These cards now make it easier than ever to call mobiles and landlines, send texts, access WiFi, and most importantly make people smile. They also make the perfect gift.

You can pick up the £10 or £20 Skype Cards at the gift card section of select ASDA, Curry’s, PCWorld, Sainsbury’s and WHSmith stores.

You can learn more about the cards here: http://www.skype.com/go/prepaidcardUK

Or see more of Mister Batlow’s work here: http://www.misterbatlow.com/

But wait dont go anywhere yet!

I have a something to tell you… see that skype banner at the right hand side of my blog? Well you have a chance to win some Skype Credit! All you have to do is come back on any day from now till the 7th of December 2012 at one of the following times: 10am, 2pm, 5pm or 8pm GMT and play a game… it’s that simple!

Good luck, please do let me know how you get one.

“We are taking bold steps at Microsoft,” Ballmer said at the press conference in San Francisco. “The new, modern Office will deliver unparalleled productivity and flexibility for both consumers and business customers. It is a cloud service and will fully light-up when paired with Windows 8.”

While the full lineup of offerings and pricing plans will be announced in the fall, Ballmer discussed three new Office 365 subscription services. When available, each new subscription offer will include the new 2013 editions of the Office applications — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher and Access. In addition, subscribers will receive future rights to version upgrades as well as per-use rights across up to five PCs or Macs and mobile devices. The three new editions will be the following:

• Office 365 Home Premium — designed for families and consumers. This service also includes an additional 20 GB of SkyDrive storage and 60 minutes of Skype world minutes per month.
• Office 365 Small Business Premium — designed for small businesses. This service also includes business-grade email, shared calendars, website tools and HD webconferencing.
• Office 365 ProPlus — designed for enterprise customers who want advanced business capabilities and the flexibility to deploy and manage in the cloud.

Full information available here at this press release.

Fans can choose from the following convenient ways to experience Nintendo content during the E3 Expo:

• Twitter: Twitter users can follow Nintendo @NintendoUK & @NintendoEurope to receive tweets directly from the show. Nintendo representatives will also be live-tweeting events such as the Nintendo All-Access Presentation @ E3 2012 on June 5.
• YouTube: Nintendo will be posting video updates from the show on its YouTube Channels at:

http://www.youtube.com/NintendoWiiUK

http://www.youtube.com/Nintendo3DSuk

http://www.youtube.com/Nintendodsuk

The lineup of videos will include sneak peeks at upcoming hardware and software as well as interviews with game developers.

• Facebook: Facebook users can visit and Like the Nintendo page at http://www.facebook.com/nintendo to get regular updates from the E3 Expo and connect with other Nintendo fans. A special E3 Expo tab will make it simple to access E3 Expo content, including video clips and a Nintendo Instagram gallery. The Nintendo @ E3 Expo app will also allow users to stream the Nintendo All-Access Presentation @ E3 2012 and other events on Facebook.
• Web: Fans can go online to visit the Nintendo All-Access @ E3 2012 website at http://e3.nintendo.com for in-depth information about new and upcoming games and hardware from Nintendo. The site will be optimised for smartphones, so people can keep up-to-date while on the go.

Presented annually by the Entertainment Software Association, the E3 Expo attracts video game professionals, journalists, analysts and business partners from around the globe. Additional information is available at http://www.e3expo.com.

For more information about Nintendo, visit http://www.nintendo.co.uk

Flamer, also known as Skywiper, can steal data; copy passwords; record voice conversations; create screen captures; and even probe Bluetooth devices near the infected computer. The toolkit, which is thought to have spawned past espionage tools such as Stuxnet and Duqu, can spread through local networks or via removable drives such as USB sticks.

“Flamer is the scariest cyber espionage tool we’ve yet seen. It goes places where other spyware doesn’t go, retrieves information others don’t retrieve, and ensures the infected computer has no privacy whatsoever,” said Catalin Cosoi, Bitdefender’s Chief Security Researcher. “Luckily, the Bitdefender removal tool makes it easy to eliminate from your computer.”

Flamer is not a single spy tool, but rather an entire toolbox at the command of attackers. In file size, it is the biggest attack tool yet. Its sheer size means researchers will likely still be analysing Flamer for weeks to discover all of its functions.

For further information on Flamer, or to determine whether your computer is infected, download the Bitdefender removal tool at: http://labs.bitdefender.com/2012/05/cyber-espionage-reaches-new-levels-with-flamer/

If you haven’t done so already, please visit the Club Bing Prize Mall to redeem your tickets*.  Please note that prize selection is limited and if the prize you ordered is no longer available, Club Bing may substitute a prize or prizes of comparable or higher value.

