Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Entertainment
This Week in Blu-ray: Pirates of the Hulk Racers Edition
11:45PM Mark Wilson | Giz Pick of the Week: uhh… We’re actually not sure which movie to endorse this week. Speed Racer was viewed at a drive-in, where it was tough to make much of its probably gorgeous visual effects. Pirates of the Caribbean is hitting in a US$83 3-movie pack…which doesn’t seem like any kind of special deal. And Ang Lee’s Hulk (yeah, that’s the one coming this week, not the recent update) isn’t exactly a fan favourite. Of course, we listed all of the releases after the jump. So maybe there’s something you prefer. More »
Games
In2Games Gametrak Freedom Motion Controller for PS3 and 360 Pics Surface (Don’t Worry Wii)
11:30PM John Mahoney | Purveyors of fine gaming peripherals In2Games have let slip the first image of their planned Wii nunchuk-like controller that will allow for motion control on the PS3 and Xbox 360. They appear to be claiming control via “proprietary and cutting-edge patent-pending ultrasonic technology”–no mention of accelerometers or gyroscopes–and for the moment, the only game supported is something In2games themselves have cooked up called Squeeballs. No word yet on price and availability. [Tech Radar] More »
Business
Nintendo Makes $US1.6 Million Per Employee (Better Than Google)
11:15PM Mark Wilson | A few years back I read an enlightening article on Red Bull detailing how a series of brilliant steps turned a cough syrup soda into a world-leading energy drink. At the time, their factory employees generated $US1 million apiece—a figure that almost makes sense when weighing the cost of mandatory personnel alone. Now Nintendo does one way better. All of their 3,000 employees will combine this year to produce a cumulative $1.6 million per head—after salaries. More »
Software
Microsoft Beats Apple’s iTunes Genius with MixView
11:00PM Jesus Diaz | They must be making popsicles in hell now, because Microsoft has come up with a much better way to expand your musical horizons than Apple iTunes 8’s Genius in their new Zune software: MixView. Not only is MixView much prettier and more fun than Genius–we already knew that–it’s also more useful, more informative, and it leverages the infamous social aspect of Zune in a beautiful way. In fact, it makes Genius look like a flat, grey, boring Windows application. More »
Computers
New MacBooks Shipping to Stores?
10:11PM Mark Wilson | Citigroup analyst Richard Gardner has released a research note claiming that during “field checks” he has confirmed that new MacBooks have begun shipping to stores (from overseas). According to Gardner, the MacBooks feature “very thin aluminium casing, an LED-backlit display and an aggressive entry-level price point.” The news either confirms the existing rumours or is just a wild, swinging for the fences guess based upon existing intel. But it all would line up nicely with an October 14th Apple event. [Barrons via TUAW] More »
Networks
Do You Want Wi-Fi with That? Zune Users Get Free Net Access at McDonalds
10:10PM Kit Eaton | Zune owners are getting free Wi-Fi access at McDonalds, as well as the 3.0 software today. It’s using the Wayport Wi-Fi system at about 10,000 stores, and as a Wayport spokesman puts it, it lets them “attract new customers whose digital lifestyle extends beyond their home and office.” Yep, out of the home and office…and into the burger joint. Great if you’ve got a Zune, and were jealous of the Starbucks/Apple Wi-Fi tie-up (which, and it may be just me, is a far “classier” deal, no?) [Zuneboards. Thanks Joel!] AU: Totally awesome if you happen to own a Zune and happen to live in the US – in other words, even if you do own a Zune (lucky you), this won’t be happening in Oz anytime soon… More »
Hardware
Scientists Build First Properly 3D-Stacked Processor, Run It At 1.4GHz
9:10PM Kit Eaton | Stacked-up chip technology isn’t new, but scientists at the University of Rochester have built the first properly-3D chip recently. Unlike previous attempts, with layered standard 2D chip-circuitry on top of similar layers, the new chip actually has components built into a 3D-matrix, with interconnects between layers. More »
Software
Zune 3.0 Software Update Out Now
9:00PM Kit Eaton | The Zune 3.0 update is just hitting now, chaps. Go grab it, update your PMPs and tell us how it goes in the comments. You can get the files here, and get the full Microsoft spiel about what’s new here. [Thanks OMG! Ponies!] More »
Peripherals
Sony HCB-108 Bluetooth Car Speaker Has Longest Standby, Talk Times
8:31PM Kit Eaton | Yeah, I know: Bluetooth car speaker/microphone systems blah blah… but this one’s got a such a battery lifespan it’s a bit different. Clipped to your car’s sun visor (or on your desk as a speakerphone) it’ll sit on standby for a full month, and if you choose to chat using it, you can do so for a chunky 25 hours, which is apparently the longest time for both options that you can buy. It’s also got “superior true duplex audio quality” with echo reduction and noise cancelling, to try and stop you from sounding like you’re speaking using the local cabbie’s dodgy CB radio. Due at the end of the year, price still to be announced. [Pocket-lint] More »
Games
