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Leaked Xbox 360 'Valhalla' motherboard analyzed by Ben Heck

Posted: March 18th, 2010, 7:29pm PDT by Ross Miller

Tags: analysis

Sure, you might've seen the purported Xbox 360 Valhalla motherboard leaked yesterday... but have you ever really seen it? There's a subtle difference, one that requires you gaze through the ocular receptors of our dearest old friend (he hates when we call him that) Ben Heck. Joystiq sat down with him to deconstruct the pictures and get his take on all the hardware nuances. First and foremost, there appears to be no connectors that "look remotely like a Xbox 360 memory card reader," which lends credence to the thought process they might be going the way of the dinosaur. WiFi is still missing in action, and as for Project Natal integration, Heck's highly doubtful that's in the cards, though he shares our mindset that a bundle would make sense. The big question is size reduction, and to that our game console laptop guru suggests that, given the constraints due to a DVD drive, the best we can expect is a one-inch drop in height (standing console), 0.5 inches in depth, and just "slightly thinner." Sorry folks, looks like even in your wildest dreams, it'll still tower over the Nintendo Wii. A great read, don your thinking cap, give yourself 15 minutes, and hit up the source.
Leaked Xbox 360 'Valhalla' motherboard analyzed by Ben Heck originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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PlayStation Move ad pulls no motion-controlled punches against Wii, Project Natal

Posted: March 17th, 2010, 4:52pm PDT by Ross Miller

Tags: ad
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playstation/PlayStation_Move_ad_pokes_fun_at_Project_Natal_and_Wii'; Sony's VP of Realistic Movements Kevin Butler (boy, does that guy have a large business card) is at it again, this time in a video ad for the PlayStation Move. He's back from the future to thank us all for the success of the motion control device, and make a few jabs towards Nintendo and Microsoft for their efforts. Here's a few choice quotes.
- "Because real boxers don't hit like this [flails arms exasperatingly]"
- "It's also got what we in the future call buttons, which turn out to be pretty important to those handful of millions of people who enjoy playing shooters, platformers, well, anything that doesn't involve catching a big red ball."
- "C'mon, who wants to pretend their hand is a gun. What is this, third grade? Pew, pew, pew."
Check out the futuristic -- or now-eristic, rather -- commercial after the break. And if you ask, sorry, we still wouldn't bet on Kansas City in six.
Continue reading PlayStation Move ad pulls no motion-controlled punches against Wii, Project Natal
PlayStation Move ad pulls no motion-controlled punches against Wii, Project Natal originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Wii Fit push up bars make sense, but this one isn't worth dollars

Posted: March 14th, 2010, 9:52am PDT by Sean Hollister

Tags: accessories

Push-up bars for the Wii">[www.engadget.com] Balance Board? Now that sounds like a fantastic idea -- just the thing broad-shouldered individuals need to play Wii Fit without backstrain. Too bad this particular set of bars isn't worth the plastic it's printed from. The latest and greatest from the minds in the chintzy plastic peripheral industry, the $25 CTA Digital Wii Push Up Bar is held in place by only your weight and a few foam strips without reinforcement of any kind, meaning it could detach itself with any significant exertion. The only good that comes out of all this is an embarrassing video demonstration after the break, which features a pair of smiling humans pretending to have fun with the contraption. QVC, eat your heart out.
Continue reading Wii Fit push up bars make sense, but this one isn't worth dollars
Wii Fit push up bars make sense, but this one isn't worth dollars originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Mar 2010 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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NPD: Xbox 360 wins US sales war in a downbeat February

Posted: March 12th, 2010, 12:16am PST by Vladislav Savov

Tags: aaron greenberg

The cosmos must clearly have approved of Microsoft's actions over this past month, as today we're hearing the Xbox 360 broke out of its competitive sales funk to claim the title of "month's best-selling console" ... for the first time in two years. Redmond's own Aaron Greenberg describes it as the best February in the console's history, with 422,000 units sold outshining the consistently popular Wii (397,900) and the resurgent PS3 (360,100 consoles shifted, which was a 30 percent improvement year-on-year). In spite of the happy campers in Redmond and Tokyo, the overall numbers for the games industry were down 15 percent on 2009's revenues, indicating our collective gaming appetite is starting to dry up. Good thing we've got all those motion-sensing accessories coming up to reignite our fire.
NPD: Xbox 360 wins US sales war in a downbeat February originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Darkworks SDK transforms 2D games into 3D games, no 3D TV required

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 12:33pm PST by Darren Murph

Tags: 3d

Well, wouldn't you know it? 3D seems to be the topic of conversation here at GDC , and Paris-based Darkworks is making a splash by announcing the availability of its TriOviz for Games SDK. In short, this magical software concoction is a post-process effect that allows standard 2D games to be transformed into 3D masterpieces... and you don't even need to buy a 3D television. We were briefed on the tech here at the show, and we're told that the magic happens in the software and the glasses, and unlike existing 3D technologies, other users around the house will still be able to watch you play in 2D without all those blurred edges. In other words, existing titles (for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC; sorry Wii owners!) can have a 3D experience added in, and we're guessing that a select few AAA games will be seeing a DLC pack in the near future for those who care to re-play their favorites in the third dimension. We'll be doing our best to swing by and catch a demo later today, but for now, just know that your life will never be the same once these 3D-ified games start shipping in the Spring.
Darkworks SDK transforms 2D games into 3D games, no 3D TV required originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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PlayStation Move: everything you ever wanted to know

Posted: March 11th, 2010, 11:31am PST by Paul Miller

Tags: everything you need to know

Sony dropped a lot of knowledge on us yesterday, at long last replacing rampant speculation with some cold hard facts -- and even a name! -- for its new PlayStation motion controller. The PlayStation Move is being described as a "platform" and a "virtual console launch" by folks at Sony, and we think they mean it, so prepare for a motion-controlled ad war later this year, as Microsoft and Sony set themselves up for a real three-way fight with Nintendo for your physical living room activity of the gaming variety. While some of the high-level Wii-like functionalities might be obvious, follow us after the break as we walk through the nitty gritty of everything we know so far about Move. Gallery: PlayStation Move press photos
Continue reading PlayStation Move: everything you ever wanted to know
PlayStation Move: everything you ever wanted to know originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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PlayStation Move first hands-on (update: video!)

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 5:21pm PST by Paul Miller

Tags: gdc
At last, we've felt Sony's long awaited motion controller, now at last officially known as "PlayStation Move," in our unworthy, sweaty hands. We have a bunch of videos on the way, but for now you can revel in our first close-ups of the controllers in the gallery below. Here are some of our initial thoughts:
- The controllers are light. Much more akin to the DualShock3 than the Wiimote in heft, and we're guessing that's due to Sony's continued love of rechargeable batteries.
- The main controller does have some subtle vibration (not DualShock or Wiimote level, but present), but we're not sure yet about the subcontroller.
- We hate to say this about "pre-alpha" software, but we're feeling lag. An on-rails shooter we tried out, dubbed The Shoot, was discernibly inferior to shooting experiences we've had on the Wii, both in precision and refresh rate of the aiming cursor.
- The gladiator game is about as fun as it looks, we'll have video after the break momentarily. Unfortunately, while it's less of a defined experience than something like the sword game on Wii Sports Resort, you're still working through a library of sensed, pre-defined actions instead of a true 1:1 fighting game with simulated physics. Not that it isn't possible with PlayStation Move, just that it's not this.
- The lightness of the controllers means we might be feeling less of that Wiimote fatigue, always a good thing! There's an aspect of the controller that feels a little cheap, but at the same time we wouldn't call it fragile.
- As far as we can tell, the control scheme for Socom 4 is quite similar to dual-controller shooter setups on the Wii, with the camera moving based on your aiming cursor hitting the edge. It's hard to see this as the preferred hardcore setup, but we're told it's configurable, so we'll try and see what else is on offer.
- The system seemed to have a bit of trouble understanding the configuration of our body in a swordfighting stance: even though we selected "left handed," it was putting our sword arm forward instead of our shield. Right-handers didn't seem to have similar problems, and we're sure this will be ironed out in time, but it certainly shows that the controllers aren't magical in their space-detection prowess.
- As would be expected, you're supposed to stand relatively center on the TV, and at a certain optimal distance. The system is forgiving, but there's a sweet spot that users will undoubtedly have to learn.
- Lag is less prominent on Socom 4, and we'd say we're pretty accurate with the controller already, though the framerate choppiness of this pre-alpha build obviously hampers that a bit. We did get a slight feel of being in "scene to scene" shootouts instead of a free-roaming FPS, perhaps a design choice to mitigate the limited camera movement offered by the controller, but we'll have to see more levels to know for sure.
Update: We added in a longer video -- are you ready for three minutes of nonstop excitement?

Update, final edition: We've got a new video with close-up walkthroughs of the controllers and some in-depth gameplay of Socom 4.

Gallery: PlayStation Move first hands-on
Continue reading PlayStation Move first hands-on (update: video!)
PlayStation Move first hands-on (update: video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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PlayStation Move motion controller launched at GDC, starter kit to be under $100 with game

Posted: March 10th, 2010, 4:06pm PST by Nilay Patel

Tags: breaking news

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/playstation/PlayStation_Move_motion_controller_launched_at_GDC'; No surprise here: Sony just officially announced the PlayStation Move motion controller at GDC 2010, calling it the "next generation of motion gaming" because it's so precise -- latency is about the same as the DualShock 3. As expected, it uses the PlayStation Eye camera to track the controller, and Sony says it becomes an "extension of your body." The plan is not only to engage casual gamers, but to use the precision of the controller to create "new experiences for core gamers" -- many of the demo videos we saw involved using a controller video in each hand, and there were quote a few demos of action / RPG games. We also saw a demo of Move Party, which uses the camera to do augmented reality gaming and video chat. The demos are pretty impressive -- Sony's not kidding when it says the Move is incredibly precise. There's also going to be a secondary "subcontroller" with an analog stick for shooters -- you can play all the way through SOCOM4 with just the Move and the sub-controller. (Yes, it's just like the Wii Nunchuk, only wireless.)

You'll be able to get Move in three ways: in a bundle with a PS3, standalone, and in a starter kit targeted at "under $100" with the PS Eye, a controller, and a game. That's all the pricing info we have right now, but it certainly sounds aggressive -- Sony says they're treating this like a major console launch, so expect to see this everywhere when it launches around the holidays. Video after the break.

Update: The European PlayStation Blog says some games will come bundled with Move as well.

Check out our hands-on right here!

Gallery: PlayStation Move announcement
Gallery: PlayStation Move press photos

Continue reading PlayStation Move motion controller launched at GDC, starter kit to be under $100 with game
PlayStation Move motion controller launched at GDC, starter kit to be under $100 with game originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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EA Sports introduces Active 2.0 at GDC, complete with sensors galore

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 10:04pm PST by Darren Murph

Tags: active

By and large, EA Sports' Season Opener event here at GDC was underwhelming, but one glimmer of newness did manage to shine through. Nearly a year after Active hit stores (video after the break) and encouraged Wii gamers to drop those unwanted pounds before hitting the soft sand in the summer, the company has announced that Active 2.0 (a working title) is currently in development for Wii, PS3, iPod touch and iPhone. We're told that a "new suite of fitness products" will be launching in the fall, with the Active 2.0 program delivering "true fitness results by featuring an innovative wireless control system powered by new leg and arm straps with motion sensors, a heart rate monitor to capture intensity and a new online hub to track and share workout data." Outside of that, details are nonexistent (like how exactly the iPod / iPhone components will factor into this equation), though we get the feeling that Xbox 360 owners may be left out of the party. Here's hoping we're wrong.

