PSP remove UMD in the next generation ?

Sony PSP marketing director John Koller has responded to the widespread rumors that a PSP 2 is in the works that would strip out the UMD drive and add dual analog pads.

Koller would not deny or confirm the rumors but did hint that digital downloads were becoming very important and that UMD might be removed.

"[I] can’t comment either way, but I will reiterate that the digital [download] component is very important to us," Koller says. "We’ve been making a concerted effort to really over-emphasize the ability for publishers to publish on the [PlayStation Network]. Fits our view of the world. Eventually the digital distribution arm will have some leverage. I think consumers right now are choosing some tangible benefits of the disc. But we saw how that movie ended with music. And we know there are certainly some benefits to promoting that part of it now."

There have been no new hardware kits sent to developers, noted Koller.

BlackBerry Bullet Shoot Apple

Apple appears in the famous CNN and "The New York Times" website embedded advertising, Their 17-inch MacBook Pro notebooks, which cost as much as 2800 was dubbed the world's most green notebook name .

RIM on the same day released a controversial advertisement, which was somewhat similar to the children step on Coca-Cola to buy Pepsi-Cola ad: a bullet went through the apple, one pulling the lens, the original is a BlackBerry, see video:

MacBook exploded in the office

A MacBook exploded in a Market Company office, London this morning. There is no doubt that culprit is the Built-in battry.

Steven, the employee still in shock after the explosion, she describes the explosion, the computer smoke at first, when she stepped forward to pick it up for inspection, the battery exploded, flames as high as 6 feet, and later also took place repeated explosion.





















via blog.digitalmediaonlineinc

PS3 price cut imminent?

Sony fanatics may be preoccupied with chatter about a slick new PSP 4000, but it's the PS3 that's snatching headlines today, with word growing that a price cut is imminent.

The chaps at gamesindustry.biz have picked up on chatter from analyst Mark Hickey, who says "recent channel checks" indicate Sony is planning to slash $100 off the price of the hub in the US. That could translate to a £50 drop here in the UK.

Sony is still struggling to match the staying power of the Xbox 360 and the constant dominance of the Wii at the top of the charts. A price cut could help shift units, but with the Big S losing cash on every hub already, surely it's a dangerous move for a company already in financial peril.


via stuff

Watch MKV Video Files in Windows Media Center

In case you're not familiar with it, MKV is a video-file format like Divx and MPEG-4. In fact, it's a format you're likely to encounter if you routinely download videos via BitTorrent.

You'd think that installing the right codec would enable MKV playback in Media Center, but, alas, it doesn't. Fortunately, there is way to enjoy your MKV videos from the comfort of your couch. Here's how. (Note: I tested this on a 32-bit Vista system. Your mileage may vary.)

Download and install the Combined Community Codec Pack (CCCP), then reboot your system.

Start Notepad, then copy and paste the following lines:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.mkv]

"PerceivedType"='video'

"Content Type"='video/mkv'

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Multimedia\WMPlayer\Extensions\.mkv]

"Runtime"=dword:00000007

"Permissions"=dword:0000000f

"UserApprovedOwning"='yes'

Save the file as mkv.reg.

Double-click the file to add the code to your Registry.

Reboot your system, then fire up Windows Media Center.

Presto: Your MKV files should appear in your video library (provided you've added the appropriate folder containing your files, of course), and they should play just fine.

Gameloft shows multiplayer Let’s Golf for iPhone, iPod touch

Gameloft has released details on its upcoming Let’s Golf game for the iPhone and iPod touch, which appears set to become the most thoroughly developed golf title yet for the platform. Let’s Golf features cartoonish 3D graphics, four customizable 3D characters, and arcade-style game play with 63 different holes set across four different landscapes, including Fiji Beach, American Mountains, English Countryside, and Scotland Lochs. In addition, the game will offer two control schemes—one for more casual players that uses a simple gauge, and a more advanced mode that provides better accuracy. Notably, Let’s Golf will also include a multiplayer mode that allows two users to play over a local Wi-Fi or online connection. The title is expected to hit the App Store next week and will sell for $6.

PSP-4000 to Have Sliding Screen?

Excited about the new PSP? Well too bad, we're going to talk about it anyway. The fairly popular Sony handheld device has undergone some helpful but rather basic upgrades since the original model made its debut, but sources claim that the upcoming PSP-4000 will undergo a large redesign. And no, the new edition will not carry a PSP 2 title, or so the sources claim.



According to gaming blog VG247, the PSP-4000 will see a "complete aesthetic overhaul" for the handheld, based on existing PSP tech. Details are still on the shy side, but what they do know is that the revamped PSP will include a sliding front screen, and is said to closely resemble the fan-made image shown here, which has been making its way around the Internet. The PSP-4000 had a rumored release date for sometime in 2009, and according to VG247's source, that schedule remains accurate.

Think the sliding front screen looks cool? What other features would you like to see on a new PSP model? Post your ideas and comments below.



via gear