Tech Digest

Sky launches Easy Grip Sky+ remote control

Satellite giant Sky has launched the Easy Grip Sky+ remote control, which the comapny claims will improve viewing for older customers, those with impaired vision and people with limited dexterity.   

The remote, developed in conjunction with Scope, Age Concern and disability research agency Ricability, offers additional features to the standard control, including larger and bolder graphics for button identification, raised contoured buttons with more reference points for easier button identification (for visually impaired users) and increased colour contrast between buttons and remote body. There are two models with different battery door options - either a textured easy grip door or a hand strap option to assist customers with dexterity impediments.

The Easy Grip is compatible with all Sky+ and Sky boxes and is available now for £19.99.

Sky website

More Sky:
Sky Broadband: The Americans kick ass
Robbie Williams live in HD on Sky

Sky+ subscribers increased 75% last year; HD subs hit 90k

Sky's financial results to the end of June 2006 have revealed a 75% rise in the number of UK households with a Sky+ PVR, to more than 1.55 million. That accounts for one-fifth of its subscriber base, with 13% using Multiroom Sky to show content on more than one TV.

Orders for Sky's new high-definition service reached 90,000, and whilst initial service delays due to manufacturing issues and high demand mean that only 36,000 orders have currently been fulfilled, Sky expect to have all current orders installed by this September.

To match this take-up, forecasts predict that 2.73m HD ready TVs will be bought in the UK this year, accounting for around half of all TVs sold.

Sky's total subscriber base rose to 8.2m, which puts it on track to reach 10m by the end of 2010.

Its revenues rose pretty sweetly, except its acquisition of the EasyNet ISP, which it's pinning much of its new broadband service rollout on. But don't worry folks, Sky still has plenty of money.

Sky's Brian Sullivan on Sky Broadband, the next gen Sky+ boxes (they could be wireless), HD via the web, YouTube and more

Over at sister blog HDTVUK they have an intriguing interview with Brian Sullivan,  Sky's Director of Customer Products and Services. Sullivan drops a few hints on the next generation Sky+ box (there's a good chance it will wirelessly stream video from one room to another), explains why he thinks satellite beats broadband when it comes to HD delivery and has lots of good things to say about YouTube.

Sky Broadband launch Live blog

You have heard all the rumours and the goss about Sky offering free broadband to its customers. Well we are here at Vinopolis in London Bridge listening to the full announcement.

Read on for the details, but the main points.

* Sky Broadband launches in August

* Very competitive packages, including a free 2Meg basic service

* To get the good deals users need to on Sky's broadband system - available to 28% of the population now. 50% by Xmas

* Top-end 16Meg connection

* Free wireless router thrown in

James Murdoch, Sky CEO and son of you know who, is saying that the UK market for broadband will double over the next few years. Hey he is bigging up blogging now, oh and not forgetting My Space

James is now saying that half of Sky's customers have broadband already.

We have moved on to ther big convergence speech now, citing demand for bandwidth as the key for broadband growth. Interesting home of the future diagram pops up highlighting Sky's existing offering. Boy does he speak quickly.

Over to Brian Sullivan now who is going to take us through Sky Broadband. He says it is an easy job as he feels it is a simple choice for Sky customers.

On to the details - three are three packages - 2Meg on the base level, 8Meg on the mid and 16Meg on the max. Whooa though. There's a 2 gig cap on the base - which is pretty tight. The max one is unlimited.

They are also throwing in wireless. Smart move and they are going to set it up for you via their installation team if you go for the two two tiers. There's also a small connection fee £20 or £40 - free for top-end.

The cost - base is free, mid costs £5 and the max is a £10 - that's per month. That's very very competitive. Only downer is deals are available to just 28 per cent of the population now. It will be 50-% by Christmas.

He is now comparing costs with rivals.

On to the content. You get the sky.com portal, email address, personalised home page. Just waiting for the link to My Spaces. You can also get Sky by Broadband, a photo service and nothing else. No My Space then and no blogs (phew).

Sky Talk - the Voip offering. Basically unlimted calls for a fiver a month. There's BT Line rental, but Sky will be offering its own Sky line rental soon.

Just seen a vid comparing Sky broadband with Telewest, BT etc. We'll have a good look at the figures later. Nevertheless Sky is making a huge deal out of the value for money of the service. Overall, Brian believes that Sky customers will save £1 billion within a year. Big talk.

Back to James - he's speaking quickly again. It's a landmark day for  broadband Britain apparently.  He wants to extend the reach of broadband in the UK. Better value, more flexible, transparent billing, quality content. You know the score by now, on to the questions.

Brian is talking about the possibility of video via broaband to a set top box by the end of 2007. Brian has just confirmed that from launch the top two tier services will be availalble to 50% of customers (which is 28% of the population).

We are getting clarification on the availability issue now. James takes this - today 28 per cent can have the service - 50% by end of year (this is more than cable apparently). That translates to one million Sky customers. Half can get the high speeds. I think  we have it now.

James is talking about AOL's UK portal which is up for sale and Sky is one of the bidders. He's not saying a great deal, but it would be a good fit for Sky. He's back on mesage again banging on about value for money.

James, has just outed himself as a Mac user. Apparently the service will be available to Mac users. Sky Movies and Sky Sports Broadband will be available to Mac users later this summer.

We'll have a more detailed look at the Sky Broadband offering later.

Sky next with "free" broadband service

  Sky should increase competition in the UK broadband market further with an expected announcement of a "free broadband" product in competition with Carphone Warehouse and Orange at a press conference on Tuesday, which will be covered live by Tech Digest.
 
A move into the broadband has been expected since the company purchased broadband provider Easynet late last year. Analysts expect BSkyB to offer free high-speed internet access to its higher spending subscribers in an attempt to gain a foothold in the market. The company will also be keen to maintain its 8.1 million customer base from the threat of TV over the internet (IPTV) from the likes of BT, with its Vision package and NTL. With over half of Sky's customers having broadband in their home, there's a real possibility that many could ditch the dish and in favour of net-based packages.

Details of Sky's package will be revealed as they're announced, so make sure you check back from around lunchtime on Tuesday.

