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Super Meat Boy coming to iOS and Android – not just another ‘sh***y’ port
Apr 3rd
Super Meat Boy, the phenomenally difficult but incredibly addictive platform game for PC, Xbox 360 and Mac, is coming to iOS and other touchscreen platforms (believed to be Android, at least). However, rather than simply port the existing game, developer Team Meat is building a completely new version to better fit mobile devices.
“We have been playing with the idea of porting SMB to the iphone for some time,” says Team Meat in a posting on its official blog.
“Sadly, there was no way of doing this without the game becoming a pile of garbage. Super Meat Boy is a twitch platformer with precision controls, there was no way in hell this would work on a touchscreen with buttons all over it. Super Meat Boy isn’t a game we want to make a sub-par version of just to cash in… So, we decided to totally remake the whole game instead, from the ground up!” The developer goes on to say that the new version, Super Meat Boy: The Game, is being specifically designed to work with touch controls. What it isn’t creating is “a shitty port of an existing game with non-tactile buttons spread all over the screen blocking the players view and making for frustrating controls”.
Die-hard fans are also warned that the final iOS/other platforms platform game (ahem) will be missing some aspects of the original, but it will feature entirely new art.
There’s no date on the game’s release as of yet, but we can’t wait.
PlayStation 4 to be called Orbis
Mar 30th
Sony’s next games console, which has previously been dubbed “PlayStation 4″ for obvious reasons, is going to be called “Orbis” – according to sources familiar to the matter. The name, which may be its internal codename and could change before release, is a latin word, which means circle or ring.
The same sources have also told games website Kotaku that the next generation console will launch in Q4 2013, just in time for Christmas that year.
Of course, sources can often be wide of the mark. You only need read the rumours from the preceding two weeks or so before the launch of any Apple device to know that. However, there’s a further clue to back up the name claim.
The URL for Sony’s portal for developers, generally begins with the hardware name in question; vita.scedev.net or ps3.scedev.net, for example. Type orbis.scedev.net, and you get to the same page. Type ps4.scedev.net and you don’t, you get a 404 instead.
4WD Permoveh wheelchair turns on a dime
Mar 26th
Japanese researchers led by Masaharu Komori, an associate professor of mechanical engineering at Kyoto University, recently demoed the Permoveh, or Personal Mobility Vehicle, as a prototype next-generation wheelchair.
The Permoveh has four wheels of the same size, and each wheel contains 32 rollers that can rotate in a perpendicular direction to the rim. As the vid below shows, the vehicle can move in any direction when the user operates a hand-held control.
When the user wants to travel forward or back, the wheels alone move; when going sideways, the rollers move. When traveling diagonally, both wheels and rollers move.
The technology is designed to allow wheelchair users to navigate through tighter spaces more easily.
Right now the top speed of the Permoveh is just 3.7 mph. The prototype also cost some 3 million yen ($36,300) to produce.
Komori and associates are aiming to make it lighter and more compact, while bringing the cost down by two-thirds. That would still make it a very expensive wheelchair but the team wants to commercialize it in three to five years.
The Permoveh wheel technology could also be adapted for use in conveyor equipment in factories and warehouses, according to the university.
Nissan DeltaWing Le Mans entrant looks more like Batmobile
Mar 20th
Nissan has revealed what it believes to be “the most radical motorsport project of its time”. The Nissan DeltaWing is a super-charged, futuristic racing car that requires half the fuel load of conventional rivals, has a Direct Injection Gasoline – Turbocharged (DIG-T) engine that can produce up to 300-horsepower, and looks much like the Batmobile or a rocket car from the pages of Dan Dare.
In addition, the car manufacturer – along with the many partners who have combined to build the DeltaWing – will be entering the project into an actual race – the gruelling 24 Heures du Mans, held on 16-17 June this year.
The car won’t be classified for the race, but will be used to show off the extraordinary abilities of future car technology that will eventually be implemented in Nissan road cars. The race-prepared 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, featuring direct petrol injection and a turbocharger even shares some of the same DNA as the company’s Nissan Juke.
Other prototypes may be more powerful, but it is expected that the DeltaWing will perform comparably because it’s half the weight and sports half the aerodynamic drag of a conventional racer.
“As motor racing rulebooks have become tighter over time, racing cars look more and more similar and the technology used has had less and less relevance to road car development,” said Andy Palmer, Nissan’s executive vice-president. “Nissan DeltaWing aims to change that and we were an obvious choice to become part of the project.
