Digital-Lifestyles – Page 178 – Digital-Lifestyles pre-empted and reported thousands of articles on the then-coming impact that technology was to have on all forms of Media. Launched in 2001 as a research blog to aid its founder, Simon Perry, present at IBC 2002, it grew into a wide ranging, multi-author publication that was quoted in many publications globally including the BBC, was described by the Guardian as 'Informative' and also cited in a myriad of tech publications before closing in 2009

Digital-Lifestyles pre-empted and reported thousands of articles on the then-coming impact that technology was to have on all forms of Media. Launched in 2001 as a research blog to aid its founder, Simon Perry, present at IBC 2002, it grew into a wide ranging, multi-author publication that was quoted in many publications globally including the BBC, was described by the Guardian as 'Informative' and also cited in a myriad of tech publications before closing in 2009

Samsung Set Free A Septet Of Snappers: CES 2007
Samsung have gone new-camera bonkers, unleashing a veritable pack of seven new snappers, all set to be hitting the shelves this Spring.
Ranging from 6 megapixel budget specials up to 10 megapixel style statements, the new collection underlines Samsung’s ambition to become a big bangin’ and crashin’ noise in the digital camera market.
They’re looking to tempt punters with keen prices too, with all of the announced cameras selling for less than $350.
Top of the range S1050
Sitting right at the top of the price range, the $350 10-megapixel S1050 comes with a beefy 5x optical zoom lens, a sizeable 3″ LCD screen, a top shutter speed of 1/2000s and a high ISO rating of 1600 for low light photos.
Rather a sleek and seductive number in an all black finish with a saucy blue trim, the S1050 delivers impressive video functionality, managing to record movies up to 800 x 600 at a baby’s-bum-smooth 30fps.
The near-identical looking $249.99 S850 also packs a similar spec sheet but with a smaller 2.5″ LCD screen and a smaller 8-megapixel sensor.
Sporting Samsung’s groovy Smart Touch interface, the pocketable L73 ($249.99.) offers 7 megapixels, 3x optical zoom lens, a 2.5″ LCD screen, 1/2000 secs top shutter speed and high ISO 1600 rating.
First seen in last year’s NV series, the Smart Touch widget lets users twiddle about with settings and camera controls via two sets of pressure-sensitive buttons. We’ve not tried it yet, but in a world of identical cameras, we like it when companies try something a little different.
Not shaking all over
All of the cameras come with the fab-sounding Samsung’s ASR (Advanced Shake Reduction) system, which sounds like it’ll cancel out major earthquakes, but in fact just boosts the ISO (and therefore the noise) rather than offering a proper stabilisation system. Which is a bit rubbish, if you ask us.
Shuffling down to the cheaper end of Samsung’s offerings is a trio of snappers, the 7-megapixel L700 ($249.99), the 7-megapixel S730 ($199.99) and the 6-megapixel S630 ($179.99), all featuring 3x optical zooms and 2.5-inch LCD screens.
Making up the septet of new snappers is the curious-looking i70, a multimedia-packed little fella with a sliding cover offering a
7.2 megapixel sensor, 3x zoom and a large 3.0″ LCD.
Doubling up as a Portable Media Player/MP3 player, the i70 is fitted with with Samsung’s Intelligent Face Recognition Technology (we could use that on weekends after we’ve had a few). Pricing is still to be announced..
Wisdom
The entire range will feature Samsung’s new “Wise Shot” feature, which doesn’t call up a clever owl for advice before each shot, but knocks out two pictures consecutively.
The first photo is taken with the flash doing its thing, while the camera turns off the flash for the second shot and sends ISO soaring skywards to minimise blur from camera shake.
Samsung UK
8 January, 2007
Nokia N800 Internet Tablet Announced
Nokia has announced an update to their 770 Nseries widget in the shape of the Nokia N800 Internet Tablet, which comes decked out in a natty industrial chrome look.
Sporting a high resolution display, Nokia say that the tablet has been “optimised for enjoying the familiar Web experience anytime, anywhere,” and comes with support for internet calling, instant messaging and email.
Naturally, the thing’s stuffed full of multimedia gadgetry with stereo audio, media support and the ability to enjoy streamed content as you amble around your ~~Tower Hamlets bedsit~~ Hollywood-like mansion.
Boasting faster performance than its predecessor, the N800 comes with a full screen finger QWERTY keyboard (but not a proper pull-out hardware keyboard), easier connectivity via Wi-Fi or a Bluetooth phone, an integrated web camera packed up into a sleek new streamlined design.
