Phones 4U to be first European retailer to stock Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone, including an exclusive white one

We have talked a lot about the Nokia Lumia 900 smartphone here at CDW, and news has come to us that Phones 4U will be the first European retailer to stock it!

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Further to the US Nokia Lumia 900 launch event, the product has already proven to be an overwhelming success and with the continuing high demand for Nokia’s latest Lumia smartphones, the Lumia 900 will now launch in the UK at Phones 4u on 14th May.

Due to overwhelming demand for the Lumia 900 in the US having a small knock-on effect on product availability in the UK, those who were the first to preorder their Lumia 900* from Phones 4u will receive a set of Nokia Purity by Monster in-ear headphones in addition to their free Nokia Play 360 wireless speaker when the Lumia 900 now launches on the 14th May.

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So what do you think of the Lumia 900? Are you going to buy one?

A first look at Crysis 3 from Electronic Arts, the must have game of 2013!

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Here at CDW, we recently got to see the brand new Crysis 3 game from Electronic Arts being played, and it’s awesome!

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The game has been kept pretty much under wraps with only a few rumours and a leaked image to keep people updated! All that changed last week when a select few were shown the game, and believe me when I say there were a lot of interested people watching, and wanting to play it for themselves!

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Powered by Crytek’s proprietary CryENGINE, Crysis 3 advances the state of the art with unparalleled visuals and dynamic shooter gameplay. Players take on the role of ‘Prophet’ as he returns to New York, only to discover that the city has been encased in a Nanodome created by the corrupt Cell Corporation. The New York City Liberty Dome is a veritable urban rainforest teeming with overgrown trees, dense swamplands and raging rivers. Within the Liberty Dome, seven distinct and treacherous environments become known as the Seven Wonders. This dangerous new world demands advanced weapons and tactics. Prophet will utilize a lethal composite bow, an enhanced Nanosuit and devastating alien tech to become the deadliest hunter on the planet.

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Set in 2047, Prophet is on a revenge mission after uncovering the truth behind Cell Corporation’s motives for building the quarantined Nanodomes. The citizens were told that the giant citywide structures were resurrected to protect the population and to cleanse these metropolises of the remnants of Ceph forces. In reality, the Nanodomes are CELL’s covert attempt at a land and technology grab in their quest for global domination. With Alien Ceph lurking around every corner and human enemies on the attack, nobody is safe in the path of vengeance. Everyone is a target in Prophet’s quest for retribution.

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Crytek also announced that players who are ready to start the hunt can pre-order the Crysis 3 Hunter Edition today . The Crysis 3 Hunter Edition gives players the tools to become the ultimate hunter in multiplayer with early access to the new signature bow and its attachments, plus the Hunter Nanosuit module which adds additional power and functionality to the super-suit. Gamers who pre-order now will also have a head start when playing online with a bonus XP boost up to level 5, a unique bow skin and three exclusive dog tags to hunt in style. The Crysis 3 Hunter Edition is available on Origin.com and other participating retailers for £49.99.

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In addition to receiving the Crysis 3 Hunter Edition, select retailers are offering gamers that pre-order Crysis 3 the following early multiplayer unlocks:

· Stalker Pack – Includes the base game, all Hunter Edition content and the following early multiplayer unlocks: for players who like to stalk their prey from the shadows the Stalker Pack provides early multiplayer access to the deadly semi-auto Jackal shotgun. This powerful, close-range shotgun comes with a unique silencer attachment, custom weapon skin and two exclusive themed in-game dog tags.

· Overkill Pack – Includes the base game, all Hunter Edition content and the following early multiplayer unlocks: the Overkill Pack features early multiplayer access to the Typhoon assault weapon and skin. Spewing 500 rounds a second, the Typhoon gives players the ability to go guns blazing to take back the Liberty Dome. Also included are two exclusive Overkill themed in-game dog tags.

· Predator Pack – Includes the base game, all the Hunter Edition content and the following early multiplayer unlocks: the Predator Pack delivers early multiplayer access to the Feline submachine gun and exclusive camo. With an extremely fast rate of fire and a 60 round magazine the Feline is highly effective and deadly, at short range.