“But this is just the start of our involvement. Nissan DeltaWing embodies a vast number of highly innovative ideas that we can learn from. At the same time, our engineering resources and commitment to fuel efficiency leadership via our PureDrive strategy will help develop DeltaWing into a testbed of innovation for Nissan.
Nissan joins an experienced group of core partners in the project, all of which are heavyweights in their respective fields, including British designer Ben Bowlby, American motorsport entrepreneur Don Panoz and Michelin Tyres North America.
We hope they also add a pyrotechnics team to that growing list. We want flames to come out of the back. Of the good kind, of course.
Best Android apps for TV and movie fans
Mar 15th
One of the most popular uses for tablets and phones is watching videos or catchup TV. From BBC iPlayer in bed, to movies on your travels, having a good-quality screen to hand makes your Android device a perfect choice for those who love television and movies.
If you do nothing else with your tablet, be sure to check out the best television apps and best movie apps for Android. Supporting Flash video, the browser itself is pretty good at delivering content from desktop versions of websites, but a dedicated app is always preferable. From cinema listings to streaming blockbusters, these apps will put you in the picture.
Sky Go
The Sky Go app will allow some Android smartphone owners to turn their phone in to TV. The app is free, although you need to be a subscriber and all you’ve got to do is add your Sky Go details and you’re ready to watch. The first page you are presented with is the channel categories (All, Entertainment, Sports, Movies, News, and Lifestyle) and these break down the relevant Sky channels into different pots, including Sky 1, Sky Living, and Sky Arts 1, in addition to the Sky Sports channels, Sky movie channels, Sky News, and ESPN. You also have access to Sky Atlantic.
In use the app is really simple, and enjoyable to use as well if you are planning on watching that Sky movie away from your TV. We are surprised that there is no pause functionality and by the lack of Anytime+ support. With Sky Go you get an app that will be great for those moments where you really just fancy curling up in bed to finish watching the movie you’ve got stuck into.
Google Play: Link
Price: Free, but you need a subscription
Rating: 4/5
Crackle
Crackle has been around for a few years now. These days, under the stewardship of Sony Pictures Entertainment, it brings free-to-stream films from its parent company’s catalogue as well as a clutch of orginal content in the shape of some specially made TV series. We’re not going to lie to you – the TV series are not particularly attractive and the movie catalogue could be described as a touch dated at best.
The quality of the streams over mobile is not great. They’re pixelated just over the threshold at which you notice it; and searching for films beyond the featured carousel on the front and the Most Popular section isn’t as easy as it should be. But it’s all a fairly small price to pay given that you’re getting decent, feature-length movies for nothing. Probably the nicest touch is that the Crackle app will remember where you last left a film if you don’t manage to finish it in one sitting.
Google Play: Link
Price: Free
Rating: 4/5
BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer has been a resounding success and one of the drivers of TV viewing online in the UK. Taking BBC iPlayer off your computer and into your pocket is handled by the dedicated app. You can browse BBC programmes, with access to a wide range of content, so you can catch up on an episode or a series you missed.
You can nominate favourites and share content too – so if you’ve watched something you really enjoy, you can email a link to a friend, or post it to a social network. Deep in the settings you can limit the quality of the video and you’ll be able to stream TV and radio over Wi-Fi or 3G. There is also the option to watch live TV. If you live in the UK, this is an essential app.
Google Play: Link
Price: Free
Rating: 5/5
Netflix
Netflix is one of the biggest names in streaming TV and movies. Formerly a US-only service, the company has now branched out into the UK, bringing its easy-access, cross-platform content to a wider audience. With apps on just about every mobile platform, games consoles and other smart TV devices, it seems to be less about how you get Netflix than how you can resist.
Clever functions include syncing across your account, so you can watch on your Xbox and then resume on your Android phone on the bus and so on. Clever scalable streaming means the service is often buffer free, but obviously you’re restricted to what’s in the catalogue.
Google Play: Link
Price: Free app, but subscription required
Rating: 5/5
Movies by Flixster
Flixster is a social movie site where users can share movie ratings and check out what their online friends are watching. You can also link up with with your Facebook account, to make things more social.
You can browse DVD releases, watch trailers, find out what’s on at your local cinema and also read reviews from Flixster or Rotton Tomatoes. If you’re going to download just the one movie app, this is probably the best place to start.
