Enigma Technology Blog

We've moved!

2011-04-07T21:10:00.000+01:00

Enigma Tech has moved to a brand spanking new site. Check it out.

This blog will no longer be updated - visit the new site for tech news and reviews.

Amazon Appstore for Android - live in the US; UK, not so much

2011-03-22T23:12:00.000Z

Amazon launched their "Appstore" (Apple suing - no surprises - for similarity to "App Store") today, although you'll only actually have any luck in the US as far as downloading an application - as here in the UK you'll be met wit a lovely pop-up telling you that it "isn't available in your region yet".

Regardless, you can still browse the selection; check out what the app has to offer, and decide whether you'll use it with Market, instead of, or ditch it before you've downloaded a single .apk.

It does prevent a bit of an issue for developers, as well as users, as there's the inevitable confusion of "which one should I be on?" - as a user, say I'm looking for a new messaging app, I now have to search the selection in two different places, probably seeing many duplicates - but not wanting to miss out on the gem of an app that happens to be on only one store. Guaranteed to be the one I don't look in.

Hopefully, developers will just sell their apps through both, and it won't be an issue. We can choose which to use based on how cool the store app itself is, features like 15min, 24hour trial periods - or Amazon's free paid app of the day.

HTC Smartphone and Tablet roundup

2011-03-22T21:28:00.000Z

Co-authoured by Ollie Ford and Patrick Beavis

HTC recently announced a mountain of new devices, including five smartphones that are subject of this article.

They've updated the Desire range with an extra model, refreshed the Wildfire and announced some Facebook dedicated phones - which can only loosely be called "smartphones" - and refreshed the Incredible too.

There's a bunch of fantastic new devices, really exciting stuff, so head past the break for a comprehensive list of the latest devices, pictures, and links to our posts with more information on each individual mobile.

- HD7 S

- Incredible S

- Desire S

- Wildfire S

- Flyer (Tablet)

- Pyramid

- EVO 3D

- EVO View 4G (Tablet)

- ChaCha (Facebook Phone)

- Salsa (Facebook Phone)

HTC Incredible S

2011-03-22T21:23:00.000Z

Co-authored by Ollie Ford and Patrick Beavis

Not too long ago, this new 4"; 1GHz Android smartphone was announced, along with it's carrying networks, which includes 3.

It's got some pretty good features too, including a smooth 4" capacitive touch screen and a massive 8 megapixel shooter; along with HD video recording of course. And some virtual surround sound to boot. 768MB RAM, front facing camera, discrete GPU and 1450mAh battery - it's a decently specced device, however with new devices launching with 1+ GHz dual core CPUs, 3D, bigger batteries, and RAM measured in the GB; it may not quite by the flagship device that HTC had planned for.

Since the announcement, HTC have said it will receive Android updates in Q2 so that doesn't lag behind.

We hope to have a full, in-depth review up soon, but until then, take a look at the HTC website for some more details on all of their handsets.

HTC Pyramid and EVO 3D

2011-03-22T19:23:00.001Z

HTC Pyramid

HTC EVO 3D

These two flagship "superphones" (I'm gonna go ahead and stick with smartphone) are very similar; the reason for their dual existence is pretty much just down to the USs carrier model. Sprint will get the EVO 3D as you'd expect, with T-Mobile bagging the HTC Pyramid (AT&T too, depending when you upgrade, thanks to the recent buy-out).

Both smartphones pack 4.3" qHD (960x540) capacitive touch displays, dual core 1.2GHz processors, and 5MP cameras on the back, with 1080p video playback.

Then, however, they start to differ. The EVO 3D has two 5MP cameras on the back, for some nifty 3D snaps/recording. It also plays back 3D on it's glasses-free 3D display (at 720p, 1080p is 2D only).

4G support is also on offer, which does make it tricky to predict whether or not we'll see these devices n the UK - our 4G spectrum isn't even being auctioned off to the mobile networks until after the Olympics, since it's being used for low latency raw footage transmissions.

We can always hope though! Keep your eyes peeled, and browsers firmly pointed toward our site for more info soon on pricing, release date, and UK availability.

