Developages - Development and Technology Blog

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

As the story goes, Mr. Blurry Cam walks into a Harborcreek, PA Wal-mart and spots this, the Zune 80GB on rollback ($50 off list) and new $250 Zune 120GB. The blue Zune 16GB (not pictured) was said to be in stock as well. So while the 3.0 firmware won’t be official until the 16th, some of you might be lucky enough to stumble upon the new Microsoft gear just a bit early.

[Thanks, Craig P.]

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Thomas Ricker

Filed under: Gaming

This toaster may only have one setting, but that setting is NES, and that’s good enough for us. Created by the same console modder behind the monstrous Super Genintari, this project is certainly a good deal less ambitious than that endeavor, but it hits all the right marks nonetheless, including a functional front lever that acts as a power switch, and some red LEDs that light up your cart but probably won’t do much for your toast. Be sure to hit up the link below for plenty more pics and a look at the complete build process.

Read&nbsp|&nbspPermalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Donald Melanson

A pretty simple—if somewhat overused—premise. Why not hack an Asus Eee PC 1000H so that it can run on supposedly the best OS around, Mac OS X?

Easier done than said. The staff of The Cult of Mac is probably going apeshit over their newest toy, an Asus Eee PC 1000H that runs on Mac OS X. Interesting how those dock icons practically fill-up the entire low-resolution screen. And what about performance?

“Performance is on par with my MacBook,” says Gilbertson. “Benchmark-wise, I think it comes in around the equivalent of a G5.”

Ha Apple! Expect mass defections as people decide to go for the cheap Asus alternative. Oh wait, maybe that’s why you prohibit people from installing your dear OS on non Apple machinery, right?

Share This

Original post by Rico

Economy down, oil prices up … Hey, time to buy a new HDTV!

With the February 2009 digital TV transition looming, HDTV suppliers are expecting a good fourth quarter and hoping for a minimum of price cuts along the way.

That is what executives with LG Electronics, Sharp, Toshiba, Mitsubishi and JVC had to say at a recent meeting reported in TWICE.

Scott Ramirez, Toshiba’s TV marketing VP, indicated that his company will be rolling out a major introduction of HDTVs with increased features.

While that will be good for Toshiba, he said that overall demand of HDTVs will be strong in the fourth quarter. And he does not see much in the way of traumatic price cuts. 

Steve McNally, consumer electronics sales VP, LG Electronics, reported that HDTV sales “have been good for us” recently and that LG “is meeting [its] sales goals, which means we are outpacing some with our growth.” 

(But I bet he would see a lot more!) 

Read more about it here.

Tags: hdtv, jvc, lg electronics, mitsubishi, sharp, toshiba, twice

Related Entries
• Sharp’s 108″ LCD: Now That’s Big! -
  Jan 09, 2007
• Everything in the World’s Going Wireless -
  Aug 27, 2008
• What Economy? TV Sales Surge Anyway -
  Aug 18, 2008
• LG: #2 in Mobile and Trying Harder -
  Aug 12, 2008
• NYC Now with the Most HD via Verizon’s FiOS -
  Jul 28, 2008
• Economy Ticking Upward, Buy a Gadget This Weekend -
  Jul 25, 2008
• CNET’s Tech Tips Can’t Be Beat -
  May 12, 2008
• HD DVD RIP, Long Live Blue-ray! -
  Feb 21, 2008
• FaceFon Video Phone on its way? -
  Feb 07, 2008
• SyncTV Streaming HDTV -
  Jan 07, 2008

TrackBacks
| Comments | Tag with del.icio.us | VoIP & Gadgets Blog Home | Permalink: Economy Down, HDTV Sales To Pick Up?

Copyright VoIP & Gadgets Blog

Original post by nafiz

Publishing giant Electronic Arts has said that it’s currently trying multiple new business models to help battle the critical problem of second-hand videogame sales.

(No problem for me!)

While retailers reap the benefits of selling the same product multiple times, publishers and developers don′t see any income once a title hits the second-hand market.

But realizing it’s powerless to stop retail from selling second-hand goods, EA is looking to combat the problem by capturing the consumer with online content and services.

