UK Satellite broadcaster Sky set to roll out local downloads on its Sky Go mobile apps

UK Satellite broadcaster Sky set to roll out local downloads on its Sky Go mobile appsUK satellite television broadcaster Sky will launch updates to its hugely popular Sky Go apps next week that will enable users to download content and not just stream it. According to UK newspaper The Telegraph, the service will see Sky launch a subscription based service that will not only allow users to stream content that matches their actual home Sky subscription but be expanded to include movies and TV series too.

The subscription will cost £5 a month and will allow you to register up to four devices to download on-demand TV shows and movies from Sky’s huge catalogue. The content will stay on your device for 30 days after you have downloaded it then it will not be available. You will be able to download as much content as you like with the only restrictions being the available storage on your device.

The move by Sky will certainly bring some competition to Lovefilm and Netflix which both offer movie and TV show streaming services in the UK. Sky however is such a well-known brand that it is sure to take a big chunk of that market when it launches next week. Currently Netflix offers its streaming service for £5.99 a month and Lovefilm is offering a special price of £4.99 a month; it’s no surprise then that Sky chose the £5 a month figure for its service.

Sky claims that more than a quarter of its 11 million subscribers already actively use its Sky Go service. The Sky Go Extra service will be the first mobile TV subscription service in the UK and Ireland that offers Hollywood movies to download and watch offline.

If you are currently a Sky subscriber, would you be happy to pay an additional £5 a month to get access to this service?

Source: The Telegraph

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/hfi86aXABXE/story01.htm

SPANSION HARRIS SIEMENS MICROS SYSTEMS NINTENDO COMMSCOPE NANYA TECHNOLOGY

Internet Explorer 9 nears 4% share on Windows 7, IE6 extinction countdown picks up steam

internet explorer 9 ie9
Microsoft has shared some news about the state of its most and least loved Web browsers -- Internet Explorer 9 and 6, respectively. Even with IE9 only recently exiting beta, Microsoft reports that 3.6% of Windows 7 users are now running the new browser (no mention of Vista... what's with that?). The post also reveals that the adoption rate is almost five times what IE8 garnered in the early going.

It's also interesting to note that there are now more than 1,000 sites utilizing Internet Explorer 9's Windows 7 integration features -- like the new desktop notification support we showed you in Hotmail.

But perhaps the best news of all is that Microsoft's IE6countdown.com now has more than 400 partners and is generating nearly two million pageviews per month, helping to lure users away from the woefully out-of-date browser. Can the end come soon enough, DS readers?

Internet Explorer 9 nears 4% share on Windows 7, IE6 extinction countdown picks up steam originally appeared on Download Squad on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/01/internet-explorer-9-nears-4-share-on-windows-7-ie6-extinction/

SYNTAXBRILLIAN UNITED ONLINE MAXIMUS EMS TECHNOLOGIES AVNET TRANSACTION SYSTEMS ARCHITECTS HCL TECHNOLOGIES

Cloud Girlfriend will use a swarm of females to satisfy men

The social network Cloud Girlfriend
Cloud Girlfriend, despite what it sounds like, doesn't really have anything to do with cloud computing. Rather, it uses a cloud of women to pose as your girlfriend on Facebook, or your favorite social network of choice. The service is scheduled to launch 'soon,' and there's no indication of how much it will cost.

With the tagline 'The easiest way to get a girlfriend is to already have one,' Cloud Girlfriend promises to be a very interesting startup indeed. The brains of the operation, David Fuhriman, speaking to CNET, says it's all about fulfilling Maslow's hierarchy of needs. "CloudGirlfriend.com can fulfill Maslow's higher needs, even though the users know that the interaction is virtual. They will interact with a real person and see real profile images of the girl with whom they interact. This interaction can build confidence and esteem as well as provide real training experiences in navigating a friendship and a relationship."

Our concern, of course, is that it's very nearly April 1. We're also worried by the fact that Fuhriman has a name that sounds ominously like a social subculture that we've grown strangely attracted to here in the Download Squad bunker.

Finally, just stop and think about it for a second. Because your cloud girlfriend will be entirely virtual, she could be based anywhere. She could be underage -- or overage -- or she might be someone who you know in real life. She could even be a relative of yours, and you'd never know.

Let's not forget this is the Internet we're talking about, folks. Worst case scenario, she could turn out to be a hairy, male truck driver from Texas. Such as... your dad, perhaps?