Mozilla Firefox 4.0 - up for your taking

2011-03-22T16:20:00.005Z

That's right, Firefox 4.0 here on an internet near you...

As far as i can tell its the same old, faster, safer, stronger that all of the software updates normally are. But it does include some nice new features too, such as the App Tab.

After releasing a final Beta a few days back, we've got the real thing, so I downloaded and installed it, giving it a run for its money. It does seem to be up to standard with the new IE9 I posted about not too long ago.

Check it out for yourself, here.

Look out for our head to head comparison between IE9 and Firefox 4.0.

Amazon Kindle Review

2011-03-22T14:41:00.006Z

Amazon Kindle. I've got to admit I don't read much so haven't found much use for it. But this thing is incredible, the screen is just the most bizarre thing ever - it does look exactly like paper; unbelievably thin.

The battery life is amazing - I have had it for around 3 months and have only charged it once; currently on around 60% battery. OK, I haven't used it much but then I don't use my phone excessively either, which barely lasts a day.

Now the one down point about this is nothing related to the device itself, only the whole point of the thing - the books available. Harry potter for instance is not available from the Kindle store, which is a great shame.

It also includes a web browser, which isn't great, but good enough to update Facebook, Twitter; whatever. The biggest drawback to the browser is the keyboard. It's easier typing with my phone in my pocket, not least because of the bad keyboard, but also because of the slight screen lag, which isn't noticeable when reading but it's a definite issue when typing.

Ping me on Twitter with any requests for more Kindle info: @jashley94

HTC Desire Z (G2) - Review

2011-03-20T20:40:00.008Z

At last, I have my HTC Desire Z review to post. It's my only phone, I don't switch at all, so I use it 24/7 and it takes a lot of use...

First things first, whoa! Spec wise, it's not the greatest thing going, in the ever growing selection of HTCs, but it's not the worst, by a long shot. It looks the part too, it could be up there in the top ten for smartphone looks.

Hit the read on for the full review:

Hardware
I know what your thinking, it is not 1GHz; therefore behind the times. But the 800MHz clock speed is still quick, and the 1/2GB RAM is impressive enough to boot in under 10 seconds. The 1.5GB of built in flash storage is pretty handy too, but install the "DoubleTwist" app; add a 32GB flash memory card and you've got yourself an iPod too.

This new version of the G1 sports a very fetching physical, QWERTY; LED back-lit keyboard and a 3.7" capacitive touch screen with a very satisfying resolution, of WVGA 800x480.

Although you do pay in the overall weight of the phone, weighing in at 180g - That's including the 1300mAh battery, which lasts just over a day with heavy usage; 3G, WiFi, GPS all enabled - full brightness. Although the weight is in part due to the aluminium casing, which gels nicely with the rubberised finish on some other parts.

With the rear facing camera you can record 720p HD videos and snap 5MP stills - with the added bonus of saving, and sharing instantly from the palm of your hand.

Software

The current un-rooted handset sports Android 2.2 with HTC Sense, resulting in a smooth UI which runs quickly and is exceptionally user friendly. With the added bonus being you can hit the Marketplace and install the latest apps, or even, head to the net on your PC, and download and install apps from there straight to your Android handset.

Another great bonus is one that Sense provides, the remote locking, wiping, and calling of your smartphone from any PC hooked up to the internet.

A few other cool features are those which come with rooting your device, principally, removing Sense...

Although, there are some bad points, since nothing is perfect - for example, you can't use the home screen in landscape mode with the keyboard tucked away, it has to be flicked out. Sometimes it can be a bit slow to reorientate the home screen when flicking out the keyboard. And the battery life needs to be increased, but nobody in the smartphone industry really cares about that right now; beefier batteries only coming with beefier "superphones" which will use those bigger powerpacks just as fast.

Final points
Overall, the device is brilliant to use, it feels nice your hand and is a good size, the weight seems to add some sturdiness to the feel. The camera works really well, and the OS means that sharing is incredibly easy. The CPU is brilliantly fast and you can multitask as much as you like without feeling any performance hit. There are a few bad points but overall the device is exceptional and I cannot wait to review the next generation of HTC devices, G3, perhaps.