Software wise, Nokia are claiming “Internet enhanced navigation” with Navicore, support for RealNetworks’ Rhapsody music service and a deal with Skype to let users make Internet calls from Nokia N800s. They added VoIP support to the 770 back in May last year. It was GTalk at the time.
“As the Internet becomes an ever more integral part of daily life, Nokia
N800 has been designed to offer quick and convenient access to your favourite Internet services regardless of location,” insisted Ari Virtanen, Vice President, Convergence Products, Multimedia, Nokia.
“The Nokia N800 takes our offering to the next level combining speed, performance and mobility into a stylish, compact design,” he added, nearly running out of superlatives.
The Nokia N800 Internet Tablet runs on Nokia’s desktop Linux based Operating System and should be available immediately in the US and Europe for around 399 EUR/USD (around 250 quid).
Nokia N800
8 January, 2007
Genius! Internet App For Palm Treos: Review (83%)
If you’ve ever needed information fast from the Web when you’re on the move, Genius! by Hobbyist Software could be just what you’re looking for.
Designed for Palm Treo 600/650/680/700p users, Genius! gives you fast access to mobile-optimised sites, via a tabbed interface offering, ‘information,’ ‘shopping’ and ‘translation’ categories.
So if you’re out shopping and wondering if the pushy salesman really is offering you a bargain, you can just type in the product name (or product code, title, ISBN or brand) into Genius! and choose a price comparison site from the dropdown menu.
Pressing ‘go’ will open up a page full of results from the appropriate mobile optimised Website, saving you the hassle of opening up the Palm’s browser, looking for the right site, typing in the product name and then waiting for the results to download.
Devious cheating pub quizzers will like the ‘information’ tab which will quietly send your question to fact-filled sites like google, wikipedia and answers.com and bring up a Webpage with the answer already showing.
The interface also offers nippy, direct access to translation Websites, stock quotes, weather, directions and local info, with downloadable ‘plugins’ letting users customise the program to their preferences.
A bookmark management tool lets users edit and delete bookmarks with the option to select Google Optimiser to return results in a format enhanced for small screens.
Although it’s not one of those programs that is likely to change your life, power users regularly accessing the Web via their Palm Treos may find this an invaluable addition to their handheld – and at around a fiver ($9.99), it’s well worth a punt.
Features: 80%
Ease of use: 80%
Value For Money: 85%
Overall: 83%
Genius! by Hobbyist Software
8 January, 2007
Fujifilm Finepix F31fd Review (85%)
Now on the shelves in the UK, the Fujifilm FinePix F31fd represents a fairly minor update to last year’s F30 zoom, sporting the same impressive low light performance, courtesy of Fujifilm’s 6th-generation Super CCD and RP Processor II.
As with the F30, the 6.3 megapixel F31fd comes with a 3.0x optical zoom, super-high ISO 3200 sensitivity at full resolution, long-life battery (up to 580 shots), VGA movie recording up to 30 frames per second and Aperture & Shutter priority shooting plus a shedload of scene modes.
Sporting a redesigned, curvier body than its 2005 predecessors – the Fujifilm F10 and F11 snappers – the F31fd also adds a hardware-based Face Detection technology and infrared connectivity for sharing photos.
Boat race recognition
First seen in the company’s FinePix S6500fd’s bridge camera, Fujifilm’s Face Detection system is claimed to be able to identify faces, optimise settings and fire off a photo within just 0.05 seconds.
Capable of handling up to ten grinning faces in a frame, the technology should put an end to out of focus pictures, even when documenting a heavy night of quaffing in the old Bull and Bush.
To be honest, we weren’t exactly convinced of the benefits of the technology and would suggest that anyone used to focusing and reframing shots might as well buy the cheaper F30.
No looker
As with previous models, the Fujifilm is something of a plain, bulky fella unlikely to find favour with camera aesthetes, but behind those ordinary looks lurks some impressive picture taking capabilities.

Along with the astonishing battery life – rated at around 580 shots per charge – the F31fd comes with a crisp and sharp 230,000 pixels, 2.5-inch screen LCD screen but, sadly, no optical viewfinder.
The 3x zoom lens covers a respectable 36-108mm (35mm equiv), with the aperture starting quite brightly at F2.8, closing down to a not-so-hot F5.0 at the telephoto end.
We would have preferred a bit more at the wide angle end, but at least Fujifilm have junked the annoying ‘terminal adaptor’ seen on the F10 and F11 cameras and fitted a proper DC port for the (supplied) mains adaptor.

