Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Wireless, Storage

We knew wireless USB would eventually rise up and become more than a pitiful excuse for not plugging in your digicam to transfer photos, and lo and behold, it has done just that. Imation’s latest Apollo drive packs a lot of promise, thanks in huge part to the integrated WiQuest WUSB solution tucked within. Put simply, the Apollo Pro WX can begin to backup user data as soon as the machine in question comes “into range.” Without any wires (save for that pesky AC adapter), this one no-touch backup system can ensure that your most precious 1s and 0s aren’t lost for eternity when unforeseen disaster strikes. There’s no word on price just yet, but expect these to sell like hotcakes when they ship in Q4.

[Via EverythingUSB]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Desktops, Misc. Gadgets

Usually the terms “enthusiast cooling equipment” and “sexy, sexy” don’t go hand in hand, but Thermaltake has here an exception that proves the rule. This here V1 CPU, which retails for $60, can handle a nice assortment of Core 2 and Athlon processors, but we’d rather just set it up on a table somewhere and stare at the pretty lights. That’s a red dot design award well earned.

[Via Boing Boing Gadgets]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Paul Miller

Last August we wrote about a very promising Sony add-on for the PS3 called PlayTV that would essentially allow you to turn the PS3 into a digital video recorder (DVR). Sony was supposed to launch it ‘early this year’ and, surprisingly, in the UK first. Of course, nada. However, official news in today says the PlayTV will launch on Se3ptwember 10 and, yes, in the UK first. To recap, PlayTV is a twin channel TV tuner peripheral with PVR software that allows PS3 users to watch, pause and record live TV. Like Sky+ it will also allow for recording entire TV series and video can be streamed to the PSP via Wi-Fi for viewing remotely using the Remote Play feature. Even better, you’ll be able to record TV while playing games. Speaking to Eurogamer, Sony Europe’s head honcho, David Reeves, said: “Yep, it’s going to be 10th September that PlayTV comes out. It was very difficult [to overcome the dual recording/gaming issues] for some of the tech guys but we had to include it in the firmware upgrade, 2.41, but it’s done now.” PlayTV will cost 99 euro when it lands - UK price to be confirmed - but added to the new 80GB PS3, the console takes one step closer to being a real heavyweight contender as a great living room entertainment hub.-Martin Lynch [Eurogamer] console ps3 TV

Original post by nafiz

Filed under: Gaming

It’s neck-and-neck but Nintendo looks to have just slipped past Microsoft in terms of total US sales for current generation game consoles. What’s more, it’s pulling away with a 3:1 sales lead for the month of June. NPD Group reports more than 666,000 Wii consoles were sold in June compared to 405,500 PlayStation 3s and 219,800 Xbox 360s. That makes for a total of 10.9 million Wiis sold in the US since it launched in November of 2006. Impressive. Even more so considering that Microsoft had a one year head-start to reach a second place position of about 10.4 million US console sales.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Gaming

Although Sony announced that the updated 80GB PS3 “Core” configuration would come to the States in September, it looks like other parts of the world will be getting it a little earlier — Sony Computer Entertainment Europe chief David Reeves told reporters last night that the new SKU would hit Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand on August 27th. Worldwide pricing wasn’t announced, but Sony confirmed that the new model would cost £299 in Britain and €399 in Europe. Sadly, it doesn’t look like the Playstation Store’s new video service will be making the trip anytime soon, but Reeves said that Sony is “working on it.” That’s great — we’re still more interested in a 60GB launch console, though.

[Thanks, Matt]

Read&nbsp|&nbspPermalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Nilay Patel

Sony has confirmed that the 80GB PS3 will be coming to Europe on August 27. Sony announced yesterday that the company was phasing out the 40GB device for the 80GB model in the US but now it looks certain that UK gamers will get the new console sooner rather than later. That said, it looks like we are going to be left out of the launch of the long-awaited video download service until 2009. Gamesindustry.biz reported SCEE boss David Reeves, as saying:”Generally, everything that Jack Tretton laid out [in the Sony press conference], with only two exceptions, pertains exactly to the PAL markets. This is symptomatic of the fact that our company is getting more global, and more consistent - the exceptions are the video download service and some of the specifics of the PSP and PS2 promotions. PS3 80GB - we will introduce this in the PAL markets on August 27, it will be a simultaneous release. It will come in at EUR 399/£299, and we will be doing promotional bundles from the middle of September to the end of December at various prices…the 80GB replaces the 40GB.” The other good news is that the PS3 ‘Platinum’ range of games will kick off on August 1, priced at a more pocket-friendly, £19.99. Of course, while the arrival of an 80GB PS3 is a good thing, the fact that it will lack the PS2 backwards compatibility of the 80GB version selling in the US is a real downer. As for video downloads here being put off until 2009, that’s just madness, considering the lead Microsoft has in this area.-Martin Lynch [Gamesindustry.biz] console ps3 games

