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US Update: touch screen PSP, Nexus S, iPad 2, EA Mobile
EA Mobile Android games now 99 cents
LG to unveil full range of 3D AV devices at CES 2011
iOS updates: Skyfire for iPad, Apple Remote, dual-core iPad 2
Android updates: Nexus S, Firefox 4 beta, HTC 4G LTE
Touch screen Sony PSP coming soon?
Win a Sony Ericsson LiveView!
Ultimate money saving tech tips for Christmas
Advent Calendar day 23: Win gadget prizes, laptops and Android tablets!
Best iPad apps of the week

US Update: touch screen PSP, Nexus S, iPad 2, EA Mobile

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 07:00 PM PST

We're locked and loaded with a heap of tech news this morning in today's US Update. Kicking off the show is news on the upcoming touch screen PSP, followed by your daily Android updates, iOS updates, a look at LG's CES 2011 show and even a sale on EA Mobile games in the Android Market.

Sony's Kaz Hirai has confirmed to the New York Times that the upcoming Sony PSP will offer a touch screen in addition to conventional game controls. After losing significant market share to iOS over the past 2 years, the portable gaming console is looking for a big makeover in 2011.

Today in Android news, we saw the Google Nexus S receive it's first OTA update. Firefox 4 beta for Android also saw an update with a few new features and HTC announced a new 4G LTE device set to be unveiled at CES on January 6th.

The world of iOS had some serious news this morning: Skyfire for iPad went official, the app is now $4.99 in the App Store; Apple updated the Remote app which now includes AirPlay and Internet radio; and new rumors for the iPad 2 have surfaced. The latest spin is that the iPad 2 will feature a dual-core A9 chip and will be released in March 2011.

LG jump started their CES 2011 announcement by confirming the HX996TS, a Real 3D Sound Home Theater System; the H906SB, a premium Blu-ray 3D Disc Home Theater System; and the BD690, a Network Blu-ray 3D disc Player.

Wrapping up today's news is an EA Mobile sale currently underway in the Android Market. Joining the sale for iOS users, the Android sale has several key titles offered for 99 cents: 'The Sims 3', 'Tetris', 'Fifa 10' and 'Need for Speed Shift'.

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 Monday, this is Nick saying over and out.

EA Mobile Android games now 99 cents

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 06:00 PM PST

Matching the EA blow out sale on iOS games currently underway, the gaming empire has spread the holiday spirit by offering the same deal for Android users. Popular titles such as 'The Sims 3', 'Tetris', 'Fifa 10' and 'Need for Speed Shift' are now just 99 cents.

If you have been sitting on the sidelines of mobile gaming because of the price of Android apps, today is your lucky day. Granted, there might not be as many titles to choose from compared to iOS, but who doesn't love a game of 'Tetris' every now and again? Simply head to the Android Market on your phone and search "ea mobile" to download any of the aforementioned games for just 99 cents.

$.99 | Android Market | EA Mobile

LG to unveil full range of 3D AV devices at CES 2011

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 05:00 PM PST

LG is looking to fully embrace the world of 3D home entertainment at CES 2011 in Las Vegas. The manufacturer has issued a statement, confirming a full range of 3D Audio Video (AV) devices including a two home theater systems and a network Blu-ray 3d player.

In less than two short weeks we'll be in Las Vegas for CES 2011. To build some momentum in the home theater space, LG has announced a small sampling of devices to quiet our growing appetite for gadgets and gear; the HX996TS, a Real 3D Sound Home Theater System; the H906SB, a premium Blu-ray 3D Disc Home Theater System; and the BD690, a Network Blu-ray 3D disc Player.

First up, the LG HX996TS, is a 7.2 channel 1280 Watt home theater system featuring LG's Sound Gallery with parabolic speaker. There's a pair of HDMI v 1.4 inputs and support for external HDD playback of popular downloadable video formats such as DivX HD and MKV. WiFi direct, Ethernet and DLNA support are all in tow.

Next up, the LG HB906SB, is a 5.1 channel 1100 Watt home theater system. It features all the same specs as it's big brother, the HX996TS, including a Mobile Remote App, iPod / iPhone cradle and firmware upgrade for advanced functions and services.

