Apple has released another Thunderbolt software update, this time taking it to version 1.2.1.
This update adds support for the Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter.
It’s a very small update so go get it now!
Skype for Windows Phone gets updated to version 1.2
Skype for Windows Phone just got an update to version 1.2.
This release includes a couple of improvements:
The improvements are:
- All phonebook contacts with at least one number are shown in the Skype contact list.
- Ability to edit a phone number in dial-pad before calling.
![5d31d785-e07f-4eeb-8b44-3babba3687ae[1]](https://i0.wp.com/moviesgamesandtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5d31d785-e07f-4eeb-8b44-3babba3687ae1.jpg?ssl=1 "5d31d785-e07f-4eeb-8b44-3babba3687ae[1]")
![5223fc75-9f77-4b52-b63e-fbc55c811fe4[2]](https://i0.wp.com/moviesgamesandtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/5223fc75-9f77-4b52-b63e-fbc55c811fe42.png?ssl=1 "5223fc75-9f77-4b52-b63e-fbc55c811fe4[2]")
So unfortunately this update still does not include it working in the background. Come on guys, get this working and more people will use it!
Let us know what you think of it – I will be trying it again later!
Download now from the Windows MarketplaceTwonky Beam Browser app for Android updated to 3.1.0
Twonky have just released an update to its Beam Browser app for Android.
Twonky Beam Browser provides you with a simple and familiar way to discover and enjoy Internet videos with your tablet or phone and beam them to your TV or other media players on your home network.
When you visit your favourite websites, or discover new ones, Twonky Beam Browser will display a Twonky Beam button over the media files that you are able beam to your TV or sound system. The home page of Twonky Beam Browser contains links to popular websites with great content you can beam. Browse many pages at once through tabs, with the home page always available to you as the main tab. You can also create and manage bookmarks, so that you can easily find your favourite sites.
A simple tap of the screen will beam the chosen content to your selected player, such as your Airplay enabled, UPnP or DLNA certified device. The beaming mode in Twonky Beam Browser can be toggled on and off, allowing you to use the application to discover and enjoy content locally on your tablet or phone.
What’s in this version:
• Browse, beam, or play the media on your mobile device or on another media server in your home network
• Share media on your mobile device with other devices in your home network
• Browse and beam media contained in RSS feeds
• Play or beam PlayReady and DTCP-IP protected media (Requires Android 4.0 or higher)
Plextor announce new external writer called PX-612U with PlexTV features
PlexTV is a brand new feature designed to add TV compatibility to CD/DVD drives, and has been integrated exclusively in the latest external writer from Plextor.
Available now for approximately £48, the 8X external slim CD/DVD writer boasts a small profile and lightweight design. With USB power, two essential software packages and a 2 year warranty, it is a versatile solution for any user who wants to share, back-up and view media on their TV, projector or other media player – at home, in the office and whilst travelling.
PX-612U Key Features:
* Exclusive PlexTV feature provides direct compatibility with TV/Projectors
* 8X writing speed with full functionality of a high end drive
* Supports all CD and DVD formats
* Slim and lightweight design
* USB powered for portability
* Bundles PlexUtilities and NERO 10 Essentials
View and enjoy multimedia directly from disc to TV with PlexTV:
Many HDTV are able to display content from a wide variety of devices including hard disk drives, cameras and flash drives, but do not recognise optical disc drives. To solve this problem, the PlexTV cleverly translates the output signal to mimic a hard disk drive in order to provide compatibility.
With the PlexTV, users can connect the drive, insert a disc and use the media playback function of their TV, projector, media player or other USB-enabled display in order to browse supported files. Whether gathering with friends and family to look at pictures and videos, or hosting a work presentation, the PlexTV makes it a breeze to view important files on a larger screen with minimum fuss, cost and equipment.
Slim and lightweight with USB power for optimum portability:
With the sleek brushed metal PX-612U, users can enjoy the full functionality of a high end external CD/DVD drive within a slim, lightweight package (less than 300g). The drive operates with USB-power to eliminate the need for bulky cables or mains power, ensuring that users can share, back-up and view essential files – even whilst away from the home or office.
