News

Sony announces the release of their new S350 and S550 Blu-ray players

It’s been a long time since their originaly announcement back in February of this year, but Sony has finally launched their new Blu-ray players, the BDP-S350 and BDP-S550.

The S350 manages to pack in BonusView, Precision Drive HD and is BD-Live Ready as of October, via a firmware upgrade. The Precision Cinema HD upscaling technology is also included, which upscales standard-def footage to 1080p.

Great picture and sound quality with Sony’s new Blu-ray Players

The new BDP-S350 and S550 offer amazing home cinema experience for Blu-ray movies, DVDs and music

Sony BDP-S350

The latest next-generation BDP-S350 and BDP-S550 Blu-ray Disc™ players from Sony provide movie fans with the ultimate full HD home cinema experience and incorporate an amazing range of innovative new features.

“We called upon our expertise in Hollywood movie production and digital technology to build a machine that movie fans would truly love,” said David Walstra, Director, Home Video Marketing of Sony Europe. “An advanced Blu-ray Disc™ player like the BDP-S350 or BDP-S550 is a must for every HDTV owner because it delivers the best possible 1080p high-definition video and incredible sound quality, while unlocking next-generation features that you just won’t get from DVD, downloads or video-on-demand.”

BDP-S350: the complete Blu-ray High Definition Experience – with effortless upgrade to full BD Live

The BDP-S350 includes several exciting new Blu-ray features in a slim product design, such as 24p True Cinema, BonusView, Sony’s Precision Cinema HD Upscale, Precision Drive HD and BD-Live Ready. Just connect the player to the internet and download the latest firmware, which will be available by October 2008, to access all the qualities of BD live.

The BD-Live and BD-Java firmware enables you to access a range of exciting online services, which allows rich interactive home entertainment experience. Simply connect the player via an Ethernet cable to the internet to join on-line blogs whilst watching the movie, enter online competitions, draws and online games. You can also access special added value content which is not loaded onto the disc but can be downloaded onto an optional USB flash storage device from a special website dedicated to the movie, such as exclusive movie trailers, latest artist or producer interviews.

The BonusView functionality allows you to view a secondary video stream simultaneously from the same BD disc . This amazing technology means that you can view Picture-in-Picture Blu-ray content at the same time as the the main movie, providing an out of this world home-cinema experience.

Since many consumers own extensive DVD movie libraries, the BDP-S350 incorporates Sony’s new Precision Cinema HD Upscale technology that converts standard-definition signals (480i) to 1080p and outputs a full HD equivalent resolution signal to 1080p TVs via HDMI. 

Additionally, the model also adds Sony’s new Precision Drive HD, which helps to detect and correct wobbling discs from three directions, stabilizing playback of Blu-ray Discs™ and DVDs.

It has a quick start up mode, allowing you to switch the player on and begin enjoying your favourite movies in approximately six seconds, performance which is unrivalled amongst other products available today.

Sony BDP-S550

BDP-S550: The ultimate Blu-ray experience

The BDP-S550 offers all the same great capabilities as the BDP-S350, but has BD-Live and BD-Java firmware already built in and includes a 1GB of exchangeable USB storage to save downloaded BD-Live content from the internet.

Also unique to the BDP-S550 is support for DTS-HD Master Audio Decoder and 7.1Ch analogue audio output which means that it can be connected directly to a legacy home-theatre receiver without HDMI for the ultimate movie and surround-sound experience.

Both models use Sony’s award winning XrossMediaBar, an easy to understand control menu that makes it simple for everybody to use all of the players’ functions. BRAVIA Sync technology makes connecting the players to BRAVIA televisions and Home Theatre systems a piece of cake.

The players provide an unforgettable home-cinema experience with Dolby® TrueHD and Dolby® Digital Plus decoding and bit-stream output, as well as DTS®-HD High Resolution Audio and Master Audio bit-stream output.

