Windows Phone 8, LEGO Batman 2, Acer Iconia A510 Olympic Tab out now, a scary way to keep fit & more

 

It’s time for our weekly gadget digest – join us as we round up a handful of stories that managed to slip under the gadget radar this week. Today we’ve got news on new tablets, games, apps and more on Nokia’s 41-megapixel cameraphone.

We begin with this week’s gaming suggestion, a little tablet love, and a word of warning on release dates. Here’s what you may have missed this week:

Out today: LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

The critically-acclaimed LEGO games are always good for a bit of fun. The sequel to LEGO Batman: The Videogame puts players at the heart of a LEGO Gotham City as the Caped Crusader, up against Batman baddies Joker, Poison Ivy, Riddler and Penguin. It’s fun for all ages, and it’s out in stores today.

Acer Iconia A510 Olympic Tab now on sale in UK

Acer’s Iconia 510 Olympic Tab has finally gone on sale in the UK. The limited edition Tegra 3 processor-powered device has 1GB RAM, 32GB of built-in storage and Olympic branding on the back. Want? It’s yours for £349 from Carphone Warehouse.

Zombies, Run! Paces onto Android


Unless you’re the self-motivated type, chances are that New Years fitness resolution has long been forgotten. Zombies, Run! is a part game, part fitness app that helps you to sweat it by getting you to run away from zombies. The idea is to run a certain distances in order to collect supplies to survive a zombie threat. Before you know it, you’ve run a mile, and are on your way to shedding the flab. It’s fun, it works, and it’s now on Google Play and Windows Phone Marketplace to download to your Android and Windows Phone respectively.

First Windows Phone 8 by year’s end

Earlier this week Microsoft named Nokia, Samsung, Huawei and HTC as four manufacturers signed up to develop Windows Phone 8 handsets. The first of these will be made by Huawei, and will arrive in the US at the end of the year the smartphone maker announced. It looks like we may have to wait till 2013 for the others. 


Nokia’s 41-megapixel phone out July 8th?

Is it time to give up guessing when the Nokia 808 PureView gets released? Amazon.co.uk earlier listed the 41-megapixel cameraphone for a June 21st device, before changing that to June 30. Now the smartphone may not be in stores till July 8th. Take it from us, and wait for official confirmation. We’ll let you know when it arrives for real. Will you be buying the Nokia 808 PureView, or has Nokia left it too long?

www.tell-me-first.com

Ultimate festival gadgets for Summer 2012

 

While the weather may be unpredictable, we know one thing for sure – the summer calendar will be full of exciting festival fun. To help you enjoy them more, we’ve rounded up some of our favourite festival gadgets, so all you need to think about is having a good time. Read on for our picks. 


From a tent that pitches in less than a couple of minutes, to your very own portable shower. These gadgets should cover you for most of those tricky situations any festival-goer is likely to encounter.

Pocket Shower to wash the mud off

If you’re out in the festival sticks for longer than a day you may need this. The Pocket Shower is a compact shower system that fits in your pocket, ready to be deployed when you need it. Its fabric bag heats up when left out in the sun, heating the water for a warm shower. Just hang it from a tree, and twist the showerhead for a refreshing shower. Its 10 litre capacity should be enough to wash away any festival grime. 


Coleman Instant 4 Tourer tent that pitches in a minute


Let’s face it. Tents are a pain in the unmentionables. Not this one. The Coleman Instant 4 Tourer can be pitched in less than a minute. Pre attached steel poles make getting the four person tent up a doddle. It has a built-in groundsheet, windows, and great weather protection, should the weather gods decide to play havoc with your festival plans.

Boostcase to extend your iPhone’s battery life

Even when you’re tucked away in festival land, there’s still no resisting the lure of your smartphone. How else would you tweet and Facebook your friends about the great time you’re having. If you own an iPhone you can make its battery last longer using the Boostcase. It combines a case and a detachable battery sleeve to bring battery power back to life. The Boostcase comes in a range of snazzy colours, too, to match your festival get-up.

Freeloader Pro Solar Charger

The Freeloader Pro Solar Charger is an essential item in any festival arsenal. It uses its solar panel cells to store energy to charge almost any gadget. The Freeloader Pro Solar Charger will charge almost any camera, smartphone, and batteries using the Freeloader Battery Charger Accessory. An indictor on the front even shows how much power is stored at all times. 



Pure Move 2500: rechargeable personal DAB Digital and FM Radio

For those quiet moments in between music performances when you just want to keep the music flowing, the Pure Move 2500 is a rechargeable DAB and digital FM radio with enough battery life to last the duration of your festival fun. The supplied rechargeable ChargePAK M1 provides up to 15 hours of listening on top of its existing battery life. You also get 20 presets for digital and FM stations and in-ear noise-isolating headphones so you don’t disturb anyone in your tent at night.

