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Feb 21, 2013 Internet
YouView from BT is a relatively new set-top box that gives access to both Freeview and on-demand catch-up TV shows from all the biggest channels. Here are our top seven reasons why it’s worth plumping for YouView box over its rivals.
Better than Freeview
YouView is an excellent successor to the standard Freeview box as it provides all the channels you know and love, as well as the ability to record around 150 hours of HD content.
Low monthly subscription
Both Sky and Virgin Media have high monthly subscription charges, whereas YouView from BT starts at just £5. There are two packages to choose from, TV Essential and TV Unlimited, so there’s no confusion over what channels you’ll have access to.
Online catch-up on your TV
Online catch-up services, such as BBC iPlayer, 4OD and ITV Player have made it easier for us to see the shows we love… if you’re happy to watch them on a small screen. However, with YouView from BT, you can watch all the on-demand services on your television with Scrollback.
Watch Sky channels
You will have access to Sky’s on-demand catch-up service, NOW TV on YouView. This means that even those that don’t pay Sky’s outrageous subscription charges will be able to watch some of its exclusive content. NOW TV includes Sky Movies from its launch, with Sky Sports thought to be added at a later date.
Who needs a Smart TV?
Smart TVs provide access to the internet, along with a number of apps, such as iPlayer and YouTube, but they are very expensive. With a YouView box, you won’t be left behind if you can’t get your hands on one of these fancy devices as you will still be able to watch all of your favourite programmes on demand.
Easy to use
For some people using technology comes naturally, but for others it’s far more difficult and confusing. However, the YouView interface has been designed to make it incredibly simple to use. The Electronic Programme Guide is easy to scroll through and accessing the catch-up service is as simple as selecting a programme from the past seven days.
More content on the way
YouView already has over 70 Freeview TV and radio channels, but they have promised to include additional content in the future. Sky’s NOW TV is already available, but another 300 potential partners have already expressed an interest.
YouView from BT is a revolutionary, yet affordable way to watch catch-up on-demand services, as well as pausing and rewinding live TV.
Recent Entries
Dec 19, 2012 Internet
Living in a rural area often means looking for alternatives to traditional high speed internet access. Many smaller areas do not offer the same technology that is found in larger cities. If you live in a rural area, you do have options that you may not be aware of. If your local telephone service does not offer high speed internet services, you may find cable or satellite companies that can provide you with the rural internet service that you need.
Satellite and cable internet offers high speed connections which can solve internet issues in areas where local phone services offer only dial up connection speeds. Dial up is quickly becoming a thing of the past and most smaller telephone companies offer at least some sort of broadband service. If you find that yours does not however, you can check with your local cable company or research satellite options in your area. These companies often provide high speed internet that is much faster than dial up and can often be purchased in a package along with your television subscription.
Dial up service requires that you have a phone line installed. This means that you cannot connect to the internet while you are using your phone. Most companies today offer DSL services that allow you to use another phone line for internet while still having use of your home phone. If you do not want or need a home phone however, you will find that many telephone companies cannot provide you with internet service. Dial up and DSL from phone companies require that you pay for a landline whether you actually use the phone on that line or not.
Satellite and cable services can connect you to the internet without the use of a phone line in your home. This is a much better option for those who do not want to pay for a separate phone line but simply want to connect to the internet. You will need to check with your local cable and satellite companies to see what connection speeds are available in your area and what these services will cost. Different companies and different locations may affect the speed and the overall cost of internet connection services.
Jul 2, 2012 Guides
Cable broadband is considered by many to be far better than a dial up internet connection. However not many people are aware of the importance of a cable network over a dial up connection, often leading people to underestimate the value of a cable internet connection.
It is a good idea to monitor your internet connection every few months via a broadband speed test, as well as keeping an eye out for any deals and offers. This means that you are going to receive the best broadband deal possible, as well as the fastest speed available to you.
So what are the benefits of cable broadband?
It’s always online
One of the most important benefits of cable broadband is that it is always online. This means that when you turn on your computer, it is already connected to the internet. An additional benefit to cable broadband always being online is that you do not need to start running any applications to connect you to the internet; it is immediate so that you can begin your internet browsing straight away.
It’s affordable
Cable internet is surprisingly affordable, many people use a single cable network within a household, so that the charges can be shared making it even more affordable. Unlike a personal broadband internet connection which can be costly as the service is private to you, you will find cable internet charges low and affordable.
It’s easy to use
Another very good feature of a cable network internet connection is that it is very easy to use. You do not need previous computer knowledge before using a cable internet connection; once you open your browser you will be connected and ready to browse the web.