Last, the LG B690, network Blu-ray 3D player has an internal 250GB hard drive. There's native audio CD archiving support, photo download capability and sharing content functions the separate this player from the competition. Wireless LAN and WiFi Direct support are included as well as bi-direction content sharing via DLNA server and client. The only feature missing is the ability to copy a Blu-ray title to the internal disc, however at only 250GB, that's not much room to archive movies.

LG has set the table for a blow out CES 2011 event. We know they will introduce the LG Optimus 2X and even more home theater gear. To be honest, we can't wait. Is there anything you'd like to see LG introduce at CES 2011 that has not been announced? Let us know!

Coming Soon | TBD | LG

iOS updates: Skyfire for iPad, Apple Remote, dual-core iPad 2

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 04:00 PM PST

We covered Android users a little earlier, now it's time to show the Apple fans some love with the latest in iOS updates. Making headlines today is the official release of Skyfire for iPad, an update for the Apple Remote and new rumors on processor behind the iPad 2.

Earlier this week we gave you a full analysis of Skyfire for iPad. Today it's on sale in the App Market for $4.99. If you are looking for the best (and only) way to bring Flash video to your shiny new gadget, Skyfire for iPad is the way to go. Even if you have no plans of viewing Flash video, we reckon the Desktop/Mobile browser toggle switch makes the app a worthwhile investment in itself.

An update to the Apple Remote app is now available bringing AirPlay and Internet radio support. You can now control iTunes on your computer to stream videos an an Apple TV and control Internet radio streams in iTunes on your computer. Another huge addition to the app is the ability to control iTunes on your computer to play Movie and TV Shows that are rented from the iTunes store. If you've had problems in the past connecting to an iTunes library or Apple TV, those issues seem to be resolved in the update. There's also some a and performance improvements.

The latest rumors surrounding the upcoming Apple iPad 2, now hint at a dual-core A9 chip. According to Ashok Kumar, an analyst at Rodman & Renshaw, the iPad 2 will be available in March and, "feature a pair of 1GHZ ARM Cortex-A9 cores". Kumar also confirmed that based on the iPad supply-demand equilibrium, Apple can sustain quarterly shipments at around six million per quarter. At those levels, Apple would capture half the forecasted market in 2011.

Anyone else ready for a dual-core iPad 2 in March? Pencil me in for a baker's dozen.

Android updates: Nexus S, Firefox 4 beta, HTC 4G LTE

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 03:00 PM PST

Keeping tabs on the latest and greatest for Android, today we have three significant updates of note: Android 2.3.1 for the Google Nexus S, Firefox 4 beta and HTC 4G LTE handsets. Let's dive right into the details.

Google has started rolling out its first OTA (Over-the-Air) update for the Google Nexus S. The update is marked as Android 2.3.1 Build GRH78 and weighs in at just 1.9MB in size. There's really not a whole lot going on with the update, but it does contain some important bug fixes pus that latest version of Google Maps. The significance of the update is the sheer fact that Google is showing early support for their new flagship handset and while not major, it helps us rest well.

Android users looking for an alternative to the native browser can now download and updated version of Firefox 4 beta. Also knowns as Fennec, the Firefox browser is currently in beta 3 and with it come several improvements worth mentioning: improved support for Android keyboards (both on-screen and hardware); new menu styles; fixed bug when opening links from other apps; support for uploading files; "save as PDF" in site menu; and fixed rendering of Arabic and Farsi text.

The HTC EVO 4G was the first 4G phone and on January 6, HTC promises to be "the first to 4G, again". Clearly hinting at a 4G LTE handset, HTC is looking to take the air out of the sails of Motorola Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet and upcoming 4G LTE handsets set to debut at CES 2011 in Las Vegas. There will certainly be a HTC 4G LTE handset at CES, likely the Incredible HD code named Mecca, but we'll just have to see for ourselves in January.

Anyone else have a guess on what HTC 4G LTE handsets will be unveiled at CES 2011? Sound off in the comments!

Touch screen Sony PSP coming soon?

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 02:00 PM PST

The rumored make over for Sony PSP could come in the form of a touch screen. In an interview with the New York Times yesterday, Sony's Kaz Hirai said the next PSP could pack a touch screen as well as conventional controls. Are you ready for the next-generation of PSP gaming?

Let's face it, 2010 was simply not the year of the Sony PSP. In fact, iOS increased their market share in the portable gaming space to 19 percent, up from five percent through 2008. Meanwhile the PSP saw a decline in market share between 2008 and 2009 from 20 percent to 11 percent. If there was ever a time to give the PSP a make over, that time is now.

