Watch your favourite live and recorded TV anywhere in the world with Belkin’s @TV Plus

(Rushden, UK). – 25 July, 2012 – Belkin has today unveiled the latest addition to its entertainment line-up, with the introduction of @TV Plus. Belkin’s @TV Plus allows you to watch live TV on your mobile devices – wherever you are in the world. Whether you’re traveling on holiday or on business, commuting by bus or train, or just enjoying the sun in the garden, you needn’t miss your favourite TV show or live sports event ever again.

Belkin’s @TV Plus turns your iOS or Android tablet and smartphone, or your laptop into a TV,enabling you to watch and control all of your home TV channels from anywhere in the world, as long as there’s a WiFi or 3G/LTE connection. @TV Plus also allows you to record live TV directly onto your mobile device so you can watch your favourite TV when it’s convenient for you, even if you don’t have access to WiFi*.

Belkin’s @TV Plus is easy to install and use, connecting to your digital set top box and to your router via it’s built in wireless connection, or via a wired connection if preferred. @TV Plus streams the signal from your digital TV service to up to 8 devices simultaneously within your home network, or to one mobile device located outside.

@TV Plus also turns your mobile device into a remote control, allowing you to scroll through channels and tap to record live programs with the SurfSwipe integrated channel guide. The @TV Plus App works on Android and iOS platforms for tablets and Smartphones, and is available from iTunes and the Android Play Store. Windows and MacOS player and configuration software is also provided.

@TV Plus (G1V1000) - £149.99/€199.99

• Control your digital set-top box using your smart device whenever you want, wherever you are
• Record live television to your smart device’s internal memory*
• Surf channels at the flick of a finger with SurfSwipe integrated channel guide**
• Wi-Fi enabled for easy placement in any room of the house
• Built In security with Cloud-based connection, built-in firewall and NAT traversal
• App for iOS and Android tablets and smartphones
• PC and MacOS player and configuration software
• @TV Plus will be available in August.

*In the UK, record feature can only be used while on your home network
**In supported countries

New Canon X Mark I Pro Launched

The X Mark I Pro is the latest addition to our award-winning X series line-up already consisting of business function calculators, mouse, keypads, pointer and portable printing calculators. The new model’s 610 advanced functions are the highest available in Canon’s X series line-up. It is intended for those customers who demand not only advanced functions, but also seek a unique and luxury product with a stylish design.

LOL … gotcha !!! I bet you thought this was a new camera.

Qantas will equip some planes with iPads later this year

Australian airline Qantas has followed the lead of some other airlines in cutting traditional in-flight entertainment systems in favor of tablets. Starting in the fourth quarter of 2012, selected Boeing 767 planes will include an iPad in every seat. Unlike other airlines, which generally choose to pre-load content, Qantus will give customers streaming access to 200 hours of audio and television, using an in-flight wireless system it's been testing since early this year. Qantas says that one plane is already fitted with the iPads, and The Canberra Times reports it will be expanded mostly on domestic east coast flights and flights to Perth.

As with Scoot and Alitalia, Qantas is likely making the change in part for a very practical reason: fuel savings. Removing bulky entertainment systems can significantly cut the weight of an aircraft, making it more efficient. For now, most of these companies are phasing in tablets gradually, but it's becoming less unusual to see them adopted.

[Source: TheVerge]

Google Acquires Sparrow

The GMail app we all grew to love has now moved homes. Sparrow has been bought up by the powers-that-be at Google HQ. Things will continue, but will we see development halt on the Mac app as we know it? I think so.

The following quote is from the company website.

"We're excited to announce that Sparrow has been acquired by Google! We care a lot about how people communicate, and we did our best to provide you with the most intuitive and pleasurable mailing experience.

Now we're joining the Gmail team to accomplish a bigger vision — one that we think we can better achieve with Google. We’d like to extend a special thanks to all of our users who have supported us, advised us, given us priceless feedback and allowed us to build a better mail application. While we’ll be working on new things at Google, we will continue to make Sparrow available and provide support for our users.