A must buy.
For more info visit the HTC site.

Note:

To answer the rumours about the keyboard slipping when using lying down, it does happen and it requires some magnets to hold it, but fingers can be positioned easily so that it is comfortable to hold and doesn't happen. However, the keyboard is sturdy and attached well using metals not plastic.

Internet Explorer 9 has arrived

2011-03-19T10:29:00.006Z

That's right - available from the 14th of March, the new Microsoft Internet Explorer: Version 9.

From the recent downloads, it looks like its here to stay - topping 2 million downloads in the first day - 2.3 million if we're being precise.

I decided to take a look, and it is a very modern; minimalistic look, with squares and sharp edges. But I'm sceptical as to whether it lives up to being, as it claims, "Clean", "Fast" and "Trusted"...

But figures surely speak for themselves, so it must be worth a look -

Hit the following link for the Bing Page, with Download options.

Google release date guesser, live in a search bar near you

2011-03-18T19:29:00.001Z

Try it now; searching for games or movies in Googles awesome search box should give you a "best guess" for the release date of that item.

It even quotes the sources (via an expandable menu) - which is pretty awesome. It works by crawling the net and finding dates mentioned next to products, the more it gets the more accurate and "best" it rates it - certain websites are also weighted favourably - such as IMDb, and Wikipedia.

Motorola Xoom WiFi model up for grabs

2011-03-17T22:59:00.000Z

The WiFi only Xoom is for sale at last - as part of a questionable strategy, Motorola first launched the 3G + WiFi (4G as a later software update) variant of their Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) tablet.

Just as the 3G version, the newly launched WiFi model packs a 10.1" WXGA (1280x800) display, supporting 1080p playback. The rear-facing camera captures 720p video, to be played back on the devices own screen, or your TV via the HDMI out.

Inside, it's housing a dual core Tegra 2 processor, clocked at 1GHz, along with up to 32GB flash storage.

For more information, find the Amazon store link below:

iPad 2: Everything you need to know

2011-03-14T00:06:00.001Z

It comes in white. It comes in black.

It's made by Apple, looks as good as ever.

It's the iPad 2.

The original iPad was a fantastic device. Completely blew up the industry and tablet market. Never before had so many people been in such a rush to get hold of a tablet. Apple sold more iPads in year one than there ever have been tablet PCs sold.

Should such monstrous success be left continue, eventually dwindle, and finally be awed at in the history books - or be followed up by a sequel, risking the image and recognition built up for further success?

Apple are banking on the latter; read on for more info on exactly what their following up the biggest success of 2010 with.

It would have been weirder if at least a front facing camera wasn't included in the second iteration iPad. Despite my musings that Steve Jobs may well step up on stage and say that noone wants to take pictures with a tablet, it's too big and clumsy for that (a point I would actually of agreed with) - "but instead, look how cool FaceTime is on the big screen!".

He didn't. The iPad 2 has rear and front cameras, but they're not that great. Not at all. Perhaps it's just Jobs punishing us for making him give in on his original "only the iPhone needs a camera" ethos - but the iPad has a VGA (0.3MP) camera on front, and about 1MP around back; enough to allow them to call it "HD".

The second most speculated to-be feature of the iPad 2 was a "Retina Display". Unfortunately, that was a no-no. Despite growing evidence, such as an image found iBooks at double width and height resolution, and with a suggestive name - the resolution of the iPad 2 remains the same.

The issue is that in order to keep it neat, as they did with the iPhone 4, Apple would need to double the resolution in both dimensions, to 2048 x 1536. That's a pretty big resolution anyway - nevermind for a 9.7" display. Unfortunately, it's still below the 320ppi point slated by Apple as being the point of "Retina Display". This is really just a testament to how poor the pixe density is of all our larger devices, TVs etc.

The A4 CPU from the original iPad has been swapped out for an A5 - a dual core "1GHz" (It's actually dynamically clocked at 900MHz) and the paltry 256MB RAM from the old has been bumped to 512MB on the new. This is a good thing, but it's still pretty small considering there are smartphones announced with 1GB of the good stuff.

