Skip to Content

Massively looks at the best free to play games
AOL Tech

british posts

Survey: Only one in 10 UK consumers planning to go HD this year

by Richard Lawler posted Apr 9th 2009 at 4:17AM

Looks like Brits have something more important on their minds than HDTV, with survey results indicating that although 99% of consumers were aware of HD only 11% are planning on buying one this year. Of course, one must take online polls with a grain of salt, but the results must be troubling for projected rollouts of HD and beyond, with 53% indicating they don't have it and don't plan to buy. The problem? Tight wallets and a "perceived lack of content." We'll wait until the HD Dr. Who Planet of the Dead special airs and see if that shifts the numbers any.

Blu-ray lifts UK disc sales

by Richard Lawler posted Jan 2nd 2009 at 5:48PM


Blu-ray sales in the UK didn't keep up their mind melting increases from earlier in the year, but considering the economic slowdown worldwide, a 378% jump from 2007 doesn't seem too disappointing. The British Video Association and Official Charts Company numbers point out a 1.9% lift in DVD sales as a whole in 2008, including 3.7 million on Blu-ray. The Dark Knight finished the year moving 281,000 Blu-ray copies as the UK's best selling HD release. We'll see how things proceed in '09, hopefully with cheaper players on the way.

British regulators move to quiet obnoxiously loud commercials

by Darren Murph posted May 13th 2008 at 3:44PM


Offensively loud television commercials have been a worldwide annoyance for years, and while a number of technologies have emerged in an attempt to hush those loud-mouths, British regulators are taking matters into their own hands. Just last week, the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice, which sets British TV ad guidelines, reportedly adopted a new rule establishing that TV ads shouldn't be "excessively noisy or strident." It elaborated by stating that "broadcasters must endeavor to minimize the annoyance that perceived imbalances could cause, with the aim that the audience need not adjust the volume of their television sets during program breaks." We're told that stations who choose not to invest in the loudness-level meter (which will ensure compliance) may actually have to "turn down the sound during commercials." Of course, whether anyone chooses to actually follow these guidelines has yet to be seen, er, heard.

[Via WatchingTVOnline, image courtesy of PaxArcana]

SkyHD pushing HD remasters of classic British films

by Richard Lawler posted Mar 3rd 2008 at 10:53PM

Sir Michael Caine finds HD quality "unforgiving", but we're sure more than a few movie buffs will appreciate a clearer look at classics like Zulu and The Italian Job (not the one with Marky Mark in it) prompted by Sky's need for movies to fill its new HD channels. Of course many films have already been remastered for HD, but as HD adoption grows worldwide, we can look forward to high quality transfers of more international flicks.

Sky to broadcast Super Bowl XLI in HD

by Darren Murph posted Dec 31st 2006 at 12:05PM

We know, this weekend (and next) is all about seeing which professional teams squeeze their way into the playoffs, and moreover, seeing which college teams score bowl victories in their respective contests, but for the Brits over in England seeing less pigskin and more round ball, we've got some news for you. Reportedly, Sky is set to broadcast America's most-watched sporting event to its customers in crisp high definition, which would make it the first major US-centric sporting event to be shown in such clarity by the company. This past September, Sky Sports purportedly nailed down a deal to show live NFL games and "supporting programs," and we see no better way to take advantage of the newfound partnership than giving the blokes across the pond an HD taste of the sport so well loved here in the States. So for you Sky customers with absolutely nothing else to do on February 4th, be sure to take a gander at Super Bowl XLI, if for no other reason than seeing our football in a whole new dimension.

[Via DigitalSpy]

BT Vision quietly launches V-Box, IPTV services

by Darren Murph posted Dec 16th 2006 at 9:08PM

Although it's likely being overshadowed by the Queen's recent HDTV spending spree, the UK's BT Vision has quietly launched its own set-top box (dubbed V-Box) and IPTV service in hopes of carefully gauging response during the first few months. The company asserted that it wanted to avoid the manufacturing backlogs and "embarrassing supply delays," so it was waiting until "next Spring" to hit the ad campaign in full force. Nevertheless, the V-Box and its subsequent services are live and ready to go, and the pricing structure is quite desirable indeed. The IPTV package brings the entire suite of Freeview channels to the viewer at no cost, and the V-Box (capable of holding "about 80 hours" of content) is also delivered gratis save for £90 ($178) of connection / installation fees. The business model relies on users not being satisfied with the free programming at their disposal, and instead indulging in the plethora of on-demand movies, music videos, sports, and TV shows / replays at their fingertips. While we doubt this launch will steal too many customers away from Sky and NTL (soon to be Virgin Media), this price is most definitely right if you're content with free.