As an alternative to Club Bing, you can check out Bing Rewards and Bing Entertainment.

• Bing Rewards: Join Bing Rewards and earn credits when you search with Bing. Redeem credits  for Redbox one-night movie rentals, Microsoft Points, Amazon.com  Gift Cards and more.
• Bing Entertainment: Play a wide range of free online games on Bing. Choose from word games, puzzles, action games and more.

Today the 18^th of January 2012 for 24 hours, worldwide, beginning at 05:00 UTC it has been a web blackout in which various sites, including high-profile sites such as Wikipedia and Minecraft.net have be down/blacked out in opposition of SOPA.

But are you supporting or opposing SOPA? Or do you not really care? Or don’t understand what it’s all about? Please discuss everything you think about it… should SOPA be stopped?

I asked the same questions to my minecraft server players and here’s some of their responses:

Madrad:

As I have thought since I found out not only about SOPA but also PIPA (Protect Interlectual Property Act) I have thought that they could potentially destory everything everyone loves about the internet.
It has been said the internet is already censored in countries like china but the problem these acts bring, not only to their native USA but also to the world in general (as they will cause presidence), it will take the decision of what someone owns from the correct hands of the authorities and the judicial system, and it will place it into the hands of corperations who have already proven to abuse the systems that are currently out there.
A case and point is Megaupload. Universal (UMG?) decided that Megaupload was enableing too much piracy (a term which I already have a problem with) and had it taken down. This caused an uproar among the fans of Megaupload who use it for legal things so they made an original song. This song had original lyrics and music and also endorsed and stared many recording artists (all of whom signed saying that their clips/names could be used). This video was posted to Youtube but then UMG seeing this had it taken down. The trouble is that it did not infringe any copyright but it turns out that UMG does not actually need a valid reason to take down someones video on Youtube. This was then taken to court.
The trouble is that people need to remember that it is not only SOPA that needs to be stoped but people also need to concider PIPA and the effects of that law. I am not saying that something needs to be done about online piracy (again a word I hate) but the decision on what should be taken down should not be in the hands of corperations and compaines. Due process is essential

ElseJon:

 I do care, but with any laws concerning copyright or internet are too complicated and obscure and need to be rewriten

Grindboy:

Vehemently against it. It is a stupid law written by people who have no understanding of the way the underlying infrastructure of the internet works. Blocking sites at a DNS level isn’t effective anyway since these sites can still be visited by knowing the public IP of their server and there are already services such as TOR (The Onion Router) which offer alternative DNS lookups.
It will do nothing to combat online piracy and a lot to damage the “free speech” that the US holds so dear. As a UK citizen you’d think that we shouldn’t worry about US laws however if this law gets through then it will set a worrying precedent for the rest of the world. The US has already threatened Spain (successfully) into adopting its own SOPA style law.
Also commenting on Robs point, piracy is such a stupid term for it, in order to pirate something you need to steal it and it is impossible to steal something, like a file, which is infinitely copyable without any degradation. It’s like saying that when you do one of those brass rubbings at tourist hotspots you are stealing the brass plate. Patently stupid (pun intended!)

Links for more info below:

• http://www.sopastrike.com/
• http://www.blackoutsopa.org/
• http://americancensorship.org/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act
• http://www.darrenstraight.com/minecraft/index.php?/topic/1639-the-stop-online-piracy-act-sopa/

In June 2011, CyberLink launched the first PhotoDirector public beta program and received feedback from more than 125,000 photographers who participated and inspired a wealth of new improvements and additions for PhotoDirector 3 Beta. With the PhotoDirector 3 public beta program, participants can enjoy exciting new features including a deep set of editing tools that allow users to magically remove objects and people from images and reduce lens defects like geometric distortion. Users can also improve portraits by whitening teeth, removing wrinkles, and smoothing skin and personalizing images by adding watermarks, among a number of other enhancement features.

All consumers and photographers that participate in the PhotoDirector 3 Beta program, and complete a survey or report a bug will receive MediaShow 5 (UK £29.99), CyberLink’s media management and slideshow tool, for free, and will have a chance to win a Nikon D3100 DSLR camera. Additionally, users who submit a testimonial describing their experience with PhotoDirector 3 Beta will have a chance to win a Nikon D3100 DSLR camera, PowerDirector 10 and the full version of the official release of PhotoDirector 3 when it’s available in early 2012.

“The input we receive in the public beta process is invaluable and weighs heavily into the features we build into our award-winning products,” said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink. “We have been impressed with the creative feedback and passion that our customers have provided in the past and are confident that the PhotoDirector 3 Beta program will be very successful. We look forward to hearing feedback and testimonials from the program participants.”