And finally, perhaps the most innovative of moves from Apple since the original iPad itself - the "Smart Cover". This is quite a genius little case, available in a variety of colours, and either plastic or leather (for a price premium).

It folds round to support the iPad in every which way, flapping down to protect the screen when not in use. It's also held to the iPad via magnets, so it's secure as well as remaining discrete and not too bulky. The iPad will automatically sleep and wake with covering and uncovering of the screen, respectively.

The new iPad is a solid contender, but unless you love gaming on the go, or must have FaceTime on that larger screen; then it's probably just a great opportunity to nab an original iPad at its lowered price.

Personally, I'll be holding out for a higher resolution display - and also hoping that a manufacturer who's rather fond of Android beats Apple to it.

How-To: Installing a new CPU Cooler/Heatsink and Fan (Thermaltake Frio)

2011-02-12T21:26:00.000Z

Second in what hopes to be a long and fruitful series of How-To guides, I'll be explaining in full pictorial form how to install your latest CPU cooler, HSF, heatsink, fan, call it what you will.

Click the read on to chill your PC to dizzying new depths...

So you want to install a new CPU cooler, eh? Ok, luckily for you, it's really simple. But just to be sure, and for those of you experiencing your first time insidethe "scary tangled mess" that is the inards of your PC, I'll go through step by step, and with nice pictures too. Aren't I nice.

Safety first I was always taught, and it doesn't seem too bad a motto. Get yourself a nice open space, avoiding clutter and stress. Unplug everything from your PC, lie it down in this space, and then plug the power cord back in, and then plug that in turn into the wall socket.

Make sure it is turned off at the wall, and off at the back of your PC. "Why am I leaving it in?!" I hear you cry, the reason is simple. Earthing. You know the top prong of the UK spec wall plug? That's the earth connection, or ground. By leaving it in, even when off you're still connected to earth. Which means that as long as you are touching the PC chassis, even if you do get electrocuted (Try not to..) then the current has a direct path to earth, an you won't be zapped comic-book style.

So, you're all safe, let the fun commence. This bit will differ slightly, depending on your case.

You need to open it up, so you can get at the inside. The overwhelming majority open on the left-hand side as you face the case. And most have thumb screws on the back to hold it in place. If not, just have a fiddle, you'll soon work out how to get it off - many OEM PC's are held in place by "normal screws", requiring a screwdriver.

Take the fixings out, whatever the are, and store them safely to one side.

Next, if your case doesn't have a suitably large cutout behind the current cooler, you'll have to remove the motherboard by unplugging the CPU PWM fan regulator, and unscrewing the six (usually) screws around the edges.

Once it's out, remove the current cooler. If it's the stock AMD/Intel cooler, you just need to twist and pull the four pins on the corners. Any other cooler, read through this guide and follow it backwards, until the old cooler is removed.

Now it's off, you should see some TIM (thermal paste) left on the CPU.

Before installing the new cooler, we need some fresh grease on. But before that, we want to clean off the old stuff. Some pros use alcohol rub, even sandpaper, to get a really neat finish and maximise overclocking potential. Just giving it a rub should clear it off though - and if you're not trying to win an OCing competition, it's fine.

Now you can squeeze the fresh stuff on, spreading it lightly and thinly, not too close to the edges. Once you place the HSF on the weight will spread it further out, and you don't want it oozing over the sides.

Having already fixed the mounting points to the cooler (if necessary on your model), place the motherboard over an upside down HSF - ensuring that the mounting points and contact plate line up with those on the motherboard, and the CPU socket itself.

Then, place the backplate over the protruding pins, and secure in place.

Return your motherboard to the upright position, and admire.

PCI(-e) cards added for perception only, easier to install them after replacing mobo into case

Then simply refit into your case, and job done. Hop into BIOS and see how far you can OC - if that's your thing.

Android Market packed full with new features

2011-02-02T19:08:00.000Z

The Android Market now features a web store, where you will be able to freely browse the wondrous collection of free and paid apps.

