YouTube tries to be more like TV with 'Leanback'
YouTube's latest attempt to get people to watch more videos is a service called Leanback, which keeps on playing a selection of full-screen clips until you tell it to stop. YouTube calls it "effortless viewing" and users don't have to select anything. Instead, the non-stop lineup is determined by a users' "settings and preferences," including their subscriptions on the site and videos friends have recommended on Facebook. YouTube says that with Leanback its site becomes "as easy as watching TV," which, while true, may not be exactly what people want from YouTube on their computers (I was subject to a jarring selection of back-to-back music videos and tech interviews, which I eventually had to stop.)
The Guardian
TalkTalk and BT launch challenge to Digital Economy Act
BT and TalkTalk want a judicial review of the Digital Economy Act, saying the controversial new law could infringe "basic rights and freedoms," reports the BBC. The act – which proposes to disconnect persistent illegal filesharers from the internet – was passed into law in the April wash-up period before parliament was dissolved. Both BT and TalkTalk are understood to want the high court to clarify whether the act conflicts with existing EU regulation. Ofcom has said plans to disconnect people from the internet would not come into force until next year.
The Guardian
Bluetooth 4.0 specification officially set
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has formally finalised the specification for version 4.0 of the wireless technology, allowing manufacturers to start testing and producing equipment. Bluetooth v4.0 has been optimised for low power consumption, so that it can be used in a range of small local devices without requiring power infrastructure, and aiming for years rather than weeks of use from a single battery. "The finalisation of Bluetooth low energy wireless technology within the Core Specification is a monumental achievement," said Michael Foley, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG.
V3
Google asks users to contribute to documentary
A new project from Google is asking users to contribute footage for a documentary film. Titled 'Life in a Day,' the film will assemble video taken over a 24 hour period on 24 July. Director Kevin Macdonald and producer Ridley Scott will then turn the gathered footage into a feature-length documentary for the Sundance film festival. Users will have until 31 July to submit the footage to the project's YouTube channel, which will also feature all content submitted after entry for new contributions have closed.
V3
MySpace sale reports are "fabrications"
News Corp digital chief Jonathan Miller said yesterday his company is not in talks to sell its once popular social networking site MySpace and described reports of any discussions as "fabrications." "We are definitely not in any ongoing talks for a sale of MySpace," he said on the sidelines of the Allen & Co organized media conference. Miller said News Corp is planning another reinvention of the beleaguered site with a relaunch expected later this year. A year ago News Corp executives talked about relaunching the site as an entertainment focused site.
The Independent
Magnetic nanoparticles can remotely control worms
Using magnetic nanoparticles, scientists have found a way to remotely control neurons and affect animal behaviour. The nanoparticles, which are targeted to attach to cell membranes, heat up when exposed to a magnetic field. Researchers have demonstrated that the heat can open calcium ion channels in cells, activate neurons and even cause C. elegans worms to recoil, according to a paper released in Nature Nanotechnology 27 June.
Wired
OLED shortages begin to raise concerns for Android smart phone market
New research from iSuppli suggests that short supplies of small-sized Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diodes (AMOLED) displays used most notably in Android smart phones, are slowing the display technology’s bid to challenge the dominance of the incumbent AMLCD technology in the smart phone market. Shipments of small-sized AMOLEDs used in cell phones and other applications are projected to reach 184.5 million units by 2014, up from 20.4 million units in 2009, seeing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 55.1 percent, according to a revised forecast from iSuppli. However impressive that may appear the AMOLED shipments pale when compared to small-sized AMLCDs, which are forecasted to rise to 1.75 billion units by 2014 from 1.3 billion in 2009.
Components in Electronics
Logitech acquires technology to send HD video over firewalls
Logitech has announced the acquisition of Paradial AS, a Norway-based computer firewall and NAT (network address translation) specialist. The target market for the technology is high definition (HD) video communications. Paradial’s technology addresses the issues of sending Internet-based video communications across protected networks. ”Traversing any firewall while maintaining a high level of security, the Paradial technology enables seamless video calling between people inside the walls of an enterprise and those inside other enterprises, in remote offices or telecommuting,” said Logitech.
Electronics Weekly
Sony: PS3 is 'future-proofed for 3D'
Sony believes that people looking at what console to buy should take into consideration that the PlayStation 3 is 'futureproofed in terms of 3D.' Speaking at TechRadar at a John Lewis event, Sony's Mick Hocking, senior director at SCEE, is keen to get the message out that the PS3 is becoming 3D ready for free, so that anyone with the console and a 3D Ready TV can take advantage. "The message we are trying to get out there is that if you have a PlayStation 3 you don't have to do anything it connects and downloads the firmware upgrade and it's 3D ready," Hocking told TechRadar.
Tech Radar
European PC sales show strength in Q2
PC sales in Europe are looking good for 2010, thanks to strong growth reported in the second quarter of the year, according to a report released today by Context. Sales of PCs in the consumer and business markets grew by 10 percent in 14 European countries in the second quarter compared to the same period last year. This growth was present in both the consumer and business markets, accounting for over half of Europe's computer business. “The 10 percent unit growth rate for Q2 2010 was less than the 15.7 percent we saw in the first quarter of this year,” said Marie-Christine Pygott, Senior PC Analyst at Context. “Sequentially, the second quarter drop-off in sales was 4 points greater at 18.3 percent than 2009. However, the growth during this quarter was double the rate in Q2 2009 which is encouraging for the rest of 2010.”
Tech Eye
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