“I′d actually make the point that for us second-hand sales is a very critical situation, because people are selling multiple times intellectual property,” said Jens Uwe Intat, senior VP and general manager for European publishing at EA, speaking exclusively to GamesIndustry.biz. 

Today, it seems like you can buy just about anything two or three times … and what are auction sites like eBay supposed to do?

Course if all games where like Asteroid (above), would we have this problem?

Tags: asteroid, ea games, ebay

Related Entries
• Xbox Prices Going Lower? -
  Aug 04, 2008
• News Flash! eBay overpaid for Skype -
  Oct 10, 2007
• Apple iPhone has launch date -
  Mar 30, 2007
• Skype allows Paypal payments within client -
  Mar 22, 2007
• Skype Prime Allows Users to Charge for Calls -
  Mar 12, 2007
• Skype tops 500 million downloads -
  Mar 07, 2007
• Who’ll Gimme a Price on a Zune? -
  Sep 21, 2006
• Google interoperates with Skype -
  Aug 29, 2006
• The VoIP Clone Wars Have Begun… -
  Jul 20, 2006
• Skype cracked -
  Jul 14, 2006

TrackBacks
| Comments | Tag with del.icio.us | VoIP & Gadgets Blog Home | Permalink: What’s Wrong with Second-Hand Video Game Sales?

Copyright VoIP & Gadgets Blog

Original post by nafiz

Amazon will reportedly ship new versions of its Kindle e-book reader before year’s end. The original reader launched last November sold out in its first week and had Amazon scrambling to fill holiday orders. While sales have been brisk, estimates vary.

A Seattle newspaper confirmed late last week that Amazon.com is in the late stages of rolling out two new versions of Kindle. Reports unconfirmed by Amazon indicate there will be at least two new devices — one with a new user interface, but the same dimensions of the original paperback-sized reader, and another the size of an 8-by-11-inch sheet of paper. Other tantalizing details are that the new readers may sport color choices.

The original Kindle has been criticized for its bland appearance and somewhat clunky controls, so color and a new interface could help sales. Not that Amazon seems to be complaining.

Low estimates of current Kindle sales are pegged at around 230,000 units shipped in nine months, while others speculate that more than 380,00 have been sold.

Get more at NewsFactor.

And for another take, go here.

Tags: amazon, kindle, newsfactor

Related Entries
• Kindle Moving &amp Grooving -
  Aug 01, 2008
• A Million eReaders? Who Would Have Figured? -
  Jun 09, 2008
• Amazon’s Special MP3 Deals — Indeed! -
  Aug 18, 2008
• Microsoft Debuts Its Surface 30″ Interactive Screen at Sheraton -
  Aug 20, 2008
• Blu-ray Buy 2 DVDs, Get 1 Free Promotion -
  Jul 15, 2008
• Amazon Down Due to Pricing Error or Metal Gear Bundle? -
  Jun 06, 2008
• CinemaNow Brings Movie Downloads to Windows Media Center -
  May 23, 2008
• Amazon offers Click-To-Call Ordering -
  May 09, 2008
• Blu-ray DVD - Buy 2 Blu-ray DVDs Get 1 Free on Amazon -
  Apr 09, 2008
• TiVo’s new Buy on TV for Amazon Unbox -
  Jul 10, 2007

TrackBacks
| Comments | Tag with del.icio.us | VoIP & Gadgets Blog Home | Permalink: Amazon To Re-Kindle Its Popular eBook Reader

Copyright VoIP & Gadgets Blog

Original post by nafiz

Filed under: Gaming

It looks like the week ending August 10th brought a bit of a surprise to the sometimes predictable Japanese hardware sales charts, as the just released numbers have now revealed that the Xbox 360 has shot past the PlayStation 3, and by a wide margin no less. All told, Microsoft moved some 24,962 units during the week, compared to just 9,673 Ṕs sold — a number that, by all accounts, is largely due to the release of the 360-exclusive Tales of Vesperia game, which itself sold over 100,000 copies. That still leaves the Xbox 360 well behind the Wii, however, with it moving an impressive 38,506 units during the same time period, although that was a dip of more than 6% from the previous week. In related news, the DS Lite regained its slight lead over the PSP, with it moving 60,434 units compared to the PSP’s 58,501, and Joystiq took a not-to-be-missed dip into the Bizarro world for it’s always insightful account of the week’s events — you can check it out at the link below.

