Archive for June 1st, 2009

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/apple/New_iPhones_approved_in_capacities_from_4GB_up_to_32GB’; 4GB to 32GB — that’s one hell of a range, but we’re hearing from a trusted source that new iPhones in 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB capacities just garnered approval by the PCS Type Review Certification Board, the standards body responsible for certificating handsets for use with some carriers (AT&T, for instance). If true, this would lend credence to the belief that Apple will be introducing at least two new models this summer — ostensibly at WWDC, until we’re told otherwise — because it seems unlikely that the company would be looking to wrap high-end hardware around ridiculously light storage or vice versa. If this means AT&T’s going to be able to sell sub-$100 iPhones, it reinforces a precedent set by devices like the E71x that consumers can (and should) expect hot smartphone hardware for shockingly little cash. We’ll drink to that.

Filed under: Cellphones, Handhelds

New iPhones approved in capacities from 4GB up to 32GB? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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digg_url =’http://digg.com/xbox/Xbox_360_getting_full_retail_games_delivered_on_demand’; Microsoft’s E3 keynote was so jam-packed the company decided to wait until afterwards to announce what might be the biggest new feature of them all: on-demand access to full retail games. The service will launch in August with 30 titles to start, and new games will be added weekly, with pricing to match retail. The best part? Purchases can be made directly with a credit card, no pesky Xbox points required. More pics of the system after the break.

Update: Don’t get your hopes up, MS tells us that the point system isn’t going anywhere, it’s just being supplemented with credit card purchases. Also, game rentals aren’t happening yet, but they said it “sounds great for the future.”

Continue reading Xbox 360 getting full retail games delivered on demand

Filed under: Gaming

Xbox 360 getting full retail games delivered on demand originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/microsoft/Microsoft_Makes_you_the_controller’; Yes, it’s real. Now you’ll be able to change a tire… virtually. At E3 today, Microsoft finally took the wraps off the that rumored motion controller we’d been hearing about. Apparently the small, black device — codenamed “Natal” — will allow for an astoundingly wide range of actions by utilizing a group of sensors (the box itself sits beneath your TV), and the accessory will be capable of juggling multiple users during a single session. The demo Microsoft showed off included a skateboarding game (replete with a young man “air” ollie-ing), and a family playing a racing game (the dad was changing a tire, the daughter driving).

The add-on will offer features such as auto sign-in for players to Xbox Live (based on complex facial recognition), and sports extremely detailed body tracking which will be able to follow the individual movements of separate limbs. During the press event, the company demoed a painting app, which lets you use your entire body to handle virtual painting supplies, allowing you to do things like throw buckets of paint onto a canvas. Another title was shown off which featured a woman interacting with a young boy on the screen — one of the company’s creepier demos in recent memory. Unfortunately for us, Microsoft says the device won’t be released during 2009. We’re working on snagging some face time (literally!) with a demo unit, so stay tuned… E3 is off to a wild start!

Update: Video added after the break!

Continue reading Microsoft announces “Project Natal” motion controller for Xbox 360!

Filed under: Gaming

Microsoft announces “Project Natal” motion controller for Xbox 360! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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digg_url =’http://digg.com/xbox/Xbox_Live_gets_TV_streaming_Netflix_browsing_HD_vid_store’; Microsoft is busy announcing a slew of upgrades to Xbox Live, and the biggest news so far is relaunch of the video service, now Zune-branded with 1080p instant-on streaming content in 18 countries. XBL is also now integrated with Facebook — your Facebook account can be linked to your Gamertag, and games will support Facebook Connect for sharing content online. That’s pretty huge — but if that wasn’t enough, you’re also getting Twitter and Last.fm in the deal. Want more? Netflix users will now be able to browse the entire catalog instead of simply loading their queue, and Microsoft has also gotten its Party Watch system in order, so you’ll be able to heckle videos with your online friends. Last but not least, there’s now live TV streaming for UK and Ireland gamers, who’ll get Premier League soccer live from Sky. All in all, a solid set of updates for XBL — but we’ll wait and see how that “1080p” video looks before we pronounce Blu-ray dead. PR blurb after the break.

Continue reading Xbox Live gets 1080p Zune video store, Netflix browsing, Twitter and Facebook integration

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Xbox Live gets 1080p Zune video store, Netflix browsing, Twitter and Facebook integration originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Today at E3 some seriously awesome Beatles Rock Band awesomeness was unloaded upon the world. In addition to getting a look at the full band set-up, confirming that you will, in fact be able to perform multiple vocals (read: harmonies), Harmonix also showed off the general in-game madness we can expect. We’re filled with glee to see that no corners were cut here, and we agree with Ringo’s estimation: the game is good. The Beatles: Rock Band will be released simultaneously for XBox 360, PS3 and Wii in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other territories. Check out the totally rad trailer, our first shot of the Ludwig drums and another screenshot after the break and in the gallery below.

