Samsung Galaxy S4 Active hands-on review

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyje6RUv5zjDs0A_9zvhEaWYkKU-l2av_dg5zGKmi9voQLaKNu-dBdPzkaOIW5XmvDqPzOhEt_gEW1ejgT9A6buK8VcKADDWyQMmhs0mxbLpqJC0uQEVFjy7wst38vrSXzi5kd-gxfMTQ/s1600/Samsung_Galaxy_S4_Active.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyje6RUv5zjDs0A_9zvhEaWYkKU-l2av_dg5zGKmi9voQLaKNu-dBdPzkaOIW5XmvDqPzOhEt_gEW1ejgT9A6buK8VcKADDWyQMmhs0mxbLpqJC0uQEVFjy7wst38vrSXzi5kd-gxfMTQ/s1600/Samsung_Galaxy_S4_Active.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />As you may have noticed, Samsung has introduced various new versions of the Galaxy S4 smartphone. One apparently isn't enough so on top of the Galaxy S4 Mini and the Galaxy S4 Zoom is the Galaxy S4 Active. Read our hands-on review to find out what it's all about.<br /><br />There's a lot about the Galaxy S4 Active which is identical to the flagship Galaxy S4 smartphone. It's got the same 5in Full HD screen but with a less impressive TFT panel rather than SuperAMOLED, 1.9GHz quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. Software is also the same with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with features like Air View and Smart Pause.<br /><br />Specially designed ports and flaps keep the dust and water out, and although we haven't dunked the Active in water ourselves we can confirm via a demonstration on stage at Samsung's launch event that the phone didn't break. There are less fiddly flaps than the Xperia which is nice, only one for the microUSB port.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdi8XPw5ZR5RFD6AGHlspY8aES9E1Oh4aSbPB3C45yQyZXJVfdjQfO54_s1-Gzn9CjrMgpuQIU5mdSGhzFeSZ8KYN0cuJHfCKkVMz9oLsdYKglbA6ovzULr0ZQ6GEbX90ktsjRGjJ22o/s1600/Samsung_Galaxy_S4_Active_camera.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCdi8XPw5ZR5RFD6AGHlspY8aES9E1Oh4aSbPB3C45yQyZXJVfdjQfO54_s1-Gzn9CjrMgpuQIU5mdSGhzFeSZ8KYN0cuJHfCKkVMz9oLsdYKglbA6ovzULr0ZQ6GEbX90ktsjRGjJ22o/s1600/Samsung_Galaxy_S4_Active_camera.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />To gain the IP67 rating, the GS4 Active is a little bit bulkier than the original. It is 9.1mm and 153g which isn't bad though.<br /><br />We like the rugged look of the Galaxy S4 Active and despite the large stylish visible screws on the back, the rear cover can still be removed to access the SIM card, microSD card and battery.<br /><br />As you can see, there are three physical buttons below the screen instead of the usual one. We're all for it and found it easier to use than the regular Galaxy S4 in this sense.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlQUqFEjmpf1BMMupmdtbnVc48NIIbpUO3Ok9XPynsKMm2CXz9Hym4Y0XLwx_YaIFwCwzj1si5OVxTSGKgY2ZygIcbF8IG7Uj8ON-xkdbnQ1SGiNK37J0BlmFJUliT5YENG8opmBA48I/s1600/Samsung_Galaxy_S4_Active_buttons.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlQUqFEjmpf1BMMupmdtbnVc48NIIbpUO3Ok9XPynsKMm2CXz9Hym4Y0XLwx_YaIFwCwzj1si5OVxTSGKgY2ZygIcbF8IG7Uj8ON-xkdbnQ1SGiNK37J0BlmFJUliT5YENG8opmBA48I/s1600/Samsung_Galaxy_S4_Active_buttons.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />The screen can't be used underwater but can be used with gloves much like some of Nokia's Lumia smartphones. When submerged in the wet stuff, the Galaxy S4 Active's screen can't be used. However, an Aqua Mode means you can use the volume buttons to take snaps and photos are optimised for underwater conditions. We'd rather have a dedicated camera button, but it's not the end of the world.

Reviews Samsung Galaxy S4 Active hands-on review

As you may have noticed, Samsung has introduced various new versions of the Galaxy S4 smartphone. One apparently isn't enough so on top of the Galaxy S4 Mini and the Galaxy S4 Zoom is the Galaxy S4 Active. Read our hands-on review to find out what it…

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ArtRage review

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQbjiHwyf__xlYaD-7BUhLyJd9Uf1feInJh3jK9o1WOwzJ70M-25VlGD-WVKdA4CCQlD20xCPVQaCXqyI6K1aKbZcc5gkI4yu5RZC6Mtu_cGalZOMhMH3dwKZaZt5ioLiWdpbXRv48M8/s1600/Art_Rage_thumb.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQbjiHwyf__xlYaD-7BUhLyJd9Uf1feInJh3jK9o1WOwzJ70M-25VlGD-WVKdA4CCQlD20xCPVQaCXqyI6K1aKbZcc5gkI4yu5RZC6Mtu_cGalZOMhMH3dwKZaZt5ioLiWdpbXRv48M8/s1600/Art_Rage_thumb.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Painting is fun. Unfortunately, software for painting often gets a bad rep: I don't mean image-editing (Photoshop), but actual painting (Microsoft Paint). But Microsoft Paint is at the very bottom of the painting totem pole, often associated squiggly-looking Rage Guy memes. More modern tools like SpeedyPainter and Corel Painter Lite show that creating beautiful, natural-looking art using a computer is possible, and doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. ArtRage joins these accessible tools with its own touch-friendly interface and an attractive £25 price tag.<br /><br />ArtRage's interface is simple to pick up, with most functions in easy reach. I tested it with a simple stylus and one of the new breed of touchscreen-enabled laptops, the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13. Radial toolbars at the bottom two corners of the screen let me quickly switch tools and adjust colors without fiddling with menus. Other tools show up as floating panels, which are easy to drag and resize using large, comfortable grippers, and automatically wink out of existence as you paint near them. You can pan, zoom, and rotate the canvas with two fingers, making for a very natural workflow. While most of the interface is touch-friendly, it's not all quite there yet: Adjusting layer opacity still requires the keyboard, for example.<br /><br /><b>ArtRage: friendly interface, simple tools</b><br />Once you get used to the friendly interface and simple tools, it's time to start playing around with some of the more creative features. Symmetry makes it possible to create interesting, kaleidoscope-like drawings, while stencils and rulers let you constrict your work in interesting ways, for a more accurate, geometric look. Stencils and rulers are made to look like physical objects lying on top of your canvas: You can drag them around and resize them, but they look like pieces of plastic or metal. ArtRage supports layers, too, and you can blur individual layers, adjust their blend modes, change their textures, and more.<br /><br />When zooming in for detail work, it often helps to keep the big picture in mind. When watching videos made with SpeedyPainter, I noticed just how often artists would zoom in and out, again and again, to get a sense of how the work is progressing. ArtRage helps avoid this by offering a feature called Views. A View works like a little Polaroid snap of your painting that lies on top of your canvas while you zoom in to work on the details. Just like a physical Polaroid, you can drag the View around and rotate it. Unlike its real-world counterpart, you can also change a View's size, and zoom in or out on its contents. The same concept is used to show pieces of scrap canvas or other files for referenc.

Reviews ArtRage review

Painting is fun. Unfortunately, software for painting often gets a bad rep: I don't mean image-editing (Photoshop), but actual painting (Microsoft Paint). But Microsoft Paint is at the very bottom of the painting totem pole, often associated squiggly…

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Samsung Ativ Q hands-on review

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpEn3X3tdDhZJ-vlLzKedYh8IgJmtz-qsDchPI7CXff4fZQbjD0if8FBDwb5cmU70LucMgHFRk_oW4dfyVzbyMtd2tifv9ZKgT5j3axk4gC25uSVeDwAdyzfo1fur0PmT7G383JsQKI4/s1600/Samsung_Ativ_Q_laptop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpEn3X3tdDhZJ-vlLzKedYh8IgJmtz-qsDchPI7CXff4fZQbjD0if8FBDwb5cmU70LucMgHFRk_oW4dfyVzbyMtd2tifv9ZKgT5j3axk4gC25uSVeDwAdyzfo1fur0PmT7G383JsQKI4/s1600/Samsung_Ativ_Q_laptop.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />One of Samsung's new Ativ devices is the Ativ Q, a hybrid tablet and laptop running both Windows 8 and Android.<br /><br />The convertible PC can flip, fold and transform into different modes like Lenovo's IdeaPad Yoga. Samsung calls them 'tablet', 'typing', 'stand' and 'floating'. The first two are self-explanatory while the others mean you can have the screen flipped right over to face the other way or at various different angles between this and being docked with the keyboard.<br /><br />There's not enough room for a trackpad but a touchscreen pretty much negates the need for this anyway.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRcpEBlzaWeQc6_jg318ZZtz3b9-7v0DuJ80OEg4enB5NQjY89bjOgnNMxeR6BYxTWtc6v1D2KkAb8S-rtMona-nAHqzOv7B_aPwIBclIAA7GCHTYLnZO4_lmSpxUmoxWrRz1kirCaRw/s1600/Samsung_Ativ_Q_keyboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitRcpEBlzaWeQc6_jg318ZZtz3b9-7v0DuJ80OEg4enB5NQjY89bjOgnNMxeR6BYxTWtc6v1D2KkAb8S-rtMona-nAHqzOv7B_aPwIBclIAA7GCHTYLnZO4_lmSpxUmoxWrRz1kirCaRw/s1600/Samsung_Ativ_Q_keyboard.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />The Ativ Q is reasonably thin at 13.6mm but is a lot heavier than a typical tablet at 1.29kg – usual for a hybrid, though. You can pick it up but you wouldn't want to hold it one handed for long.<br /><br />Specs are pretty impressive with an Intel fourth-generation Haswell Core i5 processor (placed inside the hinge) and a dazzling 13.3in screen with a huge 3200x1800 resolution – that’s a pixel density of 275ppi.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghatjOLaruNwzfvem3JUsnaQLWk7PvvuC8PUTlyPiFa63JoMpf3FPXWzjqSZixfdarKUCH7rK-Ozp1ScW4RRE4EdpjsdCra5pmVYnk4OGLXR2kT8wzdXOsyherSR0X-FGiDr1_Y6_Fjk/s1600/Samsung_Ativ_Q_stand_mode.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghatjOLaruNwzfvem3JUsnaQLWk7PvvuC8PUTlyPiFa63JoMpf3FPXWzjqSZixfdarKUCH7rK-Ozp1ScW4RRE4EdpjsdCra5pmVYnk4OGLXR2kT8wzdXOsyherSR0X-FGiDr1_Y6_Fjk/s1600/Samsung_Ativ_Q_stand_mode.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Furthermore, the Ativ Q comes with Samsung's S Pen stylus with 1024 levels of sensitivity and SideSync software which means you can use a smartphone or tablet as a second screen or have it mirrored on the larger display.<br /><br />The Ativ Q really comes into its own because of its dual-OS setup – Windows 8 and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean come pre-loaded. You can switch quickly and easily between the two with appropriate buttons and even share files such as the photo gallery.<br /><br />Strangely Samsung has gone for stock Android as opposed to its regular TouchWiz interface. We asked why this was but were given no particular reason other than to keep it somewhat separate from the firm's Galaxy devices.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7vGvDImdxzslvNGSgm0oyETcCWbdp512rJULe2bm1yI9T8MuRYiVvjc9OxcZUqBsLELItaEs0GuZEux9C23sdwlyC9XDxo_ImmViQ_kLnMTBRb1yeEWgPW1U7I10pcgzH2DxfRAfUjg/s1600/Samsung_Ativ_Q_Windows_8_and_Android.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7vGvDImdxzslvNGSgm0oyETcCWbdp512rJULe2bm1yI9T8MuRYiVvjc9OxcZUqBsLELItaEs0GuZEux9C23sdwlyC9XDxo_ImmViQ_kLnMTBRb1yeEWgPW1U7I10pcgzH2DxfRAfUjg/s1600/Samsung_Ativ_Q_Windows_8_and_Android.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />This is a real benefit as you can use Windows 8 in laptop mode to get all your work done which requires full-blown software then switch to Android and use all the apps and games you love on your phone. With Windows 8 Snap View you can even use Windows 8 side-by-side with Android.

