner’s not too bad either….

If you've seen a video online that you want to tell us about email us via the feedback form.

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Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY ? I Love Lunch originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Twitter has announced on its blog that it's beginning the rollout of its promised retweets feature. The company said: "We've just activated a feature called retweet on a very small percentage of accounts in order to see how it works in the wild".

Retweets originally developed inside the Twitter community, rather than with the company. They indicate when a person wants to quote another person verbatim - usually sharing news or a link. ?The syntax is: "RT @username message". It has led to people often shortening their tweets even more to allow for space for a retweet.

The new feature would integrate the functionality in the API and web interface. While many third party Twitter clients already support retweets, there's still a substantial percentage of users who don't understand the functionality. We'll let you know when that "small percentage" begins to increase.

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Tags: Software Online Twitter

Twitter rolls out retweet feature, slowly originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:48:52 +0000

There is, apparently, a whole bunch of people out there who've never heard of eBay.

At least that’s what eBay themselves think, so they’ve set up this fashion trend spotting site in an attempt to attract style-conscious shoppers with money to burn.

Admittedly not the best timing, credit crunch and all that, but it’s a good place to pick up tips on what’s hot for the season, if nothing else.

www.theinsidesource.com

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Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY ? Inside Source originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Yesterday we showed you the epic new ad from Guinness, but they're not the only people who know how to shoot spectacular ads.

We love this.

The Lying, the Witch and the Wardrobe maybe...?

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Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY - Wardrobe originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Google, perhaps reacting to criticism that it's keeping a whole load of your data in disparate places, has launched a "dashboard" that displays all the info that the search giant is keeping on you, and allowing you to modify that data.

The service, which can be found at google.com/dashboard, covers your account, alerts, Blogger, calendar, contacts, custom search engines, docs, finance, friend connect, Gmail, iGoogle, health, Latitude, mobile sync, Orkut, Picasa, your public profile, reader, shopping list, talk, tasks, voice, web history, and YouTube. There's also a few other products that aren't available yet on the dashboard.

Google says, at the bottom of the page, "This page represents the data associated with this Google account. All data is private unless indicated with (an) icon?as visible to others". Next to every entry in the list is an option to manage that information and modify it.

There's a video that explains the system in more detail, which we're currently trying to track down (Google's removed it from YouTube) but probably a better way to understand it is to go visit Google Dashboard yourself, and see exactly what the big G knows about you. You might find it scary.

UPDATE: We found the video. It's embedded at the top, there.

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Tags: Software Online Google YouTube Blogger Video

Google launches data Dashboard originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:17:29 +0000

There are some rare things in this world.

Giant pandas for one.

A single decent TV programme on a Saturday night is another. But right now, one of the rarest things is a plain old-fashioned mail delivery. The postal worker's strike action is being felt all over the UK and so this new site couldn't be better timed.

Not only does it give you access to couriers for those all-important letters and parcels, but it will also tell you whether that bargain you've found on eBay is all it's cracked up to be.

Boxby can tell you exactly what your purchases should cost. Bookmark it now and it'll prove to be indispensible.

www.boxby.com

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about email us via the feedback form.

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Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY - Boxby originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Google has put up another "Doodle" on its homepage above the iconic search box, depicting both Cookie Monster and Big Bird - depending on where in the world you're located.

Clicking the image links through to a search for Sesame Street, marking the 40th anniversary of the popular kids TV show. It follows another doodle recently celebrating Wallace and Gromit's 20th birthday.

Sesame Street debuted in November 1969 and still continues to this day, now in its 41st season. Celebrities regularly appear on the show, and Michelle Obama, the first lady of the United States, will be appearing at some point in the next year.

Tags: Software Websites Online Search engines Google Sesame Street

Google honours Sesame Street with doodle originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:41:06 +0000

Twitter has dropped a message onto its status blog to say that it's testing a new set of notifications for those who use Twitter.com to interact with the service. If you see a yellow bar at the top of your Twitter stream on the site, then don't be alarmed.

It'll say something like "3 new tweets", and clicking the bar will expand the page to show those tweets. Similar functionality has appeared in Twitter's search results for some time. The idea behind the move is to keep people staring at the Twitter site, "maximising engagement" as some marketer would probably put it.

