Church Calls On BAFTA To Drop Sony's PS3 Game October 08, 2007

Read more Blu-ray , Consoles , Games , Gizmodo UK , PS3

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The spat between the Church of England (CoE) and Sony over its contentious PS3 game, Resistance: Fall of Man, has reared its ugly head again.

The Church now wants BAFTA to drop the game from its 2007 nominations. The Church has already gotten biblical on Sony’s ass over the use of Manchester Cathedral as an in-game location and even former PM, Tony Blair, weighed in on this particular hot potato. The Dean of Manchester Cathedral, the Very Rev Rogers Govender, said:

“It is a disgrace that Resistance: Fall of Man has been short listed. Sony has admitted that they did not have permission to film or use Manchester Cathedral in their computer game. BAFTA should not be seen condoning such behaviour unless they are saying it is acceptable for producers to walk into historic buildings and film interiors - ignoring contracts, rights and liability.”

BAFTA’s head of awards, Anne-Marie Flynn, has countered:

“Resistance: Fall Of Man has been nominated for the PC World Gamers' Award - the only publicly-voted award in this year's ceremony. The shortlist for the Gamers' Award was effectively selected by the public, in that it comprised the top-selling games on each platform according to the games charts published by Chart Track.”

You can read the full list of this year’s BAFTA games nominations, here.-Martin Lynch

[Spong]


Hitachi Boasts 100GB Blu-ray Disc October 08, 2007

Read more Blu-ray , Gadgets , Gizmodo UK , HD DVD , Storage

It’s sometimes easy to forget that the silly high-definition (HD) movie spat between Blu-ray and HD DVD is just one part of the HD war. The rest of the battle involves the massive market for storage technologies and, with blank DVDs creaking at the edges, Blu-ray and HD DVD want to be the blank discs we all use in the future.

blu-ray disc.jpgHitachi has announced that it has created a 100GB blank Blu-ray disc by stacking four layers onto it. This is double the size of the biggest Blu-ray disc currently available and takes back the HD storage crown from the triple-layer, 51GB HD DVD blank disc.

While the ‘mine is bigger than yours’ boasting continues, the really interesting bit is that the disc will work on existing Hitachi Blu-ray players and burners. All they need is a firmware update.

That said, Hitachi is still tweaking the signal quality of its quad-layer technology so the 100GB discs are a few months from release. They won't come cheap either. Hitachi is also working on an eight-layer, 200GB disc too.-Martin Lynch

Sky Says ‘No More New Channels’ October 08, 2007

Read more Entertainment , Gizmodo UK , HDTV , Home Entertainment , TV

sky epg.jpg Sky has slammed the brakes on rolling out new channels on its EPG (electronic programming guide) launch queue, thanks largely to memory constraints of its set-top boxes.

There are 100 or so radio and TV channels already on the launch queue but Sky has said it’s going to proceed with their rollout with ‘extreme caution’ and is no longer taking any more applications from those broadcasting companies desperate to get on the Sky satellite service. Nicola Bamford, director of channels and operations at Sky, commented:

“After a very careful consideration we have taken the decision to make these changes in order to safeguard the interests of both viewers and platform users. Our goal is to provide a high quality viewer experience and a stable environment for all platform users, while maintaining the principle that access to the EPG should be available without discrimination to broadcasters.”

According to Sky, several models of its set-top boxes are suffering from “very significant memory constraints”.-Martin Lynch


X-Ray Bag Guarantees A Cavity Search October 08, 2007

Read more Gadgets , Gizmodo UK , Peripherals

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There's nothing like a visit to the US these days to confirm that airport security staff really do hate you.

It doesn't matter that you've done nothing wrong. Just visiting is enough for detention, so you really don't want to do anything that might actually provoke them even more. Which is why only those that enjoy cavity searches and solitary confinement will be buying the X-Ray Bag.

A bag that makes it look like you're carrying a phone, iPod, set of brass knuckles and, oh yeah, a handgun. Subtle. Go for it. They'll really love you in the security line. All you need is £6.

[Thinkgeek]

TV Remote Measures In At A Mad 20ins Long October 07, 2007

Read more Entertainment , Gadgets , Gizmodo UK , HDTV , Peripherals , TV , Technology

art lebedev control.jpg Art Lebedev, the mad Russian designer behind the stunning [and stunningly expensive] Optimus keyboard has just thrown up a first look at his latest concept.

You know how everyone else is trying to shrink the remote control, well not our Art. His plan is to create a control to handle every channel and his solution – so far – a remote that measures half a metre long, or 20ins to be precise.

Think of the Pultius as a light sabre with a button for every channel – this one has 102 buttons to start with, covering 399 channels. It will run off two AAA batteries and it really is as insane as a bag of badgers.

