Author: Andy Merrett
Google Maps for Mobile gets Street View and walking directions
Google has updated its Maps for Mobile service, bringing 3D Street View to Java-enabled phones, as well as offering walking directions to any destination.
It has also included more information on destinations, including the ability to read reviews of a business.
This addition makes Maps a much more useful service where, arguably, you need it the most — on the move. Walking directions are great in the inner city where driving just isn’t practical, and when London has been fully “Street View-ised” we should be able to enjoy the same 3D views as those in lager US cities do…
Private-I valiantly tries to lure stupid iPhone thieves into locating themselves
One developer has created an application for the iPhone that tries to locate your iPhone if it gets stolen. Its chances of success depend somewhat on how dim-witted the robber is.
As there’s no way for ordinary users to track the iPhone when it’s out of their possession, the Private-I application puts an icon on the home screen marked “PRIVATE” in big red letters. The hope is that the bugger who nicked your phone isn’t interested in wiping it and selling it on eBay, but is actually after all your private info and will be tricked into tapping the icon…
Textually challenged start petition to disable iPhone auto-correction feature
It seems that some of the Apple faithful are having a bit of trouble with their iPhones. Now that it’s available in so many new countries, English isn’t the only language its users are choosing to text and type in. However, the iPhone’s auto-correction feature — which pops up helpful words when a user’s chubby fingers don’t quite hit the right letters on the virtual keyboard – isn’t multilingual.
The same problem is happening when users try to use “txt spk” is text messages. It seems Apple would like us all to send well-composed, correctly spelt SMSs rather than persisting in the popular practices of dropping vowels and substituting consonants…
Spectral GB intros Catena home entertainment furniture range
Assuming you’ve still got some cash left after forking out on all that home cinema gear, consider installing it on Spectral’s latest furnishing masterpiece rather than plonking it on some home-assembly tat from MFI.
Spectral GB’s Catena cabinets offer maximum support for flat screen TVs on a pivoting T-mount, while all the other hi-fi components can be stored alongside. There’s plenty of room for DVDs, CDs, Blu-rays, as well…
Buffalo's new DriveStation USB hard drives with Power Saving mode
Buffalo has announced the launch of five new external USB hard drives featuring a Power Saving Utility that will put the device into “sleep mode” when not in use, saving 75% of energy. That, coupled with TurboUSB software that speeds data transfer rates, makes these drives ideal for data backup.
The drives also feature Secure Lock Ware Encryption software for Windows that aids in securing files stored on the disc…
Optoma launches two GameTime projectors for massive gaming parties
Optoma continues to push out consumer projectors with the launch of two GameTime models.
The GT-3000 is an SVGA-resolution DLP projector featuring a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, 2,300 lumens brightness, and matching speakers. It’s targeted at Wii users, being finished in an ice white design.
The GT-7000 is an HD-ready projector featuring 4,000:1 contrast ratio, 1,600 lumens brightness, and matching 2.1-channel speakers…
Canon releases five more digital cameras: two IXUS, three PowerShot
Canon keeps its foot on the gas with today’s launch of five new compact digital cameras, adding two to its IXUS range and three to its PowerShot range.
First up, the IXUS 980 IS features a whopping 14.7 megapixels coupled with 3.7x optical zoom. Full manual control is also offered.
The IXUS 870 IS offers a more modest 10 megapixels, with a 4x optical zoom, 28mm wide-angle lens.
The 980 comes with a 2.5″ PureColor LCD, while the 870 has a three inch LCD.
Both feature image stabilisation, Canon’s new DIGIC 4 processor that offers a range of features including face detection and image blur correction, and 30fps VGA movie mode…
Digital Copy arrives in the UK with hopes of ending piracy. Pah!
The “Digital Copy” concept was unveiled nearly a year ago at Macworld 2008, but given the time it takes for most ideas to crawl the Atlantic seabed to Blighty, the first DVD title featuring the technology has only just been released here.
Twentieth Century Fox’s “What Happens in Vegas” DVD now comes with the ability to legally rip a copy of the film to your iTunes library, where it can then be moved onto your iPod or iPhone, or just watched on the desktop without having to use the disc.
Jim Gianopulos, chairman and chief executive of Fox Filmed Entertainment, said he was “thrilled” with this “incredibly simple way for our customers to get even more out of their DVD purchase”, claiming that iTunes compatibility wa one of the most requested features of DVD buyers…
HTC intros Touch 3G and Touch Viva handsets
Along with the stunning new Touch HD handset comes two more mobile goodies from HTC: the Touch 3G and Touch Viva.
The Touch 3G offers HSDPA access, a lovely 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen, 3.2 megapixel camera, 256MB flash memory and 192MB of RAM plus expansion via microSD cards, GPS/A-GPS, Bluetooth, and the HTC TouchFLO interface bolted on to Windows Mobile Professional 6.1.
It’s a smaller version of the Touch HD but still drips with all the multimedia goodness you’d expect from such a phone. It’ll come in four colours: sophisticated black, noble gold, sparkle blue and modern brown…
Casio intros new ELIXIM EX-FH20 digital camera
Casio has announced the latest digital camera in its burgeoning EXILIM range. The EX-FH20 boasts some pretty impressive credentials, including 9.1 megapixel sensor, 26mm equivalent wide-angle lens with 20x optical zoom, CMOS shift anti-shake function, and some nifty burst shooting modes.
If you’re feeling the need to practice your paparazzi skills, the EX-FH20 could be for you. It can take seven megapixel still images at up to 40 frames per second, and can even capture the action before the shutter button is pressed. That means if you’re not completely on the ball, you can still capture that candid moment…