The feature is being rolled out slowly, initially to a "limited" set of users. Twitter says that it "hopes to roll it out to everyone as soon as we can". For many hardcore Twitter users the feature won't be that useful - it'll rise too fast - but for more casual fans, who follow fewer people, this could prove a handy tool.

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Tags: Software Online Twitter Social networking

Twitter testing new tweet notifications originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:17:03 +0000

Google has posted another of its infamous homepage "doodles" today celebrating the birthday of Wallace and Gromit.

Created by Nick Park, it seems the plasticine pair debuted on this day back in 1989 at an animation festival in Bristol.

20 years on and the pair are as popular as ever - and clearly popular in the Google offices too.

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Tags: Software Websites Online Search engines Google Wallace and Gromit

Google doodle celebrates Wallace & Gromit's birthday originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:01:17 +0000

Guinness ads are, quite simply, iconic.
They have created some of the most memorable, innovative and entertaining commercials, year after year for as long as this reporter has been able to legally enjoy their product.

This new ad, is described, by Guinness, as the most challenging they've ever done.

I think we can all see why.

It's breathtaking.

If you've seen a video online that you want to tell us about email us via the feed back form.

Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY - Guinness ad originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Microsoft has relaunched its previously-shuttered MSN Music download store in the UK, which offers album and single-track downloads from all four major labels. Microsoft says the store is "large and competitively priced".

As well as purchasable tracks, Microsoft hopes to differentiate its service by offering playlist creation, artist bios and discographies, and editorial content from the MSN Music channel. All tracks downloaded will be free of DRM, and users can choose between getting an MP3 or a WMA file.

To use the store, customers will need a Windows Live ID to log in. From there, you have to buy credits - 10 will cost you ?8. A "standard" single (again, unclear if this includes B-sides, or just refers to single tracks) will cost 1 credit, and a "standard" album will cost 10.

In the same release, Microsoft says: "As part of the service, free music streaming will be tested on a limited basis". It's not clear what that means - whether there'll be Spotify- and We7-style adverts supporting the content, and whether the streamable tracks will be just previews or queueable in the interface.

We're trying to find out more about this one, but for now the FAQ suggests that it's a very limited offering that employs Windows Media Player to deliver 30-second previews of tracks before you download them. That's not exactly revolutionary, and the press release seems to suggest more, so we're digging deeper into this one. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: The streaming service is confirmed to be more than just a 30-second set of previews, for some users, anyway. It's a full-on competitor to Spotify and We7, but employs display ads, rather than audio ads - which could be very attractive to those who want to leave it on in the background.

It supports playlists, though you can't share those lists with other users like you can on other services. For now, though, it's a closed beta that only a few thousand users will have access to. We're in the process of gaining access right now and will give you the lowdown as soon as we're in on it.

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Tags: Software Online Music Microsoft MSN

Microsoft relaunches music download store originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:02:44 +0000

Ever fancied a peek behind the scenes at Intel?

Sky have pulled it off and sent a roving reporter to San Fran to see what he can find out. These webisodes take a look at the next generation of Intel products.

And if this is what they’re happy to show us, imagine what the secret stuff is like…

intel.sky.com

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Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY ? Intel Sky originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

What do you make of this?

If you're dodging UK taxes by squireling away untold millions in offshore slush finds, are you really going to worry too much about the tax man posting clips on YouTube in an effort to scare you into paying?

What next?

Tweets from the DVLA when you're caught speeding: "Ian's a naughty boy doing 31 in a 30 zone…"?

Pokes from the town hall when your council tax is due: "Yoo-hoo! Forgotten something?! LOL".

As for my untold millions, I'm still checking those Lotto numbers every week...

If you've seen a video online that you want to tell us about email us via the feed back form.

Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY - Tax man originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Amazon has announced the introduction of its "Frustration-Free Packaging" scheme in the UK with a letter from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos blazoned across the UK homepage.

Launched in the States back in 2008, the scheme hopes to end what Amazon calls "wrap rage", described as "the frustration we humans feel when trying to free a product from a nearly impenetrable package".

34 items from SanDisk and Hama, as well as the Amazon Basics range will now offer "products inside smaller, easy-to-open, recyclable cardboard boxes with less packaging material and no plastic clamshells or wire ties".