Developed by Crytek and powered by the proprietary cutting edge CryENGINE technology, Crysis 3 will be available spring 2013 for the Xbox 360video game and entertainment system, PlayStation3 computer entertainment system and PC – so still a long time to wait yet, but if the rest of the game is as good as the level we saw it will be worth the wait!

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Xbox LIVE Extras app for Windows Phone gets an update

The Xbox LIVE Extras app for Windows Phone has been updated to version 7.3.

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Xbox LIVE Extras extends your Xbox LIVE experience on Windows Phone 7. Download it for free and customize your avatar on the go! Don’t forget to check the marketplace for the latest avatar clothes and accessories. There you can find the most popular items and browse for your favourite brands and games.

Download now from the Windows Marketplace

New Forza Motorsport 4 Top Gear Car Pack available on Xbox LIVE from 1st May

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The newest Forza Motorsport 4 Car Pack will be available for download starting Tuesday 1 May on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace, adding a new crop of cars for Forza players to collect, drive, and customise.

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Available for 560 Microsoft Points, the May Top Gear Car Pack has something for car fans of every stripe, from emblematic examples of 1970s American style and one of the fastest automobiles in the world; to one of the coolest off-road vehicles around and the world’s smallest production car. It’s a grab-bag of automotive excellence that can only be found in “Forza Motorsport 4.”

The May Top Gear Car Pack features the following 10 cars:

2012 Hennessey Venom GT

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The Venom GT is ambition personified. Designed to beat the Bugatti Veyron’s 0-200 mph time, the car is defined by pure, unadulterated power. The result is impressive—the Venom reaches 0-200 mph in less time than it takes your average car to reach 0-60 mph.

1977 AMC Pacer X

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Wayne and Garth never had it so good. With classic 70s style and a 232-cubic-inch, 3.8 liter, inline six, the Pacer X was modest on power, but its legacy lives on today. Take it for a ride in “Forza Motorsport 4,” preferably with “Bohemian Rhapsody” cranked nice and loud.

2011 Ford Transite SuperSportVan

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The SuperSportVan is the latest creation in the long-standing series of Ford-built custom fans, which dates back to 1971. Designed to prove that Ford engineers know how to have fun, this version is a one-off design shown at a 2011 UK commercial vehicle show.

2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon

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The 2012 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is by far the most comfortable and amenity-loaded Wrangler ever. It’s grittier too, with 40 percent more horsepower than older models, making this Jeep just as comfortable on the track as it is on the trails.

1966 Lotus Cortina

One of the first “race on Sunday, commute on Monday” factory cars, the Lotus Cortina built its reputation both on the tarmac and in folks’ daily lives. Packing 115-horsepower and weighing just over a ton, the Cortina can carry four people in relative comfort, but it’s most happy when being revved high and thrown into a corner with full gusto.

1992 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4

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The turbo-charged Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 is a treasured piece of JDM history. The VR-4 was sold in limited numbers and its four-wheel drive, four-wheel-steering handling highlights technology that caters to a driving experience matched only by much more expensive sedans.

2012 Smart ForTwo

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The uncontested winner of the “easy to park” award, the Smart ForTwo is the first micro car to be introduced in the U.S. At just 106-inches long, the ForTwo is by far the smallest production car ever made. It’s a practical, urban errand runner whose looks will always spark a conversation.

1990 Subaru Legacy RS

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Putting aside its smaller, quirkier wagons and sedans, Subaru brought new game to dealerships in 1990 with the Legacy RS. More substantial in nearly every respect, the Legacy RS Turbo was the most powerful Subaru model available and still enjoys a strong following among Subie enthusiasts.

2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8

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Packing a huge HEMI under its hood that makes for more than 450 horsepower, the Chrysler 300 SRT8 packs a potent combination of power and sophistication. The 300 will hit 0-60 in under five seconds and will nail the quarter mile in less than 13 seconds. It might not be what you expect from a Chrysler these days… and that’s precisely the point.

