Category: Columns & Opinion
Want to be a video star?
Will Head writes… The rumours about proper American broadcasting company snapping up online video show Wallstrip have turned out to be true. Founder Howard Lindzon confirmed the deal, where else, but on his blog. He didn’t specify whether it went…
Would you buy a phone from Google?
Will Head writes… The latest rumour doing the rounds is that Google is gearing up to launch its own phone service in the UK. It’s not suggesting the the company is putting together its own handset, rather you’ll pay it…
Top 10 rumours that might do an Apple / Engadget on other tech firms
Poor Apple. One blog post about an iPhone delay based on a faked internal memo, and $4bn is wiped off its stockmarket value. Which has to make you wonder, what in God’s name will happen to Apple’s share price if the iPhone turns out to be rubbish? It’s a thought.
Another thought: could this happen to other tech firms? What sort of crazy rumour would send Microsoft’s stock diving, for example, or grind Sony’s share price into the dust? Weeell….
Is Wi-Fi safe? Why Panorama's health risks report will worry parents
Stuart Dredge writes…
As I write this, I’m upstairs at home, connected to the internet via my home Wi-Fi network. The router sits downstairs next to the TV, and right now my three-week-old son is sleeping just a few feet away from it. Rather than providing for his future welfare, is my work actually frying his brains with Wi-Fi radiation?
Do radio stations need DJs anymore?
Will Head writes… For indie music station Xfm, the answer is apparently no – at least during the daytime, anyway. From the end of the month, it’s axing presenter led shows between 10am and 4pm and turning the playlist over…
Beatles on iTunes? It's not such a big deal
Stuart Dredge writes…
Right now, the Apple online gossip-hounds are distracted by trying to think up more rumours big enough to shave a few billion of the company’s share price. I’ve heard Steve Jobs is about to jump ship to Microsoft to kickstart Zune sales *taps nose*
Microsoft, Blu-ray, and the back-up plan?
Andy Merrett writes…
Last week we reported that, based on an iTmedia interview with Peter Moore, there was the possibility that Microsoft would support Blu-ray via the Xbox 360 console if that format became dominant over HD DVD at some time in the future.
Apparently, we were wrong.
On the Gamerscoreblog, a Microsoft representative “cleared the air” by stating that those reports were based on taking Moore’s words out of context, and are simply incorrect.
We firmly stand behind the HD DVD format as the best choice for consumers. Current reports indicating that Microsoft has a back-up plan, which includes Blu-ray support are incorrect. We’re fully committed to HD DVD and have absolutely no plans to support other optical formats.
Now I’m left wondering if Microsoft is arrogant, or stupid, or both.
Rumours, Apple stock and Engadget
Will Head writes… Engadget put the frighteners on Apple investors yesterday when it published a piece about the iPhone and Leopard being delayed. Unfortunately the information that the post was based on was actually a fake email someone had managed…
Please: no more wooden retro DAB radios
Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) is the future, right? It's Radio 2.0, providing crystal-clear access to loads of digital stations, some of which aren't available on FM. It's starting to get interactive features too, including proper EPGs, two-way connectivity, and the ability to pause live radio and record shows.
Could this be the end of DRM music?
Will Head writes… Looks like Steve Jobs musing on digital rights management could have made the music labels see sense and release audio downloads without copy protection. Amazon is hot on Apple’s heals, doing a deal with the suddenly reasonable…
