Courtesy of T3

In2Games’ reveal revolutionary motion-sensing games controller. Sound familiar?

 

The Wii may have been the least powerful of all the next gen consoles, but its cool controls made it a winner.

 

Now British developer In2Games has evened things up, with its new motion-sensing controller: the Gametrak Freedom.

 

Apparently even more sophisticated than the Wii-mote, In2Games describes its new controller as “the most advanced motion gaming system ever created.” The Freedom takes motion sensing one step further, as it uses new advanced technology to detect its exact location in 3D space.

 

So no sitting down while playing Will Sports for you, sir.

 

The first title to utilise the Freedom is a collection of mini-games known as Squeezeballs, but expect more exciting games to surface on a still unconfirmed next generation console in not too distant future. Xbox 360 or PS3? Place your bets.

 

Nintendo should be worried. But then with mind-controlled gaming not far off, maybe not.

Courtesy of T3 Magazine

Blackberry to Bold-ly go where no smart phone has ever gone before? Watch T3’s Kat fail miserably to contain her excitement in our video report.

 

With the iPhone attempting a hostile takeover of the Blackberry’s traditional business market, RIM will hit back this autumn with the hotly-anticipated Bold 9000.

 

This time it has come prepared. Rocking some hardcore 3G internet, a brand new super-swish operating system - a relative first for a Blackberry - and a larger 480×320-res screen.

 

Like the iPhone 3G, there’s only a 2MP camera, but at least it has video capabilities, unlike it’s main rival. GPS mapping is also present.

 

Check out our video report to see an extremely excited T3.com reporter adding the Bold to her shopping list.

 

Kat, and the rest of you eager beavers will be able to pick it up around September time, but this phone has been delayed more times than a flight from Terminal 5 so don’t be surprised if it’s pushed back again

 

We’ll have a full review up on the site in the near future.

Courtesy of BBC

Even by conservative estimates Microsoft has invested many billions of dollars in its Xbox project, in an effort to be the market leader in an industry worth more than $30bn (£15bn) annually.

After a practice run with its first console, Microsoft was first to market with the Xbox 360 and has established itself as the global sales leader.

But the lead may be short-lived; Nintendo is expected to overtake the Seattle-based giant as the sales leader in the current generation of games consoles within weeks.

Its Wii machine has become a social phenomenon, broadening the reach of gaming to new audiences and causing Nintendo supply problems. There are reports, not denied by the company, that it will take another year before the firm can ramp up production to meet demand.

“It’s not like switching on a tap,” according David Yarnton, Nintendo UK’s general manager, who said the firm was working hard to ensure there was enough supply this Christmas.

He added: “The demand has outstripped what we could have ever imagined for it; it’s unprecedented.”

Production issues aside, Nintendo has transformed its status as a key player in the industry to leader in just 12 months, while Sony has struggled with its PlayStation 3 and Microsoft continues to throw money at the Xbox.

GLOBAL CONSOLE SALES* Nintendo Wii 9.27m Microsoft Xbox 360 10m Sony PlayStation 3 4.5m *Based on manufacturer’s figures

Almost 10 million Wii consoles have been sold since it went on sale at the end of last year and it is poised to overtake global sales of the Xbox 360 within weeks. Perhaps more crucially, it will reach the 10m mark in half the time it took Microsoft.

In Europe, the Wii is outselling the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 by three to one and unlike its rivals the machine is earning money for the company every time one is sold.

Even at the height of summer, almost 90,000 Wiis a week were being sold across Europe.

 

Last generation

So where did it all go right for Nintendo?

Mr Yarnton said: “Some of our success started a bit further back. The success we are enjoying now has been in the making for quite some time.”

Nintendo’s plans began with the last generation of consoles: the GameCube was the firm’s rival to the PlayStation 2 juggernaut and new pretender, the Xbox.

But the machine struggled in the US and the UK and came a distant second to Sony in many other countries.

The Wii has made gaming more of an activity and less passive

The firm realised that the five-year cycle of ever more powerful and multimedia console launches that the industry had locked itself into was not helping grow the games industry as a whole.

“The games market has been either stagnating or declining,” said Mr Yarnton. “We wanted to bring old gamers back to playing and appeal to people who wanted to enrich their lives through games like Wii Sports and Brain Training.