Gallery: EA Sports Active 2.0 accessories at GDC 2010
Continue reading EA Sports introduces Active 2.0 at GDC, complete with sensors galore
EA Sports introduces Active 2.0 at GDC, complete with sensors galore originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 01:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Razer and Sixense distribute SDK and FPS shooter utility through Steam

Posted: March 9th, 2010, 6:55pm PST by Darren Murph

Tags: first person shooter

Surely you remember those Sixense motion controls that we caught lounging around at Razer's CES booth, right? Yeah. Today at the Game Developers Conference, both outfits have teamed up in order to distribute the Ultra-Precise Motion Controller SDK and FPS utility library via Steam, which should give devs the ability to create new games and port existing titles for use with the aforementioned sticks. We're told that these new tools will require "require virtually no knowledge of the inner workings of the controller," enabling coders to craft titles that take full advantage of the six degrees of freedom. Will this turn the PC into the next Wii? We kind of doubt it, but at least someone's looking out for non-console gamers who have a secret obsession with Nintendo's Wiimote.
Continue reading Razer and Sixense distribute SDK and FPS shooter utility through Steam
Razer and Sixense distribute SDK and FPS shooter utility through Steam originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Neo SNES / SFC Myth Flash cart brings emulation magic to your aged console

Posted: March 8th, 2010, 2:28pm PST by Darren Murph

Tags: emulation

Oh, sure -- the Wii's Virtual Console may put you in direct contact with some of the best titles from yesteryear, but for the purists in attendance, it just feels like cheating. If you've been hanging onto that Super Nintendo (or Super Famicom, as it were) and you've recently been dealing with the emulation itch, Neoflash just might have the remedy. The Neo SNES / SFC Myth cart is pretty much the most magical cart you could ever slap into your classic console, offering up ROM support for "99.5 percent" of SNES games. Better still, titles can be offloaded from your PC and onto the cart via USB, making the entire transfer process a cinch. Of course, the $169 price tag will likely offend all but the most dedicated of retro gamers, but hey, at least you'll be staying true to those "roots" you value so highly.
Neo SNES / SFC Myth Flash cart brings emulation magic to your aged console originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Rii Mini Wireless Keyboard is perfect for your HTPC, not your Wii (video)

Posted: March 5th, 2010, 4:36am PST by Tim Stevens

Tags: 2.4ghz

For HTPC owners looking for the perfect couch-borne computer keyboard, this Rii Mini Wireless Keyboard looks like Natuzzi nirvana, packing QWERTY (with function keys) and a touchpad all in a package that should fall to the hand more comfortably than that Scientific Atlanta remote your cable company has saddled you with. There's even a laser pointer, making it a snap to indicate strange shapes and symbols seen on Lost episodes -- or to taunt the cats when an episode's fifteenth plot twist leaves you disinterested. We're not sure exactly what Brando means when it says the thing has "iPhone style," but despite that we're liking it, and the $92 $49 price isn't completely outrageous. YouTube video review embedded after the break for the doubters.

Update: A few bargain-hunting commenters pointed out that this is available for $48.99 over at TomTop. That's savings you can count on, folks!
Continue reading Rii Mini Wireless Keyboard is perfect for your HTPC, not your Wii (video)
Rii Mini Wireless Keyboard is perfect for your HTPC, not your Wii (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Microsoft Research working on portable Surface

Posted: March 2nd, 2010, 2:37pm PST by Donald Melanson

Tags: microsoft

Microsoft's Surface has managed to carve out a small niche for itself, but there's only so many places that a large, touchscreen installation can find a home (a yacht, for instance). Microsoft Research seems to be aware of that, and it's apparently been hard at work on a more portable Surface for some time now. As you can see above (and in the video after the break), the so-called Mobile Surface would rely on a combination of a projector and a camera (and mobile phone, in this instance), which would offer about the same level of interaction as a regular Surface, and even a few advantages -- like being able to use a pair of drumsticks to play the drums. If this all seems a little familiar, it should, as Light Blue Optics and others have already employed nearly identical systems to turn any surface into a touchscreen display. Curiously, Microsoft Research has since pulled the Mobile Surface page from its website, but you can find all the pertinent details by diving into the links below.
Continue reading Microsoft Research working on portable Surface
Microsoft Research working on portable Surface originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 17:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Ghostbusters Wii mod sets a new bar, proves that dreams do come true

Posted: February 26th, 2010, 12:02pm PST by Darren Murph

Tags: controller

The Wii has seen its fair share of related modifications, and while our favorite Nintendo mod still has Pixar written all over it, this one just might take the cake for the Big N's freshest console. Created by an obviously obsessed (and über-talented) Ghostbusters fan, the Nintendo Wii Proton Pack is a fully functional device that beautifully complements the Wii version of the Ghostbusters video game. For those doubting the thought that went into this, take a listen: the Blue Power Cell accurately reflects how much power you have left, and the Thrower has been designed to covertly hold both the Wiimote and the Nunchuk. Better still, the Wiimote's internal speaker enables the pack to make true-to-film noises. Hit the source link to get a better look, but we'd recommend suiting up in your best 80s era, ghoul-busting garb before diving in.
Ghostbusters Wii mod sets a new bar, proves that dreams do come true originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Wiimote-controlled 'Jazari' robot percussion takes us back to our tribal, Nintendo-hacking roots

Posted: February 20th, 2010, 1:20pm PST by Paul Miller

Tags: bongo

We've seen the hacker-friendly, Bluetooth-based Wiimote used for so many purposes by now that it's hard to get excited about just any amalgamation of accelerometer-based fun. Patrick Flanagan's 'Jazari' project breaks past the yawn factor with a veritable museum's worth of robotic instruments, which are all controlled from a pair of Wiimotes and some rather intelligent software. It all seems a little too complicated to be live-controlled, but as Patrick himself explains in true music nerd detail, there's pretty much a button or a twist or a tilt behind every bit of the wild djembe, bongo and cowbell stylings that make up Jazari's "steamfunk" (his term) music. Check out both videos after the break.
Continue reading Wiimote-controlled 'Jazari' robot percussion takes us back to our tribal, Nintendo-hacking roots
Wiimote-controlled 'Jazari' robot percussion takes us back to our tribal, Nintendo-hacking roots originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sony says PS3 supply will be 'tight' over the coming months

Posted: February 12th, 2010, 4:02pm PST by Donald Melanson

Tags: console sales

We're guessing things won't quite rise to the level of shortages since during the Wii's heyday, but it looks like Sony is now sending a small word of caution to any potential PlayStation 3 buyers. As Joystiq reports, Sony's senior director of corporate communications, Patrick Seybold, says that while the company is working hard to meet consumer interest, "demand is tremendously high for the PS3 and we expect tight inventory in the coming months." As you'll recall, this follows some surprisingly strong sales for the PS3 during the holiday season (when it outsold the Xbox 360), although console sales in general expectedly slowed considerably down in January. As with Joystiq, we haven't yet heard any first-hand reports of the PS3 being hard to find at retail, but feel free to let us know in comments if you're running across any local shortages.
Sony says PS3 supply will be 'tight' over the coming months originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Samsung's 3D HDTVs arrive February 26, starting at just under $2,000

Posted: February 12th, 2010, 3:24pm PST by Richard Lawler

Tags: 2010

Following the company's 2010 Blu-ray player lineup, the first of this year's 3D HDTVs from Samsung are available for preorder at a few internet retailers. The edge-lit LED and 1.1-inch thin C7000 series hits in 40- 46- and 55-inch sizes, with plenty of other features to go along with their 3D and 2D-to-3D conversion abilities. There's access to Samsung Apps & Internet@TV, Skype, AllShare DLNA media streaming, and tweaks that promise to automatically adjust picture and sound for any content source, from a thumb drive to a Blu-ray player. Best pleasant surprise? Price. The UN46B7000 model we reviewed last year started with a $2,999 MSRP (currently down to $1,929 on Amazon), while this year's UN46C7000 (shipping April 16) has a preorder price of $2,599. The 40- and 55-inch versions are similarly priced, at $1,999 and $3,299, respectively, though those necessary 3D glasses are left out of the package as an optional and as yet unpriced accessory that will likely eagerly claim any remaining room in your budget.

Gallery: Samsung LED 7000 series HDTV

[Thanks, Jason]
Samsung's 3D HDTVs arrive February 26, starting at just under $2,000 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Riiflex Wiimote dumbbells cease being a joke, now on sale

Posted: February 12th, 2010, 7:07am PST by Vladislav Savov

Tags: console

You know, we were surprised these Wii Remote appendages actually made it to the pre-order stage way back in April of last year, a feeling which slowly dissipated as they failed to make it out to real retail. Until now. The 2lb / 1kg Riiflex sleeves for your Nintendo-approved wand are ready to purchase, starting at a cent under $30, though the 5lb variety promised earlier is yet to make an appearance -- perhaps it's become yet another victim of the harsh, cutthroat economics of the Wii peripheral business. Anyhow, if you wanna take your Wii Fitness to the next level, the source link will get the set of two to your door with free delivery, though it might be a bit late in helping you shape up for V day.
Riiflex Wiimote dumbbells cease being a joke, now on sale originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Netflix: lack of HD streaming 'no loss' for Wii owners

Posted: February 10th, 2010, 7:26am PST by Joseph L. Flatley

Tags: downloads

Let's see if we can't come up with a small list of things that would be, quite frankly, overkill in a modern game console / video streaming device. Color? You know, some of the best films ever made were in black and white. Audio? Just a distraction, really. HD? Available on damn near every new TV, sure, but don't you think it's a bit... much? Nintendo's Reggie Fils-Aime does, obviously, as does Netflix -- at least according to an interview recently posted on The Wiire. Indeed, the company's VP of Corporate Communications Steve Swasey goes so far as to say that "the HD experience at Netflix Instant Watching isn't that overwhelming. It's a little bit underwhelming. So the Wii folks aren't going to miss that much." Y'know, it's not every day that we hear a company downplay its own product, but we suppose that the man should throw a bone to the twenty-six million homes in America who already own the console. He goes on to say that "the vast majority of content that is available for streaming through Netflix is not HD content. So, there is really no loss for the Wii consumer." Besides, "PS3 and Xbox users have 1 in 17 titles available in HD, and it's streamed in 720... it's not in 1080, and it's not in 5.1 surround sound or anything." Sure, Swasey -- anything can make sense if you explain it. Well, almost anything.
Netflix: lack of HD streaming 'no loss' for Wii owners originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Peter Moore wants to be convinced by OnLive, already a fan of Arc controller

Posted: February 9th, 2010, 4:38am PST by Vladislav Savov

Tags: arc

Peter Moore, formerly the big cheese in charge of Xbox, is now the head of EA Sports, but he's lost none of the forthrightness that's made him a popular man to interview in the past. In his latest sitdown with CVG, Peter expressed his admiration for the nascent OnLive cloud gaming service, but also noted that he remains uncertain as to whether it will actually work when millions of people decide to play the same game at the same time -- a reservation we probably all share. He did point out that the sort of readily accessible gaming OnLive represents was in his company's plans, and would be expanded with more browser-based games. Finally, as someone who's seen the PlayStation 3 Arc controller in action Peter should be well qualified to assess it, and he describes it as a "great complement to what's out there," claiming that it brings a substantially different experience to Nintendo's Wii Remote. Check out the source for the full interview.
Peter Moore wants to be convinced by OnLive, already a fan of Arc controller originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nintendo's Miyamoto casually references new hardware, MotionPlus games

Posted: February 9th, 2010, 12:37am PST by Vladislav Savov

Tags: console

Do you think non-disclosure agreements apply if you're one of the guys who built the company you represent? Probably not, as evidenced by Shigeru Miyamoto, who recently took the opportunity -- while receiving an award, no less -- to blab about forthcoming hardware and games based around the MotionPlus peripheral. There wasn't much content to his mentions, beyond us now knowing that he's actively engaged in the design of multiple games outside of the next Zelda iteration, but this is the firmest confirmation yet that the Wii is set for a Wiiplacement. Parsing this with earlier comments from Miyamoto-san would suggest the company will be looking to optimize its present formula (maybe with a touch of HD?) rather than revolutionize what is already a wildly successful console. Until then, let's just be happy that one of gaming's patriarchs is still going strong and dropping crumbs of knowledge for us undeserving earthlings.
Nintendo's Miyamoto casually references new hardware, MotionPlus games originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Open-PC is the nettop for those who won't be constrained by you and your corporate ways

Posted: February 3rd, 2010, 6:27am PST by Tim Stevens

Tags: atom

Nettops come in all sorts of shapes, from Wii would-bes to keyboard come-alongs, but they're all small, and most are running some variant of Windows. Not the Open-PC. It isn't particularly svelte (345 x 425 x 100mm) and it is entirely free of commercial software, with a KDE core neatly wrapped in a collection of free software. It was designed by the community, specifications and even price determined by a set of surveys, and by the end of the month it will be available to those who said they wanted it -- meaning it's put up or shut up time, Linux fans. Price is €359 (including a $10 donation to the KDE project), a bit steep for a machine rocking an Atom N330 processor, 3GB of RAM, and a 160GB hard drive, but then again you can't put a price on stickin' it to the man.
Open-PC is the nettop for those who won't be constrained by you and your corporate ways originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sega Zone: the Genesis with a Wiimote nobody asked for

Posted: February 2nd, 2010, 9:53am PST by Donald Melanson

Tags: console

Sega may (sadly) be out of the hardware business itself, but like some other once mighty companies, it's not above licensing its brand for others to use as they see fit. The latest device to emerge out of that arrangement is the Sega Zone, which takes a perfectly fine Genesis console (complete with a cartridge slot) and adds a pair of Wiimote-like controllers in an attempt to keep up with the times. To go along with those, you'll also get 30 new games for the system (16 of which support some form of motion control), but we're guessing most folks will quickly find themselves opting for one of the 20 classic Genesis games that come pre-loaded. Still no indication of a release for this one 'round here, but those in the UK will apparently be able to pick one up this summer for £39.95 (or about $60).

