Gadget Access

Posted Feb 20th 2008 2:03PM by Ryan Block
Filed under: Gaming, Portable Audio, Portable Video
Looks like games are coming for the Zune after all! Microsoft just announed XNA Studio developers will be able to use the Zune as a multiplayer wireless mobile gaming platform. Details are sparse at this point, but it looks like it’s going to be second gen Zunes only, since it was specifically mentioned that it’d take advantage of the touchpad controls. We’ll let you know more as we get it.

Gallery: Microsoft announces games for Zune via XNA Studio

Posted Feb 20th 2008 2:02PM by Nilay Patel
Filed under: cellphones
iphone cloners: meet your new king. We’re not kidding when we say we even tried fake names and disguises at CES to score an early picture of the DaXian X999 you see here, only to be shot down by the eagle-eyed vendors in the International Pavilion — but it’s out now, baby, and never has KIRFdom been so thoroughly rocked. Not only does the hardware ape the iPhone — 3.2-inch single-touch QVGA screen, dual 2MP cameras, motion and proximity sensors — the UI is actually a TouchFLO clone running on what is surely an unlicensed copy of Windows Mobile 6.0. That’s a hat trick, people — and to top it all off, the list price is a staggering $369. It’s like we don’t even have to make the jokes — except to say that if your love / hate relationship with Apple compels you to buy this thing, you should probably seek therapy. Random dramatic video of the UI in action after the break.

[Via thegadgetsite]

Sony has announced two new additions to the A820 Walkman series. The new additions are the NW-A828 which has 8GB of storage and the NW-A829 which offers 16GB of storage. Both models are fairly standard models and have a 2.4-inch display and built-in noise cancellation. A nice feature for both models is the built-in Bluetooth which offers support for wireless headphones.

The A828 and A829 will be available in Japan beginning March 20, as of now a US release date has not been announced. The A828 8GB model will retail for around $260 and the A829 16GB is expected to be around $350.

Via [CrunchGear]

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Sony has always been the trendsetter with personal audio devices. If your remember back to the 80’s, then you will remember they pioneered the first portable cassette Walkman. Now, their latest range, the NW-E series looks to be healthy competition for the ipod shuffle and Creative Zen Stone Plus. It comes in a range of colors, dare I say more appealing than the Shuffle, and in 1GB, 2GB and 4GB models.

It also has more features than the Shuffle, ATRAC/MP3/WMA/AAC files are all compatible and it has a built-in FM radio tuner. It looks to be a hip device, but the price tag of around $149 (4GB) may deter some.

Via [Engadget]

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Posted Feb 20th 2008 12:42PM by Darren Murph
Filed under: cellphones
After yesterday’s barrage of unlimited calling plans left us all terribly underwhelmed, it seems as if Sprint is hoping to emerge as the knight in shining armor by undercutting the oh-so-popular $99 price point. According to unspecified “analysts,” the carrier is gearing up to “offer flat-rate calling plans at up to a 40-percent discount to its rivals,” meaning that yappers could talk ’til their batteries died (and then some) for around $60 a month. Of course, Sprint has yet to confirm nor deny the reports, but we’re all for a price war in the cellular space, regardless.

Fans of Samsung, hear ye, hear ye! There is a new handset from the Korean phone manufacturer in the form of the SCH-u550, and this model is now available from Verizon Wireless. This clamshell device is meant for the fashion conscious as it sports a trend-setting brown finish that is sure to get tongues wagging (unless you hang out with a snooty crowd whose cell phones are all Vertus) without sacrificing on functionality. Before we get to the details after the jump, interested parties will be able to pick up the SCH-u550 online or via any of the 2,400 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores throughout the country.

What are some of the features you can find in the SCH-u550? For starters, there is the 1.3 megapixel camera which is the bare minimum these days where cell phone cameras are concerned, but this one is special since it comes with a Night Shot mode that makes it a snap (no pun intended) to capture images in darker environments. Even so, don’t expect super clear images, but the performance ought to be much better than the average cell phone camera. In addition to capturing still images, this nifty little camera also features digital zoom to get up close and personal and a camcorder ability for you to record all those sex scandals that you’ve been reading about in the papers, although you won’t be shooting any celebrities anytime soon being the neighborhood voyeur.