Google Play: Link
Price: Free
Rating: 4/5
IMDb
Anyone that loves film will know that IMDb (Internet Movie Database) is an absolute must-have. As well as listing pretty much every film (and TV programme) ever made, and those that are currently in production, it also includes over 3.2 million cast and crew profiles. For each film it will give you a cast list, plot summary and trivia.
It also includes links to Amazon for those films and programmes that are available to buy and gives you location-based show times for your nearest cinemas, lets you compile your watchlist and helps you remember exactly where you saw that actor before. In short, it’s the most comprehensive source of film info around, making it absolutely essential.
Google Play: Link
Price: Free
Rating: 5/5
Movie Vault
If you’re a fan of old and/or obscure films, then Movie Vault may be the app for you. It enables you to stream full-length films, choosing from a wide selection of more than 1,000 classic flicks. The films can be searched by several variants including genre, title, actor, director and keyword. Each movie is displayed with its cover art on a virtual wooden shelving unit for a touch of extra retro coolness.
You’ll find a brief summary of each film (ported over from IMDb) and the app will automatically update when new films are added. You can save movies in a queue to watch later and you can also pause and pickup where you left off later on. This is a great source for watching films that are hard to come by, and after the one-off payment for the app, streaming is free.
Google Play: Link
Price: £1.21
Rating: 3/5
Orange Wednesdays
In the UK, mobile phone operator Orange runs a film-based promo known as Orange Wednesdays where you can get 2 for 1 cinema tickets – you guessed it – every Wednesday. This app will grant you your free ticket and also offers other handy features for you to plan your trip. You can find out which films are on at nearby cinemas, as well as reading reviews, watching trailers and looking up maps and directions for how to get there.
And as for your lucky pal who you’re taking to the cinema for free? You can send them the details straight from your app so there’s no need to compose a lengthy text message with all the info. It’s only fair that they buy the popcorn.
Google Play: Link
Price: Free, if you’re an Orange customer
Rating: 4/5
RockPlayer Lite
RockPlayer Lite is one of the most popular Android video players around. Essentially, it’s a multi-format video and audio player that plays pretty much every format under the sun. While the on-board Android video file support isn’t bad and varies from device to device, it often can’t cope with everything, and that’s where RockPlayer comes in.
It’s great for people who download a lot of movies from the web as it supports formats such as avi, Xvid and DivX. Top-notch video format support for free? You can’t say fairer than that.
Google Play: Link
Price: Free
Rating: 4/5
Play Video
Films that arrive on your Android device through the Google Play are handled by the Play Videos app. Movies are priced at £3.49 for a newer release, or £2.49 for older titles. These prices match those on iTunes, unsurprisingly, but the selection of films isn’t as comprehensive. Fortunately it doesn’t cost you anything to browse, because there is no subscription involved, unlike streaming from a service such as Netflix. You get access to your rented film for 30 days, but once you start playing, you have 48 hours to watch it.
Normal playback is streaming, but you do get the option to download it, with a warning asking you whether this should be over Wi-Fi only… we’d suggest you say yes to that. If you choose to download your film, you won’t then be able to watch it on other Android devices on your account, which streaming will allow. Playback quality is perfect for a mobile device and if you have HDMI on your phone you’ll be able to hook it up to a TV to watch it on the big screen. Read More
Google Play: Link
Price: Free (but you have to pay for films)
Rating: 3/5
Virgin Media TV Guide
Virgin Media’s app can control your TiVo box from your smartphone, allowing you to select a show and set it to record, or even create a series link to tape every episode. The app sports a similar interface to that of your TiVo box at home and channels can be grouped into favourites, allowing you to keep up to date on exactly what you like watching and filter out the channels you prefer to avoid. The most useful bit of the app however, is of course being able to set your TiVO box to record away from home.
You do (obviously) have to sign into your Virgin Media account before the app will start sending messages to the box, but other than that there is little else in the way of simply choosing and recording. The connected TV service essentially learns your viewing habits, automatically recording programmes it thinks you might like. Believe us, after a week or two of watching it will appear eerily intelligent. Read More
Google Play: Link
Price: Free
Rating: 5/5
Skifta
Skifta is a networks streaming app that will enable your Android phone or tablet to find and play content on a sharing DLNA or UPnP device. It is simple, free, and generally very reliable in use too. Naturally, it only supports the codecs that your device supported, so while it will find files, it can only play those your device normally would.