Reviews Samsung Ativ Q hands-on review

One of Samsung's new Ativ devices is the Ativ Q, a hybrid tablet and laptop running both Windows 8 and Android.The convertible PC can flip, fold and transform into different modes like Lenovo's IdeaPad Yoga. Samsung calls them 'tablet', 'typing', 'st…

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Samsung Ativ Book 9 Plus and Book 9 Lite hands-on review

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZvjyS8LSxhubVz1ZQYvCpWnvE7YI84HHThsilTBy_uxvHzO1tYM8aVDKiDejyE92cnc3Qbb9OVOyD-CFaubXsjeZY3lAr2fUCvaZo44t5fgTdjqQPWlYgT_yMYun2smicUV70N0SN8Y/s1600/Samsung_Ativ_Book_9_Plus_screen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbZvjyS8LSxhubVz1ZQYvCpWnvE7YI84HHThsilTBy_uxvHzO1tYM8aVDKiDejyE92cnc3Qbb9OVOyD-CFaubXsjeZY3lAr2fUCvaZo44t5fgTdjqQPWlYgT_yMYun2smicUV70N0SN8Y/s1600/Samsung_Ativ_Book_9_Plus_screen.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />The Samsung Ativ Book 9 Plus and Book 9 Lite are the new generation of Samsung's Series 9 laptop. Read our Ativ Book 9 Plus and Book 9 Lite hands-on review to find out more.<br /><br />Samsung's Series 9 laptop has always been one of our favourite MacBook Air rivals so we were keen to get our mits on the Ativ Book 9 Plus.<br /><br />Design-wise, the device looks very similar with a thin aluminium uni-body. It's a 13.3in laptop measuring in at 13.6mm and 1.39kg. Like the Ativ Q, that touchscreen has a QHD+ resolution of 3200x1800 meaning a high pixel density of 275ppi. If you should want to, it folds completely flat but also locks at around 105 degrees so you don't push the screen back when using touch input.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D8pXXhRSmNs5cv7w_8t7UsIvgxnIk062JFlk-IVM1Sphil1iBmMiHtZ-Xd39fUG1ijpe1renpfzjN7_1yGXJ8nNpHThSeLTwUa92H9ZrqR0KZtIwwomtUXsBAFB0XsU-mb_uxZYtNP0/s1600/Samsung_Ativ_Book_9_Plus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D8pXXhRSmNs5cv7w_8t7UsIvgxnIk062JFlk-IVM1Sphil1iBmMiHtZ-Xd39fUG1ijpe1renpfzjN7_1yGXJ8nNpHThSeLTwUa92H9ZrqR0KZtIwwomtUXsBAFB0XsU-mb_uxZYtNP0/s1600/Samsung_Ativ_Book_9_Plus.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />We have yet to benchmark the Ativ Book 9 Plus, of course, but it comes with an Intel Haswell (4th-gen) processor and built-in HD 4400 graphics. This is backed up by up to 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Samsung says it can boot up from cold in under six seconds.<br /><br />Matching the latest MacBook Air model, Samsung touts a battery life of up to 12 hours. We look forward to testing this out in the lab.<br /><br />As the name suggests, the Ativ Book 9 Lite is a lighter version of the Plus – but not in actual weight as its 16.9mm and 1.44kg.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkKpnhtH77WIWDuAi2JCIckK-6s2EqCkS3Qmth1WdVREeqQjdfcVQLMKUmUVxB8x_jKjhmBZDmthCKiAY5vp2WbDY9cr6UCgGsQAu-hwwy9LW_BkkjDjfTPm1fIgy3mI5mGDx5ZM_Anc/s1600/Samsung_Ativ_Book_9_Lite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkKpnhtH77WIWDuAi2JCIckK-6s2EqCkS3Qmth1WdVREeqQjdfcVQLMKUmUVxB8x_jKjhmBZDmthCKiAY5vp2WbDY9cr6UCgGsQAu-hwwy9LW_BkkjDjfTPm1fIgy3mI5mGDx5ZM_Anc/s1600/Samsung_Ativ_Book_9_Lite.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />It is lighter in terms of specs, though. The screen has a much lower resolution, a regular 1366 x 768 but it's still a touchscreen. It has a 'specially made' quad-core processor with a clock speed of 1.4GHz and 4GB of RAM. It has the same 256GB SSD, though.<br /><br />It too runs Windows 8 but Samsung said its battery life will reach 8.5 hours compared to 12.  <br /><br />There are a couple of connectivity differences too; both have Micro HDMI, mini VGA and USB 3.0 but the Plus model comes with an SD card slot and a security lock slot.

Reviews Samsung Ativ Book 9 Plus and Book 9 Lite hands-on review

The Samsung Ativ Book 9 Plus and Book 9 Lite are the new generation of Samsung's Series 9 laptop. Read our Ativ Book 9 Plus and Book 9 Lite hands-on review to find out more.Samsung's Series 9 laptop has always been one of our favourite MacBook Air ri…

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WD My Net Wifi Range Extender review

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK01_tp4rEwYug8Ij8VNG0Sf4uYSxKF8YduiKM_em11blAcTV0GlGiz8T-J7CuWcn5PMyobJy4eQJqCYJ2MfK-P1NcpiLHTabL7IzeOA-L7ng6UHesuw9iu2vB4ZrgxzHkPK-QmpV_Fvs/s1600/WD_My_Net_Wifi_Range_Extender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK01_tp4rEwYug8Ij8VNG0Sf4uYSxKF8YduiKM_em11blAcTV0GlGiz8T-J7CuWcn5PMyobJy4eQJqCYJ2MfK-P1NcpiLHTabL7IzeOA-L7ng6UHesuw9iu2vB4ZrgxzHkPK-QmpV_Fvs/s1600/WD_My_Net_Wifi_Range_Extender.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />WD is relatively new to the networking market but looks determined to make a splash. That's evident from its wireless range extender, which is designed to extend both 2.4 and 5 GHz networks. Most interesting of all to anyone that values real performance, it uses a 3x3 MIMO antenna setup. All other rivals we've seen take the simpler and cheaper 2x2 antenna route for their extenders. This potentially allows better real-world performance from wireless technology that is notoriously unpredictable in quality.<br /><br />Build quality in the hand does feel a little less solid compared to units made by Linksys and Netgear, however once on the shelf or wall this is of less concern. The unit offers a single ethernet port, gigabit-spec, to connect peripherals such as a networked printer or NAS drive, but offers no USB ports.<br /><br />When we selected our wireless network from the list of those available the setup countdown simply hung. Each time we attempted to set up the extender (trying various routers) the countdown did not finish with a confirmation that everything was complete; a countdown clock terminated part way through the process.<br /><br />More worrying, the WD range extender could not even detect the 5 GHz network on our test router (an Apple Time Capsule). We finally managed to test this extender using a WD My Net N900 as router. This time the 5 GHz band network was detected and a connection was made.<br /><br /><b>Performance</b><br />To test the speed of this range extender we placed it on the stairwell 5 metres away from our router. The tests were then carried out using a laptop on floor 1, 2 and 3.<br /><br />Without the range extender connected the results were as follows ( 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz ): 56 / 60 Mb/s on floor 1, 20 / 0 Mb/s on floor 2 and 0 / 0 Mb/s on floor 3. As you can see the 5 GHz signal dropped out first on floor 2 followed by the 2.4 GHz on floor 3.<br /><br />With the WD range extender turned on the results were as follows: 63 / 62 Mb/s on floor 1, 38 / 46 Mb/s on floor 2, and 16 / 18 Mb/s on floor 3.<br /><br />It is also notable that the 5 GHz band gave increased data rate than the 2.4 GHz rate on more distant floors 2 and 3. This may be due to there being high levels of 2.4 GHz interference on those floors, from neighbouring networks, while the relatively clean 5 GHz band was unimpeded.

