Friday, 31 October 2008

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

It's Halloween and, for Linus, that can only mean one thing: the Great Pumpkin is flying over all the pumpkin patches searching for the most sincere one to reward with treats. Linus will wait in the cold, with Sally and his security blanket to keep him company, hoping the Great Pumpkin will pick his.

Available for the first time on iTunes, this timeless classic from Charles M. Schulz and Bill Meléndez is remastered and features many heartwarming scenes.

Apple iTunes

Thursday, 30 October 2008

Give GO!VIEW a go!

PSP™ owners to beat boredom this winter with a free trial of the fully launched GO!VIEW service

From today, GO!VIEW (www.goview.tv), the portable Video-On-Demand Service for the PlayStation®Portable (PSP™), officially launches in the UK and Ireland giving PSP ™ owners the opportunity to access TV Shows, Movies and Sports on-demand and on the move. Following its Beta release in July, GO!VIEW has now been fully updated to bring PSP™ users the ultimate in on-demand content – exactly how they want it, when they want it. What’s more, a free 30 day trial of all three subscription packs is available to all PSP™ users so they can try GO!VIEW for themselves before signing up.



There’s no excuse for any PSP™ owner to be bored this winter with the wide range of TV shows, movies and sports that can be easily transferred to the PSP™ via an internet enabled PC. From top entertainment shows including Heroes, Desperate Housewives and The Mighty Boosh, through to sporting highlights such as Barclays Premier League football from Sky Sports, and a wide selection of top movies, there’s content to suit every PSP™ owner’s tastes. With a full range of programming that is frequently updated, GO!VIEW provides a constant source of entertainment for PSP™ owners to use wherever they want, whenever they want. And all PSP™ owners can enjoy a free trial for one month with no commitment.



From beating boredom during the commute to preventing arguments about what to watch on TV, every PSP™ user will benefit from GO!VIEW this winter!

www.goview.tv

GO!VIEW is a joint venture between Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and BSkyB who have established the joint venture ‘GO!VIEW Entertainment UK’. This is being used to bring the PSP video-on-demand to market in the UK, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands & the Isle of Man. Sky is providing their expertise in building successful video-on-demand platforms as well as content acquisition. Sony Computer Entertainment is providing the marketing for the service.

Tuesday, 28 October 2008

Halloween 'give-away' contest: Galacula mimobot®

To celebrate Halloween, and reward readers with a seasonal treat, I'm running another 'give-away' contest! This time it's a Galacula mimobot® designer USB flash drive!



To enter for a chance of winning this really cool prize, please leave a Halloween-themed comment on this post. The competition closes October 31st 2008 and the winner will be randomly selected by me. My decision will be final! Good luck.

Special thanks to mimoco for supplying the competition prize. See the entire mimobot® range here.

If you enjoyed reading this post subscribe by RSS! I'll be running further 'give-away' contests throughout the autumn and winter.

Sunday, 26 October 2008

Album Review: The Saturdays - Chasing Lights

With the economic recession dominating headlines, pop music provides a much-needed diversion, and a burst of optimism, from the crisis of capitalism!

The Saturdays' debut album delivers unfettered pixel perfect pop (with a sprinkling of R&B) that, at times, rivals Fascination Records' 'other girl band' Girls Aloud; none more so than on "If This Is Love", "Up", "Keep Her", "Issues" and "Work"!

"Chasing Lights", the title track, is tailor-made for the Christmas market and "Set Me Off" wouldn't make Britney blush!

The Saturdays (two parts S Club 8) could be accused of merely being pretty Stepford WAGs-in-waiting! Yet, against the odds, Chasing Lights is an ebullient contender for pop album of the year! Girls Aloud and Sugababes have compelling competition in the Official UK Charts. Rejoice. Up is where we go from here.

**** out of *****


Thursday, 16 October 2008

Download MTV's The Hills on iTunes

The Hills is back for season 4, and the girls are beginning to make some big decisions that will set the course for the rest of their lives.

While Lauren struggles to balance the tension between her roommates, Audrina and Lo, she starts dating Doug, an old flame from Laguna Beach. Meanwhile, Brody, Audrina and just about everyone else warn Lauren not to trust her new friend, Stephanie Pratt (Spencer's sister). And when Lauren makes a surprising discovery about Stephanie and Doug, she realizes that her friends might be right.

Just as Audrina thinks it's time to let her boyfriend Justin go and begins dating Colin, Justin turns up the heat in their relationship, leaving her torn. Whitney rises up the ranks at People's Revolution much faster than she expected and meets a model in New York who could possibly sweep her off her feet. And Heidi deals with the consequences of moving back in with Spencer, including putting her job at risk. As if that wasn't enough, Heidi's sister Holly comes from Colorado for an indefinite visit, putting some serious pressure on her renewed relationship with Spencer.

During season 4 of The Hills, life in Los Angeles only gets more complicated as friendships, relationships and loyalties are tested like never before.

Series 4 of The Hills started last Sunday night on MTV and to get yourself in the mood, download an exclusive free clip which goes behind the scenes at The Hills UK aftershow party and gives you an idea of what to expect from Series 4.