Original post by nafiz

Sony has confirmed that the 80GB Ṕ will be coming to Europe on August 27. Sony announced yesterday that the company was phasing out the 40GB device for the 80GB model in the US but now it looks certain that UK gamers will get the new console sooner rather than later. That said, it looks like we are going to be left out of the launch of the long-awaited video download service until 2009. Gamesindustry.biz reported SCEE boss David Reeves, as saying:”Generally, everything that Jack Tretton laid out [in the Sony press conference], with only two exceptions, pertains exactly to the PAL markets. This is symptomatic of the fact that our company is getting more global, and more consistent - the exceptions are the video download service and some of the specifics of the PSP and P̀ promotions. Ṕ 80GB - we will introduce this in the PAL markets on August 27, it will be a simultaneous release. It will come in at EUR 399/£299, and we will be doing promotional bundles from the middle of September to the end of December at various prices…the 80GB replaces the 40GB.” The other good news is that the Ṕ ‘Platinum’ range of games will kick off on August 1, priced at a more pocket-friendly, £19.99. Of course, while the arrival of an 80GB Ṕ is a good thing, the fact that it will lack the P̀ backwards compatibility of the 80GB version selling in the US is a real downer. As for video downloads here being put off until 2009, that’s just madness, considering the lead Microsoft has in this area.-Martin Lynch [Gamesindustry.biz] console ps3 games

Original post by nafiz

Filed under: Gaming

We got a chance to sit down with Sony Computer Entertainment of America’s CEO Jack Tretton, who gave us the lowdown about a few things we’ve had on our minds.

PS3
On backwards compatibility: Jack explained that Sony looked at how to “not take a greater hit on production cost, without losing PlayStation’s heritage … Hardware / software for backwards compat wasn’t all that expensive. … but we’re selling PS2 software to PS2 customers, and selling PS3 software to PS3 consumers.” Still, Jack seems to feel like it may have been the wrong move. “I would like to have had it in there, but Sony’s collective strategy determined we could afford to lose it. We’ve now gone down that road, and we’re not going back.”

On DRM and the video store: As of right now, Tretton is a firm supporter of the need to DRM content on the PlayStation platforms, and Sony believes that “the drm for a song maybe isn’t as important for a movie and a game… this is way too hard a business to make money in to allow people to own multiple copies for the price of one.” (That’s what they all say!) “I’m all for allowing an individual consumer having the freedom to do with their content what they want,” but Sony has no intention of opening its video up any more than it has to.

PSP
On drive or flash storage: Sony has “definitely thought about storage on the PSP,” and understands the inevitable “march towards digital content delivery device.” But in terms of a drive-based PSP, they have “nothing that’s imminent.” (Read: don’t hold your breath.)

On how downloadable video affects the already sad state of UMD: UMD “has struggled, and it wasn’t handled effectively from the beginning. … I firmly believe in a digital model″ as they’re rolling out, but Sony is “still going to support UMD” as a device for movies.

What’s preventing PSP software sales: Three things. Title ports from P̀ games (people don’t want to buy the same title twice), and the PSP’s media functions. But Jack put the most emphasis on “piracy in the hundreds of thousands of units are preventing software sales. it’s a problem that affects our software sales right now.”

Continue reading SCEA CEO Jack Tretton dishes: DRM is in, backwards compatibility is out, and video UMD lives on

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Ryan Block

Filed under: Gaming

Those of you who didn’t stay up late last night and check out the new PlayStation Store on your own now have nowhere to go. Stuck inside your cube with no early lunch, no way to slip out at 3:00 — nada. Thankfully, the crew over at PS3 Fanboy has the goods to satisfy your appetite until you get home. Tap the read link for a gallery of hands-on shots, and chime in below with your likes / dislikes once you’ve had a chance to meander around yourself.

Read | Permalink&nbsp|&nbspEmail this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

While much has been made about how little excitement Sony and Nintendo have generated at the ʵ game show (click here), there’s actually some pretty cool stuff coming out.

Take this for example: Nintendo had Shaun White, the gold medalist at the Olympics, demonstrating his upcoming snowboarding game, Shaun White Snowboarding, where you can stand on the sensitive balance board that Nintendo has shipped with its Wii Fit fitness system.

Got to give you a pretty good feeling of what it’s really like (of course without the wind, snow, etc.) — and the feeling of big air!

Game will be available for Xbox 360 and PS3, but what about the board?

Now you too can shred like the greatest!

