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Someone has snapped some camera phone pictures of a Spanish language presentation from Microsoft which featured a controller for theXbox 360 which appeared to have a full QWERTY thumb board nestled between the main game controls. Of course the rumor mill is flying about this, but the potential for online communication and game control (particularly for MMORPG’s) is limitless if you add a feature like this to the Xbox 360. Let’s hope this is a planned product and not just some marketing guys “what-if” prototype.
Read More 
| GamersReports via Joystiq
I just found a nifty visualization hack created by a student at MIT. It’s a graphical map of all of the zip codes in the United States. As you start to type a zip code it highlights possible areas that the zip code is in until it has narrowed down on a single zip code. Make sure to turn on the zoom feature and type in your home zip code. I find it interesting how structured the zip codes are - you can see how they were laid out according to population density quite easily. I can’t wait until someone migrates this from Java toGoogle Maps!
Read More | Zip Code Locator
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Bizarre and hopefully untrue. Nintendo will have lots to answer if Mr. Tingle sounds like Richard Simmons. Of course, any voices in the new Zelda game would be a bit out of place considering Nintendo’s stance on the series in the past.
Read More | Playfeed
Latest Gear Live Videos
Richard Simmons In The Twilight Princess?
Posted by Edwin Soto Categories: Adventure, Nintendo Gamecube,
One of the most anticipated games in history will beexcruiatingly horrible if this is true. This rumor comes from the usually reliable IMDB where I usually solve argument’s about who was in what movie/tv show. The rumor being that Richard Simmons will voice the already slightly annoying Mr. Tingle. Honestly, everyone will be starting the web petition atwww.dontputrichardsimmonsinzeldaorwewillboycott.org . Jerry Springer’s final thought: WTF?
Okay, so I installed the Windows Vista Beta 1 software last night, and all I can say is that I am thoroughly unimpressed. Allow me to tell you why. Remember a few years back when Microsoft was touting all of the amazing things that Longhorn would do, both visually and under the hood? Well, those day are now long gone. I mean, yeah, Microsoft has put in some visual bells and whistles - but nothing like they were touting a few years ago at WinHEC. Do we really need to wait until Blackcomb to ship in the 2011-2015 range before we can get an OS as visually-appealing and stable as OS X?
It took me forever to just get Vista to recognize that it was on a network and get it connected to the Internet. Also, after installing I needed to re-load a few DLL’s in order to get a few things running. Now, I realize that this is beta software, so take all of this with a grain of salt. I am sure this won’t be the case once the OS goes gold, I just really would have liked to have seen some of the stuff Microsoft was making a big deal about. I am talking about the WinFS, Avalon, Indigo powered behemoth that was supposed to usher in the next generation of computing. At this point, Vista really does just seem like a skinned up version of Windows XP with some new animations on a clunky GUI. Yeah, Aero is very unimpressive as well. I guess I will now digress.
We all know that the Xbox 360 is going to be a go-between for digital content. You will be able to use it as a Media Center Extender, even for high definition content. In fact, this console will most likely be the reason that I purchase a Media Center PC. The following quote, albeit by a Microsoft representative, puts it all into perspective:
Over the next 10 years, there is a revolution that’s going to take place in TV moving to 16-by-9 screens and moving to high-definition format. And Xbox 360 is going to be a driving application for people to get high-definition television. Every Xbox 360 game will play on a regular TV, but they will all also support high-definition TV, and once you see a game in high definition, you never want to go back…every Xbox 360 will be what’s called a Media Center Extender, and that means if you have content on your Media Center in the home and you have a network, you’ll be able to play that content on your Xbox on the TV that the Xbox is connected to, which gives you the ability to distribute your music, your photos, your video, throughout the home. You’ll also be able to take a camera, a digital camera, a digital music player, plug it into an Xbox 360, see your photos, play your music.”
That’s from Robbie Bach, Xbox Chief Officer, Home and Entertainment Division. The launch just can’t come soon enough for me.
Read More | DigitalTechNews
CradleVue Transforms Laptops into Auto Entertainment
Posted by Alex Grahmann Categories: Accessories, PC / Laptop,
The CradleVue laptop harness, from VueGear, is designed to hold almost any laptop in an upright position between the two front seats of any car, minivan, or SUV. With some nylon webbing and a few simple bungee-like cords (described by the company as “tent-quality,” if that means anything), your notebook will be in a position to perform any of its native functions on the road – such as playing DVDs or games. This will save a bundle for anyone considering installing a multimedia upgrade for their cars, but may lack the stability to protect your well-earned laptop against the abuse dished out from the back seats.
Read More | VueGear
Tapwave is History
Posted by Alex Grahmann Categories: Handhelds, Portable Audio / Video, Video Games,
Zodiac, maker of the Palm OS/gaming/multimedia hybrid Tapwave, announced today that it has discontinued its production, service, and support for the handheld device. The Tapwave enjoyed some favorable reviews from various sources, but struggled to stay afloat in a market where so many other products (iPod, Nintendo DS, PSP, and other Palms) were doing the same things - and doing them better. Tapwave’s claim-to-fame convergence of all handheld needs proved to be too much for Zodiac to handle. On its homepage, Zodiac points readers to continued, though all outside, resources and thanks users for their “past interest and support” and apologizes “for any inconvenience.” Owning fancy-looking but dead and obsolete technology is always inconvenient.
Read More | Zodiac’s Tapwave Homepage
Nintendo Profits Down, Still Doing Fine
Posted by Alex Grahmann Categories: Corporate News, Nintendo Gamecube, Portable/Mobile,
The Reuters service of Japan is reporting a 78.5% fall in the operating profits for Nintendo in the fiscal quarter ending June 30th. Reasons for this loss include the lack of third-party games and the declining sales of the GBA SP and Gamecube. While this might seem like very bad news, it should be pointed out that Nintendo is still the only major current-generation console company making any money at all. The DS has managed to gain a foothold large enough to avoid complete destruction by the PSP and Nintendo has presented a conservative strategy for the future that looks to ensure a viable and stable business model. In the next-generation of consoles, it may be enough of a Revolution to simply make any profit at all.
Read More | 1Up
Get More Out of Your PSP 2.0 Firmware Upgrade
Posted by Edwin Soto Categories: Internet, Mods/Hacks, Portable/Mobile,
This list of awesome things to discover out of your new PSP upgrade saves you the trouble of figuring out the can and cant-do’s. C.K Sample has tinkered and continues to tinker about all the goodies surrounding the new firmware - tabbed browsing, Wallpapers, etc. I tried to find where I download the new white version of the PSP on this page, but it seems no one has gone that down pat just yet.
Read More | Sample The Web via Joystiq