1965 Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII

Hand-crafted beauty and grin-widening performance define the 1965 Austin-Healey 3000 MkIII. With a 147-horsepower, six-cylinder overhead valve engine, the Healey–or “Squealy” as it was often called–delivers an exhilarating open-air ride and grippy cornering.

Check out our review of Forza Motorshop 4 from last year

CoPilot Live satnav apps get ActiveTraffic service as standard

The award-winning sat nav app for iOS & Android smartphones, CoPilot Live, now includes 12 months free access to premium real-time traffic information to avoid delays and reduce driving costs.

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Here is the press release:

ALK Technologies, leading provider of mobile navigation software, today announced that its best-selling app for smartphones and tablets, CoPilot Live Premium, will now include real-time traffic information as an included standard feature – an industry-first for a full-featured sat nav app.

Previously a £9.99 additional annual subscription, CoPilot Live’s ActiveTraffic™ service uses high quality real-time traffic flow information from Nokia to intelligently calculate the fastest route to destinations and provide a highly accurate Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) based on actual road conditions. While driving, the service automatically monitors the route ahead for delays and suggests a faster alternative way to go if available.

“Real-time traffic information is becoming an essential way for drivers to reduce the delays and extra fuel costs caused by traffic congestion,” comments David Quin, Head of Consumer Applications at ALK Technologies. “We are delighted to make ActiveTraffic a standard feature for our CoPilot Live Premium customers: it is useful every day for any journey – whether on your commute, school run or a weekend getaway.”

“ALK Technologies continues to provide leading navigation apps and we are delighted to support its new real-time traffic service with live feeds from NAVTEQ Traffic™,” added Bruno Bourguet, Sales Vice President, Nokia, Location & Commerce. “We have a comprehensive range of sources including the world’s largest compilation of both commercial and consumer GPS probe data. Unique, proprietary technology is used to integrate and process the source data ready for transmission via CoPilot’s Live’s ActiveTraffic™ service as consistent, seamless and borderless traffic information.”

CoPilot Live Premium apps with 12 months FREE ActiveTraffic service are available immediately on the Apple AppStore and on Google Play. Existing CoPilot Live Premium customers can download a free update to enjoy the service now. Customers who already have ActiveTraffic will get an additional 12 months on top of their current subscription.

Pricing (including lifetime-use navigation and 1 year of ActiveTraffic):

CoPilot Live Premium UK + Ireland: £24.99 CoPilot Live Premium Europe: £37.99

*12 months use of ActiveTraffic is included as standard within CoPilot Live Premium apps for Android and iOS devices. Requires a mobile internet connection.

We will be reviewing CoPilot Live shortly.

Learn more from the CoPilot Live website

Dropbox app for iPhone and iPad updated to version 1.4.7

In a week with cloud storage announcements with SkyDrive and Google Drive, Dropbox has updated it’s iPhone and iPad app.

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Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring all your photos, docs, and videos anywhere. After you install Dropbox on your computer, any file you save to your Dropbox will automatically save to all your computers, your iPhone and iPad and even the Dropbox website! With the Dropbox app, you can take everything that matters to you on the go.
Read your docs or flip through your albums when you’re out and about. Save photos or videos to your Dropbox and share them with friends in just a couple taps. Even if you accidentally leave your iPhone in a taxi, your stuff is always safe on Dropbox.

Features:

  •  Always have your stuff with you, no matter where you are.
  •  Add files to “Favorites” for fast, offline viewing.
  •  Easily save photos and videos to your Dropbox.
  •  Share your photos and docs with family and friends.
  •  Save email attachments straight to your Dropbox.

What’s New in Version 1.4.7

  • Bug fixes
Download now from the Apple App Store

Netflix updates its Windows Phone app again

Today saw Netflix update it’s Windows Phone app again to version 2.1, only this time there doesn’t appear to be many changes.

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There isn’t anything release notes wise or updates shown, so I assume there are just minor bug fixes included.

Netflix members can go to the Windows Phone Marketplace, download the Netflix App.

Have you tried it yet? Let us know.

