Freesat is a new initiative from the BBC and ITV that, it claims, makes digital TV free. Boasting over 80 digital TV and radio channels it also gives “super fast digital text and enhanced interactivity, as well as digital subtitles and audio description”, all for free. Well actually that’s a bit of a con, you have to pay £150 for the full all-singing-all-dancing package, but its still cheaper than most other digital suppliers that work on contract.
And this contract free system is a great advantage of this nifty piece of technology. However, many of you may be thinking: whats the difference between that and freeview??? Well, for a start it offers more TV channels (numbers aren’t currently available but estimates put the number as higher) and digital radio channels. It also has a far bigger coverage, at 98% of the UK as opposed to the 73% that freeview has. Also it opens up opportunities for HD, and with these boxes comes the ability to store, pause and rewind TV, which is a big advantage on most freeview boxes.
Verdict: The jury is out, but it looks good and could have a promising future…
BBCi, however they sell it, will always be the poor mans sky+ meaning you can watch BBC programmes whenever (for a month after they are shown). However despite that it is still very good, and with great quality you wouldn’t guess that it was free which is what makes it so desirable, and wy it has been heavily used and praised by all.
However the largest impracticality of BBCi is that generally the only way you can feasibly and easily watch what is available on there is on your computer. This means that you often end up watching TV in your ‘computer’ chair and on a substantial screen. Obviously you could link your PC to the TV (or have an all-in -one [http://thetechdon.com/all-in-one-pcs-part-1/] ) but this is beyond the capabilities of large sections of the population, and many of those that can can’t be bothered.
So a solution that didn’t involve money was neccessery, so the BBC have worked together with Nintendo so that now you can easily watch BBCi on the wii using the Internet channel (500 points/£3.50), which means the wii is now even more of a quality console. Unfortunately this is only available in the UK and is still in the beta stage, but it has good prospects for the future, especially for Kangaroo when it is released later this year.
It’s nothing new to have a portable DVD player with the ability to dock an Ipod into it for the added functionality of sound/video. But that’s not what we’re talking about here.
The Philips DCP951/37 Docking Entertainment System is not really portable. It could be, as it does come with a battery with a life of about 2.5 hours on a single charge, but the DCP951/37 is better suited for spaces in your home, room, or dorm where a big screen or large entertainment system is just not possible or necessary.
The player is equipped with a 9 inch diagonal LCD screen with built in speakers. The iPod dock swings from the back when needed. In addition to being able to playback DVD and it’s iPod functionality, it also has SD/MMC card slot for memory cards and supports a wide variety of playback formats including DVD, DVD+/-R and DVD+/-RW, (S)VCD, DivX & MPEG4 videos.
In the portable DVD market, this is a pretty good gadget and is something that is rather inexpensive (only 199.99 at Amazon).
What is the point of NapTV by designer Sung-kyu Na? Umm see picture. It looks like kiddy stuff but NapTV isn’t just the way to make your kid lazy, man. And please, it isn’t the coolest chair to sit on while doing school work. Your kid will mostly likely watch TV most of the time. ”Mom, it’s the NapTV for what it is!”
Of course, lying on bed and looking above must be the most comfortable way to watch TV but maybe it’s not good for your health.
So, a kid might be better off socializing with the opposite sex. On second thought, the drawing of the person with the NapTV above is that of a kid at heart rather than that of a kid. I’m okey with that. It’s one more reason to stay in bed for us adults. Pretty terminal.
Verdict: Now, don’t they make a version for the whole family?
If any one has ever tried to import any electrical goods from Europe to the USA (or visa versa) that are in any way related to TV, they will know the excruciatingly annoying problem of the fact that the TVs are different. Frustratingly due to the different power systems American TVs work at 60Hz, whilst European ones work at 50Hz. This led to the development of different systems, as the then dubbed NTSC (National television standards comity) did not work to its full potential in the 50 Hz countries, so PAL (Phase Alternate Lines) was created. It did has a slightly slower frame rate (at 25 compared to 30) but it did the job well.
It does get more complicates, escpecially with the introduction of color, but we will leave it at that for now in the knowledge that they are different. So, with the massive globalization that has occurred within the last few decades, many people called form TVs that would be NTSC and PAL compatible so they could use VHS systems and US region DVDs anywhere. However this is where it gets even more complicated. Some TVs (mainly the relatively new ones) then started being ‘NTSC’ compatible, but these was only compatible with the 60 HZ input for NTSC 4.43, which was the Japanese system.