[Thanks, Mark]
Sega Zone: the Genesis with a Wiimote nobody asked for originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nokia, Nintendo, Netflix and E-Ink respond to the iPad

Posted: January 30th, 2010, 5:34pm PST by Paul Miller

Tags: apple
We're sure just about every company on the map has an opinion on Apple's new device, but a few big wigs have taken time out of their busy schedules to weigh in on the device. These are their stories.
- Nokia's Mark Squires, Head of Social Media, was mainly confused by Apple's statement that it's the biggest mobile device manufacturer, surpassing Nokia in combined revenue on media players, phones and laptops. Mark argues that the accepted definition for "mobile devices" excludes laptops, and goes on to mention the undisputed fact that Nokia's still number one when it comes to number of devices sold.
- Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, meanwhile, says that mobile devices aren't a priority for his company yet. They're fighting the good fight of the large screen, and once they feel comfortable in their various efforts there, then they'll move on to small screens. Netflix hasn't done or submitted an iPhone application, but Hastings did mention that he was optimistic that if Netflix did get into the game, the app would be approved for the App Store, and that it would run on both the iPhone and iPad.
- Satura Iwata, president and CEO of Nintendo, took a much more directly critical approach to the device, calling it a "bigger iPod Touch," and that Apple delivered "no surprises." In the same interview he expressed skepticism as to the value of bringing a high definition Wii on the market, as well as expressing doubts about 3D glasses-based gaming. Iwata is clearly a tough man to please.
- Perhaps most threatened by the iPad is Russ Wilcox, CEO of E-Ink. He says dedicated e-readers will outsell iPads due to "simple economics," and that the iPad is "great entertainment device," but it's "not the world's best reading device." His criticisms, mostly in juxtaposition to Kindle-style devices, abound, including price, weight, backlight and so on. He's right on the money about the shortfalls of a straightforward comparison, but we wonder if consumers will feel the same?
Nothing too salacious, unfortunately, and most of the points raised are pretty spot-on -- though we do wish Reed Hastings would rethink his priorities just a smidgen and get Netflix onto mobile devices sooner than later. We're needy like that.
Nokia, Nintendo, Netflix and E-Ink respond to the iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 Jan 2010 20:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | ATD (Netflix), Forbes (E-Ink), Nokia, AP (Nintendo) | Email this | Comments
Nexus One succumbs to Colorware's charms

Posted: January 27th, 2010, 6:53am PST by Vladislav Savov

Tags: color

Colorware's out to conquer the whole gadget world, it seems, as it has now added Google's first own-brand phone to its roster. Joining such hero devices as the Nook, iPhone 3GS, every modern console and even the ocassional ThinkPad, the Nexus One will take three weeks to undergo its makeover, at a cost of $175 if you're supplying your own or $800 for a brand new one. Whether the results end up priceless or worthless will be entirely up to you, however, so feel free to practice on their design site a bit before pulling the trigger.
Nexus One succumbs to Colorware's charms originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Pocket-lint | Colorware | Email this | Comments
Mad Catz makes the Wii a fighter with moddable FightStick

Posted: January 26th, 2010, 9:41am PST by Donald Melanson

Tags: arcade fightstick

The Wii may not be the console of choice for most fighting game fans, but it is starting to earn a bit more respect with the release of Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom and, just as importantly Mad Catz's new Arcade FightStick to go along with it. The best news, however, is that like Mad Catz's fightsticks for other consoles, this one is moddable for those that prefer some arcade authentic parts, and it even packs a few features not found its Xbox 360 and PS3 counterparts. Most notably, that includes a toggle switch that will let the arcade stick control either the d-pad of the classic controller or the left or right analog stick, meaning you'll also be able to use it with an array of Virtual Console titles. Look for this one to set you back $80.
Mad Catz makes the Wii a fighter with moddable FightStick originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Ars Technica, WiiNintendo | Email this | Comments
HP Slate teases us with another video appearance

Posted: January 25th, 2010, 10:03pm PST by Vladislav Savov

Tags: hp

The HP Slate -- has there ever been a more iconic, more groundbreaking, more life-altering device? Oh, there has? Well anyway, HP CTO Phil McKinney has been friendly enough to share some of the history behind the development of his company's newly announced tablet, which is set for a release at some point later this year. Starting with e-reader prototypes five years ago, he tells us, HP steadily built up an idea of the sort of "rich media experience" modern consumers are lusting after. It's only now, however, in a "perfect storm" of innovation, that HP finds itself capable of pairing the right hardware with the mainstream-friendly price point it was shooting for. Join us after the break for the full dose of education on this multitouch Windows 7 machine.
Continue reading HP Slate teases us with another video appearance
HP Slate teases us with another video appearance originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Gear Diary | YouTube | Email this | Comments
Wii Classic Controller Pro coming to confused, oversized US living rooms in April

Posted: January 25th, 2010, 6:19am PST by Paul Miller

Tags: classic controller

After doing the whole "Nintendo" thing in Japan, Nintendo has brought its Wii Classic Controller Pro Stateside to ensure us Americans were being properly Nintend'd to. That's right, yet another control mechanism, with its own set of slightly different buttons (this time dual shoulder buttons) and ergonomics (some DualShock-style grips) to thoroughly confuse and delight hapless Wii owners. Interestingly, the controller is making its debut in April as a bundle with Monster Hunter Tri; the game is compatible with the tried and true Wii Remote + Nunchuck combo and the hardly relevant Classic Controller, but we have a feeling those extra, Professional shoulder buttons will come in handy when plying the game mechanics of monster hunting. Separately the controller comes in black or white for $20, while bundled the game and controller will retail for $60. Our dignity as a once-proud Wii owner? Hardly worth a Craigslist listing.
Continue reading Wii Classic Controller Pro coming to confused, oversized US living rooms in April
Wii Classic Controller Pro coming to confused, oversized US living rooms in April originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sega Ultimate Genesis Collection bringing official Genesis emulation to iPhone, pain to your wallet

Posted: January 20th, 2010, 12:04pm PST by Paul Miller

Tags: app store

After packaging and re-marketing to us our childhood over Nintendo's Wii Virtual Console and in a multitude of other forms, Sega is putting another platform to good use in its eternal quest to make us poor: the iPhone. Due for the App Store next month, the upcoming Sega Ultimate Genesis Collection will bring together some of Sega's existing, disparate releases for the iPhone under one roof and add a bunch more, allowing users to buy Sega Genesis games directly from the app. The first one's free, of course (Space Harrier II), but after that you'll be paying a decent amount for your emulation fix: Sonic is $6, Golden Axe is $5, and Ecco the Dolphin and Shining Force go for $3. The variety will undoubtedly grow over time, but we would hope that at some point Sega will offer some sort of discounted megabundle, since you can currently get 49 notable Sega titles for around $20 in the form of Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for the Xbox 360 and PS3. Basically: we're not sure if this is all supposed to make us worse or better about jailbreaking.
Sega Ultimate Genesis Collection bringing official Genesis emulation to iPhone, pain to your wallet originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Gizmodo | Email this | Comments
Government killing off LORAN-C navigation system, deems GPS good enough

Posted: January 20th, 2010, 7:33am PST by Tim Stevens

Tags: department of homeland security

Spare a thought for the noble LORAN network. It helped bombers and ships across the Atlantic in WWII and, since then, has served as a reliable system for helping sailors, domestic and otherwise, to find their position. Of course, now that everybody and their kid cousin has a GPS receiver in their back pocket the need for limited, complex, radio-based geolocation is somewhat reduced. So, the US government is killing it off, shutting down most of the towers on February 8, with those that stay online over the summer going decidedly offline this fall. The savings? $190 million over five years. The cost? No backup for our GPS system, meaning we'll be totally blind when the first wave of EMPs hit -- and don't try to act like they're not comin', man.
Government killing off LORAN-C navigation system, deems GPS good enough originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Los Angeles Times | Email this | Comments
Pink and blue Wii Remotes ready for Valentine's Day pre-order

Posted: January 19th, 2010, 12:59am PST by Vladislav Savov

Tags: accessory

Nintendo may be a lot of things, but stupid it ain't. Cashing in on yet another gift-giving holiday, the console sales leader is bringing Americans a pair of freshly paint-licked Wii Remotes that should appeal to the his-and-hers demographic that seems to grow in number at this time of year. As you can see above, grabbing one will set you back $54.99, which is about the same price as the regular MotionPlus bundle. So, even if you weren't thinking about wooing your loved one with yet another Wii peripheral, at least the US now gets a 200 percent improvement in MotionPlus color choices. How is that not progress?

[Thanks, Brandon]
Pink and blue Wii Remotes ready for Valentine's Day pre-order originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 19 Jan 2010 03:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | GameStop | Email this | Comments
NPD: Wii leads video game industry to 'biggest sales month ever'

Posted: January 15th, 2010, 10:31am PST by Donald Melanson

Tags: gaming console

Well, what a difference a couple of months and a holiday season can make. Just after finding that the video game console market shrunk by a fifth in October, NPD is now back with a new report that finds that December was the video game industry's "biggest sales month ever." Specifically, the group found that console sales jumped 4% compared to last December, with the Nintendo Wii unsurprisingly leading the way with 3.81 million units moved (up from 2.15 million the previous year). That's followed by the collective DS offerings at 3.31 million and, somewhat surprisingly, the PlayStation 3, which racked up sales of 1.36 million (its first time cracking the one million mark) compared to the Xbox 360's 1.31 million. Of course, no one's expecting sales to stay at quite that lofty level, but NPD says that the spike in December sales might well indicate that 2010 could be a recovery year.
Filed under: Gaming
NPD: Wii leads video game industry to 'biggest sales month ever' originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | PC World | Email this | Comments
Puyocon mouse reacts to being squeezed, thrown, gyrated (video)

Posted: January 15th, 2010, 2:27am PST by Vladislav Savov

Tags: accelerometer

The Puyocon isn't about to swoop in and replace your trusty old two-dimensional laser pointing mousie just yet, but we're always suckers for bizarre input peripherals. Demonstrated by Tsukuba University at Siggraph Asia 2009 last month, it is a soft and squeezable ball that offers a quirky new spin on the old airborne controller idea. Differing from the Wii Remote in the fact that it won't break your HDTV (or itself) if it slips out of your hand, the spongy ball operates on the basis of a three-way accelerometer and 14 pressure sensors in order to give detailed multidimensional information to the system it's controlling. That's probably overkill for the humble computer desktop, but there might be hope for the Puyocon becoming a commercial reality through games that make use of all its input points -- after all, if there's room for the Wiiwaa, why not the Puyocon too? See it in action after the break.
Continue reading Puyocon mouse reacts to being squeezed, thrown, gyrated (video)
Puyocon mouse reacts to being squeezed, thrown, gyrated (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Reggie Fils-Aime: Wii users don't care for Netflix HD

Posted: January 15th, 2010, 12:54am PST by Vladislav Savov

Tags: downloads

We seriously have to question the sanity of some of these high-ranking corporate types. Reggie Fils-Aime, Nintendo of America boss and fearless orator, has joined Andy Rubin of Google in claiming that his customers do not require a feature so prevalent nowadays that it has become close to a basic standard. While the Xbox 360 and PS3 are capable of streaming full HD movies from Netflix at no extra cost, Reggie has stated his belief that "there really is no loss for the Wii consumer" because "the vast majority" of Netflix streaming content isn't HD anyway. Reiterating his longstanding, but never adequately explained, hesitance toward HD, Reggie has also claimed that the 26 million Wii console owners out there have voted with their wallets and will be quite happy to continue putt-putting along at standard def. Skip past the break to see him speaking his heresy with a straight face.
Continue reading Reggie Fils-Aime: Wii users don't care for Netflix HD
Reggie Fils-Aime: Wii users don't care for Netflix HD originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 15 Jan 2010 03:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Joystiq | CNBC | Email this | Comments
Wii gets Netflix this Spring, disc required for streaming

Posted: January 12th, 2010, 9:59pm PST by Richard Lai

Tags: breaking news

Hey humans! So Hastings was telling us the truth after all -- the Nintendo Wii will be joining the other two game consoles to stream Netflix starting some time in early Spring. Like the PS3, a special Netflix "instant-streaming" disc will be required for the Wii, and it goes without saying that HD's out of the question since the Wii itself can't push above 480p. There'll be no additional fees beyond Netflix's usual monthly subscription. Time for a game of Mario Kart to celebrate, no?