(Thanks to EXPN.com for the photo.)

Tags: e3, nintendo, olympics, ps3, shaun white, Shaun White Snowboarding, sony, wii, xbox 360

Related Entries
• Sony PS3 haters video -
  Feb 26, 2007
• PS3 Sales Go Soft: Trouble in Paradise -
  Jan 26, 2007
• 4 Million: That’s a Lot of Wii -
  Nov 02, 2006
• Nintendo Wii = $250 -
  Sep 14, 2006
• E3 Opens Tomorrow: Gamers Unite -
  May 09, 2006
• Nintendo Wii Outsells Them All! -
  May 16, 2008
• Is the Wii the Center of the Media Universe? -
  Jan 18, 2007
• Is This a Surprise? Xbox 360 Tops the Xmas Charts -
  Jan 02, 2007
• Can′t Anybody Get a Gadget Right? -
  Dec 15, 2006
• PS3 Shortage Even Shorter -
  Nov 21, 2006

TrackBack (0)
| Comments (0) | Tag with del.icio.us | VoIP & Gadgets Blog Home | Permalink: Shaun White for Nintendo Wii (Wee!!!!)

Copyright VoIP & Gadgets Blog

Original post by nafiz

At the E3 event, Sony confirmed that the 40GB PS3 - the one Europe was lumped with - is to be phased out in favour of the 80GB model. All of this is good news except for the fact that it will not be exactly the same as the 80GB model that’s aways been out in the US. CEO Jack Tretton confirmed that the 80GB PS3 is going to be the main model on offer to UK - and other countries - as the year progresses but said that the new 80GB version will offer the same functionality as the 40GB model. That means it will not support PS2 games as the US 80GB model does now through software emulation. OK, so UK users have been suffering that technical omission for some time but it’s not good to hear that all instances of PS2 backwards compatibility are being killed off. The new 80GB models will go on sale from September for the same price as the existing 40GB model.-Martin Lynch console pҁ games

Original post by nafiz

Filed under: Gaming, HDTV, Home Entertainment

The long delay until Sony launched its video download service (actually more like a few hours), is over. HD and SD rentals, and SD purchases from an assortment of movie studios is now available in the Playstation Store by selecting the video button at the top left. Need to know what’s available in your region but aren’t near your PS3? Check out the website for a list of what awaits.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

Read&nbsp|&nbspPermalink | Email this&nbsp|&nbspComments

Original post by Richard Lawler

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Never has one company mooched off of poor design like Nyko. Okay, so maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but according to the peripheral maker, the original Xbox 360 Intercooler is the top selling third-party accessory for the Xbox 360 — despite the fact that it’s known for torching consoles and leaving bits of carpet hot and bothered. Nevertheless, the long, long overdue Intercooler TS (for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3) features a built-in temperature sensor and its own dedicated AC adapter, which will hopefully solve the aforesaid issues experienced with the original. This new, non-hazardous version will sell for $25, while the old, potentially hazardous iteration will somehow remain on store shelves for $20. Spend the extra $5 — it’s cheaper than a new house.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Gaming

Sony just announced at ʵ that it’s cutting the price of the 80GB PS3 to $400 in September, and that the new model will have the “current functionality″ of the 40GB PS3. So it’s really more like the the 40GB PS3 is getting a capacity bump, since we’re taking that to mean backwards compatibility is going out the window. That also means that the 80GB PS3 now costs the same as a 60GB 360 and an Xbox Live membership, which should make the decision a little harder for some people. We’re also wondering if that’s the end of the line for PS3 backwards compatibility entirely — we have a feeling launch consoles are about to get a little more precious.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Nilay Patel

Filed under: Gaming

Sony just announced at ʵ that Playstation Network users now have the ability to rent and puchase moves and TV shows through the network. Like, immediately — the sevice is getting flipped on tonight. It’s not just Sony content, either: Fox, MGM, Lions Gate, Warner, Disney, Paramount, Turner, and something called Funimation are signed up from the get-go. Video will be available in both SD and HD, and TV pricing starts at $1.99. Movie purchases will run $9.99 - $14.99, while rentals will be $2.99 - $5.99. What’s more, the content is “portable,” meaning that videos downloaded on your Ṕ can be watched on multiple PSPs. It doesn’t look like there movies can be purchased in HD, but downloads are progressive so content starts playing a minute after you hit begin the download.

PSN users will also get a single persistent sign-on across every device that can access the network: PS3, PSP, PC. It’s not clear whether those aliases will carry over into games themselves or if friends lists will start working across devices as well, however. The integration is scheduled to happen for this fall, though, so you might want to go and grab your handle of choice relatively soon.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Nilay Patel