Digital-Lifestyles – Page 271 – 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

JVC Everio GZ-MG77 Camcorder Unveiled
JVC has unveiled the flagship model to its extensive range of Everio hard drive camcorders, the GZ-MG77.
Updating last year’s Everio GZ-MG70, the GZ-MG77 features a 10x optical zoom, fast F2.1 lens coupled with a flip-out 2.7-inch LCD viewfinder.
Going head to head with Sony’s recently unveiled Handycam DCR-S100 and Sanyo’s Xacti HD1, the GZ-MG77 serves up a hefty 30 GB of storage, with four different recording modes offering between 7 and 37 hours of video (approx).
In the highest resolution mode, Ultra Fine, users can record 7 hours and 10 minutes of video at 9 Mbps.
This increases to 10 hours and 40 minutes at 6 Mbps (‘Fine’ mode), 14 hours and 10 minutes at 4.5 Mbps (‘Normal’) and a massive, holiday-spanning 37 hours and 30 minutes at 1.7 Mbps (‘Economy’).
The two high quality modes record at 720 x 480 pixels, with Normal and Economy being recorded at a lower 352 x 240 pixels resolution.
Video can be recorded in both standard and widescreen aspect formats, with an option to record stills.
The GZ-MG77 sports a 1/3.9-inch CCD sensor and auto flash, and comes with JVC’s Low Light Plus and 3D Noise Reduction technologies, which claims to reduce video noise by approximately 30%.
There’s also support for PictBridge direct-to-printer output, USB 2.0 connectivity, SD Card slot and built-in DVD burner control for direct connection to an optional JVC DVD burner.
The camcorder is expected to hit the streets in March 2006, with pricing to be announced later.
12 January, 2006
Traffic Vizzion Streams Traffic Cameras To Smartphones
US firm Vizzion have announced the introduction of their innovative traffic-watching system “Traffic Vizzion” to eleven areas in the UK.
The system streams roadside and traffic camera videos to smartphones, letting drivers check the route ahead for congestion or other problems.
Users can browse cameras by region, and those with a Bluetooth enabled cell phone and GPS can use the “Watch Road Ahead” feature in Traffic Vizzion to monitor cameras directly ahead.
The display continuously updates to show the next camera up ahead, with no button presses or scrolling required.
GPS users can also call up a “Find Nearby Cameras” function to list cameras close to their current location, and then select and view any camera from the list in the hope of finding the best way out of a jam.
Insisting that Vizzion is in fact pronounced ‘vision’, the company’s cheap’n’cheerful Website lists the 11 locations across the UK where the system will initially be available:
Berkshire: Reading area
Glamorgan: Cardiff, Swansea areas
Greater London: 9 London areas
Hampshire: Southampton, Winchester areas
Lanarkshire: Glasgow area
Midlothian: Edinburgh area
Monmouthshire: Newport area
Nottinghamshire: Nottingham area
South Yorkshire: Sheffield area
Traffic Vizzion runs on Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphones, and relies on a working Internet connection (e.g. GPRS), with a Bluetooth GPS device required for the added features.
There’s a free two week trial available from their website, with the regular subscription costing $5 (£3) per month, billable to MasterCard or Visa.
Naturally, you’d also have to add on any data transfer fees from your network provider.
Traffic Vizzion
11 January, 2006
Sony VN-CX1: Skype Mouse Phone
No idea if we’re ever going to see it turning up in Blighty any time soon, but we love this crazy new Sony VN-CX1 USB optical mouse-phone.
The press release is only in Japanese, but we worked out that mouse-phone (‘phouse’?, moune?) is able to notify you of incoming calls via flashing LED and built-in speaker.
When closed, the mouse works like any other with the dial in the middle functioning as a scroll wheel.
The clever stuff happens when a call comes in.
The user can then flip open the mouse to reveal a functional phone, with the mouse-wheel being used to adjust the volume. Pressing the scroll wheel mutes the call.
The built in echo cancellation feature should guarantee decent call sound quality, and finishing the call is as simple as flipping the mouse-phone shut.