Reviews WD My Net Wifi Range Extender review

WD is relatively new to the networking market but looks determined to make a splash. That's evident from its wireless range extender, which is designed to extend both 2.4 and 5 GHz networks. Most interesting of all to anyone that values real performa…

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QNAP TS-1079 Pro review

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXd-_6y4ZtqgGDdywOdfsnkTlAbg66uFA9V0hprBArGmM1AC3iqH9271O7AOB1XyX20imubkwFApeIO3b7fEWC3nix6x-kMKi6QkhocO3vAzKpJpE-2aQcW2s-O5gaeYfU9mlvIqKKNZs/s1600/Qnap_TS-1079_Pro_small_thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXd-_6y4ZtqgGDdywOdfsnkTlAbg66uFA9V0hprBArGmM1AC3iqH9271O7AOB1XyX20imubkwFApeIO3b7fEWC3nix6x-kMKi6QkhocO3vAzKpJpE-2aQcW2s-O5gaeYfU9mlvIqKKNZs/s1600/Qnap_TS-1079_Pro_small_thumb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Network attached storage (NAS) is the lynchpin of business, a single place to keep and maintain many users' data and other miscellaneous resources. We tend to see multi-bay NAS units up to six- or eight-bay as standalone desktop storage units, while eight-bay and larger tend to be rack-mount units for server room installation.<br /><br />The QNAP TS-1079 Pro is unusual, a large freestanding unit featuring 10 bays, supporting up to 10 3.5in SATA hard disks. Pre-drilled holes also allows 2.5in disks or SSDs to be fitted with ease too<br /><br />It's modelled closely on the company's eight-bay TS-879 Pro, here with eight disks mounted on their side, and a further two positioned horizontally below. This actually allows the exact same size chassis as the TS-879 Pro.<br /><br />Powering this NAS is a very powerful processor, in NAS terms – an Intel Core i3 dual-core chip running at 3.3 GHz. This Sandy Bridge-generation processor is supported with a generous 2 GB of memory. That's a combination that ought to take even high bandwidth, multi-user threads in its stride with ease.<br /><br />We didn't have an expansion card or supporting hardware to test the 10 GbE option, but in normal use the TS-1070 proved itself a very powerful unit. Ten suitable disks weren't available but we saw all the performance we'd hoped for from four 3 TB WD Red disks, set up as a RAID 5 array.<br /><br /><b>QNAP TS-1079: benchmarks</b><br />Synthetic benchmark tests provided some suspiciously slow results though, considering the unit's specification. Over AFP the QuickBench test returned decent sequential read speeds of around 111 MB/s but low writes only up to around 60 or 70 MB/s – figures we'd expect of a midrange semi-pro ARM NAS unit.<br /><br />And in Windows using SMB networking, the roles were strangely reversed, scoring up 111 MB/s sequential writes but just 70 MB/s reads. Some real-world transfer tests settled the argument. Trying large .iso files in both directions to a connected MacBook (AFP), the QNAP averaged 115 MB/s in write speeds, and a resounding 123 MB/s when reading the same files, constrained here just within the 125 MB/s theoretical maximum for gigabit networking.<br /><br />As with most QNAP NAS drives, the TS-1079 packs many, many features beyond simple file serving over the usual SMB, AFP and NFS network protocols.<br /><br />And external disk support is first-class,with two each USB 3.0 and eSATA for speedy connections. And unlike Synology, for instance, QNAP supports more than just EXT formatting, extending usefully to HFS+ too.<br /><br />Power consumption was higher than a typical SMB-level NAS drive, as you would expect for a high-power unit based on a desktop-class Intel x86 processor. But 39W when sat idle is not too excessive, while under load with four WD Red disks spinning it drew 59W of mains power.<br />

Reviews QNAP TS-1079 Pro review

Network attached storage (NAS) is the lynchpin of business, a single place to keep and maintain many users' data and other miscellaneous resources. We tend to see multi-bay NAS units up to six- or eight-bay as standalone desktop storage units, while …

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Killzone 4: Shadow Fall review

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDDFIHxX63MyuyXDp3Eoc24pwLCbwI_my9_hUvFzLP2N4SKdlxbXze5W7Z1nbvpabWUq637GGtJTLcvRmXGeT6d2_rXsgUBPSyEPtFoIEATiyGQ40no3vZfNoDFNIHda77mVbRivv-fM/s1600/Killzone-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDDFIHxX63MyuyXDp3Eoc24pwLCbwI_my9_hUvFzLP2N4SKdlxbXze5W7Z1nbvpabWUq637GGtJTLcvRmXGeT6d2_rXsgUBPSyEPtFoIEATiyGQ40no3vZfNoDFNIHda77mVbRivv-fM/s1600/Killzone-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>Killzone 4: Shadow Fall - first impressions from E3 2013</b><br />Is Killzone 4 the killer title that the PS4 needs at launch? Well, based on its showing at E3, it certainly won't hurt the console's chances. Like the previous titles in the series, it's a gritty sci-fi shooter charting the continuing conflict between the people of Vekta and their brutal, quasi-fascist neighbours, the Helghast.<br /><br /><b> Killzone 4: Shadow Fall trailer</b><br />This includes the Owl, a small drone device, which works in three different modes. Sweep right on the DualShock 4 touchpad and it hovers to give you a portable airline - perfect for traversing the game's larger environments. Sweep up, and it becomes your comrade in combat, defending you against the Helghast troops or sweeping the area for hostiles should you direct it to. It can also be asked to call up a handy shield. You can shoot out, but the Helghast can't shoot in.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2wvL-0-FVKX0NMjhLB3ZmSYKywRilf73lS8K3_RUtzWwMsb6EyLr4XX5FjRdKemvbWQFHVvhcKSl1RkY0mXqd89hOx88bWHei_ETbaG0rtyW6KR1-APhm6j4Y_EUcQg5-VRsXLGpQc4/s1600/Killzone-ShadowFall5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2wvL-0-FVKX0NMjhLB3ZmSYKywRilf73lS8K3_RUtzWwMsb6EyLr4XX5FjRdKemvbWQFHVvhcKSl1RkY0mXqd89hOx88bWHei_ETbaG0rtyW6KR1-APhm6j4Y_EUcQg5-VRsXLGpQc4/s1600/Killzone-ShadowFall5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Your weapons prove equally versatile. You can still scavenge a wide range of guns from the battlefield, but your default arm, a sort of futuristic carbine, can also be set to work as a sniper rifle, its barrel extending and a scope appearing for firing at range. In this mode it's much more powerful, but shots need to be charged up before you can fire, making it less ideal when confronting several targets a little closer up.<br /><br />The forest is dotted with ruined buildings, Helghast guard towers and encampments, and we we're free to wander where we chose. We're promised that many of the game's levels will have a choice of objectives that can be completed in any order, and while the director made it plain that Killzone wasn't going open world, the team did want to give the player more freedom. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVb_8oLLKvIK6OttEzF39GM1KvwVTfMfzbXrnUNaO9szOF9s1KThZ4MXXPot1FUYOTIPhbQFXBBjQ_hfsGnDBPlAxVQ696hmUhNGrcRiLvVIZO__d_6knLqCwd6yCdqTeywEie5SUgoUY/s1600/Killzone-ShadowFall6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVb_8oLLKvIK6OttEzF39GM1KvwVTfMfzbXrnUNaO9szOF9s1KThZ4MXXPot1FUYOTIPhbQFXBBjQ_hfsGnDBPlAxVQ696hmUhNGrcRiLvVIZO__d_6knLqCwd6yCdqTeywEie5SUgoUY/s1600/Killzone-ShadowFall6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />To make this work, Guerilla has ramped up the Helghast AI, making the little orange-goggled devils more aggressive and more inquisitive. They certainly pose a challenge in numbers, and you're encouraged to take a stealthier approach than in earlier Killzones, using tools like a handy sonar locator to spot your enemies and gain the advantage.<br /><br />At this point we should probably mention the graphics, which are… astonishing. If ridiculously detailed, natural looking rocks, realistic rushing water and gorgeous mist and light effects are the benchmark of next-gen excellence, then Killzone 4: Shadow Fall might be the current leader of the pack. It's a truly stunning looking game. The Helghast have never looked so mean or menacing, or died in so many impressively unpleasant ways.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYUcsSB3Fsd5DgwKb2kGKjSLSf7QmkIKOCt1L4JAEtG-laTXE-s7J2-kITDLet7P-ubpe29BxtjJqKtabWcQIaDI_bsZqoVpeDAuaF2p7usXqJjD6pHUzqO4VFi911DwWfJHAWSoIINI/s1600/Killzone-ShadowFall7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYUcsSB3Fsd5DgwKb2kGKjSLSf7QmkIKOCt1L4JAEtG-laTXE-s7J2-kITDLet7P-ubpe29BxtjJqKtabWcQIaDI_bsZqoVpeDAuaF2p7usXqJjD6pHUzqO4VFi911DwWfJHAWSoIINI/s1600/Killzone-ShadowFall7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Overall, though, this is a powerful statement of intent from Sony and Guerilla, that intent being to build a sci-fi shooter capable of standing up with the best of the genre, and showing them how it's done on next-gen hardware. We can't wait to see more.</div>

Reviews Killzone 4: Shadow Fall review

Killzone 4: Shadow Fall - first impressions from E3 2013Is Killzone 4 the killer title that the PS4 needs at launch? Well, based on its showing at E3, it certainly won't hurt the console's chances. Like the previous titles in the series, it's a gritt…

