My Best Toys

Dream machine

Pocket-lint has teamed up with Dell Outlet to bring you the opportunity to win one of their high end XPS laptops. Whether you are into gaming, films, photography or general PC usage this laptop is a fantastic prize for any PC lover. Just follow this link to www.dell.co.uk/outlet/pl to find out what it has to offer.?

And here are “five good reasons why you should buy from Dell Outlet“:

Exceptional Value for Money - Get the latest technology at an unbelievably low price.

Quality Systems from Dell - All products are tested and retested to offer same-as-new quality and reliability.

Warranty and Service Included - Your system is protected by the same warranty and service as new systems.

Huge Variety of Systems - Pick your perfect system from the huge variety of configurations available.

Fast Delivery - Many items typically ship within 5-7 working days.

The laptop itself will sport 2GB RAM and 320GB hard drive, all wrapped up in a smart design. Connections wise you’ll get 2 USB ports, HDMI and VGA-out, five in one memory card reader, ExpressCard slot and eSATA port.

To enter into this competition all you have to do is answer a simple question. In addition you have the opportunity to opt-in to receiving Dell Outlet’s weekly enewsletter which is packed with updates on system availability and occasional special offers. Don’t worry, you can opt-out of this at any time.

So for a chance to win simply click through on this link, which will take you through to the competition page, where you’ll also find full terms and conditions. Competition closes on Friday 12 March 2010.

Tags:
Hardware Laptops Dell Dell XPS Competitions

Win a Dell Studio 16 XPS laptop originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:36:54 +0000

Check those corners, check those corners

Dolby has released a new audio technology that it hopes will let Xbox 360 and PS3 gamers hear realistic voice communication, complete with surround panning and distance attenuation, at GDC in San Francisco.

Called Dolby Axon, and already available on some online games for the PC, the company is hoping that console games developers will embrace the new audio technology; allowing gamers to have their voices mapped to the game environment as well as producing an improvement in chat quality.

The technology is similar to that already found in Creative’s new World of Warcraft headset, which is to be released in the UK in the next couple of weeks. The headphones, which have been specifically designed for the online game, allow you to enjoy THX surround sound and change your voice to sound like one of the game characters, however at the moment the headset is only available for the PC.

Dolby says that all the technologies combined should allow for improved audio chain processing: like noise and echo suppression for clear voice communication - ie when you’re about to sweep and clear a building.

Tags:
Gaming PS3 Xbox 360 Dolby

Dolby Axon wants to improve your chatter on your console originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:03:52 +0000

Hopes to move your gaming to new dimension

Sony?has announced more details about its new Motion Controller - The?Playstation Move.

The system, which will go up against the Nintendo Wii and Microsoft’s Project Natal, will bring motion controller gaming to PS3?users looking for move than just the six-axis controller.

Looking like a darker more scarier Nintendo Wii controller the wand styled device will feature a big ball on the top that glows.

“It’s fast, precise and active,” Sony claims as the company demoed a series of new games that it plans to release in the coming months.

The technology will work based on sensors in the new controller and monitoring those movements with the company’s already available webcam - the PlayStation Eye.

PlayStation Move motion controller, say Sony, delivers unmatched accuracy through its advanced motion sensors, including a three-axis gyroscope, a three-axis accelerometer, and a terrestrial magnetic field sensor, as well as a color-changing sphere that is tracked by PlayStation Eye camera.

Furthermore, with the PlayStation Move motion controller, users will be able to provide direct input through action buttons and an analog trigger, while receiving physical feedback from rumble functionality and visual feedback from the sphere’s ability to display a variety of different colours. Users will also be able to use the PlayStation Eye camera can capture the player’s voice or image, enabling augmented reality experiences.

Like all other Wireless Controllers for the PS3 system, it comes with a built in lithium-ion rechargeable battery as well as Bluetooth technology, enabling the controller to transfer the?input information wirelessly to the PS3 system without a cable

The Move will be offered in three variants, on its own for those that already own the PlayStation Eye camera, as a starter pack with the controller and the PlayStation Eye, and finally in bundle pack with the console.

