Technology, Gadgets, IT, Games

Since Sony’s announcement that the long and eagerly anticipated PS3 is launching here in the UK on the 23rdMarch, the guys over at ThreeSpeech (semi-official PS3 blog) have been quick to do a little number crunching.

Based on how much of the UK accounts for European business they have confidently predicted that at the word “go” UK retailers will have around 300,000 units. In comparison using the same math this figure should equate to more than the combined number of Wii and 360 consoles that were initially shipped.

If you want to get your hands on one you will have to get that pre-order in sooner rather than later. What has yet to be confirmed is whether Sony is going to do the allocation as was the case with PS2 (i.e. you only get one if you have your official letter from Sony). Watch this space for more information. Read more

Sony have announced the VAIO UX1 Ultra Mobile PC – a tiny device with PC functionality. Powered by Windows Vista Business, the UX1 is capable of playing music and movies as well as general office productivity.

The 4.5′ touchscreen display with a staggering 1024×600 resolution is capable of stylus and touch-typing control, but there is also a sliding keyboard for easy text entry. There are two onboard digital cameras – one at the front for videoconferencing, and a higher quality 1.3-megapixel camera on the back for taking photos. The UX1 even has fingerprint recognition as a security interface.

Powered by a 1.33GHz Intel processor with 1GB of memory, this is a powerful UMPC. Measuring in at 95 x 150.2 x 32.2mm, it’s pretty small too – and it only weighs in at 480g. The 32gb integrated flash drive eliminates noise and vibration, as well as speeding up file access considerably. On top of 802.11 a/b/g wireless networking, the UX1 packs Bluetooth connectivity a USB 2.0 port, a Memory Stick Duo slot, and microphone and headphone ports… Read more

Having witnessed numerous new console launches over recent years a pre-order has become relatively common place if you expect to bag yourself one either on the big-day or their about!.so the announcement by HMV of 5,000 pre-orders available for the Playstation 3 comes as no surprise…. what does is the bank balance required secure one.

The pre-order scheme works as follows. First you must dig deep behind your sofa and find £250 for a 4Gb Sony PSP with two games. This gets you the privilege of being added to the HMV priority list where you will then be allocated one of 5,000 PS3s HMV are expecting to get. Once they have stock to ship you will be expected to pay your £425 and your PS3 will turn up 5 days later. Read more

Following suit from Sony’s decision that the PS3 would keep its price tag for a while to come, Microsoft has dismissed claims that the Xbox 360 is going to undergo a price cut in the near future. It was widely expected that Microsoft would bring the price of their latest gaming console down to even further undercut its newest competitor in the PS3.

“There are no plans [for a cut]. We”re offering outstanding value and choice “” especially when you compare us to our soon-to-be competitor,”

- Chris Lewis
Regional VP of Microsoft EMEA Home+Ents

Although the Xbox 360 is already £200 cheaper than the PS3, Microsoft has been forced to lower its sales estimates from 13/15 million units by June down to ‘just’ 12 million. At these kinds of differences, is a £20 discount really going to change things?

This news comes on the same day as Sony declare they are only shipping 220,000 PS3s to the UK – that is 30,000 less than their previous lowest estimate. Their excuse is that the UK market is about 22% of the 1 million PAL units they will sell. £425 on March 23rd. Read more

In a clash of the titans Blu-ray and HD DVD are fighting for the illustrious crown of DVDs next generation format, a war which will be won or lost on the high streets.

But if Sony are to be believed the war never really got started and nor is likely to based on some very solid numbers from the month January.

The figures from the Sony camp show that sale of Blu-ray discs are outstripping HD DVD discs by two to one. Interestingly though HD DVD players are actually marginally out selling their Blu-ray counterparts, although the Sony camp isn”t likely to be worried with the planned European launch of the PS3. Read more

The above is a graph showing past games sales and a prediction for the future. This graph predicts that Xbox 360 game sales will increase for a few years, with sales for the Wii and PS3 staying roughly the same. The Xbox 360 is predicted to do singificantly better than the other two consoles, with the PS3 behind the Wii. Around 2009, sales for all the consoles will decline.

At this time, we would expect a new generation of consoles to be born, or else we could be facing a complete crash in the gaming industry. It is a known fact that selling consoles lose a lot of money for the manufacturers (although not the Wii), and they make their money through selling accessories and licenced games. Even the games themselves don’t make profits for the developers, and piracy plays a big part in that.

Do you think Microsoft/Nintendo/Sony are going to keep making consoles, and that developers are going to keep coming up with new games? Or do you think that games as we know them are just not worth making anymore, and that there’s a risk that we could be without them in a few years?

Leave your comments at The GTA Place
Source: BBC

So what did we learn this year at 3GSM? Well, we can of course expect a whole host of new music capable mobile phones, however what we haven’t seen has been much in the way of style and innovation when it comes the way we enjoy music.

Urban warriors around the country have been crying out for a wireless solution and Sony have obliged with the ultra light (186g) DR-BT50 Bluetooth wireless headphones, so no more tucking the cord under your shirt! They even neatly fold up so you can shove them in your coat pocket…

The new DR-BT50 headphones wirelessly connect to Stereo Bluetooth mobile phones or devices with A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) technology. The headphones also incoperate a built-in microphone enabling you take calls… Read more

In a clash of the titans Blu-ray and HD DVD are fighting for the illustrious crown of DVDs next generation format, a war which will be won or lost on the high streets.

But if Sony are to be believed the war never really got started and nor is likely to based on some very solid numbers from the month January.

The figures from the Sony camp show that sale of Blu-ray discs are outstripping HD DVD discs by two to one. Interestingly though HD DVD players are actually marginally out selling their Blu-ray counterparts, although the Sony camp isn’t likely to be worried with the planned European launch of the PS3. Read more