Navigation is logical, asking you to nominate the source, choose the player and then pick the file. Yes, choosing the player means it will also do “play to” functions, so if you want your phone to broadcast to another device, Skifta will handle that.
Google Play: Link
Price: Free
Rating: 4/5
© copyright Pocket-lint 2012
Is this the Samsung Galaxy S III?
Feb 24th
An official-looking press shot of the Samsung Galaxy S III has turned up on online mobile phone store HandTec, purporting to be the new super phone from the Korean manufacturer.
Although we aren’t 100 per cent sure that the picture is genuine, it still looks pretty tasty.
Like the Galaxy Nexus, there are no buttons, with Samsung, if the pic is genuine, really pushing the display out to the furthest edges in order to get the maximum screen size in a device that isn’t the size of a brick.
Also worth noting is that the camera configuration is very similar to the Samsung Galaxy S II, suggesting that some of the family styling has come through. Either that or the faker at least spent some time making up a design that looks legitimate.
Our only real concern over its authenticity, lies with the search button at the bottom of the screen – there is just something not right about it. Otherwise, the device shows a departure from the typical Ice Cream Sandwich array of back, home and recent apps buttons. You’ll get home, recent apps, app tray, back and search instead. On the display, there’s a couple of Samsung-styled and Android icons.
Still, whether the Samsung Galaxy S III turns out to be the phone pictured or not, we have to say we like the look of this phone.
Samsung has confirmed that it is launching the Samsung Galaxy S III later in the year.
Thanks for the tip, Kam.
UPDATE: Thanks to eagle-eyed readers, such as William Judd, we now know that it’s definitely a fake. It’s a mock-up released by an individual on the Russian website Vkontakte a while back. Suppose it really was too good to be true.
It is, however, still being used by HandTec on its holding page for the new device.
Sony multi-room audio systems pictures and hands-on
Feb 20th
Sony has today shown Pocket-lint its new range of multi-room audio devices. The self-contained speaker systems are clearly intended to compete with current champion of such things, Sonos. And from what we saw, we were very impressed indeed.
There are three self-contained speaker systems in the range. The first is the smallest, the SA-NS310, clearly aimed at the kitchen. The next model is the SA-NS410, which is the same power as the largest, the SA-NS410, although it lacks the 360 degree speaker of the higher-end model. The 410 also features a five-hour battery too, which means you can pick it up and carry it to any room.
Sony has done its level best to make the set-up of its audio system as simple as possible. Each speaker creates its own wireless hotspot when you first turn it on, a free iOS or Android app then introduces the speaker to your wireless network. And then you’re good to go. As with Sonos, there is software which keeps the speakers in sync too, so you can listen in multiple rooms without having any nasty delays.
There are cloud music services – like Music Unlimited – which integrate with the speakers and if you have an iOS-powered device, then you can make use of Airplay too. DLNA servers are supported too, so if you have a NAS on your home network, then you can play music to the speakers from it too. There’s no hardware remote though, so you will need an Android device or an iPod/iPad or iPhone.
Apparently, multi-room audio isn’t such a big deal in Japan. Smaller houses and thinner walls mean that it’s not really necessary. But Sony seems to recognise that Europe and the US are big markets for these devices, and it has designed them with that in mind. There are no prices yet, but Pocket-lint understands that Sony will be doing its best to make the speakers attractive to people who might not want to pay the premium on Sonos hardware.
Weather app moves to top of chart
Feb 16th
Weather app Weather Live has taken over as the most popular paid-for app for the iPad this week.
The app, by Apalon, is marketed as “The most beautiful weather app. Ever.”
It pushed last week’s number one, Kingdom Rush by Armor Games, into second spot.
Pages, by Apple, described as “the most beautiful word processor you’ve ever seen on a mobile device” is at number three, up one place from last week.
Ripple HD by Two Teeth Technologies is top of the free app chart for iPad, followed by Weather Live Free by Apalon then treasure hunting game Temple Run by Imangi Studios, LLC.
The top paid-for iPhone app was The Lost City, by Fire Maple Games, said to be inspired by classic point and click adventure games.
WhatsApp Messenger, by WhatsApp Inc, an instant messenger for smartphones, dropped a place from last week’s top spot.
Ragdoll Blaster 3 by Backflip Studios was in third place.
