With the first Android 2.0 handset due to be unveiled publicly this week - Motorola's Droid - Google is showing off the new version of its smartphone OS to some handpicked developers.
According to an invitation sent out recently, the company is holding three invite-only events yesterday and today - two in California and one in London.
"Congratulations! Based on the popularity of your Android application, we'd like to invite you to visit Google to test drive your code on new test hardware," says the invite.
It promises that Android engineers and devices will be present, showcasing new screen sizes and platform features.
Specs of the Droid phone leaked last week, but developers will be keen to find out what Android 2.0 offers their apps - although also what level of fragmentation those new screen sizes and features may spur.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/34826...velopers-today ...

The recent announcement that the Netflix movie streaming service will be appearing on the PlayStation 3 is only an "intermediate step" designed to circumvent the company's existing exclusivity deal with Microsoft, claims Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter.

As announced yesterday, the Netflix deal will allow existing subscribers to stream movie titles, at no extra cost, via the PS3. However, while the service is integrated as part of the dashboard on the Xbox 360, the PS3 will require a separate disc to access the same features.

In a new investor note Pacther suggests that the disc is necessary in order not to conflict with existing arrangements for the Xbox 360 - although the specific details of Microsoft's deal with Netflix has never been made public.

"We believe that the exclusive arrangement limits Netflix’s ability to appear on the 'dashboard' for the PS3 or the Wii, but because both devices have open architecture Internet browsers built-in, the solution proposed for the PS3 would likely not violate the terms of Microsoft’s exclusivity," said Pachter.

"We anticipate that a similar arrangement will be announced for the Wii in the next 12 months", he added.

Pachter claims that the Netflix service on Xbox 360, which is only available in U.S., has gained Netflix an extra 600,000 to 800,000 new subscribers. He expects the Sony deal to have a similar effect, with up to 200,000 new subscribers in the final quarter of this year.

Despite predicting healthy growth for Netflix over the coming years, with estimates of an annual userbase of 1.5 to 2 million customers, Pacther has left the company's stock rating at neutral.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ermediate-step ...

Microsoft has launched its streaming film and television content service in association with Sky TV for the UK and Ireland today.

The Sky Player for Xbox 360 will allow Xbox Live Gold members to watch programmes from 24 different channels live, with an additional selection of on-demand channels featuring key shows from the past month as well as over 400 movies on offer from the current Sky Movies channels line-up.

For Gold members that already have a subscription to Sky, the content will be free, depending on that level of subscription - Sky Sports and Sky Movies content will require appropriate accounts - although as with the PC-based Sky Player users will also need to pay a GBP 5 Multi-Room charge if they don't already.

Non-subscribers will be able to receive the service as an internet-only offering, not requiring the installation of a satellite dish, for a fee of GBP 15 per month for the basic Entertainment Pack, rising to GBP 50 for the full Sports and Movies pack, with ESPN access also included.

Meanwhile, for Xbox Live Silver members, Sky News will always be free, while a special Sky Player Retail bundle pack will be available in stores from today which will include one month of the Sky Sports subscription pack, a three-month Live Gold membership and a Media Remote for GBP 29.99.

"Today our customers enjoy film, music, videos and games on Xbox 360 and TV is another significant step forward in our entertainment vision," said Microsoft's senior regional director at Entertainment & Devices for the UK and Ireland, Neil Thompson.

"And now Xbox owners will have the variety and volume of entertainment along with unique services such as the avatar community which allow you to share, celebrate and chat - it is clear that Xbox 360 is taking entertainment beyond the living room with unique social interactive entertainment experiences.”

As well as watching content through the Xbox 360, users will be able to watch with other people on their friends list and have their avatars sit on a virtual sofa, side-by-side with others. At the same they'll be able to communicate via an emote wheel on-screen, with a number of pre-set avatar animations available, or talk directly through the 360's headset.

"What makes it really interesting is at this point, if you've got a headset on, you can be talking to that person directly," said Thompson in a media preview last week. "If you're watching sport, you can chat about what you're seeing. If it's a movie, you can chat about that. It's a whole new way of consuming entertainment socially.

"This sort of experience is unique to the Xbox Live service - you don't get this sort of interaction on any other entertainment service," he added.

Content will only be available in standard definition in order to ensure that the streaming service is as seamless as possible to the highest number of users, and will be available in three different quality levels - with a maximum line speed requirement of around 2mbps.

While the number of available channels currently stands at 24, it's likely that Sky will opt to add more channels to the offering over time, with a theroetical maximum of around 140, although it was noted that the 360 line-up is unlikely to extend that far as the "+1" channels wouldn't be included. There are no details at this time as to which channels may be added, but currently no UK terrestrial channels will be available at launch.

