BBC iPlayer launch Date Announced

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The BBC iPlayer is to be launched the 27th of July this year. You will be able to download it from www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer from that day. I have been looking forward to it ever since Microsofts Mix conference last year. They will be expanding it as well, soon to be allowing live TV, the ability to stream programs so you can watch them straight away and they will bring it to TV. Guess what TV platform they are going to bring it to first? Virgin Media! I actually can't wait, other things they are planning on including are radio player and series stacking (the ability to download entire series's as I understand it.

BBC iPlayer: Making the unmissable, unmissable

Apple offically on my hate list

Since downloading iTunes 7 I have had nothing but problems. The songs skip at the start because of a high processor requiring special effect, which I don't want! There is no way to return to an earlier version. Now, my iPod needs reformatting, but it comes up with an error. After I did some research I quickly discovered that this is widespread, and the solution is using an older version of iTunes. That is unacceptable. So mich for Apple being "quality" This isn't the first time I have had to install an old version of iTunes (can't remember why I had to before.)

GRRRRRRRRR

iTunes Crossed the line

I was about to download the song "Chelsea Daggers" off the album Costello Music by the Fratellis when iTunes said something had happened that made this task impossible. I went in to the store to investigate. Once I had arrived at the relevant page, I discovered that it was now only down-loadable with the album. Apple know they have the market effectively cornered and they know that is the song people are most likly to buy. This is a case of iTunes taking advantage of its customers. Maybe this has happened before, but it is unacceptable, and as a consequence I am not going to buy and more iTunes vouchers, or download the song that I love. Please sign this "Petition" if you support me. Maybe we can get a apology, no seriously!

Gaming News:
PS3 backwards compatibility issues - 200 games effected.
Medieval Total War 2 - 16+ Rating
Splinter Cell Double Agent - Advertised as an 18, actual game 15
PS3 launches in Japan - 84,400 sold, many disappointed
Wii and PS3 round the corner for US

MSN Extras...

...Drive me insane. There are two I am going to go in to detail today.

MSN Plus

Stay away from this software. Ok it has some quite cool feautures like being able to leave a message to someone while they are offline and creating your own states. However, when you appear offline, it changes you to online and so hundereds of people had a go at me for being online but not. Also, it would just not send half my messages so people thought I was ignoring them. Worst of all there is no quick uninstall button and you have to go to Control panel.

MSN online

I tried using MSN online so that I would be able to go on Civ 4 and talk on MSN at the same time on my dads laptop, first I decided I would check it on my computer to see if it worked, first I tried it in firefox, but it didn't work. At first, I thought it was Microsoft being is usual selfish self, but I tried it in IE and I had the same problem. Basically, I went to the website and there was a button to launch MSN online, I clicked on it, it asked me to log in. Fine I thought, clicked log in and it took me back the the first page. I looked at the top right and it said signed in, so I thought maybe it was just stupid a little and went through the process again. Same result.

So in conclusion, the only reason why I am sticking with MSN messenger is because my friends are on it not due to quality.

Forums

Forums, the modern day equivelent of forums in Roman times. Every website has them now. Even nationwide (a bank) has one. Well, nearly. Forums are a place where hundereds of people can come together and produce amazing stuff just for fun. Forums are a place where one can learn new talents. Forums can be a place to make the friends. Sadly, the operative word is can.

In forums there are many different types of people. There are so called N00bs and newbs. There is a major difference between a n00b and a newb.

n00b
A n00b is someone who uses excesive text speak and "l33t" speak. These tend to be idiots.

A newb, however, is someone who is new to the forum/game ect. These are perfectly decent people just haven't been at the forum long.

Also, there are people who think any one who is new to the forum is a complete idiot, and that ansering their questions is a waste of time. Between these people and the genuine n00bs, forums have become a place where huge amounts can be acheived, but, like everything else in the world, a few people spoil it. I posted on a forum that suffers badly from the n00b/anti-n00b take over. You can read it here.

Now, I have always wanted a forum for people who make constructive coments but I don't have the right sort of friends, so if there are any reader who know of a forum where this dream has been acomplished, but where there are still interesting people, or if there are enough, we could make our own.

DON'T SPOIL THE INTERNET

Windows Vista

Microsoft have announced their new OS to be released at the end of this year : Windows Vista. Apart from all the usual upgrades in security/performance ect. they are turning Windows style up side down. Windows are translucent, effects 3D and altogether has a very flash website feel to it. Other improvements include live search. ie, as you type a letter in it instantly comes back with the results. This was first used by Google with Ajax and is available at google suggest. If you have Fire Fox with Grease Monkey then you can get a script for it that will use it on the home page.

Another update to the searching it that you can apply 'meta tags' to the file. These are basically key words so you don't have to know what the file name is to find it.

In the gaming world one of the most exciting things about Vista is it will ship with DirectX 10. Microsoft claim it will offer 6-8x the graphical power of DirectX 9. The implication of this is if you are looking to get a graphics card, wait until the big companies release their DirectX 10 cards.

Another feature is the multiple browsers. For example you have a media browser which lets you view images, watch movie clips and listen to tracks, there is also a games browser which will allow you to sort by numerous things. I think they will both be a like iTunes/WMP in the sense that, as far as I am aware, get information of a server that says all the pieces of information.

Stay tuned for more Vista updates and don't buy a new computer unless you have to, hold off until Vista.