Nokia’s Conspiracy For Good

Conspiracy for Good is what is apparently known as an augmented reality drama. Basically, in slightly plainer English, what this entails is the creation of a virtual drama that is set online and in various forms of media, but also encourages active participation from players in the real world. The whole drama unfolds before the eyes of the player and Nokia has teamed up with Heroes creator Tim Kring so you can be fairly certain that it’s going to be major.

Nokia are sponsoring the whole affair although it isn’t strictly necessary to buy a Nokia phone. The whole thing is seen as something of an experiment in storytelling and it is most definitely a unique event that you might well want to be a part of.

The event is actually already under way and the first free game released on the OviStore was called Exclusion and to be fair it was really rather good. Players completing levels of this game would receive level codes that would lead to an encrypted message left by Conspircay For Good activists nd this message would lead to a forum behind the main site.

If programs like Heroes are your thing or you ever fancied yourself as a bit of a streetwise, modern day spy then you’re probably going to enjoy the whole intrigue and nystery surrounding the Conspiracy For Good. The main CFG website has more details on what is coming next.

TV broadcasts planned by mobile network providers

The ability to watch live television via your mobile phone could soon be a universally available feature as various UK network providers announce that they are testing out new technology.

In the UK, the relationship between live TV and the mobile phone has been rocky, with previous attempts to capture the public’s attention failing to make an impact. This is in opposition to various other nations, including South Korea, where mobile TV is far more widespread.

Reports now suggest that O2, Vodafone and Orange are all going to trial mobile TV technology in the Autumn of 2010. Rather than integrating digital tuners into existing handsets, the firms are going to make use of previously untapped regions of the 3G network spectrum.

Although all smartphones use 3G for mobile internet access, the providers are hoping that by harnessing a new part of the spectrum, they will not be impacting upon the standard mobile use of the majority of users whilst being able to offer high quality TV streams to some.

None of the networks has actually explained how the mobile TV service will operate and whether it will be compatible with current smartphones via a software update. There is also no news as to whether subscribers will need to pick inclusive mobile TV time in addition to minutes and texts when they sign up for a new deal, or whether it will be simply integrated into existing data usage tariffs without the need for change.

3D broadcasting investigated by Freesat

There is a chance that 3D content could be available to the British public on a subscription-free basis via Freesat, if the firm is able to get through its current investigations into bringing the technology to its users.

The managing director of Freesat, Emma Scott, recently said that she was greatly anticipating the opportunity to bring 3D films and programs to Freesat users in the future. She also revealed that there was currently an active investigation into whether it would be possible to offer 3D services in the future.

Current Freesat technology is apparently compatible with 3D signals, which means that anyone who owns a Freesat HD set top box may be able to enjoy free 3D content in the future as broadcasters adopt it and sales of 3D TVs reach suitably high levels.

At the moment the only broadcaster completely committed to 3D is Sky. Its 3D channel is launching for consumers in the near future and live sports are already shown in 3D in pubs around the UK.

Other UK broadcasters will probably wait and see whether Sky is able to make a success out of its first 3D channel after which many more 3D stations are likely to emerge, with Freesat bringing the technology to a broader audience.

Freesat has also commented on the threat posed by Freeview HD, which is bringing high definition channels to consumers via their existing aerials. It said that the arrival of Channel 4′s HD service would make it competitive with Freeview HD. As the level of competition in both HD and 3D technologies seems set to increase, consumers should find that the offerings become ever more competitive.

David Attenborough backs 3D TV series

Fans of natural history and national treasure David Attenborough will be pleased to hear that Sky will be bringing a new full 3D presentation featuring the great man himself to the select few people who buy into the 3D TV craze.

Sir David is going to take the helm of Flying Monsters 3D; a feature that deals with airborne dinosaurs from hundreds of millions of years ago. It will be shown in 3D at IMAX theatres, but will also become part of Sky’s first 3D programming on the UK’s only 3D channel.