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Nokia Lumia 925 review

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorGn2fIcs6QLN3StHAeBHsUZCoXgFgghZnztuvpO5dTho8FONmWdIleTN_4Ztol5I53AVkLkVRafy2d3KyuUnv_vI6QW5i2tOXpiDflTSU0UFiZp1aI6VnmwN923ueRXkAb7S-B6jsrc/s1600/IMG-0215-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorGn2fIcs6QLN3StHAeBHsUZCoXgFgghZnztuvpO5dTho8FONmWdIleTN_4Ztol5I53AVkLkVRafy2d3KyuUnv_vI6QW5i2tOXpiDflTSU0UFiZp1aI6VnmwN923ueRXkAb7S-B6jsrc/s1600/IMG-0215-1.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br /><b>What is the Nokia Lumia 925?</b><br />To date, the top Nokia Lumia series phones have all used smooth and seamless polycarbonate bodies. The Nokia Lumia 925 is the first to introduce metal to the family. It’s a renegade.<br /><br />In ditching the integrated wireless charging of the Lumia 920, Nokia has also produced a slimmer, more accessible phone. Yet it benefits from the same advanced camera features of that mobile. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xpopx-1fFsR5ONwqrYzTtncLjxhX2Vrs2Ao6vUZ5OUs89KUM03vAMNIPRL19peYUw5XD-26dG4fvHMO0SguMmQ5eFpl7nsRuTUH7wVfjY5J2rLyP76B9eBGGBQpmE_8Zh7tVyqkPyvs/s1600/IMG-0185-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xpopx-1fFsR5ONwqrYzTtncLjxhX2Vrs2Ao6vUZ5OUs89KUM03vAMNIPRL19peYUw5XD-26dG4fvHMO0SguMmQ5eFpl7nsRuTUH7wVfjY5J2rLyP76B9eBGGBQpmE_8Zh7tVyqkPyvs/s1600/IMG-0185-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>Nokia Lumia 925 - Design</b><br />Internally, the core of the Nokia Lumia 925 is fairly similar to the Lumia 920, but externally it’s a completely different proposition. Rather than a chunky, heavy and colourful curvy block of glossy plastic, it is a non-unibody monochrome device.<br /><br />This is all down to the phone’s anodised aluminium edge. A strip of metal runs around the Lumia 925’s sides, and there’s no attempt to hide the seam between these sides and the contoured polycarbonate (plastic) plate on the rear.<br /><br />The two parts are intended to complement each other, and that’s why Nokia has opted for white, black and grey rear parts, rather than colourful ones. After having been lauded for the curvy polycarbonate bodies of phones like the Lumia 800, this new style is a risk. But it works.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfuYmbBE8BwnbBIjNQFtBlMEEkPlweC1JRl8WZnt3vgGMBPGUM8oNzZMdU2YmUBKeoBaeZ51GInBsw3JLoxGmQwBetNWv8HbZ5KGv5do3mCc1zfL98L14pJnKIjHiEhACS5ARJli713M/s1600/IMG-0191-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfuYmbBE8BwnbBIjNQFtBlMEEkPlweC1JRl8WZnt3vgGMBPGUM8oNzZMdU2YmUBKeoBaeZ51GInBsw3JLoxGmQwBetNWv8HbZ5KGv5do3mCc1zfL98L14pJnKIjHiEhACS5ARJli713M/s1600/IMG-0191-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />In-hand comfort is great, thanks to the curves of the aluminium sides and that the Lumia 925 is a good deal less wide than top phones like the Samsung Galaxy S4 - mainly due to its mid-size 4.5-inch screen.<br /><br />There are some hardware inflections that some won’t like, though. The camera lens housing is large, a bit too easy to obstruct with a hand, and it sticks out ever-so-slightly from the Lumia 925’s back. This is because of the mechanical image stabilisation components that have to fit in – the phone is just 8.5mm thick, so too skinny to avoid this. The Lumia 920’s camera doesn’t poke out, but that phone is 2mm thicker - a lot in mobile terms - and 40g heavier.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAd8jPgQn7xF97nlyrvVRulzFRmbv4IpjCscE3Q3xqk04V9U2X9PgAC4wf-RpcKorEwgfNVjVAGFQ_vRBwuSlhYnMt4lSs_44W6QOE3ZEDqyuCugqH-VCHv8H7P06sfEjd6LWM41utUOk/s1600/IMG-0192-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAd8jPgQn7xF97nlyrvVRulzFRmbv4IpjCscE3Q3xqk04V9U2X9PgAC4wf-RpcKorEwgfNVjVAGFQ_vRBwuSlhYnMt4lSs_44W6QOE3ZEDqyuCugqH-VCHv8H7P06sfEjd6LWM41utUOk/s1600/IMG-0192-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The Lumia 925 is a departure from Lumia series norms in some respects, but other design elements remain. On the top edge of the phone is a microSIM slot accessed using a paperclip-like tool included in the box – classic Lumia. There is also no memory card slot in the phone, just 16/32GB of internal memory (32GB exclusive to Vodafone), so the only sockets on show are the headphone jack and microUSB port – which sit next to each other up top. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggL2w95QLP7yfI6vdmxiF2Ep0WYTOFr2mDEnjxkWasMbnlwDrMfbbCHrffnLFcCq6qZPhuAqeDW_XLaXY53-APevXqyLeGXnLqgesU7FL3wlNlUj94BFyhx3TwD_X-94zBl21T2os1FLc/s1600/IMG-0200-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggL2w95QLP7yfI6vdmxiF2Ep0WYTOFr2mDEnjxkWasMbnlwDrMfbbCHrffnLFcCq6qZPhuAqeDW_XLaXY53-APevXqyLeGXnLqgesU7FL3wlNlUj94BFyhx3TwD_X-94zBl21T2os1FLc/s1600/IMG-0200-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />All other edges are left blissfully free of ports. It’s good for the look and feel of the Lumia 925. There’s just the Lumia-standard trio of buttons on the right edge – volume, power and the Windows-mandated shutter button.<br /><br />As only the edges of the Nokia Lumia 925 are made of metal, it doesn’t have quite the hard, cool impact of holding an HTC One. But it is one of the more attractive, recognisable phones of the year. <br /><br /></div>

Reviews Nokia Lumia 925 review

What is the Nokia Lumia 925?To date, the top Nokia Lumia series phones have all used smooth and seamless polycarbonate bodies. The Nokia Lumia 925 is the first to introduce metal to the family. It’s a renegade.In ditching the integrated wireless cha…

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Panasonic TX-L55WT65 review

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>What is the Panasonic TX-L55WT65?</b><br />The 55-inch Panasonic TX-L55WT65 is Panasonic’s flagship LCD TV for 2013, and as such includes features like local dimming, passive 3D playback, powerful motion processing, and most immediately obviously, a truly striking design.<br /><br />With Panasonic’s other 2013 3D LCD TVs only doing reasonably well rather than brilliantly, though, there’s a lot of pressure on the L55WT65’s shoulders. Especially as it retails for the fairly princely sum of £2,600, putting it squarely in the same territory as the outstanding Sony KDL-55W905 and Samsung UE55F8000.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4DQYFP1N4rXMCLNuIeawPlBq7BL_Hl6a6PjDRxsZTznNaDwS6K43I6Tp2N9ej7usdLLhS8K0hDi2d9PVIK2pLAmlqJLJ33xkqRPzVPg58s6QAjYrkYWWyYqtnMu8tUkwkKkW-cF3auM/s1600/PanasonicL55WT65angled-with-stand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4DQYFP1N4rXMCLNuIeawPlBq7BL_Hl6a6PjDRxsZTznNaDwS6K43I6Tp2N9ej7usdLLhS8K0hDi2d9PVIK2pLAmlqJLJ33xkqRPzVPg58s6QAjYrkYWWyYqtnMu8tUkwkKkW-cF3auM/s1600/PanasonicL55WT65angled-with-stand.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>Panasonic TX-L55WT65 - Design</b><br />The Panasonic L55WT65 loses absolutely nothing to those rivals where design is concerned, though. In fact, for us it’s the most attractive TV we’ve seen so far this year: the spectacularly slim silver metallic bezel; gorgeously slender rear; stunning gloss white rear panel; and the illuminated transparent panel protruding from the TV’s bottom edge, all combine to make to create a gorgeous whole. It’s almost impossible to equate this supermodel with the sort of dour bodies clad around Panasonic TVs as little as three generations ago.<br /><br />The rear panel is home to a solid set of connections, most positioned for side access to aid wall-hanging if you don’t want to attach the TV to its equally gorgeous glass and chrome stand. Three USBs are on hand for multimedia playback and recording from the built-in Freesat HD and Freeview HD tuners, there’s built-in Wi-Fi and a LAN port for streaming from networked PCs or joining Panasonic’s Viera Connect online service, plus there’s a roster of v1.4 HDMIs to support the TV’s 3D features. <br /><br /><b>Panasonic TX-L55WT65 - Interface</b><br />We can’t possibly discuss the L55WT65’s operating system, either, without mentioning its inspired My Homescreen interface. This provides three different preset hub screens delivering shortcuts to different content types, or even better, it lets you set up your own hubs, containing their own set of shortcuts. And since you can set up multiple customised hubs, each member of your family can establish one of their own.<br /><br />The L55WT65 even has a built-in camera with face recognition so that it can automatically call up the correct hub for whichever family member it detects is using the TV.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnWdgbg0X4RWW-SVPU9f9Q6Qgx4dgPGsUW0lnlZS2GYG7A9n4xGb3wWrziULMtSMqZ4XAJPXFUkg7zXxlbIhxEoF5uSAhHNfaBu5dl3ii9n-TClBqANXvJkj9WyI5CIoq3jSIbICGKpc/s1600/PanasonicL55WT65Apps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWnWdgbg0X4RWW-SVPU9f9Q6Qgx4dgPGsUW0lnlZS2GYG7A9n4xGb3wWrziULMtSMqZ4XAJPXFUkg7zXxlbIhxEoF5uSAhHNfaBu5dl3ii9n-TClBqANXvJkj9WyI5CIoq3jSIbICGKpc/s1600/PanasonicL55WT65Apps.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />You can read our full Panasonic 2013 Smart TV review for the full detail on this system, but we should also quickly add here that Panasonic’s Viera Connect online platform is a solid rather than brilliant effort. The recently improved interface is a joy, but  slightly let down versus rivals by not having enough top-line video streaming platforms. </div>

