Freeview iPlayer+ box gets pre-recording facilities

Freeview box maker NetGem has added BlueDelta's Phantom+ adaptor to its iPlayer+ set top box to enable control over recording devices. The Phantom+ can hook into the iPlayer+'s 7-day programming guide so that you can set up future recordings through the iPlayer+. You then plug any recording device into the Phantom+ and it will control it by learning the signals from the device's remote control. ...more

20 million Thinkpads later...

As the 20 millionth IBM Thinkpad computer rolls out of the factory, we talk to Adrian Horne of IBM's Personal Computing Division on the Thinkpad's mobile future. The milestones that have kept the Thinkpads ahead of the pack, according to Horne, are products such as the 700c in 1992, which he described as 'the first notebook that was truly lightweight, portable and with a colour screen'. And other innovations such as the butterfly keyboard - a full-sized fold-out keyboard that came with the 701. ...more

Liberty Alliance gets to grips with digital video recorders

The Liberty Alliance and TV-Anytime Forum have formed a partnership to explore ways of standardising how copyright media is managed and distributed throughout the networked homes of the future. The initial hub of much media entering the home will be through digital video recorders, according to the organisations - a market shipping some 28 million devices by 2008. And while for now television programs are the lion's share of broadcast media delivered to such devices, in the future this will include games, enhanced TV, images and music, too. ...more

BT chops hot spot costs

BT has cut the cost of connecting to its Openzone range of public Wi-Fi hotspots. New subscribers who sign up between 1 September and 30 November will pay just ?5 for 250 minutes per month or ?15 for 4,000 minutes. After three months prices will revert to ?10 and ?25 respectively. ...more

Acer eyes American expansion

Acer is hoping to translate its European success across the Atlantic into the US market. The notebook specialist boasts the number four position in the worldwide computer market, but its dominance in Europe means it is having to look farther afield to keep up the phenomenal growth rates it has enjoyed over the past few years. Announcing its first half financials, Acer's President Gianfranco Lanci highlighted more than $4bn in revenues and profits just shy of $140m - a year on year growth of 83. ...more