How is that iPad Mini for watching films?

In general, the iPad Mini is fine for viewing films (as well as doing basically anything else). The processing force is nearly the same as the iPad 4, so there is no genuine difficulty there and the playback is mostly as easy as an android’s bottom (Star Trek gag).

The only real issue with the iPad Mini could be the lack of a ‘Retina Display’, the beautiful display technology featured on iPad 3 – 4, iPod Touch (4th – 5th Gen) and iPhone 4 – 5 (among others). The apple ipad Mini does suffer a little from the lack of a Retina Display, but it’s probably not a problem.

There’s, naturally, the matter of that 16GB apple ipad Mini struggling to store data, however, but that is mostly common sense

Gareth Beavis, in the official ‘TechRadar.com’ review of the Mini, said:

“The iPad mini suffers from the same thing that all the other iPads do: namely that the 16GB version, which is the poster child of the new cut-size range, is too small to really pack with the movies and apps that you want”.

 He then went on to discuss about the iPad Mini’s scarcity of file compatibility. That is, as far as I am concerned, the Ipad mini’s main disadvantage as a media player.

“There’s the other issue here: the lack of file compatibility. The iPad mini will play .mp4 files fairly easily, but if you fancy chucking on a DivX or AVI option then that’s out of the question. There are third party applications you can use, but these can be extremely buggy and cost extra to put on your tablet…But that’s the griping out of the way – as a video player, the iPad mini is excellent. It’s just the right size and weight to hold two-handed in landscape mode, and if you’re OK with it not feeling as secure in one hand, a decent heft to hold with a single set of digits”.

 I believe that Beavis provides a reasonably good list of the positives and negatives.

Elsewhere, the Head of Technology on the Daily Telegraph, Shane Richmond, addressed the smaller screen size in his review, when he wrote,

“In practice the smaller screen size is not much of a problem and it is because of that 0.9-inches, which gives 35 per cent more screen area than the Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire HD”.

In addition, the 7″ size actually makes the apple ipad Mini more comfortable to hold when watching a movie; the tablet really uses its petite stature for a bonus. Moreover, the display continues to be above sufficient. Devindra Hardawar, of ‘Venture Beat.com’, wrote,

“Movies and games don’t look as sharp as they do on Retina Display-equipped iPads, but it’s a more than worthy tradeoff. It takes a discerning eye to notice the benefits of Apple’s Retina Display, but anyone can immediately recognize how much more convenient the iPad mini is. (And naturally, that’s a problem that will be fixed in future models when Apple brings Retina Display quality to the iPad Mini.)”

All stuff measured, the iPad Mini is okay for watching films, but I personally advise you opt for a model with extra space for storing (and also that you keep in mind the file type limitations of that apple ipad Mini).

How is that iPad Mini for watching films?

Catchup on your most recent shows with catchup services on your smart Television

I am sure the more youthful readers perusing this article will not think this at all, but there was a time, not too far in the past, where the only content you might watch on TV was anything happened to be on at the time. It is a time before the VCR, before DVD, before iPlayer…A veritable land before time.

Instead of today’s reference rag, bought more out of habit than required and then callously lined under the coffee table, the TV Guide was one time a holy document, a scripture to be savoured and pondered upon for a complete week, ahead of little sections and images were cropped, with fantastic care and attention, and pasted into scrapbooks so that whole family could re-live their favourite series of ‘The Avengers’ that may not again be transmit for decades.

When VHS came down, viewers finally had the option to regulate their own content. In fact, this Promethean innovation permitted us to record Television shows, just in case we had to go out. We could even buy our favorite shows and replay them to our heart’s content, though you’re limited to how many series you could buy, because the darned things were big enough to develop an annex from, and still have enough for a patio and a loft extension (which is just what we did down my road – It boosted the home value in the region for a good 6 months before anyone noticed the new master bedroom was made out of old copies of ‘Under Siege’).

When DVD arrived, followed by downloadable content, it saved space and it made the guy inside the commercials go “whoa!” like Keanu Reeves receiving an Eskimo roll right up the you-know-what. The challenge was that TV still catered solely to its own timetable, as opposed to yours.

The BBC iPlayer and its ilk changed even that. Does watching ‘Mock The Week’ conflict with your sophisticated catering class? Well, now you can watch it on whatever night of the week you prefer, which is lovely because, in the case of the particular show, watching older DVDs can make you flinch at once hilarious Jade Goody or Amy Winehouse jokes which are now…not so fresh.

On-Demand content also includes content streamed over the Internet, something your Smart TV will now pick up a whole lot better than your PC will. This consists of Net-only TV shows along with Independent, user-created content just like you can find on Youtube, Dailymotion or Vimeo (all of which have downloadable Smart TV applications). Using applications offered by companies like Amazon or Netflix, that were primarily developed specifically for the World wide web, you’ll be able to even rent modern movies directly to your Television watching them anytime you prefer and in no way having to worry about getting up early to deliver the box back to Blockbusters on your route to work.

On Demand content basically implies that if it’s on the market, the chances are it is possible to look at it. Smart TV means that you can watch what you wish; however you want, whenever you want. That’s right, you call the shots. Now, whenever you ask out the girl in the chippie and she says “I can’t that night cos Emmerdale’s on” you will not need to slink home disappointed. Instead, you will simply suggest she catches up with it at another occasion.

