PS3 3D Blu-ray update delayed

Getting your PS3 primed for some imminent 3D Blu-ray action? Well, you’re going to have to wait, as Sony’s pushed back the planned September release of the much-vaunted home entertainment update.

The new firmware which packs 3D Blu-ray support for Sony’s home hub has now been delayed until October. Worryingly though, the Big S hasn’t handed over a specific date, which could mean an even longer wait for the console to play nice with your new 3D telly.

Of course, 3D Blu-rays aren’t widely available yet, although that’s set to change when Avatar lands later this year. And with 3D gaming on the agenda for the PS3, this is an upgrade all PS3 owners will be gagging for.
Read PS3 3D Blu-ray update delayed on FiveFWD

Xbox 360 slimster made over in white, just for the hell of it

Missing your oldie Xbox 360's bright and airy white finish? Well, Microsoft's still not willing to sell you a slimmified 360 in any color other than black (excepting the limited edition Halo gear), but at least you can gaze upon the singular example of what a white one may look like above. This seemingly repainted Xbox 360 250GB (to give it its official, and ridiculous, name) has been lovingly put together over in China and really makes us wonder why Microsoft is depriving us of such snowy good looks. Perhaps it wanted to draw a clear between the old and the new? Either way, hit the source for the cheapest way to peek an all-white slim 360 without giving the Colorware crew a call.

[Thanks, Anthony]

Xbox 360 slimster made over in white, just for the hell of it originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect won’t support voice recognition in some countries until 2011, putting on airs won’t help

"If you see it, just say it," says Microsoft's Kinect, but only in the US, UK, Mexico and Japan to start -- those are the only four countries that will support Kinect voice control by the motion-sensing peripheral's November launch. So said Microsoft PR manager Lidia Pitzalis in an interview with Eurogamer Spain, adding that Germany, Italy, France and even Canada and Spain would have to wait for a Spring 2011 update for additional language support. Microsoft claims it's a matter of accents throwing off the voice recognition, as the company's already had to build separate software versions for US and UK English, but if you're an Italian who can fake a good Cockney, you're still out of luck, as Microsoft's reportedly disabling voice control entirely in said regions until it can formally support it. And game companies wonder why we try so hard to hack those DVD drives...

Kinect won't support voice recognition in some countries until 2011, putting on airs won't help originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 03:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Complete Playstation Move Compendium [Round-up]

The Playstation Move brings Playstation 3 owners into the world of motion gaming with a high-definition bang. Are you ready? More »

Apple claims 50 percent of portable gaming market, iPod touch ‘outsells Nintendo and Sony combined’

Nintendo famously called Apple the enemy of the future in the video gaming space, and by golly, it looks like the Japanese giant was right; Steve Jobs just told an audience that the iPod touch alone outsells Nintendo's DS and Sony's PlayStation Portable combined, worldwide. How many games iPod touch users actually play and for how long wasn't discussed, but Jobs said 1.5 billion "games and entertainment" apps have been downloaded -- again, on the iPod touch alone, never mind all those iPhones.

Check out our liveblog of the keynote event right here!

Apple claims 50 percent of portable gaming market, iPod touch 'outsells Nintendo and Sony combined' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony Qriocity on-demand movie service extends into Europe, ‘Music Unlimited’ coming by year’s end

Sony has just informed Euroland that its Qriocity on-demand ecosystem will be showing up in the continent's wealthier regions this fall. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK will get a chance to savor the Video On Demand option, which will form the vanguard of a wideranging content streaming service, available on Sony networked devices -- yes, that includes the do-it-all PlayStation 3. The heavyweight movie studios behind the venture include 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, MGM, NBC Universal, Paramount and, of course, Sony's moviemaking arm. But you already knew that, given that the whole enchilada's been available to American gringos since April. All Qriocity participants will get to use a new Music Unlimited service, which is launching by the end of the year with as yet undetermined pricing. Plans are also afoot to offer Qriocity on third party devices, but until then you'll wanna make sure to have one of them newfangled web-connected Bravia TVs or any of the litany of Blu-ray players and home theater setups Sony is busy promoting right this minute.