Tags: Eco Amazon Online SanDisk Hama

Amazon launches "Frustration-Free Packaging" in the UK originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:19:30 +0000

Popular music streaming service Spotify has announced that Robbie Williams' new album will debut exclusively on the service in the UK.

From Friday 6 November, the comeback album, "Reality Killed The Video Star", will be available to listen to exclusively to all UK users in advance of the album's official launch on 9 November.

The new album features 12 brand new tracks (plus one reprise), including the singles "Bodies" and "You Know Me".

As an extra treat for Robbie fans, as part of the exclusive, Spotify says it has "had Robbie put together a playlist of some of his favourite tracks over his career and another playlist highlighting tracks from his musical heroes".

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Tags: Audio Media streaming Spotify Online Music downloads Robbie Williams

Robbie Williams' new album gets exclusive Spotify debut originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:04:13 +0000

A survey from London-based think-tank Demos has added weight to the position held by many that file sharers are the biggest music fans, revealing that those who admit downloading music illegally spend an average of ?77 per year on music, compared to ?44 for people who claim that they never download dishonestly.

The poll spoke to 1000, 16 to 50-year-olds with web access. One in ten admitted to downloading music illegally, though the real figure is suspected by many to be considerably higher. However, 61% of those downloaders said they would be put off downloading illegally if their connection was in jeopardy.

The government, led by Peter Mandelson, is trying very hard to push through plans to set up a ?"three-strikes" system that would disconnect file sharers from the Web. However, there's fierce opposition to the proposals from everyone from artists, to ISPs, to even MI5 and the police.

The report's authors say that the results of this survey suggest that Mandelson's plans could actually harm the music industry more than helping it, especially as there are other sources of entertainment - like video games - that are fighting for consumer attention. Will file sharers stop spending their cash on music entirely, if disconnected from their sources of content?

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Tags: Software Online Broadband Filesharing P2P Statistics Surveys Music downloads Music Audio

Survey claims illegal downloaders spend most on music originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:32:13 +0000

Twitter has released a new "goodie" that allows users to display lists on their site as they update.

Called Twitter widgets, the new feature "lets you display Twitter updates on your website or social network page" according to the blurb on the new widgets page.

Users can opt for four different types of widget; Profile, Search, Faves and List with the tool auto generating the code so you can paste it on your website, facebook or MySpace page.

Users will be able to set a number of preferences for the widget such as update speed and behaviour, as well as which information to show.? Users will also be able to change the size and appearance of the widget to make it fit in with their page (see below).

Once created, users can opt to have the site spit out the code for them to cut and paste anywhere on the Web.

With the results pumped out in real time rather than delayed, it seems Twitter is happy to empower people to drive traffic to their own site rather than pushing people back to Twitter to see the results.

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Tags: Software Online Twitter Social networking

Twitter widgets brings Twitter to the rest of the Web originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:14:35 +0000

The Beatles' entire back catalogue has found itself online for streaming and downloads semi-legally thanks to music service BlueBeat Music.

The site, which will no doubt be pulled within hours is currently offering Beatles fans the chance to own songs for just a quarter (15p) as well as the chance to stream the tracks for free.

Although many expected Apple to be the first to offer the Beatles back catalogue digitally online, BlueBeat Music's approach has been to hope that rights holder EMI won't complain.

Buried deep in terms and conditions is the following:

"If you believe in good faith that materials hosted by BlueBeat infringe your copyright (for example, materials posted by BlueBeat on one of our Forums), you (or your agent) may send us a notice requesting that the material be removed, or access to it blocked".

According to The Telegraph, EMI told the newspaper that "the company had not given its permission for the tracks to be sold and was "looking into the situation".

EMI has been rumoured to be waiting for the right time to offer the songs digitally, with many speculating, wrongly, that it would have happened in September, the same days as Rock Band: The Beatles launched.

In 2014, the copyright for the first Beatles tracks begin to expire, suggesting an ever looming window for EMI and Apple Corps to maximise on sales is drawing closer.

UPDATE: EMI has confirmed that it's sueing BlueBeat over these tracks.

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Related links:

• Via - telegraph.co.uk

Tags: Audio Software Online Music downloads BlueBeat Beatles

Beatles go on sale online originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:20:43 +0000

You’d like to think that the CWU and Royal Mail workers who are currently on strike might have a sense of humour about things.