Cloud Girlfriend will use a swarm of females to satisfy men originally appeared on Download Squad on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/03/30/cloud-girlfriend-will-use-an-army-of-females-to-please-lonely-me/

IKON OFFICE SOLUTIONS HEWLETTPACKARD HYPERCOM NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS MOODYS COGNIZANT TECH SOLUTIONS FIRST SOLAR

Snag a copy of “Windows 8: 50 Questions and Answers You Need to Make a Decision (Normally $9.95)”

w_wing01c4
The Windows 8: 50 Questions and Answers You Need to Make a Decision eBook, normally sells for $9.95, but it is available for free from now until Tuesday, January 22nd at midnight.

With this latest version of Microsoft’s operating system, Windows 8 has introduced significant changes that are focused on enhancing user experience and supporting mobile devices/tablets. The new changes includes a touchscreen capable interface, improved security features, online services (including a Windows store) and new technologies such as cloud computing.

The book breaks down each aspect of the system by defining the features in layman terms and providing enough detail to make an informed decision on the differences between other solutions and its previous versions. If you’re interested in the new Windows 8 operating system, this guide is a one-stop destination for all your inquires.

There are a few hoops to jump through to get this guide, but it helps The Gadgeteer to earn some some affiliate fees that can help us to bring you more cool product reviews.

Filed in categories: News

Tagged:

Snag a copy of “Windows 8: 50 Questions and Answers You Need to Make a Decision (Normally $9.95)” originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on January 17, 2013 at 12:00 pm.

A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app

Android Honeycomb'ish smartphone Music appUpdate: Tech From 10 seems to be offline -- but we have lots of images and a hands-on review if you want to see what the new Music app is like.

In what is probably a bit of a big-G whoopsie, the folks at Tech From 10 woke up to find a new, test version of Android Market installed on their Galaxy S.

Visually, the new version is almost identical. The carousel of featured apps has been updated slightly, and apps now have a 'Content rating,' but that's it (image after the break). The interesting bit, however, is the inclusion of alpha and beta apps -- most notably, there's a new version of the Music app, which looks like a scaled-down version of the Android 3.0 Honeycomb Music app (see right).

Also available from the test Android Market is 'Google Gallery 3D New 10.2', 'Google - Camera v12' and 'Google Desk Clock 10' -- but, curiously, all of the apps refused to launch on Tech From 10's Galaxy S (Vibrant) smartphone. Are they Honeycomb apps? Or, more likely, are they destined for the next Android smartphone OS, Ice Cream?

If you want to try out the new Honeycombish Music app, Tech From 10 has made the APK available for download. You can also download the three Google apps, if you want to have a poke around.

Continue reading A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app

A sneak peek at the next version of Android Market and Music app originally appeared on Download Squad on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/05/a-sneak-peek-at-the-next-version-of-android-market-and-music-app/

FEI COMPANY THQ BHARTI AIRTEL FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR INTERNATIONAL IDT CDW SUN MICROSYSTEMS

iOS 5.1 Upgrade Details

iOS 5.1The latest Apple operating system, iOS 5.1, to hit devices is pre-supplied with the new iPad. the new Os has been designed to fix a few bugs that were previously identified with iPads and iPhones, and also beings better battery life and WiFi connectivity. There are also a host of brand new features which are available on the new iPad 3.

The Camera App

The new camera is a massive upgrade on the iPad 2 and is something that many users will be attracted by specifically. Not only the camera hardware but also the new camera app itself has been redesigned with a view to allowing buyers to make the most of the massive 5MP camera and the new iPad’s revolutionary Retina display.

With iOS 5.1 there is also a change to the way the face detection works. This feature previously was only able to focus on one face per picture, which was perfect for individual portraits but not so good for group shots. It’s now possible to detest many faces in one photo, so group shots will be much easier to set up and the photographer can concentrate on composing the image instead of messing about with the settings.

Improved Photo Stream

A great new improvement under iOS 5.1 is the enhancements to the Photo Stream. Prior to this edition, users could not delete individual photos from the Photo Stream, which meant that if you were going to use it, you had to accept that along with your perfectly composed shots you would also get a bunch of blurry images and accidental photos of your feet. This really was a ridiculous oversight and put many people off using the Photo Stream service completely.

However with iOS 5.1 users can now individually select photos for sharing with Photo Stream and discard the remainder, rather than having to reset the whole stream of 1000 pictures every time.

Improved User Experience

iOS 5.1 brings with it a host of other updates which bring an enhanced user experience to the iPad. Sound quality has been greatly improved, meaning watching videos and movies and listening to music on the new iPad will be a more enjoyable experience.

Playback speed can now be controlled on each video, and a 30 second rewind function has been implemented. The Safari browser has some enhancements to its bookmark functionality, too.