Sky website

Via Forbes

More Sky:
Sky's free movie downloads
Sky's season of soccer on HD

Smart Eye and Smart Blaster - home entertainment all around the house

Bluedelta has unveiled the Smart Eye, which lets you control your satellite receiver from any TV in the house. Combined with the company's Smart Blaster product, the Smart Eye can also communicate with your DVD, Video, freeview - even your Hi-Fi if it’s near your satellite receiver. So if you've had a long day, you can carry your remotes upstairs and do your late night surfing or listening in bed.

Smart Blaster is equipped with high power IR emitters that "blast" any IR remote control signal that is received from the Smart Eye, allowing it to control any video equipment located near it be it your DVD player, VCR or PVR. The output signal is strong enough without the unit having to face the equipment - so no need for extra cables.

Bluedelta reckons their Smart Eye and Blaster kit is currently the only product on the market that can control equipment other then just Sky. It will work with any video equipment not just limiting itself to digital satellite. It can be used with both digital and analogue cable, digital terrestrial and video jukebox. It has ultra low power consumption, which means up to eight Smart Eyes and a Blaster can be connected to a satellite RF2 at any one time without requiring an additional power supply.

A Smart Eye device costs around £10, with the Blaster for sale around £25.

Bluedelta website

More remotes:
InVoca voice-activated remote control
Logitech Harmony 885 - the lazy person's universal remote

Smart Eye and Smart Blaster - home entertainment all around the house

Bluedelta has unveiled the Smart Eye, which lets you control your satellite receiver from any TV in the house. Combined with the company's Smart Blaster product, the Smart Eye can also communicate with your DVD, Video, freeview - even your Hi-Fi if it’s near your satellite receiver. So if you've had a long day, you can carry your remotes upstairs and do your late night surfing or listening in bed.

Smart Blaster is equipped with high power IR emitters that "blast" any IR remote control signal that is received from the Smart Eye, allowing it to control any video equipment located near it be it your DVD player, VCR or PVR. The output signal is strong enough without the unit having to face the equipment - so no need for extra cables.

Bluedelta reckons their Smart Eye and Blaster kit is currently the only product on the market that can control equipment other then just Sky. It will work with any video equipment not just limiting itself to digital satellite. It can be used with both digital and analogue cable, digital terrestrial and video jukebox. It has ultra low power consumption, which means up to eight Smart Eyes and a Blaster can be connected to a satellite RF2 at any one time without requiring an additional power supply.

A Smart Eye device costs around £10, with the Blaster for sale around £25.

Bluedelta website

More remotes:
InVoca voice-activated remote control
Logitech Harmony 885 - the lazy person's universal remote

Tell your Sky+ to record via text message (Quick review)

So today satellite TV service Sky announced that Sky+ digital video recorder users can set their shows to record by sending a text message. The idea is, if you're out and about and suddenly realise you've forgotten to set the video for Doctor Who, you can text Sky and they will tell your Sky+ box to record it for you. If you've got the right sort of phone (2.5g or 3g) you can download the actual Sky menu system that lets you see what shows are on for the next seven days so you can set them from afar. Alternatively, if your phone isn't up to it, you can just text your required programme, with details of time, date and channel, and the Sky service centre will do the rest. I had a quick go with the basic text Remote Record service earlier and so far I'm still reserving judgement.

I love the idea of it - even if you usually set your favourite shows to record automatically via series link, if you're out and remember there was a one-off show you wanted to watch, you can just text to record it. The only slight downside is that you'll need to set it all up first. This was fairly straightforward - although be prepared to pay for using Sky Interactive while you do it - but for some reason it didn't quite finish off when I did it. When I tried to set the video for Cash in the Attic at 12.15, I got a text back saying my account had been suspended so I had to go back and reset it.

By the time I got the text to send, the show had already started. Rather than actually record the show, the Sky+ set it to record tomorrow's show - slightly annoying, but it did at least spot that the show is starting earlier tomorrow.

So I tried for a show starting at 12.30 and my text was never confirmed. 12.30 came and went and no recording was done. I'm going to give it another go before I form a definite opinion. I think it's a nice idea - and although the plain text service costs 25p a text, the more advanced blue on-screen guide service (which I'm also planning on testing soon) is free, apart from your phone operator's data charge.

The service will be available online soon as well, which is going to be very handy indeed.

If you want to try the service, you can register for it via Sky Interactive (go to My Sky options) and then you just need to text: Name of the show. Channel. Date. Time. to 61SKY (61759). Up to eight mobiles can be registered on one box.

Sky

Sky+ Remote Record - set your box from anywhere in the world

Left the house and forgot to set the timer for your favourite TV show? If you've got a Sky+ box (including Sky HD), you can set your box to record programmes from your mobile phone with the Sky+ Remote Record service or online from anywhere in the world with a service Sky claims is a world first.

To use the Remote Record service with your mobile (2.5G, 3G or GPRS phone), downloaded the Sky by mobile application to view the seven-day TV guide on your phone, then select programmes to record on your Sky+ box. The service is free, thoguh you will have the operator's data charges to consider.

Alternatively, you can "Text your TV" -  Sky+ customers can send a short message with the programme details to a dedicated number. Or, from later this summer, you can use the free Remote Record service on the web. Just visit the Sky website, select the programmes you want to record and with one click, you'll have it ready to watch on your return home.

Sky website

More Sky:
Robbie Williams live in HD on Sky
Sky's live football and cricket to Vodafone 3G phones

BSkyB claims to be carbon neutral?

BSkyB is perhaps the last company I'd expect to receive a press release from claiming to be environmentally friendly. But that's exactly what's just happened. The satellite network (which is indirectly responsible for launching not particularly environmentally-friendly, fuel-guzzling rockets into space) reckons it has achieved CarbonNeutral status "through the measurement, reduction and offsetting of its Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions."

Working with The Carbon Neutral Company, Sky's carbon footprint has been calculated by measuring the CO2 equivalent emissions from its premises, company owned vehicles, business travel and waste to landfill. It claims to have lowered its site-related operational emissions by 47 per cent in the last 18 months and has also negotiated discounts for staff wanting to buy low emission hybrid cars.