Enjoy advanced features and high quality playback with bundled software:
The PX-612U comes with two software packages which enhance the hardware functions. PlexUtilities offers an array of useful functions to users, including testing and quality measurement of user written or pressed media, advanced disc and drive information and control and fine-tuning of the device. NERO 10 Essentials offers high quality applications for DVD/CD burning and media playback.
The PX-612U with PlexTV is available now and is priced £48 RRP.
The drive comes with 2 years of Plextors ‘Fast Warranty Service’.
D-Link announces their SharePort device and app for instant USB sharing to iOS and Android
D-Link today announced its – an innovative new product every tablet and smartphone owner needs – is now shipping. SharePort offers instant USB sharing capabilities with the free D-Link SharePort Mobile app, enabling users to share videos, music, and photos from an external hard drive or thumb drive to any iPad, iPhone or Android device.
In addition, SharePort provides wireless access wherever an existing network is available and adds instant storage to a mobile device, offering the ultimate set of features for home or on-the-go convenience.
“SharePort is an all-in-one mobile companion that is ideal for anyone who enjoys playing music, movies or viewing photos from their iPad, iPhone or Android device,”said Daniel Kelley, associate vice president of marketing, D-Link North America. “It allows for easy sharing of media to Android and iOS mobile devices. Plus, SharePort instantly adds storage to your mobile device and can also serve as a portable router/access point, Wi-Fi hotspot and Wi-Fi repeater for instant wireless access from anywhere a network already exists, whether at home or traveling.”
Smaller than a standard mouse, the easy-to-use SharePort offers instant Wi-Fi coupled with a range of useful features designed for today’s mobile professional. The free SharePort Cloud app for both Android and iOS offers access to videos, music, photos, and files on Android and iOS mobile devices. Simply plug SharePort into an outlet, wait for the red light to turn green and insert a thumb drive in order to join a network or access media via the SharePort app. SharePort also features a USB port for sharing content from a USB storage device or charging smartphones, as well as an Ethernet port that enables users to easily connect to an existing network in a conference room or hotel room.
More about the D-Link SharePort (DIR-505)
SharePort offers a range of features in an affordable, compact device:
· USB Port for seamlessly viewing and synchronizing videos, music, photos, and more from a connected USB storage device to any iOS or Android tablet, smartphone or computer
· Free SharePort Mobile iOS and Android apps for tablets and smartphones
· Portable multi-mode wireless router/AP, Wi-Fi hotspot and repeater
· Ability to act as an Access Point to wirelessly extend an existing network
· 10/100 Ethernet Port
· Built in AC plug for easy traveling and use – no additional cables or power adapters required
· USB Port for charging a smartphone device (when not used with a USB storage device)
Availability and Pricing
The SharePort (DIR-505) is available now for $69.99 throughout D-Link’s network of U.S. e-tail and retail outlets, including Amazon.com, Office Depot and Office Max, and at the company’s online store.
New beta for Recorded TV HD released taking it to version 1.7.6
Mark Terborg has just released a new beta version of his Recorded TV HD software, taking it to version 1.7.6.
Recorded TV HD allows you to watch your recorded tv shows in Windows 7 Media Center with more style and ease.
CHANGES SINCE THE LAST OFFICIAL PUBLIC RELEASE
- Improved speed and efficiency when working with scheduled recordings (hopefully doesn’t introduce any new bugs)
- Added option to “cancel series” and “cancel recording” from within the interface. (please test and let me know if you have any problems)
- Commercial Break Viewer improvements to speed and stability
- Fixed error: “could not convert from current position to timespan…”
- Slight improvement to filename detection in certain circumstances.
All seven Harry Potter books now available in the Kindle Owners Lending Library
We have talked about the Kindle Owners Lending Library in the past, and also that all 7 Harry Potter books are available to read on the Kindle. Now all 7 are available in the library to borrow and read!
