November 11th, 2009

3D gaming comes to the Zune HD, video of all 6 new games

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 6:30 am

Categories: MP3 players, Microsoft, Mobile software, Portable gaming, Zune

Tags: 3D, Microsoft Zune, Ferrari, Games, Personal Technology, Matthew Miller

This past weekend I mentioned the Zune HD firmware 4.3 update that added predictive text and a better browsing experience. As part of that update, Microsoft announced that support for 3D games and apps was added as well and it didn’t take long for them to deliver as we now have six new games in the Zune Marketplace. You will find Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition, Audiosurf Tilt, and Vans Sk8: Pool Service for 3D gaming and Checkers, Lucky Lanes Bowling, and Piano for more standard gaming. All the games are FREE, with a short ad at start up. I don’t mind the ads if the games are good and as you will soon see in the video I am shooting and will be posting below the games are pretty dang good and game play is fluid. The 3D transitions and scenery in PGR are excellent and I see no pixelating going on.

Here is a description of each of the games from Microsoft:

• Audiosurf Tilt: Audiosurf creates a rollercoaster ride from any song. Choose any song from your music collection and watch Audiosurf turn it into a unique roller coaster track for you to ride. The song you choose determines the shape, the speed, and the mood of each track. Tilt your Zune like a steering wheel to collect colored blocks and avoid speedbumps. Unlock more than 30 designs, each with its own special theme and color palette.
• Checkers: Enjoy the classic game of Checkers in a beautiful outdoor park setting. Play against the computer or against a friend.
• Lucky Lanes Bowling: Bowl in different game modes: exhibition, blackjack, golf. Play in five different bowling alleys with unique themes, all with the swipe of a finger. Choose from twenty different bowlers and twenty two different ball styles. You can play against the computer or play with up to four friends.
• Piano: Play your own tune, or play along with your favorite music on this electronic piano.
• Project Gotham Racing: Ferrari Edition: Tear through the streets of London, Tokyo, and New York in the Ferrari of your choice using multi touch controls and the built in accelerometer.
• Vans Sk8: Pool Service: From the Admiral to the old abandoned rec center pool, Bucky Lasek and Omar Hassan know a good bowl to skate. Hit the pools and put these Vans skaters to the test with all the tricks in their bag and achieve hero status once you unlock their pro model skateboards.

They also mentioned that Twitter and Facebook are still planned for a release soon.

November 1st, 2009

Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Digital Media Players

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 9:20 pm

Categories: Apple, Gadgets, Holiday Gift Guide, MP3 players, Microsoft, Portable gaming, Sony, Zune

Tags: Device, Apple iPod, Archos, Microsoft Zune, Apple iPod Nano, Apple Inc., Video, Archos 5 Internet Tablet, Pixel Resolution, Sony X-Series Walkman

For this Digital Media Player Holiday Guide we will be taking a look at the best devices that offer a complete music playing and video watching experience. There are still some devices that specialize in one or the other, but the capability has improved in most of them so that both types of media content can be enjoyed. Last year we looked at both MP3 players and portable digital video players in two Guides, but are merging them this year since most perform both functions well. Some of these devices can be used for web browsing, 3rd party application usage, and gaming, but we will focus on the music and video support while mentioning some of these more advanced capabilities.

You will see some of the same brand names in this Holiday Guide, but you will also see that updated models continue to improve on the media experience and for the most part you can’t go wrong with these players. You will see that the Guide is arranged in order from highest price device to lowest price device since price is a major factor when you look at one of these media players to purchase.

Archos 5 Internet Tablet

The Archos 5 Internet Tablet is powered by the Google Android operating system and is focused on the media experience with Internet browsing also being a prominent feature. Archos has been know at excelling in portable video playing capability and the Archos 5 continues that tradition. You can view HD video content and photos on the 4.8 inch 800×480 pixel resolution display. The Archos 5 Internet Tablet supports the following video formats; MPEG-4 HD (up to 720p), MPEG-48, H.264, WMV, MKV, and M-JPEG. Supported audio formats include MP3, WMA, AAC+, Ogg Vorbis, and Flac. There are some optional plug-ins available to further enhance support on the Archos 5.

In addition to the various hard drive capacities, the Archos 5 has a microSD card slot with support up to 32GB, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0, FM receiver with RDS, and FM transmitter. There are a couple additional accessories to extend the functionality of the device to your TV as well.

With the Google Android operating system you will find that many third party apps seen on Google Android smartphones also work on the Archos 5 Tablet.

Price: $499.99 MSRP for 500GB unit, $399.99 for 160GB, and $379.99 for 32GB Flash drive

[Check out review pages for the 500GB and 32GB models]

Go to the next page »

August 4th, 2009

Facebook photo uploads come to the Nintendo DSi

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 10:10 pm

Categories: Gadgets, Portable gaming, mobile services

Tags: Facebook, Nintendo Co. Ltd., Photograph, Matthew Miller

Are you ready to soon see a bunch of crazy photos appearing on your friends and family’s Facebook pages? I read over on Gear Diary that Facebook photo upload support was added to the Nintendo DSi (see my review) on the evening of 3 August. I grabbed my DSi and discovered that a system update was available. After the system update, I found that the Facebook integration was available in the camera/photo gallery module.

