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New iPad advert: is iPad amazing?
US Update: MeeGo, Avatar 3D Blu-ray, Motorola Olympus
WikiLeaks gets the boot from Amazon
HP axes the MediaSmart Server line
Motorola Olympus handled and photographed
Avatar 3D Blu-ray for Panasonic eyes only?
Nokia says no to MeeGo for business?
Lovefilm Catfish Facebook preview screenings to be streamed online
Teatime Tech: Nokia boss disses tablets, TiVo is back and Apple patents glasses-free 3D
Donkey Kong Country Returns priced in unusual currency: bananas

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 11:13 PM PST

A new iPad advert has emerged from Apple's commercial creation bunker. That bouncy piano tune is all present and correct and it's clear that the new iPad Is Amazing ad is all about pushing the added functions delivered by iOS 4.2 in time for christmas. Head through to see the new iPad advert in all its consumerist glory, there's Toy Story 3 in there too…

In the new iPad advert above, you'll see iWork, AirPrint, multitasking and getting flicks from iPad to Apple TV with AirPlay (appropriately enough using Toy Story, a product of Steve Jobs' other business, Pixar) demonstrated.

Watch the clip and tell us: is iPad amazing? Or are you a bit bored of the little tablet that could now?

Out now | from £429 | Apple

US Update: MeeGo, Avatar 3D Blu-ray, Motorola Olympus

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 07:00 PM PST

Just a day into December and we've already been jam-packed with more tech news than you can sink your teeth into. It's that time again for what we like to call the US Update — breaking headlines and hearts across the globe with the latest and greatest in tech news from this side of the pond.

Starting things off this morning we jump right into it with Nokia announcing that MeeGo is strictly for consumers — enterprise users need not apply, seriously? Avatar 3D Blu-ray just became a whole lot more exclusive as only Panasonic Viera 3D HDTV owners will get a chance to own the disc, unless of course you think $399 is a fair price.

New pictures and details have surfaced on the Motorola Olympus — that Tegra 2 powerhouse scheduled to be front and center when we tackle CES 2011 in Las Vegas this January. WikiLeaks is back in the headlines this morning as Amazon has put an axe in the hosting agreement, sending the site packing back to Sweden.

Last up this morning is news that HP is discontinuing their MediaSmart lineup. Word on the street is that the team is now going to focus their efforts on developing WebOS.

That wraps up things this fine morning from the states. Thanks for spending your morning with us as we break the headlines fresh off the press from our side of the world. Until tomorrow, this is Nick saying over and out.

WikiLeaks gets the boot from Amazon

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 06:00 PM PST

Bon voyage WikiLeaks. Senator Joe Lieberman, Homeland Security Committee Chairman, has confirmed that Amazon will no longer host WikiLeaks. The word on the street is the website is headed back to Sweden, but how long will it last?

In homage to one of our favorite movies 'Hackers' — mess with the best die like the rest. That is the unfortunate tale for the controversial website WikiLeaks which lasted just days under a new hosting agreement with Amazon.com. Following the release of "Cable Gate", WikiLeaks fell under DDOS attacks that exceeded 10Gbps and now the site has been taken offline. Amazon has terminated the current arrangement and now the site will be headed back home.

With WikiLeaks is headed back to Swedish hosting, there's no telling how long the site will remain online. The source of the DDOS attacks remains unknown, but hackers are strongest in numbers and apparently there's no shortage of applicants looking to put an end to the controversial website.

So what do you think? Should WikiLeaks continue to operate without opposition or should the documents they reveal remain hidden for the good of public safety? Let us know what you think below.

via Yahoo Finance

HP axes the MediaSmart Server line

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 05:00 PM PST

Windows Home Sever has lost another comrade. HP has decided to forgo the usual embarrassment and simply cut to the chase – the MediaSmart Server line is now discontinued. Microsoft has even chimed in and confirmed the news on its Home Server blog. Is HP putting Windows on the back burner to focus on WebOS?

According a member of the HP StorageWorks team, that is exactly what HP is planning to do with the MediaSmart team. The company is rumored to be moving the current MediaSmart Server team to the Palm Global Business Unit with one goal – help the future development of WebOS.

Over on Microsoft's Home Server blog, the company wrote, "HP has told us they do not plan to provide a platform for Windows Home Server, condenamed 'Vail'". The news was surely a blow to Microsoft, but keep in mind that Microsoft still has Acer and Tranquil PC along with do-it-yourself system builders to keep the platform alive.