Starting today, Amazon.com customers can now borrow all seven Harry Potter books in English, French, Italian, German and Spanish from the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library (KOLL). The Kindle Owners’ Lending Library is a benefit of Amazon Prime membership where Kindle owners can choose from over 145,000 books to borrow for free as frequently as a book a month, with no due dates. Prime members also enjoy free two-day shipping on millions of items and unlimited streaming of more than 18,000 movies and TV episodes.
“Nowhere else can customers borrow any of the seven Harry Potter books for free, with an unlimited supply of each title and no waiting list,” said Russ Grandinetti, Vice President, Kindle Content. “A $79 Prime membership was already the best deal in retail, and now it’s become even more valuable.”
Harry Potter is the all-time best-selling book series in history, and Amazon has purchased an exclusive license from J.K. Rowling’s Pottermore to make the addition of these titles possible. The Kindle Owners’ Lending Library now features over 145,000 books for US customers to borrow for free, including over 100 current and former New York Times Best Sellers. With the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, there are no due dates and books can be borrowed as frequently as once a month. Unlike traditional library lending, there are no limits on the number of copies available, and how many people can simultaneously borrow the same title. Readers never have to wait in line for the book they want.
Just as with any other Kindle book, customer notes, highlights and bookmarks in borrowed books will be saved, so they’ll have them later if customers purchase or re-borrow the book. Books are borrowed from a Kindle device, and customers can have one book out at a time. When customers want to borrow a new book, any borrowed book can easily be returned right from their device. To learn more about the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library, visit www.amazon.com/kindleownerslendinglibrary.
To learn about all the additional benefits included with Amazon Prime, or to start an Amazon Prime free trial, visit www.amazon.com/kindleprime.
Hauppauge adds Broadway HD-S2 Satellite TV Receiver from PCTV to the Broadway family
PCTV Systems, a division of Hauppauge Digital Inc, today unveiled the Broadway HD-S2, a satellite TV receiver which enables users to easily access their home Satellite and HD channels on an iPhone, iPad, Android device, ultrabook or notebook from anywhere in the world.
Broadway HD-S2 PCTV has opened up a new dimension when it comes to HD TV content consumption on the go using mobile devices. Broadway HD-S2 has an SRP of £179.00
Yehia Oweiss, Hauppauge Digital’s Vice President of Sales EMEA said: “New Broadway HD-S2 is an elegant solution that allows wireless reception of satellite television throughout the house and on the go.” Oweiss continues, “Whether you are spending time with the family or are abroad for the holidays, you can make sure you can access your home TV wherever you are by simply watching it on your Tablet or Smartphone. At home, local satellite TV channels which now include all the HD variations too can easily be streamed via Wi-Fi providing extra freedom. No third party apps or additional purchases are needed.”
Satellite TV on the go
Simply connect the Broadway HD-S2 to your DVB-S/S2-Aerial and carry out a channel scan. Once the scan is complete the unit will operate completely independently and can run without the need of a computer running in the background. Users can access their satellite programs via the Internet or their home network with virtually any device (iPad, iPhone, an Android device, Mac, Linux or Windows PC).
External video sources
In addition to playing DVB-S/S2 and HD signals, the Broadway-S2 HD can also be connected to analog video sources, such as connecting set-top boxes. The Broadway features separate video and audio inputs and an infrared transmitter to select the desired program on the connected set-top box. The built-in hardware H.264 encoder transmits the signals in the memory-friendly H.264 format. It not only provides excellent image quality, but also protects the battery life on Apple devices.
New firmware as a free update
Users of the Broadway 2T (DVB-T version) also benefit from the development of the Broadway HD-S2. PCTV Systems now offers a free firmware update for the Broadway 2T at http://www.pctvsystems.com, which allows streaming of content at Full HD resolution. For example full-screen resolution playback is available for the iPad.
The Broadway HD-S2 ships with a power supply, an IR blaster cable to control a set-top box, an Ethernet cable, a quick start guide and a wall-mounting kit.
