Technofile:If you think you've seen everything on the internet, watch out for a bumper 2007. Still in trials but due to be launched soon is the Venice Project, a new business from Janus Friis and Niklas Zennstrom, the dynamic duo that brought you free telephone calls on Skype, writes Mike Butcher
The project is a new way to deliver television via your PC which, in theory, could mean millions of viewers tuning in to shows they've actually heard of - as opposed to YouTube clips - via the net, and with quality full-motion video.
Cleverly, "peer-to-peer" architecture is behind the system, which has been demonstrated to a select few before its launch - and which will feature encryption to ease the minds of the big TV companies who would rather control how and when their shows are viewed. If you want to be in with a chance to be one of the first testers of the service, sign up at theveniceproject.com.
• There are more rumblings that Google is intent on coming out with it's own mobile phone, possibly using a Chinese manufacturer to pre-install mobile versions of Google applications like Google Earth, Google Talk and Gmail on the handset.
Whether it is true or not remains to be seen, but Google certainly sees itself as a natural mobile player, as it has released mobile versions of its services. And who can forget Google chief executive Eric Schmidt talking about how mobile phones should be free, subsidised by advertisements, earlier this year.
However, even if a "Google phone" appears, the idea is most likely to be a clever marketing ploy since Google is ultimately about serving targeted advertising, not owning hardware.
• Nintendo has brought out stronger straps for its wireless remote controls after enthusiastic gamers started to accidentally throw the controls into the television, window or even at their gaming partner. The company has said it will replace all the existing straps for free and is now shipping the stronger straps with every new Wii console. A word of advice to Wii owners: please try to calm down.
• Agere's BluOnyx portable Bluetooth media streamer is a nice idea: load it up with up to 40GB of audio and video and then stream it all to your mobile phone via Bluetooth. That way you don't have to swap constantly between mobile and media player.
However, most people don't realise that using the wireless Bluetooth on your phone drains the battery, thereby downgrading the one thing you really need. Back to the drawing board for Agere then. Either that or wait for Apple's "iPhone" - rumoured to be appearing in January - to come out.
• Creative has launched the Live! Cam Optia, a USB webcam that attaches to your PC and can be used with Skype and Windows Live Messenger.
Featuring a high-quality glass lens (not plastic, unlike some) for better images, it also has Smart Face Tracking technology to keep you centred in the frame, as well as advanced effects to help you make your own home webcam videos. It comes with its own software and costs around €74.
