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Clunky joystick turns iPad into PSP, looks awkward in Apple stores
Exclusive video: Chelsea FC play 3D Space Invaders on 90ft-high wall!
Google Music review: hands-on with Music Beta by Google
Some Nokia Windows Phone handset will skip Qualcomm in favor of ST-Ericsson U8500 dual-core chips
Pixel density, not screen size transforms Android Honeycomb into Gingerbread [video]
Sigma DS1: the DSLR to end all DSLRs on sale this June
The end of an unlimited era: Verizon Wireless moves to tiered data plans this summer
iCloud streaming plans revealed, LA Noire PS3 faults and why Android will take over your TV: Lunchtime Lowdown
Google famous face recognition patent: automatic celebrity detection!
Orange Quick Tap outed: pay for your sandwich with a smartphone

Clunky joystick turns iPad into PSP, looks awkward in Apple stores

Posted: 20 May 2011 10:04 AM PDT

iPad gamers! Don’t you just hate the lack of buttons on your Apple tablet? They just make gaming so difficult. It’s a good thing then that the Fling Tactile joysticks-on-suction cups are here to clamp onto your slate, working with any games that use virtual thumbpads. They’re US for now, and creator Ten One Design has even managed to slip them into Apple retail stores for $19.95 each (£12.30) and -

No, sorry, we can’t do this.

What is Apple thinking approving these bath toys? How can Apple not sell genuinely useful digital stylii that work with the iPad on its online store, and yet stock these in its flagship brick and mortar shops?

If you want thumbpads, go buy a PSP. There are stacks of great games that’ll keep you engaged. If you want an iPad, play some games designed with a touchscreen paradigm in mind – we can recommend plenty for you.

Exclusive video: Chelsea FC play 3D Space Invaders on 90ft-high wall!

Posted: 20 May 2011 09:12 AM PDT

Who said Premiership footballers were spoilt, under-worked layabouts? In an insane tribute to coin-op classic Space Invaders, some of Chelsea FC’s star players decided to bunk off training and erect a 90ft-high interactive wall, so they could play a giant version of the legendary video game in 3D – using footballs as missiles. Read on to watch the video!

David Luiz, Branislav Ivanovic, Paulo Ferreira and Nicolas Anelka experienced mixed fortunes. Players were asked to destroy the invaders by kicking footballs at the huge projected screen, scoring 50 points for hitting a single alien and a bonus of 188 points for hitting the 'mothership' (something to do with it being sponsored by online bookie 188Bet, apparently).

After some intense action, striker Anelka was the sharpest shooter with a score of 2088. Shame he isn’t quite that accurate on the pitch…

Google Music review: hands-on with Music Beta by Google

Posted: 20 May 2011 09:00 AM PDT

The streaming gods are looking down on us and smiling this afternoon as we just received our early invite to Music Beta by Google, better known as Google Music. Armed with a passion to take our music library on the go, we set out to install the app, upload our music and put the service through its paces. Does Music Beta by Google live up to the hype?

Installation
The idea of installing software to use one of Google's services might sound a bit foreign, but in the case of Music Beta by Google it's a necessity. Upon receiving invitation to the service, you'll need to click the welcome link in the email to accept the offer. Hidden on the bottom of the page is a curious bit of information:

"Music Beta is free for a limited time. Music Beta is only for legally acquired music."

Does Google plan to offer a monthly service fee to use the service in the future? Will the fee be based on the size of your music library? Only time will tell, but just remember you've been warned. Getting back to the installation, by now you should have accepted the terms and conditions and been given the option to add free songs to your Music library. There's 16 genres to choose from covering everything from Jazz to Country and even Reggae.

At this point it's time to install a small piece of software, Google 'Music Manager'. This software is your one-stop-shop for keeping your music library synchronized whether that be inside iTunes, Windows Media Player or simply a folder on your computer. 'Music Manager' has no preference so long as you direct the application to the appropriate location of your music files.

Now that you have selected the location or program you use to manage your music on your computer, 'Music Manager' will begin uploading your library. Depending on the size of your collection this can take hours or possibly even days. To avoid clogging your bandwidth, inside the Advanced settings tab there's four upload speeds to choose from: Slowest (128kbps), Slow (256kbps), Medium (512kbps), and Fast (1024kbps). 'Music Manager' will run in the background and gradually upload your library. Additionally, you have the choice of letting 'Music Manager' automatically or manually upload new music added to your computer, delivering complete music synchronization.

Installation complete, but how do we use it?
Using Music Beta by Google requires one of two things: an Android 2.2+ or higher device (smartphone/tablet) or a web browser. If you're an Android user simply open the Google Music app or downloaded the latest version from the Android Market. Once open, go into the setting and make sure the Google account you used to activate Music Beta by Google is selected. Once you complete this step your library will begin to appear on your device.

If you aren't part of the Android community you'll need to head to music.google.com and log in. After logging in you'll be presented with a slick web interface that allows you to listen to your music at ease. All of the usual suspects are presented: playlists, sorts by songs/artists/albums/genres, and instant mixes. Since the entire service is synchronized, whether you're using a smartphone/tablet/web browser, playlists created on your Android device will be accessible from the web browser and vice versa.

Sounds good, but how well does it work?
In real-world usage, Music Beta by Google performs like a champ. We tested the service over both a 3G and WiFi connection — both delivered excellent results. The only notable difference is that over WiFi you can begin scrubbing through your current track in a matter of seconds verse minutes on 3G. Of course, this is all dependent on your data connection. Since a picture is worth a thousand words let's just take a look at a video preview of Music Beta by Google:

Wrapping it all up
Music Beta by Google could be the game changer Android needs to capture the iTunes crowd tied to iPhone. If there was one feature we'd love to see incorporated it would be Podcast support. Being able to subscribe to Podcasts would complete the service and we'd no longer need a data cable to synchronize with iTunes. Yes, we know podcasts can be downloaded with third-party applications, but a single Music application is the dream here.

If Google can maintain the service in its current state (free), Music Beta is a sure-fire winner. Now it's time for Apple to respond. Will Apple's iCloud service be able to compete with Music Beta by Google? We're not sure, but we can't wait to find out.

Coming Soon | Google | Free

Some Nokia Windows Phone handset will skip Qualcomm in favor of ST-Ericsson U8500 dual-core chips

Posted: 20 May 2011 08:00 AM PDT

The deep-rooted history of Windows smartphones being powered by Qualcomm chips looks to be weakening. Carlo Bozotti, CEO of STMicroelectronics, confirmed to Forbes magazine that Nokia will be using the dual-core ST-Ericsson U8500 chips to power "some of its Windows Phones". With strict hardware guidelines from Microsoft, previously requiring Qualcomm internals, has the Redmond camp loosened its reigns?

Nokia has 12 Windows Phone smartphones on tap, set to be released in 2012. What we didn't know, until today, is that some of these device will forgo Qualcomm hardware and instead use future versions of the dual-core ST-Ericsson U8500 chip. So how exactly did Microsoft sign off on new hardware without the slightest mention at the recent MIX 11 convention?

There's a couple possibilities. Keeping in mind Nokia Windows Phones are planned for 2012, Windows Phone 7 could be on its way out. Depending on the time of the year, Windows Phone 8 may be ready to ship and with it, new hardware guidelines. Another theory, also suggest by FoneArena, is that Microsoft is looking to win Nokia's support. To do so, Microsoft is willing to make an exception on hardware since the two will be working so closely together from here on out.

via FoneArena

Pixel density, not screen size transforms Android Honeycomb into Gingerbread [video]

Posted: 20 May 2011 07:00 AM PDT

The 10-inch 1280 x 800 resolution display of the Motorola Xoom might outpace the new high-end qHD Android smartphone displays, but it doesn't mean your new tablet can't join in on some Gingerbread action. According to modder Graffix0214, bumping the pixel density (ppi) from 160 to 170 or higher will transform your Xoom into a Gingerbread tablet and we've got the video to prove it.

Short of installing a new higher resolution display, the only way to convince your tablet its display is now 170 dpi or higher is to root. Using LCDDensity for Root you'll be able to control the dpi, at least as far as the OS is concerned, allowing you to switch back and forth between Honeycomb and Gingerbread. While this is probably not a necessity for most, we certainly wouldn't mind having the capability in future Android builds — sans the rooting of course.

A unified version of Android for smartphones and tablets is now within reach. Queue the Ice Cream Sandwich.

via Pocketables

Sigma DS1: the DSLR to end all DSLRs on sale this June

Posted: 20 May 2011 06:00 AM PDT

While we're not normally sticklers for megapixels, but the Sigma DS1 set launch in Japan on June 10th touts a jaw dropping 46 megapixel sensor. The cost of admission will not be cheap, in fact the DS1 is priced more than 3.5x higher than our Canon 5D MK II, but the light-weight magnesium allow body might just win you over. There's officially a new challenger in the high-end photography market ladies and gentlemen, here's what you need to know about the Sigma DS1.

The 46-megapixel DS1 draws its styling from the a classic 35mm and receives its imaging chops from the exclusive Foveon 23.5×15.7mm APS-C X3 direct image sensor. The Foveon sensor is said to capture images with "film like quality". Armed with a variety of affordable interchangeable lenses (40 Sigma SA compatible), the SD1 is targeted at high-end photographers looking for an alternative to high-priced medium format cameras.

The DS1 uses Type 1 Compact Flash Cards and is UDMA-compatible for processing large amounts of data. There's an 11-pint shifted twin cross type sensor for fast autofocus, ISO sensitivity from 100 to 6400 and a 3.0 inch TFT color monitor with 460,000 pixel resolution LCD. Now the only detail left unsaid is the price — we caution you the Sigma DS1 is not for the faint of heart.

June | Sigma | $9700 (5978 GBP)

The end of an unlimited era: Verizon Wireless moves to tiered data plans this summer

Posted: 20 May 2011 05:35 AM PDT

The days of downloading at will on the Verizon Wireless network are numbered. Like most of the world, the U.S. market is gradually transitioning to tiered data, a move which carriers hope clears the pipe for a better overall user experience and at the same time increases profits. We've known since last year the Verizon $30 unlimited data plan would expire this Summer, but now for the first time the carrier has hinted at what the future may hold.

While speaking at the Reuters Global Technology Summit, Verizon CFO Fran Shammo laid the ground work: "Verizon Wireless plans to kick off pricing changes this summer by eliminating smartphone plans that allow unlimited Web access for a flat fee. It will replace them with tiered pricing that forces heavy data users to pay more for mobile data. After this change the company will look to soften the blow by offering more options such as family plans for data services."

As the saying goes, you've got to pay to play. Verizon Wireless will embody this philosophy in full force in a matter of weeks. It might be time to commit to an unlimited data plan now, before it's too late. I sense an increase in HTC Thunderbolt and Droid Charge sales — that unlimited 4G LTE plan never looked so good.

via 9to5Mac

iCloud streaming plans revealed, LA Noire PS3 faults and why Android will take over your TV: Lunchtime Lowdown

Posted: 20 May 2011 04:48 AM PDT

Come one, come all and see what you’ve missed in technology news and views this morning. We’ve got gaming gossip, Google’s invasion of home cinema and more all waiting for you right here in the lunchtime lowdown.

First up, let’s talk Google. We spotted a curious new plan it’s got to introduce face recognition for celebrities, while on the Android side of things, we spotted the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 inch model in the wild, and explained to you just how Android will take over your telly in the years to come, whether Google likes it or not.

Elsewhere, in gaming, Rockstar and Sony admitted LA Noire was causing overheating issues on older PS3s, while on the Apple side of things, we saw new Apple plans seemingly revealing just how iCloud will work.

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

Google famous face recognition patent: automatic celebrity detection!

Posted: 20 May 2011 03:44 AM PDT

Google has said in the past that Google Goggles could do face recognition but won’t because, well, it’s a bit icky. Eric Schmidt, Google Executive Chairman and frequent ponderer of the “creepy”, reiterated that point earlier this week saying the idea of Google creating a facial recognition database was “very concerning” and that Google just wouldn’t do it.

However, it seems that not everyone at Google agrees. A patent application focused on recognising faces on social networks popped up in February and, yesterday, an even more intriguing document was released by the US Patent and Trademark Office – a facial recognition patent focused on celebrities!

Entitled “Automatically Mining Person Models of Celebrities for Visual Search Applications” was submitted in August last year and describes “methods and systems of automated identification of celebrity face images”. Essentially, Google’s attempting to patent an algorithm-powered celebrity detector.

If the system was released as a working product, it could be a paparazzo’s dream, allowing you to find not just photos tagged with the name of particular celebrity but pretty much any photo online featuring them. The Google patent application reveals that it’s already established a database of 1000 celebrities including President Obama, Sarah Palin and Prince Harry.

So regardless of what Google says publically and its stated future plans, it’s definitely stacking up the patents just in case the public gets a little less creeped out by face recognition.

Out TBC | £TBC | Google/USPTO (via The Atlantic Wire)

Orange Quick Tap outed: pay for your sandwich with a smartphone

Posted: 20 May 2011 03:14 AM PDT

Orange has beaten the pack to become the first UK network to offer a contactless payment service built into a mobile.

To use the service, you’ll need either a Barclays debit card or an Orange Credit card both of which already feature contactless payment. But with QuickTap, you can wander out for lunch without cash and just swipe your smartphone instead…

Right now, the system only works on a version of the so-so Samsung Tocco dubbed the Samsung Tocco Quick Tap which you can get free on a £10 per month 2 year contract or £59.99 on pay-as-you-go.

You’ll be able to charge your phone up with cash and pay bills up to £15 by tapping at 50,000 locations across the UK including McDonald’s and Pret A Manger.

To sweeten the deal, Barclaycard is giving customers an extra £10 in their account on activation with 10% cash back on all your Quick Tap purchases in the first three months.

Now all Orange needs to do is get Quick Tap baked into a phone that geeks will love. The Google Nexus S has NFC built-in for instance…

Out now | From £free | Orange