In a similar move to Microsoft and it’s Project Natal motion controller tech that sees you become the controller, Sony has confirmed that the starter pack will cost under $100 (?60) in the US when it launches in time for the Holidays.

Sony demoed a number of different games at the GDC press conference including generic a boxing game, golf game, table tennis and a fighting game as well as family focused titles.

Sony say that 36 third party developers and publishers have already signed up to support the new PlayStation Move platform with Sony themselves promising 20 games that are either dedicated to or supported with the PlayStation Move platform.?

Demoes showed gamers having to use either using one and sometimes two controllers similar to the Nintendo Wii remotes.

The second remote control will be referred to as the PlayStation Move sub controller.

Big brand title support looks to include Big Little Planet and Socom 4

We will keep you posted.

Tags:
Gaming PS3 Playstation Move Controllers Sony Project Natal

Sony PlayStation Move motion controller confirmed originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:23:56 +0000

Ditch the computer and just watch your movie content on your TV

Western Digital has announced a range of new My Passport drives specifically for video storage and playback.

The new My Passport AV portable media drives come with 320 GB of capacity and let users simply connect the USB drive to an enabled Blu-ray player or USB enabled TV to watch content with the minimum of effort.

So far that means Sony’s 2010 range of Blu-ray players, some Samsung, JVC and Philips televisions, Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s PS3 console.

The new drives also support Sony’s Direct Copy feature that lets Handycam users offload and archive HD video directly to a My Passport AV portable media drive without a computer.

“With more and more devices capable of generating and playing back HD video - camcorders, Blu-ray players, game consoles - portable hard drives are the best solution for this 8 GB-per-hour capacity-intensive content. ” says Dale Pistilli, vice president of marketing for WD’s branded products group.?

The new 320GB drive is available now for $109.99 in the US.

Read

Tags:
Home Cinema Hardware Storage Western Digital

Western Digital My Passport AV Portable Media Drives come TV ready originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:52:03 +0000

PlayStation Network first to offer HD movies to all

Sony?has announced that it has signed a deal with six Hollywood studios to deliver movies to your TV in HD via the PS3.

The company has signed the deal with 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Pictures, and Warner Bros. meaning it is the first to offer films from all the major movie studios direct to your TV via download.

Films already promised include Fantastic Mr Fox, Inglorious Bastards, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and Zombieland.

The news is likely to send widespread panic through video rental firms like BlockBuster and LoveFilm who are already struggling against services like Apple TV, Boxee and Hulu.

Sony has said the new offering will first launch in the US, although has not announced an official timeline for the roll out, but has said that it does have plans to launch in the UK, France, Germany, and Spain shortly afterwards.

The films will be delivered via the PlayStation network,

Tags:
Home Cinema Gaming Sony PS3

PS3 goes to the movies: Sony signs up all major Hollywood studios for HD films originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:36:32 +0000

Hundreds of apps promised by end of year

You’ve got an App store for your phone, so why not your TV. Well that’s the thought, presumably, behind the Samsung App Store for your TV, Blu-ray player and home cinema system.

The electronics’ giant has launched Samsung Apps, the first HDTV-based application store where users can download applications from select 2010 Samsung HDTVs, Blu-ray Players and Home Theater systems via the upgraded Internet@TV – Content Service.

Samsung says there will be more “than 20 apps” available by the end of March, with the promise of hundreds more expected by the end of the year.?

Applications can be downloaded and viewed all while watching TV. Premium apps will be available for purchase via the platform’s transactional interface in the second half of 2010.?

It’s not just news ticker tapes or weather reports, Samsung says it’s even planning on allowing connectivity with Samsung mobile phones citing an example of people able to use the phone as a controller.

“Consumers will be able to?play Texas hold ’em poker with friends, where the TV screen shows the table and the phone serves as the controller, while showing cards in your hand like a real poker game”.

Tags:
Home Cinema Televisions Samsung

Samsung App store for your TV launches originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:58:03 +0000

No price or availability but that doesn’t mean its not ready for its close-up

Following the launch of the Sigma DP1x at PMA in Las Vegas, the company has thrown it on a plane to Blighty for us to come along with a camera and snap the goods.