But here at Tech Digest towers we're still yet to be totally convinced by Sky's green credentials. After all, as Sky admits, set top boxes account for 0.5 per cent of energy use and 1.5 per cent of home electricity use. For more green stories check out sister blog, HippyShopper.

For more information on the initiative go to Join The Bigger Picture.

Sky HD launches in May - official

Well Sky's HD website has confirmed it is a May launch for the satellite broadcaster's HD service. If you are an existing subscriber you’ll pay £299 for the HD box and £10 a month on top of your existing subscription. Viewers get installation and a Sky+ subscription if they haven’t already got one – free. There's no mention of viewers getting any upgrade benefits to swap current SD boxes for HD ones.

More details here

Sky's TV reminder service

Ever see a trailer for a programme, decide you really want to see it, then completely forget it's on? Well, if you do, Sky's new reminder service should be able to sort you out.

The service allows you to add programmes to your Personal Planner or Sky+ Planner from TV trailers. So, when you see a trailer for a film or show you don't want to miss, you can add a reminder at the touch of a button.

A 'set reminder' icon will appear in the right hand corner of selected trailers. By pressing the green button the programme will automatically be added to your planner. Sky+ customers can also turn the reminder into a recording by highlighting the programme in their Sky+ Planner and pressing the 'R' button. 

The reminder service is free and is available now to Sky subscribers.

More Sky:
Sky goes live with HDTV on the web
Sky's free movie downloads

Best of 2005: Sky Gnome

A much better bet than a digital radio for Sky users, the Gnome let its owner wirelessly stream radio stations, music channels and more from their Sky box to an odd triangular little device which can be sited anywhere in the home. It isn't too expensive either. Can't wait for the version which streams video as well as audio. Go on Sky - you know how much we want it.

Sky's stylish new digibox

With all technology, looks are a big selling point - something that hasn't gone unnoticed at Sky. According to sources close to Digital Spy, the TV giant is planning a radical change of design for the entry-level digibox.

The new design for 2006 (pictured) features a silver wrap-around cover with illuminated Sky logo. Despite the sharp new look, there will be no changes to functionality. The boxes will be manufactured by Amstrad, Pace and Thomson, with the first boxes entering distribution in early 2006.

The bad news? You can't choose to have one of these new boxes over the old design. It's all down to the luck of the draw.

Source: Digital Spy

More Sky:
Sky adds HDTV channel
Vodafone and Sky do mobile TV

Sky loses exclusive football deal

Well I guess Sky always knew that this day was going to come, but that probably doesn't make it any more palatable for the satellite broadcaster. The company, which has developed a hugely profitable business out of its exclusive deal to screen Premiership footballs games, now knows that as of 2007 it will have to share the matches with other broadcasters.

In a decision announced today the head of the Premier League Richard Scudamore confirmed that there would now be six broadcast packages up for grabs in 2007 with broadcasters able to screen up to 23 live matches per season. It is expected that the newly merged NTL/Telewest cable company will join the BBC, ITV, Channel Five and of course Sky in bidding for the rights.

More Sky
Sky gets into HDTV
Sky gets into broadband

The move to change the way football is screened in the UK has largely been forced by the European Commission which sees Sky’s monopoly on the live games as anti-competitive. While there’s no denying that Sky has built an empire from Premiership football, the satellite broadcaster obviously knew the day it would lose a chunk of the football was coming and has been moving into new areas such as HDTV and broadband.

Sky Gnome review

Sky has very kindly given us its latest gadget, the Gnome audio streaming device, to have a play with. Our verdict is that while it works well, there are a couple of things punters should note before they shell out the cash. And also can we have one that streams video sooner rather than later? Thanks.

You can read the review here - it is on our new reviewsy featurey tech site Gadget Centre

More Sky
The Gnome arrives
Sky offers mobile TV

Vodafone and Sky team up for mobile TV

Not wishing to be outdone by its rivals - most notably Orange - Vodafone has teamed up with Sky to offer mobile TV to its Vodafone Live 3G customers. Initially 19 different channels will be offered free of charge to customers. However, from February 1st subscribers will be charged £5 a month for each of the packages they subscribe to. Some channels will be broadcast 'as live' while others will be dedicated 'made for mobile' channels, featuring regularly updated blocks of programming. In order to attract customers to the service Sky is giving all Vodafone Live 3G customers exclusive live coverage of the England cricket team's tour to Pakistan, starting with the first test in Multan on 12 November. Sky also claims that it will offer both breaking news and sports headlines to Vodafone's 3G customer base.

More Mobile TV stories:
Orange TV on a mobile reviewed
Samsung shows mobile TV at IFA

Vodafone 3G customers will be able to choose one of the two following packages:

News, Sport & Factual: Sky News; CNN; Bloomberg; Sky Sports News; At The Races; Discovery Factual; National Geographic Channel; History Channel.

Entertainment & Music: Sky One; Sky Movies; MTV (two channels*); Living tv; Discovery Lifestyle; Nickelodeon; Paramount Comedy**; Cartoon Network; Bravo;

* **One MTV channel will be available at launch. The second MTV channel and Paramount Comedy will join the line-up later in the year.

Sky kits its Sky+ boxes out in a new strip

Yep it’s that time of the year again when Sky invites designers to take their magic markers to its Sky+ Box and conjure up some tasty new styles. Only this year it isn’t only girlie designers like Matthew Williamson who have been on the case (you can see some of those here), Sky has let some bloke-friendly stylists have a go too. In particular Red or Dead man Wayne Hemingway has developed a quartet of new box emblazoned in the colours of the Premiership's top four (as denoted by Sky so no arguing) football teams.

Naturally pride of place goes to the Arsenal box with its cannon to highlight the Gunners’ power, well at Highbury anyway. Chelsea get lions, Moan United get a box in red, gold and black and as for Liverpool - think ‘You'll never walk alone’ and those famous wrought iron gates. The boxes go on sale from John Lewis next moth retailing from £99.99.

More Sky
New Sky+ box
Sky's HDTV hardware

Is it a video Gnome next from Sky?