The BDP-S350 and BDP-S550 support AVCHD discs with x.v.Color™ (xvYCC) technology, an international standard for wide color space reproduction. The standard expands the current data range of video by approximately 180 per cent, allowing the players to output more natural and vivid colors similar to what the human eye actually sees in the natural world. The players also feature compatibility with an array of video formats, including BD-R/RE (BDMV and BDAV modes), DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW, CD, CD-R/RW (CD-DA format), and JPEG on DVD/CD recordable media.

BDP-S350 and BDP-S550 key features

BDP-S350

BDP-S550

1080p High Definition Picture

Yes

Yes

24p True Cinema

Yes

Yes

DVD Upscale

Yes (Precision Cinema HD Upscale)

Yes (Precision Cinema HD Upscale)

x.v.Colour

Yes

Yes

PhotoTV HD

Yes

Yes

Video D/A Converter

12bit /148.5MHz

12bit /148.5MHz

Analogue Video Output

Component/ S-Video/ Composite

Component/ S-Video/ Composite

Dolby TrueHD Bitstream Output

Yes

Yes

DTS-HD Master Audio Bitstream Output

Yes

Yes

Dolby TrueHD Decoding

Yes

Yes

DTS-HD Master Audio Decoding

No

Yes

Audio D/A Converter

192kHz/24bit

192kHz/24bit

Analogue Audio Output

2-channel

7.1-channel

BD-Live (Profile 2.0)

Yes (ready)

Yes

Local Storage port for BD-Live

Yes, USB2.0

(USB Flash Memory, not included)

Yes, USB 2.0

(USB Flash Memory, 1GB Memory included)

BonusView (Profile 1.1)

Yes

Yes

HDMI CEC (HDMI v 1.3)

Yes (BRAVIA Sync)

Yes (BRAVIA Sync)

Ethernet port

Yes

Yes

Network Firmware Update

Yes

Yes

AVCHD

Yes

Yes

JPEG

Yes

Yes

Disc Drive

Precision Drive HD

Precision Drive HD

GUI

Yes (XrossMediaBar)

Yes (XrossMediaBar)

GUI Language

GB/ FR/ DE/ NL/ IT/ ES/ PT/ DK/ SE/ NO/ FI

GB/ FR/ DE/ NL/ IT/ ES/ PT/ DK/ SE/ NO/ FI

Back-lit Remote Commander

No

Yes (Blue LED)

Start-up Time

approx. 6 sec.*

approx. 6 sec.*

Dimension (W x H x D mm)

430 × 60 × 220

430 × 70 × 220

Weight

2.9 kg

3.3 kg

 

I hope to get my hands on both of these Blu-ray players soon, so watch this space for the reviews!

Posted by: Matt

HTC Touch Diamond extended battery

A little while ago I mentioned that HTC were going to supply higher capacity batteries for the HTC Touch Diamond. So far HTC haven’t come up with an official product but the other day I came across a replacement battery that has DOUBLE the capacity of the original Diamond battery.

Personally, I don’t have any problem with the capacity of the original battery but I know many people have been disappointed with the battery life. This replacement battery is 1800mAh as opposed to the original 900mAh.

As you can see from the images below it does add a fairly significant chunk to the back of the otherwise slim Diamond but I guess this is a small price to pay for the extra capacity. The package available from Clove comes complete with a replacement back that matches the design of the original. I’d like to see someone come up with a third-party replacement flat-back though as my original is looking very worn.

‘Get more life out of your HTC Touch Diamond handheld with a high capacity lithium-ion extended battery. This extended battery allows you to work for longer periods without having to connect your handheld to a power outlet. This Lithium-Ion extended battery has been tested and validated for your HTC Touch Diamond.’

The back cover is similar to the original.  It is not completely flat, it has contours like the original.

Features of Extended Battery (1800mAh) – HTC Touch Diamond

• Rechargeable and removable power for HTC Touch Diamond 
• Extended 1800mAh
• Complete with replacement back cover for HTC Touch Diamond

The replacement battery and battery cover is available for an extremely reasonable £25.85 inc VAT from Clove Technology.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, Diamond, HTC, battery]

MWg extend £50 cash back offer to other devices

We’ve reviewed many of the devices on offer from MWg recently (With the exception of the the MWg Zinc II which we’re reviewing at the moment.) and they’ve all been quite well received by us. eXpansys and MWg have extended their excellent cash back offer to now include the following devices:

MWg UBiQUiO 501 with £50 cash back:

• MWg UBiQUiO 501 before cash back claim: £149.95 inc VAT;
• MWg UBiQUiO 501 after cash back claim: £99.95 inc VAT!