Apparently not. They’re not too keen on this spoof game, according to some reports we’ve read. To them it's about as funny as, let's say, not getting your important mail, or your poor old Granny not getting her birthday card on time. Not funny at all, then.

But as they’re making our lives, and those of millions of other disgruntled (and post-less) Brits, a misery, we though we’d share it.

TNT and DHL will enjoy at least.

www.theroyalfail.com

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Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY ? Royal Fail originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

A new version of the Bittorrent protocol is about to launch. Bittorrent is a distribution technique for online content that's used heavily by both legitimate software publishers (like Activision Blizzard) and illicit file sharing sites (like the Pirate Bay).

The update focuses around the problem of connection throttling. When the protocol was developed, broadband wasn't as widespread. ISPs were able to satisfy the majority of people's usage of their connection. Now, however, most customers don't use the majority of their connection speeds, so ISPs have built their networks slightly smaller than they need to be to serve everyone.

Bittorrent, however, uses every bit of a connection to operate efficiently, so it's very taxing on the ISP's networks. As a result, most major ISPs will artificially "throttle" connections where Bittorrent is being used, reducing download speeds to a crawl.

The new version of the protocol aims to avoid this by becoming "network aware". If the connection detects congestion, then it'll automatically slow down, so that other applications can operate at full efficiency. Network usage expands when there's space, like the original version of the protocol, but unlike the original, it'll contract when there's congestion.

The improvement is called uTP, and could represent multi-billion dollar savings for ISPs, according to BitTorrent's VP of Product Management, Simon Morris. He told TorrentFreak: "uTP measures the time a packet takes to get sent from peer A to peer B, so in theory uTP will detect congestion anywhere on that path, although in practice the congestion most often happens somewhere on the first-mile uplink connection".

As a result, you'll perhaps get your files a smidge slower than before, but there'll be negligible effect on the network as a result. It's an altogether more sustainable solution, benefiting both users (who get more reliable downloads) and ISPs (who get reduced network traffic).

uTP is currently only available in the newest beta (2.0) of the uTorrent client. Older versions of uTorrent will accept uTP connections, but they won't start them, so it's worth upgrading as soon as possible.

The effects should be noticeable by both ISPs and users relatively quickly once uTorrent's beta gets a full release, as uTorrent and the Mainline client are, between them, used by two thirds of all BitTorrent users.

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Tags: Software Online Broadband P2P BitTorrent

Bittorrent protocol gets anti-throttling update originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:12:02 +0000

Due to server maintenance Pocket-lint will be taken offline for a short period tomorrow, 3 November 2009, from approximately 8am GMT.

With the work due to take around 20 minutes, we should be back up and running in plenty of time for the site to be available for a quick browse with your morning cuppa.

We are sorry for any inconvenience this causes.

The Pocket-lint team.

Tags: Software Online Pocket-lint Site news

Pocket-lint: Scheduled maintenance originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:06:45 +0000

Living has launched "Liv", the UK's first online TV channel, offering "style and celebrity" programming.

Live from 2 November, the IPTV channel can be viewed at www.livingtv.co.uk as well as through its own YouTube channel and can be downloaded via a "state of the art Facebook application to enhance viewers' interactive experiences".

"Highlights" of forthcoming shows include "Celebs off Duty", comprising of showbiz news from one of the "world's leading paparazzi agencies" and Amy Winehouse's Dad Mitch interviewing celebs in his taxi.

There's also "Dress Famous Liv Famous", a makeover series hosted by a former Britain's Next Top Model contestant.

Tags: Home Cinema Living Liv IPTV Online Virgin Media Facebook

Living launches "Liv" online TV channel originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:15:16 +0000

The presence of a mysterious town on Google Maps has stumped locals, the online giant and its mapping data provider.

It seems no-one can explain why "Argleton" in Lancashire, a town that does not exist, appears in the L39 postcode area just south of Ormskirk.

According to locals, where Argleton should be is just "acres of green, empty fields".

Exciting conspiracy theorists, Argleton is an anagram of "Not Real G". As an aside, it's also an anagram of "toe gnarl", "rant ogle", "oral gent" and "lot anger".

"While the vast majority of this information is correct there are occasional errors", Google told The Telegraph, on Hallowe'en.

A spokesperson for Tele Atlas, the company behind Google Map's data said: "Mistakes like this are not common, and I really can't explain why these anomalies get into our database".

