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iPad UK price and date official!
Vodafone data charges cause web worry
iPad UK price: Apple tablet listed for under £400
Lunchtime Lowdown: MacBook Pro reviewed, Samsung bada and Google Goggles translates
Olympus PEN EP-2: now suited up in silver
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 DLC due late 2010
Facebook location updates incoming with McDonald’s ads
Google Goggles adds text translation
Asus Eee PC 1215N leaks: the new king of netbooks?
MacBook Pro review: Worth the upgrade?

Posted: 07 May 2010 05:54 AM PDT

iPad UK price details have just been suddenly sprung on us by Apple. After months of speculating about how much the iPad will cost in Blighty, Apple's finally put us out of our misery. Read on for all the iPad UK details…

The iPad pre-orders will begin on Monday as previously announced with iPad UK shipments arriving on May 28. iPad UK prices start at £429 for the 16GB WiFi model. The 32GB WiFi iPad will set you back £499 while the 64GB comes in at £599.

The iPad WiFi + 3G models will set you back £529 for the 16GB, £599 for the 32GB and £699 for the 64GB. As well as iPad pre-orders, you'll be able to buy iPad UK models from the Apple Store and some authorised resellers but with iPad shortages in US stores it might be wise to get your order in on Monday.

As well as announcing the iPad UK availability, Apple has announced that the iBooks app will be available as a free download from the iTunes App Store on May 28, iPad UK launch day. We'd previously thought we'd have to wait for it, so that's good news.

Let us know what you think of the iPad UK price and take a look at our iPad UK review if you're still not sure if you want one.

Due May 28 | from £429 | Apple

Vodafone data charges cause web worry

Posted: 07 May 2010 05:30 AM PDT

Vodafone has announced that it will start charging customers who go over their 500MB a month data limit from June 1. That means owners of phones including HTC Desire will no longer be able to stray over the limit without paying a penalty. Read on to find how much indulging in data with cost you…

The network informed customers about the change to its data charges in a post on the official Vodafone forums. From June 1, if customers use more than their 500MB allowance, they'll receive a warning and be charged for the extra data. For monthly bundle customers that'll mean new Vodafone data charges of £5 for every 500MB after the first 500MB.

Vodafone says its introducing the new data charges to "make it fairer for everyone" and the penalties for straying out of your 500MB allowance aren't exactly harsh. However, Vodafone customers have shown their displeasure with the change both on the forum where the post originally appeared and Twitter.

On the Vodafone forum, a user called TheLibertine was frustrated that "[Vodafone] give 1GB to the iPhone and Nexus One…and changes these conditions AFTER everyone has bought a Desire with only 500MB."

The official Vodafone Twitter account (@vodafoneUK) was also deluged with messages from customers unhappy that the network will now strictly enforce the 500MB cap. Vodafone no longer advertises "unlimited" data tariffs but customers had previously been able to duck extra charges for straying over their limits.

Did you snap up an HTC Desire and now find yourself feeling frustrated about the new Vodafone data charges? Or do you think it's reasonable for the network to put a cap on how much data one customer can use?

Out now | £varies | Vodafone

iPad UK price: Apple tablet listed for under £400

Posted: 07 May 2010 05:00 AM PDT

iPad UK price details are due to be unveiled on Monday but that hasn't stopped scores of online retailers from slapping up pre-order figures for the Apple tablet. They range from fairly reasonable (under £400) to eye-poppingly expensive. Are any of them on the money?

Shopping site, Twenga, has over 100 iPad sellers listed. They range from eBay auctions to pre-order prices from shopping sites. Rochdale based retailer Advance Tec offers up the cheapest of the iPad UK price pre-order predictions with an iPad 16GB at £398.90.

At the other end of the iPad UK price spectrum, reseller Vizik is asking £799 for a 16GB iPad with the figure rocketing up to £939 for the 64GB model. Over on eBay, the average price for a 16GB iPad is a slightly less pocket pummelling £500.

It's best to take the iPad UK price predictions on these retailers pre-order pages with a pinch of salt. When a retailer in Gibraltar listed iPad UK price starting at £599, it subsequently contacted us to confirm that it was a mistake rather than the result of some inside information. Take a look at our iPad UK price calculations for a realistic idea of how much you could be slinging on your credit card come Monday.

Due TBC | £TBC | Apple (via Twenga)

Lunchtime Lowdown: MacBook Pro reviewed, Samsung bada and Google Goggles translates

Posted: 07 May 2010 04:30 AM PDT

We’re nearly at the end of another long week, so to help you through with a final push, we’ve got a round up of all the latest tech stories and gadget gossip, piled one plate here in the lunchtime lowdown. Read on to tuck in!

We’ve got plenty of mobile news for you to get stuck in to first, with rumour that Facebook is set to add location updates, and the first public release of Samsung bada for developers. Will it create an iPhone-style app storm?

Over on Android meanwhile, Google Goggle’s translating skills got rolled out to users, and we took a look at some of the phones that’ll run the new app, including the Google Nexus One and HTC Legend. Don’t forget the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 will run it too, amongst many other things: be sure to check out our feature on what things you can do in under a minute using the powerful smartphone.