Reviews Panasonic TX-L55WT65 review

What is the Panasonic TX-L55WT65?The 55-inch Panasonic TX-L55WT65 is Panasonic’s flagship LCD TV for 2013, and as such includes features like local dimming, passive 3D playback, powerful motion processing, and most immediately obviously, a truly stri…

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DualShock 4 review

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejHBG_vUwsU-vtMTPSgdV0CjMLFOsid7gbMM-mnIDwxTUkBOEOUW_784f911zHgJDFWd1CeIrKYaJKzIGSBzZ6IqDqSiEDU1hbxoWwx2es52rjOuuXfmTdg38jcx9WM-Os283sAZ18xQ/s1600/Dual-Shock-43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejHBG_vUwsU-vtMTPSgdV0CjMLFOsid7gbMM-mnIDwxTUkBOEOUW_784f911zHgJDFWd1CeIrKYaJKzIGSBzZ6IqDqSiEDU1hbxoWwx2es52rjOuuXfmTdg38jcx9WM-Os283sAZ18xQ/s1600/Dual-Shock-43.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><b>First impressions of the new PS4 controller from E3 2013</b><br />If the new Xbox One controller is an exercise in refinement, the PS4's new DualShock 4 controller is more a wholesale reinvention - certainly the biggest leap forward for Sony since the introduction of the original DualShock on PS One, and arguably the most interesting and innovative controller on any console since the Wii remote.<br /><br />It's a controller that's been designed from the ground up to support everything Sony's new console can do, with the more conventional analogue sticks and face buttons joined by a touchpad, Sixaxis tilt controls and built-in Move functionality through the glowing bar at the rear. As they used to say about PS3, it only does everything.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefyZvBrNFT5FZHCt8hCF-IymqmtZLi9P_Hc4mY8mWq79GOBczECSpk1YbexrmC99JmRNucTt8Mu_HYZhtzPxcCNNAaER9W4eQruqAKfbGtvM6rOV76ABIFpBUWi_umtA6FBKAempbw7M/s1600/IMG-6795-20130613022100009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefyZvBrNFT5FZHCt8hCF-IymqmtZLi9P_Hc4mY8mWq79GOBczECSpk1YbexrmC99JmRNucTt8Mu_HYZhtzPxcCNNAaER9W4eQruqAKfbGtvM6rOV76ABIFpBUWi_umtA6FBKAempbw7M/s1600/IMG-6795-20130613022100009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>DualShock 4: New Pad, New Sticks</b><br />The most exciting aspect of the DualShock 4 for many of us will be the reworking of the analogue sticks. With their loose feel and large central dead-spot, the Dual Shock 3's analogue sticks have never been quite as good as their Xbox 360 or Nintendo equivalents, leaving FPS fans in particular feeling that they're not quite playing at their best.<br /><br />From what we've played, the sticks on the DualShock 4 are a big improvement. They feel a little tighter, they're more responsive near the centre and they seem more sensitive in general. The raised ring around the circumference also makes them easier to grip during long periods of gaming - the old DualShock 3 sticks felt a bit slippery after a while.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOF-Ehyphenhypheney-Jw0Wm5tb70PfbLA4YtpG0-8Hg4oSNMTUgTL86hU512yilgIKz8QymYhw-tQwe799d6nOYP7KLR1YHrQzhVZKhZXYYsu_KwIkRaE97ZJm53xvREW-usmKYYfr4F3Edsh88a4/s1600/Dual-Shock-45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOF-Ehyphenhypheney-Jw0Wm5tb70PfbLA4YtpG0-8Hg4oSNMTUgTL86hU512yilgIKz8QymYhw-tQwe799d6nOYP7KLR1YHrQzhVZKhZXYYsu_KwIkRaE97ZJm53xvREW-usmKYYfr4F3Edsh88a4/s1600/Dual-Shock-45.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><b>DualShock 4 triggers and buttons</b><br />As with the DualShock 3, the analogue triggers are light and very springy, but they now curve slightly outwards, which feels odd at first but soon becomes very natural. As before, the triggers have a fair amount of travel and seem very responsive, so they should work well with those driving games where you don't want the pedal on the metal every time. The L1 and L2 buttons also seem easier to grab in a hurry, but still work very smoothly.<br /><br />The position of the face buttons hasn't changed - it's a focal part of the PlayStation brand - but they have lost their analogue capabilities. Bearing in mind how few developers used these that isn't much of a loss, and the feel is light and precise. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsLRKbcWSYa9xEQ0OndOQZPhtO1DLJ2oQXscEQuZOs453OZiA7g71p038uluYzuuAe1cvZ3usCealpReQajHzSYp8ynFqrvhIyLU70Hy3gP4zWKCNCNnulrMCRNtnAh0IKr2F58xOhVU/s1600/IMG-6796-20130613022430107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsLRKbcWSYa9xEQ0OndOQZPhtO1DLJ2oQXscEQuZOs453OZiA7g71p038uluYzuuAe1cvZ3usCealpReQajHzSYp8ynFqrvhIyLU70Hy3gP4zWKCNCNnulrMCRNtnAh0IKr2F58xOhVU/s1600/IMG-6796-20130613022430107.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>DualShock 4 Touchpad</b><br />We're still getting to grips with the touchpad, not least because it's only supported by a handful of games at E3, with some of them developer-led rather than hands-on demos. It does seem to be very sensitive - easily sensitive enough to handle the PS4 UI and in-game menus - and we're seeing it deployed in Diablo III to control the inventory screens and in inFamous: Second Son to move and hold specific large objects through a kind of telekinesis. It's also being used in Sony's brilliant Playroom demo to flick objects and characters out into the augmented-reality room on the TV screen.<br /><br />The Playroom demo also gives the new glowing bar a bit of a workout. The new PlayStation Eye camera offers a lot more resolution, better low light performance and more lifelike colours than the old, and it has no problem using the bar at the back of each controller to track the DualShock 4 in a 3D space. We've had water gushing out of the controller and robot minions rattling around within it, all controlled through the DualShock 4's tilt sensors, and it's clear that it all works very well. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvmTG2woDIq6nRIDeo5xdOmUJ05Tm5tipzAtVYykcMc-YC7aEddwtXCt8Rt5wE4H367l4t9T41G7QcgNyy-fcikizpD02NIMP036EQwrspuw51WmhomeqlONIsZsJTVbbT5oYqBzVodc/s1600/Dual-Shock-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvmTG2woDIq6nRIDeo5xdOmUJ05Tm5tipzAtVYykcMc-YC7aEddwtXCt8Rt5wE4H367l4t9T41G7QcgNyy-fcikizpD02NIMP036EQwrspuw51WmhomeqlONIsZsJTVbbT5oYqBzVodc/s1600/Dual-Shock-42.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><b>First Impressions</b><br />There's always a challenge in adding new functionality to a controller, in that you can compromise comfort and the core controls for features that only a subset of games might use. With the DualShock 4, however, Sony has got things right. It's going to be a revelation for PlayStation FPS fans, and we suspect that the touchpad will see a lot of action across a wide range of titles. </div>

Reviews DualShock 4 review

First impressions of the new PS4 controller from E3 2013If the new Xbox One controller is an exercise in refinement, the PS4's new DualShock 4 controller is more a wholesale reinvention - certainly the biggest leap forward for Sony since the introduc…