The above are just some of our favourite festival gadgets. Got any of your own? Share them with us.

www.tell-me-first.com

Top 5 high-powered water pistols for Summer 2012

 

There are plenty of ways to keep cool in the summer, but perhaps the most fun of them all is by having a water fight. With that refreshingly fun thought in mind here are 5 high-powered water pistols for the big kid in all of us. 


From handheld water shooters to giant water cannons, here we’ve picked out five different kinds of water pistols and toys fit to grace any summer pool party or impromptu water fight. Check them out, and where to find each one below.

Giant Water Cannon

This isn’t so much a high-powered water pistol as a bringer of soggy doom. The Giant Water Cannon could quite rightly form the centerpiece of any water based defence against your foes in a H20 battle to end them all. It shoots up to 100ft and has a tripod to work as a kind of moisture-rattling machine gun. It connects straight to a tap, so you’ll never run our of ammo. Nobody will escape a soaking. Nobody. Check it out, here. 



Water Wars Pistol and Vest Game 

Water pistols are more fun when you’ve got someone to aim your soggy bullets at. This Water Wars Pistol and Vest Game features a pair of water shooters and a pair of vests with an irresistible target on the front. Scoring a direct hit and the vest goes red in this fun game of water warfare. The player with the least red vest after the game is the victor, with the loser left both red-faced and red-vested. Get it here.

Nerf Super Soaker Thunder Storm

The Nerf Super Soaker Thunder Storm is as deadly as its moist moniker sounds. The handheld water tooter shoots deadly water blasts up to 25 feet away. An oversized clip stores all the ammo you need to leave your foes drenched. Get it here. 



Water Blaster XLR Water Cannon

The Water Blaster XLR is the perfect pool accessory. It’s light, easy to grip, isn’t heavy and floats in water. It’s like some sort of mini water bazooka, and a whole lot of fun, capable of shooting over an impressive 60 feet away and refillable in seconds. Get it here.

Aqua Force Crossbow



Call us cheaters, but this water-bomb-blasting crossbow was just too tempting to leave off our water pistol dream team. This watery weapon of choice flings water balloons of destruction up to a colossal 80 feet away. According to stockist Firebox, that’s the length of two Tyrannosaurus Rex away. And for when you’ve vanquished your foes, a target practice sheet lets you further hone your ninja-like aim See it here

www.tell-me-first.com

Top 5 high-tech toys of the summer 2012

 

Need something to keep you entertained on the weekend? We thought we’d help out by picking out some of the best gadget toys around. From LEGO toys with robotics to fun underwater gizmos James Bond himself would be proud to own. Here’s a list of five high-tech toys we’d love to own.

Apart from the Parrot A.R. Drone (out next month) each of the gadgets are available to buy from stores right now. So what’re you waiting for, check ‘em out.

Parrot A.R. Drone 2.0

You’ll never have as much fun with a smartphone as you will with the Parrot A.R. Drone 2.0. It’s a quadricopter you can control using an iOS or Android smartphone or tablet over an online connection. Motion detecting sensors in your mobile device and the A.R. Drone 2.0 itself means you can steer simply by moving your hands. And it’s piloted its way right to the top of our most-wanted toys list. The Parrot A.R. Drone doesn’t reach the shops till June, but we got hands-on with it at The Gadget Show Live 2012. See what we thought of it at the link below. 



Personalised Superhero Action Figures

Ever wanted to become an action figure? Get yourself a Personalised Superhero Action Figure with your own face, dressed as Batman, Captain America, Ironman, Powergirl, Thor or Wondergirl by snapping two photos of your face and sending them off to be made in your own image. After a bit 3D printing wizardry your toy will be ready to despatch to you in superhero fashion (delivery van). One to impress your friends with. . 



LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 (8547)

As if regular LEGO wasn’t cool enough, this LEGO Mindstorms model, when put together becomes a robot with intelligent touch sensors and customisable motors. The LEGO Mindstorms NXT 2.0 kit has everything you need to make a command-obeying toy cyborg in just 30 minutes..

Bladefish 5000

This underwater propulsion jet will give you eel-like underwater abilities, letting you glide effortlessly under the sea at depths of up to 35 metres, or your local swimming pool (sure to draw weird looks) without any effort. Just hold on, and the Bladefish 5000 does all the work. If it’s good enough for James Bond….

8MP Digital Underwater Camera Mask

And for something to go with your new underwater propulsion jet, this underwater camera mask will shoot video and take clear 8-megapixel images at depths of up to five metres. It’s great for scuba diving, and stores up to 32GB worth of still shots and video. .

Seen any amazing gadget toys you think should be on our list? Share them below.

www.tell-me-first.com

Gadgets taking years of our lives says study, here's what to do

 

Gadgets taking years of our lives says study, here's what to do

New research suggests that those who sit for long periods in front of a television or computer screen are likely to die a lot sooner than those who don’t! Thankfully, it’s not all doom and gloom. Read on for the findings, and how to avoid a premature gadget-induced early grave. Gadgets don’t have to be bad for us. 