Should you decide that a particular app is worthy of your hard-earned - go ahead and purchase, and the app will be remotely installed to your phone/tablet over the air (OTA).

Perhaps, however you want to try out the free version first. But "Oh what a pain" you cry, realising you will have to then un-install the free and download the full. No more! Google has freed you of such hindering tasks; the in-app purchases SDK was released today, allowing developers to include support for buying full versions, or add-in packs from within the app itself.

No more themes littered throughout the Market!

Intel Recalls Sandy Bridge Chipsets Due to Faults

2011-02-01T00:04:00.000Z

Intel has issued a press release stating that they will be recalling "Cougar Point" (That's the codename for 6-series chipsets, as found on Sandy Bridge motherboards) chips due to an issue with the onboard SATA controller, it appears that it "degrades over time" causing poor I/O performance in the longer term.

Those of you with H67/P67 'boards need not worry - it's perfectly safe to go about your day to day computing - just be on the look out for recall notices.

Intel are expecting a $300m hit to their revenue for the first quarter as a result.

Fixed chipsets should roll out in April, giving AMD ample time to launch it's own Bulldozer line of CPU's and enjoy some domination.

This is all vaguely reminscent of Intel's problems way back in 2004, with the 915 and 925 chips' PCI-e controllers.

Motorola Atrix pictured and videoed

2011-01-28T20:45:00.000Z

You remember the Motorola Atrix, right? My favourite thing to come out of CES?

Of course you do, well, today Motorola has launched it, in the consumer orientated sense. Nerds are all for CES releases, but the consumer at large tends to be unaware until the more public launches.

However, these consumer launches are good for us too, because we generally get some prettier pictures, and some really feature descriptive videos.

Catch said video after the read more link.

On a related note, many US stock inventories are reporting the Atrix 4G as costing $150 on contract.

However that can't be directly converted to the UK, due to our very different smartphone model.

Sony announces PSP 2, aka NGP

2011-01-27T23:53:00.000Z

Sony has unveiled a new addition to the PlayStation franchise. Coupled with the Xperia Play it looks as though they really want to push mobile gaming still.

The new PSP (codenamed NGP - Next Generation Portable - although as above, branded PlayStation) will not feature a UMD drive - but unlike the PSP Go which relies purely upon downloaded games, the NGP will use micro SD cards, preloaded with games, and space reserved for save game data.

Sony are calling it out as having great integration with the PS Suite for Android, which is flying along nicely with the Xperia Play - allowing non PS branded phones to get in on the action.

It features a quad core ARM CPU - the Cortex A9, along with a new and improved GPU: SGX543MP4+. Attracting most attention will be a 5" 960x544 multitouch OLED and dual analogue nubs, without the Go's silly slide out mechanism.

[More after the link]

It also features cameras front and back; WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth and GPS radios, along with a six-axis motion sensor (comprising of a three-axis gyrometer and a three-axis accelerometer) and also a three-axis compass.

Battery life is said to be four to five hours, and the NGP's dimensions are 182 x 18.6 x 83.5mm.

Sony have confirmed that the NGP will be on shop shelves in time for xmas, but are keeping hush on price. Industry analysts lead us to believe, however, that it will fall within the $299-$349 bracket. By using my unfair-currency-converter-specifically-for-tech-sales, that equates to around £250-£300 - although, using my own judgement, I think a price around the £250 mark is most likely, given the original PSP launch price - and this would also allow scope for some decent bundles to occupy the £300 spot.

Google launches HTML5 Gmail notifications to Chrome

2011-01-27T17:28:00.000Z

Chrome user? Within a couple of clicks, you too can have these slick notifications pop up for Chat and Gmail.

If you're not a Chrome user, however, you'll have to wait a while. Or you could just go get Chrome, you're need a new browser anyway, right?

Read on to see how to set it up.

Setup is straightforward.

Simply visit mail.google.com and click "enable" on the yellow bar up top advertising the new feature.

Should you read this article when the hype dies down however, and the yellow banner changes to extort the benefits and opportunities of some other feature, then just hit Settings in the top right, scroll down a tad and hit "enable" on both Chat and Mail.