Sony's Kaz Hirai took the opportunity to sit down with the New York Times to offer his own insight on the future of the PSP. Hirai said, "Depending on the game, there are ones where you can play perfectly well with a touch panel." In regards to existing and future titles that would benefit from standard controls, "..but you can definitely play immersive games better with physical buttons and pads. I think there could be games where you’re able to use both in combination.”

Despite the loss in market share by the rise of iOS gaming, Hirai had a different spin on the numbers. The success of games such as Angry Birds and Cut The Rope has brought with it an entirely new market of gamers, people who otherwise might not of had an interest in gaming. Simply put, this means there is now a larger target audience for portable gaming system and in order to capture that market the first step will be a touch interface.

The news that Sony will move to a combination of touch screen and conventional controls for the PSP is a breath of fresh air. As much as we love mobile gaming as it exists on iOS and Android devices, the PSP still offers much more compelling titles to the hardcore gamer. Let us know what you think about the new touch screen Sony PSP. Is this enough to bring you back to the portable console or does Sony need to take even more steps to recapture market share?

Coming Soon | TBD | Sony

Win a Sony Ericsson LiveView!

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 04:26 AM PST

Want another chance to win a Sony Ericsson LiveView? The pint sized gadget is a watch-sized micro display, which partners with an Android phone to put your messages, social networks and call alerts at your fingertips. You can wear it as a watch, clip it to your clothes, or attach it to your notepad to keep an eye on your social life while stuck in meetings.

We've got three Sony Ericsson LiveView devices left to give away. And all you have to do is answer the question below in the comments section! We'll pick one correct answer at random 24 hours later, and send them a Sony Ericsson LiveView. The next day, we’ll do it all again until we’ve run out of LiveViews, simple as that!

If you want to make sure you have your hands on a Sony Ericsson LiveView you can buy one direct from Sony Ericsson instead, and receive a 20% saving with our discount code. Just type SELV1 at the checkout.. Hurry up, stocks are limited!

To be in with a chance of winning, just answer the following question (hint: You can find the answer here).

Who phoned us at the end of our Sony Ericsson LiveView 10 second challenge?

Winner will be chosen on 24 December 2010, and details added here. Our usual terms and conditions apply.

Ultimate money saving tech tips for Christmas

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 04:00 AM PST

Christmas, aside from being the most wonderful time of the year, is also the most expensive. If you’re after saving a few pennies, either in the run up to Christmas or in the oblivion that is January sales, then here are some of our top tips.

1. Make your own Angry Birds baubles
For a trip to the pound shop you can make your own Angry Birds baubles, with a bit of paint. Follow this easy guide on how to make yours, and it's really easy too – you don’t have to be a Picasso to pull this one off.

2. Buy digital gifts: they don't need wrapping
If there's nothing to wrap, then you save a fortune on wrapping paper, sticky tape and pretty ribbon, that only gets ripped off and chucked in the bin come Christmas morning. A Spotify premium subscription, Oxfam donation, Xbox Live or Lovefilm subscription: all these will be well received and mean you have to wrap little more than a slip of paper, if you bother to print out the email that is. Not only that, you also avoid the confused, slightly disgusted looks that auntie gives your shoddy wrapping efforts.

3. Reuse old gadgets
Sites like Instructables do good business in ways to reuse your old gadgets: find out a million things you can do with a USB stick, old laptop screens and other techie paraphernalia from gadgets that have fallen from grace. If you’re a dab hand at nifty gadget hacks, upload your own, if not, there’s plenty to have a go at doing yourself.

4. Hack Amazon for the cheapest prices
This hack is nabbed from a back issue of Wired magazine, but it's too good for us not to share, especially in this economic climate. First, choose the Amazon product department you're shopping in, then look in the URL for the number that follows the word "node", and copy it. type the following into your browser, and replace the word "number" with the numbers you just copied: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search/node=number&pct-off=70-99. What will that get you? All the products in the category with a 70-99 per cent discount.

5. Swap your completed and unwanted games
Places like Blockbuster, Game and Gamestation will exchange games – Blockbuster was giving away Call of Duty: Black Ops at launch for 99p if you agreed to give up two big chart games. If you're one who completes games in a couple of days flat, then you could save a packet swapping chart games.