To download PhotoDirector 3 Beta, or for more information regarding the PhotoDirector 3 Beta program, please visit www.cyberlink.com/event/phd3beta.

The unique and contemporary Bayan 7 speaker dock for iPod and iPhone delivers balanced, pure acoustics across an impressively wide frequency spectrum1. Effectively squeezing the best out of any audio source it blasts music to a new dimension with superior definition, depth and zero distortion even at high volume.

Beautifully designed in the UK, the Bayan 7 is built from an efficient combination of quality, organic materials and sound-enhancing components which result in a truly natural soundstage.

The Bayan 7 demonstrably outperforms far more expensive speaker docks2, with a near-flat frequency range allowing even untrained ears to pick out subtle notes they never knew existed in those all-time favourite tunes.

Key Features

• 120W sound power output through twin amplifiers
• Dual iPod/ iPhone docking points
• Five way 2.1 channel stereo speaker configuration
• Wide frequency response gets the best from your audio source
• 8” subwoofer for pure deep rich bass
• 12mm solid wood casing for strength and acoustic efficiency
• Natural and realistic soundstage
• Apple certified with support for iPod, iPhone and iPad
• 3.5mm jack to connect other audio sources
• Charge and play functionality (USB at rear for iPad)
• Voice Mode option for audiobooks & podcasts
• IR Remote controller

Whether you’re into heavy rock, pop or opera, the choice of speaker can make or break the track. Using a designer combination of high-tech 120W twin amplifier technology and a five-way 2.1 channel speaker configuration  with 8” rumbling subwoofer, 2” mid-range and 1” tweeters the Bayan 7 delivers a winning combination of a near-perfect frequency range, natural sound and loud yet defined audio.

What’s more, certified Apple compatibility with Charge & Play functionality offers total peace of mind that your Apple iPhone, iPod or tablet will keep on going for hours of listening pleasure. 

Wide sound with twin amplifiers and 5-way speaker set-up:

Amplifier Quality and Configuration:  Twin amplifiers have been carefully engineered to channel complex and broad spectrum sound, delivering a party-pleasing 120W power performance with depth, definition and zero distortion. One amplifier drives four mid/ high-range speakers whilst the second is dedicated to bass output, and both have been built with the highest quality components for the perfect breadth of rich sound. Such premium amplifier technology is usually only seen in products costing upwards of £500 but is integrated into the Bayan 7 and other single-amp products in the Bayan range, ensuring that you can enjoy wide-frequency natural sound reproduction that is noticeably superior to other products with a comparable or even higher price tag.

Five-Way Speaker Combination: A five-way 2.1 channel stereo speaker configuration is comprised of an 8” bass speaker for weighty deep notes, two 2” long throw mid-range drivers (which oscillate over a greater distance to provide increased output) and two 1” wide projection tweeters for tight sharp high-notes (each of which has been framed in metal, not plastic). This powerful combination makes the Bayan 7 delicately tuned to offer superb balance and an authentic soundstage, bringing each note alive and creating a realistic representation of where instruments would be on-stage for a live sense of presence in the room.

Twin Charge and Play ports for hours of listening:

Twin Ports: The Bayan 7 features twin ports on the front for docking two Apple iPod or iPhone devices at once, and allow simultaneous charging of both. What’s more, family members can switch between songs across both devices without swapping docks or files, so everyone’s music taste can be catered for without compromise. 

Charge and Play: In the fast-paced world of today, battery life will be a concern of the past, with handy Charge & Play supported by the Bayan 7. This time-saving feature works not only with the two iPod/ iPhone ports at the front of the device, but also for any iPad/ tablet connected via the rear 3.5mm/ USBA port too.  You can drift away for hours, with the safe knowledge that when you head out the door, the phone or tablet will be fully charged and ready to go.

Natural acoustic-boosting materials and construction quality:

Speaker Housing: Unlike flexing plastic, the rigid 12mm solid wood casing offers not just a design edge, but helps to reduce energy dissipation from the speaker (ensuring it is delivered as sound rather than vibration within the enclosure to produce a far more lucid output) and improves the overall efficiency of the speaker drivers to deliver a wider response.

Speaker Quality:  The Bayan 7’s quality is driven from the roots; fundamental to this is the use of high grade speaker drivers and materials instead of lower cost components that require digitally-enhancing software. Bayan use cast steel speaker frames that enable the drivers to oscillate far more efficiently and ensure minimal energy dissipation, allowing the speakers to produce the widest range of sound that they are designed for with minimum loss.

This intelligent mix of natural and technical components delivers absorbingly pure audio with a near-flat frequency response. The result is a natural, broad soundstage and refreshing when compared to systems using alternative technologies that result in a synthesised sound, which can prove tiring on the ears.