[Via Joystiq]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Donald Melanson

LCD TV sales grew 25% quarter-to-quarter in ̬, according to Quixel Research in its LCD TV Market Review. The growth was attributed to the availability of more screen sizes with less emphasis on 1080p models.

While unit sales for the 32-inch and 40- to 42-inch screen size segments were up 22% and 26%, respectively, the new 19W and 22W models launched in the second quarter showed the most dramatic growth. Unit sales for the 19W segment increased 121% quarter-to-quarter, while the 22W segment was up 262% for the same time period.

More sales equals more revenue to the tune of $5.5 billion in Q2 compared to $4.9 billion in Q1, according to the review.

Sales of small- and mid-sized LCDs increased 30% for 720p models, while sales of 1080p models were up 33%.

But can these strong sales figures be maintained as the economy sucks the once extra dollars out of consumers’ pockets into staples like food, shelter and transportation?

(Thanks to the ole Wikipedia for the image.)

Tags: 1080p, lcd

Related Entries
• ViewSonic Takes on Vizio and Westinghouse with Low-priced 1080p LCDs -
  Jan 08, 2007
• Looks Like 1080p is Coming -
  Jul 31, 2008
• Look Ma, No HDTV Wires! -
  Jul 10, 2008
• Grand Cinema C3X 1080 Projector or Ferrari? -
  Sep 28, 2007
• OPPO Digital LT2007 20-inch LCD-TV DVD Combo Player Review -
  Nov 21, 2006

TrackBacks
| Comments | Tag with del.icio.us | VoIP & Gadgets Blog Home | Permalink: LCD Still Moving, but Is a Slowdown Ahead?

Copyright VoIP &amp Gadgets Blog

Original post by nafiz

Filed under: Cellphones

Uh oh, Moto. Go ‘head with your bad self. Just days after posting a meager profit (but a profit nonetheless) and maintaining your position in third in worldwide mobile market share, along comes a report claiming that you’re still numero uno in the United States. While handset sales overall shot up 5.3% here in Q2, Motorola maintained a 26% share and managed to stare down at least a few naysayers. In related news, LG held tight to the silver with 22%, while RIM gained a double-digit market share increase thanks to sales of its oh-so-hot BlackBerry handset. Number nerds, feel free to tap the read link for even more fractions and decimals.

[Via RCRWireless]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones

We know how much those suits love to hit wild targets they set without any real understanding of the future, so we’re pretty sure at least one or two are getting the kudos of their life with this one. Earlier this year, HTC boldly predicted that it would move a staggering two million Touch Diamond handsets before 2009 dawned, and according to a new report, it’ll ship the one millionth unit sometime next week. With Sony Ericsson having all sorts of difficulties moving its mid- to high-end mobiles, one may wonder if HTC really can sell another million before December 31st. But we have all ideas the looming Sprint / Verizon launches will be all the help it needs to call itself a proven prophet.

[Via MoDaCo]

Read&nbsp|&nbspPermalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Desktops, Laptops

Gateway, long known for its (once) very active direct sales model, is continuing to morph as it attempts to revitalize itself. The most recent strategic change is pretty remarkable — the outfit is completely and thoroughly ditching the aforesaid direct sales model. From here on out, prospective customers will only be able to snag a Gateway PC from retailers, e-tailers and other channel partners. According to the official verbiage, the change will deliver “significant cost savings, ultimately resulting in an improved value proposition for consumers.” This all seems to have quite a bit to do with the recent Acer acquisition, with Mark Hill, Acer Group US General Manager, stating that Gateway is “shifting its distribution method to better align with Acer’s successful global strategy, which was built upon an indirect model.” At this point, we suppose it can′t hurt to give it a whirl.