We had an amazing ride and can't thank you enough.

Full speed ahead!" [Quote Dom Leca, CEO, Sparrow]

Evernote updates Safari browser extension

Evernote has added a heap of new features to its Safari extension, all of which should appeal to power users. The big change is that when you add a web page, it will automatically attempt to file your clipping into the tags and notebooks you've already set up —ex. if you clip a recipe, Evernote might be able to guess that you'd like it in your cookbook notebook — and now if that notebook happens to be shared, it will actually work. Evernote will also attempt to automatically detect which portion of the page's content you're interested in. Lastly, Evernote inserts itself into your Google searches, adding a link to the top of the results page that points back to your own account. You can add the new web clipper by going to this page in Safari.

[Source: TheVerge]

Glopho launches the world’s first social network for news photos

Today sees the launch of Glopho, a unique online photo-sharing service designed specifically to allow anyone to “make the news” with the pictures they take. Now the millions of people with a camera in their pocket, budding amateur photographers or seasoned professionals can all share the moments they capture and the crowd can decide what is news.
 
The riots, the Royal procession or the dog on a skateboard; any photo can be easily and immediately shared via the Glopho website and mobile apps and then onwards through Facebook, Twitter or other social channels. Glopho is completely free to use and takes ‘citizen photo-journalism’ to new levels by introducing unique crowd-sourcing and news curation elements to photo-sharing.
 
Glopho is complementary to existing social networks.  It allows everyone to easily share the pictures they take not just with their friends and family, but with the wider world.  Users can follow their favourite photographers and their friends to see all the news they share, every day.
 
The Glopho website shows photos in a rolling format in simple category windows - Reality, Locality and Celebrity – alongside the Users’ Choice, Editor’s Choice and Latest images.  Pictures carry the photographer’s own description to explain the ‘what, where and when’ and can be tagged to make them easy to find.  Users can personalise their homepage to show their own photos and those of their friends, as well as the other photographers they follow.
 
Glopho apps are available in both iPhone and Android versions to make it even easier for people to post their pictures and enjoy looking at Glopho while on the go. Those using digital cameras rather than smartphones can upload their pictures via their computer or laptop.
 
Founder and CEO of Glopho, Simon Walker, said:
 
“I have believed for some time that we are all now news photographers and just need an easy and effective way to share with the outside world the pictures we take each day. News is happening all around us and, more than ever, we are well-equipped to capture those moments digitally.  The explosion of social media has also given us, both as individuals and collectively, a bigger voice than ever.  Glopho harnesses these phenomena and provides the perfect space to share what we witness and decide together what we call news.”              
 
Glopho is the brainchild of award-winning photojournalist and picture editor Simon Walker, now founder and CEO of Glopho.  The idea and the business he has created has been developed over the last two years. Thorough Beta testing has allowed iterative development and the creation of the current proposition which is launched fully to the public today. Further developments including new features and improved app usability are scheduled to be released over the next 2 months, with releases planned for every 2-3 weeks.
 
Glopho’s revenue model will see it earning money in two ways.  Firstly, from advertisers paying to launch their own ‘premium galleries’, allowing them to get greater value from increasingly content-led social marketing strategies.  Secondly, Glopho will take a share of the fees earned by photographers when pictures are sold to news and other outlets wanting to use any images from the site.
 
In its recent first round of funding, Glopho closed an SEIS-eligible round of £150k, corner-stoned by a London Business Angels Network syndicate, and joined by a number of other experienced private investors.
 
Glopho is run by a top flight management team of experienced senior professionals including founder Simon Walker (CEO), Erik Wenngren (Chairman), James Serjeant (CFO), Richard Ireland (CMO) and Karl Knoflach (CTO). 

