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iOS 4 is live: Tell us what you think
Kinect, FaceTime and 3DS: Or how all my sci-fi dreams came true at once
iPhone 4 review: What do you want to know?
iPhone 4: Orange to offer free micro-SIM adaptors – are you a SIM swapper?
Enter our iPhone 4 competition
Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ successor to pack external video projector?
iOS 4 upgrade guide: how to get it on your iPhone or iPod Touch
HTC Wildfire review: Live Q&A tomorrow!
Elgato EyeTV app for iPad
Lunchtime Lowdown: BlackBerry Bold 9900, Samsung Galaxy S Pro leaked and iOS 4 out today!

Posted: 21 Jun 2010 10:34 AM PDT

Want some iOS 4 on your iPhone or your iPod touch? Time to go get, as Apple’s just unleashed it upon the masses, three days ahead of the launch of the iPhone 4.

We’ve known most of the new features in iOS 4 (The new name for iPhone OS 4) since it was first unveiled back in April, but now we’re able to see at long last just how they work on older devices. if you’ve got iTunes 9.2, you should be able to check for an update that slaps it on your beloved gizmo (See here for our guide on what iOS 4 brings to which iPhones and iPods).

How to install iOs 4 on your iPhone

At 315MB, iOS 4 is a hefty download, so don’t be surprised if iTunes goes on the blink while Apple fans around the world clamour for the upgrade at the same time. Once you have got it installed though, tell us what you make of it. Is it the upgrade you were hoping for? Are you miffed at the app switching and just going to jailbreak instead? Reckon it has more potential on the iPad? Jot your thoughts down below and join the debate – we’re off to test out iOS 4 for you right now!

Out Now | £free | Apple

Kinect, FaceTime and 3DS: Or how all my sci-fi dreams came true at once

Posted: 21 Jun 2010 09:01 AM PDT

Two weeks on holiday, and I come back to gadget Nirvana. Microsoft Kinect is Minority Report made flesh. Later this week I'll be videocalling like a Jetson with iPhone 4 and FaceTime, and Nintendo's 3DS will bring the holy grail of sci-fi tech to my palm-top before Christmas: holographic images without the dorky specs. Just like Star Wars, Star Trek and, err, Starship Troopers have predicted for aeons. You could say I’m in geek heaven, but like any early adopter, I still want more.

Sure, the combined efforts of Nintendo, Apple and Microsoft have had a good stab at sating my sci-fi longings for next-gen wonder-tech, but there's still plenty left on my wishlist.

What's next to make the jump from Hollywood's dream factory into humble reality? I've emptied my geeked-out mind into list form below. What's on your fantasy gadget agenda? Give me a shout in the comments section… I’ve even got a goodie in store for the best suggestion.

A real life Babelfish
The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy featured a friendly Babelfish which, when shoved in a lughole, would translate languages to make Johnny Foreigner sound like John from next door.

Dr Who's Tardis does the same thing, but whenever I venture abroad I'm left thumbing a phrasebook and looking bemused. Soon though, Google will give me sci-fi-style translation skills, by using voice-to-text-to-translator-to-voice technology. Glamorous assistant and time-travelling jollies will doubtless cost extra.

A robot to do my bidding
I want more than a robot hoover. I want a robot manservant! Something with a cheeky grin and ability to climb stairs, picking up crisp packets and taking my place in the Post Office queue.

I've met Asimo, but he's too slow, a little bit dumb, and those cold unblinking eyes give me the creeps. And yes, I've seen WALL-E… but while others lamented a dystopian future for lazy humans, I couldn't stop wishing for one of those floaty chairs to go with it. Surely Apple's next gizmo should be the iJeeves?

Sci-fi food
My kitchen gadgets are rubbish. They chop, they grill. I've even got one that'll add froth to drinks that have no legitimate reason to possess it, but they're not true technological wonders.

Where are my meals in pill form? My Star Trek replicator to concoct any meal I can dream up? I'd even settle for a Back To The Future-style shrunken pizza in favour of the oven-ready mystery meat I've got waiting for me tonight. And no, when it comes to true future-food, coffee pods don’t count.

Transparent screens
Avatar had them, Minority Report had them. But while Microsoft Kinect seems ready to bring the non-touch controls I'll need to keep them smudge-free, the only see-through screens I've clapped eyes on are inside the Sony Ericsson Pureness. Bring me a TV I can watch while walking down the street. A desktop display I can see the outside world through too, but whatever you do, fit a privacy filter so I can get my, err, Internet banking done in private.

A smart car
No, not those boxy abominations cooked up by Mercades Benz. I want a motor that'll drive itself, like KITT, or Bumblebee. It's not that I'm a bad driver, just a lazy one, and impatient, and mouthy, not to mention slightly lead-footed. The sooner some smart technology takes my hands off the wheel, the better for all other road-users.

What's left on your sci-fi gadget wishlist? Jot your list down in the comments section below: There's a mystery prize for the best one. And no, it's not a Johnny 5.

iPhone 4 review: What do you want to know?