Mapping companies do add errors to their maps for copyright protection reasons, but it's said to be unusual for such an error to be the creation of an entire town.

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Tags: Software Google Google Maps Online GPS software Tele Atlas

Phantom town appears on Google Maps originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:28:41 +0000

Putting the words "Lego" and "Rock Band" was always sure to grab our attention.

Here's the Final Countdown trailer in glorious HD.

Little plastic people really know how to rock out.

If you've seen a video online that you want to tell us about email us via the feed back form.

Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY - Lego Rock Band originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000

It's no secret that Google Wave is a little tricky to get your head around. When confronted with the Wave dashboard for the first time, many people scratch their heads and ask "uhh... what now?". Well, Gina Trapani and Adam Pash from productivity blog Lifehacker have put together a user manual.

Titled The Complete Guide to Google Wave, the guide covers getting started, managing contacts, waves, gadgets and bots. It also discusses what Wave can't do yet, and - most importantly - what on earth it actually is. It's a bit like a much longer version of our own Five things that Google Wave can do for you post.

The manual is built on MediaWiki software, meaning that it's possible to contribute your own suggestions to improve it. However, most of the pages are currently locked from editing to prevent vandalism while the website launches. It's available free on the Web at the link above, and will be showing up as a PDF soon, and as a book in January.

Do you have any questions about Wave that neither our extensive coverage, or this user manual, can answer? Post a comment below and we'll do our best to answer.

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Tags: Software Online Google Google Wave Books

Google Wave gets crowd-sourced user manual originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:56:53 +0000

If there’s a worse job than having to iron a shirt on a Sunday night, I don’t know what it is. It’s that awful realisation that the weekend is over and you’re back to the daily grind.

The task is made more bearable if the shirt you’re ironing is a good one. Good shirts look, wear and, most importantly, press better than cheap ones.

If a good shirt is what you’re after, this is where you can look. You can make the shirt just as you like it and the materials and tailoring are top notch. Worth every penny.

Still a bugger to get the sleeves just right though…

www.shirtsmyway.com

If you have a website that you want to tell us about email us via the feedback form.

Tags: WebsiteOfTheDay Websites Software Online

WEBSITE OF THE DAY ? Shirts My Way originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

YouTube is littered with ghostly clips and some of them really are scary. Once you've trawled through the hoaxes and clearly doctored clips, there a few that stand out as being genuinely creepy.

I don't know what this shows, but it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

If you've seen a video online that you want to tell us about email us via the feed back form.

Tags: Video Websites Software Online

VIDEO OF THE DAY - Ghosts originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Google Wave may be about to open up its servers for federation, if reports from TheNextWeb are correct. If true, it would mean that businesses and corporations will imminently be able to download everything they need to run their own Google Wave server.

If that's a little confusing, then think about how companies generally run their own email servers to make in-house communication more efficient. An email server in-house (rather than on the Web) means that business will spend less on data costs and talking to people, using the same server will be lightning-fast.

Those servers can also talk to the outside world, though, like email. In that case, the communication would run at normal speed. Wave has been designed from the ground up to incorporate this "federated" nature. Lars Rasmussen, one of the inventors of the service, told TheNextWeb that the sandbox infrastructure currently available to developers will be opened up very soon.

The team has also demoed a terminal-based Wave client, and published a Wave Federation Protocol and Conversation Model. That'll allow company tech departments to begin to get their heads around what this could entail for intra-office communication.

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Tags: Software Online Google Google Wave Rumours

Google about to allow private Wave servers? originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:33:21 +0000

Rock band Foo Fighters have announced that they'll be streaming a free gig on Facebook on 30 October. The show will come live from the band's Los Angeles HQ and the stream will begin at 7pm PST (that's 3AM GMT). It'll be powered by Livestream.

Fans can RSVP to the show from the event page and when it begins the stream will be available from an application. Fans are also being asked, during the show, to update their status messages to reflect what they think of the performance, which will hopefully then bring other viewers in.

MySpace has undertaken a few live gig streams, and YouTube has covered a few, but Facebook has stayed relatively clear of the action until now. Are you planning to watch the show? Or just grab a copy from a file sharing network the following morning? Let us know in the comments.

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Tags: Audio Music Online Foo Fighters Facebook

Foo Fighters stream gig over Facebook originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:16:50 +0000