Electricpig.co.uk - tech news fast!

BlackBerry Curve 3G review: Live Q&A tomorrow!
Has Torrent Reactor bought a town?
BlackBerry Curve 3G hands on photos and impressions!
Ten apps that are better on Android
Best sat nav
iPad sequels and iOS Apple TV due early 2011?
Mac Pro orders begin: worth every penny?
Facebook nation: UK hitting saturation point?
Nokia N8 release date and price spotted: arriving August 26?
iPad AVI support arrives with CineXplayer: grab it quick!

BlackBerry Curve 3G review: Live Q&A tomorrow!

Posted: 09 Aug 2010 10:30 AM PDT

Our BlackBerry Curve 3G review is coming shortly, but as always when we grab a big name new phone early, we’re going to throw the floor open to you. We’re holding a live Q&A tomorrow afternoon, and you can ask whatever you want to know about the new QWERTY blower!

Check back on the homepage tomorrow at 2pm and we’ll kick off our BlackBerry Curve 3G review live Q&A. For one hour only, we’ll be answering every question you can throw at us. Want to know if the BlackBerry Curve 3G is worth an upgrade? How fast you can type on it? Whether it beats the Bold? Whatever burning query you have about the BlackBerry Curve 3G, tune in tomorrow and we’ll tell you.

Has Torrent Reactor bought a town?

Posted: 09 Aug 2010 09:36 AM PDT

Bit of a curveball for your Monday afternoon: apparently Torrent Reactor has bought a town, and will be pouring cash for improvements into the "godforsaken" village. Want to know where it is?

The village Torrent Reactor has bought is called Gar,which is here, according to Google maps…

It's actually been renamed Torrent Reactor too, in Russian, and will carry this name "forever" according to Torrent Reactor. The village, with 214 inhabitants, set the site back less than a one bed flat in London, about £94,000.

It all sounds a bit too much like a prank though. A quote on the site says: "We would be even happier to become pioneers and other large Internet portals would follow our example to help many godforsaken places on Earth"

In order to choose a site, Torrent Reactor "picked a few thousands of godforsaken places around the world that are close to operating nuclear reactors to make a connection to the name of our company. The list was numbered and a random number was picked by a generator. The number 377 was a lucky one for Gar village."

Despite only having three computers in the village, Torrent Reactor will be shelling out to install a broadband connection too. It was founded by a sect called Old Believers. It all adds up to being a bit suspect…

Is this a prank? What do you think? Have a look for yourself at the original post and let us know in the comments!

BlackBerry Curve 3G hands on photos and impressions!

Posted: 09 Aug 2010 09:09 AM PDT

The BlackBerry Curve 3G was only just made official this very lunchtime, but we don’t hang about. We’ve nabbed one already, and needless to say, a full BlackBerry Curve 3G review is in the works. Before that though, read on to see it up close in our hands on gallery – bonus impressions and comparison shots with the BlackBerry Torch included!

We liked the low end BlackBerry Curve 8520 when it went on sale this time a year ago, but we were a bit miffed by the lack of 3G and GPS (Something that we’d argue is actually more important than 3G, at least in a BlackBerry) – but that’s finally been rectified in the BlackBerry Curve 3G, which is otherwise, bar the new chrome and red colour schemes and a “ribbed” back, almost identical in build.

In other words, the traditional isolated keys of the Curve keyboard are still present and superbly clicky as ever, while an optical trackpad on the BlackBerry Curve 3G lets you mosey on around BlackBerry OS without lint stopping you ever, as with trackballs. The BlackBerry Curve 8520 was a great cheap messaging phone, but its followup will do certain things, like bung pictures online, a whole lot quicker (The BlackBerry Curve 3G sports a faster CPU also).

Of course, the lack of change other than faster data speeds has some drawback too. The screen is still a low res QVGA, the two megapixel camera on the back still has no flash, and the connected menu buttons just below the screen are still a tad tricky to define and push. Then of course, there are the general limitations with BlackBerry OS – particularly that blasted, maligned, hated browser.

Read our BlackBerry Curve 8520 review now

But on the plus side, the BlackBerry Curve 3G will be getting the big BlackBerry 6 update, just like the Bold 9700 and Pearl 3G, which should bring among other things nippy universal search and a vastly better browser.