Acer’s special-edition Olympic tablet the Iconia A510 now available at Carphone Warehouse
Acer’s special-edition Olympic tablet, the Iconia A510, is available now from £349 at Carphone Warehouse.
This full HD, extreme-multitasking tablet comes pre-loaded with Eurosport Player for a trial period starting from activation of the device and valid until August 13th 2012. Plus anyone who orders an Acer A510 between 15/06/12 and 29/06/12 will be entered into a draw to win an Acer K330 Projector worth £480!
The A510 is a powerful tablet made to work hard and play hard. Featuring the latest Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS, the A510 is the ultimate tool for the mobile lifestyle, with extra-long battery endurance (15 hours), powerful quad-core performance and smart productivity. It handles heavy multitasking, HD videos, console-like gaming, and faster web browsing, while a fifth “companion” core takes care of low-power tasks like music playback and active standby.
Superior audio enjoyment for music, movies and more comes courtesy of Dolby Mobile 3+ with premium 5.1-channel HD output, and two high quality in-built speakers. Noise suppression and echo cancellation technologies enhance audio recording, and video calls in HD Voice are excellent.
The tablet comes with 32GB of storage, expandable by an extra 32GB (to 64GB) by SD card, and provides easy file transfer via its Micro USB port so users can easily transfer and view contents from USB-connected peripherals.
The A510’s other mobile productivity apps include Acer Print, which makes wireless printing easier with support for various document formats, photos and web pages. Acer Print is compatible with 87% of brand-name printers on the current market. Polaris Office, meanwhile, is optimised for tablet-based work. It provides practical improvements for editing and reading MS Office documents on the go.
With the Eurosport Player already embedded into the device, A510 owners will have instant access to the London Olympics, live, wherever they are. Available in black and silver, the A510 sports the Acer / Olympics logo, celebrating Acer’s partnership with the Olympic Movement and the powerful performances within this ultimate sporty gadget.
The 32GB version retails for £349 and is available now from Carphone Warehouse.
Acer ICONIA TAB A510 Specifications
|
Size |
Dimensions |
260 (L) x 175 (W) x 10.95 (H) mm |
|
Weight |
Less than 685 g |
|
|
Battery |
l Standby time l Video playback |
1,950 hours 15 hours |
|
Capacity |
36.26 W, 9800 mAh |
|
|
OS |
Version |
Android Ice Cream Sandwich |
|
Processing |
CPU |
NVIDIA Tegra 3, 1.3GHz, Quad-core |
|
ROM / RAM |
eMMC: 16 GB / 32 GB RAM: 1 G |
|
|
Imaging |
Rear camera |
5 MP camera with auto focus Video capture at 30 fps @ 1080p |
|
Front camera |
HD webcam Video capture at 30 fps @ 720p |
|
|
Screen |
Display |
10.1″ WXGA, 1280 x 800 |
|
Connectivity |
Wi-Fi® |
IEEE 802.11b/g/n |
|
Bluetooth® |
2.1 + EDR |
|
|
GPS |
Standalone GPS and GLONASS |
|
|
MicroSD slot |
MicroSD memory card slot support up to 32G |
|
|
USB |
Micro USB 2.0 Type B port, support USB 2.0 client/2.0 host |
|
|
HDMI® |
HDMI D-type, support Dual Display and VGA projecting |
|
|
Audio |
Output |
l 3.5 mm audio jack l Dolby Mobile 3+ |
|
Detection |
Sensors |
l G-Sensor l E-Compass l L Sensor l Gyro-meter
|
|
Entertainment |
Movie |
Netflix (US/CA) |
|
Music |
Soundhound, Aupeo |
|
|
Reading |
Zinio, LumiRead |
|
|
Media sharing |
Acer clear.fi |
|
|
Social networking |
Social network |
Facebook weblink |
|
Productivity |
|
Acer Print |
|
Office |
Polaris Office 3.5 |
|
|
Cloud Note |
Evernote |
|
|
System Protection |
NTFS file system |
I got to play with one a few weeks ago at an Acer event and I have to say I was fairly impressed by it, it was very responsive and the screen was very clear.
