Get Sky 3D in your home from October 1

SKY has announced an impressive package of 3D shows as the broadcaster names the date for rolling out the exciting new format in British homes.

Sports fans will watch the Ryder Cup come alive as never before on their TV, as well as regular Premier League football fixtures already enjoyed in pubs around the country.

From October 1, film fans will be able to catch 3D movies including: Bolt and Monster vs Aliens, Alice in Wonderland, Ice Age – Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Coraline, Fly Me To The Moon, Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince and My Bloody Valentine.

And Sky Arts 3D is partnering the English National Ballet to add some high culture to the line-up.

Available to any Sky+HD home with a 3D Ready TV, there will be no extra charge for customers who subscribe to Sky’s top channel and HD pack.

Sky Chief Executive Jeremy Darroch said: “As with High Definition, 3D is set to transform the way TV is enjoyed in homes nationwide. Following hot on the heels of the success of 3D cinema, Sky customers will now be the first anywhere in Europe to experience 3D TV from the comfort of their living rooms. They can look forward to a fantastic mix of live sport, blockbuster movies, and innovative entertainment and arts shows.”

Sky 3D is now available in more than 1500 pubs and clubs across the UK and Ireland. Over a million sports fans have already lapped up a range of sports broadcast live in 3D since the channel’s launch.

Sky 3D is compatible with all of the 3D TVs being introduced by Sony, Samsung, LG and Panasonic, and works with both ‘active’ and ‘passive’ 3D formats.

To register for the latest information on Sky 3D visit:

www.sky.com/3D

iPhone 4 Star Wars battle

CHECK out the Star Wars duel between Apple's Steve Jobs and Microsoft's Bill Gates in this video from NMA News. See their weird and wonderful channel at YouTube.

Free Xbox Slim

The Carphone Warehouse is giving away an XBox Slim 250GB when you take out a contract, either in store or online, on the Samsung Tocco Lite, which is free on a £25 a month tariff with Vodafone including unlimited texts and 300 minutes.  

Wi-Fi spots getting hotter

 
By TREVOR DAVIES

THE popularity of the iPhone 4 will make free Wi-Fi even more sought after as users look for places to make video calls via Apple's FaceTime function.

For ease of use, video and audio quality FaceTime is easily the best internet telephony system we've tried at Gadgits. Apple have taken the good points offered by Skype and put them into a simple and sexy package. FaceTime won't stop with the iPhone4.

The smart money is on Apple introduc ing FaceTime with video call conferencing on the next iPad as the power of their tablet as an office tool gathers momentum.

After all, all they need to do is add a small webcam and mic. FaceTime would make so much sense on the iPad because it is essentially a Wi-Fi device.

In the meantime, we've been looking around for free Wi-Fi access points to make calls on the iPhone 4 and you can find a list here

London's Timeout magazine published a list of their favourite free Wi-Fi cafes, but it didn't include ours,  Gastronomica in Wapping.

Starbucks has a nearly-free service if you keep a loyalty card topped up to a £2 minimum. For more, go here

Please let us know where your favourite Wi-Fi spots are, anywhere in the UK, in the comment box below.

GetJar v Apple

By TREVOR DAVIES

Apple's app marketing model will fail in five years, claims their biggest rival, Ilja Laurs, CEO of the world's second biggest app store GetJar.

That might sound a little overconfident, considering the phenomenal success Apple has enjoyed in a market it invented, boasting 5 billion app downloads in two years.

But this month GetJar celebrated one billion app downloads and won $11 million worth of funding. Which kind of makes you want to listen to what the powerful Lithuanian has to say.

The 34-year-old entrepreneur sees the way Apple distributes it's apps as flawed and it's this chink in their considerable armour that he and his company is exploiting.

"Steve Jobs decides if you can sell an app," he says. "And Apple will take a 30 per cent cut."

"We will distribute any app for free," he says. "If you buy an app through Apple you have to use iTunes for billing."

"This might not suit your business. What if you want to sell via phone credits? Or PayPal?"

With 300,000 registered developers and 40 partnerships with phone service providers and phone makers, Mr Laurs will distribute apps for any platform or device open to him.

So if you are Vodafone and you want to sell your apps via monthly phone charges or on pay as you go, who are you going to call?

"We are the Walmart of apps," he says.

But Mr Laurs, who now divides his time between San Mateo in California and Vilnius, is no anti-Apple iPhone slayer. He loves the new iPhone 4. "It is a beautiful device," he says. (Although, he has a Blackberry Bold within reach during our chat at the Charlotte Street Hotel brasserie.)

"Everyone in America agrees that Apple is the best," he adds.

And, explaining the fact that Android phones are outselling the iPhone in America, he reminds us that it's all about price.

The way GetJar makes it's money is by charging for visibility on its site.

So a developer will come to a deal in which GetJar will earn a percentage for units sold, depending on the positioning it gets on the site and the app's popularity.

The key to Mr Laurs' view is that apps are the medium, not the message, whereas, he argues that at present the mobile phone industry tends to view the apps as content itself.

It's just a shift in how we access the web. After all, an app is just an easy route to a website.

