A whole industry has been built around producing docking stations in various forms for various generations of Apple's iPod and iPhones. These products benefited from the universal docking connector adopted by Apple and so each product could support the entire range.

The iPad is a little different - it's bigger. There are bigger iPods of course but not that big. And while the iPad is ideally used on the move to do 'visual' things on that beautiful screen, there are times when you just want to listen t0 music or watch a movie in the kitchen while you cook. In short - you need an iPad docking station.

Recognising  this need Altec Lansing have just launched their new Octiv 450 iPad docking station. In many ways resembling it's iPod cousins, and of course being perfectly compatible with iPods, the Octiv 450 provides the ability to rotate your iPad through 90° supporting landscape and portrait viewing. You can also tilt the screen between almost vertical and almost horizontal allowing for comfortable viewing whatever the situation. And to save you having to reach over to your docked iPad Altec-Lansing have also provided a full featured remote control.

We expect to see a whole wealth of iPad accessories grow around this latest hit product from the Apple stable. In the mean time the Octiv 840 will be available from stores including Apple and John Lewis from the 1st December with a MSRP of £129.99.

This years Dream Dozen, in alphabetic order, are:

• City Airport, Lego UK (£84.99)
• Fireman Sam Deluxe Fire Station Playset, Character Options (£29.99)
• FurReal Go Go Walking Pup, Hasbro (£59.99)
• Jet Pack Buzz Lightyear, Mattel UK (£39.99)
• Kidizoom VideoCam, VTech (£59.99)
• Monopoly Revolution, Hasbro (£29.99)
• Moon Dough Barn, Spinmaster Toys UK (£19.99)
• Nerf N Strike Stampede ECS, Hasbro (£54.99)
• Paper Jamz Guitar, Wow Wee Europe (£24.99)
• ‘Pumpaloons’ – action game, Drumond Park (£19.99)
• Sylvanian Families Motorcycle and Sidecar, Flair Leisure (£24.99)
• ZhuZhu Grooming Salon, Character Options (£22.99)

Top Girls Items

And the top toys for Boys?

The only items I have so far looked at are both from Paper Jamz their Guitar (highly commended) and the Paper Jamz Drums (5x5 award)

We all eagerly wait for services, which could provide us with cheaper rates whilst making international calls. You can make cheap international calls to any country from the UK with phone cards but never forget to make a few simple checks before buying phone cards.

Buying  phone cards from newsagents,shops is not wrong, but the major set back is that phone cards industry is not regulated by government agencies. If you happen to  see any advertisement and the features shown in the advertisement may not complement with their services. Such misleading acts could be found whilst using services.

Your call to destination will measure two elements, first will be cost of calling the UK access number and second element will be cost of  international call. For second element you receive a credit on the phone card. Do not forget to add VAT to existing phone card and usual VAT tax is 17.5 per cent. Some sellers may tempt you to buy phone cards without  providing you with receipt and you are offered with heavy discounts, it is unlawful so do not follow such custom.

The rates are sometimes rounded to the nearest penny, for instance price may be listed as 5p per minute but actually it may cost 5.5 per cent . So be cautious. Some services may provide you with calls that  register high charge for first few minutes and later lessen. Surcharges are normally applied when you make a call from any public booth and they may go up to 25 p per minute. Another important thing you are to aware of is you will be end paying much higher charge whilst making a call to mobile phones.

Phone card working period is  90 days , keep a note of time and usage then go for buying. Otherwise, you may not be able to use to its full value. Be careful some cards collect daily maintenance charge so be careful as you will be for sure charged even on non usage. em

Make sure that you make calls for long duration as that will cost you less when compared to small duration calls. Some companies may fail to provide you with good quality line and this may badly hinder your call. You may also come across some companies which may remove the credit from credit balances and you as an user may not notice it. So, follow those points and then buy Phone cards.

Despite the explosion in HDTV sales driven by a desire to watch every second of those vital matches, it would seem many people are wasting both their time and money. It really doesn't matter how sharp the image on your TV if the lens in your own eyes give a blurred effect.

With fans attracted by the prospect of improved picture quality, clarity and definition, it is estimated (by Kelco) that the World Cup will help to boost sales of HD TVs by 5% to a total of 7.6 million sets sold in this year alone. However a survey by Glasses Direct, the world's largest online prescription eyewear store, found that 35% of the UK's 32 million glasses wearers have not bought a new pair of prescription glasses in the last two years. They may be unaware that their potentially reduced vision will impede their viewing of the beautiful game which would be a real shame, as three million people have now subscribed to HD in the UK.