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REVIEW: The Escape Artist Part 3 - Justice Prevails?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UWfbpLdra23rhpHdRK_PbUDEl8tLYdiIMruUVmjukrLcxc8HmGDbTMOBoGqqsAbsmlsTv-mQdDF9gjUzLNmwcamAxceKlPX6nCjXI6lF4GRoU_HpVgbbUSn_pd0mBNMX0XNziwePzlXm/s1600/TEA16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UWfbpLdra23rhpHdRK_PbUDEl8tLYdiIMruUVmjukrLcxc8HmGDbTMOBoGqqsAbsmlsTv-mQdDF9gjUzLNmwcamAxceKlPX6nCjXI6lF4GRoU_HpVgbbUSn_pd0mBNMX0XNziwePzlXm/s640/TEA16.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Earlier this year in the BBC drama <i>The Politician’s Husband</i>, David Tennant played MP Aiden Hoynes, a man who discovered that he would stoop to any depths to regain what he had lost professionally. The final episode of David Wolstencroft’s tense thriller <i>The Escape Artist</i> begins with another Tennant character about to find himself in similar straits as beleaguered defence lawyer Will Burton, his life already in shreds, finds himself let down by profession that he had hitherto ruled. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The episode opened on an undoubted Hitchcockian motif: claustrophobic shots of caged birds in murder suspect Liam Foyle’s living room, reminding us, perhaps, to expect any twist and turn over the ensuing hour. Foyle (Toby Kebbell) is back in the dock, this time accused of the murder of Will’s wife Kate. But Will can only sit and watch with growing horror as his main court rival Maggie Gardner (Sophie Okonedo) makes this her moment to shine. He sees his own legal tricks and refutations played out before him and feels the same pain and dismay as the loved ones of victims whose killers his blind passion to win had turned loose in his past. In the opening minutes of the episode, Foyle walks free and Will loses all faith in his profession. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWur8JCQZLZH-QbUdkRW0bQPHceYAoTpNix8GGbW-BkVrumXlno9O3YIFmr6v8tfaizszvDZAA6d0Pq2dnNbrDVmSvQoBO0V2I20rTuzmtean2gS03eL1CMxZ6waf1AUsWgwdHWj-x1CJ/s1600/E3-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWur8JCQZLZH-QbUdkRW0bQPHceYAoTpNix8GGbW-BkVrumXlno9O3YIFmr6v8tfaizszvDZAA6d0Pq2dnNbrDVmSvQoBO0V2I20rTuzmtean2gS03eL1CMxZ6waf1AUsWgwdHWj-x1CJ/s640/E3-002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s here where Will takes a key decision and chooses to walk a darker path. It’s perhaps not that credible that a highly professional Oxford-educated individual might choose the solution that Will does, but in a very little time he has indulged in some dalliance with known criminals before retreating to the coast to drink, stab limpets with a penknife and to plot his own justice for Foyle.  </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those expecting a frenzied last minute showdown between the killer and the wronged man, Foyle’s demise comes relatively early in proceedings. The outcome definitely requires some suspension of disbelief on the part of the viewer: not only for Foyle to have a convenient rare allergy, but also for the other elements required for Will’s plan to work to fall so neatly into place: the remote cottage, the shifty criminal contacts, the source of the allergen, the source of another epi-pen… However, two things redeem all of the unlikely circumstances. The first is the writing. Yes, the plot is arguably implausible and overblown in places, but no-one can deny that it is also clever and inventive. How many viewers saw those twists coming? Just as notable are the consistently high-class performances from the entire cast. Toby Kebbell is deliciously creepy as twice-freed murderer Foyle, Sophie Okonedo convinces as the wavering Maggie and Stephen Wight definitely deserves mention as the loyal Danny Monk. But David Tennant’s performance raises the series from what could easily be overblown melodrama to something quite sublime. From his boggling, breathless terror as he occupies a pub toilet mere feet from his quarry, to the raw emotion of his eulogy to his late wife, to his poker face as he listens to Maggie unravelling the means by which he dispatched Foyle, he doesn’t falter. In a year of significantly high profile projects, <i>The Escape Artist</i> is yet another jewel in his crown.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fkdC4c4RQju6_AcTwFyZ6oPRcc1S3OmBmsuez0qrvlvAa3uz8cm8PZnnQTJJFuG_50jhLbdb2A8aa0kJrxnpRPsOaO09P7fXJCvq8tu-IkrOG3bjsf9HHk0aE3JXpuZP7Rw0K0J3ZGLm/s1600/E3-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fkdC4c4RQju6_AcTwFyZ6oPRcc1S3OmBmsuez0qrvlvAa3uz8cm8PZnnQTJJFuG_50jhLbdb2A8aa0kJrxnpRPsOaO09P7fXJCvq8tu-IkrOG3bjsf9HHk0aE3JXpuZP7Rw0K0J3ZGLm/s640/E3-003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, what have we learned from this tale of changing fortunes and revenge? Well, it’s probably not a good idea to get on the wrong side of David Tennant if you have a seafood allergy, for a start. But aside from that it’s the unsettling thought that what we believe to be justice is nothing of the sort if the act of winning is held more highly than the actual punishment of guilt. However, the alternative, demonstrated here, is more horrific. As we leave Will we do so with the echo of Foyle's words to him during their first meeting: “You know, it’s funny. The more time we spend together, the more you remind me of me.” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Escape Artist is released on DVD on Monday 18th November. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00EJFEN50?ie=UTF8&camp=3194&creative=21330&creativeASIN=B00EJFEN50&linkCode=shr&tag=dtennant-21&=dvd&qid=1377751770&sr=1-3&keywords=the+escape+artist"><span style="color: blue;">Pre-order your copy here</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>

BBC One David Tennant Reviews The Escape Artist TV Drama REVIEW: The Escape Artist Part 3 - Justice Prevails?

Earlier this year in the BBC drama The Politician’s Husband, David Tennant played MP Aiden Hoynes, a man who discovered that he would stoop to any depths to regain what he had lost professionally. The final episode of David Wolstencroft’s tense thril…

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The Escape Artist - Press Review Round Up

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBz8JTdn4P81C7IUCP7TSUTR6J44PMAp3_fqSeBWeN6dkoSZZFEhPKJ00VYvF2Eugu433ysuIHffwKB4AJ5svqP2YhSjAkfGzv58PbMxnAIUXKHo70llsnB1O2AiJuQ9mKrNyBFQTS5X4/s1600/TEA9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBz8JTdn4P81C7IUCP7TSUTR6J44PMAp3_fqSeBWeN6dkoSZZFEhPKJ00VYvF2Eugu433ysuIHffwKB4AJ5svqP2YhSjAkfGzv58PbMxnAIUXKHo70llsnB1O2AiJuQ9mKrNyBFQTS5X4/s640/TEA9.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The first episode of David Tennant's new BBC One thriller, The Escape Artist, premiered on Tuesday night.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The show was a ratings hit with 5 million viewers tuning in and twitter swamped with comments as the tense drama unfolded.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The press reaction has also been good and we've collected a selection of reviews of the episode for you to catch up on:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2479213/The-Escape-Artist-David-Tennant-triumphs-says-Christopher-Stevens.html" target="_blank">Christopher Stevens of The Daily Mail </a>gave the episode an impressive 4 stars out of 5 saying:</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The sheer quality of acting drew us into a superior legal thriller that got creepier and creepier until it threatened to spill over into gothic melodrama."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/tv-radio/reviews/article3907884.ece" target="_blank">Ed Potton In The Times</a> gave the show 3 stars: </b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"There was an enjoyable inevitability to the opening episode of this thriller by David Wolstencroft, the creator of Spooks. We just knew that Will Burton (David Tennant) would see his shiny life — hot-shot career as a defence barrister, cheeky wife (Ashley Jensen from Extras), apple-cheeked son — crumble like a flapjack in a hurricane. It all came via that trusty plot device for a legal drama, defending someone who patently did it."</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/oct/29/escape-artist-tv-review" target="_blank">Sam Wollastan of The Guardian write</a>s:</b></span><br /><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Tennant comes into his own, no longer smug and unbearable but bereaved and haunted. Even his eyes suck you quietly into his sorrow. He is a properly good actor, no?</span></div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And we're into a taut, pacy, chilling – really chilling – thriller not just about what goes on in the courtroom, but about how that affects the lives of people outside. I'm both excited and dreading the rest."</span></div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/10/29/the-escape-artist-review-david-tennat_n_4173499.html?utm_hp_ref=uk" target="_blank">Caroline Frost Of The Huffington Post</a> says:</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<span style="line-height: 21px;">I’m not going to ruin it for those still to see this on iPlayer, but can safely say that Tennant proved once again why it’s Hollywood’s loss and our gain that he hasn’t yet converted his telly success into an LA pile. Or perhaps he’s just a natural small screen actor."</span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><b>The Escape Artist continues on Tuesday at 9pm on BBC One.</b></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px;"><br /></div>

David Tennant Press Reviews The Escape Artist TV Drama The Escape Artist - Press Review Round Up

The first episode of David Tennant's new BBC One thriller, The Escape Artist, premiered on Tuesday night.The show was a ratings hit with 5 million viewers tuning in and twitter swamped with comments as the tense drama unfolded.The press reaction has …

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PHOTOS: The Escape Artist Previewed On The Wright Stuff - Includes Video Clip

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmCejAqAegXrnC455xbinr-KPWFeSBb5YZgXqUPYL9A8sJeVY_F2thEOQ2cp7G5W7F3Jtgpgzm5MUYmPo1Cc1gvB_8Yf5YqrYisANl1HT6G0KthHOHMWQR20lYCeR7rJ7yVoka1zcOhRJ/s1600/Clip01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpmCejAqAegXrnC455xbinr-KPWFeSBb5YZgXqUPYL9A8sJeVY_F2thEOQ2cp7G5W7F3Jtgpgzm5MUYmPo1Cc1gvB_8Yf5YqrYisANl1HT6G0KthHOHMWQR20lYCeR7rJ7yVoka1zcOhRJ/s1600/Clip01.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“If you were chained up in a safe in the bottom of a shark tank you don’t call for Paul Daniels. You call for Houdini”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kevin O’Sullivan gave a brief preview of the new David Tennant drama <i>The Escape Artist </i>for Matthew Wright on Channel 5 show <i>The Wright Stuff </i>earlier today. He gave the new three-part drama a glowing review.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">“It starts of as what looks like a run of the mill legal drama … and then it take a sudden twist and becomes incredibly dramatic. Then this amazing stuff happens,” he said. “I don’t want to spoil it for people but I do recommend you tune in because you’re going to have a shock ride. Very shocking, very good television and highly recommended.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A short clip from the first episode was also shown</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.channel5.com/shows/the-wright-stuff/meet-the-team" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Today's episode of The Wright Stuff is available to watch again here</span></a> - The Escape Artist is featured from 1hr 28 minutes in.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Escape Artist begins on BBC One on Tuesday 29th October at 9pm</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.david-tennant.com/2009/id195.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Find out more about the drama here</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">View more screencaps from the clip below:</span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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BBC One David Tennant Reviews The Escape Artist TV Drama PHOTOS: The Escape Artist Previewed On The Wright Stuff - Includes Video Clip

“If you were chained up in a safe in the bottom of a shark tank you don’t call for Paul Daniels. You call for Houdini”Kevin O’Sullivan gave a brief preview of the new David Tennant drama The Escape Artist for Matthew Wright on Channel 5 show The Wrig…

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UPDATED: David Tennant's Richard II Opens In Stratford-upon-Avon To Rave Reviews