Finally, in computing, we checked out how the new MacBook Pro’s graphics switching skills worked out in our full review, while we spotted a new netbook with similar features on the way: the Asus Eee PC 1215N. And sticking with laptops, we looked at how to stream your computer screen to a HDTV using Q-waves‘ clever kit. Find out more about Q-waves.

Still starving for more tech stories? Jump over to the homepage and help your eyes to all they can eat!

Check out our Android Invasion, starting with our first robot romance video below!

Olympus PEN EP-2: now suited up in silver

Posted: 07 May 2010 04:00 AM PDT

The Olympus PEN EP-2 always seemed a little drab dressed all in black when you compared it to the retro metallic stylings of its predecessor the Olympus PEN EP-1. But now the mighty micro four thirds machine has reemerged with a new silver paint job. Is it time for you to snap up an Olympus PEN EP-2?

Besides a coating of silver, the new version of the Olympus PEN EP-2 remains otherwise unchanged. There's an AF tracking function, it'll grab 720p video and there's a hot shoe and accessory port for attaching an electronic viewfinder. You can also use the port for patching in external microphones and flash units.

If you fancy grabbing the Olympus PEN EP-2, check out our Olympus PEN EP-2 review as well as its rival the Ricoh GXR and news of the Sony Alpha Compact DSLR which is swinging our way later in the year.

The newly silver clad Olympus PEN EP-2 will hit the shops from mid-May bundled with an M.Zuiko Digitial ED 14-42mm 1:3.5-5.6 lens.

Due mid-May | €799 | Olympus

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 DLC due late 2010

Posted: 07 May 2010 03:30 AM PDT

New Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 DLC will land in the second half of 2010. The follow up to the Stimulus Package Modern Warfare 2 map pack will come from Infinity Ward despite recent upheaval at the developers. But aren't we now all waiting for the battle between Call of Duty: Black Ops and Medal of Honor?

The latest Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 DLC was confirmed during Activision's financial earnings call. Execs confirmed that the new Modern Warfare map pack will arrive in late 2010. That means the update should pop up around the same time as Call of Duty: Black Ops which is due on November 9.

While Treyarch is working on Call of Duty: Black Ops, Infinity Ward is still at the helm for the new Modern Warfare 2 maps. Besides that information, we've got little else to go on though it's likely to cost around the same as the Stimulus Package DLC which you can pick up for around £10.

Did you snap up the last batch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 DLC? Let us know what you'd like to see in the next batch and whether you'll just wait for Call of Duty: Black Ops or Medal of Honor instead.

Due late 2010 | £TBC | Activision

Facebook location updates incoming with McDonald’s ads

Posted: 07 May 2010 03:00 AM PDT

Facebook location updates have been on the cards for a while but rumours are ramping up that the Foursquare battling functions will arrive this month. But Facebook location updates may also show what you're munching at McDonald's as well as where you are.

Facebook location updates are likely to allow you to check-in to different locations in a similar way to Foursquare or Gowalla. But the latest whispers suggest that McDonald's will muscle in on the deal with an app which will display a deal when you check-in to one of its restaurants.

Companies including Pepsi, Starbucks and MTV have inked tie-ups with Foursquare and in the UK it offered a free pizza deal with Domino's. It looks like the Facebook location features will see the social network trying to muscle in on the market.

Kevin Barenblat, the CEO of San Francisco digital marketing firm Context Optional, told Ad Age that he's already working on Facebook location features for clients: "It's supposed to come out this month. So we're getting ready to incorporate it."

Adding check-ins to mobile apps with Facebook location updates could also put the social network in competition with location-targeted mobile advertising from AdMob and Apple's iAd scheme.

But after recent Facebook privacy concerns and the kerfuffle around Google Buzz, do you think Facebook should be adding location features at all? Are you all for check-ins or utterly flummoxed by Foursquare?

Due TBC | £free | Facebook (via Ad Age)

Google Goggles adds text translation

Posted: 07 May 2010 02:30 AM PDT

Google Goggles, the search giant's alarmingly intelligent Android app, has just got smarter. Google demonstrated Google Googles translation features back at MWC 2010 in February but back then it was restricted to German and English. It's now learned a whole heap of new languages.

The updated Google Goggles app uses optical character recognition tech to scan text in a photo and offer up a translation. You simply open up Google Googles, point your phone at the word or phrase you want to translate and select the region you're interested in. Goggles will chunter away and fire out the phrase in the language of your choosing.

After flicking through the same big stack of dictionaries it uses for Google Translate, Google has added support for English, French, Italian, German and Spanish to Google Googles. Slightly trickier non-latin languages including Chinese, Hindi and Arabic are promised soon which will come in handy if you're lost in downtown Shangai or just baffled by the takeaway menu.

As well as perking up Google Goggles translation smarts, Google has overhauled the user interface and added improved barcode recognition. There's also a beefed up database of artwork, products and logos so Google Goggles will recognise more objects.

Google Goggles is in the Android Market now and will work on any phone with Android 1.6 or over.

Out now | £free | Google Goggles

Asus Eee PC 1215N leaks: the new king of netbooks?