The study (via The Atlantic) reports that the Sax Institute surveyed over 222k Australian adults 45 years and older, and found that those who sat more than 11 hours a day had a 40 per cent higher risk of dying in the next three years.

Factors including age, weight and physical activity were taken into account, However, the message is clear: don’t sit for that long. Healthy or sick, it was found that those who sat longest faced the biggest risks. Thankfully physical activity can reduce them. So what can we do?

Gadget fans are advised to take breaks from a laptop, computer and video games. The study suggests that keeping active in between sitting down can reduce the risks. If ever there was a case for motion sensor Microsoft Kinect, PlayStation Move and Wii games and games such as EA Sports Active (pictured): this may be it.

Don’t forget: there are plenty of gadgets, games and smartphone apps to keep us active.

So you see, gadgets don’t have to be bad for us. Got any gadget-related tips to stay active? Let us know

Parrot A.R. Drone 2.0: we explore the ultimate big boys toy!

 

We been racking our gadget-filled brains trying to think of our current favourite high-tech toy. In the Parrot A.R. Drone 2.0 we think we may have found it. The funky quadricopter (yes, that is a thing) is a flying machine you control using your iPhone, iPad or Android device using a Wi-Fi connection. It’s the most fun you can have with your phone. And we want one now! Here’s why.

Record and stream your flights in HD

The Parrot A.R. Drone 2.0 has a front camera that transmits what it sees through its beady eyes on the screen of the pilot’s device, recording it in fabulous high definition to share to YouTube and Facebook. It’s the ultimate show-off toy.

You won’t crash

As intimidating as it may look, the A.R. Drone 2.0 is dead easy to control. An assisted flying mode knows exactly how much it’s tilting regardless of which way it is facing. Tilt your device to the left and the A.R. Drone 2.0 will follow. Easy.

Perform daring stunts at the touch of a button

A new ‘Flip’ feature lets you double tap a button on the screen of your device to perform gadget-death defying loops of terror without the risk of getting your new toy snagged up a tree.

Use it to play games

The Parrot A.R. Drone 2.0 will be compatible with lots of augmented reality games so that your experience isn’t limited to filling your household pet with terror. Come June when the A.R. Drone hits the shops we’re hoping to see compatible games land on Apple’s App Store and Google Play for Android devices.

It works with both smartphones and tablets

You don’t have to won a specific device to fly the Drone. It’s iPhone, iPad, Android smartphones and tablet compatible with devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S2 and Samsung Galaxy Tab.

The Parrot A.R. Drone will fly into stores in June 2012, for £280 (inc. VAT). We’ve already started saving up.

Start your own business or add to your existing business

Are you looking at starting your own business, Do you host home parties and sell perfumes, candles and house hold items, are you already selling items to friends and family from your home. Be your own boss and run your own business without the usual headaches of holding stock, renting premises and hiring staff

We have some great products that you can add to your business or start a new business and maximize your profits. From ice cooler’s the ice bucket made of ice to the waxitaxi, the taxi for your candles, we have some great products you and your clients will enjoy. Easy to sell, simple and fun to use and you can be the first to sell them in your area. The products include, -The Ice Cooler the ice bucket made of ice - The ice lanterns lanterns for candles made of ice - Ice desert - Waxitaxi the taxi for your candles - Easy Shovel - Easy sharp – Flamex.

Tell Me First The Innovations Company

The products are new to the market and you could be the first company/person to sell them in your area.

We are also looking for area and regional managers.

Tel UK +44 (0) 208 144 2025

http://www .tell-me-first.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80BpZGgpVWc&list=UUKSmVOPwKTvpsyvjq7uZlRg&index=1&feature=plcp

The best gadgets that could appear at CES 2012

 

The best gadgets that could appear at CES 2012

 

CES 2012 – the biggest technology and gadgets convention takes place in Las Vegas next month. For three days lucky attendees will get a chance to see future tech and the gadgets we’ll be lusting for in 2012. Big announcements are expected during the course of the show, many of which are being kept a secret. So what can we hope to see at CES 2012?

With CES just around the corner, we’ve been looking at some of the best gadgets that are on their way. Read on to find out more.

Windows 8 tablets 
It looks like the Apple iPad 2 will have serious competition in 2012, because the word is that Microsoft will show off a Windows 8 tablet at the show. Microsoft has already confirmed a public beta release of Windows 8 for February 2012, however, if reports are anything to go by, we’ll have seen Windows 8 working on a tablet before then. Those familiar with the latest Windows interface would agree that it would match tablets perfectly. You only need to check out the Xbox 360 dashboard working with Microsoft Kinect to see the potential, so we can’t wait to see Windows 8 on a new platform.

The World’s biggest iPod dock
Even before the show, the Behringer iNuke Boom iPod dock has been grabbing the headlines. It’s an 8ft wide, 4ft tall dock that weighs over 700 pounds, and can deliver a staggering 10,000 watts of audio. The colossal iPod dock is worth going to see alone, let alone hearing. Just remember to pack the ear plugs. 