Of course, it’s just a concept – so far. Jump now for another shot.-Martin Lynch

[Art Lebedev]


Official: Cut-Price PS3 Drops October 10 October 07, 2007

Read more Consoles , Games , Gizmodo UK , HDTV , Home Entertainment , PS3 , Xbox

There was some speculation about a smaller, cut-price PS3 last week and , unlike many Sony rumours, this one has actually proven true.

ps3 top shot.jpg From Wednesday, shoppers will be able to get a 40GB PS3 for just £275, while the 60GB ‘value pack’ [two games included] will see its price drop to a more reasonable £350, from £425 – although there’s no second controller. The new 40GB model at £275 will appeal to the hordes of gamers who have complained the PS3 is too expensive. Still, there is a catch – unfortunate, but true.

The 40GB version has two, instead of four, USB slots, no multi-memory card support and lastly, and most painfully, no backwards compatibility with PS2 games. I can hear many a gamer choking. While this might really annoy many, you will still be getting a next-gen gaming platform and a Blu-ray movie player for £275.

Does this appeal or has Sony’s lack of PS2 game support hamstrung what could have been a great, entry-level PS3?-Martin Lynch

Plasma TV Diets To Just 1mm Thin October 06, 2007

Read more Entertainment , Gizmodo UK , HDTV , Plasma , TV , Technology

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This week we drooled over the actual arrival of Sony’s stunning 3mm thin OLED TV. That was, of course, before we got slapped rudely back to reality by the price tag.

Still, 3mm is obese as displays go now that Japanese firm, Shinoda Plasma has just shown off a prototype plasma screen at the CEATEC show, measuring – wait for it – 1mm thin. And it bends. Is it a joke? Well, no. The guy behind it used to work for Fujitsu and invented modern plasma displays.

Tsutae Shinoda demonstrated a 43in model that weighed just 800g at the show – which outshines Sony’s little 11in OLED. The new, flexible technology is comprised of a series of glass plasma tubes that contain RGB fluorescent materials. Above you can see it being all bendy, while content is played. The idea is that something this flexible will not just lead to new kinds of plasma tellies but that screens will be able to be deployed easily in non-traditional locations – curved walls at Tube stations, ceilings at home, offices etc.

It sounds great, although there’s no information on when it will actually launch so, for now, Sony’s OLED TV is still the anorexic super-bitch of the catwalk.-Martin Lynch

[TechOn]


£108,000 Fine For Mom Sharing Music Online. Ouch! October 06, 2007

Read more Digital Audio , Gizmodo UK , Music , Online , Technology

kazaa logo.jpgAnyone worried that sharing music online [illegally] may want to check the state of their bank account first. A woman in the US just got fined $220,000 (£108,000) after being found guilty of sharing 24 songs online via Kazaa.

Jammie Thomas, a 30-year old single mom, got well and truly stiffed by the judge and jury in Minnesota after the Recording Industry of America (RIAA) and six major music labels took her to court when she refused to ‘settle’.

She’s the first of 26,000 others being sued by the record establishment’s watchdog, after they refused to settle. Just as well it was only 24 songs they pulled her for since she had more than 1,700 in her online folder.

Still, £107,000 seems just a bit OTT - £4,500 per song - and it's highly unlikely that the RIAA will ever get that much out of her. -Martin Lynch

[AFP]


James Bond Phone Jammer October 05, 2007

Read more Gadgets , Gizmodo UK , Mobile phones , Peripherals , Technology , Wireless

I’m not sure what the everyday application of this might be, except maybe p***ing off everyone in the office or local pub – and videoing their frustration for later amusement – but I like spy-toys. Disguised as a pack of cigarettes, just flip the lid and hit the black button to jam all mobile phone signals within 20m. Not subtle looking, but very Q.

cellularjammer.jpgAccording to the sellers, it prevents eavesdropping using cellular telephones in meeting rooms, homes, office etc. It has rechargeable batteries and comes with a charger. This would be perfect for the cinema which is usually populated by morons that take calls and texts during the movie. Not anymore. Ah-hahahahahaha!

Still, it’s a mite expensive at $950 (£466) so why not opt for Brando’s cheaper handheld version at just $166 (£81).-Martin Lynch

Philips Promises Wireless Audio Perfection October 05, 2007

Read more Digital Audio , Gadgets , Gizmodo UK , Hi-fi , Movies , Music , TV

philips wireless headphones.jpg Wireless headphones are a great idea but some of the cheaper models tend to lose something in translation from the marketing hype to your living room.

I’ve tried numerous Bluetooth headsets with TV in the last year and some have displayed an inability to match the audio with the moving lips of the wee people living inside my TV.

Still, you get what you pay for and Philips’ latest wireless headset is promising zero syncing issues – at a price. The new SHD9100 Hi-Fi wireless digital headphones are a good-looking, lightweight pair of full headphones, designed for use with your hi-fi or TV. Sound is transmitted on the 2400 – 2483.5MHz frequency which Philips claims will give amazing clarity and no interference.

The glossy black cans boasts a 50mm driver to pump sound up to an impressive range of 30m which, theoretically, means you can wear them anywhere in the house. They also promise perfect lip-syncing with video, even when you move around the room. Lots of promises there.

They come with a neat docking station and all you need is £170.

If that’s too cheap, you can opt for beyerdyanmic’s first spatially-aware headphones – a snip at £1,700.-Martin Lynch


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