“We didn’t want people to feel as though they had to hide the fact they like playing games.”

Three years ago Nintendo began to signal its desire to move away from the traditional battleground of ever better graphics and bigger processors.

At games jamboree E3 in Los Angeles, the president of Nintendo Satoru Iwata warned that unless things changed people “would tire of games”.

‘Beef up’

He said: “Looking at the past 20 years, as long as we could beef up the processing power, as long as we could make computer graphics approach realism, then people were excited about the result.

“Some of the people in the industry still believe we can simply beef up the current technology in order to provide a constant supply of games to people.

“We don’t agree with that.”

The company’s first signal of change was the handheld Nintendo DS, a console that let people touch the screen when playing or control games through voice commands.

Nicole Kidman is the face of Nintendo DS, representing a new breed of gamer

More than 47 million DS consoles have been sold since then and Sony’s efforts in the handheld market, through the PSP, have looked distinctly also ran.

But the radical design of the DS was only a taste of the changes Nintendo planned: a year later it showed off the basic design of the Revolution and hinted that the wireless controllers would be unique.

“It is the game experience that will most separate the Revolution from its competitors,” said Mr Iwata.

For once the hyperbole was right. The Wii, as it was later named, introduced motion sensitive wands instead of traditional controllers and its focus on participation and activity removed many of the barriers to games encountered by would-be players.

 

Sunk billions

Sony has sunk billions into its Cell processor, and Microsoft a similar amount on its entry into the market and push into the online space, while Nintendo has spent less than $5.50 for a sensor which has transformed gaming for many.

At the heart of the Wiimote controller is an accelerometer, made by an American firm, which can detect movement along three axes.

It has helped make gaming a more social and interactive experience and the internet is filled with videos of children, parents and grandparents playing tennis or bowls on the Wii.

In Japan, the TV industry is becoming concerned that it is losing audiences to Wii families.

The worry for Nintendo is that the Wii is becoming something of a party game and that the novelty will soon wear off.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata promised a revolution

In five years time the high definition revolution launched by Sony and Microsoft will be in its stride and the immersive and cinematic experiences offered by PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 could leave the Wii looking a little tired.

The company is also eschewing any sort of drive to make the Wii a multimedia hub - it cannot play DVDs, let alone high definition formats, nor can it stream video or audio from your PC.

‘Creative talent’

Mr Yarnton responded: “We are always looking at innovation and new products. We believe there is a lot of life in it. We haven’t even got out of the launch cycle yet.”

He added: “We are very lucky to have some of the most creative talent in the industry. Good games don’t have to be complicated or with high definition graphics.”

Recently the company has launched a series of accessories for the Wii that build on the innovation of the Wiimote controller, such as an interactive balance board.

Nintendo clearly feel it can still innovate through hardware as well as through software.

And it is keen to stress that if and when it leads the console wars, accusations of arrogance, which have been levelled at Sony, will not be forthcoming.

“If we do introduce people to games who had never even thought of playing, then it’s to the benefit to the industry at large,” said Mr Yarnton.

Remember - you can get a free Wii from GetThings4Free

Courtesy of BBC

Video technology has advanced massively in the last few years and now even TV programmes like Click are able to use relatively small and cheap cameras in the right conditions.

Realistically, if you do want to make TV you will still need a lot of money. But improvements in battery life, video compression and sensor technology mean that consumer camcorders weighing considerably less than a tonne are now taking very decent pictures.

HD vs SD Formats

Zoom Other factors

HD vs SD

The first thing you should think about is whether you want to capture your memories in ultra-clear super-detailed high-definition or in standard definition.

Basically, if you never plan to watch your videos on an HDTV, you do not need an HD camcorder.

That said, most HD camcorders will connect to either an HD or a standard TV - you just will not see the extra detail in your HD video.

 

FORMATS

A big decision you should make quite early on is which recording format to use. You have got four choices and each has their pros and cons.

DV tape is very robust, and records the highest quality pictures. In fact we still use a lot of it on Click. DV camcorders are cheaper than other types, although carrying round a pile of tapes can be a hassle.