A potential problem might arise if you wanted to use the mouse when you’re on a call, but we think you can just switch to speakerphone mode. Or maybe not (the translated press announcement goes on about ‘knitting machines’ so it’s a bit vague).
Being a Sony product, the Sony VN-CX1 looks to please groovy feckers, offering the mouse in 5 trendy colours to match their shade of laptop/shirt/nail varnish.
Although the VN-CX1 doesn’t look like the most comfortable mouse we’ve ever seen, it’s small and light enough (45.5 × 23.9 × 89.2 mm, 67gms) and certainly looks a fun product.
Pricing and availability is to be announced.
Translated Sony press release
11 January, 2006
D-Link Unveil Skype USB Phone Adapter
D-Link’s new Skype USB phone adapter (DPH-50U) is a neat widget that lets users make and receive Skype calls on their existing corded DECT or cordless phone, without the need to have a pesky ‘call centre’ headset stuck on their head.
The DPH-50U lets users take both Skype and regular telephone calls from the same phone with the ability to switch from a Skype call to a landline call (and vice versa) like a conventional call waiting service.
A display on the unit flashes up whether the incoming call is from a Skype or landline connection, and it’s also possible to take part in conference calls between regular telephone and Skype lines.
The concept seems a winner to us – by using your existing telephone you should enjoy better sound quality than a cheapo headset, and D-Link claim that you’ll be able to use your phone’s built-in features such as speed dial, redial, mute and caller ID2 for both Skype and landline calls.
Best of all, if you own a cordless phone, you’ll be able to wander about your gaff while chatting away for free.
“At D-Link, we know that the digital home is all about integration and ease-of-use,” said Keith Karlsen, executive vice president, D-Link. “By extending Skype to be accessible through traditional phones, we can make the benefits of Skype even easier to experience.”
The DPH-50U comes with custom software, two RJ-11 ports and a USB port to connect up the regular phone line, telephone and computer, with the unit drawing power from the computer’s PC port.
The phone adaptor will be available in Europe from February 2006 for around forty quid (~$70 ~e58). I think we’ll be buying one.
DPH-50U Skype USB Phone Adapter
11 January, 2006
Stephen Carter Leaving Ofcom?
In an update to this story, Ofcom confirm Carter to leave
A reasonably insightful interview with Ofcom’s Stephen Carter by Maggie Brown in Monday’s Guardian. There is a suggestion that Carter is looking to move on – which would mean that the implementation of many of the key recommendations/agreements from the various strategic reviews he has overseen will fall to someone else (most likely – Ofcom’s COO – Ed Richards).
Brown suggests that Carter will be judged by the decisions he has taken in regard to ITV – particularly the decision to scale back ITV regional programming obligations. In reality I think the industry – both media and telecoms – are likely to judge Carter by the regulatory settlement he got out of BT.
However, interesting to note the use of what Carter refers to as the “‘soft power’ of influence” in regard to decisions taken on ITV. Apparently others – including the ‘independent’ Content Board’ – favoured a different approach on scale backing PSB obligations but didn’t get their way.
Other interesting points from the article –
- 1. Production Supply Market Review – which is published tomorrow. Carter says Ofcom has not tried to rewrite the ITC’s ‘terms of trade’ agreement made in 2003. He states,
  “We will make it clear that we are not intending to redraw the terms of trade on a short-term basis or whim, given that they have had a relatively short period of time to bite. The 2003 agreement will stand.” Asked for his views about the seven-day window agreed between the BBC and Pact, the independent producers’ body, he says: “It is too electric a subject to speculate on.”
- 2. BBC – Carter stands by Ofcom’s position that the licence fee money should be ‘contestable’. This reiterates the advice of the independent Burns’ Panel who looked at the BBC structure and funding. However, the government didn’t go with it in the Green Paper on the BBC’s future, and it is unlikely to be in the White Paper. In my opinion this is also the right thing to do- although there will be plenty of people who disagree.
It will be interesting to see where Carter moves – if he does – my money would be on BSkyB (or News Corporation). Of course there will always be a role for him at Ofcomwatch – if he fancied a hands on role in new media.
