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Blog: Sony Personal 3D Viewer - Digital Foundry Review

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 12:08:31 GMT

15 years ago everyone was banging on about “virtual reality”, a phrase that seemed to be applied to anything from enormous monitor wielding headsets, to almost everything interactive. Thankfully the buzzword has been buried with cyberspace, Y2K and Dirty Den but that doesn’t mean the ideals and notions have gone away. Instead, now they’re actually possible, they have less ambitious and more meaningful names like ‘Personal 3D Viewer’.

Designed to work with the Playstation 3, Sony’s Personal 3D Viewer dispenses with the futurisms, to provide a viewing experience that often fails leaves most company’s concept departments. When worn, the device provides two 720p OLED monitors, one for each eye, replicating the 3D cinema experience and proving ideal for 3D movies and gaming. Costing around £700, the headsets aren’t cheap but for those with plenty of disposable cash, this surely has to be the ‘must-have’ gadget of the year.

For the full review please visit the Digital Foundry website.

Blog: Sony PlayStation Vita European Launch Line-Up Revealed

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:35:34 GMT

The early days for any console can be a tricky time for hardware companies. On one hand you have a fantastic and powerful new system but on the other, actual software to play on it can be a little thin on the ground. The PlayStation Vita, Sony’s successor to the PSP, looks to buck this trend.

Sony has just announced the first party launch games for its new handheld and it’s an impressive line-up that includes killer apps such as ‘Uncharted: Golden Abyss’, ‘MotorStorm RC’ and ‘WipEout 2048’. With a system rumoured to be almost as powerful as the PS3, could this be the device to knock the iPhone off it’s portable gaming perch?

The full line-up includes:

Uncharted: Golden Abyss
WipEout 2048
Reality Fighters
Little Deviants
ModNation Racers: Road Trip
Everybody's Golf
Escape Plan
Gravity Rush
Hustle Kings
MotorStorm RC
Top Darts
Super StarDust Delta

With some impressive 3rd party games on the way too, Sony's handled could truly be a thing of beauty - check out the mouth watering trailer for ‘Uncharted: Golden Abyss’ below.

Blog: Adobe Says Goodbye to Flash Mobile

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:05:46 GMT

Some sites are wrongly suggesting Adobe has abandoned Flash, it hasn’t. What Adobe has announced is they’ll no longer be developing Flash for mobile browsers, which is something very different indeed.

Adobe aren’t stupid, nor have they beaten by Apple’s refusal to allow the Flash player on iOS, despite appearances and reports the contary. Adobe will now be focussing on developing HTML5 software that incorporates all the Flash features we love (and hopefully leaving out the bugs and ones we hate) into new applications. An early demonstration of this software was showcased in the preview release of ‘Adobe Edge’, their HTML5 animation tool. How advanced the final software will be and the price is shrouded in mystery but if Adobe get these things right, they could once again help change the face of how we create web content.

So the big question is, does this mean the end for Flash desktop? The answer clearly is no, not for now at least. Currently Flash offers designers and developers the ability to create content rich software, games and applications that can be delivered online far quicker and cheaper than via any other web platform.

Like any good software house we use all the technologies available to us and pick the best one for each job. Thankfully fewer websites are being built in Flash, with the software instead being used to create interactive applications that anyone can view – as long as you’re not on an iPhone or iPad and if you are, we can build you a very nice app for that.

Blog: Holding Off The Lion

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 11:54:53 GMT

Mac OS X Lion is sitting in my dock, winking at me, waiting to be installed. Despite the great temptation to install, I'm going to hold off for a day or so, as my current copy of Xcode, the software used to build and complile iOS apps, isn't Lion compatible. In the meantime the Lion compatitble Xcode 4.1 is downloading on our spanking new Mac, to ensure we can code and compile effectively without interrupting our workflow. What I have seen of Lion so far looks very, very good.

Blog: Mac OS X Lion, Hear Him Roar

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:34:17 GMT

Mac OS X 10.7, or Lion as it's better known, is released today and it's just not its weatlh of features that sets this release apart. Lion is the first operating system to be released almost exclusively as a download, as well as being one of the cheapest OS at only £20.99 (or $29.99 if you're dollar lucky). This is compared to Microsoft Windows 7 Professional, which retails at a whopping £219.99. So what's OS X Lion like? I have now idea, over an hour in and my download's still not even 25% complete. For more infomation the Lion's roar visit: www.apple.com/macosx

Blog: Every Web Designer Should Know...