Unfortunately, the company has stuck with the XD card format, something that may put off potential buyers who have already aqcuired a collection of the more common SD card.
View from the top
On the top of the camera is a rather fiddly mode dial offering Movie, A/S (aperture and shutter priority), Rec-Manual, Rec-Auto, Scene and ‘anti blur’ (which simply ramps the ISO rating up rather than providing any proper optical stabilisation).
Also on the top plate is the shutter release button and power on/off control.
As with previous models, the F31fd is very quick to start up, with the camera ready to shoot in under 2 seconds.
On the back
Next to the LCD screen on the back is a 4-way controller for navigating menus, surrounded by four additional buttons with a zoom in/out rocker switch above.

Sitting in the bottom right hand corner is the button to activate the Face Detection system, which also doubles up as a useful exposure +/- control when in manual mode.
Using the F31fd
Once again, the Fujifilm excelled in low light and high ISO output, producing usable images when most of its rivals would be churning out grainy snowstorms of digital noise, making this an ideal camera for nights out.
We were able to get excellent results up to 400ISO, with even ISO 800 images remaining usable, although the built in AF illuminator didn’t stop us suffering quite a few out-of-focus grabbed shots in low light.
Daytime shots featuring lots of contrast could sometimes throw up the occasional over-exposed picture, but with a bit of care the F31fd was capable of excellent results.
The lack of real manual controls was a bit frustrating and we continue to find Fujifilm’s interface a little less intuitive than some of its rivals, but point’n’shooters should have no problem getting to grips with the camera.
However, all these minor niggles don’t stop us highly recommending the F31fd, with the camera offering class-leading low light performance, fast start up times, good flash performance and a sturdy build that should last for years.
Features: 80%
Ease of Use: 65%
Image Quality: 85%
Overall: 85%
Specifications
Number of effective pixels 6.3 million
CCD 1/1.7″ Super CCD HR
Image sizes: 2,848 × 2,136, 3,024 × 2,016 (3:2), 2,048 x 1,536, 1,600 x 1,200, 640 × 480
File format JPEG (Exif)
Storage media Internal memory (approx. 26MB) xD-Picture Card
Lens focal length 36-108 mm
Sensitivity AUTO / Equivalent to ISO 100/200/ 400/800/1600/3200
LCD 2.5″ Amorphous silicon, TFT 230,000 pixels
Movie Recording 640×480 / 320×240 pixels, 30 frames / sec with monaural sound
Voice memo Yes
Video output NTSC & PAL
Digital interface USB 2.0 (High-speed)
Power source NP-95 Lithium-ion battery, AC Power Adapter
Dimensions (W x H x D) 92.7 x 56.7 x 27.8 mm
Weight (approx./excluding battery and memory card) 155g
Fujifilm F31fd
5 January, 2007
IGF: Independent Games Festival 2007
Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA
The CMP Game Group established the Independent Games Festival in 1998 to encourage innovation in game development and to recognize the best independent game developers. They saw how the Sundance Film Festival benefited the independent film community, and wanted to create a similar event for independent game developers.
The competition, now in its 9th year, awards a total of over $50,000 in prizes to deserving indie creators in Main Competition, Student Competition, and Mod Competition categories at the IGF Awards Ceremony, which will be held the evening of March 7, 2007 at the Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA, and is one of the highlights of the Game Developers Conference.
Link
4 January, 2007
Games Gone By: A history of video games – GameOn
Game On exhibition, Science Museum, London
Most people think that video gaming starting in the 1970s and 1980s with classic games such as Pong, Space Invaders and Pac-Man, but the real story of video games goes back even further. Come along and discover the machines, the people and true stories behind the birth of the games industry as speakers from the International Game Developers Association delve deep into gaming’s past.
Link
4 January, 2007
Video Games: Look of the future – GameOn
Our computers and consoles have an amazing amount of processing power, creating realistic lighting, textures and characters. How is this done and are there limits to what can be re-created on a screen? Discover, with Dr Chris Doran of Geomerics, what the games of the future will look like.
Held at the Science Museum.
Link
4 January, 2007
BT Broadband Hits 10m Connections
It may only be a few days after the New Year, but the party poppers and drinks cabinet have been rolled out at Chez BT as the company is poised to rack up its 10 millionth broadband connection this week.

