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Toy Story 3 Review (3D)
July 13, 2010
Toy Story 3 (PG)
Cast: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Ned Beatty, Don Rickles, Michael Keaton, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Estelle Harris
Director: Lee Unkrich
Running time: 103 minutes
Eventually, we’re all just going to have to admit that some of our best friends have been inanimate. I’ll be the first to come clean; I have no problems with that sort of thing. Then Pixar happily came along in 1995 and gave us a bundle of animated inanimate friends to get us through our days. When Pixar released their trailer for the third installment of pixilated goodness, I just knew it was going to please every fiber of my being. I remember chatting to some friends at the time who were mortified at the prospect of Pixar simply cashing in and trying to squeeze this franchise for all it was worth. I’ve personally never seen Pixar to be that type of company, but who can tell nowadays when every other film released is either some spin-off, sequel, prequel or end of a trilogy.
Continue reading »Iron Man 2 Review
July 11, 2010
Iron Man 2 (12A)
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson
Director: Jon Favreau
Running time: 124 minutes
Say the name ‘Tony Stark’ and the comic book geeks among us feel the surge in our chests, the ladies can’t stop their pupils dilating and the gents… well, they’re simply envious. It’s extremely difficult for someone with so much wealth, power and sex appeal to not develop a gigantic ego – especially if they had a pretty big one to begin with. But, despite Stark’s superciliousness, he has a certain je ne se quois that makes him admirable. We learnt in the first Iron Man film that he was willing to put aside his love for fame and power to do what was right. But, somehow, he’s managed to screw up again and the sequel takes you on a journey of the contents of his mind.
Continue reading »YouTube Adds 4K Video Support & Moves Towards An Even More HD Future
July 10, 2010
It’s been a big summer so far for the folks over at YouTube… First came Vuvuzela support, promptly followed by a update of the YouTube mobile site in HTML 5, and now this.
By ‘this’, I mean 4K video support, which is now available to users who are uploading content which was originally shot and encoded in 4K resolution. That’s a whopping 4096 x 3072, putting our measly 1080p and 720p “high definition” standards to shame.
Continue reading »New YouTube Mobile Site Adds HTML5 Support – iPhone & iPad Viewers Rejoice?
July 9, 2010
Just last week, the big bods at YouTube published a short memo stating several deficiencies of HTML5 when compared to its rival platform, Adobe Flash. However, be that as it may, the newly updated YouTube mobile site now supports HTML5.
It is a bizarre move, but one that will ultimately no doubt be successful as the implementation of HTML5 support allows those using mobile devices unable to support Flash without hacks (such as the iPhone and the iPad), will be able to enjoy all of the content on YouTube in their web browser (Safari), rather than in a separate application.
Continue reading »Want Flash On Your (Jailbroken) Apple iPad? Here’s How To Do It!
July 7, 2010
It’s official! Anyone with a jailbroken iPad can now enjoy Flash content in the browser (don’t kill the messenger, Steve!), thanks to a plugin that’s been developed called Frash. At the moment, you can’t play Flash video on your iPad, although that is definitely arriving in a version in the not so distant future. For now though you can still play games, which is certainly a good starting point.
So how does one install Frash on to an Apple iPad? Check out the instructions below to find out!
The Guide
These instructions were gathered from Engadget, full credit goes to them.
First things first, you need to make sure you’re doing this on a jailbroken iPad, as it will not work if you’re using a stock version of the device.
Continue reading »Reader’s Digest Magazine iPad App Released
July 7, 2010
Reader’s Digest has been in the news of late for all the wrong reasons unfortunately due to it having gone into administration, but since its recent acquisition back in April by the Better Capital Fund things have started to look brighter for the popular publication. Especially now that there will be a new way to read the magazine, just buy it on your Apple iPad.
Thanks to YUDU media the full magazine will be replicated into a digital format similarly to how many other popular magazines (such as Wired for instance) and books have transitioned to an iOS paid application or iBook.
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Apple iPad Stylus Input Device – Pressure Sensitive Drawing App Possible?
July 5, 2010
Due to the nature of the Apple iPad’s impressive touch-screen display, up until now it has been impossible to do any real free hand drawing on the device, as its display isn’t pressure sensitive. However, thanks to the guys at Ten One Design and their incredible iPad software development, by using their Pogo Touchscreen Stylus they have enabled such a feature and intend to share it with developers around the world.
So OK it is never going to be in the same bracket as the likes of the Wacom Graphics Tablet range, but never the less this is a fun, if not necessary inclusion in the development of apps allowing users a lot more freedom in the way they interact with the iPad with a pressure-sensitive drawing tool.
Continue reading »Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows Trailer
June 29, 2010
It’s here!! It’s finally here!! The trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is now up and running and it looks superb.
In case you’re not aware, there’s a young wizard called Harry Potter and a very bad man called Lord Voldemort, and it’s all about to hit the fan!