The full channel line-up is as follows:

Entertainment Pack

G.O.L.D.
Sky Real Lives
Sky Arts 1
MTV ONE
Sky Sports News
British Eurosport
ESPN Classic
Sky News
National Geographic
Nat Geo Wild
History
Eden
Cartoon Network
Boomerang
Nickelodeon
Disney Channel
Nick Jr
Sport Pack

Sky Sports 1
Sky Sports 2
Sky Sports 3
Sky Sports XTRA
ESPN (additional cost)
(Plus all sport video on-demand channels)
Movies Pack

Sky Movies Screen 1
Sky Movies Screen 2
(Plus over 400 movies on-demand)

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...360-sky-player ...

Nintendo is to release a fourth major iteration of the Nintendo DS with new and larger screens, according to reports from Japanese business newspaper Nikkei Shimbun (warning: Japanese text only).

Although there are few details, the normally reliable source suggests that the new version of the portable will feature larger 4 inch screens. This would compare to 3.25 inches for the current DSi model, 3.8 inches for the PSPgo and 4.3 inches for the PSP-3000.

According to the Nikkei Shimbun the new iteration, which comes almost exactly a year after the DSi first launched in Japan, is meant as a response to the iPhone rather than the PSP. It is implied that in terms of other features the portable will be similar to the existing DSi.

The new hardware is expected to be priced at the same level as the current model DSi and will be sold in parallel rather than replacing it. Nintendo has made no official comment and a Western release has not yet been mentioned.

Although well on course to being the best-selling video games console of all time, sales of the Nintendo DS have been slowing over the last year - particularly in Japan. New hardware iterations and colours have been a common means of renewing short term interest in a format, although two new models in as many years is unusual for Nintendo.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ase-larger-dsi ...

News via pspita/pspgen

New update available for CTF Tool GUI, PC program developed by coder patpat that allows you to create themes for the CXMB PSP-compatible addition to allowing the extraction of files from format issues. Ctf ready. In this release, v3.1, there are important innovations. Were, however, fixed some bugs in the previous version and improved the conversion of the following files: vshmain.prx, topmenu_plugin.rco and htmlviewer_plugin.prx.
More to follow.

Changelog v3.1:

Quote:

Note: The following files were removed from the archive:
- 5:50 Folder: game_plugin.prx, game_plugin.rco, msvideo_main_plugin.rco, music_main_plugin.prx, paf.prx, visualizer_plugin.prx, vshmain.prx
- Folder SUPPORT: common_gui.prx, vshmain.prx, paf.prx

These files have been removed because, for a range of domestic policy of PSP-ITA, are not allowed to post on the forum.
To seek, you must use the PSARDUMPER and extract them from their firmware.

- Fixed a bug in extracting files from themes 5.03GEN
- Fixed more bugs related to the function of extracting files from CBC
- Improved file conversion vshmain.prx
- Improved file conversion topmenu_plugin.rco
- Improved file conversion htmlviewer_plugin.prx

Download and Give Feedback Via Comments ...

News via pspita

Planned for Halloween (31 October) the release of new version of custom firmware 5:03 GEN-B for HEN, bootable ChickHen by introducing new and exciting information for the owners of the PSP-2000 (TA-088v3) and PSP-3000 firmware uprights Journal 5.03. More details to follow ....

Innovations introduced:

Quote:
• Compatible with PSP-3000 and PSP-2000 firmware v3 with official 5.03.
• Compatibility with titles PSX (POPS).
• Compatibility with the UMD / Backup protected.
• Compatibility with the UMD / Backup that require FW 5.55 +
• Available on Jan VSHMenu.
• Access to Recovery through the VSHMenu.

According to the Team GEN, the Custom Signing 5:03 GEN-B for HEN was tested thoroughly and it seems that has not reported problems with games that require FW 5.55 +. More news will be disclosed by the Team on the day of release.
Stay Tuned! ...

A new Nintendo DSi with a larger screen will be available by year's end in Japan, reports website Nikkei (subscription required).

The report states the screen will now be close to the size of Sony's PSP, nearly double that of the current DSi screen area. This will not only allow for higher display of graphics and text, but possibly new applications as well, such as reading electronic books and watching video.

The new DSi will be priced at 18,900 yen ($205 USD), the same as the current model at retailers. The report states Nintendo is considering releasing the new DSi overseas.

We've contacted Nintendo of America for a response and possible release. Keep checking back.

http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/103/1039028p1.html ...

News via http://www.nintendomax.com/index.php...42&format=news

BALROG provides an update of his game coded in Lua for the DS, "CarPaying. In which you should avoid cars that will darken it.

Quote:
Major news for users:
-Sounds are now played correctly.
-The enemies now appear in random order. (before it was always Top-Left-Right-Bottom)

Download and Give Feedback Via Comments ...

New for Wiz from WooZZang



PuzzleDevilWiz is a simple puzzle game

Download Here ...