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 08:19:25 GMT

The ever insightful Jeffrey Zeldman recently lectured on the skills and opportunities that should be the top of every web designer's list. Titled 'What Every Web Designer Should Know', his keynote speech in Atlanta confirms the best practices we feel important here at Gooii. Great importance is placed on designing around content, my personal belief is that “content is king" but I guess in a world where the web is made up of people from many different skill sets, it's a timely reminder for some.

One of his final points is that with the advent of HTML 5, "every website is now an application." A great way of thinking and approach to the products we use every day, for a long time the web has no longer been about online documents and its easy to forget that a website serves a greater purpose than simply being an online presence.

Visit www.lukew.com to read LukeW’s notes from the lecture or the always excellent www.zeldman.com

Blog: App Used to Recover Stolen MacBook

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 11:48:24 GMT

This is a great story about how an app called 'Hidden' was used to recover a stolen MacBook. Apple has long had an app that can locate a lost iPhone or iPad but 'Hidden' goes one step further by taking photos from the laptop's webcam and sending them back to the owner. In this case owner and interative designer Joshua Kaufman was able to retreive his machine after posting pictures of the machine's "new owner" on his blog and providing police in Oakland, Canada with the information. For more on this story visit the BBC website

Blog: The Real Batman

Thu, 26 May 2011 09:57:44 GMT

Doctors in Canada have been sudying the ability some blind people have to "see like bat" by listening to echoes. The doctors found that “visual brain areas play an important role for echolocation in blind people... which seems uncannily similar to vision". Dr Lore Thaler of the University of Western Ontario hopes that with further research the technique can be taught to others, in order to improve their way of life.

For more on this facinating study visit the BBC News website

Blog: 3D TV On Demand

Mon, 16 May 2011 15:43:33 GMT

If you’ve ever tried, or are lucky enough to own a 3D TV, you’ll notice a crisper, sharper image than that experienced in the cinema. With glasses free 3D still a few years away, the biggest problem facing 3D TV manufactureres is that of content. Samsung are looking to addess the issue by providing a free 3D on-demand service to its customers, hoping to have 70 free videos available to ‘Smart TV’ compatible sets by the end of the year. The Korean manufacturer has also secured a deal with Steven Spielberg’s animation powerhouse DreamWorks to provide content.

For more info visit the CNET website

Blog: Nottingham Company Tops UK Gaming Charts

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 09:57:23 GMT

Nottingham based Crytek are currently top of the UK gaming charts with the excellent Crysis 2, available on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. What's especially impressive is they've managed to beat off all software releases for the new, and rather spiffy, Nintendo 3DS console. As well as being the UK's top selling game, Crysis 2 has scored rave reviews reviews from respected critics such as The Official Xbox Magazine, Eurogamer, Games TM and Edge. Featuring cutting edge graphics and a score by legendary composer Hans Zimmer (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight), Crysis 2 is the must have game of the year. For a full rundown of this week's chart check out the Eurogamer website and click here to read the OXM review.

Blog: The iPad 2 - Will You Be Getting One?

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:33:46 GMT

I doubt there’s a design company in the world, let alone here in Nottingham, who doesn’t get excited the day Apple announce their new products. Here at Gooii it’s the main topic of morning conversation, a subject that crops up again quickly at lunch. Rather than revolutionise the device, the iPad 2 builds on the previous model with a slimmer, lighter design, faster processor and both front and back facing cameras, addressing the need for a video calling feature that was sorely missed by iPad 1 owners.

In addition, the new iPad will run iOS 4.3 which boasts faster browsing, iTunes Home Sharing, screen rotation lock and ‘Personal Hotspot for iPhone 4’ allowing iPhone 4 users to share their 3G connection wirelessly with their iPad.

For more infomation on this sleek new device and iOS4, visit the Apple website.

Blog: Drawing Inspiration - A Short Film

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 09:37:15 GMT

'Drawing Inspiration' is a new short film, by a group of very talented young artists, animators and writers. Directed by Tim McCourt and Wesley Louis and written by Steve Stamp and Tim McCourt, the film showcases their exquisite story telling abilities with beautiful illustration and animation. I'm also very proud to say that director/writer Tim McCourt is also my cousin. Please make some time to watch and share this excellent film.

Blog: Combining Fonts

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:14:34 GMT

There's an interesting article on combining typefaces at the Web Designer Depot. The article articulates the processes and thinking most designers go through when producing layouts for web or print. Most designers will have a natural instinct for this but it provides an intresting confirmation of our thought processes and provides great advice for young designers and students, as well as non-designers who find themselves working on layouts. To read more on 'Eight Ways to Combine Typefaces' visit the Web Designer Depot.

