PS3: September Launch and PlayStation HUB

Posted by Brandon Gribin Categories: Internet, PlayStation 3, Release Dates, Rumors,

Next Generation has an exclusive story on some juicy PS3 details. According to the site, Sony is planning on launching its PS3 in Japan and North America sometime in September (around September 16?). Although nothing’s official, Next Gen sounds pretty sure of itself. Additionally, according to the site, Sony is working on an online network that will offer many of the same services as Xbox Live - it’s called PlayStation HUB. The HUB will allow for both PS3 and PSP online access.

Read More | Next Generation

Mac OS X 10.4.5 Now Available

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Software,

If you are running Tiger, run Software Update to download the freshly-released OS 10.4.5 software. This one weighs in at 40.6 MB:

The 10.4.5 Update is recommended for all users and includes general operating system fixes, as well as specific fixes for the following applications and technologies:

• iChat video conferencing
• Safari rendering of web pages
• usability of Dashboard and widgets
• viewing of QuickTime streaming media behind a firewall
• printing to some Epson printer models
• iDisk and Portable Home Directory syncing
• time zone and daylight savings for 2006 and 2007
• VPN connections to Cisco servers when using NAT
• compatibility with third party applications and devices
• previous standalone security updates

For detailed information on this Update, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n303179.

For detailed information on Security Updates, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61798.

Elecom MF-DU204G 0.85” USB Hard Drive

Posted by John Goulden Categories: Accessories, USB, Peripherals,

Flash memory USB drives are a dime a dozen these days, at least until you start getting into sizes larger then 2GB.  Once past that “magical” barrier, the price escalates enormously due to manufacturing costs for such dense flash memory.  Hard drives, even very small ones, are typically lower in cost per megabyte than their flash-based cousins.  Therefore we can postulate that Elecom is trying to capitalize on that cost savings with their newest product - the MF-DU204G.  The MF-DU204G is a USB memory stick with a hard drive instead of flash memory.  With a size of 68x30x13mm at 44 grams in weight it’s not as small as a flash-based drive, but extremely tiny for a disk-based model.  Software is included to password protect the drive in case it should fall into the wrong hands, and should it fall (literally) the durability of the drive is certainly questionable.  The nice thing about flash memory is that it almost thrives on abuse, whereas hard drives do not.

No word yet on pricing or availability but we can presume that the price will be below a flash drive with an equivalent capacity or Elecom’s new product has zero advantage going for it.

Read More | Elecom (jp) via Akihabara News

MovieBeam To Offer On-Demand High Definition Movie Rentals

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment,

Yet another company is looking to cash in on the HDTV craze, looking to deliver first-run high-definition content through a set-top box. MovieBeam will provide a Linksys box, with capacity for 100 movies, priced at around $200 USD after rebate and $29 USD activation fee. It is meant to be stacked on top of a cable TV set-top box and comes with a paperback-book sized antenna to receive movie updates.

Anyone else looking forward to adding yet another set-top box to their entertainment center? We aren’t. Even worse though, is the pricing. First-run standard format videos will rent for $3.99 and high-definition videos rent for $4.99. Older movies in the catalog cost $1.99 for standard format and $2.99 for high- definition—roughly in line with rates at video stores. MovieBeam, which uses datacasting technology over the Public Broadcasting System network, will initially be available in 29 U.S. cities.

Companies are going to need to start realizing that subscription models are going to be the way to go. Why wouldn’t I just stick with Netflix if they are going to be able to provide me with high-definition DVD formats for one monthly fee?

Read More | Yahoo!

Apple Shipping MacBook Pro With Faster Processors, Up To 2.16 GHz

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop,

If you pre-ordered a MacBook Pro, you will be happy to know that Apple is in a position to start shipping the latest iteration of their notebook, and the processors have been upgraded from what was announced at MacWorld. The $2,000 MacBook Pro now has a 1.83GHz Core Duo chip, up from 1.67 GHz. The 1.83 GHz $2,499 model now sports a 2 GHz processor, and Apple has even thrown in a $2,799 model that has a 2.16 GHz processor in it. Very nice to see the upgrades across the MacBook Pro line.