TRENDnet® Ships World’s Smallest Powerline Networking Adapter

TRENDnet’s Smallest Ever 500 Mbps Powerline Adapter Networks Computers, Media Players, and Televisions to the Internet using Existing Electrical Lines

LONDON, UK. – July 17, 2012– TRENDnet, a best-in-class wired and wireless networking hardware brand, announces today the availability of the 500 Mbps Compact Powerline AV Adapter Kit, model TPL-406E2K, which comes with two TPL-406E powerline adapters. These high performance 500 Mbps adapters are fifty percent smaller than the average 500 Mbps adapter.

New media center devices such as Internet televisions, digital video recorders (DVRs), receivers, and game consoles are capable of streaming large HD files directly from the Internet. TRENDnet's ground breaking TPL-406E2K connects all of these devices to the Internet using existing electrical lines.

Network one adapter to a router and plug the other adapter into any outlet on the same electrical system for instant high speed network access. Different TRENDnet adapters automatically connect to each other over a secure encrypted signal with no CD installation required. For additional security, press the Sync button to change existing encryption keys. Embedded power saving technology lowers power consumption by up to 70% in standby mode—resulting in measurable power savings, given that the adapters are always plugged in.

“The combination of 500 Mbps speeds, a small form factor, and a reduced price point redefines the 500 Mbps Powerline category,” stated Zak Wood, Director of Global Marketing. “Consumers considering Powerline solutions will notice the TPL-406E2K.”

Product information:

TPL-406E2K Availability: Will be shipping to TRENDnet’s UK online and retail partners in August.

TPL-406E2K MSRP: £69.99

Microsoft takes steps to drown Google Apps before it's too late

 Microsoft might be a little more scared of Google Apps for Business than it's publicly letting on, according to a new report.

The software giant has, over the last several months, made several moves to stop enterprise customers from adopting Google Apps, according to The Wall Street Journal, which reported on those decisions today. Microsoft has cut pricing on its cloud-based alternative, Office 365, as well as increased commissions it pays to resellers to make the prospect of switching to Google's service less palatable.

According to the Journal, Microsoft has established a "Google Compete" team designed solely to stop its current Office customers from switching to Google Apps. The Compete team's practices weren't fully detailed by the Journal, but in one case, the members tried wooing a major company by inviting executives to Microsoft's Redmond headquarters and showing off product road maps.

In the end, however, the company, Dominion Enterprises, ditched its $2-million-a-year contract with Microsoft to go with Google Apps. Dominion now pays $200,000 a year for Google Apps.

Google's product suite, which includes e-mail, documents, and collaboration tools, is taking advantage of the growing importance of the cloud to appeal to customers. Although Microsoft has historically gone to the desktop with its productivity tools, the company also has Office 365, an offering that puts its many services, including Office apps and e-mail, in the cloud for corporate users.

Despite Microsoft's issues with Google Apps, the software giant is touting Office 365's success. Just last week, in fact, Microsoft said that Office 365 is on track to surpass SharePoint as its fastest-selling enterprise product ever. In addition, the company said that Office 365 is viewed as so important to its enterprise future that Kevin Turner, Microsoft's chief operating officer, said he will personally intervene in order to make a deal happen.

It's possible that Office might become the focal point of a press event Microsoft is holding later on today in San Francisco, but so far, the company hasn't tipped its hand. CNET will be there with a live blog to ensure you don't miss any of the news coming out of the event.

CNET has contacted Microsoft for comment on the Journal's report. We will update this story when we have more information.

Source: CNET

BBC Digital Earning BIG Bucks

Seems like the British Broadcasting Corporation has finaly started to understand digital media. According to Techcrunch, the BBC now has 25 million app downloads which account for 13% of its revenue.

"Those VOD downloads, the BBC says, were triple this year compared to the year before, with sales coming not just from over-the-top providers like Netflix, but also “established broadcasters,” a sign of how these older companies will not go gently into the night as Netflix continues its download march, with an increasing shift of viewing time on its service dedicated to TV shows rather than films (a trend that would play into the hand of BBC Worldwide, which has a far greater catalog of TV shows than it does feature films)."