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTZf1pw_weJTT-BasPX6EC8aCS0pFgCpnii4aMkXJGiIDmvCuQfsS5O6G5OP3zmmKTmsMOxxgi42JjPpVDcuVYr8nug_Z93abpAEboXDmQGuhnmwNiVLbC2jAizrTA72aEEK8-fkOijI/s1600/rich1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTZf1pw_weJTT-BasPX6EC8aCS0pFgCpnii4aMkXJGiIDmvCuQfsS5O6G5OP3zmmKTmsMOxxgi42JjPpVDcuVYr8nug_Z93abpAEboXDmQGuhnmwNiVLbC2jAizrTA72aEEK8-fkOijI/s640/rich1.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /> <br /> David Tennant's latest theatre project, Richard II, has opened to rave reviews after it's Press Night at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon last night.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>It's a 4 star review from The Times with Dominic Maxwell saying:</b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He hasn't got a clue has he? You can see that from the moment David Tennant's Richard II arrives on stage with his chin uo, his hair Timotei-long, his robes and his diction refined to the point of self parody. This takes a moment to adjust to. So regularly do we root for Tennant as the heroic outsider, whether in Doctor Who or Broadchurch or even in his RSC Hamlet, that it's odd to see him back a losing horse. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When he descends from the ceiling on a golden throne, the gap couldn't be clearer between his notion of himself as a God-given ruler and our notion of him as a bit of a berk.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not that Tennant's performance or Gregory Doran's RSC production turn out to be cartoonish. One of the hottest tickets of the year long before it opened, this is a clear, propulsive, absorbing three hours of a history play that is no cinch to stage. After all, it's in verse. It has no battles. At the first sign of uprising, the belly aching Richard pretty much deposes himself ("Let's talk of graves, of worms, of epitaphs..."). "Richard II is not an action packed drama", understates the introduction to the Penguin edition of the play. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here, though, it grips, aided by Paul Englishby's beautiful period music and Stephen Brimson Lewis's spare, guilded sets. And what Tennant does, brilliantly, is to suggest a man who feels as hollow as his crown. Who play acts at being himself. Who makes bad judgments, such as expelling his cousing Bolingbroke, soon to become Henry IV, that are a weak man's idea of being strong. He is hiding his true sexuality too, to judge by his long kiss with his cousin, Oliver Rix's Aumerle. And when he is trounced by Nigel Lindsay's stocky, gym-teacher-like Bolingbroke, he goes from ruler to martyr. he proffers the crown as if holding out a stick to a dog ("Here, cousin!").</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's electrifying.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We don't love him, but we get his grief in a play suffused with a sense of loss. Jane Lapotaire's Duchess of Gloucester mourns her husband and Michael Pennington's John Of Gaunt mourns what Richard has done to England in anguished moments that are both magnificent and a bit hard to absorb so early on. By the second half, though, Doran's production can sell everything from wit to desolation. Near the end, the Yorks, played by Oliver Ford Davies and Marty Cruickshank, row about his turning in their son, Aumerle as a traitor. It's pretty funny. It's also a resonant reminder of how the power play and posturing of politics is no job for amateurs. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8A69tkeeGVcT9vSElHkjmf3OaU_aRIpKvB_1uUKL74_zBV2b6sEYmRN52DF0urgVRLDXW5z1PIpOyw94Ci3CzX_A2DDVw1sVyaBlqe3PgZzzlY4TGQdHXw0lTLK5UrLq81IBtExt0vAE/s1600/r2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8A69tkeeGVcT9vSElHkjmf3OaU_aRIpKvB_1uUKL74_zBV2b6sEYmRN52DF0urgVRLDXW5z1PIpOyw94Ci3CzX_A2DDVw1sVyaBlqe3PgZzzlY4TGQdHXw0lTLK5UrLq81IBtExt0vAE/s1600/r2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><b>Writing a 4 star review for <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/first-night-richard-ii-royal-shakespeare-theatre-stratforduponavon-8887542.html#" target="_blank">The Independent</a> Paul Taylor says:</b></span><br /><div class="storyContent" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15.546875px; text-align: justify;"><h5><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">They covered themselves in glory five years ago with Hamlet; now David Tennant and Gregory Doran join forces again for this lucid and gripping account of Richard II. Having played the most intellectually searching of Shakespeare’s protagonists, who is painfully miscast as a revenge hero, Tennant – in splendid form here – trains his talents on the most self-absorbed and inward-looking of the Bard’s monarchs, who is fatally miscast as God’s anointed deputy on earth.</span></span></h5></div><div class="storyContent" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;"><div class="body"><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In his gorgeous, gold-embroidered robes (and long, flowing hair extensions, to boot), this Richard is wrapped in the mystique of medieval majesty. But he occupies the Gothic throne with a slouch of disgruntlement, his features congealed in disdain. Admirably resisting any temptation to make the king likeable, Tennant vividly exudes the bored irritability that erupts in tyrannical caprice. And impatience is making him reckless, too. In this production, he brazenly hears the dispute between Bolingbroke and Mowbray at the (interpolated) ceremonial lying-in-state of the Duke of Gloucester, whose murky murder (and, implicitly, Richard’s involvement in it) is itself the bone of contention.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But then Richard is a monarch who would always choose theatrical effect over political prudence. With his great gift for playfulness, Tennant runs heavily sarcastic rings round his usurper in the deposition scene. Holding the crown at arm’s length, and with his back to the assembled company, he calls out “Here cousin”, in the tones of someone inviting a dog to play fetch. This is not a Richard who luxuriates in the lyricism of grief. Tennant delivers the plaintive, self-pitying arias with a scathing irony for the most part, flecked by tiny surrenders to abject panic – as though he were at once sufferer and observer of the tragic process whereby, when the royal persona shatters, it exposes the naked, insecure person underneath. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By contrast, Nigel Lindsay’s Bolingbroke presents himself as a plain-speaking bloke who has returned from exile solely to claim his rightful inheritance – though there’s a suggestion in his hooded watchfulness and the brutality with which he dispatches Richard’s flatterers that he has a devious, long-term strategy. He plays his cards close to his chest and is embarrassed by Richard, whose upstaging antics leave him having to force face-saving laughter in front of his followers.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Interestingly, though, Doran is more interested in the king’s relationship with his other cousin, the young Aumerle. I should perhaps issue a spoiler alert for the rest of this paragraph. This production gives the pair a charged, private sequence on the walls of Flint Castle (evoked by the mobile gantry that slices across Stephen Brimson Lewis’s excellent design). The monarch’s speech of speculative capitulation (“What must the King do now? Must he submit?”) reduces his devoted number one supporter to such heartfelt, quiet tears that Tennant’s Richard is touched to a moment of rare compassion for another creature – treating his cousin to a tenderly passionate kiss and a cradling on his breast. But Aumerle, whose riven emotional state is beautifully conveyed by Oliver Rix, turns into the production’s most extreme casualty of the world of divided loyalties. Shopped to the new king by his own father for his treacherous plots, to what desperate lengths might such a man go to prove that he’s been born again politically? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There isn’t a weak link in the cast. Ferocious eloquence overcomes deathbed infirmity in Michael Pennington’s superb portrayal of John of Gaunt, and Oliver Ford Davies gives a fine edge of grumpy comedy to the Duke of York’s conscience-stricken dithering. Another palpable hit for the Tennant/Doran collaboration, the production transfers to the Barbican in December and will be broadcast live in cinemas on 13 November.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYEUaQ91yFiBgZGmUqw-4NOCQlvFJdKb4iY2TGVYgrnkQ1IaIpV_qpGncUk81XgFFWajoklYMj02BYXstnt30EwLNrAmFsW1pYBVTBuml5Pa2MJkl6u1Cv4IG-TL1_U6qjcSUwrDBswM/s1600/r12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguYEUaQ91yFiBgZGmUqw-4NOCQlvFJdKb4iY2TGVYgrnkQ1IaIpV_qpGncUk81XgFFWajoklYMj02BYXstnt30EwLNrAmFsW1pYBVTBuml5Pa2MJkl6u1Cv4IG-TL1_U6qjcSUwrDBswM/s1600/r12.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://t.co/jjsNaSWmEC" target="_blank">The Guardian's</a> Michael Billington also gives 4 stars and heaps praise upon the cast and creatives:</span></b></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This show marks the start of Gregory Doran's six-year plan to present the entire Shakespeare canon. It's fair to say that his own beautifully crafted, richly detailed production sets a high standard for himself and others to aim at. David Tennant, in a mesmerising performance that grows in power as Richard's authority declines, also reminds us that the Royal Shakespeare Company is an ensemble that paradoxically needs stars.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a sign of Doran's care that he makes clear the complex back-story that illuminates Shakespeare's play. An audience needs to know that Richard's original sin lies in sanctioning the murder of his uncle, the Duke of Gloucester. Michael Boyd began his 2007 production by having Richard stepping lightly over the corpse of the dead duke. Doran, even before Richard's entry, shows us elaborate funeral rites with three sopranos singing religious anthems in the upper galleries and the Duchess of Gloucester bent in grief over her husband's tomb. This is clearly a court steeped in mourning.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The prelude also gives Tennant a vital context in which to work. His Richard, with his brocade gown and Christ-like hair, initially affects an air of listless boredom as his burly barons hurl accusations of treason at each other. But there's a thrilling moment when Tennant gives the banished Mowbray a piercing stare as if daring him to spill the beans about the king's part in Gloucester's murder. Tennant combines inner guilt with a careless disregard for realpolitik as he seizes the land and goods of John of Gaunt after his death: a point reinforced here by the fact that we see tuns of treasure being bodily transported.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tennant's strengths, as we know from his Hamlet, are a capacity for quicksilver thought and an almost boyish vulnerability. And, even if he might do more to convey the patterned lyricism of the language, what he brings out excellently is the fact that Richard only learns to value kingship after he has lost it. In his decline, Tennant casually tosses the crown away and, at one point, skittishly places it on the head of his adored Aumerle. But in the Westminster deposition scene, where Tennant is at his best, he challenges Bolingbroke to "seize the crown" and, when his rival rises to the bait, immediately inverts it to suggest a falling bucket. Tennant's great achievement is to attract our sympathy to what the gardener calls a "wasteful king" who abuses power when he has it and who achieves tragic dignity only in his downfall.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But this production, which combines period costumes with back-projections in Stephen Brimson Lewis's elegant design, is emphatically no one-man show. Nigel Lindsay's Bolingbroke is a palpably dangerous figure who treats Richard's remission of his initial banishment with surly disdain and openly scorns the deposed king's self-conscious theatricality. It is also good to see a number of RSC veterans operating at top form in key roles.