Or whichever one takes your fancy.

Cheers, Googs.

Google censors filesharing searches

2011-01-27T16:52:00.001Z

In a strange move, or a company generally favouring the "we provide whatever you want" model - and disputing with China over it, Google has taken the necessary steps to stop auto-completing and showing instant search results for your searches "bittorrent" and the like.

Go ahead, try.

Just entering "bitt" is enough to get a completely blank canvas, waitin you to daringly finish your word.

Oddly, however, 'suggestions' remain intact. Helpfully offering results for "bittorrent" when only searching "bittorren".

Humax HD-FOX T2 (Freeview HD) Review

2011-01-26T20:42:00.001Z

Recently, I reviewed the Humax Freesat HD, but then I thought: what if I don't want a satellite fitted - what if I really want the plug and play functionality and ease of not waiting for the professionals come around and hook you up?

So I took a good look at the market for these bad-boys and found that you can actually get a Freeview HD (DVB-T2) box pretty cheap from your local, Argos or from Amazon. So, off I trotted looking for the best deal, and eventually deciding that I could not be bothered with any hassle, so I nipped into Argos and parted with £149.99 of my hard earned cash, all in exchange for the HUMAX HD-FOX T2 HD receiver.

Pricing

Like I said, the kind woman at Argos said they don’t accept haggling and that it would definitely cost me £149.99, which is a bit steep for an STB with no HDD and recording capability. Manufacturers seem to be very keen to charge extra for T2 boxes, despite the fact that there is negligible difference in component cost to them. HD is just another tick box, which in turn allows them to raise the price.

What do you get?

Well, it's very similar to the other boxes, with a remote and batteries as standard, the documents needed just in case it dies, so that I can have it repaired as long as it dies within the year. However there is no HDMI cable included, which isn't a problem for most of us, although it is no help to the average consumer, who will end up watching "HD television", in SD, because they are completely unaware that they need a separate cable.

Set-up/installation

This was easy, even a technophobe could hook it up with ease. In short, I unpackaged it, whacked it onto the AV rack, plugged in the power, plugged in the antenna cable as per normal. Plugged in my new (separately bought) Belkin HDMI, in the STB and TV. Then switched the beast on, tuned the channels and sat back to enjoy glorious HD-ness.

So is it actually any good?

I reckon so, there may not be many channels right now, but the ones that do exist, look pretty good, generally. The box itself is small and looks pretty cool too; the remote simple and easy to use. But the main factor, the quality, when in HD is amazing. Even SD content looks better than usual. The UI is pretty simple, theres only really a guide, and I’m not too bothered about it, but I do like it more than the standard LG or Panasonic EPGs, that came with my TVs. Overall, I think its a fabulous piece of kit.

Ollie Ford:

Great stuff, but check out some of Pat's other Humax reviews, to see if something else is an even better boat floatation device.

Humax FoxSat-HDR 320GB (Freesat HD Recorder) Review

2011-01-26T20:40:00.005Z

This is the last of my Humax STB reviews for now, but I’ve probably saved the best until last.

This little box is a combination of all that I’ve previously reviewed, it combines the pleasing aesthetics, a sleek UI, internal HDD storage and near perfect picture quality. To create a product which any AV rack would be proud to store, and any TV would be proud to offer a display of.

Pricing
This little number is obviously the more expensive of the Humax STBs, and can be purchased for around about £300. But you may require specialist installation for the satellite dish which may result in more fees, or just a higher price in the shop.

What do you get?
After busting open the box you'll find the rather large Freesat set top box itself, which bears an uncanny resemblance in size to a BD player. Then, of course is the obligitory paperwork, along withremote and batteries, plentifully long power cables and the all important HDMI lead.

Setup/installation
The setup process is the same as the FoxSat HD, only difference between the STBs is the DVR capability of this 320GB HDR model.

Is it actually any good?
Very much so, I fell in love with it with ease, well not in love, but there was a definite nerd to gadget connection (probably via the remote). I’ll get the downfalls out of the way first, should be quick - Firstly, the UI is less easy-going than the HD-FOX Freeview STB, and it does take up more width on the AV rack; you also have to bear the slow start-up times.

