Elder Scrolls Online going (almost) free to play from March 17th

Surprising no one. It couldn't compete with World of Warcraft to maintain a subscription based service.

Guild Wars 2 setting the example that if you provide good regular content and in game transactions, you can still make a profitable game while maintaining a wide potential customer base.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-01-21-elder-scrolls-online-gets-console-release-date-drops-subscription

http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidewalt/2015/01/21/elder-scrolls-online-goes-free-to-play-surprising-no-one/

Stream Xbox One games to Windows 10 & tablets this year.

So it looks like Microsoft is going to take another stab at PC gamers with Windows 10 while muddying the waters with being able to stream your Xbox One to windows 10 PC's

http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/stream-xbox-one-games-to-windows-10-pcs-and-tablets-later-this/

http://www.joystiq.com/2015/01/21/fable-legends-confirmed-for-windows-10-pcs/

BT confirms it’s in exclusive negotiations to buy EE for £12.5 billion

So it's looking more and more likely now.

BT would then have a quad-play offering akin to Virgin Media. It will be interesting to see how Sky and TalkTalk react. TalkTalk already has the quad-play offering with YouView and an MVNO mobile product which is something Sky lacks.

http://thenextweb.com/mobile/2014/12/15/bt-confirms-exclusive-negotiations-buy-ee-12-5-billion/?fromcat=uk

ISPreview: The Top Broadband ISP Technology and Internet Policy Changes for 2014-15

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2015/01/quick-recap-major-uk-broadband-isp-technology-changes-2014.html

Windows 10 to get Cortana voice control / search

Took their time. I hope it improves on OS dictation. Double tapping Fn on a Mac is a great feature I've been surprised MS haven't been eager to replicate.

http://www.neowin.net/news/windows-10-cortana-gets-refined-adds-hey-cortana-feature

Gigabit-over-copper VDSL successor G.fast signed off at last

G.Fast standard is ready to roll. Lets hope BT don't drag their feet and put this to good use while also opening up support quickly for other ISP's.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/08/gfast_at_last_phy_standard_signed_off/

Windows 10 will play your .MKV and .FLAC files all on its own

Great news! Here's more from Engadget: 

High-end audio enthusiasts love FLAC since it promises to preserve everything just as it was heard in the studio. Unfortunately, it isn't the most widely-supported of formats, but it appears as if it's going to get a warm embrace in Windows 10. Gabriel Aul of Microsoft's Windows Insider program tweeted out a screenshot (above) showing FLAC support in Windows Media Player, later adding that the OS is offering platform-level support - so any compatible app will now be able to play the files without a plug-in. Given that Microsoft also recently let slip that it'll support the .MKV container in its next-gen OS, it's clear that Redmond is reaching out to the inner AV geek in all of us.

http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/27/windows-10-native-flac-mkv-support/

TalkTalk Gobble Virgin Media’s UK Copper ADSL Broadband Users

That'll boost TalkTalk's subscriber base while increasing Virgin Media's average Download speeds no doubt (while possibly decreasing Virgins operating costs also). 

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2014/11/uk-isp-talktalk-gobbles-virgin-medias-copper-adsl-broadband-users.html

Microsoft's Office for iPad, iPhone, and Android goes free!

I'm guessing it wasn't doing so well.. They shouldn't have avoided those markets for so long.

http://www.theverge.com/2014/11/6/7163789/microsoft-office-free-for-ipad-iphone-android

Diagnosing a fault MacBook Fan.

Argh! One of the fans in my Macbook is humming away on its last legs.

On the plus side, this fan controller is great for diagnosing the fan in question as there are two in the device..

Mine is a MacBook Pro Mid 2012 and the right fan.

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/23049/smcfancontrol

The app could do with some better auto adjusting profiles based on temperature. It has three 'modes': AC-Power, battery and charging which can have separate profiles.

I can happily turn up the fans on any GPU / CPU intensive tasks now and keep the system cooler than Apple seemed to want to, prolonging the devices life in the long run!


For repairs on this laptop see iFixit!:
https://www.ifixit.com/Device/MacBook_Pro_15%22_Retina_Display_Mid_2012

EE 4G+ hits London with a top speed of 150Mbps

Trying times ahead for fixed line providers if we see mobile infrastructure keep going at the current rate!

http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/ee-4g-hits-london-with-a-top-speed-of-150mbps

Drone racing in the woods evokes more than a few Star Wars memories

This is cool!



http://www.engadget.com/2014/10/08/drone-racing/?ncid=rss_truncated

Eurogamer Expo 2015 headed to Birmingham NEC next September

"EGX has experienced amazing growth during our four years at Earl's Court," Gamer Network head honcho Rupert Loman explained.

"While we are sad to leave, we see the move to the NEC not only as a real opportunity to continue its success, but also to evolve and improve the experience we offer both attendees and exhibitors."

More details on EGX 2015 will be announced in due course.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-10-01-egx-2015-headed-to-birmingham-nec-next-september

Solarbox london phoneboxes get solar powered charging

I think it would be better implemented in bus stops with a larger top surface area and where people would generally be waiting around. 

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2014-10/03/solarbox-london-phone-chargers

Tesco's Hudl 2

Tesco's sold 750,000 of their last tablet with a reasonable price point, decent specs and a toughened exterior aimed at lower age groups and parents. This should also be a winner then...