Do you dream about things? We don't. Dreaming is for dreamers. We prefer to spend our spare time thinking merely of things that should be, but are not.

Which is where these new kind of Kotaku posts come in. If you see a post tagged "Let's Fantasy", that's exactly what it is: fantasy. An idea, a mock-up of something that we think should exist, but for whatever reason, does not.

Today? Today it's PlayStation 2 games on the PlayStation Store. With the launch of a new dashboard yesterday, we're reminded that Xbox 360 owners have at their fingertips not just a catalogue of current generation games, but a selection of downloadable games from the previous hardware generation as well.

And while there are some good ones on the list, playing old Xbox games via download isn't that big a priority, since most of the original discs still work in the 360. But the PlayStation 2, well, take a look at that selection up there. With most PS3's lacking backwards compatibility - and packing at least 60GB of hard drive space - a store selling classic, downloadable PS2 games would turn Sony a tidy profit.

http://kotaku.com/5335524/if-only-th...mes-on-the-psn ...

We didn't expect too many fireworks from Microsoft and Nokia's joint teleconference this morning, and, well, we didn't get any. As expected, Office Mobile is coming to Symbian, along with Office Communicator Mobile, SharePoint, and Microsoft System Center, and the two companies also said they'll be working on "future user experiences" for Nokia customers. Don't get too worked up about that, though -- Nokia said it was "deeply committed to Symbian," and that "there are no such plans" to work on a Windows Mobile device. So much for that. We did ask whether this partnership would affect Nokia's rumored Maemo plans, and we were told that development is Symbian-focused for now, but that there might be "other business opportunities" in the future, so at least that door remains open a hair -- but for the most part this is all about Microsoft and Nokia trying to stake out a stronger enterprise position, not anything else. Video after the break, if you're having a hard time taking that nap.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/m...ng-to-symbian/ ...

Android's supposed to be all about peace, love, and openness, but that apparently doesn't exempt it from copyright law and trigger-happy general counsels (who knew?). In a move that should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone, Palm has sicced its legal team on the makers of the aptly-named "Palm Pre Android Theme" that borrows icons, wallpapers, and mojo (not to be confused with Mojo) directly from webOS. The concerns center around the usual suspects -- graphics copyrights and trademark infringement -- and the company is demanding that they cease use of the Pre's interface, name, and all that good stuff by some date that's been redacted from the leaked letter (we're assuming it's soon). To be fair, Palm comes out and says that it "appreciates that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery," but at the end of the day, they're concerned about the potential for consumer confusion. Interestingly, to the best of our knowledge, they haven't given the iPhone-based theme the same treatment -- but hey, maybe it's easier to confuse a Hero with a Pre than it is an iPhone... or something.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/p...e-for-android/ ...

We've already had a pretty clear indication that the Xbox 360 Elite would be replacing the current middle-of-the-road Pro model as Microsoft winnows its SKU options down to two, and a new Meijer ad obtained by Kotaku has now further backed up rumors of the switchover, and seemingly confirmed that that, as expected, the Elite will also be occupying the Pro's $299 price point. Of course, all of this is still far from official, but the ad does also peg the date for the price drop as August 30th, so it seems likely we'll hear something from Microsoft before then -- perhaps at a conveniently timed major gaming conference.

http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/12/x...t-august-30th/ ...

Rumours build that Microsoft is to counter Sony’s PS3 price cut by scrapping the Pro model and cutting the Elite RRP
Just hours after MCV revealed that Sony has been clearing the channel in preparation for its PS3 price cut on Tuesday it now appears as if Microsoft could be preparing an Xbox 360 price cut to counter the move.
Kotaku has become the latest website to claim that Microsoft is to ditch its mid-range Xbox 360 Pro SKU and drop the price of its high-end Elite model to fill the vacant space. It claims that the drop will come into effect on August 30th – the same time that Sony will launch its lower-cost PS3.
The Xbox 360 Elite, which is the only SKU to come in black and includes a 120GB HDD, currently carries an RRP of £229.99. If the talk is true then this will drop to £169.99 to replace the outgoing Pro SKU, which includes a 60GB HDD.
This would represent a £60 decrease in the UK and would make Microsoft’s high-end model the cheapest next-gen console on the market.
It is presumed that the Arcade SKU, which doesn’t include an HDD or HDMI cable, will remain at its current RRP of £129.99.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/35363/MS-t...60-Elite-by-60 ...

Hey Microsoft, this isn't 1965. Computers don't take up entire rooms anymore. And hard drives are cheap.

With the Elite looking to get a $100 price cut, you'll be able to purchase a 120GB Xbox 360 console for $299. Yet the retail price on the 360's 120GB drive is still more than half that ($160).

Even though most retailers shave the price down to about $135, the idea that we should be paying anything approaching a dollar per gig is ludicrous.

Both Sony and Nintendo—two companies not necessarily renown for open hardware platforms—have both addressed and solved the issue of rapidly dropping storage prices on their current consoles by handing the reins to their users. The Wii has always been equipped with an SD slot that now even accepts stock 32GB SDHC cards—normal, consumer-grade tech that you can price-compare anywhere. And the PS3 has supported users who wanted to install their own hard drives (or even Linux!) since day freaking one.

Yet Microsoft, who has put forth so much effort in securing deals like Netflix and offering us a New Xbox Experience, is stuck in a proprietary hard drive pricing pattern so old that it probably doesn't know women can vote, Man's walked on the moon or we have 0-calorie sweeteners.