What do you think of it?
Microsoft releases Photosynth for Windows Phone update
Microsoft has just released an update to it’s Photosynth app for the Window Phone.
![4a9879de-c738-43b8-963c-0ef3c3a90e09[2]](https://i0.wp.com/moviesgamesandtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/4a9879de-c738-43b8-963c-0ef3c3a90e092.png?ssl=1 "4a9879de-c738-43b8-963c-0ef3c3a90e09[2]")
Photosynth for Windows Phone is the panorama app that makes it easy and fun to capture and share interactive panoramas of the places, people, and events that are important to you.
Using the latest in computer vision techniques, Photosynth is the acknowledged leader in mobile panorama creation. It is the only app available on any mobile platform that allows you to capture 360 degrees horizontally and vertically, making a perfect “sphere.” Once you’ve created a Photosynth, you can share it as an interactive panorama experience on Facebook and Twitter (using the free Photosynth.net service) or as a simple image.
You can also publish your panoramas to Bing where millions of people will see your panoramas, on Bing Maps and in Bing search results for the places you’ve captured. And check out our featured list, where we show off the best of what you and your fellow users create and share.
This update fixes a little issue that slipped past the dev team, as they explain:
Download Photosynth from the Windows MarketplaceTo misuse my schoolboy latin, “wea culpa”. The 1.0 version shipped with a safety feature that was only meant for our internal beta tests. It was 30-day app expiration logic, and it will mean that everyone who runs 1.0 on or after June 20th will receive the brutally simple message “Application expired”. The application will then shut down.
We’ve updated our test cases to make sure that this one never gets past us again, but for you it means that to continue using Photosynth on Windows Phone, you *must* upgrade to version 1.1.
Have you tried Photosynth? I think it’s a great application and will be using it a lot more in the future!
BBC iPlayer introduces Live Restart capability
Today BBC iPlayer got a new feature called Live Restart which gives you the ability to rewind and restart live TV on BBC iPlayer without waiting for the programme to end.
If you are curious as to how the BBC have done this, this is what they posted on their blog today:
I’d like to highlight some of the work that has gone on behind the scenes to support this new way of watching television.
The technology that allows us to offer this new functionality is part of a wider strategic move to embrace HTTP chunked streaming for delivering our online video.
Instead of using a point-to-point streaming protocol such as RTMP as we have done in the past, this method breaks up the H.264 video into chunks and delivers them as HTTP packets in much the same way as the we deliver our text rich web pages today.
There are a number of reasons why we have taken this approach; firstly it allows us to scale our video operation to a much greater extent than we have been able to before.
We already use Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) to help us with video delivery, but a move to HTTP streaming means that instead of relying on their capacity to stream video from specialist video servers, we are now able to use their cheaper and more abundant HTTP serving capacity.
The increased capacity that we can realise this way means that we are more likely to be able to support the ever growing audiences that are turning to their IP connected devices to watch TV and listen to radio.
This is especially important in a year when we will be streaming more live video to more people than ever before with the Euro Football championships, Radio 1’s Hackney Weekend, Wimbledon and the London 2012 Olympics, to name but a few key events.
In turn the improvement in distribution will also allow us to make quality improvements across the board.
The use of HTTP chunked streaming has enabled us to significantly improve the video experience by utilising advancements in adaptive bitrate playback.
This means that regardless of the bandwidth available to you locally you should get a largely uninterrupted video experience offering the very best quality video your connection can support.
The live restart functionality that we are launching on the iPlayer today is typical of the cool new interactive features that we can drive using HTTP streaming.
As we can keep all the video chunks as we distribute them, we can offer them to be viewed again later, or even store them more permanently.
I think this is really interesting, especially as it is, or rather was a real pain having to wait for the end of a program so you can actually start it! Well done BBC!