Then of course theres the ups: it looks amazing, it’s obviously not an Apple product, but if it was unibody aluminum, it could be. The User Interface is complicated, but it is very very slick, and has really well developed to look good too. The HD channels are, well HD, and the SD channels are of a similarly good quality when coupled with the satellite dish and the 1080p Panasonic set I tested with. 320GB was ample for my recording needs, even when taking the toll of larger HD recordings.

Overall, I would strongly recommend it for those of you with slightly deeper pockets. I would even go as far as to say that this is the best buy of all the Humax STBs. However, getting your mitts on one may set you back a small fortune, although you certainly do get what you pay for. This box truly is brilliance, wrapped in a beautifully HD friendly box.

O2 launching nation-wide WiFi hotspot

2011-01-26T18:09:00.000Z

Not so much a 'hotspot', as a blanket of general heat, O2 is intending to provide a technology and service to "enable a seamless customer experience", which will "at least double the number of premium hotspots currently offered by BT Openzone and The Cloud combined by 2013".

Bold claims, and to make such a service "free to customers" too, just why are they doing it?

Well, they worded it well, the service may be free "to customers", but you can rest assured they will be getting their pay cheques from the ad companies. The other benefit will be ease on existing 3G, and future 4G networks.
It's amusing to think, that since acquiring 3G licenses from HM Government for £22.5bn, our network operators have done nothing but throttle our mobile data usage, charging extortionate rates, 1GB capped "Unlimited" packages, and so on.

Now O2 is launching a WiFi service based around public hotspots daisy-chained together in a complex repeater type arrangement, in order to ease their network that cost so much to buy in the first place.

USB Connector whacks in whichever way up

2011-01-26T17:54:00.001Z

Ma Xi Xuan has developed a concept for a USB connector, that connects, both ways up. Thus eliminating the never-ending frustration of many Serial Bus using dudes, Universally.

"DoubleUSB" works (or, conceptually works) by using a springy 'middle bit', which flicks over to the appropriate side when you ram it home inside a USB port.

To be of any use, though, it has to be widely adopted by hardware manufacturers. There's no way I'm buying a van load of these and replacing all my existing connectors.

AMD Radeon 6990 - The Dual GPU, 4GB GDDR5 Pixel-Punching Beast

2011-01-26T17:43:00.000Z

The Dual GPU, 4GB GDDR5 Pixel-Punching Beast is pretty much the official name. I think.

The reference card (pictured above by 4Gamer.net) has been shown off by AMD (ATI) at the Asia Pacific tech event. The 6990 4GB will fill the slot of 6xxx answer to AMD's older dual-GPU card; the 5970 2GB.

It will likely be based on the 6970's GPU, of the Cayman architecture, giving it a total of 3,072 stream processors. It could, however have slightly less and be based on the 6950 - a move I don't think AMD would pull unless they intend to have two dual-GPU cards occupying the top spot (perhaps a dual-6950 based 6980?).

Round back, we can see four mini DisplayPort outputs, along with a single DVI slot. That's no Eyefinity 6 - but then MSI, Asus, Evga, XFX etc. love to handle that themselves. Of course, some crazy folk will chain a couple of these bad-enough-as-it-is boys up in CrossFireX.

Here's awaiting more info.

Sony's "Xperia Play" PlayStation Phone - impending launch!

2011-01-26T17:27:00.000Z

The guys over at Engadget just nabbed themselves an exclusive preview of Sony's much talked about PlayStation Phone.

It's a very nice looking device - with a fantastic rear - and you should definitely check out their full impression.

Bringing a whole new meaning to PSP, (as it is far more likely to be called that than "Xperia Play" by enthusiasts) the PSPhone is packing an upto 1GHz Qualcomm CPU, with an Adreno 205 GPU.

It runs Android 2.3 and supports emulators for your old PlayStation and GameBoy games. That's pretty sweet backwards compatibility.

More info, including pricing should appear at MWC.