A dial up connection on the other hand may require that you have some technical skills to connect to the internet, so cable is a great option if you are not particularly internet savvy
It’s durable
You can be assured of cable internet’s durability. Most cable networks are built into the wall, ground and ceiling or inside pipes which make cable internet more secure and long lasting. This means that your cable connection is less exposed to external damaged which can reduce the life span of your internet connection.
It’s more reliable
Because of the way cable internet is set up you are less likely to suffer as many issues from your internet connection. Not only does this mean that you spend less time with a faulty connection, it also means you spend less time dealing with IT engineers and dealing with technical support.
Many customers find technical support a stressful and frustrating experience, so reducing this problem slightly is a huge benefit for many cable internet customers.
It is obvious that there are many benefits to cable internet which make it the perfect option for many customers, particularly compared to traditional dial up connections.
Always make sure that you complete your research on internet connection tariffs and suppliers so that you can find the best possible deal to suit your requirements.
Feb 15, 2012 Internet
It seems as though everyone who has access to the internet nowadays does so wirelessly. While it was just about unheard of 10 years ago and especially from the standpoint of home users, wireless internet has really changed the whole way in which we access information and, indeed, run our lives. That being said, there are still many people who do not have access to this means of connecting to the internet and they are, instead, still connected via a wire or Ethernet cable; here we shall look at some advantages to using a wireless internet card.
The whole point of wireless internet is that it is far more accessible than using a wire. This is obvious in the fact that any device that uses an internet card to connect to the internet wirelessly will be able to log on from anywhere that they can pick up the signal to the router. So this means that you can access the internet from your laptop if you are in the living room, the bedroom or even the garden in some cases. This is certainly far easier than using a wire. For starters, if you wanted access to the internet in a room that is different from where the main router is then this would require some extensive work in terms of extending the cable or installing a new access point if you were to connect via a wired source.
However, by using a wireless router and then using an internet card from which to connect to it you will be able to access the internet from anywhere that a signal can be picked up. Considering that most providers now operate via wireless internet and it is now the standard means of connection then you can see how advantageous it is to connect via this route.
Nov 21, 2011 News
Google’s new music service, which debuted Wednesday during a Los Angeles event, compiles a variety of different features together that should be very familiar to music fans. The music library is very similar to an iTunes-style library and it happens to sit in your web browser. The music store allows song sharing with friends through Google+, the web giant’s very own social network. The free cloud storage is definitely an attractive offer, giving users 20,000 songs worth of space at no cost. Despite the attractive package though, this is nothing revolutionary. Google isn’t out to change the music business how ever, they’re interested in a more foreseeable outcome.
Google wants a piece of the new world, which is said to be social media and mobile apps. Search is definitely still big business, and Google is still dominating that aspect of the web – but no one believes it’s the future. Right now there are roughly five companies trying to make their own mark on the next generation of the internet’s economy – Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, and now Google. Apple has its great hardware, Amazon with its e-commerce, Facebook with its social media dominance, and Microsoft with its operating systems.
The more goods and services that a company can offer in the tech world, the more time that users are going to spend with them, simple. Each one of these tech giants wants to own the market, they want to be everything for everybody. They want to be the Walmart of the internet. Google happens to be growing in all directions, unlike its major competitors. Google’s music service costs nothing, and the music is priced to directly compete with iTunes. The internet giant isn’t trying to be better than iTunes, instead they’re trying to be more available – that has always been Google’s way.
Nov 18, 2011 News
The Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Google’s new smartphone, is the first Android phone that offers a premium experience. The Android operating system is currently powering the majority of smartphones that are sold today. Google made it clear that they aren’t interested in looking like the “best choice” when it comes to mobile devices, but they have certainly made it clear that platform dominance is a goal to expect. Google has realized the necessity of creating smooth operating platforms that have made devices such as the iPhone and the BlackBerry to be so consistent and comfortable. This is the key point behind the new Galaxy Nexus – to inspire that devotion to convenience that users feel with top-notch smartphones.
The new phone is huge, featuring a 4.65-inch HD display, with a 1.2GHz dual-core processor – there is plenty of power available with this phone – and to top it off, a battery life that can just about last through a rough day. Android has always been more capable than other mobile operating systems, being the first system to introduce shareable Wi-Fi for instance. The devices have always lacked in convenience how ever, being somewhat difficult for an average user to configure. Price has always been the progressive factor with the Android devices.
The interface of the Galaxy Nexus is very consistent with the Android tablets – there are no longer physical buttons on the bottom of the phone, and they change depending on how it’s being held and what’s happening at the time. Google’s new smartphone is not considered a mainstream competitor just yet how ever, as it is still going to take time for the software to saturate the market. Once that happens though, mobile companies like Sony, Samsung, and Motorola will be able to churn out more compelling devices at a much faster rate.