Update: the Netflix sign-up page is now live! [Via Joystiq]
Wii gets Netflix this Spring, disc required for streaming originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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LG Magic Motion gesture control HDTV remote hands-on

Posted: January 11th, 2010, 3:36am PST by Richard Lawler

Tags: CES

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gadgets/LG_Launches_New_Motion_Gesture_Remote_Control_For_HDTVs'; Packed in with LG's new top of the line LCD, the 3D capable, LED backlit LE9500 is a new RF remote that users wave, Wii-style, to operate the onscreen menus. There's also a standard IR remote for universal remote compatibility and the very necessary lazy bastards who don't want to lift their arms to change the channel compatibility. Check out a quick demo from the CES show floor after the break.

Gallery: LG Magic Motion remote for LE9500
Continue reading LG Magic Motion gesture control HDTV remote hands-on
LG Magic Motion gesture control HDTV remote hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jan 2010 06:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Project Natal to focus on custom-made 'experiences,' will tolerate conventional games too

Posted: January 10th, 2010, 9:40am PST by Vladislav Savov

Tags: aaron greenberg

Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg has opened up to our buddies over at Joystiq about the future direction of Projection Natal, and the big takeaway from their chat is that Redmond intends to use the new hardware primarily for "brand new experiences" designed specifically for it. Essentially, this means the majority of Natal-enabled games will be Wii-like in their focus and promotion of motion as the control scheme, but before you dive into a vortex of panic, there were also reassurances that "developers will have that out there at their fingertips if they want to enable those features." We now know that 10 to 15 percent of the Xbox 360's processing power will be sucked down by Natal, which may or may not be a reason for this shift away from what was expected -- layering Natal on top of games as an alternative control scheme -- to this shpiel about "unique" experiences. Either way, so long as we get to play Burnout on this thing, we could care less what others do with it.
Project Natal to focus on custom-made 'experiences,' will tolerate conventional games too originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Joystiq | Email this | Comments
TV Ears TV ears-on: it could save your marriage

Posted: January 9th, 2010, 11:27pm PST by Sam Sheffer

Tags: CES

You know how much we love gadgets, right? With gadgets like the TV Ears TV, our love is easily recognizable. We had a chance to go ears and eyes on with the rig at CES. Wearing the dangling headset wasn't like walking on a cloud, but the volume was easily adjustable using the chin strap. We didn't get a chance to try out the Jitter-Bug-esque remote, but we're guessing that using the dongle is a walk in the park. Although it might not be your cup of tea, if you get a senior discount at the movies this might just be for you.
Gallery: TV Ears TV hands-on
TV Ears TV ears-on: it could save your marriage originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 02:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Chances of Netflix on Nintendo 'excellent,' says Netflix CEO

Posted: January 9th, 2010, 4:30pm PST by Ross Miller

Tags: all things d

In case you missed it last night in the All Things D event -- and frankly, given the length and general jejune of it, we wouldn't blame you -- Reed Hastings of Netflix took the stage and sat down with Peter Kafka. Here's the takeaway: when Kafka asked him the chance of "getting on Nintendo," Hastings replied, "our chances are excellent." It's not much, but after at least a year of hints and teasers, it's by far the best confirmation we've got. Of course, he didn't say which system, but let's be honest... the only logical choice is DS, right?
Chances of Netflix on Nintendo 'excellent,' says Netflix CEO originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Razer and Sixense hook up for motion sensing PC gaming peripheral (video)

Posted: January 7th, 2010, 8:51pm PST by Darren Murph

Tags: CES

Razer's already solidified its presence here at CES, but it obviously left the best for last. The peripheral outfit has hooked up with Sixense to bring motion sensing controls to PC gaming, and it utilized a wild demo of Left 4 Dead 2 to showcase the device. We hate to link everything to the Wiimote, but if you're desperate for a quick n' dirty explanation of this, it's sort of like a Wiimote / Natal mashup, but just for PCs. Users will find one-to-one tracking, and while further details were few and far between, we're told that devices based around the tech would be launched later in the year. Enough chit chat -- hop on past the break for an unashamedly gory clip of this thing in action.
Continue reading Razer and Sixense hook up for motion sensing PC gaming peripheral (video)
Razer and Sixense hook up for motion sensing PC gaming peripheral (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Engadget Spanish | Razer | Email this | Comments
Nintendo sez DS successor will sport motion control, better graphics; Wii Vitality Sensor in July

Posted: January 6th, 2010, 9:20am PST by Christopher Grant

Tags: ds

In an interview with Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper, Nintendo prez Satoru Iwata provided some rare commentary on what we might expect from a DS successor - not just another DS revision, mind you - whenever the gaming giant gets the urge to upgrade its golden goose. "[It will have] highly detailed graphics," Iwata said, giving ample (but obvious!) fuel to those NVIDIA Tegra on DS rumors. "And it will be necessary to have a sensor with the ability to read the movements of people playing." Now, before you do that annoying cough thing while saying "iPhone" under your breath, we'd like to remind you that Nintendo isn't really an also-ran to this motion-controlled gaming thing. Iwata made a point of saying that an iPhone-esque monthly cellular data plan wasn't in the works; however, that doesn't rule out a Kindle-like data service for the future handheld, as the executive previously mused about, providing for "free" gaming downloads on the go.

Now that the boring kid stuff has been put to bed, we can take the mature news out of the cabinet: The pulse-detecting Wii Vitality Sensor will make an appearance at a press conference in July (hey, that's E3 time) with plans for a release "as soon as possible." We trust you guys can take care of the old people jokes yourselves, right?
Nintendo sez DS successor will sport motion control, better graphics; Wii Vitality Sensor in July originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Joystiq, Kotaku | Asahi Shimbun | Email this | Comments
New line of LG plasma HDTVs feature NetCast, slim design

Posted: January 6th, 2010, 9:00am PST by Ben Drawbaugh

Tags: CES

The fact that LG presented 39 new LCD HDTVs today and only eight plasmas is telling of the times, but videophiles are just happy to still have the option to choose picture quality over features. For you Mr videophile, LG has eight new plasma models from 42-inches to 60-inches. The new TrueSlim frame has a bezel that is only .9-inches and wireless capabilities. The PK950 (pictured above) and PK750 both feature NetCast, which is LG's name for its streaming services that including Skype, Netflix, VUDU, YouTube, Napster DivX and Yahoo Widgets, while the rest of the line just features a network connection and DLNA. The Wireless Media Hub is available for all the models and allows you to place your HD sources up to 98-feet away without running wires. One last thing worth mentioning -- the rest is in the press release -- is that the PK950 incorporates a Magic Wand which is described as a Wii-like experience, but we sure hope old school remotes are supported as well.
Continue reading New line of LG plasma HDTVs feature NetCast, slim design
New line of LG plasma HDTVs feature NetCast, slim design originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Predictions for 2010?

Posted: January 1st, 2010, 5:30pm PST by Joshua Topolsky

Tags: 2010

2010... a year we've been waiting for since at least the mid-80's. It's finally here guys -- so what happens next? Every year we take the 1st of January to try and figure that out. Normally we would consult the sage-like wisdom of Engadgetdamus, but this year is special, and we thought it needed the kind of time-twisting-artificial-intelligence-color-cycling-weird-baby-monolith-Roy-Scheider-starring-space-adventure that only the above image (and book, and movie) could evoke. Below are the predictions from the staff of ye olde Engadget -- what say you, good reader?

Chris: In an unprecedented cash and stock deal valued at over $1.7 billion, Comcast acquires your '89 Festiva.
Thomas: Steve Jobs will announce a pair of tablets, then smash them to bits on account of Android idolatry.
Laura: Jeff Bezos will continue to predict the "death of the book." The book will continue to exist merely to spite Bezos.
Don: The world breathes a sigh of relief that the Large Hadron Collider will never create a black hole... after it is destroyed by zombies.
Dan: Apple's stock will plummet when a TUAW investigative report reveals that Steve Jobs actually died in 2002, and has since been portrayed by talk show host cum surreal performance artist, Arsenio Hall.
Nilay: Google finally flips the switch and creates Skynet.
Joanna: The OLPC XO-3 gets an early release date - in the form of the Apple Tablet. Ends world hunger, illiteracy and violence. Saves the world.
Ben: Microsoft agrees that CableCARD is a failure and Media Center along with it and introduces Zune Center.
Josh F: Adult entertainment will kick-start yet another media market, this time in the form of 3D Blu-ray porn.
Richard Lai: Tamagotchi resurrects with 3D monochrome screen, and then dies.
Darren: Intel considers making an Atom that's actually fast, but its bottom line delays the launch until December 31, 2012.
Vlad: Sony Ericsson delivers an Xperia handset on time... nah, just kidding.
Richard Lawler: Nintendo surprises everyone and releases the Wii 3D.
Josh T: Google upends the landscape of the mobile phone market when Eric Schmidt says Apple can "have one of these unsubsidized" while emphatically pointing to his crotch.
Predictions for 2010? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Wiiwaa is the greatest Wii game ever made, we assume

Posted: December 30th, 2009, 7:21am PST by Joshua Topolsky

Tags: awesome

Wiiwaa is a forthcoming Wii game which involves you cramming your Wiimote into the mouth of the bizarre stuffed animal you see... oh just watch the video after the break.
Continue reading Wiiwaa is the greatest Wii game ever made, we assume
Wiiwaa is the greatest Wii game ever made, we assume originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 10:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink technabob | Wiiwaa | Email this | Comments
Console scuttlebutt: multi-core CPU for next-gen PlayStation, Intel inside future Wii

Posted: December 29th, 2009, 4:14am PST by Darren Murph

Tags: console

We're but three years removed from the US introduction of both Nintendo's Wii and Sony's PlayStation 3, and already the rumors are running rampant about the future iterations of both consoles. Two separate reports from Japan's Impress touch on both units, with speculation and insider information on the former suggesting that Intel could be in talks with the Big N about powering the second Wii. Hard details are obviously tough to come by, but word has it that the two are mulling a GPU / CPU combo similar to the Larrabee; granted, we'd prefer something a touch more potent in the Wii 2, but we wouldn't be shocked if Nintendo chooses the less powerful path yet again. In related news, it seems as if Sony could be looking for an alternative to its Cell CPU in the PlayStation 4, an alternative that involves some sort of "multi-core CPU." Potentially more interesting is the notion that Sony's next-gen handheld could be out before said console, which is loosely pegged for a 2013 release. We wouldn't take any of this to heart just yet, but we're pretty certain we can't stop the dreamers from going too far.
Console scuttlebutt: multi-core CPU for next-gen PlayStation, Intel inside future Wii originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 07:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink CVG, SlashGear | Impress (Wii), Impress (PS3) | Email this | Comments
Viewsonic VOT132 nettop review

Posted: December 24th, 2009, 9:03am PST by Tim Stevens

Tags: atom

You don't need booming sales figures to tell you that netbooks have taken over the world -- the mobile computing world, at least. Their screenless and battery-free brethren, however, have yet to find quite the same success. Nettops are great tiny little machines but in general they've been under-powered and, while people love eking out another hour or two of battery life on the road, few sadly care whether their desktop computers pull down 17 or 71 watts of juice. Still, it's hard to deny the appeal of a fully-functional computer that's half the size of a Wii -- especially when it can manage 1080p output over HDMI. Viewsonic's VOT132, with its Ion graphics and trick magnetic DVD drive, is tiny, efficient, and powerful. The perfect media PC? Read on to find out.