I know what you're thinking: Microsoft charges a lot for their drive because it's some special, expensive to produce tech. It's not. Inside that plastic shell is a stock, boring-as-hell 2.5-inch laptop drive. And you can find such a drive with 500GB of storage for $90 right now.

Keep in mind that Microsoft is buying in bulk.

Oh, and then there's the point that Microsoft is really, really, really, really stupid for not just subsidizing hard drives to begin with. How many of us with 20GB HDDs have gone to download demos only to find our drives full? How many of us are daunted by DLC because we know an extra few maps will necessitate deleting content? And while I know Microsoft doesn't take the 360's video store seriously, how could they ever expect any of us to have the free space to download I Love You Man?

But everything I listed above—that's not the worst of it. It's one final kick in the nuts that Microsoft has sent to those of us willing to do some modding ourselves that rubs me the wrong way.

While I could just pop open my 360 hard drive case and toss in a new drive myself (of course, I get to feel like a criminal while doing so as the process requires a separate PC and various unauthorized firmware files), Microsoft has limited the 360 to only supporting hard drives in their designated 20GB, 60GB and 120GB sizes.

So in other words, even though I can technically go through the trouble of installing a sweet, 500GB of storage capable of holding my entire game collection, Microsoft has taken the time specifically to thwart me in that endeavor. Doing my own installation is no longer a treat, like sticking a turbocharger on an engine. Instead it becomes a home repair I do myself to save a few bucks, like negotiating a new drain line to my dishwasher.

I never thought I'd see a day when Microsoft was more willing to give away software than hardware. But in a great irony, their latest dashboard update is once again free. The dinky hard drive to store it on? That'll still cost ya...more than even a new copy of Windows 7 Home Premium.

http://gizmodo.com/5335747/ridicu+pr...-and-microsoft ...

Is it bad that I hope only one of the rumors about iTunes 9's explosion of new features, like social networking integration, come true?

So here's what we've got, the bulk of it from Boy Genius:

• Blu-ray integration to go with Blu-ray support in upcoming Macs—iTunes 8.2 sorta kinda pointed to Blu-ray, if you recall
• Ability to re-arrange your iPhone/iPod touch apps in various ways (the one feature I actually want)
• Social networking integration: This seems like it'll start out slightly more involved than say, iPhoto's Facebook integration (though hopefully less crappy), but grow deeper as it hooks into a "Social" application Apple will release in the future that'll consolidate all of your social networking services into a single app. At launch, iTunes 9's social networking component—which'll tap Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm—will do stuff like broadcast the music you're listening to, share music with people in your networks (remote streaming?), and update all of your various statuses.
• Cocktail—Apple's plan to revive the album, with "a new type of interactive album material, including photos, lyric sheets and liner notes that allow users to click through to items that they find most interesting" according to the Financial Times.

Let's look at the odds. Blu-ray seems possible, though iffy, given what we saw in 8.2 earlier. Re-arranging your growing library of apps is a useful and logical addition. The Cocktail rumor comes from the respectable Financial Times, and is backed up by word the labels are working on their own competing digital album format after Apple rejected their original proposal.

The social networking components, like Last.fm integration, also make some sense: People are streaming more music than ever, slightly shifting away from downloads. So while Pocket Lint has torn apart supposedly leaked images of the Last.fm part, it still seems more than possible. Basic integration with Facebook and Twitter makes sense—iPhoto already taps into Facebook, for instance (though not very well, admittedly).

The Apple "Social" app, that will supposedly bring together all of your social networks in a single interface, we'll have to wait and see. It'd be new ground for Apple, for sure. Interestingly, Apple "resisted" integrating social networking with Facebook into the OS, though Apple poo-pooing something is by no means an indication they won't ever go there. Like Cocktail, actually.

But my god, what a fat ****ing monster iTunes has become. I hope Apple uses one of the new icons you guys cooked up for it.

http://gizmodo.com/5335754/itunes-9-...social-monster ...

According to CNET, Android multitouch is on the way and should arrive by the end of the year. You know, if you haven't hacked it.

Backing up for a second, It's easy to think that Android supports multitouch, since Android phones like the HTC Hero use special builds of the software that include the feature. But your average Android phone is stuck in the single-touch world, which is just sinful when compared to the multitouch iPhone or Pre.

CNET believes that upcoming Android variant "Eclair" will feature multitouch, and they believe Eclair will first make its arrival on a Motorola phone this holiday season.

Until then, just try to forget that Android lacks multitouch.

http://gizmodo.com/5335864/android-2...-with-motorola ...

Codemasters wasn't too impressed with that Project Natal-enabled Burnout demo, apparently, and thinks gamers won't trash their controllers and steering wheels for racing games when Natal is unleashed on the public. Speaking to Videogamer, Codemasters' Ralph Fulton -- who is currently hard at work on DiRT 2 -- said, "The complexity of control for a racing game, certainly for a core racing game like ours, requires a controller."

Fulton points to the need for feedback and precision, claiming that Project Natal just won't do either justice. That's not to say there isn't a place for Natal in racers, as Fulton thinks it could add some functionality on top of traditional controls, though he fails to provide us with any ideas of his own. Until we get our hands on the final product, we're just going to have to watch those chase scenes from Ronin over and over again with a pair of fuzzy dice strapped to our TV.

http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/co...ols-in-racers/ ...