BBC News recently reported on the launch of an advanced satellite communications system designed to help UK military forces communicate across the globe.
It’s name? Skynet, and yet it somehow managed to write up a report without a single reference to the Terminator movies.
 |
 |
Philips has beefed up its Streamium family of wireless audio products with the addition of a new flagship, the WACS7500, which comprises the WAC7500 main unit and WAS7500 satellite units.
The replacement for the WACS7000 is 20mm thinner and finally adds Internet radio support via a wireless network. Philips has hooked up with BlueBeat, Live365 [...]
The Goce gravity satellite will be one of Europe’s most challenging space missions to date.
iPod lovers are even getting their own universal remotes now, thanks to Philips.
The new Philips SJM3151 does have that edge though since not only do get to fully control your iPod using the bundled dock but you get to control all the rest of your home entertainment kit too.
It offers control for up to six devices, from DVD players and satellite boxes to TVs and AV receivers, and thanks to support for the Zigbee RF wireless standard, it can communicate with your iPod at distances up to 100m – give or take a few walls.
Even better, the LCD screen mimics your iPod’s so you can see what’s on and choose what you like from anywhere in the house.
A PC version sporting a USB connector instead of an iPod dock is coming too. It’s due out this Autumn and will cost around £100.-Martin Lynch
It’s the classic case of multi-billion pound spilt milk but Sky’s key rivals have covertly approached TV regulator Ofcom to demand that Sky be broken up.
Virgin Media, BT Vision, Setanta and Top Up TV all want the satellite broadcaster sliced and diced because, essentially, they can’t compete with it. They claim Sky has an unhealthy dominance of the marketplace, which is true, and that if Sky is broken up there will be more competition. However, Sky hasn’t even seen the official proposal from its rivals: A spokesman told the Independent on Sunday:
“We’re in the increasingly odd position of not having seen this submission. The reluctance of these four companies to put their case fully to us does not indicate the greatest conviction in their arguments.â€
Sky has weathered such investigations in the past but it may be forced this time, at the least, to make the wholesale prices it charges for its content more transparent. For us, it means that rivals could offer services like Sky Movies and Sports at more competitive rates.
This is all good but, just don’t hold your breath.-Martin Lynch
The European Commission says public funds will be needed to build the stumbling Galileo satellite-navigation system.
A Nigerian satellite, expected to boost broadband internet services in Africa, is launched by China.
UK forces in Afghanistan and Iraq start using their upgraded Skynet satellite communications system.
A consortium asked to run the European Union’s Galileo satellite navigation system misses a key deadline.
Computer experts aim to add satellite navigation to hand-held music devices such as MP3 players.