Is Snow Leopard the new Vista? 
Windows Vista was quite possibly the worst operating system known to man. When it launched, it required users to upgrade to expensive new computers, failed spectacularly to work with crucial hardware and software, and didn't offer much in the way of improvement over Windows XP.
Fast-forward to 2009 and we're seeing a similar trend with Apple's latest operating system, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. Despite earning positive press reviews, we'd argue its teething problems are reminiscent of those of Vista. Since its launch, it's been riddled with software and hardware incompatibilities. There's a lack of Earth-shattering new features and an air of general mediocrity that was the hallmark of Microsoft's much-abused OS.
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Don't hold your breath for Wii HD, says Nintendo
When the Wii launched on November 19th 2006 everyone was muttering about how ludicrous that it didn't have any HD capability. Even then, HD TVs were starting to gain real momentum and only an idiot would have thought that the future lay in anything but HD. Microsoft's Xbox 360 had already been out a year, and it was capable of HD out of the box, and Sony's PS3 had also hit the streets with 1080p support. Despite all this, Nintendo has just reiterated that it has no plans for a high definition Wii any time soon.
Nintendo had always claimed that it put gameplay above the quality of the picture and that was its justification for creating a standard definition console in a high definition world. But the truth is probably a little more financially-based than that, because Nintendo always makes a profit on its hardware, where Sony and Microsoft rely on licensing revenue to prop up loss-making hardware.
Adobe launches Photoshop Mobile for Android handsets
Just last night we were messing about with our Android phone, trying to make the best of the photos we'd taken of fireworks exploding overhead. Of course, the image editing on most phones is pretty atrocious, and a far cry from the awesome tweak-fest of Photoshop on a proper computer. Luckily, Adobe wants to help us out, and has followed up its iPhone Photoshop app with one for Android phones.
The catch, and there usually is one, is that the application is currently only available to Americans and Canadians. Which means us Europeans are bang out of luck. Of course, if you've got a rebellious streak in you, you could probably hunt it down through other methods and install it manually, but we'd never condone that. Continue reading...
Oppo opts not to sell its BDP-831 Blu-ray player in Europe
You may not have heard of Oppo before, it isn't a huge company, but we've reviewed, and loved, several of its high-end DVD players. The company, based in China, but with an emphasis on the US market, concentrates on quality, so its DVD players use excellent scaling hardware to get the best possible quality out of standard definition material. So, as you can imagine, when the company unveiled its BDP-831 Blu-ray player, we were beside ourselves with excitement. Sadly, Oppo has recently announced that this player won't be making the journey to Europe any time soon.
Reviewers of the US version --known as the BDP-83-- remarked that it was one of the fastest loading players ever, with the same emphasis on high-quality video and audio as the company's DVD players. But in a statement on its UK store site, that was due to open at the same time as the Blu-ray player went on sale, Oppo broke the bad news. It said: “After careful evaluation of the resources available, it has been determined that the release of the OPPO BDP-831 Blu-ray Disc player in Europe will be postponed indefinitely”.
Blu-ray to get managed copy. At last
Blu-ray, eh, we're sort of stuck with it now, aren't we. That said, we love our movies with glorious 1080p and beautiful lossless surround sound. What we aren't so keen on, is the restrictive DRM that prevents us from using our films the way copyright law suggests we should be able to. We're talking here about making a copy for personal use, so that we can stream it to a media player or put a copy on an iPod or other PMP. But rejoice –in a restrained way-- because managed copy is on the way to Blu-ray, according to Engadget and Video Business.
Managed copy allows users to 'rip' video from a Blu-ray disc, but in a controlled manner, and with DRM remaining in place to prevent copies ending up on the internet. The copy protection system on Blu-ray, known as AACS has always theoretically supported managed copy, but from the 4th of December it will become mandatory for discs to allow consumers to make at least one copy. Try not to get too excited though, because in order to make a copy using this system, you'll need a piece of hardware that supports it, and have a guess how many currently do. That's right, none.
Extreme home cinema: Most ludicrous AV setups ever
Think your 50-inch plasma and 7.1 surround-sound system are the pooch's pods? Unless they're plated in gold and built into a hot-air balloon, think again. Welcome to our round-up of ten of the most awesome (and occasionally awful) home-cinema installations on the planet. If you want to join them, remember you won't just need a six-figure budget -- it'll help if you're stark-staring bonkers, too. Continue reading...
OpenOfficeMouse has frankly preposterous 18 buttons, joystick
And now, a heart-warming tale of a dream come true. One day, a World of Warcraft-loving gamer decided he just couldn't take it any more. His mouse just didn't have enough buttons to deploy all his l33t skillz. He'd do something about it, just you watch. He'd make his own mouse, and it would have 18 buttons, 63 programmable profiles and an analogue joystick. He'd team up with OpenOffice to give it brand recognition and a grown-up use. It would be called OpenOfficeMouse.
Yes, it's real. No, it's not a joke, or a hilarious over-reaction to Apple's spartan Magic Mouse. The anonymous gamer has setup his own company, called WarMouse, and this is its first product. It's about to go into production and it will set you back $75 (£45). That might sound excessive for a mouse, but in comparison with products such as Razer's Mamba (£100), Logitech's G9 (around £50) and Microsoft's Sidewinder X8 (£50), it's good value, offering far greater customisability. Continue reading...
EMI Abbey Road Live: Instant gig recording
Record company in good digital idea shocker! EMI, one of the big four major labels, has announced a new service that will sell recordings of gigs -- at the gig itself, as the band are walking off stage shouting, "Thank you, Milwaukee!"
'Abbey Road Live', which confusingly has nothing to do with the Beatles or their famous studio (other than sharing an office), aims to offer a higher-quality service than any bootleg, with multi-channel audio, mixed and mastered in no time at all. Continue reading...
Sony BDP-S760 Blu-ray player: Super bit-mapping reality enhancer
Sony has lifted the lid on its new top-of-the-range Blu-ray player, the BDP-S760. Jammed full of exciting new features -- some of which may actually make a difference to your viewing experience -- it's also packing a walloping great price tag: £340.
The S760 and its more reasonably priced sibling, the S560 (£240), do share an interesting common feature: Wi-Fi. Instead of trailing an ugly old Ethernet cable round to your home-cinema setup, the S760 connects to your wireless network, meaning you can look at photos stored on your PC or make use of Blu-ray's thus-far disappointing BD-Live Internet features. Continue reading...
Nokia Booklet 3G hits US: Hands-on verdict
Nokia's Booklet 3G netbook has arrived in the US and our chocolate-voiced NYC colleague Dan Ackerman has one in. It's designed to be sold on a phone-like contract, with AT&T offering it for $299 (£180) on a hefty $60 (£36) monthly tariff. Big Ack was impressed with the Booklet's build quality and high-res 10-inch display, but its titchy keyboard was too small for his bear-like paws and its sluggish performace was a turn-off too. Continue reading...