The Deathly Hallows is the final book in the phenomenon that is Harry Potter, and I’m so glad that they’ve split the book into two films otherwise there would be far too much that would have to be cut out of the film, and that would have annoyed the hell out of me. All being well both parts will be over the 2 and a half hour mark as to give the fans the best Harry Potter film(s) yet.
Continue reading »OnLive Cloud Gaming Service Works On Apple iPad (Tech Demo)
June 28, 2010
News has been coming out of the OnLive cloud-based streaming games service thick and fast of late, and if you have been following the services progress then you will know of course that I refer to the announcements regarding the release schedule of the dedicated OnLive micro-console hardware.
But upon the company’s initial unveiling of its plans they discussed the possibility of other, mobile platforms for OnLive gaming, such as the iPhone. However, a new player has stepped into the mix since then; a player much more capable of handling the demands of on-the-go gamers. The Apple iPad.
So it begs the question, how exactly do you go about serious gaming on the iPad? Well, the Onlive fansite, aptly named OnliveFans.com, have featured a video showing a tech demo of the service on the iPad that was recently shown at E3 2010. Of course, as you would expect due to the nature of OnLive, the graphics perform admirably as they would on the most powerful of gaming rigs, as long as you have the necessary network connections.
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Parrot AR.Drone Quadricopter – iPhone/iPad Remote Control Helicopter!
June 27, 2010
This week members of the UK press had the privilege to attend the official launch event for the AR.Drone, a remote control ‘quadricopter’– a coup for Britain, launching ahead of Parrot’s mother country, France.
Following the buzz from E3 2010 we eagerly awaited the presentation and – more importantly – our own chance to play with one!
Five years in the making, the Parrot AR Drone team are very proud of their latest creation and rightly so. By utilising on-board Wi-Fi the drones are controlled through networked iPhone and iPod Touch devices. What’s more, the drones are also capable of interacting with each other to allow multiplayer action.
Continue reading »E3 2010 Review
June 25, 2010
A few days ago the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2010 closed its doors, having provided many magical, momentous and maladroit surprises and previews for the games industry, the largest entertainment industry in the world.
While I may not be able to discuss everything, as such a feat would require a small army of journalists, I hope to be able to impart to you the low-down on some of the biggest titles and newest technology of E3 over the next few days and here’s a roundup of the events in general of this premier games show…
Continue reading »Droid Armory Android App Review (World of Warcraft)
June 24, 2010
Being new to the world of Android with my new HTC Desire I immediately looked up what the top apps were. I then went on to downloading the usual list of best Android apps such as app killers, music streamers and file managers that make using the phone that bit easier.
They were all pretty cool but did not really showcase any of the massive powers of my new Android mobile phone handset. So I went on a random romp through the app market place waiting for something to catch my eye. After downloading several apps, some good, most bad, I stumbled across the Droid Armory Android app.
The description said it was a World of Warcraft Armory port of the webpage-based system provided by Blizzard. I’ve never really used WoW Armory as when I am on the PC I am working or playing and don’t really care what other players are wearing or doing.
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ModNation Racers Review (PS3)
June 22, 2010
I’ve been waiting for a decent racer for a while since playing Mario Kart Wii, and ModNation Racers has definitely filled a hunger I’ve developed since getting rid of my Nintendo Wii. However saying that, ModNation Racers definitely comes with its problems, which for this day and age, doesn’t bode well, but I’ll get to that in a bit.
So what can you expect from United Front Games’ racer? Imagine Mario Kart mixed with Little Big Planet and you’ve got ModNation Racers. The game’s strengths definitely lie with the creation tools as you can really go wild and create your own Mods, Karts and the wildest tracks you can possibly come up with from your cranium.
When you first start the game, you’re thrown straight into qualifiers to get you used to how the karts are controlled and what you can and can’t do. There’s a storyline to the game, albeit very straight forward. Young racer called ‘Tag’ wants to race, he gets himself into the ModNation Racer Circuit and works his way to the top. Before each race there’s a cutscene with the commentators who do come out with some great one liners and add good humour to the game. Even when you’re lining up for the race, they’re still insulting each other about really random things.
Continue reading »Orange Testing HD Voice Calls For Launch In 2010 (UK)
June 22, 2010
We are very much in the HD era, and whilst most people will still be getting over the fact that they can watch the World Cup in HD on their lovely 1080p HDTVs, Orange have been unveiled their plans for the next step in the HD revolution: HD Sound, or more specifically HD Voice.
Orange have announced that they plan to introduce high definition voice with a roll out service that will first be trialled in certain areas in the south of England: namely Bristol, Reading and Southampton. Testers over a range of demographics will be hooked up to the new system and if the market researchers find that they like it, it will be made available across the country.
Continue reading »Orange Power Wellies – Eco-Friendly Mobile Phone Charger (Glastonbury Festival)
June 20, 2010
Over the past couple of years there have been a great deal of innovation in eco-friendly electronics, carbon-neutral mobile phones, low power PCs, electric cars and all sorts of other products. Few have come in a form more bizarre than the new Orange Power Wellies!