"Even a slightly short sighted person trying to watch an England match on HD TV may fail to take advantage of the superior picture quality. If you're investing the money to buy an HD TV to watch the World Cup, you ought to have your eyes checked to ensure you're experiencing the full benefit" says David Hutchfield, Dispensing Optician at Glasses Direct.

Jamie Murray Wells, Founder and Executive Chairman of Glasses Direct adds "We want to help the fans get as much out of the World Cup as possible so we're giving away a free pair of Fabio Capello style ZeroRH+ frames complete with prescription lenses to the first hundred people who now get their eyes tested and find they need a new pair of prescription glasses."

Take advantage of the free offer by visiting http://ww.glassesdirect.co.uk/fabio

In Cannes, on the eve of the 63rd Cannes Film Festival, Acer announced its “cut” on the HD revolution. In particular Gianpiero Morbello, Acer Group Corporate vice-president Marketing & Brand pointed out that today’s users are focussed on entertainment and socio-entertainment. Consequently, Acer and chip maker AMD have embarked on a marketing strategy focussing on user needs rather than the conventional approach of chips and speed designations.

Stressing that HD is “for everyone, anywhere, any time” he pointed out that, by 2013 some 91% of consumer traffic will be all forms of video including video-on-demand, Internet, P2P etc. Hence, the need is to simplify people’s decision making process when they go shopping for a new PC.

There are basically three levels under the AMD “Vision” brand: Basic, Premium and Ultimate so that, without being blinded by science, the buyer will be able to focus on those PCs which are appropriate to his needs. The Basic is appropriate to those who just want to on line videos and DVDs; the Premium is for those who want to watch Blu-Ray or HD videos while the Ultimate is more suitable for those who wish to create music, photos or videos. There is also Black from AMD which is targeted at those really needing extreme performance.

At this extreme is the Acer Aspire M5400 series which employ AMD’s Vision Black Technology. The combination of technology available has the potential to provide a level of performance well beyond the needs of the majority of users. However, there will be various permutations so that users can opt for the package that best suits their needs and expectations. It can incorporate the six-core AMD Phenom II X6 processor which, for example, is claimed to be able to organise digital libraries 40% faster, using facial recognition to categorise photos, than competing desktop PCs; full support for Microsoft DirectX 11; and ATI Eyefinity technology which can support up to 6 monitors.

Although not forgetting the needs of the majority of users with its Acer, Packard Bell and eMachines brands, Acer is really putting down a marker that, as well as making it easier to choose a machine, it can also meet the needs of the geeks.

A name new to the UK, they are a large company in the USA, partnered in the UK with Carphone Warehouse.

Their first store opens on 30^th April in Thurrock (quite neat to Lakeside shopping centre) in a retail park with other well known names.

Their store stocks kitchen appliances, mobile phones, computers, cameras, TV’s as well as CDs DVDs and accessories.

By the end of 2010 they will have five stores in various parts of England. Their eventual aim to worry the likes of the Dixons and Currys group. Yes they will be doing online sales later in the year.

On the preview day I went to earlier this week the big thing you notice is a lot more staff and they appear - from the odd casual question – to have a reasonable level of knowledge certainly a lot higher than most store employees.

Several areas of the store are set aside for rooms to show various aspects of what they sell. An audio room was quite impressive. For those wanting to see 3D TV they have a room for that, one of the employees I spoke with was very keen to show me the gaming room.

I was rather impressed with the ‘Green’ area with not only bicycles but also a rather nice Citroen electric car that looks near normal.

Given their ‘Green’ image I was surprised only to see original manufacturer inkjet cartridges on sale, no third party or kits to allow you to refill your old empty ones, surely a mistake there but as it was still a few days till they open that might be corrected, especially as I mentioned it.

The next two stores will open in June Hedge End (Southampton) and Merry Hill (West Midlands). The final three for this year Aintree (Liverpool) and Croydon (Surrey) later in the year and lastly Cribs Causeway (Bristol). Sometime in that timeframe the online store will open.

They have a Geek Squad area in the store to offer help and advice and they say it will also be available online at www.bestbuy.co.uk

Following 200 years of development, from the conspicuous ear-trumpet to the cumbersome ‘beige banana’ Phonak have now launched what is claimed to be the world's smallest hearing aid - the Audéo MINI. This tiny engineering marvel is equivalent to the size of a jelly bean - and has now been launched in the UK.