Behringer iNuke Boom: The 8ft iPd dock with monster sound

Glasses-free 3D TVsLast year’s show saw glasses-free 3D TV being shown off. These weren’t small televisions the size of a Nintendo 3DS – these were stonking big tellies that do all the active shuttering inside the television set. However, those were prototypes, so expect glasses-free TV to have a bigger presence this time around. Could glasses-free TV reach the high street in 2012? We’ll soon find out.

A new Xbox console? We’re only at the turn of a new year, yet already new Xbox rumours are surfacing. The latest rumours predict that Microsoft will attempt to get another head-start on Sony by showing off the new Xbox console in some form at CES 2012. One suggestion is that Microsoft is planning to release not one, but two Xbox consoles. One of them is said to be in the form of a set-top-box for the living room with Microsoft Kinect built-in. 

New Xbox coming in 2012 Sony Ericsson Arc HD
The Sony Ericsson Arc HD, or Sony Ericsson Nozomi as it has also been known could be the last ever Sony Ericsson phone as Sony swallows up the Sony Ericsson brand. If so, the brand will go out with a bang. The Sony Ericsson Arc HD is a 1.5GHz dual-core phone with a 12-megapixel camera that plays back 720p HD video and has a 3.5-inch display.

ExoPC EXOdesk 
This futuristic interactive desk is a multi-touch digital workspace resembling something straight out of Spielberg’s Minority Report. The desk measures 40 inches and comes with support for apps that are projected onto the desk surface. Users of the EXOdesk will even be able to peep their RSS feed.

Apple iPad 3: What we’d like to see



Next year looks set to be a corker for tablets. In 2012 we could see the launch of the Amazon Kindle Fire in the UK, a new Microsoft tablet with WIndows 8 and of course, the Apple iPad 3. Join us after the break to find out the features we’d like to see on the Apple iPad 3.

Apple’s iPad 2 delivered on many of the upgrades fans wanted, but not quite all of them. Will the iPad 3 deliver? Here are a few things we’d like to see in the Apple iPad 3.

Retina display or equivalent 
Many believed that the Apple iPad 2 would be getting the patented best-in-class Retina Display that graced the iPhone 4. It didn’t. However Apple’s multi-touch capacitive screen is in need of an upgrade and a Retina Display or equivalent is a must.


A Better camera 
OK, so using the iPad 2 camera to take photos may draw glancing looks, but if it’s going to be there, it may as well be as spiffy as possible. Photo quality isn’t the best, especially at coping with indoor lighting. The iPad 2 does better with video. It can record in high definition at 720p, but we’d like to see the iPad 3 record in 1080p high definition – the same as the iPhone 4S. 




SD card slot 
Currently Apple mobile devices do not have an SD card slot. To get around this Apple stock a Camera Connection kit that lets users plug in an SD card reader and USB dongle. But if the Apple iPad 3 is to be the best standalone device it could be, there needs to be removable storage.

Apple A6 processor
Apple is said to be working on an A6 quad-core processor due for launch in Spring 2012. If ready in time, it would be a tremendous boost to the Apple iPad 3 and ensure that it would be more than a vanity upgrade. Webpages, applications and games will load much quicker, and really take the iPad 3 on par with laptops in terms of speed.

Siri voice integration 
This one looks a cert. Voice assistant Siri was one of the iPhone 4S’ flagship features, and we see no reason why Siri won’t appear on the Apple iPad 3. The iPad 3 has gained in popularity as a device to take to work, so the addition of Siri to create reminders, set alarms and organise one’s calendar sounds completely possible.

What else would you like to see in the Apple iPad 3? Let us know in the comments section below

Weirdest gadgets of 2011

 

Weirdest gadgets of 2011

We’ve seen some cracking gadgets during 2011, but there really has been something for everyone. Even if you like the stranger gadgets, there have been some brilliant products on display. Join us after the cut, for the weirdest gadgets of 2011.

We’ve gather together some of the wackiest gadgets of 2011 below. Read on to find out more.

AFT iCarta toilet roll holder iPod dock There are few stranger concepts than a toilet roll holder that doubles as an iPod dock. Have you ever wanted to leave your iPod or iPhone in the toilet, ready and waiting to supply music while you go about your business? If so, this is the perfect solution, although we’re not convinced about its hygienic credentials! It’s certainly a potty idea!

Fabric mouse Novelty mouses seem to be getting more and more popular, but even among car-shaped creations the carpet mouse stands out! Made from offcuts of… well.. carpet, the carpet mouse does exactly what it says on the tin. As with the toilet roll holder iPod dock, however, we’re not certain about just how hygienic it will be – it’s not exactly easy to stick it in the wash after a few months of hard use…

Gadget bikes 2011 saw some particularly weird bikes hit the market, including the Magic Wheel, Rock-it and Street Surfer. If you want to stand out from the crowd while you get fit, then check out the gang’s video, with some truly bizarre gadget bikes.