Gallery: Viewsonic VOT132 unboxing
Continue reading Viewsonic VOT132 nettop review
Viewsonic VOT132 nettop review originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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PS3 dipped in gold appeals to our 'elitist doofus' sensibilities

Posted: December 23rd, 2009, 8:42am PST by Laura June

Here's the thing. Merely dipping something in 22 carat gold does not necessarily mean we'll like it better... but it's a semi-decent start. Now, we know a PS3 literally covered in gold and diamonds isn't exactly "news," nor is it anything we haven't seen before with other consoles. It is, however, a stark reminder that being super rich often leads to gaudy, tasteless, nearly criminal displays of ridiculousness. Hit the source link if you want to order one from purveyor Stuart Hughes for a mere £199,995 (that's about $320,000).
PS3 dipped in gold appeals to our 'elitist doofus' sensibilities originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Gizmodo | Stuart Hughes | Email this | Comments
Modder mods new fangled wireless keyboard to look like old timey one

Posted: December 22nd, 2009, 10:23am PST by Laura June

Tags: hack

Before you laugh awkwardly at the weird sense of nostalgia this keyboard dredges up in your mind, let us introduce you to its wonders. Apparently modded by a Dutch man or woman courageous enough to admit that (like us) they prefer the pretty much extinct, giant, tactile-as-all-get out keyboards to newer, more streamlined models, this mod takes away the only gripe we ever had with such peripherals -- namely, their wiredness. The enterprising DIYer's taken a Logitech wireless Wii keyboard apart, mapping all the key codes along the way, thrown in a little basic soldering, wedged everything into the old keyboard and voila! Pretty magical, right? Well, okay -- not really, but still -- we sort of dig it. There's a before shot after the break, and hit the source link for the poorly machine translated how-to.
Continue reading Modder mods new fangled wireless keyboard to look like old timey one
Modder mods new fangled wireless keyboard to look like old timey one originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nintendo Wii Supreme is topped with a layer of gold, sprinkled with diamonds, and priced at £300,000

Posted: December 17th, 2009, 11:17pm PST by Ross Miller

Tags: bling

Inventing a new echelon in Engadget's Holiday Gift Guide, Stuart Hughes has managed to Supreme-ize a Nintendo Wii, covering it in over 2,500 grams of solid 22 carat gold and an aggregate total 19.5 carats of flawless diamonds for the three front buttons. Three have been made and were done so reportedly over the span of six months. Asking price is £299,995, or about $484,818 in US dollars, which if you go by Kotaku's admittedly untrained estimations is about $200,000 in raw materials and the rest in labor / profit. The only to make this sound reasonable is if we compared it alongside a $3.2 million iPhone 3GS, and what do ya know, that was also a Stuart Hughes creation. We're gonna take a stab in the dark and say that Wii Sports is not included.
Nintendo Wii Supreme is topped with a layer of gold, sprinkled with diamonds, and priced at £300,000 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Luxury Launches, Joystiq | Stuart Hughes | Email this | Comments
Nintendo trademarks 'Zii' over in Japan, Creative is like 'zaywha?'

Posted: December 15th, 2009, 5:25am PST by Darren Murph

Tags: conflict

Here's an interesting one. Siliconera has dug up what it claims to be a Japanese trademark for the term "Zii," and contrary to what you may expect, the application wasn't filed by Creative. We double checked the database, and sure enough, the paperwork went through on October 30th -- which almost certainly means that this was more than just some day-late attempt to fend off the next-generation of KIRF Wii consoles. There's obviously no way to tell what the Big N has in mind here, nor if this will cause any kind of friction between it and Creative, but we'll certainly be keeping an ear to the ground for more. Who knows -- maybe the Zii is that HD Wii we've all been clamoring for since November of 2006. Or maybe it's nothing at all.

Update: We've done a bit more digging, and it looks as if this here filing may simply be a renewal of a 2006 trademark request. Moreover, we've found Nintendo trademarks in Japan for Cii, Bii, Oii and Yii, so it seems the company may just be on some sort of rampage in order to cover its tracks in one form or another.
Nintendo trademarks 'Zii' over in Japan, Creative is like 'zaywha?' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 08:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Slashgear | Siliconera | Email this | Comments
BBC's iPlayer streams to Cello iViewer HDTVs, those iElsewhere get iNothing

Posted: December 9th, 2009, 6:56am PST by Tim Stevens

Tags: 26-inch

Hopefully you haven't exceeded your daily allowance of the letter 'i' yet this morning; this post could push you into CamelCase overload. British electronics maker Cello has announced iViewer, a line of LCD HTDVs available in £399 ($650) 26- and £499 ($815) 32-inch models that will directly stream BBC's iPlayer, no silly gaming console or set-top box required. They'll also stream a variety of other digital channels, including YouTube and American CNN -- so why is it that Americans still can't stream content from the Beeb? Sets will be selling soon exclusively at Marks and Spencer stores, and would have been available months ago if not for a delay thanks to an unidentified but apparently American chip maker. Sure, blame the US. Everything's our fault.
BBC's iPlayer streams to Cello iViewer HDTVs, those iElsewhere get iNothing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink BBC News | Cello | Email this | Comments
EA CEO says digital gaming sales will overtake console numbers next year

Posted: December 2nd, 2009, 2:23pm PST by Joshua Topolsky

Tags: digital game sales

Need more evidence that physical media is inching towards the door? Enter this Reuters conversation with Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello. While the company -- the largest publisher of "interactive entertainment" (AKA video games) -- is hurting on sales during the awesome global recession currently underway, he thinks the future is digital. All digital. Riccitiello had this to say on the matter:

"When people think of games, they traditionally think, in the U.S., of what sells on the Xbox, the PlayStation, and the Wii, and they forget about all these online services that are out there... if you add all that stuff up, it's almost half the industry now. It's about 40 to 45 percent. Next year it's likely to be the larger share of the total industry and it'll be bigger than the console games all put together."
He went on to say that if EA's digital arm was a standalone company, "it would be like the darling of Wall Street." Of course, he's not just talking about XBLA and the App Store -- this is an all-encompassing view of the digital market, including casual gaming, Facebook apps, and WoW transactions as well. It may not be the kind of all-encompassing push needed, but we are hoping this sort of noise rattles the industry enough to mobilize smarter, more centralized methods of online distribution.
EA CEO says digital gaming sales will overtake console numbers next year originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink 1UP | Reuters | Email this | Comments
Wii parts production said to be shrinking, still plenty of Wiis being sold

Posted: December 2nd, 2009, 1:19pm PST by Donald Melanson

Tags: console sales

Well, we've already seen demand for the Wii finally begin to slow and Nintendo's profits shrink as a result, and it looks like the inevitable trickle down effect is now also starting to take place. According to Nikkei, parts makers Mitsumi and Hosiden are expected to be particularly hard hit, with each forecasting a more than fifty percent drop in profits for the fiscal year ending next March. That still leaves them each with profits in the 5.3 to 6 billion yen range, however, and things should pick back up sooner or later whenever Nintendo decides the Wii needs a refresh or a revamp -- and, if not, there's always room for more Wu.
Wii parts production said to be shrinking, still plenty of Wiis being sold originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Joystiq | MarketWatch | Email this | Comments
Cyber Wednesday brings half price Peek service, discounted Wii

Posted: December 2nd, 2009, 6:29am PST by Darren Murph

Tags: console

Ever heard of Cyber Wednesday? Yeah, same here. But seriously -- when's the last time you heard us kvetch over a deal? Effective today only, Peek's email-only handhelds are being offered up with lifetime service for half of the normal price. Buy any Peek handheld and you'll get service for just $9.99 per month for as long as you keep the device, which is certainly a bargain compared to the $19.99 that's typically charged. In other news, Wally World has announced that from December 5th through the 12th (while supplies last, obviously), a $50 gift card will be handed over when you purchase a Wii console in-store. Just think -- Walmart is actually incenting you to buy a Wii. Man, how the times have changed.
Cyber Wednesday brings half price Peek service, discounted Wii originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink I4U News | Peek, Wii | Email this | Comments
DIY cat feeder now enabled by a Cisco switch, streams food and video

Posted: November 30th, 2009, 8:58pm PST by Richard Lai

Tags: auto cat feeder

You know, there are times when you have to part ways with your adorable kitties at home, and you might not be so keen on getting a cat sitter in case he or she touches your precious game consoles (even if it's an old granny). We've seen the lazy man's solution before, but Britain's Mathew Newton has brought us a new DIY internet-enabled cat feeder just in time for a new decade. Rather than using a CD-ROM tray to push-release unknown quantities of cat food, Mathew's version has a motor-driven cereal dispenser controlled by signal from port status LEDs on a Cisco switch -- an ingenious way to avoid expensive Ethernet relay units. When it's feeding time the user logs onto a web interface to choose the dispensing quantity, or you can also have an automatic feed schedule set up if you trust the system -- Mathew said he "can rely on it 100%," and his cats do appear to be healthy. Fortunately, you can always check the live video stream just in case you have doubts. All is explained in the video after the break.
Continue reading DIY cat feeder now enabled by a Cisco switch, streams food and video
DIY cat feeder now enabled by a Cisco switch, streams food and video originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | NewtonNet | Email this | Comments
Xbox 360 controller ingeniously hacked for NES use

Posted: November 30th, 2009, 3:08pm PST by Joshua Topolsky

Tags: controller

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/xbox/Xbox_360_controller_ingeniously_hacked_for_NES_use_VID'; Hey, it's just what you've always wanted: to use your Xbox 360 controller on your old NES. Using a Cortex M3 processor left over from a school robotics project, Francois Gervais managed to rig his wireless pad to control something decidedly less advanced than a game of Modern Warfare 2. There's a video of the controller in action after the break, and you can grab some of the code being used in the Google link below -- perhaps one of you brainiacs will finally hack the Wiimote to control a Jaguar. A tech writer can dream...
Continue reading Xbox 360 controller ingeniously hacked for NES use
Xbox 360 controller ingeniously hacked for NES use originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Hack A Day | YouTube, Google Code | Email this | Comments
Cyber Monday deals roundup: Core i7, HDTVs, SSDs, free Droid Eris

Posted: November 30th, 2009, 3:21am PST by Vladislav Savov

Tags: amazon

In Soviet Bulgaria, we don't have Cyber Mondays, but from what we've been told this is a pretty bargainous time of the year. HP starts us off with a pair of coupons on its dv8 Core i7 notebook, one of which drops the 18.4-inch laptop to just $899. There are also deep 50 percent discounts on its printers, but only the Photosmart Premium All-in-One remains after the two cheaper models sold out. Click the Logic Buy link below to get in on the action. Amazon has the older Modern Warfare at $29.95 and Uncharted 2 at $40 flat for the PS3, Garmin's nuvi 260W at a cent under $115 (or half price), and plenty of discounts on DVDs, gadgetry and even clothing. Best Buy keeps pace by offering the same price on the Garmin nav unit, as well as 10 percent discounts on Apple's iPod range. Walmart is kicking off a whole Cyber Week with a Sony Bravia 32-inch HDTV priced at $398 and a $249 Nintendo Wii Value Bundle, which includes Wii Sports, sporting peripherals, and a choice of free game. If you're more interested in computer components, Newegg's $30 mail-in rebate on the 120GB OCZ Agility SSD will net you the drive for $289, our favorite of a plethora of deals at the online store. And finally, Dell is offering the Droid Eris for free when taking out a new Verizon Wireless account, which is at least $30 cheaper than you can get it anywhere else. Time to get clicking!

Read - Amazon
Read - Best Buy
Read - Dell
Read - Logic Buy
Read - Newegg
Read - Walmart
Cyber Monday deals roundup: Core i7, HDTVs, SSDs, free Droid Eris originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Gizmodo, I4U | | Email this | Comments
Engadget's Black Friday giveaway, part seven: win a copy of Squeeballs Party for Nintendo Wii!

Posted: November 27th, 2009, 12:30pm PST by Laura June

Tags: black friday

Black Friday is one of those days you wish you could skip right over sometimes. The long lines, the disappointing deals, the stampedes and the arguments over Cabbage Patch Kids. We can sympathize. That's why we're hanging out here all day, with you! And we decided to pull out some things we stocked up on just to give away to you, our devoted readers. Read the full rules after the break and get commenting to win. Up now we have a copy of Squeeballs Party for Nintendo Wii to give away. Just admit it: you want one (we can tell you that our dog really digs those little dudes).

Keep checking back all day -- we're doing a giveaway each hour!
Continue reading Engadget's Black Friday giveaway, part seven: win a copy of Squeeballs Party for Nintendo Wii!
Engadget's Black Friday giveaway, part seven: win a copy of Squeeballs Party for Nintendo Wii! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Engadget's Black Friday giveaway, part five: win one of five Nyko Charge Base IC units!

Posted: November 27th, 2009, 10:30am PST by Laura June

Tags: black friday

Black Friday is one of those days you wish you could skip right over sometimes. The long lines, the disappointing deals, the stampedes and the arguments over Cabbage Patch Kids. We can sympathize. That's why we're hanging out here all day, with you! And we decided to pull out some things we stocked up on just to give away to you, our devoted readers. Read the full rules after the break and get commenting to win. Up now we have five Nyko Charge Base IC units to give away to five lucky winners. Just admit it: you want one!