Continue reading Sony Qriocity on-demand movie service extends into Europe, 'Music Unlimited' coming by year's end

Sony Qriocity on-demand movie service extends into Europe, 'Music Unlimited' coming by year's end originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PS3 homebrew jailbreak released into the wilds

Poor, poor Sony. First PSJailbreak splayed wide the PS3's security model, now PSGroove has arrived calling itself the "open source PSjailbreak." The code must first be downloaded and installed onto a $30ish AT90USBkey or a $25ish Teensy++ USB development board. After that, homebrew enthusiasts can then execute unsigned third-party apps and games on their PS3. At the moment, the ability to boot ISO files (read: pirated or "backup" games) is temporarily disabled. But we're sure that some of the internet's more nefarious types will find their way around that. Cat, welcome to the world outside of the bag.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

PS3 homebrew jailbreak released into the wilds originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Creative’s new gaming headset can tell up from down

Creative's latest cans may not have the pizazz of a wireless World of Warcraft rig, but they've got one feature guaranteed to make hardcore PC gamers swoon -- they claim to be the very first to offer truly three-dimensional surround sound. Embued with the latest revision of Creative's THX software collaboration (dubbed THX TruStudio Pro) the Sound Blaster Tactic 3D series "delivers a 360 degree surround sound gaming experience so gamers can hear sounds clearly from the front, back, above and below." There's also a set of customizable audio profiles so you can tune all the other presumably-more-powerful TruStudio algorithms just the way you like, though it's not clear whether Creative's included on-board memory or just has a desktop app. In terms of hardware, the $60 Tactic 3D Alpha comes with 40mm drivers, a USB audio adapter and a detachable noise-canceling microphone, while $90 buys you the Tactic 3D Sigma with larger 50mm drivers and a steel headband as well when both debut later this month. We have to admit, we're curious to hear for ourselves whether they work as advertised -- they sound like just the thing for a nice, relaxing Portal speedrun. Full PR after the break.

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Creative's new gaming headset can tell up from down originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 05:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep Review (PSP)

Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep transports the familiar Disney-inspired RPG franchise exclusively to PSP. You take turns to play as three protagonists, each on a quest to locate a Keyblade master and fend of evil creatures spread throughout familiar Disney worlds. Stephen Ebert gives his verdict…

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The basics
Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep sees you take control of three characters: Terra, Aqua and Ventus – each with their own storyline as they enter some of the same fantastical worlds seen in several well known Disney films such as Cinderella, Snow White and more. The result is almost three separate games: only by clearing the game with each character can players get the whole story, lending some serious longevity to Birth By Sleep.

The good
If you’re not a fan of turn-based combat, but love RPGs you’ll find plenty to love here. Birth By Sleep does away with turn-based attacking for more conventional button tapping, combined with one and multiple button-activated magic spells. RPG games can be intimidating to newcomers, but Birth By Sleep’s gameplay is instantly accessible, and made easier to understand thanks to neat tutorials and instructions throughout.

New to Birth By Sleep is the ability to customise what’s called a ‘Command Deck’ giving you the chance to create and alter your abilities combinations at will. Magic abilities are listed on-screen, activating them is as easy as pressing a button. Adding further depth to combat are ‘D-Link’ attacks that let you use the abilities of characters you’ve met throughout to keep combat fresh and exiting.

The bad
Because you’ll need to clear the game with each of the three characters, there’s plenty of Birth By Sleep gameplay to be had, but some of the earlier levels are aren’t exactly complex, and a little on the easy side.

The bottom line
Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep is a thoroughly playable RPG with fun gameplay, diverse combat and a well executed story with many hours of gameplay to make it well worth adding to your PSP collection.
Read Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep Review (PSP) on FiveFWD

Corsair sails into gaming headset waters with noise-isolating HS1 cans

For some people, the association of Corsair and quality PC components is so strong that they'd buy anything that bears the triple sail logo. It makes perfect sense, therefore, for the company that made its name by producing memory sticks to diversify its portfolio even further, this time into gaming headsets, with the introduction of the HS1. It's a USB headset offering multichannel audio via 50mm drivers, a noise-isolating closed design, noise-cancelling and articulating mic, and inline volume and microphone mute controls. Aside from the larger than usual drivers, we're not seeing anything particularly unique here, but that ethereal quality component is rarely apparent on black and white fact sheets. Availability is said to be immediate, though our quick pricing investigation threw up only a UK pre-order for £84 ($129). So yeah, Corsair's certainly pricing the HS1 as a premium product.

[Thanks, Mark S.]

Continue reading Corsair sails into gaming headset waters with noise-isolating HS1 cans

Corsair sails into gaming headset waters with noise-isolating HS1 cans originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Sep 2010 01:14:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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