Blog: Free Wi-Fi For All From O2

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 11:15:29 GMT

O2 are to offer wi-fi in public places, a service already provided by company's such as BT. The big difference here is the new service will be available to everyone, not just O2 customers, and for free. By 2013 O2 aim to double the amount of "premium hotspots" currently offered by BT, which is great news for iPod and tablet users without a 3G connection, as well as 3G users wishing to lower their usage. For more information visit the O2 news centre

Blog: Rock Band Developers Sold For $50

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:46:14 GMT

Rock Band is a house favourite at Gooii so, after a Christmas spent with Rock Band 3 and the new keyboard peripheral, it's a bit of a shock to hear that developers Harmonix have been sold for $50. That's about the same price as a new game. Unfortunately Harmonix, who developed the original Guitar Hero franchise and the excellent Dance Central for Kinect, has been hit by the consumer's recent lack of interest in the rhythm action genre. While $50 may seem like a bargain Columbus Nova who purchased the campany from Viacom have taken on all debts associated with the lack of recent sales. Fortunately Harmonix have said they are "hard at work on some unannounced projects that we think you're going to be pumped about... We are excited to be returning to our roots as an independent and privately-owned studio" For more info visit: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-01-04-rock-band-dev-sold-for-USD50-report

Blog: PC to get Kinect Style Controller

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:31:46 GMT

If you've ever used Xbox 360 Kinect to control video and other media, you'll be wondering how long it'll be before other devices are controlled in this way. Well the wait is actually a lot shorter than anyone could have expected. ASUS have just announced the WAVI Xtion (catchy) for PC, which is being co-developed by PrimeSense, the company that provided some of the technology for Kinect. ASUS general manager Kent Chien had this to say about the new device "ASUS combines its wireless cross-room solution with PrimeSense's simple, intuitive, gesture-based control technology to allow users to enjoy and share PC content on TV with gestures." The WAVI Xtion is due for release the first half of this year, for more info visit: www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-01-04-kinect-attack-of-the-clones

Blog: ITV Player and 4oD Available on PS3 Web

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:16:20 GMT

The war of 'which is better' is a long and boring one. Friendships have been lost, enemies made and family feuds initiated, all because one person believes the 360 is better than the PS3 (which it is). But one area where Sony is striking ahead is internet TV. As well TV Catchup working very nicely through the browser and the BBC iPlayer having its best iteration, this week sees the release of ITV Player and 4oD for the PS3. Brilliant. I'll never miss an episode of Peepshow or a Corrie tram crash again. A quick tip, although not available through the dashboard, browsing to five.tv will allow you to use channel Five's player too. The alternative for 360 owners is the Xbox Sky player, which requires Xbox Live Gold and subsription to Sky. For more info visit Sony's Playstation Blog

Blog: Nottingham Website Design in the Snow

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:05:04 GMT

While places like Plymouth and Cornwall have no idea what snow is, we've been surrounded by the stuff for the last two weeks. The BBC Nottingham site has some great photos of our white city, taken by local Nottinghamshire photographers. To view the full gallery please visit the BBC Nottingham website

Blog: Google Announce Nexus S Android Phone

Tue, 07 Dec 2010 10:45:59 GMT

Android is best known as the iPhone's main competitor, with Apple's iOS currently dominating Google's operating system. Until now. Google have just announced the Nexus S, the first phone to run Gingerbread, "the fastest version of Android yet". The impressive feature list could mean the iPhone finally has a worthy rival, even if the phone itself doesn't have the sleek looks of the iPhone 4. Features include a refined look and feel, wifi tethering with no additional charges (take that O2!), a 1GHZ processor, 16GB of internal memory, a dedicated GPU, access to over 1000 Android apps and comes unlocked as standard. For more on the Nexus S sling yourself over to the Google Nexus website.

Blog: New Nottingham Community Recording Studio

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 10:22:06 GMT

Feargal Sharkey, best know for his Undertone's hit 'Teenage Kicks' and solo classic 'A Good Heart', has unveiled a new community recording facility in Nottingham. Based in St Anns, the studio has been opened as part of the Russell Youth club and offers vocal training and sound engineering, amongst other activities. Aimed at 16-25 year olds the project will provide a pathway through to the recording industry and as well educational benefits. For more information please visit the BBC Nottingham website.