One of the most important advancements to make internet tv possible is that of broadband that offer much speedier connections. You can turn on your computer and log into to services like Seesaw and watch a number of  different programmes. There’s a strong line up of documentaries, drama, soaps and science fiction on all accessible with online TV services but there still isn’t one service that caters for every single TV programme but looking around there should be something for everybody.

In the future, advancements in mobile technology could mean that we’ll be able to experience undisrupted TV streaming whilst on the move! Even the games console industry has taken to streaming TV with lovefilm services on the Playstation 3 for instance.  These technological moves forward certainly help us enjoy our spare time more in a hectic world.

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The technology uses ‘eye-tracking’ to gauge exactly what part of the screen the user is looking at, allowing them to open menus or click on icons using only the power of their eyes.

This technology also registers whether or not the user is looking at the laptop at all, which, if not, sends itself into sleep mode, conserving much needed battery power.

‘Eye-tracking’ has been in existence for some time; it is already used in fields such as road safety, where it analyses driver’s eye patterns to check for drowsiness, or with the rehabilitation of victims of paralysis.

However, this is the first time the technology has been applied to the PC market, and Anders Olsson, a spokesman from Tobii, is understandably realistic about when this technology is likely to make a commercial appearance:

“It’s probably a couple of years away,” he said. “But it’s definitely going to be in the laptops of the future. You can do pretty much anything you would do with your normal laptop.”

“We’ve been stuck for a quarter of a century with a keyboard and a mouse.” He continued. “It’s time to move to the next step and eye control technology is the perfect solution.”

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Motorola have unveiled a possibly revolutionary bit of kit; a “laptop dock” that transforms a humble smartphone into a netbook.

Unveiled at the recent CES convention, the Atrix smartphone appears no different from any other Android device, but plugging it into the connector port on the back of the laptop dock accessory reveals its full capabilities.

Within moments a fully functional netbook desktop appears on the laptop dock’s 11.6 inch, 1384×768 pixel display, along with the homescreen of the phone in a small moveable window. Experts are proclaiming the device a huge leap forward in the field of convergence.

The laptop dock weighs only 1.1 kg, has a battery life of eight hours and is complete with two USB ports. Other Motorola handsets will not be compatible with the device.

Not content with the laptop dock, Motorola also took the opportunity to unveil the HD multimedia dock for the Atrix, which allows connectivity to any HDMI equipped monitor or television. This accessory features three USB ports and a Bluetooth keyboard, and is designed for when a netbook user wants to go supersize.

Early indications suggest that the Atrix device will be available on Orange in the UK, although no release dates or prices have been provided for any of the three bits of kit.

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Dell’s new Inspiron Duo is another one of those devices suffering from a serious identity crisis. It just cannot decide if it is a tablet or a netbook.

This in itself is nothing new, but the Duo does use some niftily innovative features to achieve its transition. The keyboard and lid frame of the device are just the same as on your standard netbook. The screen however, is mounted on a pivot within the frame, and can flip 180 degrees with startling ease.

Once the screen is locked into its opposite position, simply close the lid and – as if by magic – the device is now a tablet. The 10.1 inch screen is both touch screen and keyboard compatible.

In both its netbook and tablet positions, the screen is locked in place by a series of powerful magnets, so it always feels secure. Although adjustments can be made easily, by pushing the screen beyond the field of the magnets, at which point it swings freely into position with a minimum of effort.

Apart from these acrobatics, what does the device offer? Well, it comes with 2GB DDR3 SDRAM, Intel NM10 video card and a 7200 rpm SATA hard drive with up to 320 GB of space.

A new Intel Atom Dual Core N550 processor powers the machine, which has a battery life of just under four hours.

Purchasing the Duo will set you back around £450.

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LG took the opportunity to show off their tiny new X170 netbook at CES.

The miniature device will feature the Atom N455 processor and a 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display as standard, but it is the optional extras that make this little guy exciting.

A dual core 1.5GHz Intel Atom N550 chip is available to those in search of a bit more muscle than that offered by the single core N455, along with a sharper 1366 x 769 pixel HD display.

Previous reports on this device – currently available only in the Far East – have spoken of its ability to sync with LG smartphones, using the new SmartPOP feature. This allows users to sync files and emails, as well SMS and view contacts via SmartPOP’s phone display on the desktop.

LG have yet to announce which phones will be compatible with this feature.

Other specifications include, 1GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive and integrated Intel GMA 3150 graphics, standing the device in good stead ahead of its challenge on the brutally competitive netbook market. Hopefully the bright pink design, as flaunted at CES, is not a standard feature.