Save The Pencil, a puzzle game by Perfect Dimension, topped the free app chart for iPhone, while Temple Run was in number two position.
The Secret of Grisly Manor, by Fire Maple Games, was in third spot.
Apple iTV: Review of rumours, features, pictures and specs
Feb 10th
Apple is the king of rumour mongering and the Apple iTV currently carries the rumour crown. Schtum until the last minute, as Forest Gump would suggest, Apple is like a box of chocolates, you never know what your gonna get.
So with Apple television set rumours, things remain very much the same. Who knows what sort of treats Cupertino’s labs are currently cooking up? We can’t wait to find out, that’s for sure. In the meantime why not speculate like mad, heck it helps relieve some of the stress of waiting at least. This is by no means what the finished iTV might end up looking like, more just everything the internet currently predicts it to be. What follows is an amalgamation of absolutely everything currently circulating the web on Apple’s supposed iTV product.
Apple iTV release date
There have been very few murmurs whatsoever of the hardware’s definite arrival time. Virtually nothing has been mentioned and no one really knows when it is going to turn up. The best way to approach this question then is to look at the way Apple traditionally unveils hardware.
Any iPhone or iPad launch is scheduled with a big enough distance between that they don’t clash and detract from possible hype over each. The iPhone 4S arrived in mid October, the iPad 2 at the end of March. That leaves quite a tasty gap in between during the summer months. If Apple were to follow the same release schedule as last year, the iTV might well arrive in summer.
Walther Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, released in October, explained that Jobs had made the iTV his last big project and that as he put it, had “cracked” connected television. This, at least, means it exists and had been worked on by Jobs while he was still alive. This would put it towards the end of its R&D cycle and make a summer launch even more likely.
A supply chain leak reported by Digitimes in December at the end of 2011 did reveal something of a possible release time and appears to agree with Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs. Materials for the sets are supposedly being prepared in Q1 this year with aims to release the hardware to market in Q3. Do take this with a slight pinch of salt though as Digitimes doesn’t have a spotless record for accurate rumour reporting.
Apple iTV display
This is where rumours surrounding the iTV get a bit more exciting. First up is that the iTV is going to appear in multiple sizes, according to a story on smarthouse.com.au published in December 2011; logical when you think about how people approach a television purchase.
We are expecting the standard 32-inch model going all the way up to 55-inch. How do we know this? Well rumours coming in from Japan point to Sharp as the panel manufacturer for the brand new Apple sets. The same report in allthingsd.com also suggests that the panels are going to be LCD, not OLED which may be reserved for future variants of the television set. Doubtless the public will be extremely happy if they see a 32-inch version of the screen used on the iMac. Apple has always done a good job with its panels and so expect whatever turns up in the iTV to be of decent quality.
Further rumours surrounding Sharp’s work on the iTV also state that the company has completely retooled its Sakai production plant just for putting together the displays. We already know that the company will likely be working on OLED screens for future iPhone and iPads, but whether they release an iTV with similar display tech remains to be seen. The Digitimes supply leak in December doesn’t mention anything of the sort, it does however suggest just a 32 and 37-inch panel available at the television’s launch.
In all likelihood the cost will keep things LCD focussed for the first generation at least. What no Apple iTV rumour reports have pointed to, as yet, are whether or not the displays will use IPS, be LED-backlit or of Retina Display pixel density.
Apple iTV remote control
A quote from Steve Jobs in Walter Isaacson’s book suggests we might see Siri make an appearance in the new iTV set as opposed to conventional controls.
“I’d like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use. It would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud. No longer would users have to fiddle with complex remotes for DVD players and cable channels. It will have the simplest user interface you could imagine.
It would make sense given the success of systems like Kinect and its Xbox voice control and would certainly tie in with the idea of cutting down on remote controls but its equally possible that the quote refers to using another iDevice as a remote or indeed Apple iTV coming with something universal of its own.
There is also – as reported in December of 2011 by the Wall Street Journal – the possibility of gesture controls. Apple has been gesture obsessed since it launched the trackpad for Mac, so it would certainly make sense.
Apple iTV operating system
Apple already has a highly formidable operating system in iOS. The failings of the current Apple TV and its alternative software approach make it even more likely that it’s the iPhone and iPad interface that will appear on the new iTV. It’s hard to see Apple going any other way than with its hugely popular and well-established iOS with its vast app infrastructure but, until we receive reports on the matter either way, it’s not possible to say for sure.