As you can see in the couple of screenshots I took of my DSi you setup your Facebook account on your DSi and then you will find that a small Facebook icon appears next to the star, shamrock, and heart above your photos. Tapping the Facebook icon pops-up an option to connect to the Internet, followed by a Facebook login page (autofilled after you enter the info once). You then confirm if you want to upload the photo. After uploading the photo from your DSi you will find a new album called Photos from Nintendo DSi appearing in your Photos area. I’ll try to refrain from going crazy with the funny photos created on my DSI, but I imagine we will see quite a few strange photos appearing soon.

June 26th, 2009

Sony admits to PSP Go early adopter premium, are you really surprised?

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 8:58 am

Categories: Gadgets, Portable gaming

Tags: Sony Corp., Premium, Sony PlayStation Portable, Investment, Finance, Matthew Miller

The PSP Go will be launching on 1 October for $249 and according to a Joystiq article posting a quote from a Sony executive Sony is associating a premium cost for new adopters. It is not a new practice to charge a premium for new products, just look at Apple’s $200 price drop after just two months, but this is one of the first times I have heard of a company actually admitting there is a premium for early adopters.

As an admitted early adopter I have to say paying a premium on new products has not really deterred me from picking them up, but a lot of this acceptance has to do with the fact that I do see a return on my early investment by writing about these new products here on ZDNet. Now, if I was a “normal” consumer who enjoyed the latest and greatest products, I may be a bit ticked that companies are charging premiums when products launch just because they can and not because that is the selling price needed to stay profitable. Yet, I am also a fan of the free market system so if people don’t like paying premiums, then let your money do the talking and stop buying new products at launch. If people stopped doing this all the time, maybe there would be fewer premiums. I highly doubt people have this patience today though and think there will continue to be early adopters paying a premium for new prodcuts.

June 3rd, 2009

PSP Go coming with Bluetooth and slide-up display

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 8:30 am

Categories: Gadgets, Portable gaming

Tags: Sony PlayStation Portable, Boy Genius Report, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Memory, Flash Memory, Wireless And Mobility, Semiconductors, Hardware, Components

I own an original Sony PSP and enjoy playing it from time-to-time. With this PSP and the Nintendo DSi (see my review) I really have no desire to upgrade since I just don’t spend enough time with games. The Boy Genius Report has some information and photos of the Sony PSP Go that will be launching this Fall. This PSP looks quite large with a slide-up display and plethora of controls on the lower half.

BGR stated that the new PSP Go is actually 43 percent lighter than the PSP-3000 and comes with 16GB of Flash memory. The UMD slot is gone, no real loss there and a Memory Stick Micro slot is present. Bluetooth is integrated, along with WiFi that the existing units have, so you can tether to a mobile phone or use a headset.

It should officially be announced at the E3 conference where we should here more about pricing and availability.

UPDATE: I drafted this post a couple of days ago and was then sent out of town on business and failed to schedule it properly. Sony made the PSP Go announcement official at E3 and Gamespot has quite a bit of coverage on the device. It will launch on 1 October for $250.

April 13th, 2009

Baseball, garlic fries, and Nintendo DSi star at Safeco Field

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 1:01 pm

Categories: Gadgets, Portable gaming, mobile services

Tags: Nintendo Co. Ltd., Network, Radio, Games, Personal Technology, Matthew Miller

I am a major hometown sports fan and was pleased to see Ken Griffey, Jr. come back to the Mariners for a final season or two. Our home opener is tomorrow and there will be something else new this year for Mariner fans. Nintendo of America is the majority owner of the M’s baseball team and for a couple of years they have had the cool Nintendo Fan Network in place that provided DS owners the ability to watch highlight videos, check out stats, and more over the free wireless network. According to The Seattle Times Nintendo is letting the first 150 people who request to borrow a DSi at each game use it while they are at the stadium to access the upgraded Nintendo Fan Network. I just recently purchased and posted my thoughts on my own black DSi and now it looks like I need to bring it to the game with me along with my pack of red licorice and glove.

You will be able to order food and drinks to be delivered to your seat right from you DSi so you can avoid those long lines and you won’t have to miss any baseball action. You will be able to view live video feeds of the game, send messages across the network, and compete against other DS users in Mariner’s trivia. Stats will be provided by Major League Baseball so you can check out what is going on around the league. You will even be able to use your DSi to check highway traffic reports before departing the ballpark.