Yesterday I took delivery of a Gnome. Not the common or garden variety, but a little audio streaming device that works with Sky’s satellite system. As we have mentioned before you use it to tune in wirelessly anywhere in the home to the radio stations, or TV without pictures if you must, from your Sky box. It goes for £69.99 and we’ll have a full review coming soon. The major drawback with the device is that if someone switches the TV on and starts changing channels then the audio feed changes with it, which could be highly irritating. We spoke to the guys at Sky about the device this morning and the company already has big plans for other accessories of this type. ‘Wouldn’t it be good,’ I asked, ‘if the LED screen were an OLED one that can stream video from the box so you could watch TV on your device anywhere in your home.’ From the response I got I think they could well be working on it.

More Sky
Sky to move into broadband
Sky's HDTV plans

BBC and ITV to offer HDTV via satellite?

BBC and ITV are to team up to offer a satellite delivered free digital service for all those who can't access the Freeview digital terrestrial signals. Freesat is likely to launch in the early part of next year which oddly enough should see it hitting the space birds at the same time that Sky’s HD service debuts. It doesn’t take too much of a genius to realise that the chances of the BBC and ITV putting high definition programming on the satellites are pretty high. Both companies have plenty of HD footage to screen and both are dead keen that Sky doesn’t grab all the HD limelight and the public knows that they are into the format too. More here

Sky announces HD line up

Sky subscribers will be able to watch Barclays Premiership footie and recent movies in High Definition from early 2006. Both Sky Sports and Sky Box Office are among the channels which will be launched as part of Sky HD next year. Others include Sky One, Artsworld and two Sky Movies screens. HD movie titles available at launch include Spider Man 2, The Day After Tomorrow and House of Flying Daggers. In addition to Premiership football there will also be live rugby from The Guinness Premiership. Sky viewers will be able to pre-register for Sky HD in retail stores from this Friday (August 26). Comet and selected independent retailers will be the first to offer the pre-registration service with others expected to follow.

www.sky.com/hd

About Sky's HD plans Further details of Sky's HD channel line-up, together with information about pricing and the launch date, will be announced over the coming months.

* Although the Sky HD box can be connected to any kind of TV set, customers are advised to get an "HD Ready" TV of 26" or more to enjoy the full benefits of High Definition picture quality. Sky estimates that almost two million HD TVs will have been sold in the UK by the end of 2006.

* "HD Ready" is a labelling scheme that is being introduced by the TV manufacturer's organisation EICTA. The "HD Ready" logo will appear on an increasing number of TVs in shops over the coming months. Any TV that carries the "HD Ready" label will work with Sky HD.

* The Sky HD box will be equipped with an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) as its primary means of connecting to an HD display. To get the best from HD you will need a plasma, LCD or DLP TV that has a minimum of 720 lines of resolution. If the TV doesn't have HDMI or DVI connectors and only has analogue component connectors without HDCP it will still be possible to watch all Sky's HD channels because Sky's initial HD boxes will also have these connectors.

* Sky HD will support both 720p/50 and 1080i/25 picture formats. Broadcasters will be able to choose the format which is most appropriate to their individual requirements.

* The PVR capability on the Sky HD box will require a Sky+ subscription.

* Sky will use the advanced compression coding system MPEG-4 for its HD broadcasts.

* In order to take advantage of Dolby 5.1 consumers will need to purchase the necessary audio equipment.

Sky presents its HDTV box

It was a big day for Sky yesterday with the announcement that its operating profits were up 34% to £805m and that the total number of Sky subscribers is now 7.8 million. Apparently 888, 000 people now own a Sky+ box too. The company also took the wraps of its debut high definition TV decoder, which is likely to launch next year. All we know so far is that it will be a Sky+ style box with a whoppingly large hard disk built in and it will made by Thomson, the French company which makes some of the existing Sky+ boxes. I suspect they’ll let us know the size of the hard disk and the number and type of on board tuners nearer the time. Anyway for now gaze longingly at the pic.

Sky's Gnome wireless streamer

Sky TV subscribers who can't bear the thought of missing a second of the action on TV or Radio can now keep up with events via the Sky Gnome. This dinky little wireless receiver lets you listen to Sky TV and radio channels anywhere in the house - so long as the Gnome is within 30 metres of your Sky box. Obviously this is no good if you were planning on watching a Buster Keaton weekend movie bonanza, but if you don't want to miss out on sports commentary, or if you just want to listen to a bit of radio, you'll be able to get up to 8 hours of listening done before you need to recharge the batteries. Available in Cool Blue or Funky Orange. It'll be out in October with prices still to be confirmed. Via Shiny

Sky launch HDTV website

Sky is flexing its corporate muscles over the coming HDTV era once again by launching an informational website about the coming technology. Ok, it’s not exactly ground breaking but if you do want to nicely laid out, clear information answering all your questions on HDTV it’s a pretty nice site to look at. The only thing lacking is any indication of how much the service is going to set you back, but it is still early days yet. Despite the threats made from the Telewest camp the site is still anticipating a 2006 launch which could still mean a premptive launch of a rival service ahead of Sky's.

Read

Sky+ now £99*

* But yes there is a catch to the new deal which is being introduced today. You have to be a new Sky subscriber to get it for this price. Unfortunately, as in most things, existing customers seem to get little reward for their loyalty. If you're an existing customer the only way you can get a SkyPlus box for just £99 is by paying for a multi-room subscription. This will cost a further £10 on top of your existing subscription for the privilege of being able to watch two different channels in two different rooms. 
Sky

Philips gears up to launch RC9800i über-remote

Unless you've bought a complete matching set of audio and home cinema devices, you're probably up to your ears in TV remotes that are only needed once they've secreted themselves beneath the sofa cushions. Due for imminent release in the US, the Philips RC9800i is a remote that will solve that problem and then some. Sporting a 3.5 inch colour touchscreen and dimensions of 149 x 101 x 24mm, this monster remote can communicate with nearly everything you can think of using both standard infrared and Wi-Fi.

