Archive for June, 2010

AT&T stops iPhone 4 Pre-Ordering after system collapse

Posted in iPhone by Conner Flynn on June 16th, 2010

AT&T can’t deal with iPhone 4 orders. After shutting down their online sales system following several security problems, they are giving up in order to avoid any further trouble. Seems like their computer systems are in real trouble thanks to the demand surge.

This comes after only one day of pre-orders. The demand collapsed both AT&T and Apple servers, which were unable to take orders, were taking multiple incorrect orders, placed reservations that didn’t reserve anything, and had physical stores closing or having to take orders with pen and paper. The problems also involved a security breach, with people trying to get into AT&T only to get into the wrong customers account.

Sony PS3 Surround Sound AIO Solution

Posted in PS3 by Conner Flynn on June 16th, 2010

Looking to pump up the sound on your PS3? You’re in luck. Sony has just released their new surround sound system for the PlayStation 3, with 10Watts per channel @ 6Ω 1 kHz, and a power of 15Watts x 2 for the built in sub woofer.

The new Sony CECH-ZVS1 surround sound speaker system has been specifically created for the PlayStation 3 so this is the solution you’ve been looking for. It’s designed to enhance the audio quality by providing an immersive surround sound experience. It also fully supports the new PlayStation move motion controllers, together with stereoscopic 3D content as well as traditional Blu-ray movies.

iHome ZN90B Zune dock

Posted in Zune HD by Conner Flynn on June 16th, 2010

This may be the nicest looking Zune dock out there. The ZN90B dock is available for pre-order now, for only $100, and has AM/FM presets, EQ controls and iHome’s “Reson8″ speaker chambers which provide “astounding clarity, depth and power.” Oh and an alarm function too.

It will run on a pair of AA batteries, so you can take it with you anywhere, or can be charged via the AC charger. Expect it to be available sometime this month. It’s great for charging your Zune while playing music.

Xbox 360 Arcade only $99 during Walmart Father’s Day sale

Posted in Xbox 360 by Conner Flynn on June 16th, 2010

We already heard that the legacy Xbox 360 consoles will have a price cut with the introduction of the new Xbox 360 slim. And now Walmart wants to tempt you with a Father’s Day bundle. Until June 20th, you can purchase a newly priced $149 Xbox 360 Arcade and get a $50 Walmart eGift card.

The card is only usable on Walmart.com and Samsclub.com. You also get two free games (Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts and Viva Piñata), a wireless controller, and 256MB of memory included in Microsoft’s Spring Bundle. So you can get a console that cost $199 a few days ago for $99.

PlayStation Move to get awesome shooting attachment

Posted in Sony by Shane McGlaun on June 16th, 2010

I have a few games on the Wii that you shoot with and I have never felt the need to put the controller into a gun device. It’s no surprise that the PS3 Move controller is already getting a shooting attachment though.

If the one for the Wii looked as cool as the Move accessory, I might actually use it. This shooting attachment holds the Move controller with the ball end sticking out the front. It has an enclosed trigger and looks very high quality from the pics.

Razer StarCraft II gaming mouse, keyboard, and headphones spied at E3

Posted in Controllers,Games by Shane McGlaun on June 16th, 2010

I have tested and gamed with more Razer peripherals over the years than I can count. The stuff is fantastic for gaming with no issues with lag or ghosting in any of the offerings from the company.

Razer was showing off some of its new StarCraft II Wings of Liberty branded peripherals at E3 this week. Among the offerings are the Spectre Mouse, the Marauder keyboard, and the Banshee headset. The mouse has 5600 dpi resolution, adjustable button force, and more for $79.99.

Parrot AR.Drone gets launch date and price

Posted in Parrot by Shane McGlaun on June 16th, 2010

Parrot showed off its AR.Drone quad copter at CES for the first time and we were immediately enamored with the flying machine. The AR.Drone has turned up at E3 with the details we have all been waiting for.

The AR.Drone will ship in September for under $300. The copter lets players pilot using augmented reality using the iPod touch, iPhone, or the iPad. The copter has four propellers and a front facing camera that streams what the copter is seeing to the device controlling it.