A RIM spokesperson couldn’t give us a timeframe for it sadly, and stressed that individuals networks will have the final say, but we can see BlackBerry 6 is going to be the big differentiator between the BlackBerry Curve 3G and the older 8520, so it’ll be in their interests to sort it out ASAP – RIM says the 8520 will still remain on sale, and we wouldn’t be surprised to see its price fall even further.

We’ll have a full BlackBerry Curve 3G review for you in the next couple of days, but in the meantime, check it out up close in our hands on gallery here, hanging out with a BlackBerry Torch, Bold 9700, and Curve 8900.

Do you like what you see? Is the BlackBerry Curve 3G too little too late in 2010? Shout up with your thoughts in the comments below!

Out August | £TBC | BlackBerry

Ten apps that are better on Android

Posted: 09 Aug 2010 08:59 AM PDT

We love Android, but when it comes to Android apps Google's OS gets a bad rap compared to the iPhone. "The Android Market has less apps" say some, or "they're not as stable" and don't get us started on the choice of games on offer. But it's not all bad news, there are a ton of apps that're simply better on Android.

Before you get stuck in, search for, download and install Barcode Scanner (or click this link if you’re reading on an Android phone), then point the Barcode Scanner app at the QR codes on this page to zip straight to the Android Market to install everything listed!

1. Ocado On The Go
Want to order groceries on your phone? Then you want Ocado. More to the point, you want the Ocado Android app. Sure, there's an iPhone app that's broadly similar, but on Android, Ocado lets you search by voice and even scan barcodes. It's a simple feature, but one that makes shopping by phone much more useful: open the fridge, scan the contents, and re-order regular items in a trice!

2. Spotify
Yeah, the iPhone version of Spotify has background playback since iOS 4 debuted, but the Android version has had that from day one anyway. There's also a homescreen widget on Android, letting you control music playback without zipping in and out of the Android app. You’ll need to be a Spotify Premium subscriber to use it, but once you do you might never go back to storing MP3s on your mobile again, and with dashboard-style controls, Android has Spotify integration sorted.

3. Google Voice
This Android app isn't even available on iPhone, for reasons known only to Apple (and soon, the FCC since it's the subject of an official investigation) but the Android app is a peach, letting you make free calls, divert incoming callers and pull of fancy tricks like having your landline and mobile ring at the same time, or not at all depending on the time of day. Meanwhile, the iPhone often struggles to show voicemails promptly.

4. Google Listen
This is Google's equivalent of the iTunes Store's Podcasts section. The iPhone lets you download podcasts, but only if they're less than 20MB over 3G. That's pitiful, since most podcasts clock in at 30 minutes, or around 30MB, minimum it renders the iPhone almost useless for mobile listening.

Android is different, with Google Listen letting you download as much as you like, wherever you are. It'll also download automatically, syncing subscriptions with Google Reader, so you can manage your listening habits on a desktop computer too.

5. Shazam
The music-identifying app is on both Android and iPhone alike, letting pub quiz entrants cheat their way to victory, no matter which model mobile they're using. However, Android owners get a few extras, such as one-touch access to a chart of most-tagged songs and the option to buy tracks through Amazon, whereas iPhone owners are shackled to iTunes.

6. Dropbox
Side by side the Android version of Dropbox seems more evolved than its iPhone counterpart. There are options to use pictures from your Dropbox for more than simply saving to your phone's photo library (as is the case with iPhone). You can use them as wallpapers, contact photos, or share them on using a variety of other apps, from e-mail to Picassa, as well as sharing links directly to them.

If a file can't be opened by another app on your phone, you're free to download it (which the iPhone simply won't allow), and there are better options for managing your Dropbox contents too, including making folders on the go. Serious Dropbox users should always choose Android over iPhone.

7. Google Maps
One of the most-used apps on iPhones all over the world, The Google Maps Android App knocks spots off Apple's version. Google Navigation is included on the most recent versions of Android, turns some Android phones into full blown sat navs for free. Then there's search by voice, Google Latitude built-in, layers and Google Buzz. iPhone owners get none of those.