The dinosaurs under the spotlight will be the pterosaurs, which spent their time on the wing over 200 million years ago. With a wingspan of 45 feet, the pterosaur should have good screen presence and will hopefully make the most of the new 3D technology, helping to convince those early adopters that they have made a worthy investment.

Sky is really pushing 3D TV and in securing this Attenborough-backed program it is attempting to appeal to people who might not be interested in the live sport and movie licenses that it has also arranged in 3D.

Sir David says that he has seen television move through various technological advances, having begun his career back when everything was broadcast in black and white. He praised Sky for innovating with the new 3D technology, with which he is clearly taken.

Sir David said that the pterosaurs were the largest flying beasts to ever live and their domination of the skies should translate well in 3D format.

Samsung HT-BD2R Blu Ray 7.1 Home Cinema System

Samsung really is breaking down the barriers in creating short and catchy titles for their new products; it’s not even like there’s that many Blu-Ray players out there to compete. However, the high definition audio output 7.1 surround sound speakers, blu-ray player, and 1080p upscaling go some way to convince us that long and completely unmemorable names are actually a good thing.

Blu Ray is the format of the future, and the present, having knocked HD DVD firmly out of the competition. As such, it’s around to stay and with good reason. A 1080p resolution player like the Samsung HT-BD2R Blu Ray 7.1 Home Cinema System provides viewers with the greatest possible film format.

The Samsung HT-BD2R also integrates incredible 7.1 surround sound providing equally high definition sound. 1080P upscaling enables you to watch standard DVDs in high definition format, or at least a lot closer to high definition format.

Support for Blu Ray, DVD, CD, CD/DVD -R and -RW, as well as Jpeg and DivX mean that you can watch pretty much any recorded media through what is a good looking and well designed home Blu Ray cinema system.

• Blu Ray Player – Ultimate high def quality
• 7.1 Surround Sound – High def audio output
• 1080p Upscaling
• 1080p Upscaling – From standard DVDs
• Multi Format – CD/DVD -R & -RW, Jpeg & DivX
• FM Tuner – For radio channels
• Dolby DTS Sound Out – High quality sound
• HDMI Out – For high definition connections
• Colour – BLACK
• Weight – 49.8kg
• Remote Control – Included

Buy now from pc world

Sky HD – Is It Worth It?

The SKY HD Box is actually a combination of an HD subscription package and the Sky+ service that acts like PVR, or Personal Video Recorder. With a 160GB hard drive as standard it enables you to record up to 80 hours of standard definition programs or 30 hours of high definition entertainment.

Of course, another advantage of the Sky HD box is that it allows you to access an excellent range of HD channels. There are currently more than a dozen channels broadcasting HD programs, including movie and sports channels as well as general interest and documentaries. While some of these channels will only transmit the occasional HD program some are dedicated entirely to the provision of high definition.

The difference in picture quality, as well as sound clarity, is quite stunning and definitely noticeable. As well as a Sky HD box, with Sky HD subscription, you will also need an HD ready TV. Many new televisions are manufactured as HD ready but if you are looking for a new set and you want to take advantage of this emerging technology then you must ensure that your TV is HD capable. Fortunately, those that are boast about it so look for the big-headed sets with HD Ready emblazoned all over them.

Sky has long been a leading light in the provision of satellite and digital TV. While the HD subscription may seem pricey at first glance, the quality difference is truly astonishing and, in our opinion, worth every extra penny and more.

Itunes Offers Movies For Sale Or Rent

Apple has announced that it will now offer UK users the opportunity to rent or buy movies from the iTunes online service. The service will initially include 700 films, 100 of which will be in high definition, and many more will be added. Apple boasts that films from some of the major producers like 20th Century Fox, Disney, and Paramount will be made available.

Movie rental gives users 30 days to start viewing once a title has been downloaded and 48 hours from when they first view it. Over a broadband connection the download will take just a few minutes and can be downloaded either to iTunes or to Apple TV so it can be watched on your widescreen HDTV at home.

