No not a Transformer, silly, but Chinese car manufacturer Changan Automobiles, who are setting up a new research and development centre at Nottingham’s Science Park. This is great news for the city as the move will potentially create over 200 jobs and, according to EMDA Chairman Bryan Jackson, will “further establish the region’s reputation as a location for innovative, high technology companies.”

For more information visit the BBC’s website

Above image is of the Apple Newton Message Pad handheld computer released in 1993.

Forget the phones left in bars and internet predictions, Apple have revealed the iPhone 4 and the iOS 4 operating system (formerly known as iPhone OS). Some of the more notable new features include mulitasking (iOS4 compatible apps only, so don’t expect to play Angry Birds while listening to Spotify just yet), a greatly improved screen, improved camera with Flash and front camera for video calling.

For the full rundown of features visit the Apple Site.

When I got into work today I booted up my trusted Mac and found my Apple Wireless keyboard had bitten the dust. Fresh batteries did nothing for it and a replacement seemed the only way to go. After quite a bit of Googling on my iPhone, I read that if you roll up a small pellet of metal sponge or tin foil and drop this in before the batteries it can resucue your keyboard. I said I’d be amazed if that worked. It did work and amazed I was. So if your keyboard has given up the ghost, try this handy tip before investing in a new keyboard.

For a lot of people in the UK, 3D projection mapping was first seen on Sky New’s coverage of the 2010 election ‘Leader’s Debate’. The above video is an advert for Samsung TVs and is projected onto a building in Amsterdam. The effect is quite stunning and I can’t wait to see how well the effect works in the flesh.

Sherwood Art Week will be running from Saturday 19-26th June, 2010 in Nottingham, UK with events, displays and workshops being held in the Sherwood and Carrington areas of the city. Organisers are expecting 80-100 artists to be involved in the event, which has been organised by volunteers, artists and local businesses. Artwork will also be displayed in shop, pub and restaurants as well as in the windows of local residents.

This promises to be a great week and it always makes me proud to hear of exciting events like this happenning in our city. For more information visit the official Sherwood Art Week 2010 website.

Google have released the top 1000 most visited sites on the web, based on unique visitors as measured by their Ad Planner. Facebook is the most visited site with Yahoo, Wikipedia, Bing, Adobe and Twitter making noteable appearances in the top 20.

Click here to view the full list, which will be updated monthly. The above image is of Google’s first production server.

The BBC have announced their iPlayer will be made available at some point on the iPad. This is a great example of how Flash based video can be adapted to output H.264 video that is iPhone and iPad compatible. I have to say I’m very impressed with the BBC iPlayer, it works as excellently on the PS3, Wii and iPhone as it does on the PC or Mac and I’d really like to see the 4oD player be as flexible.

For more info jump over to The Register for an indepth report.

It’s bad news for Ireland’s shortest rock star, Bono’s badly hurt his back and the U2 tour bus is parked. The good news is they are pulling out of Glastonbury! Admittedly U2 are a hugely popular band, so while not to my taste it’s hard to argue they weren’t a top headlne act. The big question is who will replace them? The Rolling Stones and Prince have been suggested but there hasn’t been a Glastonbury in 20 years where these two acts haven’t been rumoured to play. Pearl Jam are in the country but already playing the Hard Rock Calling festival in Hyde Park, so who else could take their place? My AV votes would go to The Foo Fighters, Them Crooked Vultures, Led Zeppelin, Beastie Boys, Radiohead, The Raconteurs, Tenacious D, Beck, The Eels, Kasabian, Gorillaz, Fleetwood Mac or The Monkees (seriously). There’s plently there to choose from Mr. Eavis, pick a good one.

UPDATE: Mr. Eavis didn’t do too badly this time, he picked the Gorillaz.

The Nottingham Contemporary arts centre has won the Royal Institute of Architects award for architectual excellence. Designed by Caruso St John, the building looks like a retail park Halfords but who am I to argue with a Royal Institute of something. Thankfully the content inside is excellent and centre is well worth visiting. For more info visit the Nottingham Contemporary website.