Angry Birds Space gets 1st update, brings 10 new levels

Angry Birds Space has had it’s first update, bringing with it 10 new levels!

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After a giant claw kidnaps their eggs, the Angry Birds chase it into a wormhole and find themselves floating in a strange new galaxy – surrounded by space pigs! Luckily the Angry Birds have super powers of their own…

Angry Birds Space features 60 interstellar levels on planets and in zero gravity, resulting in spectacular gameplay ranging from slow-motion puzzles to lightspeed destruction. With regular free updates, new in-app purchases, brand new birds, brand new superpowers, and a whole galaxy to explore, the sky is no longer the limit!

What’s New in Version 1.1.0

  • A new moon rises and puts pigs in motion! If you thought it was hard to pop pigs in space before, just wait til they’re orbiting around the icy planets in these 10 NEW LEVELS!
  • Enjoy 20 FREE SPACE EAGLES!
  • Log in daily to get ONE FREE SPACE EAGLE every day!
  • Addressed crash issues in older devices.
  • Download now! Squawk!
Get Angry Birds Space from the Apple App Strore now

Windows Phone Marketplace changes; removing Zune shop option and other changes

Microsoft have today posted that they are making some changes to the Windows Phone Marketplace, including removing the option to buy apps from within the Zune PC software.

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This is what Microsoft posted on their blog:

First, we’re removing the option to shop for Windows Phone apps from the Zune PC software. Second, as part of a larger Marketplace improvement effort, you’ll soon need Windows Phone 7.5 installed on your phone to buy and download new apps, or update existing ones.

Read more about the changes here.

To be honest I don’t think this is going to cause any real issues. Any apps I have purchased, admittedly not that many, have been done via the phone or the Marketplace directly.

What do you think?

Drive Bender v.1.3.0.0 (Tomcat) for Windows Home Server 2011 available now

Today saw an update to Drive Bender for Windows Home Server 2011 released, taking it to version v1.3.0.0, also known as the Tomcat release.

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Release v1.3.0.0 release (2012-04-24)

– Update: New Windows and WHS interface.
– Bug fix: File count feature could report the incorrect number of files.
– Update: Minor health monitor improvements.
– Bug fix: Networked mount points are non-writable on Windows 2008 R2.
– Update: If a drive removal process fails, the drive is no longer mark with an error. The pool will continue to operate a normal.
– Added: Drive swap feature. This allows a pooled drive to be swapped out with a new drive.
– Update: Smooth Stream performance improvements with high volume, small file reads.
– Bug fix: The drive removal process could fail with a “not enough free space in the pool” error.
– Update: Thin provisioning has been implemented.
– Bug fix: Folder rename and delete functions can fail on a folder marked for duplication.

For more information check out the Drive Bender website

Skype Now Available for PlayStation Vita!!

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Today, Skype announced the availability of their application for the PlayStation Vita.  Read on for details!

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A few weeks back, I brought you my review of the PlayStation Vita.  I mentioned that I’d really like to see Skype for video and voice calling released on the Vita.  Well, today I got my wish!  Here is what Skype had to say about this news:

Now You Can Take Your PlayStation®Vita Gaming Experience to the Next Level with Skype Video Calling

Skype is happy to announce that the Skype Video and Voice calling app for PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) will officially be available through PlayStation®Store later today*.

Later today you can enjoy free Skype calls on PS Vita. Now you can keep in touch with gamers around the globe while you’re on the go as Skype is available for both the 3G/Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi models. For users in Europe and Asia, the Skype app for PS Vita will be available for download tomorrow, April 25.

The Skype app includes free Skype-to-Skype voice calling, as well as high quality video calling that utilizes PS Vita’s front and rear cameras. The Skype app on PS Vita runs in “background mode” while you’re gaming or using other applications** — meaning you have the capability to “pause” a game, conduct a call and then return to your previous activity — so you never miss a call. Plus, with a little Skype credit you can make low-cost calls to landlines and mobile directly from your PS Vita.

