Time to 'switch on' to the digital age

With now less than two years to go before the official 'switch on' of digital television in the region, it's now worth considering what options are available and how to go about setting yourself up for the digital revolution.
First off here's some quick fire dos and don'ts.

DOS:
a). Take a breath and don't panic - it's really not as complicated as it might seem;
b). Investigate either buying a digital set top box or renting one through the likes of Virgin Media or Sky;

DON'TS
a). Freak out - it's really really not that bad or complicated.
b). Throw out your televisions believing they are no good.

The biggest single fact that people get confused about is this. There is NO NEED to buy a new television in order to get digital TV.
On the contrary, virtually every set can be converted for digital, even black and white ones.
Many televisions now boast a built-in digital service which offers all the channels and features that a set top box would. However, the far cheaper alternative is to simply buy a set top 'digi' box.
It's as easy as this. Buy a set top box from Tesco for around £20. Plug in set top box to wall socket, connect analogue or HDMI cable to pack of TV, switch on and... welcome to the digital age. That's all it is. Easy huh?
People often get confused that it's all down to the television but it's not. It is how you receive the signal that matters.
So here's the technical bit that should now make sense: "With digital TV, sound and pictures from the broadcaster are converted into ‘bits’ of information and sent through an aerial, satellite, telephone line or cable.
This digital signal is then turned back into pictures and sound by a digital box or a digital TV set."
Starting in 2008 and ending in 2012, TV services in the UK will go completely digital, TV region by TV region. This process is called digital switchover.
"The UK's old television broadcast signal (known as 'analogue') is being switched off and replaced with a 'digital' signal.
Any TV set or video recorder that’s not converted to digital when the switchover takes place will no longer receive TV programmes."
Right, back to the fun stuff that most people WILL be interested in... digital television means MORE CHANNELS! Woo hoo!
Yep, I'm talking ITV2 with its much-improved football coverage; FilmFour with its, um, films; and Sky Sports News for its fab Soccer Saturday show.
So if you haven't already done so now is the time to 'switch on' to the fact that digital television is coming.
In a bid to aid people in the West Country with the switchover to digital television, a new online Postcode Checker has been launched to provide people with essential information on what will happen and when.
Digital UK, the organisation leading the change across the region, is providing people in the Plymouth with a new service which gives the low down on when they switch, whether the channels will be good quality or not, what digital platforms there are on offer, what digital services they may already be able to receive or what they are likely to receive – right down to their own address.
The new online service can be found at www.digitaluk.co.uk.
The West Country TV region covers all of Cornwall and Devon, as well as parts of Somerset and Dorset and will be one of the first parts of the country to switch to digital in 2009.
Latest research from Digital UK and Ofcom shows that only 22 per cent of TV viewers in the West Country know when they will need to make the switch.
The new Postcode Checker will be an important resource to help people prepare in time, particularly as the process will happen transmitter by transmitter, with two separate switchover dates within the West Country.
Plymouth television viewers may receive their TV pictures from the Caradon Hill transmitters which will switch in the third quarter of 2009.

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Meanwhile, have you downloaded the latest Radiohead album yet and helped make history?
In an idea which screams self promotion and brilliance at the same time, the alt-rockers are offering fans the chance to download their latest studio album 'In Rainbows' for whatever price they wish.
The website (www.inrainbows.com) is quirky and very easy to use and has been set up completely separate to Radiohead's main site.
All users have to do is go through the site, add the album to the their 'basket' and type in how much they'd like to pay. (It's worth noting that users can type in £0.00 and still receive the download).
Oh, it's also worth mentioning that the album is AMAZING!

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Too much for the brain? Why not simmer down and have a blast at these new titles:


Title: Stranglehold.
Platform: Xbox 360.
RRP: £49.99.
Hit count: 4/5.

Review: Remember how action packed and fab the film Face Off was?
You know, the one starring John Travolta and Nic Cage where they swap each other's faces...? (I knew you sickos would remember it for that!).
So yeh, the man behind all the action was a certain John Woo who has just had a mighty hand in the sequences for the above title. Mr Woo is simply, Mr Wow.
Imagine a gun man running across a room and jumping onto a trolley continuing to fire as he shoots across the room and you will get the picture.
Stranglehold is much like that, brimming with gun shots with more action than you could shake a martial arts expert's stick at.
Graphically it's not the best of the best, but the playability and style makes up for it.
A sure fire winner on all platforms.


Title: Skate.
Platform: Xbox 360.
RRP: £49.99
Hit count: 5/5.

Review: At last, a skating game that has the balls to take on the might of Tony Hawk and his gaming empire.
Though the audacity to do such a thing deserves top rating alone, the title itself scores highly on the gaming front.
The graphics are as smooth as you like which make grinding the sh*t out of your deck a pure delight.
What's best about the game though is the gameplay itself.
The manufacturers describe the game as the "closest thing to skateboarding without actually putting your feet on a board," and by and large they are right.
The innovative controls take full advantage of the dual analog sticks with gamers able to sculpt and craft tricks that define their own individual style.
It means that no two tricks will ever be the same!I'm shocked to say 'move over Tony, there's a new kid on the block'.


Title: Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08.
Platform: Sony PSP.
RRP: £34.99.
Hit count: 2/5.

Review: The thing that immediately put me off this, the latest in the Tiger video game series, was the television advert.
I mean I can understand the developers placing a computer animated character alongside a real life actor to show off the realistic graphics, but surely you actually need GOOD graphics to really pull off the stunt.
Tiger and the other characters just appear slightly unreal. It's like taking a PS1 game and playing it on a PS3 or Xbox 360.
While graphically it is ultimately better on the next generation consoles, the poorness shows on the lesser platforms.
The gameplay is ok, with a new 'shot confidence' feature which lasts throughout career mode and ultimately shows you how to improve things.
The title also boasts the largest ever number of courses to choose from which is a bonus.
With this one you can't help but think that the developers really are riding on Tiger's success... which, it has to be said, appears to be swaying slightly.