Keep checking back all day -- we're going to do one giveaway every hour or so, and we have some great stuff to hand out!
Huge thanks to Nyko for providing the gear!
Continue reading Engadget's Black Friday giveaway, part five: win one of five Nyko Charge Base IC units!
Engadget's Black Friday giveaway, part five: win one of five Nyko Charge Base IC units! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Engadget's Black Friday giveaway, part one: win a Wii Nerf blaster!

Posted: November 27th, 2009, 6:00am PST by Laura June

Tags: announcements contest

Black Friday is one of those days you wish you could skip right over sometimes. The long lines, the disappointing deals, the stampedes and the arguments over Cabbage Patch Kids. We can sympathize. That's why we're hanging out here all day, with you! And we decided to pull out some things we have stockpiled just to give away to you, our devoted readers. Read the full rules after the break and get commenting to win. Up first we have a Wii Nerf blaster. Just admit it: you want this.

Keep checking back all day -- we're going to do one giveaway every hour or so, and we have some great stuff to hand out, including an HP Envy 15!
Continue reading Engadget's Black Friday giveaway, part one: win a Wii Nerf blaster!
Filed under: Announcements
Engadget's Black Friday giveaway, part one: win a Wii Nerf blaster! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nintendo Wii has lion's share of female console gamers

Posted: November 27th, 2009, 3:58am PST by Vladislav Savov

Tags: console

Nintendo's been doing a bit of digging and it turns out it's already won the console wars. If we're only talking about the ladies, that is. A whopping 80% of American female primary gamers (the person who primarily uses the console rather than the occasional dabblers) do their thing on the Wii, which we see as a clear indication to the graphics-obsessed Xbox 360 and PS3 developers that women prefer their games to be fun to play, rather than just look at. Maybe if we also stopped dressing female characters in swimsuits, they'd find non-Wii games relatable too -- that's just a guess though, probably wrong.
Nintendo Wii has lion's share of female console gamers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Engadget Spanish, Joystiq | Kotaku | Email this | Comments
Nyko Charge Base IC for Wii now shipping

Posted: November 24th, 2009, 6:11pm PST by Laura June

Tags: charge base

Nyko's just unleashed its latest charging base for Wii controllers. This newest unit makes use of induction charging, so you can dispense with the sleeves, and just throw your contollers or Wands straight onto the dock for charging. The controllers are attached to the dock via magnets, and it also boasts a USB port for charging up other devices. The Nyko Charge base comes with two battery covers that are compatible with both Wiimotes and Nyko's own Wands, as well as two rechargeable battery packs. It's available now at Sam's Club and Amazon, and retails for $39.99. Full press release is after the break. Also, be on the lookout -- we'll be giving away five of these puppies on Black Friday (among many, many other things).
Continue reading Nyko Charge Base IC for Wii now shipping
Nyko Charge Base IC for Wii now shipping originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Wii pay-per-view programming introduced in Japan

Posted: November 23rd, 2009, 8:54am PST by Joseph L. Flatley

Tags: console

Not only are we still waiting for the TV Guide Channel that Japanese Wii users have been indulging in for the better part of two years, but now Variety is reporting that Nintendo has teamed up with a dozen corporate partners to tease us with a Japanese pay-per-view service for the console. Premiering last Saturday, Wii no Ma (Wii's Room) currently has 120 titles, including episodes of Sesame Street and Pocket Monsters, available for prices ranging from ¥30 - ¥500 ($.35 - $5.63). According to Variety, titles can also be viewed on your Nintendo DSi handheld, a device known for its sonority and large, appealing display. No word yet on when we can enjoy a Stateside version, but we'll let you know as soon as we hear something. In the meantime, there's always PlayOn.
Wii pay-per-view programming introduced in Japan originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Variety | Email this | Comments
Finland unleashes Blobo, the squeezable, all-too-cheerful game controller, on an unsuspecting world

Posted: November 20th, 2009, 3:26pm PST by Joseph L. Flatley

Tags: blobo

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Finland_unleashes_Blobo_the_squeezable_game_controller'; What's a matter, guy? Wiimote seem "old hat?" Looks like a start-up in Finland has just what you need. Containing "industry-leading" sensors for keeping track of "movement, rotation, magnetic fields and pressure," Blobo is a squeezable game controller roughly the size and shape of a golf ball that communicates with your PC or phone via Bluetooth. Currently available in a package with "six sporty fun and fit" games, it'll keep tabs on you as you run, jump, dribble, or karate chop your lonely nights away -- in the comfort of your own living room or wood panel rec room. In addition, the company has made a commercial which will, in the words of one Engadget editor, make you "want to stab myself." Retails for €54.90 (around $80). Video after the break.

[Thanks, Visa]
Continue reading Finland unleashes Blobo, the squeezable, all-too-cheerful game controller, on an unsuspecting world
Finland unleashes Blobo, the squeezable, all-too-cheerful game controller, on an unsuspecting world originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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YouTube pulls a Hulu -- yanking API access from Popcorn Hour, other TV-connected devices

Posted: November 20th, 2009, 8:59am PST by Richard Lawler

Tags: alex limberis

Hope you weren't enjoying watching YouTube on the television screen via Popcorn Hour and other set-top boxes, as they have been given notice by the newly 1080p and network TV-friendly website that they are no longer welcome to access its content. The new Hulu-ish Terms of Service (section II, item 10) restricts API clients from the ability to "use the YouTube API in connection with any API Client created for use on television set top boxes, television game consoles, or video screens packaged and marketed as television sets;" according to Popcorn Hour COO Alex Limberis this applies to all with the exception of "a few strategic partner's Google has singled out" -- PlayStation 3, Wii, TiVo, Panasonic, Samsung and other licensed hardware is safe.

Update: After speaking with Alex we've got a better view of the situation -- as is clear from the TOS, manufacturers streaming directly via the API as Popcorn Hour did are no longer welcome without cutting a seven figure check to license access. Google did offer to allow continued access via its YouTube XL interface, but for devices like theirs not built around Flash, that possible solution proved to be technologically unfeasible. Obviously these changes apply to all, but as of yet we're not aware of anyone other than Popcorn Hour that has been contacted directly about it.

Update v2: After the break is Google's response, stating Popcorn Hour and the like have been in violation of the above TOS for over a year, from its perspective, this is a simple matter of defending its rights from "video scraping technology." As we mentioned above that means most are in no danger of losing access, but fans of these media streamers will have to live without it, until either YouTube can control the experience or the manufacturer pays up.
Continue reading YouTube pulls a Hulu -- yanking API access from Popcorn Hour (Update: Google responds)
YouTube pulls a Hulu -- yanking API access from Popcorn Hour (Update: Google responds) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Alex Limberis, YouTube TOS | Email this | Comments
Tony Hawk Ride ready to rock indoor tricks in the US (video)

Posted: November 18th, 2009, 4:58am PST by Vladislav Savov

Tags: gaming peripherals activision

After that false alarm about an October release date, the Tony Hawk Ride bandwagon was all set for departure on November 17 and that's exactly what's happened. Available for a cent under $120, the new game / peripheral combo will allow players to shimmy, gesture, and ollie their way to (simulated) skateboarding immortality on the PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii. The earliest European availability we can see is offered by Amazon UK, which indicates a December 4 launch for the Queen's isles and a discounted £89 ($149) price. You can check out our own feets-on with that wireless controller right here or, if you so wish, peruse the full PR at the read link. What's not optional, however, is missing the bonus "making of" video for that most radical of peripherals, which we've lovingly prepared for you just after the break.
Continue reading Tony Hawk Ride ready to rock indoor tricks in the US (video)
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
Tony Hawk Ride ready to rock indoor tricks in the US (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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BBC redoubles its Wii efforts with dedicated iPlayer channel

Posted: November 14th, 2009, 4:17am PST by Donald Melanson

Tags: gaming homeentertainment bbc

The BBC's iPlayer streaming video / radio service has been available on the Wii in the form of a browser-based app for some time now, but it looks like it's now set to step up its game considerably with a full-fledged iPlayer Wii channel. Launching in the UK on November 18th, the new channel boasts a streamlined, Wii-friendly interface that was apparently the result of extensive testing, and includes a number of other smaller design touches, like some nifty background animations during radio programs, and some use of the Wiimote's rumble feature for added feedback. Best of all, the whole thing's completely free -- now, about that UK-only part...

[Via BBC News, thanks Lenny]
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment
BBC redoubles its Wii efforts with dedicated iPlayer channel originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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NPD: Wii reclaims lead in US sales, but console gaming market shrinks by a fifth

Posted: November 13th, 2009, 8:23am PST by Vladislav Savov

Tags: gaming handhelds console

The NPD has released its US video game industry figures for October, which reveal that total monthly revenue from hardware, software and accessories among all manufacturers fell to $1.07 billion, constituting a 19 percent drop from what the American gamer spent over the same period last year. After being toppled from its chart-leading ways in September by a price cut-boosted PS3, the Wii has regained its sales throne by chopping $50 off its own entry fee, making itself buoyant in the US, if not the world. The PS3's own sales have suffered a slump after the September euphoria, while the 360 is still wearing the dunce cap in third place. Microsoft's response has been to keep banging that drum about being the only console to show year-to-date growth, but when you're selling less than half as many consoles as Nintendo, you have to grasp at whatever straws are nearby. Speaking of Nintendo, its DS sales so far this year have continued at such a rate as to threaten its own 2008 hardware sales record -- set by the Wii -- with ten million units sold. So there you have it: Sony fails to maintain its September lead, Nintendo keeps churning, and Microsoft keeps hoping for better times ahead. Full list of figures after the break.

Read - Wii regains hardware top spot following US price cut
Read - Xbox 360 leads in year-to-date growth
Read - DS poised to break US hardware records
Continue reading NPD: Wii reclaims lead in US sales, but console gaming market shrinks by a fifth
Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds
NPD: Wii reclaims lead in US sales, but console gaming market shrinks by a fifth originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Police Wii Bowling team issued stern rebuke

Posted: November 12th, 2009, 9:59am PST by Joseph L. Flatley

Tags: gaming bowling

You know, policing can be a tiresome, thankless task -- that's why we weren't all that surprised when Polk County's finest were caught on camera at the scene of a Florida drug raid engaging in a reported nine hour Wii Sports tourney. As you'll recall, investigators raided a home back in March on the lookout for drugs and stolen items -- which they found, along with weapons and that infamous Nintendo game console. Fans of police accountability will be pleased to note that when all is said and done, eleven members of the multiagency task force were eventually disciplined with a letter in their permanent records and a couple hours of re-training. According to Polk County sheriff's Chief of Staff Gary Hester, all of those involved "were all remorseful, upset with themselves, [and] apologetic," except one officer who finally bowled a perfect game: "It was totally worth it. The Dude abides."

[Via Joystiq]
Filed under: Gaming
Police Wii Bowling team issued stern rebuke originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Sanyo releases new, Motion Plus-approved, contact-free Eneloop Wiimote charger

Posted: November 12th, 2009, 5:34am PST by Tim Stevens

Tags: gaming eneloop

If you ran out last year and bought one of Sanyo's Eneloop Wiimote chargers, the first to be officially approved by Nintendo and to allow charging whilst that ludicrously thick rubber cover was still in place, you were probably a bit bummed when it was obsoleted by the Motion Plus. Sanyo has a fix: you can now run out and buy a new charger! Yes, you too can help fuel the economy by tossing a perfectly functional yet now useless accessory into the trash and replacing it with something that does exactly the same thing with a little extra room at the bottom. Like before it's USB-powered and charges via induction, so no contacts are required, though there are now cavities for two Wiimotes rather than just one. No mention of a US release, but it'll be hitting Japan sometime next month for ¥7,400 -- about $80.
Filed under: Gaming
Sanyo releases new, Motion Plus-approved, contact-free Eneloop Wiimote charger originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 08:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Exspect launches racing wheel for Wii Motion Plus controllers in the UK

Posted: November 11th, 2009, 5:57pm PST by Laura June

Tags: gaming accessories

Sure, there are plenty of Wii racing wheel options out there, but Exspect's launching one just for the Wii Motion Plus controller -- and just in time for the holidays! The wheel is also compatible with the plain old Wiimote, but sadly, if you live in the States it doesn't look like you'll be able to get one of these any time soon. The Racing Wheel is available now in the UK and will run you £6.99 (that's about $11.67 if you don't speak "£") on its own, or £19.99 ($33.35) if you buy it as part of a Wii accessories pack.