Capable of generating over 1100 infrared codes and able to learn straight from the original, there is no handset that cannot be assimilated by the RC9800i. It will also generate macros, allowing multiple actions from one button press. The Wi-Fi feature enables file browsing on any networked computer using the PnP networking protocol. There is also an MP3 streaming function, allowing you to play digital music from a home computer on a Hi-Fi by plugging the remote’s charging cradle into it with a separate audio cable.

The RC9800i is able to connect to Philips' Internet Electronic Program Guide, so that you can browse TV listings without the hassle of even raising your eyes to the telly. Unfortunately this incredible device will be limited to only the most decadent kings of the couch with a retail price set for £399. UK release is expected in May.

Philips  via  T3

Everything you've ever wanted to know about Tetris…

Wow, probably the most important game in the world celebrates its twentieth anniversary, with all of the commercial oppurtunitues what normally come when games celebrate anniversaries (re-releasing old NES games for the GBA, without changing them? Come on, Nintendo. And you're no better Atari). Sky's attempt at least sounds a little better- Sky Gamestar, Sky's interactive TV games channel, have launched the Tetris Liveplay Championship, starting tomorrow (Thursday 31st March). People throughout the UK will be able to duel with their remotes in real-time, and the highest ranking player after two weeks will awarded £1,000. To help celebrate the anniversary, Gamestar have put together a top ten things you didn't know about tetris list. Yup, we actually think that's cool.

1. Tetris is based on an ancient Roman puzzle called Pentamino
2. Over 86 million units have been sold worldwide to date, eclipsing sales of Michael Jackson's Thriller album (best selling album of all time at approximately 56 million copies)
3. The Tetris logo was designed by legendary record sleeve artist Roger Dean, who created famous album covers for rock giants Yes in the 1970s
4. The game inspired a terrible single in 1992 by Dr Spin, featuring samples of music composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber
5. In September 2002, Faiz Chopdat, 23, of Blackburn, was jailed for four months after refusing to turn off his mobile on a flight from Egypt to Manchester. The crew asked him three times to switch off the phone, which was interfering with the plane's communications system, but each time Chopdat turned it on again. He was playing Tetris.
6. The world's smallest game of Tetris took place under an electron microscope using 42 glass 'microspheres' at the Department of Physics of Complex Systems in Amsterdam
7. Brown University in Rhode Island, US, was turned into the biggest game of Tetris in 2000, when the windows of the 14-storey building lit up as the shapes 'fell'. It was visible for miles.
8. Yuri Yevushenko, director of the Russian Academy in the 1980s, claims Tetris is so successful because "unlike American games it is not about murder, shooting or chasing; it is about building and order."
9. In a recent US study at the Harvard Medical School's department of psychiatry, 27 Tetris players spent seven hours a day, for three days, playing the game. Many had 'Tetris dreams'.
10. There is an online Church of Tetris website, which attracted hundreds of visitors per week.

SKY HIGH PROFITS

Good to see that BSkyB, the caring sharing broadcaster, is rewarding its loyal customers by reducing its Sky high subsription costs. Yeah right. While city folk may be delighted that the broadcaster turned in a £250 million profit in just six months, and that James Murdoch is following in Daddy's footsteps, the rest of us are less than chuffed. We can't help thinking that if Sky had a half decent competitor in the pay TV market (ie. if NTL and Telewest ever merge) then customers, rather than shareholders, might get a better deal. Here are those figures in full for those who like to read about business success stories.

* 192,000 new subscribers in 3 months to December 31. Total number of subscribers = 7.6 million

* 23 per cent increase in profits in six months to December 31. Profits for the period = £250 million

* 35 per cent increase in Sky Plus subscribers during quarter to December 31. Number now standing at 642,000.

* Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) up from £377 in third quarter of 2004 to £386 in fourth quarter.

NTL/Telewest Give Nod to VOD

We've always known that cable offers a great deal for broadband, but when it comes to multi-channel TV, SkyDigital still wins hands down. However at last it seems there may be a compelling reason to get cable for its TV package.

Fuelling yet more speculation of an imminent merger between the two companies (surely it's only a matter of time), NTL and Telewest have announced they are are to launch very similar Video on Demand (VOD) services.

This means rather than having to wait half an hour or more for the movie you want to watch to come around (as you do with Sky Digital) you can choose it instantly. Both companies have teamed up with FilmFlex which has a movie library of over 2,000 titles. In addition, NTL is rolling out separate adult, kids and music content to its customers. Meanwhile Telewest has confirmed it is to launch a hard drive Sky Plus recorder: further details to be announced later this week.

Often described as the holy grail of broadcasting, VOD has been talked about for over 10 years and been available in the US for some time. Now Telewest viewers in Bristol and NTL viewers in Glasgow will be able to try out the service before it's rolled out to other regions. Telewest has announced its full roll out will begin in the Summer though NTL hasn't committed to any dates yet.

Film Flex, which has deals with several major film companies (including all of Walt Disney's and Sony's companies), will provide viewers with movies of their choice for between £2.50 and £3.50 per 24 hour period. With both services will be able to pause, rewind and fast forward through the movie just as you would a DVD without needing any additional equipment.

Whereas Telewest is concentrating on a movie-based VOD service, NTL has got carried away and is also offering several other programming genres such as kids programmes (Spongebob Squarepants, Power Rangers, Rugrats) for between 20p and 50p a pop and music videos (Kylie, Madonna, Green Day) for between 20p and £1.50 each. Adult movies will cost the princely sum of £7 a time.

NTL and Telewest join ranks against Sky

Good news for cable lovers. NTL and Telewest are apparently about to launch a set top box service that will take on the might of BSkyB’s Sky Plus service. It’ll be a service with a difference, though, since the two companies are planning to offer video-on demand downloads. Subscribers to the service will be able to download films and TV shows to watch as and when they want. Well, we say as and when they want, but in fact you’ll only be able to keep the programmes and films for up to 24 hours after you’ve paid for the download. Sony and Disney will apparently be providing the films and it shouldn’t cost any more than your local video rental shop. NTL’s releasing the service in Glasgow first for trials, while Telewest will begin its trials in Bristol in the coming weeks. A Sky Plus-style personal video recorder should be appearing later this year and until it does, a video on demand service isn’t likely to leave Sky quaking in its metaphorical boots.