So as many people got pretty annoyed by the misleading promises by the TV companies, converters came around, that meant you could convert US NTSC 3.58 to the NTSC 4.43 that the TVs supported. Now, most new TVs are NTSC 3.58 compatible (as well as 4.43 and PAL), but what for the older TVs that many people still have? The ultimate converter is the answer, and at only £100 you can get one that will convert NTSC 3.58 and NTSC 4.43 to PAL (you can also get the reverse). The best one on the market at the moment its the ALLREIONS2PAL, which converts all the different TV standards into PAL with no delay (so good for gaming) and godd definition (up to 28 inch).
In real terms this means that on any TV now you can play DVD playters and consoles that are on any compatability. This is brilliant for the import market, as you can finally imprt goods, to give a lower price, and they will still work, which is good for the consumer, the importer and, er….. less good for the producer. But they can cope with it, right ?!?
The Aurea is basically a Tv, that has an light changing frame. Although this may not sound like much, it can create an atmosphere unlike any other TV, and it can even be separate to the images to create even more effect. To see this properly you could either get one,or watch the film on the website, which I have to say if very classy!
The name Aurea if very apt, as that is what the ingenious frame creates around the actual television with 125 LEDs that are synchronized with the screen. Obviously it is HD ready, which means that it can really enhance you viewing experience.It also has great sound, that comes from the frame, which comprises of 24 front firing speakers and 2 subwoofers and which coupled with the cool 42 inches, makes the perfect TV. Period.
However if you were thinking of trading in your current 40 odd inch TV and getting this one at a little extra cost, I’d read the next bit. It costs a grand total of $6,000, for which you could easily buy a nice car, or a very nice computer! So is it really worth it? If you have $6,000 waiting to be spent on a TV, then yes, but for anyone else I’d just sit tight and wait for other companies to catch up, and for the technology to become cheaper.
Continuing from where I left off (see All-in-one PCs part 1), I will start to look at the different all-in-one computers that are available on the market at the moment. So, lets start with a company who have a damn good claim to being the king of this market: Apple.
iMac 24in - This all in one comes wqith a “.16GHz Core 2 Duo processor with a 250 GB hard drive, !GB of RAm adn of course Wi-fi. The impressive 24 inch screen is perfect for nealry everything, however it does lack a TV tuner, so an add on (only about $60) will be necessary to use this to its full potential. Surprisingly, considering its all-in-one status, additional RAM, Hard drive space and a faster processor can be added to join the front row and remote which come with it. All in all this costs $2700, and is quite goood value for money on this relatively powerful computer.
TouchSmart IQ770 - This all-in-one computer has AMD Turion 64 X2 processor which can run Vista easily (comes with home premium, and so has Media Centre) and has a large 320 GB hard drive, which is ample space for all the music, pictures and music. It has a comparitavly small 19 in screen and 2GB of RAM, and Wi fi. The factor that means this has the edge over the iMac is that it has a built in TV tuner, meaning that it is the perfect home entertainment system especially considering that its analouge and digital. This also comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse and remote control, and it has to be said that the specs make of for the looks that the mac definatly has. So, so far, this is the best that I have found despite its $3000 price tag; so will there be any better?
Meivo- Yes! This smooth looking system looks just like a slightly bulky flat screen TV, and every of its 22in looks pretty cool. It doesn’t loose out no specs eityher with a 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and an analouge/digital TV tuner. It also has an average sized 250 GB hard drive, but has room for another, and a DVD burner (essential for an all-in-one PC). Other goodies include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and a wireless keyboard and mouse, all for just $2000
So, you can easily see, that they are great pieces of technology, and would suit so many people, but are they worth it? For some people for sure, and as they become more mainstream I’m sure the price will go down and the specs go up, creating the perfecthome computer.
Mitsubishi has just unveiled 2 new blu-ray players, sleek and stylish. The DVR-BZ200 with 500GB of internal HDD (which can deliver up to 880 hours of recording time) and the DVR-BZ100 with 250GB of internal HDD, support, obviously, AVC codec, but also AVCREC which allows you to record AVC to DVD (way cheaper than Blu-Ray discs).
But the 2 things that caught my eye and that set the new Mitsubishi blu-ray player apart from it’s competitors are the cool, slick mirror finish and the touchscreen remote controller which has a color display and flexible softkeys tailored for specific functions.
