List Of 5 Best HDTVs

In many ways, choosing a practical HDTV is simply about procuring an appropriate display for your AV needs and living space. While most modern HDTVs aren't yet dirt cheap, bargains can be found if you're willing to do the legwork and research. Before you head out to that electronics store, let iMobilePost equip you with the list of Top 5 Best HDTVs. 

The best HD TVs in both 2D and 3D

Panasonic P50VT30

Performance: This Viera Connect TV produces outstandingly fine 3D and 2D pictures. It's the best plasma TV you can buy and comes with Freeview and Freesat HD, plus wireless connectivity

Pros: Super-smooth 3D and 2D. DLNA connectivity and an included Wi-Fi adaptor. Freeview and Freesat HD tuners built-in

Cons: Audio output could be improved

Specifications

Screen 50-inch, 1920x1080

Inputs 4x HDMI, 2x Scart, component, composite, 3xUSB, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, SD slot

Dimensions 1202x733x50mm

Price: £1764

Philips 46PFL9705H

Performance: This cutting-edge set includes NetTV and a Wi-Fi browser that lets you explore the whole web, not just app content. 3D-ready via a transmitter

Pros: Superb 2C and 3D picture. Exceptional sonics. Open internet browsing

Cons: External 3D extra. No Freeview HD

SPECIFICATIONS

Screen: 46-inch, 1920x1080

Input: 4x HDMI, 2x Scart, component, composite, USB, ethernet, Wi-Fi, SD slot 
Dimensions: 1088x671x69mm

Price: £1100

Website: www.philips.co.uk

SAMSUNG UE46C8790

Performance: Very thin yet bulging with features, this 46-inch 8000 Series set looks good and produces razor-sharp results in both 2D and 3D. A burgeoning selection of online channels is a bonus

Pros: Stunning visuals. DLNA networking

Cons: Settings require adjustment. Price

SPECIFICATIONS

Screen: 46-inch, 1920x1080

Inputs: 4x HDMI, Via dongle: 2x Scart, component, composite, PC, ethernet

Dimensions: 1092x653x26mm

Price: £1834

Website: www.samsung.co.uk 

PANASONIC TX-P42G20

Performance: This set is a bona fide bargain, with 42 inches of outstanding hi-def picture. THX-certified audio and both Freeview HD and Freesat tuners

Pros: Reasonably priced and well connected, Excellent picture quality

Cons: Dull interface, Could be slimmer

SPECIFICATIONS

Screen: 42-inch, 1920x1080

Inputs: 4x HDMI, 2x scart, component composite, Ethernet, 2x USB, PC, digital audio out, 3.5rrm audio, SD card slot 
Dimensions: 1.030x650xS0mm

Price: £740

Website: www.panasonic.co.uk

SAMSUNG UE46C7000

Performance: This 3D TV crams in essential features such as LED backlighting, Freeview HD and BBC iPlayer. Now it's slightly older, it's verging on affordable, too

Pros: Slimline, sexy looks. Freeview HD, very good picture quality and 3D-ready

Cons: 8000 Series is even better/slimmer

SPECIFICATIONS

Screen: 46-inch, 1920x1080

Inputs: 4x HDMI, SD slot Via dongle: Scart, PC, composite, ethernet

Dimensions: 1,092x653x27mm

Price: £1660

Website: www.samsung.co.uk

Fujitsu Lifebook P771 With Bay Projector

Talk about innovation. Most of us connect our laptops to an external projector, but Fujitsu took it a step further and has infused a projector within its new laptop. The projector comes as a separate accessory for P771. 

This is the first of its kind projector, which can be inserted in the modular bay of a notebook. The Bay Projector converts the LIFEBOOK into a fully-equipped mobile office. It gives an advantage of not carrying the cables around as well. This 210g light weight projector works almost on every surface. 

It consumes less power, quieter and is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Price: TBA
Release Date: TBA

Source Link

Best iPad Keyboards

Let your fingers do the walking with these best iPad and iPad 2 keyboards.

Apple has always said that the iPad isn't meant to replace a conventional laptop computer. Yet the iPad's lightweight and compact design does make it a really good portable word-processing device -especially when using apps such as Apple's own Pages, or even the Numbers spreadsheet.

But while the iPad's on-screen keyboard is fine for tapping out quick notes and emails it's not really ideal for serious typing. The glass screen doesn't provide any tactile feedback, and the fact that there are three separate screen modes for the QWERTY keys, numbers and additional symbols is constantly frustrating.