Wednesday, 15 October 2008

Introducing the MacBook Mirror

Further to yesterday's Apple notebook event. I'm eager to get hands-on with the all-new MacBook and MacBook Pro models replete with all-glass screens! Flu permitting, I'll drop by the Apple Store Princesshay, on Saturday, following a Devon Tweet Meet at The Phoenix Centre, Exeter.

In view of MacBook pricing (unless someone would sponsor me), I'll consider a purchase following Macworld 2009! With this is mind, an iPod touch (32GB) is now an affordable alternative in the portable web browsing space. And a, most belated, replacement for my Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP)!

I'd be most interested to know your thoughts about Apple's move to all-gloss screens for the MacBook and MacBook Pro products. Is it more of a vanity mirror than practical enhancement? Please post your observations in comments. Thank you.

Tuesday, 14 October 2008

Will Apple scratch Microsoft's Surface?

With Halloween only a few weeks away it's opportune that Apple should unveil new treats, at its notebook event, today!

Despite the credit crunch/crisis (a journalistic euphemism for recession as far as I'm concerned), electronic goods continue to be "recession-proof" and consumer appetite for new MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro products has not abated! I've held off purchasing a new iPod touch (32GB) because of the ongoing speculation regarding new MacBooks!

There's considerable conjecture concerning what the new notebooks may or may not deliver in terms of their form factor (the flair of a MacBook Air) and functionality.

Clearly, Apple is keen to leverage touch screen technology - strikingly showcased in its iPhone and iPod touch - and place Microsoft's Surface ambitions into consumers hands now! In only a few hours time we'll know the answer.

Update
Apple announced the new 13-inch MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro tonight (GMT), which derive design cues from the MacBook Air and current desktops! The new Multi-Touch Trackpad is, literally, as smooth as glass!

In view of the hefty price tag for an entry level MacBook, I'll wait until Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard ships before making a purchase.

Monday, 13 October 2008

My PlayStation Network ID

In keeping with yesterday's post and extending social networking beyond blogging and services such as Bebo, Facebook and MySpace.

Got a PS3 and a PSN account? Then please add me:

Marvel_Megatron

I can usually be caught, online, playing the likes of FIFA 09, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection Online, Grand Theft Auto 4 and SoulCalibur IV.

Sunday, 12 October 2008

My Mario Kart (Wii) Friend Code

As the nights draw in Mario Kart (Wii) is consuming more of my leisure time. Therefore, if readers would like to race, against me, on Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection (WFC), please add my Friend Code:

0731-6886-4398

Please post your Friend Codes in comments and I'll add you.

Saturday, 11 October 2008

FIFA 09 wins without WAGs!

Late last night I removed the shrink wrap from FIFA 09 (PS3) and loaded the Blu-ray disc with a mixture of excitement and trepidation! The last time I bought a copy of FIFA was during the heyday of the Sega Mega Drive in the 1990s! Would FIFA 09 rekindle a long lost love and steal me away from Konami's upstart Pro Evolution Soccer (PES)?

FIFA 09 is closer than ever to the pick-up-and-play prowess of PES, without detracting from the franchise's trademark realism, and looks even more attractive. Premier League players move and act like their real-life counterparts. However, lower league players look like zombies leftover from Capcom's Resident Evil franchise!

The online component of FIFA 09 has been bolstered by the addition of adidas Live Season. adidas Live Season, an optional premium service, is activated once you've linked your Playstation Network (PSN) gamer profile with an EA Master Account, which can be set-up directly from within FIFA 09! You are entitled to free updates, for the league of your choice, using an exclusive redemption code found on the back of the manual. Naturally, I've chosen Barclays Premier League in order to follow the fortunes of my beloved Manchester United. Should you wish to subscribe to all supported leagues, additional charges will apply.

Even without WAGs, FIFA 09 is an irresistible football video game package that's almost impossible to beat! I'm looking forward to another friendly between Exeter City FC and Manchester United at St James Park, Exeter!

Wednesday, 1 October 2008

LittleBIGPlanet

Of all the AAA titles being released during the upcoming holiday season, LittleBigPlanet promises to be as unique as it is compelling!

Imagine a world that's yours to shape, build and explore. Imagine the possibilities, then jump head first into the reality. LittleBigPlanet puts the power of absolute creation into your own hands. If you can see it, you can enhance it. If you can't see it, you can invent it.

The LittleBigPlanet experience starts with players learning about their character's powers to interact physically with the environment. There are places to explore, creative resources to collect and puzzles to solve--all requiring a combination of brains and collaborative teamwork. As soon as players begin, their creative skills will grow and they will soon be ready to start creating and modifying their surroundings--the first step to sharing them with the whole community.

Characters have the power to move anything in this glued and stitched-together 3D landscape; they have the power to design, shape and build both objects and entire locations for others to view and play. There's no complicated level editor; all of these skills can be learned by simply playing the game. Creativity is part of the game play experience and playing is part of the creative experience.

Fathom out ways to overcome tricky obstacles as you interact with the surrounding environment, or compose inspirational locations and objects that are totally unique to you. Immerse yourself in an organic world that's just waiting to be personalized.

Players can make their world as open or as secretive to explore as they like. When it's ready, they can invite anyone within the LittleBigPlanet community to come and explore their patch--or can go and explore everybody else's.