Read

Is Sky's dominance about to end?

There may just be trouble ahead for BSkyB. Not to get too dramatic about it all, but ITV's contract with the company runs out on Saturday, which could very well mean the end of Sky's monopoly of the satellite market (ok, that is pretty dramatic, we admit). If ITV decides not to renegotiate its deal with Murdoch and opts to go unencrypted instead, you'll be able to pick up digital ITV on satellite without paying Sky for the privilege. The BBC channels are already unencrypted, and if Channel 4 and Five follow suit, there will all five major channels, along with nearly 90 other free digital channels (that includes radio before you all start writing in) available free on satellite. Buy yourself a dish for about £60, set it up, and don't pay a penny to Sky.

It's not just Sky who'll be put out if this happens - all those Freeview set top box manufacturers may feel slightly miffed as well. Still, the government wants us all digital within the next five years, and who are we to argue? We look forward to finding out the fate of ITV digital on Saturday.

Read Greg Dyke's thoughts on the subject here.

Sky+ on your 3G phone?

Today’s 3G frenzy continues with news from Sky that it is working on a killer TV application for the new breed of mobile phones.

Sky told us last year that owners of the Sky+ personal video recorder would soon be able to send text messages to their device instructing it to record certain programmes. Apparently, this is now scheduled for sometime in 2005.

The latest from Sky is that it hopes to go one better and offer a mini version of its electronic programme guide which can be accessed via 3G phones. So in theory you will be able to call up the EPG, peruse the evenings viewing and then instruct your Sky+ to record your favourite programmes.

Sounds like a really good use of the technology to us. Don’t expect it to arrive for some while yet though.

New Sky+ box's mystery USB sockets

Today we took delivery of the new Sky+, which regular readers will know has a 160 Gigabyte hard disk rather than the 40 Gig of its predecessor. In theory then we should be able to store at least forty football matches and still have enough space left over to save the odd episode of Green Wing.* Brilliant!

Cosmetically the unit is the same as the old one with two key differences. One it has a big 160 plastered all over the facia, handy for rubbing it in when fellow Tech Digest scribes who still only have the 40 Gig version, pop round.

More importantly it now comes with a pair of USB sockets - one on the rear and one on the front. Hazarding a guess, we reckon that these are in place to enable viewer to port programmes from the hard drive on to personal video players. Knowing Sky there will all manner of encryption to negotiate first, but expect to see a Sky badged PVR (made by Pace) that is compatible not just with normal telly, but also with Sky’s pay per view movies and sports sometime next year.

Incidentally, the USBs, which will apparently let users port digital music to iPod etc, have not yet been switched on (!?). We’ll find out for sure later when the installation man** has gone.

* For our US readers that the cool new UK comedy that you'll all be name-dropping very shortly

** Installation man has now left and no they don't work. Sky did say that the front one is for connection to a PVP type device which it may or may not launch one day, while the rear one might be for those who never leave their sofa and fancy upping the 160 Gig storage by adding an external hard disk.

Sky's designer boxes

As if Sky's Sky+ box isn't appealing enough (record any programme for the next week you want into the box's hard drive just by pressing a button), Sky has teamed up with a load of UK fashion designers to produce some nice limited edition boxes. Good news as far as we're concerned - we're getting tired of the stacks of silver boxes that are piling up under our TV. Matthew Williamson, Cath Kidston, Neisha Crosland, Wale Adeyemi and Eley Kishimoto worked on the designs.

Matthew Williamson's dragonfly design looks set to be the firm favourite (we've seen it and it's lurvely). The boxes are on sale from Monday 8th November, and they're bound to sell out in about 6 seconds because they cost the same as a standard box - £199 + standard installation. They're on sale exclusively in Selfridges Oxford Street, Selfridges Birmingham Bull Ring and Selfridges Manchester Trafford.

Call TechZone at Selfridges on 0207 318 3688 to order yours.

Sky turns to supermarkets for Xmas

Sky is set to make its supermarket debut with a new Starter Pack that will be available in around 60 Tesco Extras stores from November. Costing £39.99, the pack includes one or two months' viewing on selected packages plus standard installation of a free Sky box and mini dish.

The Sky Starter Pack will also be available in more than 1000 Argos and Woolworth's stores across the UK. Obviously, the satellite broadcaster is hoping that people will buy it as a Christmas gift for their loved one (ah, how romantic..)

To get started the recipient of this lovely gift quotes the unique reference number inside each Starter Pack and then chooses their viewing package and convenient installation date. So really it's nothing more than a glorified gift voucher. Still it's the thought that counts.

Interactive recording on Sky+

Sky has introduced a new interactive recording feature for Sky+ users. Those wanting to watch tonight's Champions League games can go to the Sky Sports Extra programme guide to choose from eight live games - including Chelsea v Porto and Rosenborg v Arsenal.

Just press the record button and an automatic prompt appears asking you which of the games you want to record. It's possible to record one video stream while watching another live game or record two scheduled interactive video streams while watching another previously recorded programme from the Sky+ Planner.

For the fixtures list click here.

In addition to the interactive recording option, the Sky+ planner has been recently upgraded to give viewers increased sorting capabilities so you can find programmes by genre as well as recorded programmes still to be viewed and already viewed. As of 30th June 2004 there were 397,000 Sky+ subscribers.

Pace debuts HD recorder

Another interesting product from Pace. This time it's a personal video recorder (PVR) specifically for recording High Definition (HD) content. OK so HD isn't exactly widespread in the UK at the moment (not helped by the fact that we didn't agree on an HD standard for digital TV). However, Sky has made a commitment to launch an HD channel next year and there is already a European-based HD satellite channel broadcasting via satellite (see www.euro1080.tv for more information).
Dubbed the TDX840, the new product features a minimum 160Gb hard drive and can be configured to any of the major conditional access systems (including Sky's Videoguard standard). It is due to launch in the second half of 2005. Prices and partners have yet to be announced.
www.pace.co.uk

Pace portable PVR for pay TV

Here's a device that may, one day, let you watch Premiership football or a Sky Movies film on the train or in the car. It's the world's first mobile personal video recorder (PVR) for pay TV services. The PVR2GO features a 5 inch widescreen display and can download programmes onto a 40GB hard drive. In addition to MPEG2 and MPEG4 video playback, the PVR2GO can be used for audio (MP3 and Windows Media Audio), viewing JPEG images and playing games. Features include 3D-Surround Sound, stereo headphone socket and USB2.0/IEE1394 connections for multimedia distribution. Sounds like a great product - just one problem. None of the pay TV services have agreed to support the mobile device just yet.
www.pace.co.uk

New £399 Sky+ from October

Well it isn’t exactly a huge surprise as we've been predicting it for some time, but Sky has confirmed the October launch of a second version of its excellent Sky+ hard drive based satellite TV recorder.

