Sky is planning to launch a new internet TV service in the first half of 2012. Anyone with a broadband connection will be able to sign up to use it. The services is described as being stand-alone and OTT with standalone meaning that you don't need to be a regular Sky TV subscriber to use this service and the OTT referring to being "over the top".
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Google is on a quest to speed up the web and has been for a while. The idea is that web pages load quicker which in turn, makes a better experience for the user.
The next phase in the quest is related to TCP. Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is currently used to deliver web content across the internet. It allows computers to connect up to networks and networks to connect to other networks. Google has created some suggestions that will change how TCP works a little.
We mentioned earlier that iBooks 2 launched yesterday. Along with bringing Textbooks and a whole revamp of where media is going, we are not getting in to some of the technical details behind it. By looking around the package a user has found a few high-res images that are used by the iPad version.
Apple has launched iBooks 2. The new app comes as a free update to the original iBooks app and is compatible with the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Several new features have landed in version 2 which includes multi-touch textbooks that bring diagrams, photos and videos to the user. 3D objects can now be found in books as well as videos and other interactive content.
As well as announcing iBooks 2 yesterday, Apple also unveiled a new way of letting users create content for iBooks 2. The app is called iBooks Author and it is available for free on the Mac.
Apple has released a new beta version of iOS 5.1. This time it's Beta 3 which brings us another step closer to a final release.
Not many changes are found within beta 3 other than the usual list of bug fixes which iron out problems before the final launch. What has changed in this version is the Enable 3G toggle which was removed on the iPhone 4S.
Last week, Corning teased a new glass called Gorilla Glass 2. Other than knowing its a follow on from Gorilla Glass, there wasn't any other information made available. Corning has now provided the details of what has changed between versions. As it's glass, the details might be too much of a surprise, but at the same time this will help smartphones become a little sleeker.
LoveFilm has managed to strike up a deal with BBC and ITV in the UK. The new deal will bring a number of TV shows to the LoveFilm service. These include Inspector Morse, Cold Feet, Doctor Who and other shows.
Motorola fans appear to be getting a little frustrated with the company. Just like HTC and Sony Ericsson, Motorola had also promised fans that they would unlock bootloaders on Android devices by the end of 2011. This was subject to carrier approval. Unfortunately, not much seems to of happened with this and bootloaders are still locked in most cases. We will mention that some are unlocked, but not many.
Corning, the creators of Gorilla Glass, has confirmed that it will be showing up at CES 2012 along with version 2.0 of the glass.
Tobii has created a new system called Gaze that allows users to look at tiles on Windows 8 to open them. It requires the click of a mouse but has the technology built in to know which tile you are looking at.
Codecademy was started just 3 days ago and since launch it has already had 127,000 users sign up to the service. Visiting the welcome page at codeyear.com we can see that a large number of people are interested in learning to code. The site says:
Make your New Year's resolution learning to code. Sign up on Code Year to get a new interactive programming lesson sent to you each week and you'll be building apps and web sites before you know it.