A DV tape is often used when recording Click

DVD camcorders use discs that can be popped straight into your home DVD player. The cameras are a bit slow to start up however, and the discs can scratch easily.

Hard drive camcorders are now reasonably common - more expensive feature for feature, but the lack of a tape or disc loading bay means they can be shaped better to fit the grip.

And finally, the latest camcorders will record directly to flash memory like an SD card. We were sceptical about these - after all, you are trying to squeeze video onto something very small.

Mobile phones and compact digital stills cameras have offered this facility for a while, but the video is usually highly compressed to fit onto the small storage cards.

Imagine our surprise then, when consumer magazines started to give flash-based camcorders high marks in their tests.

It is thanks to new video compression techniques like AVCHD and MPEG 2 TR, which do a good job of squashing HD video onto all types of media, including normal DVDs, without losing too much picture quality.

 

ZOOM

Once you have sorted out your recording format, the next thing that will probably catch your eye is the size of the zoom.

So how much zoom do you really need?

A 10x optical zoom is common, although some camcorders are pushing that number as high as 50.

Using the digital zoom can make subjects unrecognisable

As well as the optical zoom figure, many manufacturers will quote incredible figures for their digital zoom.

But just as with stills cameras, a digital zoom only makes the pixels of the picture bigger. So although you can go in hundreds or thousands of times, you probably will have no idea what it is you are looking at.

And the further in you zoom, optically or digitally, the more your wobbly shot is likely to induce motion sickness. To remedy this most camcorders feature some kind of image stabilisation.

The best is optical image stabilisation, which allows the lens or the sensor to move to counteract your shaky hands. This can be very good.

Electronic image stabilisation is not so good. It only works with the image once it has been captured, leading to jerking, smearing and loss of clarity.

To help get the right part of the shot in focus, some camcorders even come with face-detection technology, which can spot a face and then focus and expose for it, regardless of what else is in the frame.

It is still not 100% reliable, but it is welcome help.

OTHER FACTORS

There are loads of factors to consider when choosing the right camcorder and generally if you are prepared to pay a bit more, you do get better functionality.

For better colours in your shots, go for three charge-coupled devices (CCDs) instead of one. If you want a quick shooter to catch those spontaneous moments in the snow, go for a hard drive or flash camcorder, so you do not have to fumble around for a tape or disc.

For ease of viewing, look out for the button that lets you burn your video straight to DVD - if you buy the special DVD recorder.

The more buttons you have, the easier access you have to important controls, instead of wading through layers of sub-menus on your touch screen to get to them. And that really can make filming a much more pleasant experience.

Courtesy of BBC

Testers are being sought for technology that may help TV migrate to the net.

The P2P Next project has created a trial, or beta, version of software that can stream video across a file-sharing network.

The EU has put 19m euros into the project hoping the software the team creates will become a Europe-wide standard for broadcasters.

The P2P Next team are looking for thousands to sign up to give the technology a good workout.

Stream and serve

Many broadcasters, such as the BBC with its iPlayer, are already using the net to let viewers catch up with programmes they missed. Most of these systems use a central server to stream programmes to those that want to watch them.

However, most believe that TV via the net delivered this way will be unsustainable when huge audiences venture online for shows.

In a bid to create a system that can support huge audiences, the SwarmPlayer draws on the widely used BitTorrent peer-to-peer technology.

In such a system those watching a video share the data they are downloading with others, peers, who want to watch the same show.

The SwarmPlayer lets people download TV shows to watch later, lets them watch video as it is being downloaded and can even cope with live broadcasts.

The P2P Next project now wants thousands of people to install the software to see how it handles large audiences and whether picture quality suffers as the numbers of users rises.

Windows and Linux versions of the software are available with a Mac version due soon.

Those wanting to take part must have a broadband net connection speed of at least 600kbps or higher. Those downloading and installing the software will be able to see how it handles a live stream and a pre-recorded broadcast.

The P2P Next project is scheduled to run for four years and the SwarmPlayer is likely to be the first of many prototypes it produces

Courtesy of BBC

BSkyB is launching a new music subscription service for internet users in what it claimed is a world first.

The satellite television company, which also offers broadband access, is teaming up with Universal Music to offer digital access to hundreds of thousands of songs for a monthly fee.

Sky said other music industry partners may soon join the service.