Apple's own iPad Keyboard Dock is an obvious choice for iPad users, but it's not particularly portable, so a number of manufacturers have produced more portable wireless keyboards that make use of the iPad's built-in bluetooth wireless networking features. Ofcourse, the iPad is technically capable of working with any Bluetooth keyboard, but we've focused on keyboards that were specifically designed for use with the iPad, and which provide features such as a 'Home' button for the iPad's main home screen, or for controlling music playback.

Some of these keyboard designs are ingenious rather than practical, but they all have features that will appeal to different types of users, so here's our guide to the best iPad keyboards currently available.

iPad keyboard dock

Keyboard combo: Great for your desk, but not for your backpack.

Company: apple

URL: http://store.apple.com

Price: $69.00

Wireless Keyboard

No Need to Dock: Portable Bluetooth alternative without the bolt-on unit

company: apple

URL: http://store.apple.com

Price: $69.00

Mini Bluetooth Keyboard

Thumb-typing is the key with this 'mini' option.

company: Expansys

URL: www.expansys.com

Price: £20.99

KeyFolio iPad Bluetooth Keyboard Case 

In case: The KeyFolio combines a Folio case with a Full QWERTY keyboard.

company: Kensington 

URL: http://us.kensington.com

Price: $64.55

Buy from Amazon At $35.44 (35%) Discount.

Zaggmate iPad Keyboard

ZiggZagg: The tough aluminium keyboard case protects your iPad screen.

company: Zagg

URL: http://www.zagg.com

Price: $99.99

Genie iPad Keyboard

Power pack: The Genie has a handy rechargeable battery.

company: voixltd

URL: http://www.voixltd.com/store/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=34

Price: £39.99

There's not much doubt that the keyboard that works best with the iPad is Apple's own iPad Keyboard Dock. Most of these keyboards have basic iPad controls, such as a 'Home' key and the ability to control music playback, but the iPad Keyboard Dock can also put the iPad to sleep, wake it up, let you viewyour stored photos or activate the iPad's built-in search function. The integrated dock also lets you charge the iPad or connect it to speakers and other iPad accessories, making it an ideal base for your iPod at home or in your office.

But the big disadvantage with the iPad Keyboard Dock is that it's not terribly portable. The obvious alternative, of course, is Apple's Wireless Keyboard. This is a good choice, but was primarily designed for use with Macs, and doesn't have the same range of iPad-specific controls as the Keyboard Dock.

If you're looking for a portable keyboard then you've got several non-Apple alternatives. The KeyFolio From Kensington is a good idea, combining a keyboard and protective case in a single unit, but the cramped, rubbery keyboard is disappointing. The Zaggmate is a little more practical, providing a tough protective shell and a slightly larger keyboard, but still didn't really allow us to type at full speed.

However, for all-round portability and usefulness, the Zagg iPad keyboard with case has the most going for it. You have to hit the 'Function' (Fn) key to activate the iPad control keys. And it's much more portable than Apple's offering, which makes it a better overall solution in our book.

If you're working in an office then the iPad Keyboard Dock is the best choice, but the Zagg iPad keyboard narrowly nudges ahead of the Apple Wireless Keyboard For mobile use.


New Additions:


Sena Keyboard Folio for Apple iPad 2

The Sena Keyboard folic gives the iPad notebook functionality. It’s available in several three different colors. 

Price: $149.95

How To Check Blood Pressure With Your iPhone - Withings Blood Pressure Monitor And App

Wrap the business end of this ground your arm and plug it in to your iPhone. Results, including your systole, diastole and BPM, can be uploaded to your Mac or PC so you compare blood pressure graphs with friends and loved ones.

The Clincher: Not having a heart attack is always fairly agreeable to us.

Works on

iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4

iPad and iPad 2

iPod Touch

Availability: USA and Europe

Price: $129

Web: http://www.withings.com

The Beginner’s HDTV Buying Guide

Buying a HDTV isn't as effortless as it seems. Firstly, shoppers have to consider the various television technologies available before making a decision. Secondly, it's also hard to tell what these TVs really offer when every screen is tuned to look their best on display shelves. If you care to browse through the next few pages, allow us to take you through their inner workings so as to understand the latest TV tech better.

The Understanding HDTV Technologies

LCD with CCFL Backlight

LCD with CCFL, or Liquid Crystal Displays with Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp, are one the most affordable forms of HD televisions in the market.