Some of the newest features with the upgraded network include ESPN news and puzzle game and closed-captioned public announcements and audio radio broadcasts. My grandfather attended hundreds of Mariner’s games and also brought along a radio to listen to the audio broadcast in the stands and keep stats of the game so the audio broadcasts seem like a natural fit.

After the free introductory offer ends in June, you will be able to rent a DS for the game for a fee. Last year it was $10 per game to rent a device, but should be lower this year.

It is pretty cool to see the DSi being used for multimedia functionality like this and I can’t wait to go to the ballpark and try it out.

April 7th, 2009

Review: Nintendo DSi lets you have a blast with photos

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 4:15 am

Categories: Gadgets, On the road, Portable gaming, Review

Tags: Nintendo Co. Ltd., Device, Web Browser, Photograph, Camera, Music, Nintendo DSi, Power Button, Gameplay, DSi Shop

Back when I was in college in 1989 my mom gave me the original Nintendo Gameboy device and I thought it was one of the coolest gadgets around. I still have that original Gameboy, but on Sunday I went out and bought my second Nintendo portable gaming system that is quite a departure from that large chunky device. The Nintendo DSi is now available for sale in the US for a MSRP of $169.99. It comes in matte black or baby blue and I picked up my black model at WalMart for $169. After having spent almost two days with the device, I wanted to give you some of my impressions and walk you around the device in case this is something you are considering. Take a look at my YouTube video below and through my image gallery to see product photos and photos taken with the DSi.

	Image Gallery:A look at the hardware and images taken with the Nintendo DSi portable gaming device.

My daughters have the Nintendo DS and DS Lite models and this next generation does have several differences over these models, including the use of two 0.3 megapixel VGA cameras, larger displays (3.25 inches compared to 3 inches), SDHC expansion slot, longer and thinner form factor with same width, loss of the Game Boy Advance cartridge slot, improved speakers, and reorganization of some of the buttons and indicator lights (shown in my video). I personally really like the matte finish on the DSi that reminds me a lot of my original Zune 30GB. This type of finish is quite durable and seems to get fewer scratches and blemishes than what I have seen on glossy coatings.

Box contents and out-of-box experiences: The Nintendo DSi comes in a densely packed box that contains a thick manual, Quick Start Guide, warranty papers, Club Nintendo flyer, extra stylus, the DSi, and A/C adapter. There is no carrying case, lanyard, or SD card provided.

I took out the black DSi and hooked it up to the charging so I could start playing. The device Read the rest of this entry »

February 19th, 2009

Nintendo DSi may be available in the U.S. for $169.99 on April 5th

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 6:00 am

Categories: Portable gaming, Rumors

Tags: U.S., Nintendo Co. Ltd., Nintendo DSi, Game Players, Memory, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Semiconductors, Hardware, Components

We have a couple of Nintendo DS Lites in our house, but I have personally been saving up for a DSi device after I saw what it offers over the DS Lite. According to The Boy Genius Report we will see the DSi launch in the US for $169.99 on April 5th.

The DSi has been available in Japan since November 2008, but they always take a bit longer to get here to the U.S. I actually read before that the DSi was going to run around $189 so the $169.99 price looks decent to me.

The DSi offers the following over the DS Lite:

• VGA cameras on the front and back of the device, with integrated game support
• Larger 3.25 inch displays, compared to current 3 inch displays
• Integrated web browser
• Thinner by 12%
• Voice recorder
• SD card support (for storing music)
• No support for Game Boy Advance cartridges

Overall, this seems like a great upgrade for the DS platform and one that I am looking forward to myself.

January 27th, 2009

Will we ever see a Sony PSP 2?

Posted by Matthew Miller @ 1:55 pm

Categories: Gadgets, On the road, Portable gaming

Tags: Sony Corp., Nintendo Co. Ltd., Sony PlayStation Portable, Games, Personal Technology, Matthew Miller

One area of mobile gear that I was asked to include here on the Mobile Gadgeteer blog was portable gaming and I have to admit I haven’t written much about this area in the past. I personally own and enjoy playing games on my original Sony PSP. We also have several Nintendo portable gaming devices in my house, including my original Gameboy, Nintendo DS, and DS Lite models. My daughters use the Nintendo DS models quite a bit and enjoy gaming and chatting with each other. I prefer to play games on my PSP and charge it up for gaming and movies when I travel. I just read over on IGN that the PSP 2 may be coming this year.

There have been a couple of small updates to the PSP platform, the PSP-2000 and PSP-3000, over the the last four years that did things like slimming down the hardware, adding a microphone, and other small improvements. Sony has denied there ever was or is a PSP 2 in the pipes, but the rumor mill still keeps churning and the desires of gamers still keep the rumors alive. IGN sources stated that the PSP 2 will have multi-touch technology, unless Apple can stifle that capability. Other specifications that could appear include Bluetooth, GPS, integrated flash drive, and wireless networking.

Do you enjoy gaming on the go? If so, do you use your iPhone, PSP, Nintendo DS, or other mobile device?