A quick call over to Tranquil PC confirmed the company is committed to the future of Windows Home Server V1 and V2. Tranquil PC managing director D.J. Thompson said in a post, "we will also ensure that there is a suitable transition path from V1 to V2 for our existing and new clients".

Windows Home Server has experienced serious highs and lows over the past sixth months and the HP announcement ranks in down at the bottom. The decision to remove the drive extender feature caused an uproar last week, but HP's departure could translate into a serious dent in Microsoft's earnings report.

As a HP MediaSmart owner (EX495), I have mixed feelings about the announcement. I didn't expect the product line to live forever, but owning an expired products doesn't sit well. Anyone else out there using a HP MediaSmart server? Let us know your feeling about today's announcement below.

via Cnet

Motorola Olympus handled and photographed

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

Oh how we love you Motorola Olympus. With your Tegra 2 processor, smooth lines and razor sharp four inch screen, we can't wait to take you for a spin this January at CES. A lucky soul has beat us to the punch and we have the photos and new details to prove it.

There's nothing like an unreleased handset to start your day. We're no stranger when it comes to the Motorola Olympus, but with every leak comes new details — so let's dive right in. The Motorola Olympus made headlines this week as an At&t employee outed a December or January release date. Being the conservative tech enthusiasts, we'd predict the later of the two dates.

In these new images we can now confirm the Motorola Olympus will feature a front-facing camera and the rear camera (resolution unknown) will have flash. The display is certainly 4-inches and at the top is the highly coveted HDMI-out port. According to the source (and the photos), the Olympus is running Android 2.2 with the BLUR interface.

We're not exactly the biggest fans of BLUR, but knowing the prototype is running Android 2.2 has us excited for the release units running Android 2.3. There were a few other important pieces of information brought to our attention by the source — namely, the Motorola Olympus model number is MB860.

Now that we have the model number it will be a whole lot easier tracking down some photos taken with the device, FCC Approval and Wi-Fi certifications. With only a month to go before CES 2011 in Las Vegas, we are chomping at the bit to see what Tegra 2 can do for us in 2011. Anyone else excited for these dual-core Tegra 2 Android smartphones?

via Gizmodo

Avatar 3D Blu-ray for Panasonic eyes only?

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 03:00 PM PST

The quest for the Avatar 3D Blu-ray just got a little trickier. James Cameron's 3D blockbuster might be an easy find when it comes to DVD or standard Blu-ray, but get ready to jump through some Panasonic hoops and empty your bank account to make it happen in 3D form.

According to Panasonic, starting today customers who buy a Panasonic Viera 3D HDTV VT series or GT series will also receive the company's 3D Full HD Ultimate Pack. Besides the two pairs of 3D glasses, this exclusive bundle comes with your very own copy of Avatar 3D Blu-ray.

Existing owners for Panasonic Viera 3D sets who purchased between March 10 and November 30 this year are not completely out of luck. Panasonic seems to be throwing you a bone by offering a free copy of the film by filling out a mail-in request form, however you'll have to pay extra if you want those 3D glasses.

For the rest of us who don't live and die by Panasonic Viera 3D, the price gets steep really quick. A Panasonic spokesperson said that customers can buy the 3D Full HD Ultimate Pack separately for $399.95 if they don't want a Panasonic TV, but still want the movie. Seriously?

Apparently Panasonic isn't joking about this one because the manufacturer has an exclusive deal to sell Avatar 3D on Blu-ray with Twentieth Century Fox. There's no telling how long this exclusive partnership will last, but let's just hope for our bank account's sake – it ends quickly.

So anyone planning on running out to get a Panasonic Viera 3D HDTV just so they can have a copy of Avatar 3D Blu-ray? Or is the $399 worth the price of admission to have a copy, even if those 3D glasses aren't compatible with your current set? I think we’ll stick with Avatar on Sky 3D instead.

via Panasonic

Nokia says no to MeeGo for business?

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 02:00 PM PST

Nokia's MeeGo platform might be the most exciting news to come from the Finnish manufacturer, but that fun will stop before it hits enterprise customers. In a shocking revelation this afternoon, Nokia business smartphones chief Ilari Nurmi dropped the bombshell that broke our hearts.