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oliver Ford Davies is brilliant as the Duke of York in that he highlights both the comedy and pathos of a man torn between ancestral loyalty to the crown and a recognition of Bolingbroke's power. Michael Pennington's John of Gaunt is also a fine study of a dying man bursting with intemperate rage at Richard's betrayal of his country. And Jane Lapotaire turns the Duchess of Gloucester into a silver-haired figure whose widowed grief manifests itself in a burning appetite for revenge.</span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-bottom: 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The packed houses for this production's run in both Stratford and at the Barbican may have much to do with Tennant's star presence. But this is the strongest company the RSC has fielded in years, and what Doran's production brings out is the rich complexity of a play that raises the eternal question of at what point it becomes legitimate to unseat a manifestly flawed ruler. Shakespeare's play may be set in 14th-century England. It remains, however, a timelessly political work.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuqquCtmD2RVhKBWxItVSBrQn7mRqAG2k3jgUHOJRPU1tfv5FBkBHqtAT8h7YFBdrfaGUYcQLU71-2aBpTqDJ6SbwbrYtsoAriYK_D0FELCLBbfauR-wc9jYP0xWLsaxWN06FoLCXkbs/s1600/r13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuqquCtmD2RVhKBWxItVSBrQn7mRqAG2k3jgUHOJRPU1tfv5FBkBHqtAT8h7YFBdrfaGUYcQLU71-2aBpTqDJ6SbwbrYtsoAriYK_D0FELCLBbfauR-wc9jYP0xWLsaxWN06FoLCXkbs/s1600/r13.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>It's another 4 star review from <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/10385663/Richard-II-Royal-Shakespeare-Theatre-Stratford-upon-Avon-review.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">The Telegraph's</a> Dominic Cavendish:</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /> <span style="text-align: start;">Five years after his </span>spellbinding Hamlet<span style="text-align: start;">, David Tennant is back at the RSC and reunited with director (now artistic director) Gregory Doran for Richard II. Last time round there was a lot of hoo-ha about Doctor Who and a box-office frenzy. Maybe there’ll be more of that again, with Tennant joining Matt Smith for the 50th anniversary special next month. But for the moment, a calm air of focus prevails; Tennant, 42, is in his natural element – and day tickets are available.</span></span><br /><div class="secondPar" style="line-height: normal; text-align: start;"><div style="padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His hair takes some getting used to: great gingery-brown extensions trail girlishly downwards. Long, magisterial, quasi-medieval robes add to the effeminate impression. In Act III, at Flint Castle, beset by ruin, this Richard leans close and kisses his cousin Aumerle (the youthful, boyish Oliver Rix) on the lips. As with Hamlet, so with Richard – there’s an identity crisis at play (“remember who you are”, Aumerle counsels, as if that were possible), but here it’s of a sexual nature too. And in a further directorial flourish, Doran makes Aumerle the last face the imprisoned, ousted monarch sees, plunging the dagger into him.</span></div></div><div class="thirdPar" style="line-height: normal; text-align: start;"><div style="padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overall, though, this production is more reverent than radical. Doran has suggested he will work slowly, steadily, through the canon – and the first scene especially, in which Nigel Lindsay’s tough, gruff, almost too-too solid Bolingbroke squares up to Antony Byrne’s aggrieved Mowbray – each accusing the other of treason – feels slow and steady to a fault. Richard’s reign, some 20 years in at this stage (1398), was in severe trouble. Thanks to an emphasised aura of restraint – signalled by a stark, simple set from Stephen Brimson Lewis, augmented by subtle projections on towering screens – you don’t get much sense of the hurly-burly of this chapter of history or of events spinning wildly out of the king’s weakening control.</span></div></div><div class="fourthPar" style="line-height: normal; text-align: start;"><div style="padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With his startled eyes and concentrated frown, Tennant is frail, pale and consistently interesting but the nervous energy he excels in is confined to quarters early on. Trumpets sound, sopranos trill sacred music as if wafting incense; the king is embalmed in ceremony, cloaked in remoteness.</span></div></div><div class="fifthPar" style="text-align: start;"><div style="line-height: normal; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It’s the older hands who galvanise proceedings with emotional intensity in the first half. A quivering Jane Lapotaire as the widowed Duchess of Gloucester, spilling over with unconfined grief, that perpetually stooped, hangdog actor Oliver Ford Davies as the fretful Duke of York and Michael Pennington, little short of magnificent as John of Gaunt – lending febrile and ferocious emphasis to his “This sceptr’d isle” speech and to those last-gasp accusations against Richard.</span></div><div style="line-height: normal; padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The evening is always lucid but only truly crystalises as things fall apart. Richard spasms with panic as he grasps the frailty of existence, crawling on the floor in abjection. He’s appealingly sardonic as he bows in exaggeration before his usurper, and at the end, having taken on the aspect of Christ, he appears aloft on a gantry, looking down in beatific accusation as Bolingbroke contemplates the blood on his hands. Tennant shines, but he has shone brighter.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmBH9kWWElSe3qGXqrS9-eFFgic0h2B4_a1z027qu2Y8u9wUGiYi6SG0J67OzRkjEYVfYEDrqiT9tpXlfEFyVjRinktkGlX5kaVntZrHTr0YmMvTMuF_McCmfdd2cAEECbcBEcFMOWS8/s1600/r17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmBH9kWWElSe3qGXqrS9-eFFgic0h2B4_a1z027qu2Y8u9wUGiYi6SG0J67OzRkjEYVfYEDrqiT9tpXlfEFyVjRinktkGlX5kaVntZrHTr0YmMvTMuF_McCmfdd2cAEECbcBEcFMOWS8/s1600/r17.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="padding: 0px 0px 0.7em;"><div style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/437598/Richard-II-at-RSC-Stratford-upon-Avon-review" target="_blank">The Daily Express</a> gives a 5 star review with Neil Norman saying:</b></span></div><div class="p1" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Often represented as effete and capricious, even gay, Richard needs a very special actor to seek out all the crevices of his personality.</span></div><div class="p1" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David Tennant is that actor. From the moment he arrives on stage in a kind of gilded sheath with his long hair held back by a crown to attend his uncle Gloucester's funeral, he shows us with sly precision a man in thrall to his own vanity, seduced by his anointed position and intelligent enough to be aware of both. As his role becomes increasingly challenging and challenged by the remorseless Bolingbroke (Nigel Lindsay), Richard's doubts about his fitness to rule leak out as if from invisible wounds while the sub-textual debates - pragmatist v aesthete, philistine v artist - hover in the ether.</span></div><div class="p1" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gregory Doran's production is superbly orchestrated from the opening funeral in a soaring Gothic cathedral with three sopranos and musicians to Richard's abdication which turns into a tug-of-war over the crown with Bolingbroke.</span></div><div class="p1" style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a lucid, moving production packed with tremendous performances. From Michael Pennington's John of Gaunt, the last great Englishman, to Oliver Ford Davies's wonderfully bewildered Duke of York. Emma Hamilton as the Queen, Marty Cruickshank as the Duchess of York and Jane Lapotaire as the bereaved Duchess of Gloucester all make striking contributions.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sense of England is prevalent throughout. Returning from Ireland Richard strokes the ground with a lover's caress, as if nourished by the earth itself. Whether sashaying around like a 14th-century David Bowie or stumbling like a Christ figure hauled before Bolingbroke's Pontius Pilate, Tennant captures Richard's androgyny, suggesting a man more asexual than bisexual. But he is no pushover. When the murderers come for him he goes down fighting. I was sorely tempted to cheer.</span></div><div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding: 0px;"><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Verdict: 5/5</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjym_HFVfXyVynAKVr2yNb0trktrEhqQcsFO6JXWRsnNAmha64S6KiHEuXveI0nOTREvG87fTgFlyW5oOk-J4-8u6P7wsS05yFdgUbKMg7J4Tway9FkC2TKfXveOKBa_p8FhWg-8-ldrOg/s1600/r14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjym_HFVfXyVynAKVr2yNb0trktrEhqQcsFO6JXWRsnNAmha64S6KiHEuXveI0nOTREvG87fTgFlyW5oOk-J4-8u6P7wsS05yFdgUbKMg7J4Tway9FkC2TKfXveOKBa_p8FhWg-8-ldrOg/s1600/r14.jpg" /></a></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/theatre/richard-ii-royal-shakespeare-theatre--theatre-review-8888556.html" target="_blank">Henry Hitchings also rates the show as 4 star in The Evening Standard:</a></b></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Five years on from his electrifying Hamlet, David Tennant returns to the Royal Shakespeare Company to play Richard II. From the moment of its announcement this has been one of the year’s hottest tickets.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Tennant does not disappoint. He delivers a vivid, intelligent performance, at least as mesmerising as the best of his TV work. He is certainly not afraid to make Richard dislikable. Instead of the poetic soul we tend to see, his Richard is irritable. In the early scenes he is petulant and smug.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">With fluting voice and waist-length hair (Tennant sports mighty extensions) he is a picture of prissy narcissism. And he skips around the stage like a child who has had too many sweets.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">From the outset Tennant’s Richard is excitingly unpredictable and as his authority crumbles he transforms intriguingly from a gilded tyrant into a more vulnerable character — yet one who is capable of bursts of aggression. By the end he is a holy man in a flowing white robe.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Gregory Doran’s production moves slowly for the first hour or so but it is satisfying both visually and dramatically. It also benefits from the strongest RSC cast in a long time.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Tennant’s Richard contrasts nicely with Nigel Lindsay’s robust, manly Bolingbroke. Michael Pennington makes a poignantly eloquent John of Gaunt, while Jane Lapotaire and Marty Cruickshank bring real substance to lesser roles. Oliver Ford Davies deserves a special mention: his Duke of York is an unalloyed delight.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Doran places an unusual emphasis on the king’s cousin Aumerle (Oliver Rix) and it is Richard’s relationship with him — coloured by awkward lust — that defines the production.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">This is a clear, detailed and dynamic account of a drama that can often seem glutted with artful rhetoric and ceremonial formality. It is an impressive start to Doran’s campaign to stage all Shakespeare’s plays. Richard II will come to the Barbican in December, as well as being shown in cinemas on November 13.</span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div>

David Tennant Gregory Doran Reviews Richard II Royal Shakespeare Company Royal Shakespeare Theatre Theatre UPDATED: David Tennant's Richard II Opens In Stratford-upon-Avon To Rave Reviews

David Tennant's latest theatre project, Richard II, has opened to rave reviews after it's Press Night at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon last night.It's a 4 star review from The Times with Dominic Maxwell saying:He hasn't got a…

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