For this LCD breed, an image is formed by using a combination of color filters, LCD shutters and a light source. The amount of light passing through is determined by the shutters, while the fluorescent lamps act as the light source. LCD TVs with CCFL Backlights are by tar the most wide-spread panels in use today, and they've since replaced CRTs as the standard for televisions.

LCD with LED Lighting

Primary difference between the two technologies is how the lighting effect is achieved. While CCFLs produce electrons through thermionic emissions, LEDs are semiconductor materials which emit light when a current is passed through- Due to the intrinsic qualities of LEDs, they allow manufacturers greater control over the lighting and how it is diffused across the LCD. Currently, the two most common configurations for LED lighting is either a full array or edge-mounted variant. The usage of LED backlighting also allows for an extremely thin HDTV profile.

Plasma Display Panel

Plasma, in physics, refers to a gaseous state of matter with ionized particles. Essentially, a Plasma Display Panel consists of glass plates with a mixture of noble gases and mercury. As the electrodes in the panel provide voltage, the mercury gas is converted into plasma, which eventually gives off UV photons. In turn, this excites and causes the phosphorous electrons to produce light. This feature is what sets Plasma Display Panels apart from LCD televisions. While the latter require a form of external lighting to function, Plasma panels generate their own light.

Sony VAIO VPC-S145

Sony has recently revealed its latest notebook named Sony VAIO VPC-S145. 

Sony VAIO VPC-S145 Notebook is powered by a Intel Core i5 processor, 1GB VGA, a 4GB of RAM, a 14.1-inch LED-backlight display and 500GB hard drive.

Sony VAIO VPC-S145 is fast, lightweight, great battery life, reliable and fast boot time.

The Sony VAIO VPC-S145 laptop is available for sale on Best Buy with starting price at $999.99 USD.

Sony VAIO VPC-S145 Notebook Specs:

Processor: 2.53GHz Intel Core i5
Display: 14.1-inch
Graphics: 1GB VGA
RAM: 4GB
500 GB HDD

Web camera
HDMI output
Three USB ports 

Shape Audio's Organic Harmony Speakers - Cutting Edge Technology

There some gadgets that blur the lines between art and technology. The Shape Organic Harmony speakers fall into that category. Each individual unit is cast by hand utilizing gold, silver and bronze making them equal parts sculpture and speakers. Taking their cue from nature, the design eschews the usual box-like cabinet for a tall, semi-cylindrical profile.

 The organic Harmony has built-in 1000 W class D amplifiers as well as room correction technology, which means that it does perform its basic function extremely well along with looking extremely push.

shapeaudio.com

Nokia N8 Review

These days, if you’re looking for a good new mobile handset, the truth of the matter is that you have to look at a smart phone; anything less will leave you without any kind of edge.

Nokia have long been known - particularly in South Africa - as a top mobile handset brand. But when the “iPhone vs Blackberry” battle started up, some of the other brands - including Nokia - were left reeling just a little. No matter, though, because the brand has caught up quickly, with a range of superior handsets forming part of the N series.

Being a smart phone, the Nokia N8 is about far more than making calls. A host of features - most of which are pretty standard, or even expected - are available from the device, including an extremely punchy 12 megapixel camera, built with Carl Zeiss optics. A very decent internal flash also supplements the camera (decent for a phone camera, that is.)

As a fully integrated device, the Nokia N8 is a brilliant option. It offers everything one would expect, from web surfing and application downloads (via the Ovi service) through to HD video recording and other multimedia functionality; audio playback, video playback, image viewing and the like. The home screen feels a little cluttered, but the responsiveness of the touch screen makes up for that.

Aside from the screen, the Nokia N8 offers very few other buttons. Aside from power, camera, volume and locking controls, only one other button is to be found - a button that switches between the home screen and an application list.

Aside from internal memory, which weighs in at 16GB, the N8 can also handle high-capacity Micro SD cards (up to 32GB). That’s fairly chunky for a phone, but it does require an additional purchase.

Debates about OS aside, the Nokia N8 makes for a versatile, fairly handy device (let’s be honest, there’s no such thing as a practically sized smart phone). It’s quite capable, and finds itself in the middle ground of being both a decent business and entertainment device, without leaning too much one way or the other. Its web access is decent enough, depending on your service provider of course, and its applications allow the user to take full advantage of not only internet browsing, but also email and social networking.

Quite importantly, the Nokia N8 is a solidly constructed phone. When using the menus, a small vibration initially led me to believe that something might be loose in the device – it just feels odd, to be honest - but the feature was purely there to indicate that the phone was reacting to my inputs.