8. Sky News
Sky News is one of the best dedicated news apps on the iPhone, but the Android version is even sweeter. It comes bundled with widgets to slap breaking news and live updates on your home screen, so you'll be alerted to developments on the go. Swooshing "breaking news" sound effects are, sadly, not included.

9. Bonsai Blast
It's no Angry Birds, but this Glu-made game is free on Android while iPhone owners are forced to fork over 59p for the privilege of paying. How's that for platform inequality? You Android naysayers can harp on as much as you like about iPhone app variety, but it seems just occasionally that it pays to be on the other side of the mobile gaming fence.

10. Opera Mini
Apple recently let Opera have a slice of iPhone action, but unlike the Android version Apple's OS keeps the browser locked down. Meanwhile Android is open and unrestricted, letting you download files from the web and save them to your phone. From there you can, of course, do what you like with them. E-mail them on, gawp at them outside the browser, or open them with other apps. Take that, Cupertino!

QR Codes courtesy of www.cyrket.com

Best sat nav

Posted: 09 Aug 2010 08:54 AM PDT

The best sat nav shouldn’t just get you and whatever vehicle you’re in from A to B. It should do just what you need it to, whether that’s give you live traffic info, petrol prices, or even just fit in your trouser pocket. There are plenty to choose from these days, and we’ve got the pick of them right here in our best sat nav top 5 list.

Scroll your eyes over to the right and you’ll see our current best sat nav top 5 list, complete with all the details on the very best GPS units for your motor right now. It’s compiled by the expert road hogs here at Electricpig, so you’ll only get the best, and it’s updated every time another model overtakes any listed.

You can read all about the models that made the cut in our best sat nav top 5 straight from the chart, and even click through to Amazon to pick one up ASAP. What are you waiting for? We know why you’re here: click on over to the right and browse through the best sat nav numbers in the world right now.

Best iPod

iPad sequels and iOS Apple TV due early 2011?

Posted: 09 Aug 2010 08:03 AM PDT

The summer is throwing up a bountiful crop of Apple rumours. While most are focused on the new iPod touch, we're also getting plenty of iPad and Apple TV tidbits to chew on. Today's batch? Talk of two new iPad models arriving in early 2011 and the now near-mythical iOS Apple TV coming along with them…

According to Mingchi Kuo, senior analyst at perpetual rumour-wranglers Digitimes, Apple has two iPad models on the cards for Q1 2011.

The first iPad will apparently be a perked up version of the current 9.7in iPad with a new ARM A9 processor and 512MB RAM. The second iPad is rumoured to be a 7in model with a 1024×768 resolution screen. Hardly a difficult one to predict.

The second, smaller iPad model chimes with the iPad mini rumours we heard last week that also talked up a 7in screen size and iPhone 4-style screen.

The Apple TV talk also follows on from similar rumours we heard earlier this year. Digitimes says it'll be a hard drive, AMD Fusion processor powered device with iOS on board. That would bring the App Store to Apple TV. The new device is reportedly set to go into production in December.

Digitimes has a mixed history when it comes to Apple rumours. The talk of the an iPad mini is starting to sound convincing and we have heard lots of whispers about an iOS-powered Apple TV but these rumours are little more than any avid Apple fan could dream up.

Hit the comments with your predictions on Apple's next move. Is it going to promote Apple TV from a hobby to a serious iOS-powered priority? And what do you want from the next generation of iPad? Are you itching for an iPad mini?

Out TBC | £TBC | Apple (via Digitimes)

Mac Pro orders begin: worth every penny?

Posted: 09 Aug 2010 07:34 AM PDT

Waiting on tenterhooks for the new Mac Pro? The wait is over. Apple is now taking orders for the new pimped out Mac Pros in the UK. Looks like there might be a typo in the price points though. Click the thumbnail for a screenshot…

The Mac Pro is the hulking great giant of the Mac line up, with a lot of muscle and a price tag to match. The Quad-core Mac Pro starts at £2000, with an 8-core model at £2800, and top end 12-core Mac Pro curiously priced at £3,999.01… Is this a typo in the Apple system? Or an overhang from the pre-published page? All the other prices are without the extra penny. It is however, doubtful, that the extra penny will be of much concern if you're shelling out for a top of the range Mac Pro.