Mar 2, 2011 News
The next generation iPad was revealed by Apple on Wednesday, and is being seen as the next leap forward for tablets and technology in general. The portable communications capabilities have improved. The computer convenience aspect has improved. Now, we’re even starting to see television with the new iPad 2. Enhanced with small-screen effects and an optional $39 connector, users can play videos on a flat-screen television should they choose. Ever since its birth, the iPad has been a symbol of versatility, always challenging the current boundaries of technology. The iPad 2 is pushing it even further down this path, and it’s really carving out its own niche.
Competitors are pretty far behind Apple so far, but some newer tablets are beginning to emerge that could potentially challenge the iPad’s position in the Tablet world. Pricing is a huge factor, and some companies are trying to use the price of the iPad against itself. As technology increases, we’re seeing the lines between smartphone and computer blur, and now computing and television as well. A flat-screen TV nowadays can very easily double as a large computer monitor. You could hook the screen up to a computer and play videos from YouTube, or movies, or even video games. The iPad 2′s HDMI connection adds to the ability of linking to a TV.
The iPad 2 will offer cameras in the front and back of the device, allowing photo and video chats. There is also a “smart cover” that protects the iPad’s screen when it’s not in use.
Dec 7, 2010 News
In a leap of innovation that may or may not strike the average consumer the right way, General Electric has announced a brand new form of LED lightbulb that is designed to last 17 years without ever burning out. The bulb will have all of the features that consumers expect from the standard incandescent light bulb, but it will make use of light emitting diodes rather than a filament that is heated up through electricity. Due to this design, the bulbs will use less than one quarter of the power needed to power a standard 40 watt house hold light bulb. The brightness output will stand at 450 lumens which is the equivalent of a 40 watt bulb of the incandescent variety. These GE Energy Smart LED bulbs will cost in the neighborhood of $40 to $50 each. However, GE hopes that the 25,000 hour life of the bulb will appeal to savvy home owners because it has 25 times the average life span of a typical bulb while still using less power. Even a typical CFL bulb offers only 8,000 hours of use.
The primary advantage of the new GE bulb will be its ability to fit into a standard socket intended for incandescent bulbs and so it will not require a huge amount of home re-structuring be done in order to install the bulbs. Since the US federal government has already begun a plan to phase out incandescent bulbs between 2010 and 2014, in stages. While consumers may yet balk at the price of the 17 year bulbs, observers have noted that the price has already gone from $80 to $50 per bulb in the past year alone so price drops can be expected as the technology improves.
Oct 10, 2010 News
The video game developing world has been ablaze with the news that developers from the Call of Duty team have gotten embroiled in an epic conflict with Activision Blizzard Inc. According to reports, Vincent Zampella and Jason West have been named in a law suit that alleges they breached their contracts with the game publishing giant. Both men were lead developers for the smash hit Call of Duty that is now a multi billion dollar franchise for the game publishing juggernaut. According to what the media is currently saying, Activision alleges a range of9 issues ranging from insubordination to trickery on the part of the duo designed to scheme away the company’s rather substantial assets for the pair’s own gain. The main sting for Activision was the fact that both men had met with a competing developer that many analysts think might be Electronic Arts Inc to consider new employment – something that would go against the contracts they are alleged to have signed with Activision Blizzard. In addition, the development studio says that both men had conspired to recruit their former co-workers to join them in setting up a new independent studio to develop games.
Zampella and West have filed a counter suit on the advice of their attorney and are firing back with accusations that Activision actually proposed the independent studio as a way to appease the pair who had not been satisfied with their former positions. The suit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court due to Activision’s location of Santa Monica.
Apr 23, 2010 News
Given the wild popularity of smart phones, it comes as no surprise that users accustomed to video sharing sites and the ability to view such videos on their mobile devices would be able to be lured in by an iPhone app that allows them to watch live and on demand television programs. The MobiTV app promises precisely this advantage by providing live content from popular TV channels such as ESPN, CNBC, MSNBC, ABC and The Disney Channel. The shows will be streamed directly to the iPhone and users will be able to toggle between a menu overlay viewing experience such as is common on YouTube or a full screen viewing experience. The app will function over both 3G and Wi Fi networks and according to reviewers functions smoothly even with sometimes stuttering connections. This ability to stream TV content is new to the iPhone and promises to increase the viewership for shows from such popular series as Cougar Town, Caprica, The Colbert Report, CSI and Castle. Plenty of content should keep users enamoured with the app.
While the app is not yet compatible with the iPod Touch, experts predict that it soon will be. The price for a subscription to the streaming service is $9.99 per month or $24.99 for a 3 month subscription. Should the app prove popular, industry insiders believe that it will be only a matter of time before competing services such as Hulu begin to provide their own alternatives to MobiTV. It remains unclear how iPhone audience will respond, but judging by blogger reactions so far, the future looks bright for this new app.
