iPlayers? Sky Players? Will we ever miss anything ever again?

What the iPlayer is to the BBC, the Sky Player is to Sky. The last few years has seen us moving towards a new digital era with a faster pace than ever before. Sky Player offers programmes and movies from 32 of the top digital channels – and what’s better is that it is available for free, on your home computer.

One of the key benefits of Sky Player is the wide array of films that it has available. Whether it’s action films, comedies, romances, thrillers, musicals or westerns – Sky Player has them all, ready and waiting to be found. There’s now no excuse for missing your favourite films:

Here’s a quick review of five films that are currently available on Sky Player:

Vantage Point - An anti-terror summit in Salamanca gets off to the worst possible start when the US president (William Hurt) is shot in a crowded plaza.

Superhero Movie - Spider-Man’s in the firing line as super-spoofer Leslie Nielsen whips out his naked guns to take a few potshots at Hollywood ’s comic-based blockbusters.

I’m Not There - Oscar nominated ruminations on the life of Bob Dylan, where six characters embody a different aspect of the musician’s life and work.

The Immortal Voyage Of Captain Drake - Four years after the English fleet defeated the Spanish Armada, Sir Francis Drake and his bitter nemesis are still at war.

Deception - Membership of an elite Manhattan sex club leads to treachery and corruption for Ewan McGregor as he falls for Michelle Williams.

To learn more about Sky and the Sky Player, visit their site today!

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image credit: brymo

Tags: Digital TV, Sky by Mr Remote
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iPhones, HD televisions and complex webbery: just what does our digital future hold for us?

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Digital televisions sets, high-speed Internet, smart phones and virtual communities, you could forgive some of the more pedestrian members of society for finding this digital revolution a touch bewildering.

It’s easy to forget that a mere decade ago we would quite happily invest half an hour boosting up a sluggish Altavista page whilst the sound of mechanical beeps danced in the background; that mobile telephones would come with extendable aerials and, to the majority of us, Channel Five represented the zenith of choice.

Today, the digital landscape is unrecognisable. Jobs and revenue created by digital businesses are at the heart of the government’s scheme to drag the country out of the recession, and yesterday Lord Stephen Carter, the communications minister, announced that every home in Briton should expect the have access to a broadband system by 2012.

‘There is no sector with the possible exception of energy that the rest of the economy relies upon more than this one,’ Carter claimed as he published his interim Digital Britain report.

But what does this mean? What is digital Britain going to look like? Probably one of the most noticeable changes for the majority of Britons is going to be taking place on their television screens.

Firstly, Sky appears to be in the midst of a determined push on their Sky HD packages. High Definition television (or HD, for short) means that the visual quality of programming is improved by around four times. Sky aren’t stopping at this, however, and have hinted recently that within 24 months UK viewers could be treated to something as exotic as 3D broadcasts.

Then, with the soaring speeds of broadband Internet, we could well see more and more households adopting video streaming sites in place of traditional broadcasters. YouTube is the obvious frontrunner with a surge in the number of different channels, but other sites such as Vimeo have been causing a lasting stir online and are tipped to grow strongly this year.

Most people don’t know much about Vimeo. Currently it is the technological playground of individual users and small businesses, but there is every chance that over the next few years broadcasters such as the BBC and Sky will begin to invest more and more of their resources in online technology, dragging more viewers online, and exposing them more and more to sites like Vimeo and YouTube.

Whether it’s Sky, Vimeo, YouTube or the good old BBC, the digital juggernaut is already off down the hill, and where it ends up is probably going to surprise us all. For 2009, however, there is one thing of which Sky are certain, that High Definition TV isn’t just for the privileged, but for everyone.

Tags: BBC, Digital TV, Sky, Switchover by Mr Remote
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HeadDonistic: Has HD’s moment arrived?

Britain’s now awash with chatter about the digital switchover and Sky, it appears, are attempting to seize the moment by offering the cheapest entry to their HD broadcast system yet. Savings of £150 are to be scooped with the offer launched on 28th January, which offers potential customers a Sky+ HD box for just £49.

It’s a sensible move by Sky. With the economy hobbling along, Britons are increasingly choosing to stay at home rather than venturing out to expensive meals or parties. ‘Intertainment’ is the new word that has slipped into the English dictionary, describing people’s growing desire for home-based leisure activities, from cooking to television.

The acquisition of a Sky HD Box obviously slips into this category: because intertainment Sky HD certainly is. It means unrivalled vision and sound quality across an ever growing network of channels. Sports fans can settle down before the annual Six Nations ruck or the imminent resurrection of the Champions League, all in unprecedented detail. Those who prefer films have Hollywood’s award season on the horizon, replete with the Oscars and the Baftas and movie premieres from Pineapple Express to Tropic Thunder.

‘High Definition. Now it’s for everyone’, reads a banner on the Sky website. At less than £50, they certainly have a point. With offers like these around there is always the chance that we won’t be forced off to the local gastro pub each time we want to catch the latest Premier League battle or International showdown. To find out more information about this current offer, you can visit the Sky HD Deals.

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Image Credit: RoBeE on Flickr

Tags: Digital TV, Sky by Mr Remote
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Every hour, every day

Ever since the US military spoke about the “CNN effect” during the first Gulf War we have become increasingly attached to 24 hour rolling news.

Whether you are a 24 hour-a-day TV news junkie or just someone who skims across the internet before leaving work, the fact is our information gathering has changed forever.

Advanced technology means that the days of the nation all sitting down together at 6 o’clock to watch the same news programme is over; something that says a lot about how society has changed since we were all kids.