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Gigabyte Technology have unveiled their new netbook – the Q2005 – and revealed that it will be powered by Intel’s Atom N550.

The 1.5z GHz, dual-core N550 boosts performance to almost double the level of netbooks powered by Atom’s single-core N450. That’ll be the extra core then.

Tests also showed that, despite not markedly improving on the performance of Atom’s D510 Pine Trail processor, the N550 uses only slightly over half the power of the Pine Trail, with a power usage of 8.5W compared to the Pine Trail’s 13W.

The Q2005 will also be packing 1/2GB of DDR3 memory, GMA 150 integrated graphics and an 8-in-1 card reader. Gigabyte will also provide hard drive options up to 500 GB and an option of Bluetooth 3.0.

Prices for the device have not yet been released, but Gigabyte have released additional specifications, including 10/100 LAN, a 0.3 megapixel webcan and 802.11 b/g/n compatible WiFi.

The Q2005 will be released in a sleek black chassis and boast a 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 LED backlit display.

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Asus’ Eee PC VX6 – a netbook inspired by the famous sports car brand – is now on sale in the UK.

The co-branded device packs a dual core Intel Atom D525 processor and an Nvidia Ion 2 graphics card, all neatly packaged inside a Lamborghini shell.

Apparently a homage to the Lamborghini Murcielago Roadster, the VX6 “epitomises the magnificence and power of the automotive star” according to its manufacturer. This may be a reference to the speedy connectivity features installed on the device, including the superfast USB 3.0 and Bluetooth 3.0.

Other features include a 12.1 inch backlit screen with 1366 x 768 pixel display, 1.3 megapixel webcam, HD video playback, and Bang & Olufsen speakers with SRS Premium surround sound.

In addition to this, the Atom D535 processor’s hyper-threading technology boosts the efficiency of the CPU’s performance, increasing battery life to six hours of constant usage. The VX6 also comes with 4GB DDR3 RAM.

The VX6 is available in black or white with both versions featuring Lamborghini’s trademark “charging bull” logo on the lid. The £499 price tag makes this purchasing the VX6 easily the cheapest way of owning a brand new Lamborghini.

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Fujitsu’s new T580 tablet netbook is now available on import.

The T580 was unveiled a few weeks ago and uses an ingenious rotatable screen to flip the device between tablet and netbook.

The screen is mounted on a pivot and can be used either upright with a keyboard – like a regular netbook – or rotated and lain flat, transforming it into a tablet. Obviously, the device supports both touch screen and keyboard technology.

The device is available in two specification models and is powered by an Intel Core Processor. The higher specification model uses an i5-560UM processor 1.33 GHZ, 3MB L3 Cache with Turbo Boost up to 2.13.

Microsoft’s Windows 7 Professional 32-bit operating system runs on both models. The two models will also be equipped with 2GB DDR3 800 MHz SDRAM, 60 GB S-ATA 5400 rpm hard drive and built in web cam.

The higher specification is currently available for $1399 in the U.S, with the lower spec model weighing in at $1149.

U.K. consumers will have to shell out on import fees to get their hands on this particular piece of kit, or else wait for the T580 to drop over this side of the Atlantic.

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Google have released a viral video showing the power and strength of their new CR-48. Essentially what they do is destroy the netbook with spectacular cinematic effects.

Google have come up with an innovative marketing strategy to prove that their new Chrome OS Notebooks will never cause users to lose their hard work, even if they break down in the most extreme fashion.

Destroying 25 of their new computers in dramatic style, Google have uploaded a video to YouTube which sees the new, ultra-slim notebooks suffering such atrocities as immersion in liquid nitrogen, a grilling on a Barbeque and being catapulted across the room covered in ice cream.

And whilst the video is unique and amusing to watch, the point Google is making is that using the Chrome OS means that your documents are always stored online and safe regardless of what happens to your hardware.

This new approach to storing information in online servers, in a technological advancement known as ‘cloud’ storage, means that new Netbooks can be slimmer and lighter than their previous incumbents thanks to a lowered need for internal RAM. And where the Chrome OS differs from all other netbooks, is in its totally revamped design, with a clickable scroll pad and not a single Caps Lock Key in sight.

The one major difference is that the Google Chrome OS is designed for people who, as Google describes them, ‘live on the web’. The functions are all web based, the controls compatible with easy surfing and it comes internet ready with a quick log-in procedure. The reality, however, is that Google Docs, which is where your documents would be stored online, is already available for users across the world with a Google account, regardless of which computer they’re using.
Time will tell whether the Chrome OS will suffer in sales because of its web-based limitations, or whether the new age of computer technology will begin in 2011.

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