As predicted the new version, called Sky+ 160, will have a 160 Gigabyte hard drive - enough room to record 80 hours of digital programming. The current version of the unit, which has a miniscule 40 Gigabyte hard disk, will remain on sale for the time being.

Costing £399, £200 more than the current model, the new box will feature two USB ports for future expansion. There are also a few other tweaks that Sky is offering to all Sky Plus boxes. These include the option of recording an interactive stream within a channel, easier channel sorting capabilities, improved parental control, and an easier radio recording option.

There is however no mention of the planned upgrade that would allow viewers to program the device via the Internet or through text message.

As of 31 March 2004 there were 397,000 Sky+ subscribers - an increase of more than 300% year-on-year. New subscriber figures will be announced very soon.

Enhancements to Sky+ (existing and new):

1. Sky+ Planner sorting:
The Sky+ planner will be upgraded to give viewers increased sorting capabilities. For example, a viewer will be able to sort the Sky+ planner, by A-Z, by recorded programmes still to be viewed, by recorded programmes that have been viewed, programmes still to be recorded.

2. Aspect ratio:
Sky+ viewers who have connected a TV in a another room via TV Link will now be able to change the picture setting (to 4:3 or 16:9) for TVs in a second room that are connected via a TV Link.

3. Radio recordings:
Recording radio programmes will now be easier. A viewer who goes to one of the channels and presses Record on the Sky+ remote will be taken directly to the manual recording screen to input channel name, number, start and end time.

4. Improved parental control for online connections:
Parents will now be able to restrict some online connections from a Sky+ box by setting up a pin number. A user would then have to input the pin number in order for the Sky+ box to go online. (This already exists for standard digiboxes)

Sky's double whammy

Sky, that nice cuddly, and not at all aggressive, broadcaster has made two shock announcements. First it intends to launch a free-to-air satellite platform of nearly 200 channels. Second, it is to be the first major broadcaster to bring high definition TV to the UK.

This is indeed welcome news. But it does rather beg the question 'what's in it for Sky?' - an organisation not exactly known for its big hearted generosity. Well, quite a lot we reckon. Launching a free to air satellite service will give Sky the perfect opportunity to 'upsell' homes to the subscription packages as well as individual pay per view broadcasts - and believe me they will. Meanwhile the cachet of being the first broadcaster to go HD is potentially enormous, especially with techies who will probably pay a premium to watch High Def content on their plasma screens.

Let's look at those announcements in full:

Free-to-air satellite
Sky claims it will launch almost 200 TV and radio channels and interactive services later this year. But the channels on offer haven't been announced yet. We reckon that most of them will be radio stations and the TV stations which will be available will all be fairly lame - mainly +1 hours versions of existing channels. Will we see channels like UK Gold/Style etc go free to air, something that has been talked about for some time?

Also it's worth remembering that Sky was the network that effectively scrapped free to air satellite when the BBC, which operated and paid for the free card system, pulled out of Sky's encryption packages last year (OK, ITV/Channel4/Five didn't put their hands in their corrporate pockets either.) The end result is that you currently have to pay Sky over £13 a month for the privilege of watching channels that are free on the analogue platform - hardly an incentive to go digital!

Our guess is that Sky made the decision to launch the service, knowing that at some point it was going to get blasted by the government for its tactics. But it is only a guess! Remember the government is supposed to be switching us all over to digital by 2010 so it can flog off the frequencies.

In any case the free package isn't exactly free. You still have to pay £150 for the box, mini dish and viewing card - about twice the price of a digital terrestrial Freeview box, but fair enough we reckon given the better picture/sound quality, potential extra services and half decent EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) - something digital terrestrial has been unable to do despite several years of broadcasting.

High Definition TV

Sky comes in for a lot of stick (including from ourselves) but it has actually been something of a pioneer when it comes to technical innovation. It launched the UK's first digital TV service, first interactive TV service and first digital PVR (the excellent Sky+). Now it is planning to bring HDTV to the UK by 2006. We don't know exactly what the format will be yet but the press release says there will be a set of dedicated HD channels as well as selected events in the HD format. Currently the only European high definition TV channel is the satellite-delivered Euro 1080 (www.euro1080.tv).

Top Up TV goes live

The UK’s newest pay TV platform, Top Up TV launched March 31st providing some Freeview (digital terrestrial) homes with access to ten more channels which were previously only available on Sky and cable.

E4, Discovery, UK Gold, Discovery Home & Leisure, UK Style, Turner Classic Movies, UK Food, Bloomberg, Cartoon Network and Boomerang are included in the Top Up TV package which offers a no-ties, month-to-month subscription of just £7.99, plus a one-off connection fee (currently £10).

Top Up TV offers a low priced and flexible pay-TV package. However you will need an old ONdigital or ITVDigital set-top box to be able to receive the channels - at least until the broadcsater offers a conditional access module or a new box with built-in decoder.

Led by two former Sky TV execs, David Chance and Ian West, Top Up TV has set a modest business plan breakeven of only 250,000 subscribers over the next few years.

For more information go to www.topup.tv

Amstrad Sky+ box arrives

It's been talked about for a while. But now it looks like the Amstrad Sky+ box is finally here. The new Amstrad DRX-180 features a 40Gb hard drive (for 20 hours recording), optical audio output, twin tuners and a live pause facility - in other words exactly the same spec as the existing Pace box.