Filed under: Gaming
Exspect launches racing wheel for Wii Motion Plus controllers in the UK originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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'Baby and Me' special edition includes Wiimote-ready doll

Posted: November 2nd, 2009, 1:51pm PST by Paul Miller

Tags: gaming peripherals accessory

A new, janktastic Wii title dubbed Baby and Me (not to be confused with the new 50 Cent song, "Baby by Me") is shipping in limited quantities as a special edition that actually includes a doll "accessory" in the box. The regular game is designed to work with the Wiimote attached to any old doll, but in case your child is looking for a premium fake baby experience, we suppose this special edition is the way to go. The actual game play includes motion sensitive baby-rocking, Balance Board support for teaching the child avatar to walk, and the sound of gurgles and burps output through the Wiimote's built-in speaker. It sounds exactly like caring for a real child.

[Via Switched]
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
'Baby and Me' special edition includes Wiimote-ready doll originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Black Wii gets unboxed just in time for the darkest holiday

Posted: October 30th, 2009, 4:39pm PDT by Laura June

Tags: gaming blackwii

Those lucky enough to live in Europe will soon (as in November 6th soon) be able to purchase a special edition of that black Nintendo Wii some of us have been drooling over for the past few months. Sure, it's just a regular Wii... but it's black, which is so much cooler. Well someone's finally gotten their hands on it and done an unboxing, and we have to say that it looks even better than it did in the press shots. The limited edition Black Wii bundle with Wii Sports Resort and a Motion Plus controller will run you around £164.99 in the UK, and those of us in the US? Well, we'll just have to make due with the black controller and nunchuk. There are a few more shots after the break. Hit the read link for the full unboxing and video.

[Thanks, Emilia]
Continue reading Black Wii gets unboxed just in time for the darkest holiday
Filed under: Gaming
Black Wii gets unboxed just in time for the darkest holiday originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Family awarded $16.5 million for wrongful death in 'Hold Your Wee for a Wii' contest

Posted: October 30th, 2009, 12:29pm PDT by Laura June

Tags: gaming death

Way back in January of 2007, we reported on the Strange family, who were suing Sacramento radio station KDND-FM for the wrongful death of Jennifer Strange, who was found dead in her home after competing in a contest to try to win a Nintendo Wii. The contest -- "Hold Your Wee for a Wii" -- involved seeing who could drink the most water without urinating, and Jennifer, who did not win, left the studio and later died. Her autopsy later showed signs of water intoxication. Yesterday, a California jury ruled a wrongful death in the case, and ordered Entercom Sacramento LLC, a subsidiary of Philadelphia-based Entercom Communications Corp., to pay $16.5 million dollars to her family as a result of the actions of the radio station's employees.
Filed under: Gaming
Family awarded $16.5 million for wrongful death in 'Hold Your Wee for a Wii' contest originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nintendo DSi XL coming to America in Q1 2010

Posted: October 29th, 2009, 6:04pm PDT by Ross Miller

Tags: gaming ds

Since Europe and Japan can't have all the fun -- unless, of course, it's a black Nintendo Wii -- the super-sized DSi XL is also due out in the US sometime in Q1 2010, according to a spokesperson speaking with Joystiq. Still no word on price, but we wouldn't be surprised if it parallel the slight markup for the ¥20,000 / US $221 Japanese version. Looks like that smaller-screen version isn't looking so hot for Grandma's Christmas present anymore.
Filed under: Gaming
Nintendo DSi XL coming to America in Q1 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nintendo profits sink on declining console sales, weak game selection

Posted: October 29th, 2009, 4:18am PDT by Thomas Ricker

Tags: ds

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Nintendo just announced that its interim net profit was cut by more than half to ¥69.49 billion (about $770 million), from ¥144.83 billion last year at this time -- figures that won't be helped by the cheaper Wii price tag announced at the end of September. Speaking of which, Nintendo sold only 5.75 million Wii consoles from April to September (down 43% from last year) and cut its full year sales forecast for the April 09 to March 2010 period to 20 million units, down from an expected 26 million. DS sales were also off 15% from last year and we doubt that a bigger screen on the new DSi LL model will change that dramatically.
Nintendo profits sink on declining console sales, weak game selection originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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The daily roundup: this is, in fact, the DROID you are looking for

Posted: October 28th, 2009, 8:08pm PDT by Ross Miller

Tags: android

Motorola Droid

Google Maps Navigation (Beta)

HTC

Everything Else

Mobile

The daily roundup: this is, in fact, the DROID you are looking for originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nyko ships $25 Zoom Case for DSi: because your DSi totally needs a zoom lens

Posted: October 28th, 2009, 4:23pm PDT by Darren Murph

Tags: gaming peripherals accessory

Remember that wacky zoom lens attachment for Nintendo's DSi that was launched back in January? Amazingly, the product design team convinced everyone else in the company to move ahead with plans for production, and now it's making its way out to cold, steel shelves. $24.99 buys you a hard shell case for your handheld along with a detachable optical zoom lens, which supposedly gets your sensor eight times closer to a given subject than Nintendo ever intended. You'll also be mocked eternally if you're ever caught using this in public, but hey, maybe you're thick-skinned.

Gallery: Nyko ships $25 Zoom Case for DSi: because your DSi totally needs a zoom lens
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
Nyko ships $25 Zoom Case for DSi: because your DSi totally needs a zoom lens originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Netflix streaming purportedly hitting Nintendo's Wii next

Posted: October 28th, 2009, 3:24pm PDT by Darren Murph

Tags: gaming homeentertainment console

Mmhmm. We see precisely where this is going. First came Microsoft's Xbox 360, then came the PlayStation 3. Now, the beast that is Netflix's "Watch Instantly" is coming to Nintendo's Wii... or that's the scuttlebutt, anyway. According to StreamingMedia, an undisclosed source close to the project has confirmed that the Big N is currently testing Netflix streaming on the Wii, and that it'll be rolled out to the public "very soon." Our initial reaction is to think that "very soon" will translate into "before the holidays," though we all know that only time will tell. But hey, when you've been waiting for this to happen since March, patience comes naturally.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment
Netflix streaming purportedly hitting Nintendo's Wii next originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Houston newscaster dictates slide transitions, goes bowling with Wiimote

Posted: October 28th, 2009, 1:14pm PDT by Darren Murph

Tags: gaming peripherals comedy

We're not sure who's winning the ratings war in Houston, but we're going to give the upper-hand to KHOU based on these shots alone. As you can clearly see in the image above (and the enlarged versions there in the gallery), this newscaster is wielding a Wiimote. It's hard to say if the news station actually has their slide transitions setup to change with a swing of the controller, or if weather map zooming is handled with something typically used for gaming, but one thing's for darn sure -- lightning rounds of Wii bowling during commercial breaks are definitely happening.

[Thanks, Edmar]

Update: Whoa, looks like this was indeed the real deal. Check the details here!

Gallery: Houston newscaster dictates slide transitions, goes bowling with Wiimote
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
Houston newscaster dictates slide transitions, goes bowling with Wiimote originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Microsoft researchers build muscle-computer interface, play air Guitar Hero

Posted: October 27th, 2009, 9:59pm PDT by Donald Melanson

Tags: gadgets air guitar

Legendary DIYer Johnny Chung Lee may have only been with Microsoft for a few months, but it looks like he's already making his presence felt, even when he's not working on projects himself. His latest effort involves getting videos from the User Interface Software and Technology (or UIST) conference online, including this look at a new muscle-computer interface developed by Phd student Scott Samponas and some other folks working with Microsoft Research. While it obviously has a number or potentially exciting and practical uses (like controlling devices when you're hands are full, or when you're running), Samponas et al apparently just couldn't help themselves from demonstrating one of its most obvious applications: an true implementation of air Guitar Hero. Video after the break.
Continue reading Microsoft researchers build muscle-computer interface, play air Guitar Hero
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
Microsoft researchers build muscle-computer interface, play air Guitar Hero originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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British NHS lauds Wii Fit Plus for flabby bum-busting potential

Posted: October 27th, 2009, 12:57pm PDT by Joseph L. Flatley

Tags: gaming britain

You know, we've been pretty skeptical about the whole "fit" part of the "Wii Fit" phenomenon, and for good reason: as studies have shown, the health benefits of gaming, whether you're sitting, standing, or faux-bowling, are minimal at best. Still, for a number of consumers at home and abroad, the game conjures up notions of leading an active lifestyle. So perhaps it is no surprise, as the Telegraph reports, that Britain's National Health Service is using it to promote its Change4Life initiative -- even going so far as to allow the company to append the Change4Life logo on its upcoming Wii Fit Plus release. And how about those who cry foul -- specifically, those who point out that the deal includes Nintendo shelling out money to help promote the NHS-funded program. See how one might get the idea that this is a "pay to play" affair? To the government's credit, it does stress that it's endorsing an exercise, not a video game system. "Active video games, where kids need to jump up and down or dance about as part of the game, are a great way to get kids moving," a spokesperson said. Rob Saunders, the British spokesman for Nintendo, had this to say: "If you are worried about your bingo wings or your flabby bum, the game will give you specific exercises to target those areas." Bingo wings? Flabby bums? Why didn't you say so in the first place?

[Via Yahoo]
Filed under: Gaming
British NHS lauds Wii Fit Plus for flabby bum-busting potential originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Black Nintendo Wii bundle listed on Amazon UK for £164.99

Posted: October 27th, 2009, 3:01am PDT by Ross Miller

Tags: gaming amazon

That black Nintendo Wii bundle Nintendo is gifting to Europe on November 6th has found itself home amongst the Amazon UK listings. Recommended price is £179.99 but the online retailer is knocking off eight percent to make it an event £164.99 -- that's about $269 to the US gamers who still don't have a shot at getting this. What makes it interesting is that the identical bundle in white doesn't have that £15 discount, but Amazon is sweetening the pot with the choice of two free titles, including FIFA10. Of course there's still the £142.99 white, non-bundled Wii for a lot less. Our money's still on the black bundle -- or it would be, at least, if Nintendo would give the US writers on staff, and the country at large, a stab at the new console color.

[Thanks, Ian]

Read - Black Wii bundle with Wii Sports Resort
Read - White Wii bundle with Wii Sports Resort and two free games
Filed under: Gaming
Black Nintendo Wii bundle listed on Amazon UK for £164.99 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nintendo DSi with larger screens coming this year to Japan?

Posted: October 26th, 2009, 10:05pm PDT by Ross Miller

Tags: gaming 4 inch

The Nintendo DSi in its current form is just about to round its first Japanese birthday on November 1st, and if Nikkei has anything to say about it, the two-screener's all set for an oncoming growth spurt. According to a report from the publication, who has a good track record on Nintendo reports thus far, a new DSi with 4-inch screens (versus 3.25 currently) is coming to the land of the rising sun sometime before this year's out. No other spec differences, the report claims this was in response to older gamers having trouble seeing the action. It'll replace the current model and retail for the same price, ¥18,900 (US $205.50). If history tells us anything, we'll be waiting a lot longer for this new model to make it overseas.

Update: As noted by our Engadget Japan friends, the original Nikkei piece does mention a possible increase in resolution, to the effect of saying games and apps can display more info on screen, but it's very unclear if that was the intended message here or simply a confusion in terminology.

[Via Joystiq]
Filed under: Gaming
Nintendo DSi with larger screens coming this year to Japan? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Netflix hints at Watch Instantly integration on 'already-popular device'

Posted: October 24th, 2009, 3:04pm PDT by Darren Murph

Tags: homeentertainment content

Microsoft's Xbox 360 may call itself the only console to stream Netflix, but all that could be changing -- and soon. As Netflix continues to pull in new subscribers (and cash flow) like it's no big deal, the company is apparently looking to spread its wings even further by integrating its wildly popular Watch Instantly feature into "a device already owned by a large number of consumers." Naturally, the most fitting candidates for that would be Sony's PlayStation 3 or Nintendo's Wii, though the company has yet to come forward with anything concrete. Just so know you, Netflix credits the Xbox 360's streaming integration as the main reason some 2.4 million customers have signed up since late 2008, so it's more than apparent that it loves the game console. Any bets for when this will go down, or are you just plugging your ears in order to avoid potential disappointment?

