Live Fantasy Football Game Launched For New Premier Season
August 13, 2010
The Premiership season kicks off tomorrow and while many people’s attention may be taken the antics of the Big Four or one of the smallest clubs in Premier history, Blackpool, fans of fantasy football games have a new way to enjoy games. The PickLive website is a new fantasy football like game that enables players to choose 3 players for televised games and then play in short 7.5 minute matches against 10 other people in a game room.
As yet we can’t find any way of winning money but with 17 different ways to score or indeed lose points it’s pretty in depth and according to the game creators an average 90 minute match would have around 1,200 scoring events compared to 15 in more typical fantasy football games.
There’s a very good selection of games in which you can take part and once you’ve signed up you choose 3 players from a match rather than the usual 11. As the game progresses, scores are updated in real time and you can even make 3 live substitutions as the game progresses.
The game went through its final test phase during the World Cup and the team behind the game say that tests went better than they could have ever hoped for and this led to the release of the game just in time for the start of the Premiership campaign.
Lets face it, much as we love the game of football, some of the matches can be incredibly dull and make 90 minutes feel like a prison sentence. Putting money on the game can help to improve the situation a little but not everybody wants to gamble away their wages getting scores wrong. PickLive looks like it could prove to be a fun and entertaining way to supplement the enjoyment of any game and you can play against mates too.
Have you tried PickLive yet?
Have you got your fantasy 11 sorted?
NFL Shows Fifa How To Do It, Trials Microchip Ball Technology
August 6, 2010
Following the furore over that Frank Lampard “goal” against Germany, there has been renewed call for Fifa to introduce widescale goal line technology. Even though the ball quite clearly crossed the line, the referee and linesmen somehow failed to spot it and with the equialiser failing to count, England went on to get hammered by the Germans. The question of whether goal line technology should be used in football is a long running and contentious issue but despite Sepp Blatter’s announcement during the World Cup finals that the technology would be discussed at the next opportunity it wasn’t.
October is the expected date when the technology will hit the headlines again, although chances are reasonable that Blatter and Fifa will once again decide that it’s too expensive or dress it up and claim that it is to do with the flow of the game. While there have been sensible suggestions of digging out a slope behind the goal line until something is done, the debate will continue – maybe Fifa should take a leaf out of the NFL’s books.
The NFL is considering adding some serious tech to its game. Cairos Technologies develops magnetic field chips and believes that placing a small microchip inside the ball would mean no errors when it comes to deciding whether the ball really has crossed the line (or whatever happens in NFL).
Similar technology is unlikely to be introduced by Fifa, after all imagine the cost of that and imagine what Ronaldo would be able to do with his free kicks then. However, the fact that the NFL is even willing to consider such a move in order to cut down on possible errors and costly mistakes should be seen as a positive note and one that Fifa could well benefit from following.
Will Fifa introduce goal line technology?
Will the NFL use microchips in their balls?
Gocycle Electric Bike Review
July 26, 2010
Do you like cycling? Would you like to occasionally take a rest from pedalling and let the bike take the strain? Are you environmentally friendly? Let’s read on and see if you are a candidate for the Gocycle electric bike.
Design
It’s no Sinclair C5, but if you are the shy, retiring type who doesn’t like to turn heads then you might prefer to avoid this attention-grabber. The white trim, 20 inch wheels and sporty design make it an attractive, one off design. It looks like a bike crossed with an ipod, the lines are curved but sleek and everything ugly is encased in a shiny reinforced body. The whole thing weighs a little over 16 kilos, the addition of the battery obviously making it heavier than the majority of the bike competition.
Notable Specifications
The motor is of the 25w variety and there is a 3 speed gearbox which makes it suitable for cycling up or down slopes with ease. Using the motor will give you a maximum speed of around 15mph, which in cycling terms is pretty quick. While manual pedalling should let you get up a fair head of steam it certainly isn’t the fastest bike this side of Beijing.