"URLs are dead," he says. "The app icons are the new era. No more typing www, you just see an icon and press it. Anyone can do it."

Simples, as they say.

Virgin launches cash-prize video game site

SIR Richard Branson today launched Virgin Gaming, an online arcade for console players to compete against each other for cash prizes on top PS3 and 360 titles.

Games include Halo 3, FIFA 10 and NHL 10. ModNation Racers is promised soon.
After a brief registration, in which you can use your existing PS3 or Xbox ID to validate the process, you are then asked to deposit 25 dollars, although I was given 50 points (giving me a balance of ten dollars)  for joining.

Tournaments on offer include a game of FIFA 10 with a  $10 entry for a possible  $28 "jackpot".

As you progress through challenges, you build up a reputation through feedback.
And you meet up potential challengers in the relevant lobby for your console.
Virgin aim to giveaway $1million in prizes over the next year.

Putting his money where his mouth is, Richard Branson turned up to the E3 video gaming convention in LA with the cash in hand, hoping to spark a worldwide rush to sign up for big cash prizes.

This will be a welcome earning opportunity for the more skilful gamers.
But it will be interesting to see if it can make any kind of dent in Xbox Live's 23million-member multiplayer environment.

Sir Richard said: "Gamers want something new, something interactive and something fun.
Virgin Gaming is just that - access to play the best games in super competitive tournaments with anyone in the world and win the biggest prizes and the most rewards."

 "Giving away over $1 million in cash and prizes this year is proof. We've had great success with Virgin Games and Virgin Interactive Entertainment and recognised the enormous potential of an online community of 40 million daily users.  I welcome gamers from novice to expert to join the online Virgin Gaming community."

iPhone4

SO, now the iPad has the ultimate accessory, the iPhone 4. CarphoneWarehouse are expecting a rush for Apple's latest version of their wonder phone, which has a 5 megapixel camera and flash and improved display. Carphone Warehouse boss Andrew Harrison said: “There is always a huge amount of excitement whenever a new iPhone is released and we are expecting a stampede of customers to hit our stores. " Apple are hoping to spark a shift towards video calling, which the iPhone 4 is supposed to be able to handle better than any other handset. The phone is expected to hit stores on June 24. You can pre-order from Apple, Carphone Warehouse http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/news/coming-soon,  Vodafone, 3, O2 and  Orange this week.

The iPad has landed

From Trevor Davies in Regent Street, London (on my new iPad!)

TWITTER god Stephen Fry was among the first to welcome the iPad to Britain this morning at the Apple store.

As sales staff wildly whooped and cheered customers, he compared the event to a Lady Gaga gig.

Asked if the iPad was any good he said: "Of course, there wouldn't be all this fuss if it wasn't."

He told Gadgits that he already had a Wif-Fi-only version from America but was looking at a 3G so that he could Tweet from anywhere

Predicted sales for the iPad are in the multimillions over the next few years with as many as 1 in 4 Brits considering a switch to the new tablet format.

Deafening screams and cheers could be heard coming from the store as the first few customers left clutching their prized new possessions - some smiling broadly, others appearing somewhat bewildered by the applause.

A team of security staff monitored queues outside as people waited behind a cordon to be allowed into the packed store.

Some weary-looking fans, who had been camping out on Regent Street since the early hours, appeared grateful as they were served refreshments and gradually inched closer to the store.

Edward Cook, 25, from Greenwich, south east London, said he was "thrilled" to have finally got his hands on one of the gadgets, following a 10-hour wait.

"I'm very excited but also quite tired. I've been here since 2am. For me it (the iPad) is a novelty toy. The novelty may wear off but for now it is quite exciting."

Apple was forced to push back its original late April UK launch date because of "overwhelming demand" for the iPad in the US.

The company's website is already warning that iPad pre-orders made now will not ship until June 7.

Apple sold more than one million iPads in the US in the first 100 days after the April launch, making it a faster seller than the iPhone.

iPad sells for £429

THE basic 16GB Wi-Fi Apple iPad will cost nearly £100 more in the UK at £429 than it does in America—where it sells at £337 ($499). Brits will be able to preorder one online from Apple on Monday (May 10).
And the tablet computer, which has already sold a million in the US, will be available in Apple stores from Friday May 28.
For larger memory Wi-Fi models you’ll pay £499 for 32GB and £599 for 64GB. In America they'd cost £405 ($599) and £472 ($699).
If you want 3G and Wi-Fi. you’ll pay £529 for 16GB, £599 for 32GB and £699 for 64GB.
Vodafone and O2 are yet to announce their iPad 3G data only price plans. But we reckon a pay as you go deal will be best for the iPad, which is the ultimate coffee table gadget. Orange are offering various tarriffs including a simple pay-for-what-you-use deal at 5p per MB upto £40 a month. Brilliant for reading books and magazines, and casual gaming, we reckon you are only likely to use the iPad to browse the web away from home Wi-Fi without downloading. You'll get £10 credit on activation of any Orange iPad data plan, for use at any time. Other bundles include: £2 per day for 200mb of data, £7.50 per week for 1GB, £15 and £25 a month for 3GB and 10GB, plus unlimited use at Wi-Fi hotspots.