With Glastonbury and the rest of festival season just around the corner, many camping enthusiasts will be rushing out to replace last year’s muddy wellies they can hardly be bothered to clean. Therefore, Orange has jumped at a chance to enter the market with an extremely original pair of wellington boots.
Continue reading »Virgin Gaming For Cash Prizes Announced By Sir Richard Branson (E3 2010)
June 18, 2010
Social networking and gaming are two of the most popular modern pastimes undertaken by people of all ages it would seem. Many a company, many a developer have attempted to interlink the two concepts with all sorts of massively multiplayer online (MMO) experiences as well as more popular services built into consoles such as PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. But as ever, Sir Richard Branson felt it necessary to dip his toes into the gaming arena with the announcement of… wait for it… Virgin Gaming!
Branson turned up in a traditionally exuberant manner at this E3 2010, rolling into the event in an armoured truck, $1million in hand. He had this to say upon the actual announcement. “Gamers want something new, something interactive and something fun. Virgin Gaming is just that – access to play the best games in super competitive tournaments with anyone in the world and win the biggest prizes and the most rewards,” said Branson, promising a $1-million prize fund for gamers in the first year of the service.
Continue reading »E3 2010: Games News & Press Events Review – Day 3
June 18, 2010
The final day of E3 2010 was christened with a stampede through the exhibition hall, right for the Nintendo booth, generated by those who realised that it was their last chance to check out the Nintendo 3DS. This very fact should only confirm the subtle brilliance of the new handheld.
There were no press conferences today as there was on day 1 and day 2 of E3 2010, so I’ll dive straight into my impressions of some the games I was able to test out, with more to come in the following days!
Red Faction: Armageddon
Volition is back on the scene with the latest instalment for the Red Faction series, this time, dramatically titled Armageddon. I’m not sure about the end of days, but in Red Faction signature style, it certainly lets off a shed load of destruction.
Continue reading »E3 2010: Games News & Press Events Review – Day 2
June 17, 2010
We’re in full swing at E3 2010 after our day 1 coverage and full of excitement and sheer madness that fills the atmosphere. Activision’s extravaganza last night set some of their biggest games’ trailers to a whole host of massive artists from Usher to Jane’s Addiction, capping off the night with Eminem, showcasing Call of Duty: Black Ops. But enough of the publicity stunts, let’s get down to business.
Konami Press Conference
Konami offered a mixed bag this afternoon, ranging from images of a woman being dissected by an elevator in Saw II, to campness defined in Glee Karaoke Revolution. The real highlights were as follows. An announcement of Silent Hill 8 (working title) with an overhauled combat system for 360 and PS3 got horror fans shuddering with excitement and Never Dead, the new title from Rebellion, by Shinta Nojiri, looks to be a 3rd person shooter in which the loss of limbs is just a minor inconvenience: neat.
Perhaps most exciting for yours truly was a little bit more chat over Metal Gear: Rising. The energy in the spine that Raiden rips out in the trailer is a core gameplay mechanic that constitutes energy and even intel for our bleached-haired heroin.
Continue reading »E3 2010: Games News & Press Events Review – Day 1
June 16, 2010
So here it is, the gaming judgement day of the year, E3 2010, where every company, big or small, casual or hardcore struts their stuff for buyers, and primarily, the insatiably hungry media.
I arrived in LA on Monday and thanks to an uncharacteristically cool summer day, I’ve managed to squeeze in plenty of previews, for which I will share my impressions with you now. I shall be writing each day up in the evening, and then putting together a reflective summary afterwards, along with a few interviews with developers. So here goes…
Microsoft
After an elaborate, and ultimately insane fanfare for Kinect (the artist formerly known as Project Natal) which utilised the unwitting media, clothing them in white and blue ponchos and shoulder pads, Microsoft showed their hand on Monday morning, and as expected Kinect featured very heavily.
Continue reading »
New Xbox 360 ‘Slim’ Announced (E3 2010)
June 15, 2010
With E3 2010 now well under way, Microsoft have come out with another ‘shock’ and announced that there will be a new Xbox 360 hitting the shelves this year (as rumoured). So what’s new with Microsoft’s console model? Everything that they should have included in the first place!!
I love my Xbox 360 console and there are some quality games available for it, but my God it’s loud!! Each time I turn it on it’s like it’s about to take off and fly around my living room. Well with the new Xbox 360 ‘Slim’ model, this is no longer an issue as it’s meant to be a hell of a lot quieter even when it’s accessing/reading the DVD – which will be a nice change.
Of course it will still make a noise, but your house won’t shake like it used to. Instead of using two fans, the new version uses one bigger singular fan to keep the noise down. A couple of new vents have been added with one either side and on top so heating shouldn’t be an issue. The buttons on the front have changed slightly with them changing to touch sensitive ones and the disc tray isn’t as clunky when opening/closing.
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