Logitech G13 gameboard If you’re a keen gamer, it’s worth checking out the Logitech G13. We’ve never seen anything like it before, and it’s a cross between a keyboard, mouse and joypad. It has 25 programmable keys, and is the perfect addition for taking advantage of the latest and most complex games. It definitely looks weird though!

Giant LEGO Out of all the things we saw at the Gadget Show Live earlier this year, few things impressed us as much as the Giant LEGO! A huge LEGO brick, with an even larger LEGO man’s head on top, it’s a toy fan’s dream. It also doubles up as storage, so you’ll be able to put it to good use

Gadget of the year 2011

 

Gadget of the year 2011

 

2011 has been a fantastic year when it comes to new gadgets, with some truly epic technology making an appearance for the first time. From the Samsung Galaxy S II, to the Apple iPhone 4S, we’ve been rounding up the very best toys for our Gadget of the Year 2011 poll. Read on to find out more.

We’ve seen thousands of great announcements in the past 11 months, and it’s now time to vote on the best. We’ve gathered ten of the greatest devices from the past year – check out all the videos below, and vote to have your say in the Gadget of the Year 2011.

Nintendo 3DS With 3D technology making a bigger splash than any other year, Nintendo chose 2011 to launch its new Nintendo 3DS games console. With the ability to play games in 3D, it’s a great bit of kit.

OnLive With OnLive, there’s no need to own a gaming console, no need to spend money on a gaming PC, and you’ll be able to play some fantastic new titles online, via your TV, at great prices.

Apple iPhone 4S The Apple iPhone 4S may be evolution rather than revolution, but it boasts some great new features. We’re particularly fond of Siri, and it really is the more comprehensive and easy to use voice recognition software yet.

Virgin Media TiVo Finally, a TV on demand service that can take on the might of Sky+. Sure, it doesn’t offer quite the same choice when it comes to live TV, but the electronic programming guide is more comprehensive, you can record an extra channel simultaneously, and it has a better choice of programmes to watch on demand.

Sony HDR-TD10E With 3D TVs now making a widespread appearance on the market, the Sony HDR-TD10E lets you take full advantage, with this tiny camera recording high-definition video in 3D.

Samsung Galaxy S II The Samsung Galaxy S II is one of the first smartphones to truly compete with the Apple iPhone 4, and in many ways it’s the better handset. Can it win your vote for Gadget of the Year 2011, however?

Apple iPad 2 Apple revolutionised the tablet market with the iPad, and the Apple iPad 2 has taken things a step further. Smaller, lighter, faster, it’s still the best all-round tablet on the market, although devices like the Asus EeePad Transformer come close.

Samsung 8000 Series 3D TV Samsung offers a fantastic range of high-definition TVs, and the Samsung 8000 series is no exception. This stylish choice offers both high-definition and 3D, so it will still be up to date for years to come.

Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin has become an iconic gadget over the past couple of years, with the latest version – the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air – offering an additional handy feature – the ability to stream music from your iPhone without needing to dock it.

Nike+ Sports Watch powered by TomTom Work off any Christmas excess with the Nike+ Sports Watch, which uses TomTom technology to work out exactly what you’re up to and how many calories you’re burning. Check out the video to find out more.

Five for the weekend: Eee Pad Transformer Prime to Modern Warfare 3!

 

Five for the weekend: Eee Pad Transformer Prime to Modern Warfare 3!

 

As the weekend approaches its time to look back on some of the best gadgets and gaming news seen this week. There have been plenty of amazing tech on show. Read on for our weekly roundup of some of the best. 

From 3D cameras to 3D cinemas you can wear on your head. There has been plenty of amazing gadgets to get excited about over the past seven days. Don’t forget to click on the links for more info on each one.

It’s been a good week in the gadget world, with some genuinely impressive gadgets. We particularly love the idea of any wearable screens – like the Epson Moverio below – that promise to change the way we play games or watch movies. Read on for the other top 5 stories.

 The Panasonic Lumix DMC 3D1 features lenses that can work independently of each other to focus on two different subjects simultaneously. Amazing stuff.

Epson Moverio BT-100 Video Glasses: A private 3D cinema you can wear 

These futuristic glasses give the illusion of starting at a 50-inch 3D television from 10 feet away. A web browser also lets wearers browse the internet and view Flash videos. The device is pretty flash itself.

HTC Edge: Four fab reasons to get excited! 
Mobile World Congress – the world’s biggest smartphone exhibition kicks off on just a few months, but already rumours are spreading about what will be on show.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime details revealed The powerful Asus Eee Pad is a clever tablet computer than comes with its own detachable keyboard dock that makes it look and work just like a laptop. It also has a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM and an impressive 18-hour battery life.

