Basically Laser TV’s use a bunch of lasers to try and give the best picture in a flat panel display (using DLP technology, so it’s similar to a projector but doesn’t need a globe replacement).

What I wonder, as both a consumer and a sales assistant is ‘Will Laser TV survive’. The technology sounds like it could be great, but with Mitsubishi being the only manufacture and it only being announced in the US, compared to LCD and Plasma which area available everywhere in different brands.

Also, technology such as OLED is being actively developed by companies like Sony and Panasonic, as well as improvements to backlighting on LCD’s. Laser TV technology has only been announced and developed by Mitsubishi, who isn’t giving much information away (see the FAQ on their website).

Now with most hosts, this and other networking issues occurs only once in a while (some hosts though are worse (see the Whirlpool Forums for posts on these) and some are unlikely (Dreamhost has had unfortunate issues in the past)).

Now the biggest thing, and something that I guess isn’t thought of, is what happens if there is an explosion and fire in the power room of a data-centre.

Usually if there is a power issue (eg. no power to the grid), backup generators kick in. Unfortunately, for ‘The Planet’, they had a short that caused their power room in one of their data-centre’s to catch fire and explode (thankfully for them, not causing any damage to other infrastructure including servers). At least they are keeping updates on their forums about the issue, something that some other hosts rarely do. 

I might post some screenshots/a review on the RC sometime in the near future (that is if they don’t release the final version before I get to the review).

Unfortunately though, Telstra has been quite secretive to the public until recently about when the first instalment of phones will be released. Dealers on the other hand haven’t, and some have posted on Whirlpool about the impending launch (original the 14/5/07 but is now pushed back (and confirmed by Telstra via email) to the 24/5/07) and also the phones that will be at launch (ZTE 256 and the LG TU500).

Telstra though is not letting any of the information appear on their website yet though of the handsets. The ZTE 256 details are quite secretive (and even dealers on Whirlpool haven’t figured it out, let alone where I work only has details on the LG TU500 on pre-paid).

Telstra’s secretiveness has failed though for this as well, as I have stumbled onto the information at Dick Smith’s Website (silver - black - links may not work depending on the DSE site). Full details from both phone colours for the ZTE 256 is after the break (as well as two pictures from the DSE site). Silver

• 1.3 Megapixel swivel camera with 2x digital zoom
• Integrated MP3 player
• MP3 and polyphonic Ringtones
• 262k colour display
• Bluetooth wireless technology
• Up to 64MB user allocated internal memory
• Hands free speaker phone
• Person to Person Video Calling
• Video Messaging
• BigPond Mobile Services
• Picture Messaging (MMS) capability
• Mobile to PC Video Calling
• Email
• Mobile Internet capability
• Polyphonic Ringtones
• Integrated MP3 Player
• GPRS capability
• Vibrating Alert
• Dimensions: 98 x 49 x 19mm
• Weight: 125g
• Talk Time: 180 mins
• Standby Time: 200 hrs
• Great coverage on Telstra’s network and in selected overseas destinations
• FOXTELâ„¢ by Mobile
• BigPond on your Mobile
• Sensis® Search
• BigPond Photos
• My Account – View and pay your Telstra Bills
• Whereis® Maps
• BigBlogâ„¢

$249

Black

• 1.3 Megapixel swivel camera with 2x digital zoom
• Integrated MP3 player
• MP3 and polyphonic Ringtones
• 262k colour display
• Bluetooth wireless technology
• Up to 64MB user allocated internal memory
• Hands free speaker phone
• Person to Person Video Calling
• Video Messaging
• BigPond Mobile Services
• Picture Messaging (MMS) capability
• Mobile to PC Video Calling
• Email
• Mobile Internet capability
• Polyphonic Ringtones
• Integrated MP3 Player
• GPRS capability
• Vibrating Alert
• Dimensions: 98 x 49 x 19mm
• Weight: 125g
• Talk Time: 180 mins
• Standby Time: 200 hrs
• Great coverage on Telstra’s network and in selected overseas destinations
• FOXTELâ„¢ by Mobile
• BigPond on your Mobile
• Sensis® Search
• BigPond Photos
• My Account – View and pay your Telstra Bills
• Whereis® Maps
• BigBlogâ„¢

$249

As you can see, there isn’t not much difference, if any, between the two. They also seem quite similar to the ZTE 252 that can be seen at ZTE’s website. UPDATE: Only difference according to SifuDean from ZTE (a member on Whirlpool forums) is that the ZTE 256 is locked to the Telstra network.

At work, we have received our display unit to show off the Playstation 3. In this post, I will talk about the issues that we have and some general gameplay comments.

We have it plugged into the Sony Bravia X series (40″) via a $60 or so HDMI cable (the expensive Belkin PureAV cable that we had received with the unit broke due to the cabinet being moved around and bending the plug).

Note though that the unit supplied is actually a special version of the PS3 that is modified to only (unless there is a way around) act as a demo unit with none of the options modifible. The issue with this is that the PS3 is only running into the LCD at 576p compared to the 1080i/p capability that retail units and the display supports. Hopefully though, we will be able to run Blu-Ray discs (movies and games) on the unit, but we don’t have any yet.GameplayThe demo unit comes with two games on the 60GB Hard Drive. One is Formula One Championship Edition and the other is Motorstorm.

Motorstorm

Motorstorm involves you to drive around a dirt track in the demo in either a truck or a motorbike. Gameplay is pretty intense but does have the issue of the SIXAXIS controller being quite sensitive if you are in the motorbike and have the motion sensor on.

F1

F1 Champonship Edition is one of the best F1 games that I have played. The graphics are based on the 2006 series TV graphics and looks quite nice on the widescreen display.Gameplay is also a bit easier but I did find using both thumbsticks to drive (left one is for steering while the right is for acceleration and braking) was a bit odd compared to using the buttons. Also, the default buttons for acceleration and braking is via the X and Square buttons (from memory) and not the shoulder buttons unlike Motorstorm.

Overall rating

Of course, these are first-release games and are also cut-down done demos. I rate it 8/10.

Would I buy one, yes if I had the money.

Apple as a computer advertises the Mac mini 

See the WordPress development blog for the information and head to http://wordpress.org/download/ to download.

This blog will be updated once the new skin has had all the bugs fixed and is tested with 2.1.

UPDATE: The blog has already been updated to 2.1. The new skin still needs bugs fixed.

All I can say is that it is such a nice machine. Shame my PC decided to have a hard drive nearly die.

Final Cut Express has such a nice layout on a widescreen display. Hopefully CIT gets better setups as well, but at least I have a beast of a video editor.