About Electronics

DotGizmo: Global gaming chief Abizar Vakharia from Dell has said that Dell could possibly be looking towards a gaming handheld in the future, although there are no concrete plans to do so yet.

This means even more competition on the handheld front, and would Dell opt for the UMPC (Ultra-Mobile PC) route to keep gamers hooked, or will they go to the extreme portable market which currently involves a two-horse race?

Chances are the final product will be the former, as it would make more sense for Dell to use its close ties with Intel and Microsoft as leverage instead of working on a portable gaming device from ground up to compete with the Nintendo DS Lite and Sony PSP.

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T3: Nokia’s been showing off an updated version of its game-playing phone behind closed doors. The original N-Gage may have fallen by the handheld gaming wayside, but Nokia is hard at work on a powerful new edition.
According to a report on PocketGamer, the platform was shown off to US game developers and publishers last week at a behind-closed-doors preview event, presumably with the intention of convincing the industry to start making games for it. According to reports, the companies included top names like EA, Sega, THQ, Capcom and Sony Online Entertainment, which suggests that some high profile franchises could be on their way to the platform – and that’s a positive sign for Nokia.

The N-Gage platform seems likely to be a feature of Nokia’s forthcoming N95 super-phone, and then on later N-series models. Due to its rotating screen and some nifty slide-out buttons, the N95 can be configured to sit in the hand much like a PSP. The phone launches in March, but we’re expecting to hear more info on N-Gage at the 3GSM mobile phone expo in mid-February. Stay tuned for the full lowdown.

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Financial Times: Sony is to gatecrash the fledgling market in handheld devices to play downloaded video content early next year when it launches a service for the PlayStation Portable.

The decision, which could threaten Apple Computer’s grip on the video download market, will allow PSP owners to download a film from the internet to a PC and then to transfer a single, legal version of the film to a Sony device.

Sony, which has sold more than 20m PSPs worldwide, expects to launch the service in the first quarter of 2007 after tying up deals with online video providers.

Crucially for Sony, the service will not require the launch of a new PSP or for consumers to buy new hardware.
(more…)

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Navigadget: We’ve talked the Sony PSP GPS a few times before. It looks like the little gadget (45mm x 41mm x 17mm, 16 grams) that sits right on top of your Sony PSP to give you GPS capabilities is available for consumers for about €45. So far there are a couple of games that can utilize the device, however we’re more interested in the Navigation Soft by Edia.

This standard car-navigation software features all the roadmaps in Japan. Aside from searching for car and walking routes, the software can also be used as a directory to search for nearby shops and other facilities. The maps and database can be updated using the PSP’s network capabilities.

We can’t wait for TomTom to release their nav software for the PSP. We’ll keep you updated on when this add-on will come to US or Europe.

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Newlaunches: Sony Japan has released firmware ver 3.0 for the PSP which includes quite a few additions like the Auto UMD setting which prevents a game from loading when the UMD is inserted. In addition to this it has the Camera function which allows to use the optional add on camera to be released later. However the main addition is the tight integration with the PS3 which allows you to view images and play music stored on the PS3 when connected via Wi-Fi. You can also use the PSP as a remote control for the PS3 (Remote Play).

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T3: It’s dabbled with memory stick movies, and realises there’s a problem with portable films, but Sony says it’s standing by the UMD.
That’s according to Sony’s UK chief, Ray Maguire. He says the troubled disks are a good way of shoehorning content into the PSP, and reckons Sony’s “pretty pleased with UMD” so far.

Maguire admitted that UMDs have seen less success as a movie medium than they have with games, but says they are still a strong carrier for short flicks.

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You can’t use it to do the laundry. It’s of no use when having to pick lottery numbers. But the PlayStation Portable does have some extra features. For starters, it can prevent you from making a complete fool of yourself in a dark movie theatre. A summary for absolute beginners.

And for all you pros out there, we’ve found an excellent article on the PS3 at wired.com

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Stuff: Ahead of the Tokyo Game Show in September, news has been leaked of Sony’s plans to release GPS receiver and camera accessories for their PSPs.

The add-on GPS receiver will be most likely designed for car use, but there would be no reason why you wouldn’t be able to use it on foot as well.

Here’s an unofficial first look:

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Sony announced some future plans for the PlayStation Portable (PSP), at Comic-Con, a comic book event in San Diego, USA.
* Upgraded PSPs will work as a remote for the upcoming PS3 (thus following Nintendo who did the same with Game Boy Advance and GameCube)
* The newest PSPs will support RSS feeds for the built-in web browser
* Sony is also looking at ways to bring downloadable movies to PSP owners, which might be the final blow for UMD.

(source: tweakers.net)

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So far, Sony’s PlayStation 2 was the undisputed market leader in the video game console business. Microsofts Xbox and the GameCube by Nintendo didn’t come even close.

According to a report by DFC Intelligence however, it’s red alert for Sony and its upcoming console. The PlayStation 3 promises to be rather costly for young gamers. The PS3 would sell at 499 euro, whereas the Xbox 360 for instance already sells at 299 euro.

Sony on the other hand claims the price tage is justified, since the PS3 is equipped with a Blu-ray drive. In November 2006 we’ll know who’s right…

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