With a good brand name behind it, this is a decent option, if you’re not looking for one of the trendier operating systems.

Verdict:

A well-built, versatile and fun mobile handset from a trusted manufacturer.

PROS:

• User friendly

• Large screen

• Versatile

CONS:

• Symbian isn’t the most trendy OS these days

TECH SPECS:

• 3.5” screen

• Symbian OS

• 16mp camera

• HD Video recording

• OVI suite

• Scratch-proof

Manufacturer: Nokia

Distributor: Nokia

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Review

If there is one series that made a name for Bethesda, it has to be the Elder Scrolls. These games go back ages, and have struck a cord with fans of action based fantasy role playing pretty much since the word go. The long awaited fifth instalment in the series will likely do the same.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will take gamers on an epic journey as they enter the reimagined world of
Tamriel at a time of crisis. While political squabbles fill the void left after the murder of the King of Skyrim, an ancient evil awakens to threaten the world once more.
OK, it might not sound like the most original plotline but, let’s be honest, original fantasy plots are extremely rare. What the game will offer, though, is an intriguing open-world fantasy adventure (if the series’ track record is anything to go by) complete with an all new engine driving it.

Players will have ultimate flexibility with tons of weapons, abilities and spells to choose from as they adventure is a world that developers are promising us is like nothing we have seen before.
Oh, yeah, and did we mention the dragons?
Those extra-cool mythological creatures will be making a return to the franchise, and players will learn to harness their secrets and powers. Nothing better than being a bad-ass, right?

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Release Date: Nov 2011 

Platforms: PC, PS3, X360

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Nathan Drake, that dashing adventurer that fans have come to love in the first two instalments of the Uncharted franchise, will be making his return fairly soon, thanks to developers Naughty Dog.
This time around a search for a 16th century artefact will take him to the heart of the Arabian Desert – with lots of action along the way.


The developers are promising a lot from this title but, knowing the track history of this franchise, those promises won’t be empty. We’re talking bigger set pieces, more action, improved physics and visual effects, better graphics, tweaked control… the whole shebang.
And then, naturally, there will be the multiplayer aspect of the title, allowing up to ten players to engage in Team Death Match sessions (5 vs 5), as well as eight player free for all and six player Three Team Death Match (2 vs 2 vs 2, as it were).


Player matching will be improved, and the awesome cinematic feel of the single player campaign will also be introduced into the multiplayer sessions.
Treasure hunting is what Drake does best, and the player will be able to collect a variety of items that will unlock new stuff within the game. Sounds good to us.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception Release Date: November 1, 2011
Platform: PlayStation 3

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception Video:

Super Mario 3D Video Game Preview

Super Mario is coming to the 3DS and gives the impression that it’s going to be another Super Mario Galaxy, but for the 3DS.
The level designers from the Galaxy games have been brought in to design the stages in this game as well. The reality is that the 3D here is actually only 2.5D. All the modelling and objects are in 3D and the 3D effect of the game is great but the stages lead to more corridor style paths through the stage and not 3D world effects. There aren’t even any wide open space like those in Super Mario 64.
This, combined with a few bad camera angles (locked in place) will make the game hard to play, if not particularly difficult.
It is a good idea to have a new Mario title on the 3D, but I do feel that some new Mario fans, wanting the next best thing in the game and having played Galaxy, will be a bit disappointed.
The tail on the end of the logo was shown to us at the GDC, but they were keeping back what it is until E3. It’s a raccoon tail and Mario has new suits to turn into. It comes from the old Tanooki suit but let’s not dwell on that because the new one does not let you fly. There is a bit of a glide but the main use of the tail is to bash enemies.

Super Mario Release Date: Q4 2011 

Platforms: 3DS

Sony NEX-VG10E Handycam

There’s a strange duality in capturing images, at times; people will go out and get the best still camera money can buy, but will settle for an entry level video camera. They might be sporting the latest DSLR camera, with a bag full of lenses, and will make do with a video camera that fits in their pocket and shoots footage that is just barely HD via a completely automated system.

But if people are willing to take the time to perfect their photography skills, surely they would do the same for videography? Perhaps the lack of knowledge, in terms of products, is the problem. Or perhaps they are intimidated by high end video cameras, both in terms of technicality and price.

There is a category, though, that sits between the two in almost ebery kind of technology, video cameras included. One could call it “semi-professional”, or could even resort to the horrible, made-up term “pro-sumer”. Either way, Sony have a Handycam that sits perfectly in this niche - it is easy to use, yet allows for a degree of control and versatility that lower range video cameras come nowhere near.