Read More | MacBook Pro

BrightFeet Slippers

Posted by John Goulden Categories: Wearables, Design,

With better ergonomics than strapping two Maglites to your feet, the BrightFeet Lighted Slippers are designed to provide you with the necessary illumination you need to avoid going “bump” in the night.  Essentially a pair of headlights for your feet, the BrightFeet are motion-activated so they turn on when you slip into them and will supposedly

illuminate a path 20-25 feet in front of you.  A sensor in each prevents the lights from coming on during the day, and a timer allows them to remain on for a short period after you have removed them, to facilitate you stumbling toward the bed.  They sell for an MSRP of $39.95. 

Read More | BrightFeet via Luxury Housing Trends

Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket LOOX T810 and T813

Posted by John Goulden Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds,

With 3GSM World Congress, the show of shows when it comes to mobile phones, in full swing this week, phone announcements are coming fast and furious.  One of the latest is Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket LOOX T800 series which includes the T810 and T830 models.  Running Windows Mobile 5.0, the phones feature GSM and UMTS for connectivity to the outside world, a 416MHz XScale processor, 64MB ROM/128MB RAM, a

240x240 screen, SDIO slot, Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), Bluetooth 2.0, an integrated GPS,  and a VGA camera.  Both models will also feature Microsoft’s push e-mail technology (once it’s out of litigation) which will compete with RIM’s Blackberry for domination in the workplace. 

Sort of makes Cingular’s recently released 8125 seem like the poor cousin doesn’t it?  At an estimated street price of $700 to $800 they won’t come cheap though.

CORRECTION: Some things are just too good to be true.  The screen is not 640x480 VGA, it’s only 240x240. (2-15-06)

Read More | Fujitsu-Siemens via fosfor gadgets

Don’t Confuse Jewel Quest With Crystal Quest

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Strategy, Xbox 360, Xbox Live Arcade,

For all of you less-attentive types out there, here’s a heads up on a couple of game titles that can be confusing on the Xbox Live Arcade. Crystal Quest went live a few days ago, and later this month we should see a game with a very similar title hit Xbox Live. Jewel Quest is your typical “match the shapes and make the disappear” puzzler, but looks and plays nothing like Crystal Quest. We have been playing both titles over the past few days, and haven’t been too impressed with either. Check out an image of each game after the jump.

Click to continue reading Don’t Confuse Jewel Quest With Crystal Quest

Virago Laptop Bags For The Ladies

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Wearables, PC / Laptop,

You know, recently I have noticed that electronic devices, along with their accessories, really are targeted towards men. I mean, so much so, that a woman has to do a hardcore search if she wants to find something to suit her personal taste, rather than a black nylon bag. We felt that, with Valentine’s Day and all, we might focus our attention exclusively on the women (for just a moment!), and introduce the Virago line of laptop bags. What’s cool about it? For starters, they look like a modern purse or handbag rather than a miniature black suitcase. The different bags fit laptops from 10-inches all the way up to 17-inches, and they will also be putting out iPod cases soon as well. Now we just need a place that specializes in girly PC case mods.

(Thanks quesara!)

Read More | Virago Bags

Seagate Unleashes 12GB Monster Mini Hard Drive for Cell Phones

Posted by Frank Bisono Categories: Smartphones, Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video,

Just when you thought you would never have enough SD or Memory Stick cards to quench your appetite for storage, Seagate announces their new 12GB one-inch hard drive for mobile devices.  Talk about a mobloggers dream. This puppy is now going to demand those higher-megapixel camera phones to hit the market pronto.

Seagate Technology (NYSE:STX), the world’s leading manufacturer of Consumer Electronics (CE) hard drives, today announced the newest member of its diverse CE product portfolio, the Seagate ST1.3 Series 12GB 1-inch hard drive. With a footprint 23% smaller, 50% more storage capacity, and 30% less power consumption than Seagate’s current 1-inch hard drive, the ST1.3 Series also offers a new optional drop sensor for increased robustness, delivering the features most requested by handheld device manufacturers. The ST1.3 Series hard drive is Seagate’s second hard drive with perpendicular recording and the company’s first drive utilizing perpendicular technology in the 1-inch category.

This little Giga-Wonder-Disk has all sorts of cool new technology in place to make sure your digital media keeps up with your fast paced lifestyle.  Things like Run-on Technology and G-Force Protection will make sure that whether working out or those accidental slips-of-hand, your device will continue working and playing music without skipping a beat.  We can’t wait to see which devices will hit the market first using this new drive.

Read More | Seagate