A fully charged battery will give you around 3 and a half hours of power. The recharger isn’t particularly portable, so you should make sure it is fully recharged before toddling off long distances, the go cycles range is 20 miles so if you live in town this should be plenty to get to and back from the office.
Value
It’s not cheap, this one. Around 1500 quid is the going rate for a Gocycle electric bike, however when compared to other electric cycles the price actually isn’t that high.
Summary
Environmentally aware commuters. Definitely.
Professional cyclists. Not really.
Outdoors lovers who know that a good rest is sometimes the best exercise. Of course.
Gadget fans who like to draw a crowd and be ahead of the game. Undoubtedly.
Henry, the mild mannered janitor. Could be.
Get it from : Evans Cycles
The Bendable Bike – You Can Wrap It Round A Tree… On Purpose
July 13, 2010
An industrial design graduate from De Montfort University has designed a unique concept; the bendable bike. Don’t worry, Boris Johnson won’t be called in to put a stop to it because the bike doesn’t bend when it’s being ridden you’ll be pleased to hear. However, when you pull a level the bike becomes bendable so that you can wrap it around a tree or a post and put a bike lock right through both wheels and the frame. Thieves can’t even have away with one of your new wheels but it also offers space saving benefits too.
The bike frame uses a ratchet design so that all of the components of the bendable frame are stored fully within the bike. Nothing needs to be removed, nor does it need to be added for the bike to become entirely flexible. You don’t need to worry about wrapping it around posts while riding either as the bike operates just like a normal push bike (slowly and laboriously when I’m riding them) until you want to lock it up or store it.
Kevin Scott is the 21 year old designer of the bendable bike and he has been awarded £500 to help him take the development of the bendable bike forward. As with any good invention, the bendable bike has been created in order to solve a very specific problem – bike theft, especially in London, is a massive problem.
Experts say that the average cyclist should spend 10% of their bike’s value on buying a lock and two locks are most definitely better than one. Nearly 25,000 bikes were stolen in London in 2009-2010 alone at a rate of 52 or more every single day. Kevin’s invention is not only convenient, allowing you to lock your bike to the nearest post or tree, but it’ll also help ensure that you have a bike to come back to.
Is this the future of cycling around London?
Marin Mount Vision 2010 Bike Review
June 30, 2010
The new version of the Marin Mount Vision promises several significant improvements over previous generations. It claims to be lighter but with better grip and improved handling. Considering that this bike has many awards and bike of the year competitions in the past you may doubt whether the 2010 overhaul is really just a collection of little tweaks to an already impressive bike. Let’s have a look and see.
Design
28lbs of bike is what you get with the Marin Mountain Vision 2010. This is a good bit lighter than older models and professionals will undoubtedly feel the difference when they crank up to top speeds. More casual cyclists will get the benefit of the weight reduction if they have to heave it onto their roof rack or from one place to another.
Notable Specifications
The most notable additions are the lighter slacker head angled the Quad link rear suspension. Experienced riders will notice the effect of the Fox RP23 shock.
Summary
Better grip lets you climb up steep, wet or tight hills. Improved rear suspension and slacker head angle let you go downhill without any worries. The excellent, active suspension and overall lightness give you a better and more fun ride.
This is a bike which serious riders like and aren’t afraid to take out on difficult climbs and descents. However, the reasonable price and ease of use also makes it attractive to less committed cyclists and people who are maybe interested in taking up the sport but don’t want to splash out too much before giving it a proper try.
Garmin launches pooch tracking dog collar
June 18, 2010
Satellite navigation firm Garmin has come up with a suitably high-tech dog collar that will allow owners to keep tabs on their hounds if they ever go astray.
Garmin’s Astro DC 40 is available in a garish orange, which is a fairly useful visual aid for dog seeking in itself and the black GPS receiver is attached in a durable manner to one side. Garmin assures potential purchasers that the collar is comfortable for the dog as well as being convenient for the owner.