Way back in the distant dial-up days of 2002, BT had set what seemed liked a wildly ambitious target of 5 million connections by the end of 2006, so with the target doubled we reckon there’ll be a fair bit of a-whooping at the top of the BT Tower (and, no doubt, some fattening pay cheques).
The 10 million wholesale connections are split between BT Wholesale and BT Openreach, with 8.7 million customers connecting through BT Wholesale.
The remaining 1.3 million lines are supplied to big names like Carphone Warehouse and BSkyB via BT Openreach.
When the 5 million target was set back in April 2002, less than 150,000 DSL connections existed in the UK, with broadband availability in the UK pegged at just 66 per cent – a figure now standing at a near-complete 99.8 per cent.
Purring with delight, Ben Verwaayen, chief executive of BT Group, claimed that the UK is now the most competitive broadband market in the world, offering customers a choice of over 200 service providers
“That means fantastic choice and value for consumers, and a constant stream of new and innovative applications,” he enthused.
“There are still many, many areas in the market where you can see people really looking for new applications and it’s the applications that drive people to broadband. Look for example at the way people want to make and share their own content, on a narrowband basis that’s almost impossible,” he continued.
“As social networking becomes more and more a thing of today, this presents fantastic opportunities for broadband.”
It wasn’t all backslapping and cigar-puffing at BT though as their rival BSkyB passed the 2 million subscriber milestone, with sales of the Sky+ box increasing by more than 50% last year.
BT
Sky
3 January, 2007
Samsung Introduces One-Month Laptop Battery
The boffins at Samsung have developed a super long life fuel cell expansion dock that will keep laptops powered up for over a month.

Scheduled for commercial production by the end of this year, the company managed to get one of their Q35 ultra portable notebook computers to run for an astonishing 5 weeks using the dock, with the machine powered up for 8 hours a day.
The uber-battery runs on Methanol, a form of alcohol (no, you can’t drink it if you fancy a bevy) and can deliver a maximum output of 20 Watts, with a maximum storage capacity of 1,200Wh.
Samsung’s dock clips on the back of the laptop and measures up around the same size as a regular laptop docking station.
Apparently, fuel dock designs traditionally make a bit of racket (we’re not sure why) but Samsung say that their beefy power cell will be no noisier than regular laptops.
Samsung say that a miniature version of this fuel cell is in the pipeline too, with just a teacup’s worth of fuel managing to notch up a massive 15 hours of life.
For those of you who like the ‘science bit’ on shampoo adverts, we can tell you that the technology goes under the name of DMFC (Direct Methanol Fuel Cell) and does it stuff by oxidising liquid methanol on a catalyst to form carbon dioxide.
Or something like that.
Samsung UK
Methanol (Wikipedia)
3 January, 2007
Xbox 360 outsells Wii And PS3 in US Over Xmas
It truly was a battle of the consoles this Christmas, with big-hitters Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony all looking to set the Yuletide cash tills ringing.

According to analysts at the US research firm NPD, Santa’s bags were mostly straining with Xbox 360’s over the festive period, closely followed by the Nintendo Wii, with the PS3 trailing in third place.
Preliminary findings from NPD revealed that the Xbox 360 outsold both the Wii and the PS3 in the US, with around 2 million Xbox 360s shifted between the start of November 2006 and Christmas.

Not far behind was the eagerly awaited Nintendo Wii which registered 1.8 million sales, while the PS3 could only muster a mere 750,000 Stateside sales.
According to NPD, these figures represent a huge leap from November’s figures which saw 511,000 Xbox 360s, 476,000 Wiis and 197,000 PS3s flying out of the stores.
It’s worth noting that Nintendo’s Wii didn’t launch in the US until 19th November – nearly three weeks behind the Xbox 360 – with the first batch of stock reported as selling out in hours.
It was a similar situation in the UK, with Nintendo Wii’s near-impossible to find in the shops (yes, we were looking too and someone’s still waiting for their Christmas present!).
One of PC World’s flagship stores in the West End told Digital Lifestyles that their consignment of Wii consoles went almost as soon as they came through the door, although we noted no shortage of XBox 360s in the store.
NPD is expected to release the complete figures for December later this month.
NPD
3 January, 2007