Here’s how Google’s leading a revolution in green technology January 22, 2014 Google today sealed its third green energy deal in the space of three months, agreeing to buy electricity generated by four Swedish wind farms for the next ten years. For companies offering vast online services like Google and Microsoft, the energy requirements of growing numbers of data centers are one of the largest ongoing costs [...]
Bands on the run January 15, 2014 Here’s our pick of the fitness trackers As January fitness regimes start to grind you down, regain momentum by investing in one of these ingenious gadgets that monitors your heart rate, speed and number of calories burnt. Nike Fuelband SE £129 store.nike.com Jawbone UP £99.99 selfridges.com Adidas MiCoach £40 adidas.co.uk Garmin Forerunner 10 and Footpod [...]
Top five do-it-yourself fitness apps (all for iPhone and Android) January 15, 2014 Fitocracy FREE (with in app purchases) If you’re more at home playing World of Warcraft than working out, try Fitocracy, an app that gamifies your fitness regime. You score points by exercising, allowing you to level-up, earn achievements and eventually become a fitness master. Zombies, Run! £1.99 Struggle for motivation? What if you were being [...]
CES: the very best of the show so far January 8, 2014 The annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory for geeks. It sees several gigantic aircraft hangers packed full of the biggest releases from some of the world’s top tech firms. This year saw 3D printers move further towards the mainstream, while manufacturers of high-end TVs once again pulled out [...]
Geek Speak: Hands-on review: the new PS4 December 18, 2013 It’s the most powerful console in the world – but is it the one you should buy this Christmas? @steve_dinneen PLAYSTATION 4Sony | £349.99Four Stars EARLY reports that Sony’s next gen console is out-selling Microsoft’s Xbox One now seem premature – the latest figures have them locked in a dead heat. While Microsoft has pinned [...]
Some games to get you through Christmas December 18, 2013 Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag The Assassin’s Creed franchise has been rumbling on for years but the latest iteration promises something a bit different – this time you take the role of a swashbuckling pirate pillaging his way through the lush Caribbean. The graphics alone make this worth a look. Knack This on-rails adventure isn’t [...]
Geek Speak: Hands-on review: the Xbox One December 11, 2013 Microsoft’s new console is under fire from Sony’s PS4 – we put it through its paces XBOX ONE Microsoft | £429.99 Four Stars THE console wars are well and truly underway, with all three big players – Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo – having released their next-generation machines. Here is the lowdown on Microsoft’s latest device. [...]
Our pick of the launch-day titles December 11, 2013 Forza 5 The sixth title in the Forza Motorsport franchise has been released exclusively for Xbox One. It uses the new graphics engine to create a highly-realistic driving experience. Forza 4’s world tour tracks are replaced with levels divided into categories such as compact sports cars and track toys. Dead Rising 3 Dead Rising is [...]
Ways to keep your mobile data away from thieves December 4, 2013 As a new face-recognition security app hits an iPhone near you, we assess your top security options FaceCrypt PlusApp Store, £4.99FaceCrypt is an ingenious app that allows you to keep all of your passwords behind digital walls 10 feet thick (the algorithm needed to unlock it is military grade). To access your files, just flash [...]
Xbox One: know your console November 27, 2013 Everything you need to know about the long-awaited sequel to the Xbox 360 LIVE TV TV and video signals from set top boxes such as Sky, Freeview and Virgin can be fed through the console so you don’t have to switch inputs between gaming and watching TV. But British users have experienced compatibility problems, complaining [...]