MWg Atom Life with £50 cash back:

• MWg Atom Life before cash back claim: £199.95 inc VAT;
• MWg Atom Life after cash back claim: £149.95 inc VAT! 

MWg UBiQUiO 503G with £50 cash back:

• MWg UBiQUiO 503G before cash back claim: £229.95 inc VAT;
• MWg UBiQUiO 503G after cash back claim: £179.95 inc VAT!

The offer runs until the end of August 2008 for UK customers who purchase their MWg device from www.expansys.com!

The MWg Atom V and Zinc II £50 cash back offer has also been extended to the end of August, so get your MWg device now!

Check the individual product links above for terms and conditions.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, MWg, eXpansys]

HTC TyTN II Direct3D drivers!

Great news for TyTN II owners as finally the Direct3D video driver that the device so desperatly is now available!

Most HTC TyTN II owners are probably aware of the campaign to get a proper set of video drivers for the device and have no doubt heard of the HTCClassAction site that has been campaingning for them.

If you want to download the new driver or to find out more then head over to the HTCClassAction site where you’ll find a whole load of information about it.

Haven’t installed the drivers myself yet but will do so later and come back with an update.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone blog, Pocket PC blog, Tracy & Matt, HTC, HTCClassAction, ATI Imageon]

No 16GB Samsung Omnia for the UK?

Lots of you out there seem to be waiting for the launch of the Samsung i900 Omnia before making up your minds between buying that or the HTC Touch Diamond.

Today I heard some news though, that comes as something of a disappointment. Apparently Samsung are not going to release the 16GB version of the Omnia in the UK, only the 8GB version.

We now have official pricing for the 8GB unit. It will be £399 + VAT, with first stock arriving 18th August. Because Samsung are not releasing the 16GB version Clove Technology thought they would come to the rescue with a special offer to help boost the memory available by offering a package with a FREE 4GB microSD card.

This offer is valid on all purchases of the 8GB Omnia, but you need the voucher code: SAM8GB0708

Simply use the code about when buying the 8GB Omnia and Clove shall send the machine with a free 4GB card!

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, Samsung i900 Omnia]

Sony PSP gets Video-On-Demand

Sony and Sky have just launched the first on-demand TV service for the PSP. This service has just gone live, and with Go!View, PSP users are now able to create their own TV schedule from Sky’s line-up for entertainment, sports, movies and TV series. Content can easily be transferred to their PSP via a PC.

From the Sony Press release:

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Sky are pleased to announce that Go!View, the official PlayStation Portable (PSP™) video-on-demand service in the UK and Republic of Ireland, is now live. From today, content spanning TV, movies and sport will be regularly added to this new service for PSP users to enjoy in addition to their usual gaming experience.  With everyone who registers for the service at www.goview.tv receiving a free month’s subscription, there’s no better time to be a PSP owner!

Go!View makes portable, video-on-demand a reality, now PSP users are able to easily transfer content to their PSP via a PC. Through agreements with distributors and broadcasters including Disney-ABC-ESPN Television, BBC Worldwide, Sony Pictures Television International, NBC Universal International Television Distribution, National Geographic and Sky Sports, Go!View can offer PSP users an excellent range of content. Programming will range from US dramas such as library series’ of Lost and Desperate Housewives (produced by ABC Studios) to hit UK shows such as Doctor Who and Top Gear (from BBC Worldwide) through to FA Premier League football action and blockbuster movies.

Comedy, Sport and Entertainment Packs are available by monthly subscription, whilst selected movies and TV series can be transferred via the rental service on Go!View. Subscription packs are priced at £5 (€7) for 1 pack, £8 (€11) for 2 packs and £10 (€14) for all three packs and users can trial all three packs free for a month.  Rental TV is available from £1.50 (€2.00) per episode and a range of movies is available from £2.50 (€3.20) each.