Orders for the Mac Pro are open, and shipping is two weeks at time of writing. If you want one, you can always sign up for the pay monthly option, which takes about £180 from you, for about the same amount of time it takes a child to grow up and leave home.

Will you be upgrading to a Mac Pro? Let us know if you paid the extra penny…

Facebook nation: UK hitting saturation point?

Posted: 09 Aug 2010 07:01 AM PDT

A massive 1 in 6 web pages viewed in the UK were Facebook pages, adding up to almost 17 per cent of all web traffic coming from the UK. Which means that if you're reading this, and have more than six tabs open, it's likely that one of them is Facebook.

This massive portion of page views blasts Google out of the water, although Google still takes the lion’s share of total visits.

What’s more interesting though, is the data, from Experian Hitwise, which tracks Facebook's penetration into the UK market. It looks like it's beginning to reach saturation point. There are around 26 million users here, which adds up to a whopping 42 per cent of the population signed up to Facebook.

The Facebook market share of UK page views has trebled over the last five years, but over the last six months it's petered out a little, and slowed significantly over the last six months, having grown around 1.7 per cent since November last year, compared to a sizeable 5 per cent growth between April and October last year.

Average time on the site is also levelling out at just under half an hour, after a massive uphill climb in the last two years.

The question we're left with is what happens now to Facebook in the UK? Is this like Olympic records, where the numbers will get incrementally better until reaching a ceiling? Or is now the time for a shiny new social networking tool to stroll in, and offer something better, and possibly with more scrupulous privacy principles…

Is the UK up to its ears in Facebook? What happens now? You tell us…

Nokia N8 release date and price spotted: arriving August 26?

Posted: 09 Aug 2010 06:35 AM PDT

The Nokia N8 release date has been a source of debate for months now. We've known that the Symbian ^3 smartie is set to drop in Q3 but now a British retailer has slung up a date and price for the Nokia N8. Will it really arrive SIM-free on August 26? And if it does, will you snap it up?

With its 3.5in AMOLED touchscreen, the aforementioned Symbian ^3 OS and a 12MP camera with HD video skills, the Nokia N8 is supposed to be the phone that restores the firm’s fortunes.

The phone sellers at MobileFun have slung up a pre-order page, pricing the Nokia N8 at £419.95 and promising it'll be in stock on August 26.

There's still been no official word from the Finns on when the Nokia N8 will arrive but most estimates have pegged its release date before Nokia World 2010 kicks off. That's taking place in the second week of September, so an August 26 arrival would be pretty timely.

If you're still not sure about the Nokia N8, take a look at our Nokia N8 photos and Nokia N8 video. Are you tempted to pick one up? How much are you willing to pay for it? Hit the comments and let us know.

Out TBC | £TBC | Nokia (via Nok Nok)

iPad AVI support arrives with CineXplayer: grab it quick!

Posted: 09 Aug 2010 06:03 AM PDT

The iPad is pretty picky when it comes to video formats with native support for just h.264, M-JPEG and MP4 files. But if you've got a stash of films and videos in the .AVI (Xvid) format, help is now at hand with the free CineXplayer app which will play them on your iPad regardless. We're surprised to see Apple allowing an iPad AVI app, so you'd best read on and snap it up quickly if you're interested…

While you can always convert your Xvid (.AVI) files into an iPad-friendly format, CineXplayer promises to take them as they are. You can sling videos into CineXPlayer using the iPad File Sharing feature in iTunes.

Once you've synced your .AVI files onto your iPad, you can play them from within CineXPlayer. It has a auto-resume function to remember where you were in a movie and lets you delete files from your collection from within the app.

The makers of CineXPlayer warn that some .AVI files won't work but the reviews so far are pretty positive. For a free app, CineXPlayer looks like a good bet. Getting iPad AVI support directly from an app rather than having to faff around with conversion is definitely handy. Hopefully Apple won't change it mind!

If you've downloaded CineXPlayer for its iPad AVI skills, let us know what you make of it. Give us your reviews in the comments section which is ready and waiting for your words of wisdom.

Out now | £free | iTunes

Made for Life

Tuesday, 10 August 2010

Electricpig.co.uk - tech news fast!

Electricpig.co.uk - tech news fast!

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