And finally (and importantly for those who are using their iPad on the move and need to download and sync large files) the bandwidth limit has been raised – instead of the maximum 20mb download size previously you will now be able to download up to 50mb.

In conclusion, the new iOS 5.1 brings several important improvements and enhancements to the new iPad 3, but the OS features alone will not be reason enough for most people to consider upgrading to the new iPad 3.

Source: http://tabletbuzzblog.com/ios-5-1-upgrade-details/

QUEST SOFTWARE JDA SOFTWARE GROUP OPENWAVE SYSTEMS EASTMAN KODAK CO VARIAN SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT ASSOCIATES ORACLE ZORAN

What Would Wi-Fi Look Like As a Physical Object

Wi-Fi's all around you. Chances are you're in the middle of a big blanket of it right now, as you're reading this. But what does it look like? Well, nothing; it's invisible. But if it wasn't it might look a little something like this. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/YC9ZyiiAanM/what-wi+fi-looks-like-as-a-physical-object

NETGEAR MISCROSOFT OFFICE NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR NCR LM ERICSSON KINGSTON TECHNOLOGY COMPANY MOTOROLA

Google Chrome now uses SPDY HTTP replacement, halves page load time

SPDY in Google Chrome
We're not entirely sure of the time line here, but it looks like Google has now rolled out the SPDY HTTP replacement to its full bevy of Web services, including Gmail, Docs, and YouTube. If you're currently using Google's Chrome browser you're probably already using SPDY.

We originally reported on SPDY way back in November 2009, when Google introduced it as yet another experiment in making the Web faster, like Go, Native Client and speculative pre-connections. Over the last 18 months, though, SPDY support has found its way into the stable build of Chrome.

SPDY is basically a streamlined and more efficient version of HTTP. At its most basic, SPDY introduces parallel, multiplexed streams over a single TCP connection -- but at the same time, SPDY allows for prioritization, so that vital content (HTML) can be sent before periphery content (JavaScript, video). All in all, the SPDY protocol can halve page load times, which is obviously rather significant.

The best bit, though, is that SPDY is an open-source project. HTTP 1.1 is a lumbering beast that needs to be replaced before low-latency real-time computing really becomes a reality, and SPDY is one of the best options currently on the table. To be honest, we're not sure why SPDY hasn't received more coverage -- it's awesome in every way. At the moment, though, the only way to help speed up SPDY's proliferation, is with an experimental Apache mod.

As far as actually 'trying it out,' your best bet is downloading Chrome, hitting up some Google sites, and then checking chrome://net-internals to see your active SPDY sessions. SPDY is a transparent replacement for HTTP, though, and as such it's rather hard to see its effects. Google's sites definitely feel fast in Chrome, but there are more technologies than just SPDY at work.

Google Chrome now uses SPDY HTTP replacement, halves page load time originally appeared on Download Squad on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://downloadsquad.switched.com/2011/04/11/google-chrome-now-uses-spdy-http-replacement-halves-page-load-t/

HON HAI PRECISION IND INTEL QUANTA COMPUTER ANIXTER INTERNATIONAL SALESFORCE COM STANDARD MICROSYSTEMS DIRECTV GROUP

Apple is looking to expand Siri’s conversational skills and features according to a new job posting

Apple looking to improve Siri’s conversational skills with new job postingApple is seeking some fresh blood to help improve Siri. A job advertisement appeared on the business orientated social networking site LinkedIn yesterday seeking an individual who can help evolve and enrich Siri, Apple’s personal digital assistant.

We’re looking for a uniquely creative individual to help us evolve and enrich Siri, our virtual personal assistant. Siri’s known for ‘her’ wit, cultural knowledge, and zeal to explain things in engaging, funny, and practical ways. The ideal candidate is someone who combines a love for language, wordplay, and conversation with demonstrated experience in bringing creative content to life within an intense technical environment.

Siri has been a huge success since its launch alongside the iPhone 4S; however there is still room for a lot of improvements. It is far too common for Siri to not understand what you have said or just not respond at all and that leads to a frustrating user experience. Siri has a huge future, there is no doubt about that but it needs to improve dramatically. It is good to see that Apple is looking for creative people to help steer Siri in the right direction. If you fancy applying for the position you can find all the information at Linkedin.

Source: Linkedin

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/Jo0_J2rN570/story01.htm

DIODES INORATED INTERNATIONAL GAME TECHNOLOGY ZIONS BAN SYNOPSYS SILICON LABORATORIES DELL COSMOTE MOBILE TELECOM