The Sony NEX-VG10E Handycam sits on the line between cheap and easy, and expensive and complicated. It has numerous features that allow for ease of use, without stripping away control from the user.

It is an area that we don’t often see popular goods in, at least not in terms of video cameras. But anyone who takes their videography seriously, or would even just like the ability to experiment and play with various techniques should seriously consider this kind of video camera.

The unit is far bigger than most ‘pocket’ video cameras, thanks in part to the fact that it sports a massive lens.

This lens has a great zoom function, controlled by a lens ring similar to a DLSR zoom lens. Another ring can be used to manually focus. And, best of all, the lens can be interchanged with Sony E-mount lenses. In fact, with the right adapter, Sony A-mount lenses, like those used by the Sony Alpha DSLR range of cameras, can also be used.

Naturally, the Sony NEX-VG10E Handycam shoots full 1080p resolution. It can also shoot still images at 14 megapixels, which adds a greater degree of versatility to it. Images and video are stored on SD card, and the device can make use of SD XC cards, for that added capacity.

In addition to an interchangeable lens, the unit is armed with a high quality 4 capsule stereo microphone. Video can be filmed via a fold out LCD screen, or via an adjustable top-mounted view finder. In addition, the LCD screen can be used for video playback. Behind the screen there are a host of controls, which the videographer can use to adjust shutter speed, f-stop, white balance and a whole lot more. Of course, they can also choose automatic shooting modes, if they wish.

For a rather technical video camera, the Sony NEX-VG10E Handycam is surprisingly user-friendly. Anyone who wants to take video that is better than run-of-the-mill should seriously look at this device... it’s a brilliant gateway to greater things.

Verdict:

This ‘semi-pro’ video camera is perfect for those who want to further their videography skills…

PROS:

• Very versatile

• User-friendly

• Awesome quality

CONS:

• Price

Sony NEX-VG10E Handycam Tech Specs:

• Full HD

• Interchangeable lenses

• 4 Capsule stereo mic

• 14mp still images

• SD XC compatible

• E-mount lens Compatible

Manufacturer: Sony

Distributor: Sony

Price: $2,149.00

Sony NEX-VG10E Handycam Deals

B&H Photo-Video-Audio             Free shipping          $2,149.00

Amazon.com                                                           $1,999.95

Buy.com                                    Free shipping          $2,099.00

Cameta.com                                                            $1,999.95

Bioshock Infinite Video Game Preview

2K Games’ very popular Bioshock series is about to emerge from the murky depths and go soaring into
the heavens. Yes, that’s right: when Bioshock Infinite hits shelves next year, the player will no longer be exploring the sunken city of Rapture. Rather, they will be transported to a city in the clouds, the floating city of Columbia.

Set in 1912, Bioshock Infinite will see the player take on the role of an ex-Pinkerton agent searching
for a young woman imprisoned in the lost city of Columbia.
“In order to explore the floating city of Columbia, we needed an entirely new engine,” said Irrational
Games creative director Ted Levine. “To bring Elizabeth to life, we had to build brand-new animation
and AI systems. To create wide-ranging indoor and outdoor firefights at 30,000 feet, we had to
rethink, rebuild and expand the BioShock arsenal. The only thing gamers can be certain of is this: the rules of the BioShock universe are about to change.”

It all sounds rather thrilling, and seeing the franchise move from its previous location to an all new setting is great news. There’s nothing wrong with Rapture as a location, but keeping Bioshock fresh will make this new instalment that much more exciting.

Bioshock Infinite Release Date: 2012 

Platforms: PC, PS3, X360

Bioshock Infinite Screenshots










Bioshock Infinite Video

Solar Power - How Does it Actually Work?

As humans start to expand their civilisation, the need has grown bigger for more power and energy. A bit of a buzz word these days is being ‘green’. Not green as in eating too much broccoli, but being green in the sense that someone is aware of the environment and that it needs to be protected.
Without sounding preachy, one of the many ways in which we can ensure that we don’t run out of power is by using renewable energy sources. These come in many forms, such as wind power, hydroelectricity and recycling, but one source that has come to be the most prominent is solar energy.