Luke Gibbs is a co-founder of OfcomWatch
Ofcom
11 January, 2006
Over A Third Of UK Mobile Users Send Picture Messages
A new UK survey shows a dramatic increase in the use of picture messaging with WAP also growing in popularity.
The results of a survey conducted by mobile media company Enpocket and Harris Interactive for Q4 2005 show that 36% of mobile owners now use their phones to send and receive picture messages, up from 21% at the same period last year.
MMS usage levels have soared over the last year amongst the tech-savvy 18-34 age group, and doubled in all age groups above 34 years old.
With easy headlines in mind, these studies always like to break the figures down by sex, so we can tell you that women are more keen on using MMS, with 40% using the medium compared to just 33% of blokes.
When it comes to seeking mobile information online, it’s the geezers who are keenest to get their keypads rattling, with 38% accessing mobile Internet (WAP) sites compared to 26% of ladies.
Overall, a third of all mobile users are ready and willing to get WAP’ing, with the technology becoming mainstream amongst 18-24 year olds (61% saying they had recently used the mobile internet) and increasingly popular with 25-34 year olds (50%).
“Mobile as a communications medium is getting richer and a lot more exciting,” said Mike Baker, President and CEO, Enpocket, before going on to plug his company with gusto (we ignored that bit).
Elsewhere, the Mobile Data Association have calculated that WAP page impressions are now approaching the 2 billion per month mark, with the Mobile Media Monitor revealing the most popular types of site on the mobile internet.
Not surprisingly, those infernal ringtone sites are the most popular with 48% of WAP surfers visiting one or more in the last three months, followed by news sites (41%), games sites (36%), sports sites (33%), entertainment sites (31%) and weather sites (28%) with just 6% seeking small screen titillation from adult sites.
Lots of buzzwords available at the Enpocket site
11 January, 2006
Apple Release New Intel Macs And iLife’06
The expected has happened – Apple have unveiled their new Intel-basedMacs.
The first to appear are the iMacs boasting a dual-core Intel CPU,which are actually available to buy now. The long awaited new laptop (now calledthe MacBook Pro) will be available in Feb, but if you’re really chomping at the bit, you can pre-order though AppleStores.
The Intel chip used is the Core Duo (which is an evolution of the Pentium M). The 17″ iMac comes with a 1.87GHz version and the 20″ with a perkier 2.0GHzprocessor, both with Radion X1600 graphics cards.
All bus speeds have been boosted to 667MHz and now use PCI-Express. The rest of the spec is the same as the old iMacs – as are the cases. However the new architecture gives an speed increase (on paper) of 2-3 times the current G5 equivalent.
The MacBook Pro is currently only available in a 15.4″ version, but comes witheither a 1.67GHz or 1.83GHz Core Duo. Both modelsnow have a built-in iSight (video camera) and infra-red port (with an Apple remote) so they can be used as a portable versions of the iMac.
Steve Jobs showed his confidence in the new machines and their stability by running the whole Keynote presentation on the Intel iMac’s using native Intel compiled applications.
It’s all about software
Most of the keynote was about the new version on iLife, which you won’t be surprised to hear is called iLife’06. It continues to contain thestandard iTunes, iMovie HD, iDVD and GarageBand, but they’ve all had somemajor reworking.
With the arrival of the new Intel-chipped machines, they’ve all been changed to “Universal Applications,” so they’ll run on both Power and Intel CPUs.
There’s also a new application – iWeb – designed to make publishing a Websitevery easy. It works with Apple’s .Mac service (which costs money) butit’s sure to attract lots of new users, getting them to create new blogs. It allows integration with iPhoto for publishing photo galleries, maintaining a blog, etc.
iPhoto has had a major upgrade, making it much faster and able to now handle libraries of up to 250,000 photos (up from 25,000). There’s a host of new image manipulation features which work at the click of a button.The main new feature is Photocasting – similar to podcasts – but forphotos (again publishing needs a .Mac subscription). Anyone cansubscribe to a photocast and then have complete use of the images.