[Via Joystiq]
Filed under: Home Entertainment
Netflix hints at Watch Instantly integration on 'already-popular device' originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nintendo's Miyamoto: next-gen Wii hardware could be "more compact, cost-efficient"

Posted: October 23rd, 2009, 12:19pm PDT by Darren Murph

Tags: gaming future

There ain't much to glean from Shigeru Miyamoto's recent sit-down with Popular Mechanics, but in the never-ending quest to learn more about Nintendo's next-generation Wii, a few tidbits of interest have been highlighted. Miyamoto, who is responsible for creating the likes of Mario and Zelda (amongst others), spoke at length about current titles, the future of video games as a whole and on his view of the not-yet-named Wii 2. In answering a question about the future of motion-sensing in the Big N's consoles, he ran off topic a bit and noted that "it would be likely that we would try to make that same functionality perhaps more compact and perhaps even more cost-efficient" when speaking about future hardware (which honestly may have been talking strictly about accelerometers). Of course, this is about as predictable as it gets -- hardware tends to always shrink and get cheaper as technology improves -- but hey, there it is! Now, let your imaginations do what they were born to do.

[Via TechRadar]
Filed under: Gaming
Nintendo's Miyamoto: next-gen Wii hardware could be "more compact, cost-efficient" originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nintendo shipping black Wii to Europe in limited edition bundle

Posted: October 20th, 2009, 8:06am PDT by Darren Murph

Tags: gaming black

Why, Nintendo -- why? Americans have been buying your underpowered, kid-centric console faster than you can ship 'em here for years now, and yet you ignore our innermost desires to see a Wii in some color other than white. Have we not made ourselves clear? Are our voices going unheard? Clearly, you've an ear for those in Europe, as folks in the UK and Ireland will be able to procure a dark Wii starting on November 6th as part of a limited edition bundle that includes Wii Sports Resort and a Wii MotionPlus dongle. The rest of mainland Europe will see the same bundle on November 20th, and as if that wasn't enough, a black Classic Controller Pro and a slew of black Wii accessories will also accompany the package for those looking to stock up. Naturally, there's no mention of a price, but considering that you'll pay anything to join the still-limited black Wii party, it (likely) matters not.

[Via Engadget Spanish]
Filed under: Gaming
Nintendo shipping black Wii to Europe in limited edition bundle originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Giveaway: Win one of ten very special pink Nyko Kamas for Wii!

Posted: October 16th, 2009, 3:46pm PDT by Laura June

Tags: announcements contest

Hey there, happy Friday! We here at Engadget love giving things away, as you probably already know... and today we have something very special for our dear, beloved readers. Nyko's graciously provided us with 10 very special pink Kama wireless nunchuks for the Wii (which should go very nicely with those just-unveiled Wii Wands). These Kamas aren't available to purchase -- so if you win, you'll be one of a very select few to own them, which is always nice to hear, right? Read the full rules after the break, and get commenting to win! Good luck.

Huge thanks to Nyko for providing the gear!
Continue reading Giveaway: Win one of ten very special pink Nyko Kamas for Wii!
Filed under: Announcements
Giveaway: Win one of ten very special pink Nyko Kamas for Wii! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Heckler and Koch MP5 sub-machine gun Wiimote controller: 'nuff said

Posted: October 16th, 2009, 8:19am PDT by Darren Murph

Tags: gaming peripherals controller

That, friends, is a darn good representation of what a Heckler and Koch MP5 sub-machine gun looks like. And contrary to popular belief, there's no real ammunition in there -- unless you consider the kind required to shoot digital clay pigeons "real munitions." Spotted at a nondescript trade show over in Hong Kong, this here Wii controller actually comes with Wiimote, nunchuck and MotionPlus functionality built right in (wild, right?), so there's no need to slip your own Wii controller in before greasing up your face, jumping in the fatigues and mashing that diminutive power button on your console. Who knows if this thing will actually ship Stateside, but man, can you imagine the line at your local GameStop if it does?

[Thanks, TheLostSwede]
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
Heckler and Koch MP5 sub-machine gun Wiimote controller: 'nuff said originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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BlackBerrys for coppers: UK law enforcement to smarten up in 2010

Posted: October 16th, 2009, 7:01am PDT by Vladislav Savov

Tags: cellphones Bedfordshire

Police men and women of Blighty are about to step into the 21st century, albeit a decade late, with a new weapon in the fight against boredom on the beat. The BBC reports that smartphones will become standard issue throughout the Queen's realm by March 2010, as a result of successful trials carried out in 30 constabularies through this year. Improved "operational efficiency" and reduced bureaucracy are argued as the key benefits, with a solid 30 minutes less time being spent in police stations each day. And we're absolutely positive that extra half hour will go toward increased "visibility in the community" and not checking out friends' Facebook status updates. No, really!

Read -- BBC report
Read -- Bedfordshire case study
Filed under: Cellphones
BlackBerrys for coppers: UK law enforcement to smarten up in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nyko Wii Wands get a dash of color

Posted: October 16th, 2009, 4:36am PDT by Vladislav Savov

Tags: gaming peripherals color

Just as Nintendo finally decides to bring some of that noir goodness over to the US, Nyko pops up with no less than four new colorways for its Wand Wii remote. We're no anthropologists here, but we reckon one of these new options will do a lot better in sales than the other three. All the same, with Nintendo furnishing Japan with blue and pink Wiimotes, Nyko has played it safe and followed suit. These should be hitting Walmart right about now with an MSRP of $29.99, so look out for them at your next government-sponsored Wii bowl-a-thon.

Gallery: Nyko Wii Wands get a dash of color
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
Nyko Wii Wands get a dash of color originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 06:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Robotic 'mood tail' is everything you hope it to be, and more

Posted: October 15th, 2009, 4:43pm PDT by Donald Melanson

Tags: gadgets wearables arduino

Why hang on to your emotions when you can wag them proudly with a robotic mood tail? Sure, you may never have asked that question yourself, but intrepid DIYer Wei-Chieh Tseng seemingly has, and he's done something about it. Apparently, the tail makes use of the ever dependable Arduino and an RFID reader to detect different emotion cards that set off varying degrees of tail-wagging, or you can simply control the tail yourself using a Wii nunchuck -- because, why not? Did we mention there's a video? Check it out after the break.
Continue reading Robotic 'mood tail' is everything you hope it to be, and more
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wearables
Robotic 'mood tail' is everything you hope it to be, and more originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Black Wii Remote, MotionPlus add-on and Nunchuck arrive on November 16th

Posted: October 14th, 2009, 7:58am PDT by Paul Miller

Tags: gaming peripherals black

We knew they were coming for the holidays, and now Nintendo's black Wii gear has some prices and a November 16th release date. The black Wii Remote comes bundled with a MotionPlus add-on -- obviously Nintendo doesn't want to risk too many more people picking up a controller without one -- and retails for $50, while the black Nunchuck (shown after the break) is all by its lonesome for $20. Unfortunately, still no word of a black Wii in the US to hang out with these finely tinted accessories.
Continue reading Black Wii Remote, MotionPlus add-on and Nunchuck arrive on November 16th
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
Black Wii Remote, MotionPlus add-on and Nunchuck arrive on November 16th originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Bona fide exercise bike abuses Wiimote accessory license... badly

Posted: October 14th, 2009, 5:40am PDT by Darren Murph

Tags: gaming peripherals accessory

See that up there? That's an exercise bike. And a Wii. Amazingly enough, there's a strong correlation between the two, and unless the entire world is being pranked here, BigBen interactive is actually looking to ship a "full-size" Wiimote-compatible fitness machine with its next game. We can't even fathom how quickly this thing is bound to fall apart (or how absurdly expensive it'll be if there's even a smidgen of quality), but we're more than anxious to learn of an MSRP. Now, if only Ford would pump out a Wiimote-friendly Focus to use in the next installment of Mario Kart, we'd be set.

[Via Joystiq]
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
Bona fide exercise bike abuses Wiimote accessory license... badly originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Mizzou's nuclear battery to power things smaller than your brain can imagine

Posted: October 10th, 2009, 9:52am PDT by Darren Murph

Tags: peripherals battery

Oh yeah, everyone loves the extended battery, but are we really kosher with the added bulge? A team of boffins at the University of Missouri certainly aren't, as they've spent the last good while of their lives researching and developing a new nuclear battery that could be used to power devices much smaller than, well, most anything. The radioisotope cell, as it's called, can reportedly "provide power density that is six orders of magnitude higher than chemical batteries," and while some may question the safety of this potentially volatile device, the liquid semiconductor (used instead of a solid semiconductor) should help ease concerns. The current iteration of the device is about the size of a penny, and it's intended to power a variety of MEMS systems. Now, if only these guys could find a way to make a standard AA last longer than a week in our Wiimote, we'd be pleased as punch.

[Via BBC, thanks Jim]
Filed under: Peripherals
Mizzou's nuclear battery to power things smaller than your brain can imagine originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Wii balance board could be used in fruitless airport security effort

Posted: October 10th, 2009, 8:02am PDT by Darren Murph

Tags: gadgets peripherals airport

You know that sweeping feeling of guilt that comes over you every time you're pulled over as part of a "standard traffic stop?" Yeah, those natural emotions are about to make you look incredibly suspicious on the way to your next flight -- or it will if the FAST project is ever turned into reality. The Homeland Security-funded Future Attribute Screening Technology effort, which has already ate away at $20 million in taxpayer dollars, essentially hopes to let flyers keep all of their clothes on while forcing them to stand on a Wii balance board (or similar) and have an array of sensors watch their every reaction to a battery of questions. The problem? Every innocent person on the planet's going to start sweating and shaking just being in that kind of scenario, and only the trained terrorists of the world are apt to be able to put truth aside and fake the machine into thinking everything is cool. Oh sure, we're being a little dramatic here, but seriously -- maybe the TSA should just require a complete life history as a prerequisite to boarding.

[Via Popular Science]
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Peripherals
Wii balance board could be used in fruitless airport security effort originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nintendo quietly reveals pink and blue Wiimotes for Japanese market

Posted: October 8th, 2009, 9:38pm PDT by Darren Murph

Tags: gaming peripherals blue

Rumors of a rainbow-splashed Wii and Wiimote lineup have been running for just about ever now, and while we've seen Nintendo cave and offer a black Wii, blue Wiimote and black Wiimote in select locales, the company has yet to push colors in a big way as it has on the DS lineup. Hopefully, all that's gearing up to change. At a small, quaint retailer event over in Japan, the Big N revealed that a blue and pink Wiimote would hit the Land of The Rising Sun on December 3rd, though pricing on the new hues remains undisclosed. In related news, a few new Japan-only Wii console / game bundles were also made public, and while the Samurai Warriors 3 package will indeed include a glossy black Wii, you'll need a round-trip ticket to Akihabara in order to claim one as your own. For shame.

[Via Joystiq]
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
Nintendo quietly reveals pink and blue Wiimotes for Japanese market originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Wii Sports Resort bundle doubles-down with a MotionPlus pair: $60 on October 12

Posted: September 25th, 2009, 4:23am PDT by Thomas Ricker

Tags: gaming bundle

The Tokyo Game Show may be winding down but a few bits of information are still trickling out. Like this new limited edition Wii Sport Resort bundle with a pair of MotionPlus accessories. The bundle lands on October 12th for a penny shy of $60 -- saving you $10 if you bought the standard $50 Sport Resort with MotionPlus plus a second $20 MotionPlus separately. Hoozah?
Filed under: Gaming
Wii Sports Resort bundle doubles-down with a MotionPlus pair: $60 on October 12 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Wii price drop confirmed: $199 starting this weekend

Posted: September 22nd, 2009, 9:20pm PDT by Darren Murph

Tags: best buy

The rumors were true, and Nintendo's knight in shining armor is finally about to see its first-ever price drop. For nearly three years now, the console has sold briskly at $249.99, but beginning on September 27th at Best Buy (and everywhere else, naturally), the happy-go-lucky machine will be offered for just $199.99. Interestingly, it appears that suits at BB expect Nintendo to make an official announcement on the drop this Friday, yet retail stores won't begin selling at the discounted rate until Sunday. Something tells us that won't go over well, but we guess we've but a few days left 'til we find out exactly how the Big N plans to play this.

[Thanks, Anonymous]
Wii price drop confirmed: $199 starting this weekend originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nintendo introduces some color to European DSi options

Posted: September 22nd, 2009, 8:50am PDT by Vladislav Savov

Tags: gaming handhelds blue

Hey Europe, Nintendo has stopped neglecting you! After Japan had color options before anyone else even had the DSi, the USA got in on the fun with extra pink and white, and Europe was left wearing the black and white dunce cap. That monochromatic dystopia is about to be vanquished on October 23, however, when Nintendo is set to offer the handsome red, blue and turquoise options you see above all over the good lands of the Old World. Facebook photo uploading will come preloaded, as well as the Flipnote Studio app for creating multimedia missives. You can see a couple more shots after the break.
Continue reading Nintendo introduces some color to European DSi options
Filed under: Gaming, Handhelds
Nintendo introduces some color to European DSi options originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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