What’s your top money saving tech tip for Christmas? Drop us a line in the comments!

Advent Calendar day 23: Win gadget prizes, laptops and Android tablets!

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 03:02 AM PST

You want prizes? We’ve got prizes! Day 23 of the Electricpig Advent Calendar is upon us and guess what? There are still Advent laptops, Android tablets, gaming PCs, digital photo frames and PC accessories to be won!

Today we’re asking for Christmas carols. All you have to do is log in using your Facebook ID (that’s really important, without it we can’t reliably contact you, or check you’re based in the UK) and tell us one in the comments section will win! Once we have a winner, we’ll reveal the prize they’ve scooped.

Each day we’ve got a mystery prize up for grabs thanks to the generous people at PC World. It could be a speaker system, a digital photo frame, a keyboard and mouse set, an Advent Amico tablet, Advent laptop or computer, or even a newly-released Advent Vega tablet.

What’re you waiting for? Scroll down, log in using your Facebook account and get commenting!

We have a winner!

Congratulations Bob Grover! Your swift caroling has netted you a Logik keyboard and mouse! For those who haven’t yet grabbed a prize, remember there are still two days of the Electricpig advent calendar left! Check back tomorrow for a fresh prize!

Check out more Advent products at www.pcworld.co.uk, and remember to come back tomorrow for another chance to win: we’ll offer up a fresh prize each day between 9am and 12 noon! Our usual terms and conditions apply.

Best iPad apps of the week

Posted: 23 Dec 2010 02:10 AM PST

It’s time to have a look at the best iPad apps to grace the Apple App Store this week – come check them out. With so many apps, some good and some so bad they should be ashamed to have got past Apple’s security checks appearing daily, the only way to make sure you don’t purchase the rubbish ones is to read our latest best iPad apps of the week feature. This way…

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
£5.99
iTunes
It’s a little surprising that Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft has taken so long to reach the App Store, but here she is in one of her best games yet. Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a little different from previous Lara titles. Gameplay comes courtesy of an old school isometric perspective with run and gun gameplay and puzzles thrown into the mix lending itself well to the iPad. A while back we reviewed Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light for Xbox 360, giving it a full five stars. Despite the lack of third-person hotpant view, Lara Croft on iPad pleases us just as much.

Gordon Ramsay Cook With Me HD
£4.99
iTunes
Gordon Ramsey is a man so renowned for his fondness of swearing that he even named his TV show after his favourite four letter word. It’s not food. Gordon Ramsay Cook With Me HD for iPad lets you share a kitchen with the Michelin starred chef without being on the end of a serious Christian Bale moment. That is, unless he somehow springs to life from the 56 high resolution video cooking instructions that accompany each recipe in this slickly presented cooking app. One of the best iPad apps yet for the kitchen.

FIFA 11
£5.99
iTunes
Gaming’s most comprehensive and heralded football title has finally arrived on the iPad. FIFA 11 comes all the full club licenses and cup competitions from its console cousins in this iPad-sized footy delight. The larger screen real estate makes a major difference as players find more room to pass the ball around like a team of Catalan footballing superheroes.

Shadow Guardian HD
£5.99
iTunes
The fantastic Uncharted games are yet to get the handheld treatment but until then Shadow Guardian HD is about the closest you’ll get to the masterpiece on the iPad. It looks just like the PS3 title. The hero, Jason Call even shares a similar wardrobe to Nathan Drake. The similarities don’t stop there, as Jason finds himself exploring hidden temples for a relic already sought after by nasty sounding mercenaries. OK, Uncharted is still millions of miles ahead of Shadow Guardian in all areas, but it’s definitely one worth keeping an eye on. Using the touch controls you can run, duck behind cover, climb up walls and roll past obstacles in one of the most ambitious and best iPad apps yet.

TweetMag
£2.99
iTunes
TweetMag acts as a stylised RSS feed that transforms Twitter feeds into a magazine. It connects your ipad to your twitter account and then aggregates all the links from the people you follow into a magazine. Each friend is known as a TweetMag. Just tap on their Twitter icon to bookmark and drag their TweetMag to shortlist your most interesting followers and view all the content they’re linking to without having to search through their Twitter feed. Though some will say it looks a bit like Flipboard. Got dull mates? This isn’t the app for you.