Oprah Spreads Her Joy To XM Radio

Posted by Jesse Easley Categories: Corporate News, Home Entertainment, Portable Audio / Video,

XM Radio today announced that Oprah will begin her new show “Oprah & Friends” in September 2006.  The new show will feature original daily programming on a variety of topics including nutrition, fitness, health, self improvement, home, and current events from popular ‘Oprah’ personalities, including Bob Greene, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Robin Smith, Marianne Williamson, Nate Berkus, and Gayle King. We are so there.

Read More | XM Radio

Apple Backup 3.1 Released

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Software,

Apple just released an upgrade to their backup utility, which is aptly named, Backup:

Backup 3.1 delivers added support for some backup destinations and addresses file restoration and other issues. Backup 3.1 is recommended for all users of Backup 3.0. Significant areas addressed are:

Improved support for iDisk, local hard drives, and some network destinations (Mac OS X Tiger only)
New iWeb QuickPick and updated iLife plan
Addresses issues with restoring files
For more information about Backup 3, visit the .Mac website at: http://www.mac.com

For Backup 3 support information, visit http://www.apple.com/support/dotmac/backup/

Requirements
Macintosh computer with a PowerPC G3, G4, G5 or Intel Core processor.
Mac OS X v10.3.9 or Mac OS X v10.4.2 or later.

Run Software Update to get the download.

Kingdom Hearts II Voice Actors Revealed

Posted by Brandon Gribin Categories: Action, PlayStation 2, Release Dates, Role Playing Games,

Square-Enix has released a partial list of American voice actors for its upcoming Kingdom Hearts II.

- Haley Joel Osment as Sora
- David Gallagher as Riku
- Hayden Panettier as Kairi
- Jesse McCartney as Roxas
- Britany Snow as Namine
- Christopher Lee as DiZ
- Steve Burton as Cloud
- Rachael Leigh Cook as Tifa
- Mena Suvari as Aerith
- Hedy Buress as Yuna
- Tara Strong as Rikku
- Gwendoline Yeo as Paine
- Ming-Na as Mulan
- James Woods as Hades
- Zach Braff as Chicken Little

KHII is due out in North America on March 28th and is sure to be a hit. If you played the first title in the series, you probably can’t wait to get your hands on its sequel. As for the voice actors, it looks like we’ve got a good amount of returners - including Haley Joel. I’m glad to see James Woods is back as Hades but I am a little disappointed to see that Chicken Little will make an appearance in the game. In all honesty, Chicken Little wasn’t the best Disney movie, so my hopes aren’t too high for his section of the game. Of course, Square could always do wonders with it so, I’ll just wait and see.

Read More | Square-Enix

Digital Foci Picture Porter Elite

Posted by John Goulden Categories: Portable Audio / Video,

Memory cards have come down in price over the years to the point where all but the largest cards (4/8GB and up) are relatively affordable.  However, with today’s high-megapixel cameras you can chew through a handful of memory cards in no time flat.  If you don’t feel like lugging your laptop around to download pictures onto, then more memory cards or a digital storage device are your only options.  Sure, with a little tweaking and some additional items you could utilize your iPod as a storage device, but it’s neither fast nor friendly.  The Picture Porter Elite (PPE henceforth) is designed to solve that little dilemma, and serve as a personal media player as well.  With your choice of a 40GB or 80GB hard drive, slots for a variety of popular media types, High-Speed USB 2.0, a 3.6” LCD, and the ability to play MP3s and videos (plus record in MPEG-4 format straight from a TV), the PPE seems great on paper.  If you have a camera that can produce RAW files, then you’re in luck with the PPE as it will display RAW files from most popular camera models. 

As a photo storage device the PPE sounds like a winner, but as a media player it’s hard to say as the interface can make or break even the most decked-out hardware devices.  Available in Summer 2006, the PPE is priced at $499 (40GB) and $599 (80GB).  Painfully expensive, but cheaper than 40 or 80GB worth of memory cards. We have one more image, after the jump.

Read More | Digital Foci via Digital Lifestyle

Click to continue reading Digital Foci Picture Porter Elite

Capcom Profits Up Over 400%

Posted by Brandon Gribin Categories: Corporate News, Nintendo DS, PSP, Xbox 360,

Gamasutra reports Capcom’s good news - the publisher’s profits have quadrupled as Resident Evil 4 sells three million copies.