Gallery: Beatles Rock Band trailer, screenshots, Ludwig drums unveiled at E3

Continue reading Video: Beatles Rock Band trailer, screenshots, Ludwig drums unveiled at E3

Filed under: Gaming

Video: Beatles Rock Band trailer, screenshots, Ludwig drums unveiled at E3 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve teamed up with Joystiq for live coverage of E3, and Microsoft’s keynote is kicking things off. The event is scheduled to start at around 1:25PM ET / 10:25 PT.

9:48AM PT: We’re lined up outside USC’s Galen Center, mingling with the rest of the riff-raff (read: media), being herded through a labyrinth of stanchions and fences. Hey, remember that “very special addition“? A PR person just walked into the crowd and called for anyone from “Apple, MTV, or EMI?” So, a Beatles appearance then?

Continue reading Engadget & Joystiq live from Microsoft’s E3 2009 keynote

Filed under: Gaming

Engadget & Joystiq live from Microsoft’s E3 2009 keynote originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Say it ain’t so! Despite AMD‘s past of announcing more delays than actual shipping products, the outfit has managed to deliver its six-core ‘Istanbul’ Opteron CPU five months ahead of schedule. Announced today in a company press event, the new chip is shipping today with support for two-, four- and eight-socket servers. If all goes well, they’ll be available to order from the likes of Cray, HP, Dell, IBM and Sun later this month, with HE, SE and EE versions of the six-core Opteron planned for the second half of this year. As for performance, users can expect up to 34 percent more performance-per-watt over the previous generation quad-core processors in the same platform, though we wouldn’t expect to see these stray too far from traditional server boxes.

Filed under: Desktops

AMD ships six-core ‘Istanbul’ Opteron CPU ahead of schedule originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As General Motors finally caved this morning, waved the white flag and filed for bankruptcy, those following electric cars immediately wondered what this all would mean for the long-awaited Volt. For years now, GM has steadfastly affirmed that it was moving forward with production regardless of what else was going on within the company and the economy at large. According to Technology Review, a GM spokesperson confirmed again this morning that “the filing will have no impact on the company’s plans to start selling the Volt at the end of next year.” That said, we have to wonder how much such a statement really means; reports have stated that the US government may up holding as much as 60 percent of the company, and if the primary goal is to bring the outfit back to profitability as soon as possible, Obama and Company may not feel that pouring even more into the high-priced Volt is a good idea. In related news, we hear Tesla is still taking orders…

Update: GM has pushed out an official statement that (in a few words) also suggests that the Volt is still on track.

Filed under: Transportation

GM says bankruptcy won’t affect the Volt, but how much say does it have? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There are apparently an awful, awful lot of people out there with shoe boxes full of spare SATA drives. Somebody is buying all these new HDD docks, and while most surpass the previous editions by adding support for another obscure format of memory card, Brando’s latest seems like an actually useful update, adding HDMI and component ports through which it can output video at either 1080i or the always popular 576p. Standard resolutions may not be its strong point, and sadly there’s no mention of which video codecs it can unravel, but it does at least support the major flavors of audio files (MP3, WMA, AAC, etc.) and of course will read memory cards and thumb drives to boot. No, a bare drive may not look particularly appealing while rattling away on your entertainment center, and at $69 you’re not far from the price of a Windows Media extender or the like, but don’t let such practical concerns dissuade you from adding this unique focal point to your home theater.

Filed under: Storage

Brando’s latest HDD dock adds HDMI into the mix originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tariq Krim’s Jolicloud operating system just got a full video walkthrough — and while it ain’t Citizen Kane, it does prove itself to be a wholesome, rather light-hearted affair that your whole family will love. Installed on a Samsung NC10 netbook, the cloud OS manages to combine Linux and social networking into a flavorful melange. Among the “social” aspects this bad boy is integrated user updates, and the ability to look for other Jolicloud users who might be online at the same time you are. If you’re addicted to the Facebook and the Twitter, or if you like the idea of having your friends and enemies alerted whenever you log onto your ultraportable, peep the video below. The private alpha should begin making the rounds this June.

Continue reading Jolicloud OS alpha release struts its stuff… on video!

Filed under: Laptops

Jolicloud OS alpha release struts its stuff… on video! originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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