Pricing looks fairly reasonable with rentals costing £2.49 (£3.49 HD) for a library rental and £3.49 (£4.49 HD) for a new release. Buying an older movie will cost £6.99 with new releases weighing in at £10.99.

An Apple TV box connects directly to your TV and wirelessly to your computer or home network. You can then download music, TV shows, and movies so that you can watch them on your home TV.

The Archos Content Portal

The Archos Content Portal (ACP) is a content marketplace that enables Archos media player owners to download music, TV content, and video content directly to their portable devices. Partnerships with a number of content providers means that ACP users have quick and easy access to a varied range of media.

If you use a WiFi enabled Archos portable media player you can download content directly to your portable device without having to go through a PC or other device. The ACP website is designed especially for use by Archos WiFi owners and has been optimised to offer the best mobile experience.

New additions are being made to the service, which have recently included video games that can be downloaded and played either directly on the Archos portable device or on a Television using the PMP as a sort of mobile games console. According to one report, there are some huge names also being lined up to be a part of the Content Portal.

According to the Archosfans website several high profile names including Best Buy, Circuit City, Amazon, AOL, YouTube, and more are listed in a provider.xml file in the system folder of the Archos. These are obviously major content providers that would represent a huge amount of content to ACP users.

Pimp Your PMP

A PMP, or Portable Media Player, enables you to play all of your media while on the move. Video streaming, audio playback, and even TV recording offers portable media that is especially useful for those that lead hectic lives but still want to enjoy some of the finer things. The Archos line of PMPs represent some of the best that money can buy and now in their fifth generation, they are among the most advanced.

The 605 series features a 4.3” touch screen display offering 800 x 480 pixel definition. Depending on your own preference you can choose from a 4GB model with expandable SD memory slot, or a 30GB, 80GB, or 160GB model. By adding the DVR Station you can even record TV shows so that you can watch them back at a more convenient time.

The Archos 605 is also WiFi enabled so that you can connect directly to the Internet. As well as being able to stream content from your PC, using the ARCHOS Content Portal you can directly download music and video content or you can browse the Internet and share your content with friends and other devices.

Because Archos PMPs are now in their fifth generation of production, they do everything well. They support the greatest number of formats and include some unique features. As well as being able to view photographs and images you can edit them, add music, and create slideshows to share with others or transfer to another device. A huge collection of accessories and plug-ins can also be used to further extend the device’s functionality.

If you have particularly itchy feet and are constantly moving from one place to another then the Archos 605 GPS combines all of the above features with state of the art GPS software.

While the 4GB version does include SD memory, it also costs about £125. The 30GB model, which obviously offers a lot more on board storage, costs £160. You will need to fork out £200 or more for the 80GB and about £250 for the largest 160GB model. For the GPS model with 30GB of storage you should expect to pay £300.

Our advice if you want one of these is to really shop around because online prices can fluctuate ridiculously with a disparity of as much as £100 in the mid range categories, and more in the high end range.

The Ultimate Bang & Olufsen Beoliving Home Theatre System

Bang & Olufsen has long been a name synonymous with high end goods with equally high end price tags. The equipment is virtually unsurpassed but you do need a large bank balance in order to be able to afford even the cheaper end of the remote control spectrum. But, hey, we can dream – and, in this particular dream, we live in a house that has the most exquisite home theatre system.

Beoliving systems don’t have to stop at the TV and DVD player either. For a little extra you can also have them integrated fully and seamlessly into your automated home system. This means that with a single click of your reassuringly expensive remote control you can dim the lights, close the curtains, turn the kettle on, start playing a DVD, and have the volume adjusted to just the perfect setting.

Add to that, the fact that B&O still produces some of the finest sounding speakers and greatest looking visual equipment on the market, and you’ve got a recluse’s dream. If you are interested, then pop along to the Beoliving website and you can arrange for a group of technicians to come and assess your house – presumably they check whether it looks high quality enough to house the equipment before you buy anything.

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