The Audéo MINI sits virtually undetectable behind the ear and offers a discreet solution for the twelve million people in Britain that currently suffer from hearing loss. Today one in five adults has difficulties with their hearing and this figure is expected to rise to one in three by 2025^*.

Audéo MINI's revolutionary design and unrivalled performance has just beaten more than 4250 products from 60 countries to win the prestigious red dot design award at the world’s largest and most respected design competition. An international jury awarded the Audéo MINI the coveted top prize and will see it showcased in the red dot design museum in Germany.

The Audéo MINI’s design was developed in response to a growing demand from the baby boomer generation, the young at heart consumers in their 50s and 60s, who want to boost their hearing to stay at their best but don’t want to draw attention to a problem typically associated with ageing. According to experts, people currently struggle for 15 years on average before seeking advice!

Valentin Chapero, Chief Executive of Phonak who developed the device, says: "The Audéo MINI is a landmark development for hearing correction and the next significant advancement in hearing technology. Powerful enough to provide the user with crystal clear sound quality whilst small enough to sit, almost invisible, behind the ear."

The Audèo MINI includes state-of-the-art functions including the ability to automatically adapt to changing hearing situations and selectively focus on specific speech sources to reduce the distraction of background noise. Thetechology is also claimed to make it possible for the wearer to detect the highest frequency sounds such as bird song or quiet whispers, which are often the first to go when hearing deteriorates.

Visit www.phonak.co.uk for further information.

^* Davis A. Audiovestibular Symptoms, Including Tinnitus, in the Ageing Population, ENT & Audiology news, 2009: 18(4):85-88

Unless you have looked at the link above this morning it is a totally new site and their idea is something rather different.

You provide a head and shoulders photo of your child (boy or girl from say two to ten) and then their head is Photoshopped into one of a range of personalised high gloss books. You should also provide Bookadoo their name and a few other facts; I will find out next week exactly what.

A very young child will recognise their image long before they can read the story can be read to them by a parent. Slightly older they can be a princess or a super hero but the basic facts and the photo idea is the same into a different scenario.

I intend to try this service and when I have the resulting book I will tell you just how good or bad the whole process works, so look for a full review in the next few weeks.

http://www.bookadoo.com/uk/

A host of television and radio stations has announced the title ‘International Children’s Day of Broadcasting 2010’ for the first time in Malaysia.  Children had been encouraged at the earliest opportunity to read the news including sports, host programmes or voice their views, it has been suggested by organizers a media conference at Wisma UN.

The theme for 2010 is ‘All Rights, All Children’ as the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) marks its 20th Anniversary.  AI Fm, Era Fm, BERNAMA Radio 24 with other radio stations has been participated at the event.

Farah Harith, BERNAMA Radio 24 producer and CSR chief said “This is our second CSR programme after the Chinese New Year programme and it gives an opportunity to children to know about the broadcasting fraternity and learn how a radio station functions."

She further added "Be sure to tune in to the children with our participating announcers Reza and Dina (Era Fm), Jack Lim (My Fm), Jin (hitz Fm) and Revathy (THR Raaga) on March 6 and 7."  Unicef said in a statement the children will be able to learn the responsibility and will become an active citizens.

When Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was released last year, it brought some harsh criticism from some quarters - including a particularly stinging attack from the Labour MP for Leicester East, Keith Vaz.

So you would think that when invited to partake in a Westminster e-forum debate on games with industry figures and other MPs that Mr Vaz, who has a history of moaning about the content of games being too violent for kids (despite the fact that violent games receive an 18 certificate - therefore no children should be playing them anyway), would be very keen to air his views. But you would be wrong......

At the last minute, Mr Vaz let organisers know that "he couldn't make it". Thankfully, the rest of the panel, including Keith Ramsdale from EA, Richard Wilson from Tiga, Ian Livingstone from Eidos (who was Vaz's last minute replacement) and MPs Tom Watson and Ed Vaizey were all on hand to take him to task.

MCV reported that Ian Livingstone ripped into Mr Vaz, mockingly reciting some of his rabble-rousing buzzwords; "Games are evil, games are terrible, games are turning children into killers" and so on, while Ed Vaizey, in reference to Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez's recent outburst on games, said Mr Vaz should change his name to "Keith Chavaz".

Joking aside, this situation typifies the soap-box politics of today; too many MPs talking in moral panic-inducing soundbites to win votes from their constituents about things they know little of or have little interest in. Want to know what sort of a guy Keith Vaz is? Take a look at our past article from November after the MP had been spouting off about Modern Warfare 2.