New Mobile Projectors from 3M Available Now

Widescreen resolution and triple-digit luminosity are among two new enhancements announced by diversified technology company 3M in the ongoing development of its award-winning mobile projection technology.  The new additions include a battery-powered, office on-the-go, mobile projector for smaller group presentations and an AC-powered, palm-sized mobile projector for impressive big-screen presentations.

The 3M Mobile Projector MP220 is the first product in the company’s award-winning family of mobile projectors to offer widescreen (WSVGA) resolution. A strong, 65-lumen brightness helps the projector deliver high clarity while a 120-minute battery life allows users a complete mobile projection experience, staying brighter for longer.  A robust, 1GB internal memory and expandable MicroSD card slot enables easy loading and storage of files directly on the projector.

Using the adapter cable to fit Apple devices, the Mobile Projector MP220 can easily connect with iPads or iPhones to display photos and videos and instantly share with others. It is also the first 3M Mobile Projector portfolio to utilise the intuitive Android operating system. Users can take advantage of the installed Documents to Go App to view Microsoft Office documents and other files. The versatility and portability of the projector therefore makes it the ideal companion device for the burgeoning mobile worker population, enhancing professional pitches and presentations, as well as offering instant entertainment.

The 3M Mobile Projector MP410 is the strongest AC-powered mobile projector for its size on the market today.  The palm-sized projector outputs a crystal-clear, 300-lumen, HD image of up to 100inches diagonally, yet has just a 400 cubic centimetre footprint and weighs less than 375 grammes.  Like all 3M Mobile Projectors, this model boasts an impressive 20,000 hour LED life, so no expensive maintenance or costly bulb replacement is required. The Mobile Projector MP410 arrives equipped with a VGA cable for quick and easy connection to laptops, as well as international power adapters for global portability. With a simple-to-use control menu and extensive user settings (including eco-mode and keystone correction), the projector is a portable powerhouse suitable for big-screen presentations and media viewing (straight out of its own pint-sized carry case, also included).

In addition to the impressive projection performance, the Mobile Projector MP410 can also be purchased with an optional USB Wi-Fi dongle. Once connected to the dongle, the projector can wirelessly project documents, photo slideshows or videos from any smartphone or tablet device capable of running the ‘MobiShow’ App (available on Android, Blackberry or iOS). When using a netbook or laptop, users can benefit from further ‘air-play’ functionality as the Wi-Fi dongle will project a mirror of the entire screen, as if connected to the projector by a cable.

The 3M Mobile Projector MP220 (retail price: £399) and Mobile Projector MP410 (retail price: £499) are available to buy from Amazon and Personal Projector.

Available here:

Mobile Projector MP410 - http://bit.ly/3MMP410

Mobile Projector MP220 - http://bit.ly/3MMP220

TweetDeck Twitter Security

Oh nooooo what a mess TweetDeck has made of my recent install on a new piece of Apple hardware. After cloning across a previous backup, I logged into TweetDeck (not Twitter) and it pulls all my Twitter & Facebook accounts across. 

I respond to an enquiry tweet from someone asking about VizBox.TV (the website I set up, but am no longer with) and TweetDeck responds from the VizBoxTV twitter account. 

I was so furious, the application would not even allow me to delete the tweet. Not having control of the account or the password, this was really weird.

What worries me though is a security flaw in TweetDeck. Of course I managed to manually remove the account, so the error cannot re-occur, but imagine if you got your TweetDeck account hacked. Worse than that, what if you restored someones else's Mac from a clone you had made… just one sign in and they would be able to tweet from all your previous accounts. I think an update with some security preferences would be a good idea.

Google Unveils Nexus Q Streamer

Nexus Q streams your favorite entertainment directly from the cloud to your living room. Just use the Google Play and YouTube apps on your Android phone or tablet to surf an ocean of music, TV, movies and music, and Nexus Q will play it all on the biggest speakers and screen in the house. There are no downloads, no syncing, no running out of space. Just the stuff you love -- at home and out loud.