Still in “prototype” development we managed to get a quick fondle of the new model, but alas not allowed to take any photos of the menu system in action.

The DP1x is an upgrade from the DP1, launched in March 2008. It has a 14-megapixel Foveon X3 image sensor, and Sigma’s TRUEII image processing engine.

Inside, there’s a 16.6mm F4 lens which has been designed solely for the DP1 series and the autofocus algorithm and UI have been tweaked a little over the DP1.

The bad news is, currently Sigma isn’t giving out pricing or availability at the moment.

Tags:
Cameras Sigma Compact cameras 14 megapixels Sigma DP1x Digital cameras

PHOTOS: Sigma DP1x hands-on originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:02:09 +0000

Portal 2 first game to launch in April

Valve?has announced it will be bringing its Steam gaming service to the Mac bringing with it a shiny beacon of gaming fun to Mac users who’ve in the past been left out.

“Steam and Valve’s library of games including Left 4 Dead 2, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike, Portal, and the?Half-Life?series will be available in April.” The company has confirmed in a statement following a teaser campaign last?week.

“Steamworks for the Mac supports all of the Steamworks APIs, and we have added a new feature, called Steam Play, which allows customers who purchase the product for the Mac or Windows to play on the other platform free of charge,” says the company.

Even better news for Mac gamers is that Valve says they will be treating the Mac as a “Tier 1″ platform meaning it will be releasing games at the same time as PC and Xbox 360.?

Mac and Windows players will be part of the same multiplayer universe, sharing servers, lobbies, and so forth the company has confirmed.

The first Mac Steam client will be the new generation currently in beta testing on Windows.

Tags:
Gaming Mac games Valve Steam Apple

Valve’s Steam comes to Mac originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:43:50 +0000

New Micro Four Thirds cameras boost offering

As the rumours suggested, Panasonic has announced the launch of two Micro Four Thirds cameras on Sunday: the G2 and G10.

The G10 claims to be the world’s “lightest digital interchangeable lens camera with a viewfinder”, sports the Micro Four Thirds format and packs 12 megapixels into the mix as well.

In the box you’ll get a LUMIX G VARIO 14-42mm/F3.5-5.6 ASPH/MEGA O.I.S. lens? (35mm camera equivalent: 28-84mm).

Other features include Panasonic’s iA (Intelligent Auto) mode that automatically detects the best options for the shot at hand while, as rumoured, the G10 will sport 1280 x 720 HD video recording in Motion JPEG, QVGA, VGA and WVGA formats.

An electronic viewfinder, My Colour mode with art effects and 26 scene modes complete the package.

The G2 adds a 3-inch moveable touchscreen display into the mix and follows on from the G1 already available.

Using the touchscreen operation, once a user locks onto a subject, the Lumix G2 enables AF Tracking and will track the subject as it moves within the frame say Panasonic.

Users will then be able to select the part and the size of AF area with the 1-area AF. The Multi-area AF sets a group of AF points according to the composition. While using the manual focus, users can enlarge a subject by touching it and then choosing to enlarge it by 1x, 5x or 10x and then smoothly moving the part by dragging it on the screen.?

The G2, like the G10 will sport a 12-megapixel sensor, 720p video recording capabilities and the 14-42mm kit lens as standard.

Tags:
Cameras Digital cameras Micro Four Thirds Hybrid cameras Panasonic 12 megapixels Panasonic G2 Panasonic G10

Panasonic G2 and G10 cameras officially announced originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:47:37 +0000

If it ain’t broke, you can still try to fix it

This harks back to the days of your granddad tinkering away in his shed trying to emulate the latest new-fangled invention that has hit the market.

And it’s all the better for it too.

Byte Mods is a place where geeks gather to swap ideas on how to do things, make things and generally mess about with technology.

Top of the bill at the moment? A beer case media centre.

Why would you want one? some might ask.

We say, why wouldn’t you?

Byte Mods?

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 ? Byte Mods originally appeared on http://www.pocket-lint.com on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0000