Posted: 21 Jun 2010 08:53 AM PDT

The iPhone 4 is just three short days away from being unleashed upon the world. If you’re not planning on being in the queue for one in 72 hours’ time, we’ll have a full iPhone 4 review for you just as soon as we can to let you know whether it’s worth forking over an eye watering sum for. But to tailor it to suit your needs, now’s the time to tell us. What do you want to know?

As we said on Friday, we’ll be bringing you an exhaustive iPhone 4 review digging deep into all its new facets, features and smooth software skills. But to make sure we leave no stone unturned, and ensure we help you make the right decision, we want you to tell us what is you want to know most about the iPhone 4.

Win an iPhone 4. Click here to enter!

Whether it’s to do with the iPhone 4’s camera, screen, battery life or even its spangly all around antenna, just jot your queries down here in the comments and we’ll endeavour to answer them in full when we set loose our iPhone 4 review extravaganza on the world.

Tell us what you want to know about the iPhone 4 by dropping us a line in the Disqus comments box below.

Out 24 June | £varies | Apple

iPhone 4: Orange to offer free micro-SIM adaptors – are you a SIM swapper?

Posted: 21 Jun 2010 08:02 AM PDT

The iPhone 4 will add one irritation for folk used to switching their SIM card between phones: that micro-SIM simply won't fit into other handsets. But luckily, Orange will be offering a solution – free micro-SIM adaptors for anyone opting for the Orange iPhone 4 deals. That got us wondering: are you a SIM swapper?

While we're waiting to see if the free Three iPhone 4 tethering offer we spotted this morning gets official, Orange has offered up free micro-SIM adaptors as its own minor incentive. Conor Maples (aka ConorfromOrange on Twitter), Orange's PR manager, revealed that it will be giving out the handy bits of plastic to customers who opt for the iPhone 4 on Orange.

The iPhone 4 micro-SIM adaptors will mean you're able to slot the slimmed down card into any other phone you're packing. That could come in handy if you're headed to a festival and not keen on getting your iPhone 4 pinched or prone to losing phones when you've had one too many. Hopefully the other networks will give them out too.

With just over 3 days until iPhone 4 launch, are you planning on packing the new iPhone and another handset? Let us know what phone you'll be pairing your new pride and joy with and why. And remember you can butcher your own DIY microSIM.

Out June 24 | £varies | Orange

Enter our iPhone 4 competition

Posted: 21 Jun 2010 07:08 AM PDT

The iPhone 4 is coming this Thursday, and while most Apple fans are currently stuck under a slurry of competing tariffs and wondering which to choose, one lucky reader is set to have the hassle solved, as we’re giving away an iPhone 4, with no strings attached. Want to be that lucky reader? Read on and we’ll tell you how.

We’ve got a black iPhone 4 32GB, completely unlocked, to give to one reader, and the rules are simple. All you need to do is head on over to the competition entry page, check out the terms and conditions, then follow the instructions and explain why you feel you deserve a completely free iPhone 4. We’ve had heart wrenching stories and even ballads so far, so be sure to make your reason stand out. Good luck!

To enter our iPhone 4 competition, just click here.

Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ successor to pack external video projector?

Posted: 21 Jun 2010 06:32 AM PDT

Remember the Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ? It was that kooky projector cam that made our 2009 top 10 innovations list and was showered with love in our Nikon S1000PJ review. Well, a new rumour suggests Nikon is about to get experimental again, sticking a movie projector with video input into the snapper's successor…

In the latest issue of French photography mag Chasseur d'Images, lurks a small piece claiming Nikon is hard at work on a Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ replacement. While its intriguing but pricey predecessor only showed its own photos and videos, the mag claims the new camera would act as an external projector.

Nikon Rumors, which flagged up the article, says the Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ successor will be able to hook up to your computer to show your snaps. It could also become an iPad if there's a VGA connection.

Nikon has submitted a pile of projector patent applications in the past year, perhaps one of them was for this CoolPix S1000PJ follow up. The firm's set to unleash a new batch of cameras sometime in August and we'd love to see this mad little video projector plan come to fruition then too. Just don’t make it £399 this time, OK Nikon?

Interestingly, Chasseur d'Images has form with this particular type of Nikon rumour. It spilled the beans about the Nikon Coolpix S1000PJ first too.

Do you like the idea of a Nikon video projector cam? Let us know what other experimental camera kit you'd love to see manufacturers make.

Due TBC | £TBC | Nikon (via Nikon Rumors)

iOS 4 upgrade guide: how to get it on your iPhone or iPod Touch

Posted: 21 Jun 2010 06:08 AM PDT

The iOS 4 update is arriving today and rumoured to be slipping out of Apple HQ at 6pm UK time. While you wait, why not read our iOS 4 upgrade guide so your iPhone or iPod Touch will be ready and waiting to welcome its new software ahead of iPhone 4 arriving on Thursday…

Before you start, check our iOS 4 devices guide to see whether your older iPhone or iPod Touch will actually run the new update. Most will but there are a couple of exceptions.