Apple iTV hardware
On top of the display rumours in the allthingsd.com report, there have been more details on the innards and outtards of the iTV coming as dropped in a survey conducted by Best Buy in February 2012. These specifications have been debunked by the store itself, but its still worth taking a look at what the consumer electronics megastore had in mind.
The survey talks about a 42-inch 1080p television that runs iOS and can access the app store – two things that ring true with other reports of the Apple iTV system.
What is slightly puzzling about the whole Best Buy survey is the use of an iSight camera for Skype. iSight is no longer what Apple refers to its built-in cameras as and FaceTime would be far more likely to come as standard than Skype.
Apple iTV iCloud integration
Steve Jobs himself gives mention to the uses of iCloud in the Apple iTV set.
“I’d like to create an integrated television set that is completely easy to use. It would be seamlessly synced with all of your devices and with iCloud.” Jobs told Isaacson in his biography.
There is no reason why Apple wouldn’t be taking advantage of the vastly expensive infrastructure they have created with iCloud. Wireless content syncing across devices? iTunes Match on your telly? Yes please.
Apple iTV channels
Analysts say Apple is working on custom channels for its new iTV. Shaw Wu and Sterne Agee told AppleInsider in December 2011 that, if Apple’s service were to take on the likes of Sky and Virgin Media, it will offer paid-for internet TV subscription packages.
All TV programming would be streamed over the internet which would mean, theoretically, that viewers could create their own custom channels. We already know from the December rumour story that Apple approached CBS in the US for TV licensing deals. Sure, they were turned away but it means that the big A is at least planning something.
There are also murmurs that Apple iTV could kick off Premier League coverage, or at least gain access to it following the normal Apple TV set top box. The Daily Mail explained that the Cupertino giant was looking into the Premiership to bolster its selection of programming, something that could appear on the iTV, should they gain access to the rights.
Bloomberg also reported in July 2011 that Apple was considering purchasing Hulu which would mean access to even more programming for the iTV.
Apple iTV price
Again, there is very little to go on here. Best Buy suggested a hefty $1499 cost for the set. This is entirely possible given the current price premium placed on Apple’s products.
To put it in perspective, a 27-inch Thunderbolt display is £899. Add in all the complex internals needed for television programming and the extra screen size to hit 32-inches and you have lots of cost on top. It seems unlikely, given the price of Thunderbolt displays, that the smallest iTV will cost less than £1000.
Apple iTV review
Expect plenty more coverage as we get closer to the release date and full and thorough Apple iTV review once we’ve had a chance to get Apple’s television into the Pocket-lint labs.
App to show alcohol’s ageing effect
Feb 7th
A phone app which illustrates the impact alcohol has on personal appearance aims to “shock people into drinking just a little bit less”, its creator has said.
The Drinking Time Machine app, part of the Scottish Government’s alcohol behaviour campaign, shows users how drink can speed up the ageing process.
Consuming alcohol can give people poor skin, brittle nails and hair, disrupted sleep and poor mental health. More serious problems can be caused long term, such as chronic liver disease, with one in 30 female deaths in Scotland linked to alcohol.
The app is available for free throughout February.
Its designer Auriole Price said: “Working with the Scottish Government to launch the first-ever app will help to show people how they will look if they drink too much alcohol. The main aim of the app is to shock people into drinking just a little bit less.
“We are appealing to people’s vanity as the effects of alcohol can include red broken veins on the cheeks, bloodshot eyes, a bloated face and deeper wrinkles.”
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “With Scots drinking more than (people in) any other part of the UK, this campaign aims to encourage adults in Scotland, particularly women, to recognise how much they are actually drinking and to help them make small changes to the way they drink, which can improve their health and well-being.”
On Tuesday, the day the alcohol behaviour campaign is launched, Ms Sturgeon will head to Brussels to discuss the Scottish Government’s plans for minimum unit pricing with the European Commission for Health John Dalli and Scottish MEPs.
She said: “Whilst encouraging people to make better choices about their alcohol consumption are important, I still believe there is more that can be done and that is why I will continue to press the case for minimum pricing.
“Doctors, nurses, the police, academics and politicians, as well as growing numbers of the general population, have now recognised the harm that alcohol is doing to our communities and the benefit minimum pricing will bring: saving lives and reducing crime.”
