Author: Andy Merrett
More netbook competition on its way as Ubuntu embraces ARM processors
A version of Ubuntu, the popular Linux distribution, will be developed for the ARMv7 processor, Canonical announced last week.
This could bring to market netbooks and other portable devices based on the more energy-efficient ARM processors, and challenge both Intel and AMD.
The Ubuntu Linux netbook version will be officially available from April next year. ARM processors are already used in mobile phones such as the iPhone and G1…
Marlin intros new video recording SpyPen
We’ve seen a fair few consumer “spy” gadgets over the years, and now Marlin has jumped into the ring with its SpyPen.
Claiming that it contains the world’s smallest digital video recorder plus a microphone, the technology is crammed into a “normal” pen for all your covert filming needs.
It can record in full colour at up to 700Kbps and features a resolution of 300,000 pixels, and the microphone will pick up audio up to 15 feet away (plus the rustling of the pen against your clothing, of course)…
ViewSonic intros new 22-inch widescreen monitor
ViewSonic has announced its latest widescreen monitor, the VX2260wm. As the product name suggests, it’s a 22-inch LCD but sports a 16:9 aspect ratio more common on “proper” TVs than on computer monitors.
Able to display full 1080p content without scaling via its HDMI or DVI-D inputs, it also offers 20,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and a low 2ms response time which should cut down on motion blur…
Tech Trumpet: The Noise
This week’s Tech Trumpet has been sequenced entirely from the iPhone’s new Noise.io Pro [iTunes link] synthesiser.
I’ve been waiting a while for this application to come out. As you should be able to hear even from the few built-in audio patches I’ve used in this recording, it’s pretty versatile…
Buffalo updates MiniStation TurboUSB drive, makes it Mac friendly
Buffalo’s MiniStation TurboUSB hard drive, launched back in February, has had a bit of a makeover to make it more friendly to Mac users.
In truth, it’s always been usable with OS X, but now the casing has turned a shade of white, which possibly makes it more attractive to Apple-ites.
Four capacities — 160GB, 250GB, 320GB and 500GB — and fully compatible with OS X’s Time Machine, or indeed any other software backup solution you might happen to use…
FCC votes to open up "white spaces" for better wireless broadband
The Federal Communications Commission has voted 5-0 in favour of opening up the “white space” of unused airwaves between broadcast TV channels to be used for enhanced wireless broadband and communications.
This “Wi-Fi on steroids”, as Google describes it, could offer a much larger range than current Wi-Fi technology, thus allowing greater broadband penetration in remote areas, and might also be used to set up local ad hoc networks directly between devices…
Five finally coming to Freesat: 18th November
Since Freessat’s May launch, one notable absentee from the channel line-up was Five.
Due to a contract with Sky, the broadcaster wasn’t able to commit to Freesat straight away, but from Tuesday 18th November it takes up residence on channel 105.
Five has advanced a lot since the early days of bad reception and seedy porn (well, the reception’s better at least). Its autumn schedule includes Paul Merton in India, 1968 Unseen, Dangerous Adventures for Boys, Unbreakable and Axe Men…
LaCie intros "Internet Space" networked hard drive
I love the concept of accessing my home media files from a mobile device while on the road, but the downside (particularly in these eco-conscious, penny-watching times) is that the computer being accessed has to be powered on.
For those feeling a bit guilty about that, but still wanting to be able to view their hilarious home videos, or the latest Dido album, while out-and-about, here’s a nifty solution from LaCie.
The “Internet Space” is a network hard disk which can be accessed from the Internet even if all the home computers are switched off. Using LaCie’s HipServ technology, users can connect to the drive by visiting HomeLaCie.com and authorising themselves…
Sky and Virgin Media bury the hatchet, offer each other's basic channels
The long-running dispute between Sky and Virgin Media over carriage charges, and the dropping of channels from each other’s platform, may have finally come to an end as the two companies agree new channel carriage agreements…
Vodafone announces Stick Pro USB mobile broadband plus new deals
Vodafone has announced its new USB Stick Pro offering customers access to its HSDPA 7.2Mbps network, claiming that it has the most reliable and fastest mobile broadband network in the UK.
Having said that, the announcement is honest enough to warn users that average download speeds are anywhere between 1-5Mbps, with maximum upload speeds of 2Mbps but an average of 1Mbps…