The Sonos SUB wireless subwoofer is now available to buy
Last month we told you about the new Sonos SUB and today it was launched.
The wireless subwoofer is available in a high-gloss black lacquer finish for £599. A Sonos SUB with black matte finish will be available in October 2012 at £499.
SUB works with all Sonos amplified components: CONNECT:AMP/ZonePlayer 120/ZonePlayer 100; PLAY:5; PLAY:3. It does not work with the non-amplified Sonos CONNECT/ZP90/ZP80.
Features of SUB include:
- Two force-cancelling speakers positioned face-to-face: All the sound and energy from the music comes through loud and clear, and none of it is lost in cabinet buzz or rattle.
- All digital sound: All filter settings, active equalisation and time alignment are done digitally through state-of-the-art DSP (Digital Signal Processing) circuitry for zero-loss audio quality and energy.
- Dual acoustic ports: Tuned to maximise the acoustic volume of the SUB and enhance bass resonance.
Powering the SUB are two state of the art Class-D digital amplifiers that have been perfectly tuned to match the speakers and acoustic architecture. The cabinet is made from proprietary resin to create acoustically dead walls with maximum internal air volume. The SUB’s specific dimensions are 402 x 158 x 380mm with a weight of 16kgs.
Full SUB specifications, details and a video can be found at www.sonos.com/SUB.
Check out our review of the SONOS Bundle 250Shazam app for iOS updated to version 5.0.4
The very cool music identification app Shazam has been updated to version 5.0.4.
Having tried some different music, I cant honestly say it find’s the song in a matter of seconds, in some cases, only two or three words had been sung. I was very impressed!
This is how Shazam is described:
Lightning fast tagging. Now discover, explore and share more music, TV shows and brands you love in as little as one second.
With unlimited tagging use Shazam as much as you want, and experience more of what you like, faster.
You can also:
○ Save & listen again (30 sec preview)
○ Buy tracks easily on iTunes & find more by tagged artists
○ View extra content as you watch TV
○ Watch music videos & concerts from YouTube
○ Share on Facebook, Twitter & email
○ See streaming lyrics in time to the music
○ Discover new music in Shazam Friends & Charts
○ See when an artist is touring
○ Use it when you don’t have a signal
What’s New in Version 5.0.4
Feature Restored: Add discoveries from your Friends and Shazam Charts to your Tag List
Download now from the Apple App StoreSpotify App for iOS Updated to Version 0.5.2, introduces new Radio experience
The Spotify app for iOS has been updated to version 0.5.2.
Get free access to Spotify Premium now! With Premium you’ll get access to 15 million tracks from thousands of albums and artists on your iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad. If you haven’t tried Premium before, you can try it on your mobile for 48-hours, completely free. You don’t even have to enter credit card details. Simply download this app and log in.
Great features
– Instant access to over 15 million tracks
– Stream online
– Listen offline – no mobile connection needed
– Share music with your friends
– Star your favourite tracks
– Wirelessly sync your own MP3s to your iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad
– Create and sync playlists
– Send the tracks you listen to direct to Last.fm & Facebook
* If you don’t have log in details – simply register for a free Spotify account on the Spotify website. Full mobile terms of Use & 48-hour free trial terms and conditions can also be found on the Spotify website.
What’s New in Version 0.5.2
There’s a great new radio experience in Spotify. Now you can discover and save music on the go! If your station plays a song you really like, save it with a single tap.
• New: Start a radio station based on your favorite playlist, genre, album, artist or track.
• New: Personalize your radio station by voting tracks up or down
• Improved: Long-press on any track to show an improved context menu
• Fixed: People view scrolls more smoothly
• Fixed: Stability improved
• Fictitious: this version is allergic to nuts
![mzl_dradpkgm_320x480-75_thumb_thumb_[2]](https://i0.wp.com/moviesgamesandtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/mzl_dradpkgm_320x480-75_thumb_thumb_2.jpg?ssl=1 "mzl_dradpkgm_320x480-75_thumb_thumb_[2]")
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