As usual, one can expect the slew of services offered by Verizon with the Samsung SCH-u550 such as :-

• Get It Now capable - download games, ringtones, wallpapers,location based services, and more
• VZ Navigator - visual and audible directions to a destination, locate businesses and other places in an area, get a map of a location, bookmark favorites and recent searches, and even share locations with others
• Mobile Web 2.0 - customizable, enhanced wireless access to the latest in news, sports, weather, and more
• Text, picture and video messaging
• Instant Messaging using AIM, MSN, Yahoo!
• Expandable memory with microSD(TM) memory card slot
• Dimensions: 3.77″ x 1.93″ x .64″; 3.35 ounces with standard battery
• Advanced Speech Recognition
• Speakerphone
• Personal organizer with Calendar, Calculator, Notepad, Alarm Clock, World Time, and Stop Watch
• Bilingual user interface: English and Spanish
• TTY/TTD-capable
• Hearing Aid Compatibility rating: M4/T4

Press Release

In a move that truly does not come as much of a surprise, Universal has followed in the path of Toshiba and announced they plan to drop HD DVD and pick up Blu-ray as their next generation format of choice.

“The path for widespread adoption of the next-generation platform has finally become clear,” stated Craig Kornblau, President, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures Digital Platforms.

No word on when we will begin to see the Universal Blu-ray discs to hit the store shelves. Currently it seems hd dvd is all but a format of the past, Paramount is the sole remaining studio without a Blu-ray announcement, which is rumored to be coming before the week is over.

Read [Hollywood in HiDef]

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I remember back in the heydays where Pokemon really took off, and there were a slew of other “monster” franchises that made an appearance as well. Digimon was one of them which actually hung around long enough to become a respectable brand of its own while picking up a fair bit of followers in the process, although I never really found that “brand” of monsters appealing. Many years later, it looks as though Digimon is here to stay with Bandai America releasing a whole new line of action figures and role-play toys that target boys in the age group of 4 to 8. You will also be able to catch hold of popular toys such as the new Digivice Data Link and DNA metal chip-laced action figures.

Colleen Sherfey, senior director of marketing, Bandai America claims that “the new Digimon series introduced a fresh crop of fans to the action-oriented property and helped make it a hit. The collectibility of the action figures, as well as the action from the electronic Digivice, have proven to be a successful combination.”

The Digivice Data Link has just gone back to the drawing board, where it has been redesigned and fashioned after the similar device that Marcus used in the series. For those who are not in the know, the Digivice Data Link is actually “a dynamic, action-packed electronic role-play toy that allows young boys to feed and train their own digital monsters”. You get some pretty interesting features such as infrared technology that enables a couple of two Digimon trainers to battle one another and a scanner function that collects DNA skills from an included DNA metal chip to strengthen characters. This scanner is also there to help you unlock special, secret items and DNA powers for your digital monster.

Press Release

With everyone running from hd dvd and pledging their support to Blu-ray it almost seems strange to see any company still offering any support for HD DVD. LG has made a statement letting us all know they have not given up just yet;

“LG believes that at this present moment in time, it is necessary to provide a player which supports both formats and therefore create simplicity and convenience for the existing HD DVD consumer.”

“Overall LG is still excited about the future of this market; LG has always set out to lead high definition players and will continue to do so with more technology evolutions and hybrids which will launch in due course.”

While its nice to see that the current owners of HD DVD movies will not be left out in the cold, it seems like a market that will not be able to continue for that long. LG is aiming to offer dual-format players, which at some time will become outdated. Especially considering the studios are all switching over to Blu-ray and at some point in the future new movies will no longer be available on HD DVD.

Via [I4U News]

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Posted Feb 20th 2008 7:21AM by Thomas Ricker
Filed under: Misc. gadgets, Gaming
If you haven’t seen it by now, behold, the Gears of War, Nerf Lancer modification. Forsaken_angel24’s genius is rooted in the combination of a regular Nerf Longshot and toy chainsaw. Neither of which would cause the average Wal-mart parent cause for concern. Combined, they take on the form of this foreboding assault rifle with working chainsaw bayonet, LED lighting and sound effects… which shoots squishy balls at little girls. Full instructions for modders are posted over at the Nerfhaven forums. We’ve added a video after the break — not so much a how-to as a loving tribute to man’s god-given right to war.

[Via Hack n Mod, thanks Nick L.]