This initial launch phase will see the Go!View service constantly growing from now through the autumn. ‘We are working with our content providers to secure a quality range of programming and ensure that PSP™ owners are getting the best possible service on-the-go and on-demand.’ said Alison Turner, General Manager, Go!View Entertainment UK

www.goview.tv

Go!View is a joint venture between Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Sky who have established the joint venture ‘GO!VIEW Entertainment UK’.  This is being used to bring the PSP video-on-demand to market in the UK, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands & the Isle of Man.  Sky is providing their expertise in building successful video-on-demand platforms as well as content acquisition.  Sony Computer Entertainment is providing the marketing for the service.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, Sony, PSP, Go!View]

MDA Compact IV now available from T-Mobile

Great news for T-Mobile customers as the T-Mobile version of the HTC Touch Diamond, the MDA Compact IV, is now available to buy on the T-Mobile website.

Furthermore you may even get the phone for free depending on your talk plan. We’re already hearing that customers are getting the device free on upgrades too!

You can enjoy the best of our mobile internet and entertainment services with our slim, stylish and exclusive T-Mobile MDA Compact IV. Surf the web at super-fast speeds with web’n’walk, find your way with the built in Sat Nav, listen to your favourite music on the MP3 player and snap away with the 3.1 megapixel camera. The smooth, crystal-clear touchscreen is the mobile phone equivalent of a large flatscreen TV – it’s superb for internet browsing, Mobile TV, watching videos and more.

It also looks like T-Mobile have opted for the curvier, flat-backed version of the Diamond similar to the P3100 model.

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, T-mobile, HTC, MDA Compact IV, HTC Touch Diamond]

Queuing for the iPhone?

Apple’s new iPhone 3G goes on sale today and is available from Carphone Warehouse and O2 stores throughout the UK.

I’ve already seen long queues at local shops, both stretching about 100 yards from the door. I’m wondering if O2 and CPW have enough stock to satisfy eveyone one in the queue?!

So the question for today is would you every queue for a new gadget?

If you’ve picked up your new iPhone then drop us a line!

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): iPhone, Apple, iphone, Amazon, Tracy & Matt]

HTC Touch Diamond now available on Orange

Great news for those of you that have been holding out for Orange to release the HTC Touch Diamond for today the device is finally available on the Orange Website. It’s also listed at a starting price of £39.99 but naturally the price you’ll actually pay depends on the talk plan you opt for and the length of contract.

Stunning aesthetics meets unrivalled innovation. The HTC Touch Diamond™ raises the bar in mobile communication, whilst retaining simplicity and beauty at it’s core.

I’ll be heading over to the local Orange shop later today to see if they have them in store but word is that they’ll certainly be on sale in the morning. However, we’re still being told that they are NOT available to business customers!

EDIT: Apparently you CAN buy an HTC Touch Diamond as a business customer but NOT as a corporate account customer!

If you pick up a Diamond on Orange then please let us know!

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, orange, HTC, HTC Touch Diamond]

No Touch Diamond for Orange Business customers?

I know I’ve spoken about the HTC Touch Diamond coming to Orange a lot recently but I’ve just been on the phone to my Orange business account manager and she’s informed me that the Touch Diamond will NOT be made available to business customers.

She explained that the devices team at Orange have been looking at the Diamond for some time and have decided that it’s not suitable for business users?!

She did go on to say that if a business customer was to insist upon having a Diamond that they might be able to get one by speaking to someone in the retentions team but that this would not be recommended.

Has anyone else heard the same or similar from Orange? I’ve been using my Touch Diamond for several weeks and cant see any reason why this would be described as ‘Not Suitable For Business’. I’m a high use business customer and I’m delighted with my Diamond.

I wonder if the reason for this decision has anything to do with Orange customisation or am I just cynical?

Posted by: Matt

[Post tag(s): smartphone news, Pocket PC news, Tracy & Matt, orange, HTC, HTC Touch Diamond]