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Fancy your very own spy satellite? Yours for just $10m
Our lives are monitored by an increasingly sophisticated array of digital observers, be it from CCTV, speed cameras, internet usage monitoring, those blokes from TV licensing that won’t leave me alone… There’s no way around it, but what if – WHAT IF? – you could have your very own eye-in-the-sky, silently watching everyone and everything around you? That would take the edge off, right?
Sharp brings three new AQUOS TVs to the UK
Sharp has unveiled a selection of three new skinny HDTV models, soon to be landing in the UK. At the top of the range are the AQUOS XL8E models, available in 32″ and 37″ sizes. They both sport 1080p resolutions with 100Hz refresh rates, and are built into super-slim frames.
Sony relaunches long-awaited in-game XMB PS3 Firmware – this time 100% bork-free*
Sony has now launched a new version of its latest PS3 Firmware, 2.41, following the disastrous events of last week.
Look out Scrabulous – EA and Hasbro to launch legit Facebook Scrabble in North America
This week, Electronic Arts and Hasbro announced plans to launch the first licensed Facebook Scrabble game in North America. The licensed version will become available in mid to late July and will be free and without adverts, at least for the start.
BBFC says PEGI is just "a couple of blokes"
In the wake of the Byron Review, tension is beginning to simmer beneath the surface of the normally peaceable games ratings industry. Dr Tanya Byron’s recommendations put the UK ratings board, the BBFC, in a strong position to take on more responsibility (and work, and pay cheques presumably) but its rival, PEGI, is not out of the running yet. Big names in the industry like EA and Microsoft have come down in favour of the European-wide PEGI service.
Pioneer researchers create 16-layer, 400GB discs
Pioneer Corporation has a new world-first on its hands – it has created the first ever 16-layer, read-only optical disc. It has a capacity of 400 GB and every single one of its layers has the same storage as a Blu-ray disc. Pop that one in your pipe, Sony.
NASA probe discovers that Mercury is shrinking
Try not to panic – Mercury, the smallest resident of our close-knit solar system, is shrinking. Scientists studying data sent back by the Messenger probe, launched in 2004, reveal that it’s disappearing; withering away like a long-forgotten prune (not their words).
Pop-O-Matic Juke Box swaps sweet, sweet music for sweet, sweet (or savoury) popcorn
The Pop-O-Matic Juke Box Popcorn Maker yearns for a time when music was not delivered via BitTorrent websites and portable MP3 players, but instead streamed directly from coin-operated machines housing individual records. Apparently that’s no longer considered a practical way of doing things, so the Pop-O-Matic opts to deliver delicious movie theatre style popcorn instead of vinyl.
Google slips a privacy link on to its homepage – do you all feel more secure now?
The Google homepage has just seen its biggest overhaul since the scandalous favicon incident of ’08. Take a look, see how a new Privacy hyperlink has appeared next to the copyright symbol and date. Amazingly enough, it links you straight into the Google Privacy Center.
Sony to open up Blu-ray as a "social network"
Sounds a bit like someone is mixing up their internet buzzwords. The head of Sony Electronics’ US division, Stan Glasgow, has some interesting ideas for the future of Blu-ray, revealing that “We’re going to have to open [Blu-ray] up as a social network–not just contributions of Sony and other Blu-ray partners.”