The new service will launch late this year but details of subscription prices have not yet been made public.

DRM-free

 

But BSkyB’s chief operating officer Mike Darcey said the aim was to reach the mass market. “Sky already has contact with one in three British homes through our television service,” he said, “and we’ve got plenty of experience of running a subscription model.”

The legal music downloads market is currently dominated by Apple’s iTunes. Other companies have tried to offer subscription services without making much impact.

No DRM means the music will work on iPods

But BSkyB and Universal believe a service offering unlimited streamed music plus a set number of downloads for a flat monthly fee will prove attractive.

The music will be free of DRM copy protection software, so it will be available to play on any device, including Apple’s iPod.

Pavarotti to Girls Aloud

The music industry has been pressing internet service providers to threaten broadband users who engage in file-sharing with disconnection.

It has been holding out the promise that ISPs can have a stake in the music business if they co-operate with a crackdown on customers who download copyrighted material.

BSkyB did not say specifically whether it now will be sending warnings to broadband customers who engage in file-sharing, but said that part of the aim of the new service is to ensure that “artists are properly rewarded for their creativity.”

Lucian Grainge, chairman and chief executive of Universal Music Group said consumers would welcome a “safe, state-of-the-art service and legal alternative to those services which exploit services without compensation.”

Mr Grainge said the service would offer everything “from Pavarotti to Girls Aloud” and would be “a lot more appealing than piracy.”

Universal has also teamed up with the mobile phone giant Nokia to offer “Comes with Music”, a service offering unlimited music to customers who buy a mobile phone.

But Mr Grainge said the Nokia partnership was aimed at individuals, whereas the joint venture with BSkyB was targeted at families.

I know many people that are trying to get hold of a Nintendo Wii Fit, I was lucky enough to get mine for free and delivered within 3 days!  (Sorry I know I’m not taking the micky honestly!)

So, to help all you people out there looking for stores that have them in stock, check out the following weblink.

http://www.wii-consoles.co.uk/wii-fit-in-stock.asp

I found that checking stock availability on a Friday evening, meant that many of the stores had received stock ready for the weekend!  So don’t delay, make sure you check the above out late on a Friday evening to hopefully help you source your Nintendo Wii Fit!

At the Sony E3 2008 briefing Sony is offering a new PS3 console with 80GB for the price of the currently available 40GB PS3. We have now got the retail box image and more details about the new PS3 console offering.

Sony positions the new 80GB PS3 as the only PS3 console version moving forward. Like the 40GB PS3, the new 80GB version will have no PS2 backward compatibility.

Sony describes the functionality of the 80GB PS3 with: “The new 80GB model will be a complete entertainment system comprising of a Blu-ray player, HDMI output, an integrated Wi-Fi connection, Cell Broadband Engine and a built-in 80GB hard-disk drive. The multi-functionality of the 80GB PS3, combined with more than 140 exclusive and third-party titles and the PLAYSTATION Network, is a comprehensive entertainment value designed to appeal to a wide range of consumers from hard-core gamers to general entertainment enthusiasts.” The story gallery shows both the current 80GB PS3 bundle and the new 80GB PS3 coming September.

You should hold off on buying a 40GB PS3 console as you get double the hard-drive space for the same money in September.

But if you want to use the new Playstation Video Service heavily, you might want to anyway upgrade PS3 HDD beyond 80GB

There’s a lot of sites on the Internet that claim to give things away for free, some do, some don’t.

I was sceptical at first, why would anyone give a Playstation 3 or Nintendo Wii away for free? 

GetThings4Free.co.uk have partnered with Freebiejeebies, who have given away over £200,000 of goodies away since they started in late 2007.

They have many sites out that allow you to obtain free Consoles, iPods, HDTV’s, Mod Cons. 

At first I signed up to all of these sites to get freebies, but now having been obtaining freebies now for just over 3 months, we have decided to focus on one referral site from FreebieJeebies which is gifts.freebiejeebies.co.uk

So, gifts.freebiejeebies.co.uk - what are the benefits of focusing on gifts.freebiejeebies.co.uk?  Well, it allows you to obtain any goodies you want for free and you’re not limited to receiving a specific item e.g. Apple iPod, Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii, etc.