[Via Electronista, image courtesy of The New York Times]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

Details are scarce right now, but you can make of it what you will. Sprint hasn’t been in the best of situations since it acquired Nextel in 2005, and while this move may not be seen by everyone as definitively negative, it certainly is worth noting. The flagging carrier sold off “nearly all” (around 3,300) of its wireless communication towers to TowerCo for some $670 million in cash. According to Sprint Nextel’s Bob Azzi, the move to lease rather than own these network facilities will enable it to “better focus on its core business of providing communications services to consumers, businesses and government customers.” He continued by noting that the transaction “provides Sprint Nextel with additional liquidity [for] greater flexibility in managing the company.” Whatever you say, sir.

[Via InformationWeek]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Darren Murph

Filed under: Peripherals

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment.

The best and most popular portable electronics products don’t work for long without them, but the general consumer sentiment toward AC adapters is evident in the terms of endearment such as “bricks” and “wall warts” given to them. They’re referred to with even more colorful language when they’re accidentally left behind on a trip or are otherwise unavailable when needed.

But if a startup GreenPlug has its way, future portable electronics products may not come with an AC adapter, much like many printers today don′t come with a USB cable. With engineering talent that ran design for Apple’s DC power systems for the iPod and the MagSafe connector, GreenPlug is taking on one of gadetry’s holy grails - a universal connector that can work on practically any portable electronics device. GreenPlug would turn the frequently forgotten and mismatched AC adapter into an accessory ecosystem. The company envisions DC charging hubs that would be available in conference tables at the workplace and in tables and walls at coffee shops.

Continue reading Swtched On: Green Plug tries to replace the worry warts (Part 1)

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Ross Rubin

Filed under: Peripherals

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment.

The best and most popular portable electronics products don’t work for long without them, but the general consumer sentiment toward AC adapters is evident in the terms of endearment such as “bricks” and “wall warts” given to them. They′re referred to with even more colorful language when they′re accidentally left behind on a trip or are otherwise unavailable when needed.

But if a startup GreenPlug has its way, future portable electronics products may not come with an AC adapter, much like many printers today don′t come with a USB cable. With engineering talent that ran design for Apple’s DC power systems for the iPod and the MagSafe connector, GreenPlug is taking on one of gadetry’s holy grails - a universal connector that can work on practically any portable electronics device. GreenPlug would turn the frequently forgotten and mismatched AC adapter into an accessory ecosystem. The company envisions DC charging hubs that would be available in conference tables at the workplace and in tables and walls at coffee shops.

Continue reading Switched On: Green Plug tries to replace the worry warts (Part 1)

Permalink&nbsp|&nbspEmail this | Comments

Original post by Ross Rubin

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Since about 20,000 people — the overwhelming majority of voters in yesterday’s poll — apparently want to see me in pain trying to get in shape with Wii Fit, it looks like it’s time to suck it up and do this thing. Although I’d like to start by disclaiming that I’ve never really worked out with any regularity, I’m not exactly known for my physical coordination, and in school I always came pretty close to flunking PE — so really, I’m kind of Nintendo’s ideal customer.

Methodology

• I’ll be working with Wii Fit out about 20 game-minutes a day, 7 days a week.
• My program will consist of five minutes each of routines and games from the four fitness categories: strength training, aerobics, yoga, and balance games.
• As a control, I won’t be dramatically changing up my eating habits. I’m already a reasonably healthy eater, so any physical changes will be more easily attributable to the Wii Fit regimen.
• I have about a week of travel scheduled this month, so for whatever days I miss on Wii Fit I’ll be extending the trial.
• I’ll chart my changes in weight, BMI, coordination, etc. and thoughts on the experience in a weekly update for the next five weeks.

Current stats
Height: 6-feet
Weight: 174.5 pounds
Frame: small-to-medium
BMI according to Wii Fit: 23.65 (upper cusp of normal)
“Body age”: 36

Wii Fit goal (you have to set a goal for yourself)
Target weight: 169.5 pounds
Target BMI: 22.96
Target date: 6/12

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Original post by Ryan Block