Control your music with IR remote and music profiles:

Alongside an acoustic experience which delivers your favourite feel-good tracks with full force and emotion, the Bayan also provides a flexible and easy-to-control way to manage your song choices. 

IR Remote: All Bayan products bundle a IR remote control as standard, which offers full control from the comfort of your favourite listening spot, including track control (play, pause, skip), volume control and mute, adjustment for bass/ treble and the option to put the unit into standby mode simply by lifting a finger.

Voice mode: The Bayan 7 allows you to switch from Music to Voice mode, an intelligent option which delivers perfect clarity and more pronounced voice whilst listening to audiobooks, podcasts or radio. The power indicator on the top of the unit will change colour to ensure it is always clear which setting has been selected.

Environmentally-friendly materials add green luxury:

Colour: Available in slick black or brilliant white and housed within stunning solid wood, the Bayan 7 promises a contemporary touch for any room inside the home.

Materials: Each product in the Bayan range has been designed not just for keen ears, but with the environment in mind too. Eco-friendly materials are used where possible for internal components (all lead-free), so the Bayan range uses much less plastic than many competitors. This green approach runs through every aspect right down to the product packaging, which has been constructed from recyclable card. Even traditional polythene has been replaced by recycled cloth bags for a hint of green luxury. 

Apple certified with support for a host of audio devices:

Bayan is an Apple licensed partner, and all systems used to connect Apple devices use authentic Apple parts including certain control components, and the finished product has been tested and certified to Apple standards.

What’s more, the Bayan 7 has been approved with Apple’s stringent TDMA Noise Rejection tests, promising stable listening which won’t be interrupted by any irritating buzzing caused by interference from mobile phones and other radio transmitters when in use.

The Bayan 7 is thoughtfully designed to be compatible with a whole host of audio devices, including:

Docking through each of the two front connections:

• Apple iPod
• Apple iPhone

 Connection via USBA/3.5mm socket tucked neatly away to the rear:

• Apple iPad
• Tablet computers
• Smartphones
• MP3/MP4 players
• Laptops/PC/Netbooks
• *CD/DVD Players

This well-known seal of approval and extensive compatibility with a range of devices means you can rest assured and take maximum confidence in the quality and reliability of the versatile Bayan range.

Pricing and Availability:

The Bayan 7 is £299 inc VAT RRP, and is available from www.bayanaudio.com.

I wish you all the best for 2012 and hope you accomplish what you want to in life, thank you for all your support in 2011, I couldn’t have done it without you the community, keep that support coming!

Bring on 2012!

In the past, projection mapping worked only from a single, static view point, and thus was very limited. By attaching the PlayStation Move to the camera, they  tracked projections to screens in real time, enhancing the effect of spatial deformation and false perspective on the projections and allowing viewers to look round (virtual) corners, bend walls, create a hole in the wall, or remove the walls altogether to reveal vast expanses of virtual worlds.

 A few facts about Video Store of PlayStation Store. It’s basically a movie service where you can rent or buy all the latest blockbusters, most of them in 1080p HD movies. They also have a good back catalogue with more and more titles in 1080p HD too. Great value with titles available to rent from £1.99.

Below are some production notes about these videos and of course further down the actual videos!

Production Notes:

We are bringing a living room set to life through the use of combining projection mapping and traditional special effects.

We have covered a living room with projectors, so we can project on all surfaces. We have also rigged various props in the set with pyrotechnics, triggers, booby traps etc, so synchronised to the projected effects we can also trigger physical effects. E.g. a projected deformation in the table can knock over a real glass of water which in turn spills projected water, blurring the boundaries of virtual vs physical.

The whole thing is filmed with a moving camera – (a steadicam). We use this to really enhance the effect of spatial deformation and false perspective on the projections, e.g. looking round (virtual) corners, bending the walls, or creating a hole / tunnel in the wall, or removing the walls altogether to reveal a vast expanse. Technically to be able to alter the false perspective like this we create all of the content so that it runs and renders in realtime (as opposed to pre-rendered content).

We do this by developing our own software using a combination of proprietary in-house software, open-source software, and the Unity game engine. Also we we need to track the camera, so just as an added bonus we decided to do that using Playstation Move technology.

We use multiple Playstation Move Controllers strapped onto our steadicam and multiple Playstation EyeToy cameras scattered around the set tracking our cameraman and our custom software adjusting the projections in realtime accordingly. We also need to track our hero so we can adjust our projections accordingly, again this is done using custom software developed in the open-source toolkit open Frameworks and opencv.

And as an extra “The Most Immersive Movie Experience EVER — Making Of Version”