Sky News has admitting hacking the email accounts of members of the public to research stories, following allegations made by a Guardian report.

The satellite news channel, part owned by News Corp, says the hacks were authorised by senior editorial staff during the infamous "canoe man" case of 2008.

In a blog post on Thursday, Sky defended the decision, claiming the invasion of private accounts was 'editorially justified' and 'in the public interest' and that the information was passed on to the police.  read more »

It's all change at the top for BSkyB, which has announced that its chairman James Murdoch is to stop heading up the company.

The news comes after what has been a tumultuous few months for the entire Murdoch media empire.

The move, which has been seen by many as inevitable, is the second time Murdoch has had to resign from a high-ranking position within one of his father's companies. Back in February, he resigned as executive chairman of News International after the closure of the News Of The World in light of hacking allegations.  read more »

Do we need higher frame rates?

What does 'cinematic' mean? Is softness, film grain or the occasional blur or judder on a cinema screen 'filmic' or just plain old-fashioned, out-dated and inherently weak, technically speaking?

There's a movement in Hollywood to start shooting in high frame rates, and it could change the way we look at films forever.

At present, the argument goes, we're used to seeing films in the cinema look a certain way, and equating that experience with how all films should look.  read more »

Google has updated its Google Maps application with more detailed 3D models of major landmarks across the world.

Many 3D models of landmarks already existed on Google Maps, but the revision sees many of the blocky models of old replaced with more detailed ones that make use of curves.

We can only assume that the Google team has been busy practising making models on its own SketchUp software.

The changes make for more attractive maps, but could also prove useful when navigating by making landmarks easier to recognise.  read more »

One More Thing: CIA to tap into smart homes

Stop worrying gadget fans, the wait is over and what you have been looking forward to for like forever has arrived.

No, not the new iPad silly – One More Thing is here to not only brighten up your Friday and get you ready for the freakin' weekend but also to prove that good things don't have to come in a 2048x1536 resolution.  read more »

Twas the moment before an Apple launch and all through the web, not a troll was stirring, not even a pleb… yes it's today's One More Thing which has been cunningly posted just before the internet goes crazy about Apple's new shiny thing.

Hopefully you will agree that it has been filled with 10 remarkable stories which will help you pass the time before Tim Cook enters stage left with a gadget that'll change everything… again.  read more »

Toshiba has announced the update to its VL series of passive 3D TVs, unveiling its new VL9 TVs at its Partner Summit 2012 conference.

The VL9 series is at the top of its Smart 3D LED TV line-up and offers polarised 3D viewing to consumers - and comes without the company's Regza branding, which has been dropped in the UK.

As this is the top of the range TV it's interesting that Toshiba has opted to add passive 3D to the range, but it told TechRadar that it wasn't just about the 3D but the bigger processor inside the TV and the fact it offers 200Hz screen technology.  read more »

Toshiba has revealed it is has brought its glasses-free 3D technology to its Satellite range for the first time, with the the arrival of the Toshiba Satellite P855 series laptop.

The laptop was unveiled at Toshiba's 2012 Partner Summit and although Toshiba is being a little coy on some of the specs, we do have a little bit of information about what you will see when the P855 lauches in the UK.

 read more »

The HTC Evo 3D release date might have been ages ago, but it has suddenly become attractive again thanks to a mighty price drop.

The phone, which once retailed for over £500, is now a snip at £207 from everybody's favourite bum-spanking retailer, Asda.  read more »

Toshiba has announced the arrival of the Toshiba Satellite P855 series laptop, which brings the company's glasses-free 3D technology to its mid-price laptops for the first time.

Announced at Toshiba's 2012 Partner Summit, with TechRadar in attendance, the laptop offers a brushed aluminium finish, with Harrman Kardon speakers, the latest Intel Series CPU, Nvidia 630 GT series graphics and it also comes with a 15.6-inch screen.

Toshiba has also remade its trackpad to free up some space. The trackpad is actually bigger as it does away with buttons and brings click-down technology instead.  read more »