Smart TV basically remakes you, the viewer, into the master of your own entertainment destiny. You can choose from exactly anything one can imagine and watch it anytime you like. You could even watch your Uncle Gordon’s holiday videos…But the wonder is that it is not the one thing that’s on. Personally, I would sooner track down and re-watch ‘Demolition Man’. 

Catchup on your most recent shows with catchup services on your smart Television

Duchess of Cambridge Gives Birth To Prince

At 4.24 PM this week, Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton gave birth to a baby son weighing 8lbs 6oz. The birth was formally announced to the public at 8.30PM.

The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, was present at the birth, which doctor’s described as “textbook”.

Record crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace all day in anticipation of the excellent news. When the notice ultimately came that the baby had been safely delivered, the people cheered in approval.

There has also been a continuous press attendance outside the palace and the hospital all day, reporting the proceedings to the rest of the world.

Queen Elizabeth II and her Husband Prince Phillip are believed to be “delighted by the news” while Prince Charles has made a brief statement that he was “enormously proud and content to be a grandfather for the first time” he furthermore said that he was looking onward to seeing the baby soon.

The Duchess will stay in hospital overnight, but is said to be doing fine.

The new baby boy is the 3rd in line for the throne, following his grandfather Prince Charles and his father Prince William. Should the line of succession go on as expected, the boy will turn out to be the forty third sovereign since William The Conqueror.

The pair have not yet announced a name for their new arrival. Yet, in accordance with tradition, they 1st will present a list of selected names to The Queen before officially announcing their option. Historically, this would let the reigning monarch to endorse or reject of the chosen name.

Censure has occurred occasionally throughout the past, notably with the birth of Princess Margaret (who was initially to be named ‘Ann’) in 1930.

Though, Royal experts say that Queen Elizabeth is more “down to earth” than a number of of her predecessors have been and that she is not possible to interfere in the christening process. The protocol is being overseen mostly as a procedure and gesture of respect on the part of the Royal couple.

There has been a lot of speculation as to what the child’s name will be, but William and Kate are expected to make a official statement soon.

SOURCES:

 

http://news.sky.com/story/1118804/royal-baby-name-kate-and-wills-big-decision

 

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/royal-baby–duchess-of-cambridge-kate-middleton-gives-birth-william-duke-future-heir-royal-family-095024406.html#Sdilzqg

Duchess of Cambridge Gives Birth To Prince

Possible Treatment for PKD

What it is:

PKD stands for Polycystic Kidney Disease, it’s a condition which effects around 12.5 million people worldwide. PKD is among the commonest life-threatening genetic illnesses on the planet. Somebody who has PKD will spread kidney cysts little by little throughout their life, affected organs can, after 40-50 years, reach the size of footballs. It goes without saying that they can become a source of acute ache and, sooner or later, affected kidneys will surrender to renal failure, no matter what. Eventually, a kidney transplant may be the only way to save the patient.

For many years, patients with PKD went undiagnosed and so the disease claimed a great many lives without ever being properly recognized. Now, however, it is an globally documented ailment and sufferers are closely monitored from an young age.

In November of ’12, doctors in the KU kidney institute in Kansas, USA, developed a drug called tolvaptan. The drug was discovered to slow the growth of cysts and also easing the damaged kidney use, this was a much-needed step by the right direction, but it is not a treatment.

This year, things have been looking up even further. Scientists functioning at Massachusetts For the General Hospital were actually able to grow a viable rat kidney and transplant it into a living animal. Moreover to that, Dr. Xiaogang Li of the KU Kidney institute lately discovered that vitamin B3 can slow the expansion of cysts; in reality, his team was able to entirely restore kidney use in test mice with PKD. Now that is progress.

Why we would like it:

Because 12.5 million citizens around the planet are suffering with a hereditary, life threatening illness, also, babies with PKD are being born every single day. A cure is required and it is wanted now.

When can we expect it?

A bona-fide treatment may yet be decades away, but when regular vitamin shots can be used to control the illness itself, allowing patients to survive longer, better lives, then I’d say that we were absolutely on the right path.

Drugs that rule the illness can be obtainable soon, though. Large-scale Human being trials have hinted that vitamin B3 is trustworthy for widespread use. This means that it might be available to patients all over the world relatively soon.

Doctors eventually hope to be able to treat PKD in the womb, stopping the disease before it begins. That may, effectively, constitute a cure. Such expertise is likely 10 years (or more) away, but we’re getting there.

Cool Factor: 5/5

Remember that scene in ‘Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home’ where the crew of that Enterprise fly back in time to that mid 1980’s and Doc McCoy encounters an elderly Woman who wants kidney dialysis. Exploding in skepticism, the great doctor cries “what is this, the dark ages!?” before giving the Lady a pill that swiftly grows her a new kidney, much to her joy. That’s where we can be within a couple of decades – ‘Star Trek’ technology. What could be cooler than that?

Joining the NHS organ donor list is a way you may help this example, today. 

Possible Treatment for PKD