A little bit later than planned, but still very much anticipated, the BBC launches it's iPlayer in beta form (sign up for iPlayer beta trial here). It's not yet available for Mac or Windows Vista, though it will be shortly. Anyhow, it's an online media player that allows you to catch up on BBC TV shows online up to 7 days after broadcast (as long as you're in the UK)
Will it change the viewing habits of the UK? Will we all hover round our computers to watch TV? Who knows. With services like Sky Plus and Virgin Media Plus+ and the option of recording and storing TV shows on your media ready PC the iPlayer doesn't seem to offer much more than is already available elsewhere.
The real excitement is around how readily will iPlayer allow traditional TV and interactive services to fully converge...imagine watching a historical TV dram and then simultaneously looking up info on the period in question or watching a murder mystery while reading the backs stories of each of the characters so that you have that extra insight into the drama. We don't know which way this will all go, though we have a few ideas, but we'll keep an eye out and report back as things develop.
Showing posts with label apple. Show all posts
Showing posts with label apple. Show all posts
Saturday, 28 July 2007
Sunday, 22 July 2007
Web Trends Map 2007
Those enterprising folks over at Information Architects have done it it again with their Web Trends Map 2007.
The map itself is rendered as alternative version of the Tokyo Subway map with 'You' placed in the Emporer's Palace at the centre of the network. Futher metaphors abound with each 'stop' on the line being given it's own 'Weather Report' so you can try and predict who's in good health and who isn't, thus extending the fun even further ;)
It's available in number of formats and resolutions and there is even an A2 poster to buy should you feel the need. Amongst the old faves such as BBC, Amazon, Apple and Wikipedia there is one Welsh connection on the line...answers on postcard if you can spot who and where it is.
The map itself is rendered as alternative version of the Tokyo Subway map with 'You' placed in the Emporer's Palace at the centre of the network. Futher metaphors abound with each 'stop' on the line being given it's own 'Weather Report' so you can try and predict who's in good health and who isn't, thus extending the fun even further ;)
It's available in number of formats and resolutions and there is even an A2 poster to buy should you feel the need. Amongst the old faves such as BBC, Amazon, Apple and Wikipedia there is one Welsh connection on the line...answers on postcard if you can spot who and where it is.
Sunday, 8 July 2007
iPhone in the UK?
Following on from our post on the iPhone pre-release it looks like it's selling well (as predicted) and by and large feedback seems to be positive barring a few niggles over sign up.
For those of us in the UK we'll have to wait till the end of the year and it's looking as though O2 have secured the exclusive iPhone distribution rights in the UK.
Meanwhile, if you're not signed up to O2, or simply can't wait a few months, then The Register reports that a UK firm is offering to unlock the iPhone so that they can be used over here in the UK.
So if you really have to have one right now there are already a number of unlocked iPhones for sale on ebay for around £300 . Off you go...
For those of us in the UK we'll have to wait till the end of the year and it's looking as though O2 have secured the exclusive iPhone distribution rights in the UK.
Meanwhile, if you're not signed up to O2, or simply can't wait a few months, then The Register reports that a UK firm is offering to unlock the iPhone so that they can be used over here in the UK.
So if you really have to have one right now there are already a number of unlocked iPhones for sale on ebay for around £300 . Off you go...
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
iPhone fever
The Apple iPhone launches in the US this Friday and looks like being the one of the most anticipated tech product launches ever.
Apple are entering an extremely competitive and crowded marketplace and the iPhone is yet to undergo the mass-usage feedback that will ultimately decide whether it hits or misses. However, early reviews from both the tech and mainstream press are overwhelmingly positive with the New York Times stating the “iPhone matches most of it’s hype” and Bloomberg reporting that it’s a “beautiful and breakthrough mobile device that lives up to the hype and will inspire lust in technology shoppers.”
The Financial Time also offers it's analysis here.
We’ll keep an eye on how the iPhone is received but if anybody is heading over to the states and gets to play with one, get in touch and let us know what you think.
Apple are entering an extremely competitive and crowded marketplace and the iPhone is yet to undergo the mass-usage feedback that will ultimately decide whether it hits or misses. However, early reviews from both the tech and mainstream press are overwhelmingly positive with the New York Times stating the “iPhone matches most of it’s hype” and Bloomberg reporting that it’s a “beautiful and breakthrough mobile device that lives up to the hype and will inspire lust in technology shoppers.”
The Financial Time also offers it's analysis here.
We’ll keep an eye on how the iPhone is received but if anybody is heading over to the states and gets to play with one, get in touch and let us know what you think.
Saturday, 16 June 2007
Windows users flock to Safari
Windows users were blindingly fast off the mark to grab a free copy of Safari for Windows, which Apple announced at the start of the week. Just 48 hours later, more than a million copies of the software had been downloaded by droves of mere mortals and at least one celebrity.
Apple claims that Safari 3 is the fastest browser running on Windows, rendering web pages up to twice as fast as IE 7 and up to 1.6 times faster than Firefox 2, based on industry standard benchmarking tests. There were some security bugs reported, which Apple patched with the release of Safari 3.0.1 a few days later.
Safari 3 for Windows requires Windows XP or Windows Vista, a minimum of 256 MB of memory and a system with at least a 500 MHz Intel Pentium processor.
Apple claims that Safari 3 is the fastest browser running on Windows, rendering web pages up to twice as fast as IE 7 and up to 1.6 times faster than Firefox 2, based on industry standard benchmarking tests. There were some security bugs reported, which Apple patched with the release of Safari 3.0.1 a few days later.
Safari 3 for Windows requires Windows XP or Windows Vista, a minimum of 256 MB of memory and a system with at least a 500 MHz Intel Pentium processor.
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