Gioteck EX-01 Bluetooth headset comes to the US

Posted in Accessories by Shane McGlaun on June 16th, 2010

We have seen several new headsets for gamers get unveiled at E3 so far this year. One of the new headsets is the Gioteck EX-01 Bluetooth headset for the PS3. The wireless headset looks like a headset for a smartphone.

The device is designed for gamers and wirelessly connects to the PS3. It has a cushioned on-ear external speaker and ergonomic controls. The controls include volume and power buttons on the outside of the earpiece.

PlayStation Plus announced: $50 a year

Posted in PS3 by Conner Flynn on June 15th, 2010

We knew it was coming and today at E3 PlayStation Plus has been announced. Before you get your Playstation panties in a bunch, the PlayStation Network will not change. You still have what you already have for free. But if you like you can upgrade for $50 a year or $18 for three months.

The first three months are even free. You get a whole bunch of premium content, including “hundreds of dollars of products” throughout the year, early access to betas, and Qore. It’s for the gamer who doesn’t want to miss anything.

Sony PlayStation Move launch details

Posted in PS3 by Conner Flynn on June 15th, 2010

Sony unveiled details about Playstation Move at E3 today. The complete PlayStation Move Sports Champions bundle with the PlayStation Eye, Move and a game will cost $99.99, while the Move controller by itself will cost $49.99, and the navigation controller is $29.99. If you don’t already have a PS3, you can pick up a new console bundle with everything for $399.99.

Europe will be getting the the Move before we do, on September 15th. It will hit North America on September 19th.

T-Mobile to give away free phones on Father’s Day

Posted in T-Mobile by Conner Flynn on June 15th, 2010

T-Mobile has announced that it will offer a Father’s Day promotion on Saturday, June 19 where all phones in its stores will be free. That should make dads happy. The phones are free as long as customers sign up for a new family plan or add a line to an existing family plan on a two-year contract. They can get both regular and smartphones without any cost beyond the service.

Handsets will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. T-Mobile also says that there won’t be any rainchecks or exchanges after Saturday. To be clear, a family plan is made up of at least two users, and up to five free handsets can be put under the deal, each with its own two-year contract.

Casio Green Slim eco-friendly projector

Posted in Projectors by Conner Flynn on June 15th, 2010

Casio has released the Green Slim, an earth-friendly projector that eliminates the need for a short life mercury lamp. That’s why it’s green. This projector is also being touted as the world’s first high brightness eco-friendly projector.

The Green Slim uses Casio’s Hybrid Light Source, which combines Laser and LED technology for amazingly high brightness and it can last up to 20,000 hours. The eco-friendly projectors can also be rotated 90 degrees for portrait display if you need it.

Star Wars Lightsaber pens

Posted in Star Wars by Conner Flynn on June 15th, 2010

When writing a letter, you can use good penmanship or you can just trust in the force and leave it to this pen. These Star Wars Lightsaber pens come from a collaboration with Taito and they feature an LED inside that makes it look like a light saber.

These will be available in October for $9.80. They are writing instruments from a more civilized age, before the Sith exterminated all of the Jedi and forced everyone to use email instead.

Facebook CEO slams the iPhone

Posted in News by Conner Flynn on June 15th, 2010

I wonder what Steve Jobs thinks when he reads what the CEO of Facebook has to say about the iPhone. It seems that Mark Zuckerberg isn’t a fan of the iPhone as he has had some bad experiences using it. Steve probably doesn’t care since he’s too busy bathing in money.

In a recent Facebook post, he said “This week I got an iPhone. This weekend I got four chargers so I can keep it charged everywhere I go and a land line so I can actually make phone calls”. But I wonder why he had to actually get an iPhone to figure these things out.

Microsoft display could make 3D glasses obsolete

Posted in 3D by Conner Flynn on June 15th, 2010

The current generation of 3D TVs all have one large and dorky problem. The glasses. Nobody wants to pay extra for a pair and nobody wants to wear them. We need to get rid of them. Microsoft may just do that.

The company has been working on a new lens that would allow for 3D video with no glasses needed. The display tracks the viewers eyes using an onboard computer. Then it delivers a different image to each eye. It can even handle two viewers at once. The problem right now is that it has a viewing angle of only 20 to 40 degrees.