But does the increased choice of sources actually improve the quality of news content that comes our way?

Unfortunately the rush to be the first to get the story on their news platforms usually means that the days of assiduous fact checking and journalistic reflection have been subordinated to the war for ratings; journalists are finding themselves under increasing pressure to deliver the goods at high speed.

On the other hand you can argue that the plurality of information sources has increased the flow of information around the world to places that were previously denied access to news, Burma and China being a good case in point.

Ultimately, although having lots of choice can expose us to hearsay and speculation, it also makes our ability to decipher the truth more sophisticated, and that has to be a positive factor.

Tags: BBC, Digital TV, Programmes, Sky by John Hillman
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Anthony Pearce takes a breezy look at Sky HD

You can now enjoy the UK’s widest selection of high definition programmes with Sky+ HD. The Sky HD Pack has 31 HD Channels available: the largest selection by any HD TV Provider in the UK by some way.

Sky+ HD really brings entertainment to life offering up to 4 times better picture detail with superb colours and sound. You can enjoy everything from Sports and Movies, to Documentaries and Dramas.

If you’re into James Bond then make sure you don’t miss The Bond HD Weekend on Sky Movies HD starting on Friday 27th March.

Also coming in March on National Geographic HD is Kingdom of the Blue Whale which sees the best Blue Whales Scientists attempt to find and tag California Blue Whales.

If you’re more into your sports, then there is plenty to get your teeth into. England look to fight back in the Caribbean and the Champions League enters the later stages.

The 31 Sky+ HD Channels include:

Sky 1 HD, Sky Sports HD, EuroSport HD, Sky Movies HD, Discovery HD, National Geographic HD, History HD, MTV HD, SciFi HD, Disney Channel HD, Bio HD, BBC HD, 4HD

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Image Credit: James Jordan

Tags: High Definition TV, Sky by Anthony Pearce
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We all know who they are. United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool. They’re the four princes of English football: they’re the teams that share the spoils; they’re the fats cats with the big players and money spilling out of their pockets. But could this football season be different?

Many rivals have tried to supplant them. Tottenham and Newcastle are two notable examples, who between them have spent hundreds of millions of pounds on new players, fresh management teams and global scouting networks. But it hasn’t worked. The last team to break the monopoly of the ‘big four’ in the Premier League is Everton, and that was way back in 2005.

This year things look a little different. Here’s a snapshot of the Premier League table as we approach the end of February:

The obvious question is can Aston Villa maintain their position amongst the top four for another twelve games? Currently they are sat six points clear of Arsenal, and with thirty six points left there is a very good chance that things could change.

But the Aston Villa manager, Martin O’Neill, has slowly built a strong, committed team at Villa Park. The acquisition of Ashley Young may be his biggest success, but of equal note is the resurgence of players such as Martin Laursen and Gareth Barry and the emergence of others like Gabriel Agbonglahor and Curtis Davies.

But Arsenal are no dropouts. With Emmanuel Adebayor, Eduardo, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott on the verge of a return to the first team, and with the purchase of Andrei Arshavin – their fans can rightly expect an upturn in fortunes. The race for the Champions League could just be about to heat up.

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Who do you think is going to make it? Keep abreast of all the latest developments online and on digital television with Sky Sports and Sky Sports News.
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Lead image credit: Gordon Flood

Tags: Sky, Sport by Peter Moore
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10 Reasons Why February could be the perfect time to switch to Sky HD:

• Sky are now offering the cheapest ever price for their Sky+ service. A Sky+ Box is available for Free

• There are more channels than ever: Sky Movies HD, Sky Box Office HD, BBC HD and Channel 4 HD are some of the best.

• Sky offers the best coverage of The Ashes cricket tussle between England and Australia.

• Sky are currently offering a FREE £30 M&S voucher for new customers.

• Get a Sky Bundle and receive FREE weekend and evening calls.

• Get Free Sky+ with Free installation .

• Enjoy up to four times better picture quality, with superb Dolby sound.

• Set up your own home cinema with Sky Movies’ 12 film channels.

• Be the first to see the fourth season of Prison Break on Sky One

• Get closer to the action than ever before with Sky Sports HD as the Premier League comes to the crunch.

Learn more about Sky HD !

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* Lead image credit: Coda

Tags: BBC, Sky, Sport by Mr Remote
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Manchester United vs Tottenham Hotspur

This weekend sees the giants of Manchester United take on Championship minnows Spurs in the League Cup Final.

Harry Redknapp insists that they are not interested in this match as they are concentrating on the league. This is surely mind games as a bit of gleaming silverwear would provide a fantastic silver lining and possibly motivation, for what has been a very grey season so far.

Tottenham and Redknapp are definitely capable. With Pompey last season, Redknapp enjoyed FA cup glory and beat the Champions in the Semis.

United also will be dying to win the match, as they chase a historic 5 trophies. They must also be favourites being a massive 34 points beyond Spurs in the Premiership.

Some other interesting facts:

• Manchester United have only won the League Cup twice. Liverpool are the most successful club having lifted the trophy 7 times
• The cup has had many names: Milk Cup, Littlewoods Cup, Rubelows Cup, Coca-Cola Cup, Worthington Cup and finally Carling Cup
• Geoff Hurst scored 49 League Cup goals – 43 for West Ham and 6 for Stoke City

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Sky will be broadcasting the Carling Cup final live on Sky Sports this weekend.

Lead image credit: Image Shack

Tags: BBC, Digital TV, Sky, Sport by Daf Dent
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