As Simon Newsflashed during the event, Garageband now supports making podcasts. It has microphone soundenhancements so the mic on a iMac or Powerbook can be used and it willautomatically reduce the background music while you’re talking. In addition to this you can insert photos to make it more interesting (Mr Jobs demoed this bydoing a Inside Mac – Steve’s rumours blog – which had an amusing twistto it as Apple are paranoid about info leaking out).
iMovie HD can do all sorts of animated titles and effects, exporting straight to a video iPod using the correct codecs, frame sizing, etc.
iDVD supports HD and at last external DVD burners straight from the programitself.
iWork’06 has also been upgraded – but frankly it’s not that interesting.
UK Pricing (inc VAT)
15″ MacBook Pro 1.67GHz £1,429.00
15″ MacBook Pro 1.83GHz £1,779.00
17″ iMac £ 929.00
20″ iMac £1,229.00
iLife’06 – £ 55.00 (included with new Macs)
iWork’06 – £ 55.00
Other mini announcements were a new iPod radio remote, iPod AVconnection kit and iPod nano lanyard in-ear phones.
Mac Book Pro
Watch Steve’s latest show-off
iLife’06
iWork’06
Intel Core Duo
11 January, 2006
TecHOMExpo At International Builder Show 2006
11.Jan.06 – 14.Jan.06 Home technology evolves too fast and furiously to miss this year’s version of tecHOMExpo. Now in its sixth year, tecHOMExpo lets you download ideas, new products, hands-on demos and more. High-speed access to the suppliers you need—and the custom upgrades consumers demand—will keep your business up to standard. tecHOMExpo keeps you on top of the technology you need to build new homes and earn more profit. Orange County Convention Center, Florida, USAhttp://www.buildersshow.com/tecHOMExpo/
11 January, 2006
Podcasting Studio Built Into New GarageBand
As expected, there’s lots of interesting things being revealed at Steve Jobs keynote at MacExpo, and in parallel at the BBC, where Steve Kennedy is embedded for us.
Among the things that grabbed us is big news for Podcasters. Apple are expanding GarageBand to include a podcast authoring studio.
Included are 200 royalty-free sound effects and 100 jingles. While other audio such as music is playing, the volume will automatically reduce once the host speaks.
Apple are also including a speech enhancer, which, without extra detail, I’d imagine is an audio compressor.
This kind of move by Apple will have a serious impact on companies offering podcasting software like Odeo.
Another great addition, which may hit Skype slightly, is the ability to carry out remote interviews using iChat.
More details soon. We’d imagine, once Steve gets off the stage on the Apple aite.
Apple GarageBand
10 January, 2006
Yahoo! Launches Go Services
Yahoo is launching a new service aimed at making it easier for users to connect to Yahoo Internet-based services through multiple Web-connected devices, including mobiles and TVs.
Announced by Yahoo chief executive Terry Semel at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the new Yahoo Go service consists of the Yahoo Go Desktop, Yahoo Go Mobile and Yahoo Go TV interfaces,
Each of the interfaces is optimised for the screen of the specific device, with Yahoo Go automatically serving up the appropriate interface.
So long as the device is connected to the Internet, users will be able to access their personal Yahoo content such as photos, email and address books.
Stating the flaming obvious, Semel commented: “We think the Internet is not a Web page or desktop, [but] an infrastructure and delivery vehicle for communication, experiences, entertainment and any kind of data you use on the Internet.”
“The next generation is about ease of use and open platforms that connect the Internet to any device that you all will be manufacturing. Yahoo is in the perfect position to be a great partner to all of you who are working on devices in the future,” he added.
Yahoo! will be rolling out their Go TV service in the next few months, with the service enabling users to access various other Web based services for TVs, including local movie listing search and personalised MyYahoo! functions.
If you’re a heavy Yahoo! user, we can see the attraction of the new Go services, with the universal internet database ensuring that personal info is synchronised across all your devices.
Even better, the remote storage concept means that your data will be safe if a device is misplaced or stolen.
Yahoo! Go.
10 January, 2006