The company also suggested that the release of the Xbox 360 and success of the PSP and Nintendo DS had helped to drive year end sales – in marked contrast to the comments from many other Western publishers. The company also emphasized an increased focus on mobile phone games and merchandise, toys and publications in the future.

Oddly enough, Capcom attributes part of its success to Xbox 360’s release, which differs from how other publishers have looked upon the somewhat limited 360 release. Additionally, profits are up thanks to DS and PSP game sales.

Read More | Gamasutra

Motorola RAZR Z

Posted by John Goulden Categories: Smartphones,

With a few slider clones out on the market, Motorola has finally stepped up to the plate and delivered their very own slider phone - the RAZR Z.  Developed by Moto’s Korean division, the phone will launch there first by the end of the month, with the rest of the world to follow at a later date.  Details are sparse, but the phone will have a 2.2” display, a 1.3MP camera, be capable of playing MP3s, and is anorexic supermodel skinny at just over half an inch thick (.58”).  Approximately $516 to $616 will need to be ponied up to get your hands on one, so start saving.

Read More | The Korea Times via phoneArena

Hot Carbon Fiber iPod Cases

Posted by Frank Bisono Categories: Accessories, Apple, Portable Audio / Video,

C6 MFG has got a drop dead gorgeous iPod case for you fast and furious types.  If the dashboard and interior of your ride is trimmed out in carbon fiber, this is the case for you.  Who the hell is C6 MFG?

C6 Manufacturing is a company devoted to creating the highest quality products utilizing the best materials and elegant design.  The company’s founders have years of experience in design and manufacturing of high tech products using exotic materials and advanced techniques. 

These cases are made from real aerospace carbon fiber, aluminum, and stainless steel screws. They also include a stainless steel belt clip, a protective clear cling-on screen protector, and assembly tool.  Apparently some assembly is required kids.  Available for the iPod Video 30GB and 60GB models at $49.99, as well as the iPod Nano for $39.99.  Full photos are available here.

Read More | C6 MFG

VoIP Headset Sale at Amazon

Posted by Frank Bisono Categories: Accessories, USB, Hot Deals, Peripherals,

Holy smokes, Amazon has lost their minds.  Amazon is currently selling the Plantronics DSP-400 headset for $40.94 with free shipping!  I personally own this headset and I can vouch for the fact that it is absolutely kick-ass.  If you use Skype or any VoIP service, or maybe do a little podcasting, this headset is definitely a must-have, and at these prices, it’s insane not to go grab one.  I remember this headset costing upwards $120+ not even a year ago.  Grab ‘em while they’re hot!

Read More | Amazon

Gateway FPD2185W 21-inch Widescreen Monitor

Posted by Frank Bisono Categories: PC / Laptop, Peripherals,

Yeah, that’s right - you read correctly.  Gateway.  They are still in business somehow, and just dropped a pretty decent new monitor on the market.  Not to be outdone by the widescreen fashionistas at Apple and Dell, this box of pixels is a 21” widescreen LCD, all for $599 (with free shipping to boot).  Not a bad deal if we do say so ourselves. 

...offering HDCP content protection over DVI, which will allow you to play content from digital set-top boxes and high definition disk players, should the latter ever ship. Having HDCP also makes the display Windows Vista-ready. While HDCP isn’t a requirement for normal Vista desktop use, it will be necessary if you plan on using a Vista system to play back protected video content from HD-DVD or other sources, if those HD-DVD or Blu-ray discs require it. 

All the details and lab test results can be found over at Extreme Tech.

Read More | ExtremeTech

Blu-Ray Disc Pricing Announced

Posted by Brandon Gribin Categories: Corporate News, Home Entertainment,

Sony has announced wholesale prices for its Blu-Ray discs today.

Catalog Blu-ray disc titles will wholesale for $17.95, about the same as DVDs when that format hit the market in 1997. New-release Blu-ray discs will wholesale for $23.45, a premium of 15%-20% over what suppliers were charging for new theatrical DVDs.

The price doesn’t seem too bad, seeing as the original DVD format launched at about the same price. However, it’s still a price premium over what we’re paying now for DVDs, so don’t complain when you do have to pay a little more for Blu-Ray movies and PS3 titles.

Read More | Evil Avatar