The main application of the tracking collar is for keeping tabs on hunting dogs, according to Garmin. For this reason the compatible Astra 220 receiver module which you will need to find your animal is capable of maintaining contract with ten different collared dogs simultaneously.
You can set the GPS beacons on the collars to emit location information in incremental steps between five and 120 seconds, which might make the sport of hunting a little more interesting, with modern technology on hand to help out when required.
The Astro DC tracking dog collar is powered by a battery which you can recharge using an included adapter and it should last for several hours, depending on how frequently you choose to refresh the transmission of data.
Although the collars will obviously be useful for hunters, it is easy to imagine that owners of household pets who do not want to chase after a particularly adventurous dog will end up buying this gadget in order to avoid irritation or, at worst, heartbreak.
World Cup Apps
June 12, 2010
The international cash-in on the 2010 World Cup has well and truly begun and this year there are even more mediums to harness. The traditional TV ads with footballing celebrities are already burned into our retinas, but the 2010 World Cup is the first to see the true dawn of the smartphone and along with it the app marketplace. The iPhone was only a twinkle in Steve Jobs’ eye back in 2006, but if you are a smartphone owner in time for this year’s World Cup in South Africa then there are plenty of apps to download and enjoy. The following are just a few of the best.
Essential World Cup Gadgets
June 7, 2010
The World Cup in South Africa is getting everyone talking about the beautiful game and this summer there are plenty of gadgets to help you make the most of all the action whether you are in your living room or out and about.
We have essential gadgets for in the house, garden or even on the move.
Commemorative World Cup Sky+HD boxes launched
May 19, 2010
Sky has engaged the help of three designers in order to come up with new cover designs for the Sky+HD set top box in time for the 2010 World Cup which kicks off in South Africa this summer.
Fashion designer Wayne Hemingway, actor Phil Daniels and artist Gerald Scarfe have all contributed a unique design to adorn the top of the Sky+HD boxes and the first customers will be able to pick up the colourful devices from May 26th.
Observers have pointed out that Sky is not going to be broadcasting any of the World Cup matches on its sports channels, as terrestrial broadcasters have the rights to the tournament. However, it does have both BBC HD and ITV HD integrated into its schedules, so every game will be available in high definition.
The Sky+HD boxes that have had the World Cup makeover are the brand new 1TB models, which give users hundreds of gigabytes more space than the older versions of the device.
The simple red of Mr Hemingway’s design, which subtly includes the score line and date of England’s last World Cup win, is probably the most appealing of the three. However, the cheery cartoonish look of Mr Scarfe’s might also appeal to some.
When the special edition Sky+HD boxes launch, they will retail for about £250, so anyone looking to upgrade their storage space in time for the World Cup will be able to splash out. Hopefully the designs will act as a reminder of a successful tournament, as a poor performance could give them a lasting, bitter aftertaste.
Gadget makes strawberries easier to eat
April 19, 2010
With the summer fast approaching and strawberry season tied into the Wimbledon competition, the arrival of the Stem Gem strawberry-beheading gadget will be music to the ears of many fruit fans and caterers alike.
Developed by Fire Box, the Stem Gem is a minor marvel that quickly snips off the annoying green bit from the top of your favourite strawberries without coming away with much of the succulent fruit itself.
The Stem Gem has a stainless steel three-pronged pincer at one end and a rubbery button at the other. Pressing the button causes the claw to close over the strawberry’s stem and you can then pull it out at the root with a little push and a twist.
The Stem Gem is not just limited to working with strawberries, as its manufacturer indicates that it works pretty well on tomatoes as well. It will probably be useful for any number of soft, sweet fruits which you typically have to decapitate before they can be eaten.
The Stem Gem will set you back about £6.99 and if you are particularly frugal with its use it should rapidly pay for itself with the amount of strawberry flesh that you will be saving. So whether you are a keen strawberry fan who likes to enjoy them on a warm summer’s day, or a professional chef looking to make the most of the summer and spend less time clipping your fruit, then the Stem Gem is probably a good purchase.