Says Amstrad's Commercial Director Simon Sugar: "It is clear to us that the product is a compelling proposition to both new and existing BSkyB customers. In time we see the PVR as becoming the standard piece of equipment in homes in the same way as the VCR has."

Official 120Gb hard drive recorders are expected later this year although Sky has yet to make an official announcement. At present viewers who want more than 20 hours of recording have to buy unofficial hard drives and invalidate their warranties.

Sky+ hits quarter of a million

Looks like Sky+, long championed by us here at TD as a fantastic bit of kit, is finally catching on (after Sky finally dropped the ludicrous £10 a month surcharge).

According to BSkyB's Q2 results announced yesterday, the number of Sky+ subscribers has more than doubled since the launch of the marketing campaign in October 2003, reaching 250,000 by 31 December 2003. A total of 129,000 new Sky+ customers were added in the quarter, apparently putting Sky on track to hit its target of 315,000 subscribers by the end of June 2004.

According to Sky, most Sky+ customers to subscribe to premium packages, with over 75 per cent of new subscribers to Sky+ taking Sky's top tier package, Sky World.

Sky+ fans should look out for the official 120Gb Sky+ hard drive which is expected to hit the market later this year.

Dual Recording for Sky+

Good news for Sky+ owners. Sky has at last downloaded a new feature to boxes that lets you record two channels at the same time. Previously the only way you could do this was by using the live pause facility.

With the new dual record facility it's possible to record two channels at the same time as watching a third previously recorded programme (it's not possible to watch a third 'live' programme as the box only has two satellite tuners).

The new download - which arrives just in time for Christmas - follows various additions to the Sky+ box over the past few months. These include manual recordings, radio recordings, series links and instant rewind/save live pause.

Sky+ costs £199 plus intallation and subscription. For more information www.skyplus.co.uk

Affordable satellite broadband

Luxembourg-based satelllite operator Astra is to introduce a broadband satellite service for SkyDigital customers in the new year, according to this week's ERT magazine

It's teamed up with AVC Broadband to provide a 512Kb/s download service via a USB-based satellite modem. However users will still need to use a standard telephone line for uploading data. A monthly subscription cost is expected to be around £35 a month, with a one-off installation fee for non-satellite customers of around £250 (including dish, cable and modem).

Aimed at the 29 per cent of UK homes that don't have access to services via cable and ADSL, the broadband proposition is sure to prove popular in rural areas. Current satellite-based broadband services are either only available in mainland Europe or are extremely expensive. BT charges an astonishing £59.99 per month for its 512Kb satellite service plus £949 for kit and installation. Are they having a laugh?

Sky TV live on your PC

Sky has announced a new broadband platform that will enable viewers to watch Premiership highlights as well as comedy clips and movie trailers on their PC - at a price, of course. It's also teamed up with BT to provide the broadband connection via ADSL.

Called Sky Scape (http://skyscape.sky.com), the new service will bring together all of Sky's broadband content - some of which was previously available free of charge - into one big subscription-driven website. Sky Scape promises to deliver sporting action from the UEFA Champions League, Barclays Premiership, European Tour Golf, Test cricket and domestic boxing highlights.

Other content includes short films from Britain's independent directors courtesy of BritShorts, showbiz gossip and movie trailers from MyMovies.Net, and comedy clips from Paramount.

The price of Sky Scape is £4 a month, or £30 per year for Sky subscribers and £5 a month (£40 a year) for non subscribers. Free one month trials are available for non Sky subscribers (two months for Sky subscribers).

Those without broadband can now take advantage of a Sky/BT broadband offer. This includes
* Free BT modem (normal price £40)
* Free BT broadband connection (usually £30)
* Free subscription to Sky Scape for 12 months (usually £30)

However, subscribers will have to pay £27 a month for BT's ADSL connection - that's if it is available in their area.

Cheaper Sky Plus (and you can program it via a mobile phone too)

We love Sky+ here at Tech Digest. It’s a great system for recording your favourite programmes without the hassle of typing in VideoPlus numbers into your VCR.

But - and you probably knew there was a but coming - there are just two complaints we have. First, you have to fork out £10 a month, just for the privilege of using the system. Second, a 40Gig hard drive is a bit miserly. Thankfully Sky has now addressed our cost complaint - and announced details of a new system to control the box via your mobile phone and the Internet.

From October 1 – the fifth anniversary of Sky Digital – Sky is waiving the £10 a month charge to anyone who subscribes to two or more of Sky’s premium sports and movie channels (which is probably most people who have the Sky+ system). Of course, you still have to pay £199 for the box, but it’s nevertheless a pretty good deal.

This is sure to boost the numbers of Sky+ boxes which remain disappointingly low, considering the excellent application of the technology (105,000 subscribers at the end of June 2003).

In another announcement, Sky confirmed it is also working on a system that will enable mobile phone users to set their Sky+ box to record when they’re out and about. The system, which will enable users to instruct their boxes to record programmes via SMS no matter where they are is expected to be available from early next year.

Sky is also understood to be working on a system that will enable control of programme recordings via the Internet.

Finally, set-top box maker Amstrad has said its Sky+ set top boxes will be available from the fourth quarter of this year – presumably in time to meet the anticipated demand for Sky+. Unfortunately, though, the Amstrad box will be exactly the same as the existing Pace box – in other words the same 40 gig hard drive.

£3 billion Sky clouds free viewing issue

SkyDigital viewers who receive only the free channels are now getting a message to upgrade to one of Sky’s subscription packages, even when watching unencrypted channels like Sky News – writes Barry Fox in this week’s trade mag ERT.

Following the BBC’s decision to unencrypt its channels, the Solus card system - which enabled around one third of a million homes to receive ‘terrestrial’ channels like ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 is being abandoned - leaving viewers who want to watch these channels having to pay £12.50 per month (or £6.25 on special offer).

However, the message to upgrade is appearing on screen even when watching Sky News – a service that has always been unencrypted and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Clearly, Sky is hoping to boost its enormous coffers (£3.186 billion turnover for the year to June 30) any way it sees fit, even if it means confusing Sky News viewers into thinking they need to pay for a service they don’t have to.

www.ertweekly.com
www.sky.com

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