Modern Warfare 3: Five reasons why it’s the best Modern Warfare 3 is out in stores right now. Did you know that it’s the best Modern Warfare game yet? Here are five reasons why

Americans spent over $15 billion on video games in 2010

Americans spent over $15 billion on video games in 2010 According to a preliminary estimate released by NPD, total consumer spending on all video game content in the US was between $15.4 and $15.6 billion during 2010. That figure includes physical console and PC games, digital downloads, used games, rentals, subscriptions, social network games, DLC, and mobile game apps. Assuming the initial data is correct, the research firm believes overall sales have fallen by about 1% from 2009. Although retail games accounted for the majority of spending with $10.1 billion in revenue, sales dropped 5% from $10.6 billion in 2009.
 
PC game sales increased by 3%, and that's no surprise with blockbusters like StarCraft II and WoW: Cataclysm breaking records last year. That, combined with increased spending on downloads, mobile games and other segments offset the declines in physical sales, rentals and subscriptions. "The increasing number of ways to acquire the content has allowed the industry to maintain total consumer spend on content as compared to 2009, and we should expect 2011 to be a growth year in the games industry as the consumer demand for gaming continues to evolve," NPD said. The outfit expects to release a final estimate of consumer spending in March's "Games Industry: Total Consumer Spend (2010)" report.  http://www.d-skin.com/

Five for the weekend: From FIFA 12 to the Galaxy S II HD LTE!

It’s been a pretty exciting week for announcements, with some great gadgets and some equally impressive games in the news. From the latest iteration of FIFA, to a smartphone with the sharpest screen yet, there’s a lot to be excited about. Join us after the cut to see the five gadgets we’re the most excited about.




We’ve been looking back through the week’s news, and there are loads of games and gadgets that stand out. We’ve rounded up our favourite five below.



HTC Explorer Not everybody wants a huge smartphone, which is where the HTC Explorer comes in. This compact 3.2-inch handset should offer excellent value for money when it goes on sale later this year, yet you’ll also get the full Android experience. With a smaller than average display, it should also boast an impressive battery life.



Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 Samsung’s mid-sized tablet is set to go on sale in October, and we can’t wait! This compact device looks like being the ideal form factor for a life on the road, proving small and light enough to take with you wherever you go, while offering a stunning display that’s still big enough for web pages or movies.



FIFA 12 Out of all the announcements this week, it’s the launch of FIFA 12 that has us the most excited, and it’s everything we hoped it would be. Much more than just a re-skin, FIFA 12 offers entirely new gameplay, with different ways of tackling and different responses from players. It’ll take some getting used to, but it’s a lot more satisfying.



Samsung Galaxy S II HD LTE It’s been a good week for Samsung, with the South Korean company announcing the launch of its brand new Galaxy S model – the HD LTE. This high-end smartphone features the best display yet, measuring in at 4.5 inches and offering a staggeringly sharp 1280×800-pixel resolution. It’s also packed with features.



Bang and Olufsen Form 2 headphones This week marks the 25th anniversary of Bang and Olufsen’s Form 2 headphones, and the retro cans are still on sale. To celebrate, B&O have launched a host of new colours for the Form 2, making these retro headphones a more stylish option than ever before

Five for the weekend: Batman to the 3DS Ambassador Programme!

 

It’s the weekend, and once again we’ve been on the lookout for the best gadgets and games. Although not all of this week’s toys are available to buy right this second, you will be able to pre-order them, and with some – like Batman: Arkham City Limited Edition, you’ll get lots of exclusive things for signing up straight away.

Denon CEOL NoirDenon’s latest stereo, the CEOL Noir is a gloss-black version of the regular CEOL. That means you’ll get all the same functionality, including Airplay and music streaming, DAB radio stations, an iPod/iPhone dock, USB playback and a lot more. If you’re after a capable microsystem, they don’t come much better than this.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9The latest version of Samsung’s excellent Android tablet, you can now put your name down for pre-order. The Tab 8.9 sits in the middle of the Tab range, striking the best compromise between usability and portability. It’s great for media content, yet it’s easily small and light enough to take everywhere you go.

Nintendo 3DS Ambassador programmeIf you’ve already bought a Nintendo 3DS, you may have been a bit upset to see that Nintendo has huge price cuts planned. In a bid to placate current owners, Nintendo is offering 20 free games as part of the 3DS Ambassador Programme. Sounds good to us.

Nokia 500If you’re in the market for an affordable smartphone offering the best battery life, look no further than Nokia’s new 500. With a 1GHz processor and the latest Anna version of Symbian ^3, it’s fast, cheap and offers an excellent battery life. It’s a great entry into the smartphone world.

Batman: Arkham City Limited EditionSign up no to pre-order Batman: Arkham City Limited Edition, and you’ll get a host of goodies that don’t appear in the regular game. There’s an exclusive Steel Book Case, Joker Carnival Challenge map downloadable content, 1970s Batsuit Skin downloadable content, and a Batman Under the Red Hood animated film

Five for the weekend: Batman to the 3DS Ambassador Programme!