All in all this new blu-ray player promises to be great but, like all cool gadgets, it’s only for the Japan market (for now I hope).
One of the problems that people have with their PC is the fact that its is clunky, not very space efficient and it looks awful. Admittedly this has improved dramatically in the last few years, but the elegance and simplicity of an all-in-one computer are pretty awesome, so this is the first of two articles about which is the best all in one computer; and why.
One of the best things about an all in one computer (i.e. there is no separate CPU) is the fact that it doesnt look like a computer. Stupid as that may sound that is a massive step forewoulds into home intergration for the computer, as having it in the centre of the household suddenly opens up more opportunities for it. It also becomes a hell of a lot easier for the user as they can suddenly have all their pictures, music, documents and TV in one small and stylish screen. And do not fall into the misconception that these computers fall down on the power side as they can easily be equally as good as the one you are reading this on, but I will come onto that later.
The age of simplicity started with our good friend Microsoft where they pioneered the all-in-one-simplicity experience with Windows XP and, more importantly, Media center edition. This suddenly allowed you to sit back on your sofa with a remote and go through all your pictures, music and TV/Movie capabilities without having a complex setup, just using the computer. Apple followed suit with their simplified version (although Macs in general are simpler than Windows anyway) called Front Row which worked in a very similar way to Vista home premium does now (with Media Center automatically installed [which, I have to say, is brilliant] on that and more advanced editions).
So, as for the actual computers…. you’ll have to wait till next time, but believe me it’s worth it!
The closest that console developers have come to cross platform gaming is probably the good ol’ gameboy, and it is a grail that many gamers have been waiting for. Emulators (illegal, marred with viruses and rarely work) have tried to bridge the gap, but the final frontier of being able to pitch two different consoles against each other has not happened, until now.
Admittedly it is not a console as such, but it now possible to play on your PC against an Xbox 360 through Xbox live and this has been made possible by the long awaited (and quite possible trivial) technical advance in the games. Halo 2 was the first PC game to allow the connection to LIVE to be made, but this did not allow playing, only chat. However a string of new games are in the pipeline to be released under the ‘games for windows’ banner soon (the newest being Uno) to follow the only game that currently allows this game play: Shadowrun.
However this comes at a price. LIVE itself is free for windows, and this allows the basic chat and PC to PC gaming. Yet to play against that 360 there is the $49.99 cost per annum, and a very small choice of games (although when Halo 3 is released this may not be much of a barrier). Shadowrun itself does not seem such a bad game, but $50 to play against 360 players is just a bit steep (and for Uno it is more like vertical) so currently it is perhaps not a great purchase.
However it is a step foreword in the right direction, and in time it will be something that most gamers, I’m sure, will use. For other consoles it is a big blow. The PS3, already suffering from mediocre sales, will not have the technology to move into the cross platform area and as the current internet game play is already heavily criticized it may well be very hard for it to redeem itself. Nevertheless it is great news for all 360 and PC fans, and it can only get better!
BBCi, however they sell it, will always be the poor mans sky+ meaning you can watch BBC programmes whenever (for a month after they are shown). However despite that it is still very good, and with great quality you wouldn’t guess that it was free which is what makes it so desirable, and wy it has been heavily used and praised by all.
es to create even more effect. To see this properly you could either get one,or watch the film on the website, which I have to say if very classy!
you viewing experience.It also has great sound, that comes from the frame, which comprises of 24 front firing speakers and 2 subwoofers and which coupled with the cool 42 inches, makes the perfect TV. Period.
t IQ770 - This all-in-one computer has AMD Turion 64 X2 processor which can run Vista easily (comes with home premium, and so has Media Centre) and has a large 320 GB hard drive, which is ample space for all the music, pictures and music. It has a comparitavly small 19 in screen and 2GB of RAM, and Wi fi. The factor that means this has the edge over the iMac is that it has a built in TV tuner, meaning that it is the perfect home entertainment system especially considering that its analouge and digital. This also comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse and remote control, and it has to be said that the specs make of for the looks that the mac definatly has. So, so far, this is the best that I have found despite its $3000 price tag; so will there be any better?
! This smooth looking system looks just like a slightly bulky flat screen TV, and every of its 22in looks pretty cool. It doesn’t loose out no specs eityher with a 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and an analouge/digital TV tuner. It also has an average sized 250 GB hard drive, but has room for another, and a DVD burner (essential for an all-in-one PC). Other goodies include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and a wireless keyboard and mouse, all for just $2000