Boosting a person’s digital swagger, PS Vita is equipped with a 5″ OLED touchscreen, dual analog sticks, precise rear touch pad, two cameras and a built-in microphone that can be used with any Skype-certified headset.

Want to learn more? Check out what our friend, fellow game enthusiast, Fatal1ty thinks about the new Skype app.

Please visit www.skype.com/intl/en-us/get-skype/on-your-ps-vita for more information on Skype features for PlayStation Vita. For feedback or questions please visit Skype Support. Happy Gaming!

*It may take up to 48 hours for the app to propagate in all local PlayStation®Stores.
** Certain games/applications will not be able to “pause” during a call.

I plan on downloading it tonight and checking it out…stay tuned for my review.  And if you have a Vita, go ahead and download the app here!

Angry Birds Space is Now Available in BlackBerry App World

Angry Birds Space is now available for PlayBook in BlackBerry App World.

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After a giant claw kidnaps their eggs, the Angry Birds chase it into a wormhole and find themselves floating in a strange new galaxy – surrounded by space pigs! Luckily the Angry Birds have super powers of their own…

Angry Birds Space features 60 interstellar levels on planets and in zero gravity, resulting in spectacular gameplay ranging from slow-motion puzzles to lightspeed destruction. With regular free updates, new in-app purchases, brand new birds, brand new superpowers, and a whole galaxy to explore, the sky is no longer the limit!

Angry Birds Space features 60 interstellar levels on planets and in zero gravity, resulting in spectacular game play ranging from slow-motion puzzles to light speed destruction.

FEATURES:

• 60 interstellar levels

• Regular free updates

• Brand new birds and new superpowers

• Zero-gravity space adventures

• Trick shots using planets’ gravity

• And hidden bonus levels

Cost: $4.99

• Download Angry Birds Space from BlackBerry App World

Microsoft Security Essentials Gets An Upgrade to version 4.0.1526.0

Today saw Microsoft release an upgrade to Security Essentials, its virus and spyware protection software.

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This version has been in beta for a little while now, and I have been running it successfully.

Download from here or upgrade via Windows Update

Another Cloud Storage service launches, this time it’s Google Drive

Hot on the heels of all the Microsoft SkyDrive announcements, Google has finally launched it’s Cloud Storage service – Google Drive.

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This is what Google posted on their blog today:

Today, we’re introducing Google Drive—a place where you can create, share, collaborate, and keep all of your stuff. Whether you’re working with a friend on a joint research project, planning a wedding with your fiancé or tracking a budget with roommates, you can do it in Drive. You can upload and access all of your files, including videos, photos, Google Docs, PDFs and beyond.

With Google Drive, you can:

  • Create and collaborate. Google Docs is built right into Google Drive, so you can work with others in real time on documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Once you choose to share content with others, you can add and reply to comments on anything (PDF, image, video file, etc.) and receive notifications when other people comment on shared items.
  • Store everything safely and access it anywhere (especially while on the go). All your stuff is just… there. You can access your stuff from anywhere—on the web, in your home, at the office, while running errands and from all of your devices. You can install Drive on your Mac or PC and can download the Drive app to your Android phone or tablet. We’re also working hard on a Drive app for your iOS devices. And regardless of platform, blind users can access Drive with a screen reader.
  • Search everything. Search by keyword and filter by file type, owner and more. Drive can even recognize text in scanned documents using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. Let’s say you upload a scanned image of an old newspaper clipping. You can search for a word from the text of the actual article. We also use image recognition so that if you drag and drop photos from your Grand Canyon trip into Drive, you can later search for [grand canyon] and photos of its gorges should pop up. This technology is still in its early stages, and we expect it to get better over time.

You can get started with 5GB of storage for free—that’s enough to store the high-res photos of your trip to the Mt. Everest, scanned copies of your grandparents’ love letters or a career’s worth of business proposals, and still have space for the novel you’re working on. You can choose to upgrade to 25GB for $2.49/month, 100GB for $4.99/month or even 1TB for $49.99/month. When you upgrade to a paid account, your Gmail account storage will also expand to 25GB.

Are you going to try it, or have you tried it? Let us know.