Step one: Backup
When you install iOS 4, it'll wipe the data on your iPhone or iPod Touch then whack it all back on there. Make sure you've got the most up to date info saved on your computer. When you plug in your iPod Touch or iPhone, iTunes automatically syncs and backs up your data. If you want to make doubly sure, select the icon in left hand menu in iTunes, right click and choose Back Up.

Step two: get iTunes 9.2
Apple punted out iTunes 9.2 last week to ready its jukebox for the arrival of iPhone 4 and iOS 4. If you've not grabbed it already go to the iTunes menu and select Check For Updates. Then choose Download iTunes. The Software Update window will open and there's likely to be a selection of other updates in there. If you're in a rush to get to iOS 4, deselect the other downloads.

Step three: capture your settings
Upgrading to iOS 4 should retain your settings but if you want to make doubly sure you can restore them, take a few snapshots of the Settings app screens. You can grab snapshots by pressing the home button and the power button at the same time. Once you've grabbed them, sync your iPhone again and save the images in iPhoto or in a folder in Windows.

Step four: upgrade your apps
With iOS 4 apps trickling out, you've probably already got some compatible updates waiting for you. Go to Apps in the iTunes menu and click on updates available in the bottom right hand corner. Then click the Download All Free Updates icon in the top right hand corner. Once all your apps have updated, you're ready for the final step…

Step five: install iOS 4
There should be plenty of fanfare here when iOS 4 arrives but to check if the update is ready and force iTunes to grab it, click on the device icon in the left hand iTunes menu then select Check For Update. iTunes will then ask you if you want to install iOS 4. Follow the instructions, let your iPhone or iPod Touch sync and back up and you're done.

Once you've got iOS 4 installed, take a look at our list of iOS 4 features you might miss and let us know how it's working for you.

Out today | £free | Apple

HTC Wildfire review: Live Q&A tomorrow!

Posted: 21 Jun 2010 05:45 AM PDT

We’ve got a HTC Wildfire in the house, and in a review in the pipeline for you, but if there’s a burning question you have about the company’s new low price Android phone, you’d better grab you diary and save the date, as we’re doing a live Q&A tomorrow!

Just as we’ve done for the iPad, BlackBerry Pearl 3G and Dell Streak, we’ll be running a live question and answer session for a full hour on the HTC Wildfire, kicking off at 11am UK time. If you’ve got any questions you want answered on the lil’ Desire (Is it better than the HTC Hero? What’s the screen like), we’ll be on hand to answer them, and test out anything that’s bugging you about it.

HTC Wildfire unboxed: photos

Needless to say, we’ll be bringing you a full HTC Wildfire review shortly too, but for photos and live updates of our testing, tune in then – and if you’ve got any questions which might need a bit of prep time (Like an app installed) just drop them in the comments here and we’ll prime a response for you.

Check back on the homepage at 11am on Tuesday 22 June for the HTC Wildfire live Q&A.

Out TBC | £From free on contract | HTC

Elgato EyeTV app for iPad

Posted: 21 Jun 2010 05:10 AM PDT

Elgato has updated its EyeTV live TV streaming app to accommodate the iPad, after software updates in late May brought one click exporting for the iPad.

Version 1.1 of Elgato's EyeTV app adds live TV streaming over to the iPad for £2.99 a pop, or as a free update for existing EyeTV users. It means that now the app has been modified to take full advantage of the iPad's bigger, hi-res screen.

The app has been developed with today's release of iOS4, Apple's new iPhone OS, although the EyeTV app isn't yet optimised for the iPhone 4's super high density Retina screen resolution, and will need another update to make best use of it.

You'll need a Mac runnning Eye TV 3.4, which then streams over wi-fi or 3G to your iPhone or iPad via a compatible tuner device (Elgato do its own, and recommend the Turbo.264 for making the best of streaming over 3G). When streaming out and about, leave your Mac running, and My EyeTV locator service tracks your signal back at home.

Out now | £2.99 | App Store

Lunchtime Lowdown: BlackBerry Bold 9900, Samsung Galaxy S Pro leaked and iOS 4 out today!

Posted: 21 Jun 2010 04:39 AM PDT

We’re spot on halfway through the working day, so stop what you’re doing, bin those soggy sarnies and tuck into a real meal: all the gadget headlines from this morning, served pile high on one plate for you here in the lunchtime lowdown!

It’s been a busy morning on mobile. Apple’s gearing up to launch iOS 4 on the masses later today, while we got wind of a new BlackBerry Bold with a touchscreen but no slide keyboard, and the spec list for the leaked Samsung Galaxy S Pro popped up. Not so fussed about the physical keyboard? Check out what its brother, the Galaxy S, can do in our in depth guides.

Over on the computing front meanwhile, we reviewed Acer’s latest twisty tablet netbook, the Acer Aspire 1825PTZ – is it an iPad rival for Windows lovers? Check our full verdict to find out.

Still want more news? Bounce on over to the homepage and help yourself to it all as it breaks.

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