Five for the weekend: PlayBook, iStuff and HP Pre 3 to keep you entertained

Following on from all the excitement of E3 2011, it’s been a relatively quite week in terms of news. Manufacturers have been slow to release products, and you’ll have to look hard to find new gadgets. We’ve still managed to find five of the best to keep you entertained over the weekend, however, so read on.

HP Pre 3 OK, so you’ll only be able to pre-order the Pre 3 this weekend – rather than popping down to the shops to get your hands on one – but we’re still more than a little tempted. This touchscreen wonder features a great keyboard, the fast and fluid WebOS, and a speedy processor.

BlackBerry PlayBookDeciding on a new tablet is a tricky one, as there’s so much variety on offer. If you’ve already got a BlackBerry smartphone, however, it may make sense to opt for the new PlayBook, which launched this week. Granted, there aren’t as many apps as you’ll find for Apple or Android, but it’s unusual, looks good and is more than good enough when it comes to watching movies or checking out your favourite websites.

iBookstoreIt’s been a long time in the making, but the Apple iBookstore is now available in the UK. If you have an Apple iPad, or fancy checking out the latest eBooks on your Apple iPhone or MacBook, then the iBookstore promises to keep you entertained over the weekend. You’ll be able to chose from over 200,000 books, and lots of them are free!

Vodafone SmartThe Vodafone Smart was announced last month, providing a cheap way of getting in on the Android action. This small and neat looking touchcreen handset is available to buy from Vodafone for just £60, proving that you don’t have to pay the Earth to get a decent smartphone.

Apple MacBookOK, so there may be no new hardware this week from Apple, but if you’re a student and looking to buy a new laptop, then it’s well worth checking out the latest offerings from Apple. Buy a MacBook, MacBook Pro or iMac over the weekend, and you’ll get £65 back to spend on apps, with up to £315 discount available for students.

Five for the weekend: from the Optimus 3D to brilliant new Bravias!

We can hardly believe we’re into the second half of 2011 already, then again if the rest of the year lives up to the gadgety goodness dished up the first six months of 2011, we won’t be complaining. It’s certainly not been a bad week for new kit, either, so if you find yourself with some cash to spend this weekend we have a few suggestions you may want to take a closer look at.

LG Optimus 3DWe’ve certainly had to wait for it, but LG’s much-hyped 3D Android smartphone, the Optimus 3D, finally goes on sale today. It’s autostereoscopic 3D too, so you don’t have to worry about wearing glasses to enjoy the effect. Carphone Warehouse and Best Buy have first dibs on the Optimus 3D, which means for now you’ll only be able to pick one up in store from a selection of branches. Be patient, though, as its general release is just one week away.

Anything on T-MobileIf you’re in the market for a new mobile contract, you might do well to check out T-Mobile, as the network is offering completely uncapped mobile data from today until the end of September for new or existing customers who sign up for deals coming in at £25-a-month or above. Hard to believe this is the same network that chose to slash everyone’s monthly allowance to 500MB a month across the board back in January.

New Thunderbolt kitThe latest generation of MacBook Pros and iMacs feature Intel’s speedy new Thunderbolt data transfer standard, and now Apple has finally dished up a range of cables and storage solutions so you can take advantage. The Promise Pegasus range of Thunderbolt-friendly hard drives are available in sizes from 4TB up to 12TB, with prices starting at £769, while Apple’s Thunderbolt cable will set you back £39.

New Sony BraviasSony wowed us at CES back in January with its latest generation of high-end Bravia tellies, and we got word this week that the cream of the crop – the NX723 and the HX923 – should be touching down in stores imminently. New features include the ability to record to an external hard drive over USB, and compatibility with mobile apps that turn your smartphone into a touchscreen remote control. Be warned, though: they’re not likely to be cheap
.
Acer Iconia Tab A500The iPad rivals are coming thick and fast now, which is good news for Mr J Public as it means everyone’s having to fight that bit harder for a piece of the action. Acer, for instance, has decided to give its Acer Iconia A500 a reboot, trimming the on-board storage from 32GB to 16GB and pitching it at £349, a full £100 cheaper than the old model and £50 less than the equivalent iPad.

5 technologies that went the way of the dodo!

The Sony MiniDisc has been around for a surprisingly long time now, somehow battling on alongside the MP3 player for the past few years. Sadly, for fans of high-quality music, it’s set to die in September this year, and it got us thinking about other decent products that lost out.

The Sony MiniDisc was a revelation when it launched, offering staggeringly good quality in a compact package that was ideal for a life on the road. You can name tracks, battery life on MiniDisc players lasted for ages, and it was smaller than both tapes and CDs.

Then the iPod came along, and the MiniDisc never recovered. It still offers better sound quality, but the fact you can’t store anywhere near as much music has proved to be the all important nail in the MiniDisc’s coffin. The MiniDisc isn’t the only decent gadget to die a death, however.

