UK notebook specialist Rock has extended its Pegasus range with an entertainment-centric yet highly portable line based on Intel’s mobile Core 2 Duo processor - overclocked when running on mains power - and a 13.3in, 1,280 x 768 widescreen display.The Pegasus 335 series comprises three models: the T56, T72 and T74, based on the 1.83GHz, 2GHz and 2.16GHz Core 2 Duos, respectively. The bottom-of-the-range model’s CPU contains 2MB of L2 cache - the rest have 4MB.Rock said the machine will deliver five per cent more processor cycles when connected to the mains than it does on batteries. The machines also have a ’silent’ mode that turns off the fans and clocks back the CPU accordingly.The T56 ships with 512MB of 533MHz DDR 2 SDRAM, while the T72 and T74 comes with 1GB of memory. All three 335s incorporate Intel’s GMA 950 integrated graphics engine, 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi, a dual-layer DVD writer, Gigabit Ethernet, a four-in-one memory card reader, and a Firewire port.They all ship with a digital TV tuner, and provide instant-on access to TV, music and movie content.Available now direct from Rock, the Pegasus 335 line is priced from _849 inc VAT. RRelated reviewRock Pegasus P665-T76 Core 2 Duo laptop
Six major airlines are to fit aircraft passenger seats with iPod docks, Apple announced today. US carriers Continental, Delta and United, along with Air France, Emirates and KLM, will begin adding iPod connectors during the middle of next year.Of course, what’s not yet clear is which class of traveller will get iPod connectivity, but we suspect it’ll be those whose seats command higher ticket prices to start off with. They’ll not only be able to keep their music players powered up, but play iPod-stored video content on seat-back screens.Apple’s partner on the project is coming from Panasonic Avionics, a Matsushita subsidiary that specialises in in-flight entertainment and communications systems - it’s working with Qantas to trial in-cabin mobile phone usage, for example. R
Think you need an internet connection for music downloads? Think again. UBC Media Group, one of the UK’s largest independent radio production companies, today launched a download service that delivers songs across the Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) network.To be fair, we’re not quite talking iTunes here. UBC’s system, which is being offered next month on a trial basis by Chrysalis Radio station Heart, simply allows digital-radio listeners to buy the track they’re currently listening to and have it transferred to a DAB-compatible music player.UBC’s service broadcasts encoded and encrypted music files alongside a radio station_Ts audio stream. These are cached for a short time in the mobile device and can be bought and kept immediately. The company said the purchase would also trigger the transfer of the song to a user’s web-accessed music library, allowing them to download the song to a PC and to copy it to DRM-supporting portable music players.UBC said songs are expected to cost around _1.25 ($2.27), bought through a pre-pay credit system. Mobile phones with built-in DAB receivers are expected to appear later this year, the company forecast.The Heart trial is planned to run for four weeks from the end of July. It will be limited to 100 consumers in Birmingham. UBC said the service had the support of all four major recording companies - Sony BMG, EMI, Warner and Universal - as well as public performance and mechanical rights organisations. R
Rock music has several different forms, such as punk rock, hard rock or god rock. But now mobile rock has been added to that list, now that one developer has ported Guitar Hero III to a range of phones.The mobile version of the hugely popular virtual guitar game, which turns talentless rockstar hopefuls into instant Alice Coopers, is fairly similar to the original version - except rockers use three keys on their mobile phones to control the music instead of a plastic axe.Guitar Hero Mobile: rock out on the road, in bed, in the car…Guitar Hero Mobile is available as either a one-time download, which gives you access to a jamming list that includes School’s Out and Suck My Kiss, or as subscription version that allows you to download three further tracks each month.Several venues have been created for tapping your fingers in, and an encore option ensures you always leave the crowd wanting “more, more, more”. If your virtual fretwork is of a suitably Slash/Eddie van Halen/Michael Schenker-style then you’ll also unlock additional guitar models.Details of how to download Guitar Hero Mobile and the compatible handsets are available online here. Rock on!