In layman’s terms, solar energy is the practice of harnessing the power of sun’s rays to create an energy source. A few decades ago it would have almost seemed impossible to do, let alone conceive, but as humans evolve in their own special way, we develop the most fantastic ideas and eventually put them into practice.
So, solar power is using sunlight to power electrical goods. But how does it actually work? How does holding a shiny piece of metal in the summer sun give us energy to operate household goods and even cars?
Well, to start out, there are two different kinds of capturing the sun’s energy - either directly, by using photovoltaics, or indirectly, by using concentrated solar power (CSP). There is a third, splitting water into hydrogen fuel, but we won’t be focussing on that. Concentrated solar power makes use of a whole lot of mirrors to focus the sun’s light onto a small beam. These in particular are the giant radar-looking dishes that one would find in the middle of the desert.

For photovoltaics, the process involves converting light into an electrical current using the photoelectric effect - electrons that are emitted from a consequence of their absorption of energy. This method is fairly popular. We already know that CSP concentrate light onto a beam, but it’s a bit more technical than that. Using the mirrors and a tracking system, the heat created from the concentration of rays is used as a heat source for a conventional power plant.
It all sounds very impressive, but the real magic lies within photovoltaics. It’s probably the best known method, and everybody has, at some time or another, seen the black solar cells it requires. From the very useful Wikipedia we can learn that “Photovoltaics (PV) is a method of generating electrical power by converting solar radiation into direct current electricity using semiconductors that exhibit the photovoltaic effect”.

These semiconductors that they are referring to are the solar panels that we know all too well – they’re the same kind that are used to power solar geysers. This system is also the fastest growing power-producing technology, and already provides power to more than a 100 countries.

The solar panels consist of hundreds of solar cells that convert the sun’s lights into electricity, and are thus a solid state electrical device, using photovoltaic effect - the magic behind the generation. As we said before, the photovoltaic effect uses energy from electromagnetic radiation of a very short wavelength (sun light) to produce power. It gets all very technical at this point, but “the photoelectric effect requires photons with energies from a few electronvolts to over 1 MeV in high atomic number elements.” In terms of light-matter interaction, the photovoltaic effect is considered to be a low-energy phenomenon. But for laymen like us, the process can somewhat simplified. When sunlight hits a solar panel, the silicon semiconductor (cells) absorbs a portion of the light and its energy. When it strikes, the electrons in the silicon begin to flow freely as they are knocked around, and electrical fields start to herd the electrons in a certain direction.

The flow of the electrons is what creates the electrical current, and can be trapped or gathered by using metal contact points at the bottom of the solar panel. Using the sun’s energy, the electricity can be used immediately.

The Rise And Fall Of The Floppy Disc

I recall, in the early 1980s, when my cousin introduced me to the world of computers. It was amazing for the time, although the clunky boxes and monochromatic monitors of the day don’t much resemble what we have these days. The computer he showed me could do lots of different things, which were amazing for the time… and all of the programs it ran were housed on great big 5 ¼ inch discs.

The floppy disc was the standard for data storage and transfer for almost 30 years. The design of these discs was very simple, which made them easy to use and effective. A magnetic storage medium was housed in a plastic casing, which in turn was lined with fabric to prevent scratches and remove dust. Earlier floppy discs really were floppy, housed in a flexible plastic sleeve and measuring 8 inches at first, and later 5 ¼ inches. Later, 3 ½ inch discs were introduced, housed in a hard plastic case with a metal slider covering the disc’s access area, for added protection.

The first floppy discs were invented by IBM’s David L Noble in the late 1960s, and became commercially available in 1971. At the time they could store a whopping 79.7kb of data. Within five years, this capacity had grown to 6.2mb.

At the same time, though, 5 ¼ inch discs were introduced, and quickly became the preferred format of manufacturers and users, even though they could store less data than their 8 inch cousins.

In 1982, the death knell of the 5 ¼ inch disc sounded when the first 3.5 inch discs appeared. They were smaller, tougher and could potentially store much more data than any disc before.

Through the 1980s and 90s, these discs became ubiquitous, thanks to their increasing capacities and the relative ease with which they could be used to distribute software, store data and create back-ups. By the late 1990s, 3.5 inch high density floppies were offering storage sizes of up to 240mb. But these capacities just weren’t enough for some users, and as technology marched on, the demand for improved storage formats increased.

While software started being distributed on compact disc in the 90s, home users still had to contend with floppy discs… that is, until recordable compact discs became available on the market.
Since then, all manner of data storage media and devices have appeared on the market – DVD discs, Blu-Ray discs, USB drives and external hard drives, just to name a few.

The floppy disc held on valiantly… in fact, it can still be found in use in older PC systems. But the decline of the format has been quick, and soon these stalwarts of the industry may disappear forever.