BetamaxSony’s Betamax video format was another cracker, and more advanced in many ways than the VHS format most of us finally adopted. You may not remember Betamax, but in the end it lost out to VHS because it’s rival was considerably cheaper.

HD DVDToshiba spent millions of pounds developing its high-definition DVD format – a rival to Blu-ray. It couldn’t offer as much storage space as Blu-ray, but it was cheaper than its rival. In the end though, this wasn’t enough, and with Blu-ray also appearing in devices like the PS3 Toshiba finally killed off HD DVD.

Sega DreamcastSega’s Dreamcast was supposed to be the next big thing, following on from the success of consoles like the Sega Megadrive. Introduced in late 1998, the Dreamcast only lasted until 2001, and nearly killed Sega as a company. Sega now makes software, and has abandoned the console hardware market completely.

UMPCA short-lived concept in the mobile computing world, Samsung was one of the pioneers of Microsoft’s UMPC format, introducing the tiny Q1. Battery life was poor, however, performance was even worse, and the onscreen controls were just too fiddly to make it a usable device. Not long after, the netbook was introduced, and the UMPC was forgotten.

Asus Eee PC?The Eee PC shook the world when Asus launched it, offering a staggeringly cheap way of working on the move. Tiny, light, affordable and with a great battery life, the Eee PC was everything the UMPC failed at. Although it kick-started the netbook market, it seems the world now wants tablets – a trend started by the Apple iPad. Is it the end for the traditional netbook?

Android smartphones: Five things we want to see

Android has changed the world when it comes to smartphones, being the only operating system to really take the fight to Apple’s iPhone. We’ve seen loads of fantastic Android handsets and tablets in the past couple of years, but it’s the future we’re even more excited about.

Smartphones get more impressive with each generation, with handsets now offering features we’d never have imagined just a year ago – like dual-core processors and 12-Megapixel cameras. The next generation of Android smartphones look like being even smarter, however, so read on to see some of the technologies we expect to see.

3D screens3D screens have yet to prove themselves on smartphones, but handsets like the LG Optimus 3D and HTC Evo 3D show a glimpse of what the future could entail. 3D games, 3D movies, the ability to shoot photographs in 3D, these handsets have the potential to shake up the smartphone market.

4G connectivityAlong with 3D screens, we can also expect to see 4G connectivity on the next generation of Android handsets. Devices like the Motorola Photon 4G is already set to feature WiMAX, and is likely to ship later this year.

Better battery technologyOK, so none of the phone manufacturers look like releasing fuel-cell technology in the near future, but we’d like upcoming Android smartphones to feature better battery life. With handsets getting thinner and thinner, we’d be happy to sacrifice a little in depth for a phone that lasts for a day or two longer

Android Ice Cream SandwichAs with all versions of Android – including the current Gingerbread version – different iterations of the OS are named after sweet or dessert products. The next generation of Android handsets are likely to run Ice Cream Sandwich – an operating system that brings smartphones and tablets closer together in user experience.

Connected devicesYou can carry out an incredible amount of tasks using your smartphone, but sometimes a bigger device is better. The Asus Padfone offers the best of all worlds, with an Android phone that sits inside an Android tablet – letting you use the device that’s best for the job at any particular time. If it’s a success, you can expect to see lots more gadgets like the Asus Padfone

Five for the weekend: FIFA 12 Ultimate Edition, carbon VAIO laptops and more!

It’s the weekend once again, and with lots of new announcements over the past week we’ve been sifting through the very best to find you the gadgets worth buying and the toys worth waiting for. Read on to find out more.

FIFA 12 Ultimate Edition You won’t be able to get your hands on FIFA 12 Ultimate Edition this weekend, but it’s still worth putting your name down as soon as possible for pre-order, as you’ll get some bonus features and money off when pre-ordered from Game.

Nokia X7 If you’re smartphone shopping this weekend, it could well be worth checking out the new Nokia X7. It lacks the firepower to trouble the very best smartphones, but it is likely to be affordable, packs in a decent range of features and features very distinctive styling.

Sony Ericsson Neo A mid-range Android smartphone, the Sony Ericsson Neo actually has a lot to offer for the money. Sure, it’s not quite as sexy as the Sony Ericsson Arc, but it packs in similar processing, the same operating system and an even sharper touchscreen display. If price is a factor, it’s well worth a look.

Olympus PEN E-P3 Another gadget that’s definitely worth waiting for, the PEN E-P3 isn’t on sale yet, but it offers one of the most stylish and high quality designs we’ve seen yet on a mainstream camera. There’s a range of different lenses available to suit any conditions, and it’s the perfect choice if you’re stepping up from a regular compact camera.

Sony VAIO Z Available from the end of July, if you’re in the market for a new laptop then Sony’s VAIO Z series is definitely worth waiting for. It’ll be pricey – as with previous versions – but nothing comes close to the Z when it comes to cutting-edge features in a tiny lightweight design. If you want to work on the move, it’s the laptop of choice