We loved Symbian, it was a great mobile OS and it continues to serve its purpose best in lower-end devices, not Nokia flagship products. The Maemo-powered Nokia N900 changed the way we thought about Nokia products and opened the door for endless possibilities. When that project picked up steam and became MeeGo, it felt as though Nokia had finally embraced change – change in the form of a fresh UI for top-tier handsets.

In an interview with ZDNet UK this morning, Nokia business smartphones chief Ilari Nurmi said that Nokia had "great converged device plans based on the MeeGo platform" and that there were "different types of needs and wants in the enterprise market". Simply put, Nokia has no plans of pitching MeeGo to the enterprise as a replacement for Symbian.

We had our own interview with Ilari: Get his take on tablets and more

Rubbing sand in our wounds, Nurmi went on to say that, "It's very important to note that Symbian is the primary platform today and will also be the primary platform in the future". Apparently the strong reviews of the Nokia N900 and the advancements in MeeGo are not enough for the head of business smartphones.

The first MeeGo phone is due out in early 2011 and as the end of the year approaches, the shake ups in the Executive Board and Nokia combined with this news from Mr. Nurmi, really have us shaking in our boots. What does the future hold for MeeGo? Is Nokia really going to continue to push Symbian to the enterprise users? Let us know what you think.

via CNet

Lovefilm Catfish Facebook preview screenings to be streamed online

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 09:20 AM PST

Lovefilm is hosting its first ever exclusive film preview online, streaming the Facebook documentary Catfish we mentioned a couple of months ago. This is the first of a string of exclusive streamed previews that Lovefilm has planned, with added Facebook Live style Q&A after the screening with filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost.

The Catfish preview will be streamed on Lovefilm.com at the same time as preview screenings are shown across 40 cinemas in the UK on Tuesday 14 December at 6.30pm, ahead of its UK cinema release on Friday 17 December. It’s not for everyone though: there’ll be 250 spaces for folks to watch the film online. To be in with a chance, answer the question correctly at the Lovefilm Catfish minisite. It will be set up a little like Facebook Live events, and the audience will be able to ask the directors questions after the screening in a live Q&A.

The film follows a Facebook romance to its conclusion: the girl the guy falls in love with doesn’t turn out to be quite what she says she is online, but it turns out to be more sinister than most online romances.

After the live screening, Lovefilm will be getting a two week exclusive on rental for the film, and this isn’t the only film that will be getting the exclusive Lovefilm treatment. A spokesperson said this is just the first in a long line of Lovefilm preview streams that are planned. Lovefilm has teamed up with Momentum for this release, and are due to do more of the same for upcoming Momentum releases.

What would you most like to see a live streamed preview of? Drop us a line in the comments and let us know!

Teatime Tech: Nokia boss disses tablets, TiVo is back and Apple patents glasses-free 3D

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 09:09 AM PST

It's 5ish, it's already dark and it's colder than the proverbial witches, er, bit out there. But we've got the medicine: tech news stories from this afternoon that can be perused at your leisure. All aboard for Teatime Tech!

Nokia's taken a bit of a critical battering in recent times, with the Finnish firm's reliance on the creaking Symbian OS making it look distinctly doddery in comparison to the likes of iOS and Android. But Nokia's Ilari Nurmi, Vice President of Eseries, still reckons his company's smartphones have plenty to offer over those new tablet pretenders. Read his thoughts here.

In less contentious news, Virgin Media has announced that TiVo will return to the UK in mid-December. Virgin Media TiVo will feature a 1TB set-top box, 4,600 hours of on demand content and lots more.

Finally, Apple is the latest company to move us a step closer to a large 3D display that doesn't require you to slap on a pair of gawky glasses. The boys and girls at Cupertino have patented a technology allowing more than one person to watch a 3D screen from more than one angle, all without glasses. Of course, whether this patent will actually make the transition into a real product is another matter altogether.

Want more? Head to the homepage for the rest of the day's news, along with everything else.

Donkey Kong Country Returns priced in unusual currency: bananas

Posted: 01 Dec 2010 08:05 AM PST

If you’ve got a couple of bananas and you’re near London this weekend, then you might just be able to swap them for a copy of Donky Kong Country Returns, if you’re fast enough. In front of bewildered shoppers, Game and GameStation are challenging you to present a bunch of bananas as payment for Donky Kong Country Returns for the Wii. The first 20 people to roll up with fruit in their wallets instead of the £45 asking price will get free copies. The dare starts at 9am on Friday at Game Oxford Street, Merry Hill Dudley, and from 8am at GameStation in Hull.