Apple postpone iPad launch

Apple have postponed the global launch of the iPad by a month until the end of May.

Here is the statement in full they released today:

"Although we have delivered more than 500,000 iPads during its first week, demand is far higher than we predicted and will likely continue to exceed our supply over the next several weeks as more people see and touch an iPad™. We have also taken a large number of pre-orders for iPad 3G models for delivery by the end of April.

"Faced with this surprisingly strong US demand, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the international launch of iPad by one month, until the end of May. We will announce international pricing and begin taking online pre-orders on Monday, May 10. We know that many international customers waiting to buy an iPad will be disappointed by this news, but we hope they will be pleased to learn the reason—the iPad is a runaway success in the US thus far."

Wicket pics, Graham

'ERE, ash a nice picture . . . England Twenty20 star Graham Napier is pretty handy with a camera as well as a bat.

So Sony Ericsson have snapped up the Essex star to play with their 8.1 megapixel C905 Plus Cyber-shot™ phone to take some behind-the-scenes pictures.

Have a look at some of his efforts here: From the left: Graham turning up for training, England stars warming up at Lords, Graham with ex PM John Major, and former Wimbledon coach Joe Kinnear. Let's hope he captures one of England winning the Ashes.

The best 100 games EVER

 

WE’RE taking part in Radio 1’s Big Gaming Weekend which ends tomorrow with listeners’ Top 20 favourite games ever.

They asked our Games Editor Owen Anslow to come up with his favourites for listeners to choose from. Here’s his TOP 50.

Hear the results tomorrow for yourself at 7pm in Mistajam’s simulcast and tell us what we've missed out below.

Gadgits joins Radio 1 gaming weekend

GADGITS has been invited to take part in Radio 1’s Big Gaming Weekend over the Bank holiday—by providing our list of top video games of all time.
Games Editor Owen Anslow has searched every level of his gaming soul to bring millions of listeners his definitive list.
He’s one of the panel of industry experts selecting their top 100 games which listeners will whittle down to a top twenty.
And we’ll be featuring our TOP FIFTY in the paper on Sunday.
The results of BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra’s online poll will be revealed on Monday at 7pm in Mistajam's simulcast.
It’s the highlight of the weekend which kicks off tomorrow with Scott Mills at 6.30am on Radio 1.
Over the weekend the legendary Live Lounge will be transformed into the ultimate gaming arcade where DJ's will slug it out one game at a time for glory.
And listeners can check out the leaderboards online.
Then, all day on Bank Holiday Monday, starting in Scott’s show you can sample the top choons from gaming soundtracks — chosen by both listeners and DJs.
Jo Whiley will be joined by games guru Johnny Minkley. At 1pm, Fearne Cotton and Aled Hayden-Jones host a special gaming surgery with tips and even the odd cheat.
Greg James will continue cranking up console classics you’d forgotten you’d even heard between 4pm and 7pm before handing over to Mistajam's simulcast for the ultimate countdown of BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra's poll of the greatest ever computer games.

Free Sky+ box when you sign up

Sky TV is offering one of the greatest gadgits of the late 20th century FREE when you join.
New customers will receive a Sky+ box -- saving £99 -- when they subscribe to Sky TV for £16.50 a month.
Anyone who has a Sky+ box, which allows you to pause and rewind live TV and record a whole series at the touch of a button, swears they could not live without it. There's a choice of six entertainment TV packs – Variety, Knowledge, Style & Culture, News & Events, Children's and Music – each containing a range of quality channels, from £16.50 a month. Additional Packs cost an £1 extra a month.
Visit www.sky.com/skyplus for further information. Offer ends Friday 25 June 2009.
 

Vodafone's roaming charge holiday

MOBILE giant Vodafone is giving its customers a break from roaming charges for three months during the summer holidays.
From next month those with pay as you go and pay monthly accounts will be able to talk, text and send picture messages from over 35 countries across Europe for the same price as at home
For example, a customer on a plan with 600 minutes and unlimited texts who opts in to Vodafone Passport would use these minutes and texts when they are on holiday with no extra charges.
Existing Vodafone Passport customers automatically benefit from the three-month promotion.
From May 15, customers who don’t currently use Vodafone Passport can sign up for free by texting the word ‘Passport’ to 97888 if they pay monthly or to 2345 if they use Pay as you go, or they can visit vodafone.co.uk/roaming.
In addition, from May 15, Vodafone Pay as you go customers on the Simply tariff, will find that calls they make from the UK to friends and family overseas will cost from as little as 5p per minute to both landlines and mobiles.
 Customers can opt in to the new Vodafone International call plan by calling 36888 or texting the word ‘international’ to 2345 from their handset, visiting vodafone.co.uk/international or speaking to an adviser in one of Vodafone’s 400 stores.
Countries included in the Vodafone Passport summer promotion are: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Canary Islands, Channel Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroes, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Isle of Man, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madeira, Malta, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Vatican City, New Zealand, Australia.
Vodafone Passport promotion does not include mobile internet.
Vodafone Pay as You Go call costs on the Simply Tariff for Vodafone International are: