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Sky extends half-off HD box promo, launches 10 million ad campaign
If you thought Sky+ HD's lower £150 set-top box was nice, imagine the reaction to its just-extended £75 (plus £60 installation) offer. Available until the end of October, Sky's apparently hoping that in combination with an ad campaign featuring Cyndi Lauper's True Colors will push Britons to make the jump to HDTV. That it will also cause us to relive a particularly embarrassing middle school dance is apparently of no consequence to this heartless media juggernaut. Enjoy your half price high definition boxes, no matter the emotional cost.Read - Sky Extends Half Price Sky+ HD DealRead - Sky backs HD service with £10m campaign
Pantech unleashes SKY IM-S380K in South Korea
They say only three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and that SKY-branded Pantechs are destined for the Korean domestic market. No exception here with the IM-S380K, an HSDPA slider with an expansive 7:3 widescreen display, FM radio, microSD expansion, Bluetooth, and navigation. It'll be available by the end of the year -- in Korea, anyhow -- in pink, white, and black for about 400,000 won ($347).[Via Unwired View]
Sky+HD bringing limited edition designer STBs this Christmas
We're beginning to think this is some sort of odd annual tradition, but just as it did last year, Sky+HD is launching a small collection of limited edition designer set-top-boxes for the artsy type. Designed by four of the UK's "most visionary designers and image makers," the units will go on sale in mid-October and range in price from £75 to £150 when taken with a Sky TV and HD Mix subscription from £27 / month (hey, that's news to us!). Best of all, we're also told that the service will be delivering 30 dedicated high-def channels by the end of 2008, so we suppose a boisterous "huzzah!" is in order here. Full release copied after the break.
SKY's IM-S350: where using the d-pad is an adventure unto itself
Like the IM-S300 before it, SKY's IM-S350 for the Korean market trades logic and any semblance of familiarity for a +1 on the fashion scorecard by sporting a crazy set of nav buttons that -- at a glance, anyway -- we can't figure out how you'd use. No bother, though; we're sure it's dead simple once you actually have your hands on it for a minute or two, and we guess you could look at it as an unusual form of theft deterrent. The 9.9mm, mostly aluminum beast features a QVGA display (if you can really call that a feature), DMB mobile TV, and a 2-megapixel camera, slotting it toward the lower end of what we'd expect out of Seoul. No word on pricing or availability here, but we imagine it won't drain the wallet.[Via Unwired View]
Stargazing with Starmap
Starmap 1.1 (iTunes link) is a pocket-sized map of the sky that packs a great deal into a small package. One thing that strikes you immediately is the challenge of incorporating all the options available into the iPhone's limited UI space. The button panel at the bottom of the screen is a 3D object that you can spin round to reveal more controls. And you need them, because there's a lot Starmap can show you. Not just the stars and constellations, but also planets, expected meteors and "deep sky" objects like galaxies, clusters and nebulae. Features I particularly like include: the night-vision mode (tints everything red to minimise your iPhone's own light pollution); the fact that, by default, only objects you're likely to see are shown in lists of stars and planets (you can toggle this on and off if you'd rather see a list of everything, below the horizon or not); and the general feeling that a great deal of thought has gone into building the app from the outset. The main issue with Starmap, and it's one you'll notice pretty quickly, is speed. Right now, the app does not use any accelerated graphics and subsequently, the frame rate is 3 FPS. Dragging the night sky around beneath your finger is slow and the animation jagged; as a result, it can be a little frustrating to use. Consider this before you buy. This is a known issue, though, and work is under way on a fully optimised 3D version running at 20 FPS. It might be released as soon as October, we're told. That (and one or two crashes) aside, Starmap is a fantastic educational app and very good value for the price ($11.99). Existing users should hold out for future updates -- if they deliver what's promised, Starmap will be an almost irresistible purchase. Oh, and one other thing would be nice: a function that controls the appalling British summer weather, and clears away the almost permanent cloud cover so that we actually have a remote chance of seeing some stars.
Pantech's SKY IM-S730 "Blue Wink" winks its way into South Korea
That name -- yeah, don't ask us. We have to believe it has something more to do with the phone than the fact that the model's posing with one eye closed, but beyond that, your guess is as good as ours. Specs on SKY's latest Korea-only slider include a 2.6-inch wide QVGA display, HSDPA, GPS, FM radio, microSD slot, and a meager 1.3-megapixel cam; if we had to guess, it's being positioned as a fashion device, so we can give 'em a pass on the sensor if the price is right.
Sky to launch seven new HD channels in the UK
Simmer down, UKers -- it's not nearly as good as it sounds. Sure, seven HD channels is seven HD channels, but aside from Real Lives HD, you'll be getting six channels of (mostly) the same stuff. Reportedly, the half dozen other high-def additions will simply "bolster Sky Movies," offering viewers the ability to watch horror, sci-fi, action, family, comedy and other genres by simply flipping the station. We suppose it's a good sign to see Sky ramping up its Sky+ HD lineup, but can we get a little more variety the next time you folks get the itch to expand?[Thanks, Adam]
Sky launching Real Lives HD channel October 20
Brits needing their reality TV in high definition get a boost October 20, when the Real Lives channel on Sky goes HD. Hook your HDTV up to Sky+ HD and enjoy Lorraine Kelly's DNA Stories, Toy Boys , Fashion Avenue. Sounds good, we'll be checking out The First 48 and awaiting the HD debut of Survivor in the meantime, although it does bring into question how much of reality TV do we really want to see in HD.[Via HDTV UK]
AMP test drives all-electric Saturn Sky on video
Remember that Ohio-based firm that planned on converting 300 or so Saturn Skys into all-electric roadsters? Advanced Mechanical Products ring a bell? At any rate, said outfit has just hosted up a video of its fourth test drive of a prototype, which is shown sporting an "Electric" badge on the front fender and a whole mess of batteries and wires underneath the hood. Oh, and then there's that unmistakable whizzing sound as it cruises on by. Check out the video after the jump.[Via AutoblogGreen]
Step-by-step guide to Go!View video download service
Curious about the new Go!View on-demand style video service launched in the UK and Ireland? Having trouble downloading from the service? Oh, you are not in the UK or Ireland but you are nosy? Either way, Pocket Gamer has a nifty step-by-step guide to the service just for people like you. It tells you how to go about everything from downloading the PC client to a number of possible errors you might encounter. Check it out here.
European video download service 'Go!View' now live
The fruits of Sony and Sky's partnership (which, scarily, we first reported on just under a year ago) is now finally available to the masses. Go!View allows you to download video content to your PSP across an array of genres for a relatively small fee. Content travels to your PSP via a PC, so Mac users are sadly left out in the cold. Pricing runs on both a subscription model and a pay-per-view model, depending on the content you are viewing.Movies and "Latest TV" will all be individually priced and include series 1 of Doctor Who (not sure that counts as "latest", seeing as series 4 just finished), season 3 of Lost and Resident Evil: Apocalypse. TV episodes are priced at £1.50/€2.00 with movies at £2.50 - £3.50 (€3.20 - €4.50). Alternatively, there are "Entertainment," "Comedy" and "Sports" subscription packs which cost £5/€7 per month and let you download as much content as you like.These subscription packs are surprisingly fleshed out with classic 70s Doctor Who, Scrubs, Life On Mars, Red Dwarf and Coupling. The assumption is that the site will be constantly updated with more content, but we notice this fact isn't advertised. It seems like a pretty decent service to grab UK-centric on-the-go video content, but we would love to see it somehow integrated into the EU PSN Store. Might lessen the sting of knowing we're not getting a video-download service until 2009.
Eurosport HD arrives on Sky+ HD in the UK
It's arriving a little later than in other parts of the world, but Eurosport HD has finally launched on Sky+ HD in the UK. The station is exclusively available as part of a high-def subscription package on slot 412, and should provide HD coverage of the Beijing Olympics and all sorts of other sporting events here in the near future. The addition brings the carrier's total HD lineup to 19, which isn't too shabby for that part of the globe.
Sky HD gets new name and price
A note to those on the product naming committee -- when adding HD capability to an existing product, simply add "HD" to the old name. Consider it a lesson learned by Sky, which will rebranded its well-regarded HD service as "Sky+ HD" starting July 1. That little "+" symbol will hopefully alleviate confusion amongst shoppers who thought that "Sky HD" did not have the DVR capabilities of the "Sky+" service. As if to make up for the confusion, Sky is cutting £100 ($200) off the price of the set-top box, bringing it to £149 ($295). Both of these are good moves, we think -- anything that can cut down on consumer confusion and spread HD is welcome in our book.[Via TooCheap]
Pantech agrees touch phones are all the rage with SKY IM-R300
Nice phone, but we have to admit, we're not blown away here. Pantech's diving headlong into the fashionable touch phone market with the SKY IM-R300 for its domestic market, featuring a DMB tuner, microSD slot, 260MB of internal storage, HSDPA, a 2.6-inch WQVGA display, and a relatively puny 2 megapixel camera. Oh, and what's with that gargantuan stylus there? Actually, how does that monster even fit inside the phone? We're guessing finger control doesn't play a particularly big role on this one, though the need for character recognition might make switching between the stylus and a fingertip too much trouble to bother anyway.
Sky HD service goes live in New Zealand
Just under two months after Freeview HDTV launched in New Zealand, in comes word that the long-awaited Sky HD service has done likewise. Dubbed My Sky HDi, the service is hosting (at least initially) Sky Sports 1, Sky Sports 2, Sky Movies, Sky Movies Greats and TV3 in high-definition. Those who are already subscribed to My Sky can make the very worthwhile leap to high-def by handing over $49.95 for the revamped (and doubly capacious) set-top-box. Reportedly, those who join will see 104 live sporting events in HD before the close of 2009, and Sky has already secured the rights to both the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. For more details on the whole thing, just give that read link a little love.
Sky's new HD EPG gets peeked
We already received confirmation that Sky would be freshening up its universally frowned upon EPG with something a bit sweeter, and now UKers are getting a first look at what to expect. Reportedly, the new guide will be entirely in HD and launched in August -- unfortunately, the image above may be the only tease you get (from Sky, anyway) all summer.
Sky launching HD service, MySky HD DVR in New Zealand
How's this for keeping a promise? Nearly two years back, Sky revealed plans to roll out HD service in New Zealand during the early part of 2008, and sure enough, all systems are go. The pay-TV operator is putting the finishing touches on its new high-definition satellite service, which it will use to beam out Sky Sport 1, Sky Sport 2, Sky Movies and Sky Movies Greats in HD this July. Users will also be able to rent the all new MySky HD DVR, which was "developed in conjunction with Sky's Australian sister company Foxtel, which will sell the same box under the iQ2 banner." It's noted that the timing of the two launches is purely coincidental, and the unit itself will boast a 320GB hard drive, four tuners, an HDMI output and an Ethernet port for a "possible video-on-demand service over broadband." Pricing information has yet to be divulged, but that tidbit should be surfacing real soon.
Nintendo flashes cash, sponsors UK Gladiators
It's not just North America and Australia that are seeing a television revival for Gladiators -- the UK is getting its own remake this summer, as hosted by Kirsty Gallagher and the highly slappable Ian Wright, and Nintendo has coughed up £1m to make sure that the "Wii" name is plastered all over it. Marketing Week reports that all transmissions and repeat transmissions of Gladiators will be exclusively sponsored by Wii, as well as all on-demand Gladiators content through Sky Anytime TV.Although we don't personally think of gurning, lycra-clad beefcakes whacking one another with giant cotton buds whenever we boot up Nintendo's box, we can certainly see where the company is going with this: back in the 1990s, Gladiators was renowned as wholesome teatime entertainment for the family (well, in Britain at least -- I'm not sure about the U.S.), and will no doubt attract a similar all-demographics-covered audience this time around.
Sony announces Summer release for Go!View
Sony has announced a "Summer" release date for the European PSP video download service, Go!View. Nothing more specific than that has been announced. No doubt we'll hear more news nearer the time. Go!View will allow PSP owners to download TV shows, movies and sports courtesy of the British TV provider, Sky. From the looks of the official website, content will have to be downloaded to your PC then synced across to your PSP. We're hopeful that there will be support for non-Windows operating systems, but if the PC Store is anything to go by then that's probably not very likely. We're looking forward to hearing more about this service and, if you are too, then be sure to sign up for email updates on the official Go!View website.
SKY's Duke is only slightly more attractive than The Duke
"Luxurious yet simple design" is the name of the game for SKY's latest bit of mobile splendor, curiously named "Duke" of all things. For many of us, "Duke" conjures up images of rough-and-tumble sheriffs in the Wild West or gargantuan Xbox controllers, but one thing it doesn't necessarily bring to mind is "luxurious yet simple." No bother, we suppose it's the hardware that matters, so let's get to it: 2.4 inch QVGA display, 1.3 megapixel camera, document viewer, media player, Bluetooth, and built-in subway maps (Korean subways, that is) all grace the rather plainly styled slider. Look for it on your favorite Seoul retailer's shelf for something in the range of 400,000 won (about $404).[Via Unwired View]