Buckingham Palace orders 100 Samsung flat panels to watch UK's three channels

by Darren Murph posted Dec 15th 2006 at 3:10PM


Apparently the Queen is in the gift-giving mood, as she's blessing, um, herself with a smorgasbord of LCD and plasma HDTVs from Samsung. While the royal dwelling previously held sets that were either loaned or donated from various companies, this marks the first time anyone has paid "good money" for TVs to be installed in the domicile. The Korean giant will reportedly supply 100 televisions to scatter throughout the 775 rooms, with the ratio of LCDs to plasmas being a mystery right along with the size assortment. While the Royal family had requested brochures on the sets way back in June, they apparently waited to see how much of that luxury budget was leftover before blowing it all in a very good way. Notably, a Samsung spokesperson said that "the company will be entitled to use the seals of the British royal family for its products if the deal remains effective for more than five years," which could lead to a svelte (albeit gimmicky) lineup of limited edition sets a half decade from now. Nevertheless, Samsung purportedly stands to make around $217,000 from this order alone, which should make European taxpayers just jolly.

P.S. Yes, we're well aware that the UK has many more than three stations, although that was not the case when we visited back in the 80's and had nothing to watch. Freeview rules!

[Via RegHardware]

Evesham unveils budget lineup of Alqemi LCD HDTVs

by Darren Murph posted Nov 28th 2006 at 7:31AM

While Evesham's 47-inch LCD TV may have a long list of niceties that would surely bring a smile to any HD addict's face, the rather hefty pricetag might just scare a few folks away. Apparently making sure that its got the low and mid-range customers covered as well, Evesham is busting out a bevy of new displays at much lower price points. The Alqemi lineups boasts 32-, 37-, and 42-inch panels, with all three sporting WXGA resolutions, 8-millisecond response time, 500 cd/m2 brightness, 1000:1 contrast ratio (save for the bottom-end's curiously high 1200:1 spec), and integrated stereo speakers. Evesham further segregates the models by offering a low-end 32-inch version (peep a pic after the jump) with the bare necessities (HDMI, component / S-Video / composite, VGA, and an analog tuner) for £499 ($970), while offering mid-range units with DVB-T / analog hybrid tuners (with Digital Tick support), and a 42-inch flagship (Alqemi SX; pictured after the break) that boasts PIP and Virtual Dolby surround sound. Evesham's budget lineup tops at £1,399 ($2,718), with the mid-range units ranging from £599 ($1,164) to £899 ($1,747), and can be picked up now on the other side of the pond.

Read - Evesham 32-inch Alqemi LCD TV
Read - Evesham 32-inch Alqemi SX LCD TV
Read - Evesham 37-inch Alqemi S LCD TV
Read - Evesham 37-inch Alqemi SX LCD TV
Read - Evesham 42-inch Alqemi SX LCD TV

Continue reading Evesham unveils budget lineup of Alqemi LCD HDTVs

Evesham intros Freeview-equipped 47-inch 1080p LCD in the UK

by Darren Murph posted Oct 30th 2006 at 2:24PM


Evesham -- best known for its fleshed-out lineup of notebooks -- is delving into the TV realm by dropping a bit (47 inches, to be exact) of 1080p love to the blokes across the pond. Sporting an ultrathin 5.43-inch enclosure, the plainly-named 47INCHLCD sports a 16:9 aspect ratio, 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, 1600:1 contrast ratio, 550 cd/m2 brightness, 8-millisecond response time, and a built-in analog / Freeview (DVB-T) hybrid tuner. The panel also touts a pair of 10-watt stereo speakers along with a bevy of inputs, including VGA, HDMI, component, S-Video, and audio in / out. Those lucky enough to live in the good ole UK can pick up the 47INCHLCD right now for £1,899 ($3,592).

[Via Pocket-Lint]




    AOL News

    Other Weblogs Inc. Network blogs you might be interested in:

    Joystiq
    Download Squad
    The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)
    BloggingStocks
    Joystiq Xbox
    Autoblog
    Big Download
    Fanhouse NFL Blog