Posted: 07 May 2010 02:00 AM PDT

The Asus Eee PC 1215N may not officially exist, but if the latest bunch of rumours are even close to accurate, it should well be worth holding out for if you’re in the market for a new netbook. Read on to find out why we’re so excited.

We liked the Eee PC 1201N when we tested it late last year: its Ion graphics made fast work of HD video, and a HDMI port meant you could connect it to your flatscreen TV. But the Asus Eee PC 1215N that All About Eee PC says is in the works could blow it out of the water.

Read our Asus Eee PC 1201N review now

The site claims the Asus Eee PC 1215N will pack a new 1.5GHz dual core Atom chip, along with Nvidia’s Ion 2 graphics, which should pump through even HD Flash video with ease. Best of all though, it claims the Asus Eee PC 1215N will use Nvidia’s Optimus tech for automatic graphics card switching, which should seamlessly remove the issue of battery life we had with the 1201N when you’re not using applications that require the GPU.

There’s no official word on when we’ll be seeing the Asus Eee PC 1215N, but the site predicts it should be making an appearance around 13 May. We’ve got fingers and toes crossed.

Out TBC | £TBC | Asus (Via All About Eee PC)

MacBook Pro review: Worth the upgrade?

Posted: 07 May 2010 01:45 AM PDT

Apple's MacBook Pro has been left without Intel's latest Core processors while PC rivals streak ahead, but by updating its all-aluminium notebooks Apple has slipped inside a few new features alongside the new silicon. This isn't just a speed-bumped MacBook. Read our MacBook Pro review and we'll break down the new features, and more importantly, whether they warrant the upgrade.

Read the rest of our MacBook Pro review:
MacBook Pro review: Battery test
MacBook Pro review: Graphics switching

The new MacBook Pro is a blessing to video editors, media hounds and posers alike. There's no doubting that this is still the best looking laptop ever made. Apple's aluminium unibody and large glass trackpad are unchanged, as is the delightfully springy backlit keyboard and LED-backlit display.

The new MacBook Pro does have one external update though. Or, at least, its charger does. Apple has quietly updated the new 15-inch MacBook Pro's MagSafe power connector, giving it an aluminium skin and cylindrical design.

It's neat, but in an annoying case of form over function it's now possible to block the MacBook's ethernet port with the new connector, since it'll attach magnetically whichever way around it's introduced to the new MacBook Pro. It's not a deal-breaker, but is an odd annoyance all the same.

What isn't an annoyance is the performance boost delivered by the new MacBook Pro's updated processor. Fling open the lid, using Apple's lovingly-crafted thumb scoop just under the screen's edge, and you'll find it's a humdinger of a machine. We tested the most basic 15-inch MacBook Pro, with a 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 processor, alongside 4GB of DDR3 memory, Intel HD graphics and a dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT330M graphics card.

In particular, those two last specs are worth taking note of. While previous MacBook Pro laptops have packed multiple graphics chips, this is the first to seamlessly switch between them without the need for logging out of OS X, depending on how much power an individual app requires.

Previously, Apple's MacBook Pro laptops have either had their full-power graphics switched on, or off. What's more, manually switching between them was a fiddly process. Now it's all automated, with Apple's Mac OS intelligently selecting which chip to use, depending how intense an app's graphics needs are.

It's a smart system, but in our tests the new MacBook Pro was easily fooled. In most cases, such as firing up 3D accelerated games, the new MacBook flicked from Intel's low power, but equally low performance, integrated graphics to its Nvidia chipset instantly, boosting performance and providing pixel-perfect visuals. HD video editing saw a performance boost from the Nvidia chip too with Apple's iMovie software smartly selecting the beefed up graphics chip.

It's not foolproof though. Using iTunes to play back a HD video clip, the new MacBook Pro refused to engage its beefier graphics, and while it's fair to say the Intel chip did an admirable job of decoding the pictures, there's no way to tell if the Nvidia hardware would have done it any better.

Similarly, we found a few apps that Apple's new graphics switching struggled with. iPhoto, for example, doesn't make use of the new graphics chips, while oddly the Twitter app Tweetie makes them flick unnecessarily into high gear, potentially draining the battery while on the road.

And speaking of the battery, Apple has upped the capacity of the new MacBook Pro's, claiming up to nine hours use, despite the weight remaining a respectable 2.5kg, just like its predecessor. In practice, however, we didn't notice much difference between this new MacBook Pro and the previous model. It's likely that extra juice is in place solely to contend with the increased grunt under the new MacBook Pro's slinky shell.

The big question then, is whether this MacBook upgrade is worth the outlay. If you're in the market for a brand new laptop, then it's an unquestionable yes. The extra power makes 3D games and HD video a treat, although those with previous generation MacBooks aren't missing out on a great deal, and could arguably see better efficiencies by sticking with manual switching for graphics.

The new MacBook Pro remains the best looking, easiest to use, and most powerful standard-spec lap-dweller we've ever used, but there's not much call for the upgrade itch to be scratched if you already own one of Cupertino's machines.

Read the rest of our MacBook Pro review:
MacBook Pro review: Battery test
MacBook Pro review: Graphics switching