May 3

Train passengers and rail staff may soon have on-board internet connections.

Train operators and service providers from all over the world will meet in London next month to discuss progress in providing passengers and rail staff with the service.

The conference, which is being organised by technology consultancy BWCS, will focus on the means and the benefits of supplying broadband signals to trains.



Train Communications 2007 will examine the ways that new technologies are dramatically altering on-board communications systems.

Despite great progress in this sector and in the face of overwhelming public demand for such services, only a handful of train companies have so far managed to supply customers with an internet connection.

The latest example of this is the Heathrow Express, which now allows passengers to hook up to the internet as they travel between Paddington and London's major airport.

The response to this conference, which builds on a similar event last year organised by BWCS, has shown that there is tremendous interest in this topic amongst transport and companies and technology suppliers around the world.

One of the major themes of this year's conference will be the uses that operators can make of on-board train access to assist in security, safety and reducing staff costs. Delegates will discuss such issues as on-board CCTV being wirelessly relayed from train to trackside and wireless ticketing services.

The speakers will provide first hand accounts of the problems and pitfalls that can befall operators and explain how these can successfully be avoided and overcome. The proponents of all the main wireless access technologies will debate their strategies and solutions as well as discuss the future development of the industry.

Among those presenting at Train Communications Systems 2007 will be: Virgin Trains, Capitol Corridors Joint Power Authority (US Train Operator), VIA Rail (Canada), Swiss Rail, NSB (Norwegian Rail), GNER, Nokia Siemens Networks, Lloyd?s Register Rail, NS Trains, Icomera, Nomad Digital, T-Systems and many more.

Over two days, a combination of interactive workshops, panel sessions, presentations and networking sessions will explore the commercial and technical issues arising from the deployment of train WiFi around the world as well as other newer applications developed as wireless broadband on trains becomes a reality.

Train Communications 2007 will be held in central London on the 6th and 7th of June 2007.



Meanwhile, news from across the pond...

A cable television company has launched an investigation after small children ended up watching hardcore porn when they tuned into their favourite cartoon on the Disney Channel.

Paul Dunleavy, a Middletown, New Jersey, subscriber to cable giant Comcast, was stunned on Tuesday morning to find his five-year-old son watching something other than Handy Manny, a cartoon show about a bilingual Latino handyman and his talking tools.

"It was two people doing their thing, it was full-on and it was disgusting," the father-of-three told The New York Daily News.

"I couldn't believe it. We try to do the right thing to protect our kids from this stuff, and then they broadcast it on children?s TV."

Comcast spokesman Fred DeAndrea said last night that the programming error had occurred at around 9.30am on Tuesday. He described it as an "isolated issue in a local New Jersey facility".



Um... anyway, got a minute this week? Try your hand at these:

Title: Guitar Hero II with X-Plorer Guitar Controller

Platform: Xbox 360

RRP: £69.99

Hit count: 5/5

Review: Choosing to give any game top marks is a hard choice - especially when developers constantly up the stakes to outsell each other.

Thankfully though this was an easy choice given its style, look and overall fun factor.

Guitar Hero II is truly rock and roll. It's unique, tricky and ultimately MASSIVELY addictive! The cornerstone of it though is the fab guitar (ok it may not have the exact look of a Gibson or truly wail like a Strat but it works) which takes a bit of getting used to, but is paramount to fun.

Choose from a wild group of rockers and jam at concert venues that grow in size as your rock career progresses. Play with a friend and shred riffs cooperatively, or go head-to-head in multiplayer modes like Pro Face-Off.

Boasting over 70 songs (ranging from Heart-Shaped Box, Killing in the Name, Sweet Child O' Mine You Really Got Me and War Pigs to name but a few, the soundtrack is also a killer. With Xbox Live you can also grab new songs, themes, and picture packs and download exclusive songs and check where you rank on the Guitar Hero II leaderboard.

Like it, love it!



Title: ANCIENT WARS: SPARTA

Platform: PC

RRP: £29.99

Hit count: 3/5

Review: Ancient Wars: Sparta is based on the history of the ancient ages and their main nations. Spartans, Persians and Egyptians are fighting for influence around Asia Minor, Europe and North Africa.

Following historical events, the action takes place with different campaigns for all three races.

Sparta represents 3D strategy in real time with the newly developed Ancient Wars Engine (AWE), where the player will have to use each nation's powers to be superior over other competitors and build up a dominant culture and civilisation.

The main emphasis is on large-scaled battles and complex tactical manoeuvres.

Players can strategically equip soldiers with weapons of choice. Warriors can be equipped with weapons and shields, can be put on horses or on chariots and be given special abilities.

The player can collect abandoned weapons after battles or import powerful weapons from other cultures to build special units.

Fire, Wind etc. will effect the whole environment. Cities can be upgraded and turned to fortresses, workers gather resources to ensure a safe economy.

Ancient Wars: Sparta offers RTS fans all their favourite gameplay with a vast variety of new features and innovative options.





Title: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs The Soulless Army Platform: Sony PS2

RRP: £34.99

Hit count: 3/5

Review: The Shin Megami Tensei series has been incredibly well received throughout a number of releases in Japan.

Devil Summoner heralds an exciting departure for the series with a much more action orientated gaming experience.

Featuring a brand new 3rd person viewpoint and a stunning new historical setting, this latest installment pulls out all the stops to provide gamers with an intriguingly dark and incredibly involving RPG adventure.

Set within a stunningly realized early 1900's Japan, Devil Summoner exudes class and style through incredible settings, remarkable characters and an overall atmosphere that will evoke a sense of early Victorian locales and Sherlock Holmes style detective work.