via eurogamer

Blu-ray DVDs are to include a feature that will allow copies of films to be transferred to laptops or other devices.

It's an effort by Sony to gain wider acceptance of its new format and, more importantly, rival Microsoft's HD-DVD technology.

Speaking at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, head of Sony's home entertainment unit, David Bishop, indicated that we'll see this feature soon.

"It's not currently part of anything on our current release schedule, but we'll probably roll it out sometime this year."

Which sounds rather familiar. Take with a pinch of salt.

Blu-ray famously holds more than five-times as much data as a normal DVD, and Sony have already claimed that games are filling the impressive 25GB capacity. What exactly are they filling it with? We can only hazard a guess. ...

via engadget

We had a chance to check out Microsoft's IPTV offering for Xbox 360, announced earlier this week during Bill Gates' CES keynote, and get answers to some of the questions that have been nagging at us since first hearing about the service. Though Microsoft hasn't announced any providers for the service yet, both AT&T and Verizon -- as well as fourteen other telcos around the world -- use Microsoft's IPTV middleware platform to provide television over fiber, so they seem like likely candidates when the service debuts holiday season '07. Of course, if you're considering the DVR functionality, the Xbox 360's anemic 20GB hard drive won't get you very far. A Microsoft rep said the file sizes are dependent not only on the resolution of the feed, but the compression used by the provider; however, one could probably assume that the Xbox Live Video Marketplace's videos would be roughly analogous in size. Regardless, we'd expect an update to the drive before IPTV launches. Because IPTV uses software, not a hardware tuner, to decode the signal, the number of streams that can be simultaneously recorded is limited solely by internet and hard drive bandwidth. In addition, IPTV is capable of offering more HD channels than other platforms, like cable or satellite. Because the service shares the same connection as your phone and internet connection, it can provide telco caller-ID and features like teleconferencing have "been discussed." Perhaps the biggest question we have is whether or not any of this functionality would (or could) be made available to gamers who don't (or can't) get IPTV service in their area. Microsoft isn't saying anything but, considering the small amount of consumers with fiber service to the home, we certainly hope so.

More at link above ...

via engadget

Two sparsely-buttoned large, touchscreen phones: the Apple iPhone, and the LG KE850 (which already won the International Forum Design Product Design Award for 2007). Separated at birth, or possible lawsuit number two for Apple? You decide. ...

via cvg

SCEA's senior director of corporate communications, Dave Karraker, has responded to sniping comments made by Microsoft earlier this week, where MS's Peter Moore and Chris Satchell called Sony's PS3 online service a "disaster", and said Sony doesn't have the "talent" to launch a service matching Xbox Live.

"I would argue that consumers worldwide, to the tune of over 200 million PlayStations, PS2s, PSPs and PS3s, have decided whether or not Sony has the DNA to deliver hardware, software and services to suit this industry," Karraker told Gamepro.com, making sure to note that Gran Turisom HD highlights "the potential of the PlayStation Network and the kind of ground breaking content we plan to offer".

Karraker also took issue with Microsoft's recent announcement that it has sold 10.4 million Xbox 360s, suggesting that MS's touted number is actually the number of consoles shipped, rather than those actually in the hands of gamers.

"Microsoft views 'sold' as what has been sold to retailers but could be sitting on pallets in warehouses or stacked on store shelves," he said.

"'Sold' to Sony has always meant what the consumer has actually purchased, I think many people have incorrectly viewed our competitor's 'sold' figure to believe it was actually sold to consumers, which it was not." ...

via cvg

Gunpey, the puzzle-music game on PSP and DS, has been picked up by Atari which will publish the game in Europe in March.

The colourful puzzle game has players flip rising panels, lining up the markings within the panels to make them explode before they reach the top of the screen. Confused? Check out the DS and PSP screens below.

Both games feature wireless link-up for multiplayer gaming, and platform-exclusive content includes 40 interchangeable skins for the PSP version, while the DS version boasts extra special moves that temporarily disrupt your opponent's screen in versus games, and the option to create your own music.

Screens Via Comments ...

via cvg

Gunpey, the puzzle-music game on PSP and DS, has been picked up by Atari which will publish the game in Europe in March.

The colourful puzzle game has players flip rising panels, lining up the markings within the panels to make them explode before they reach the top of the screen. Confused? Check out the DS and PSP screens below.

Both games feature wireless link-up for multiplayer gaming, and platform-exclusive content includes 40 interchangeable skins for the PSP version, while the DS version boasts extra special moves that temporarily disrupt your opponent's screen in versus games, and the option to create your own music.

Screens Via Comments ...

via cvg

Extended versions of The Godfather game previously released on Xbox, Xbox 360 and PS are on their way to the Wii and PS3, with extra content and enhanced controls.

The Godfather The Don's Edition is the name of the version coming to PS3 whilst the Wii game will be titled, The Godfather Blackhand Edition.

Both games will feature new missions, new ways to find dirty cops for your dodgy deals, and the added ability to follow the path of either an Enforcer or Operator, offering you different "perks and abilities".

The Don's Edition on PS3 will also have new Shipyard and Rail yard transportation hubs which will presumably increase mobility throughout the city, whilst the Blackhand Edition on Wii will have you swinging the Remote and Nunchuk to fight, and pointing the Remote like a gun to shoot your enemies.

The already-released Godfather game is a decent urban-gangster romp and, even though it's been out for a while already, with the new features added these versions, they could be well worth a look for Wii and PS3 owners this spring.

Both games are due in March in the US, and presumably shortly after in UK. ...

via cvg

Extended versions of The Godfather game previously released on Xbox, Xbox 360 and PS are on their way to the Wii and PS3, with extra content and enhanced controls.

The Godfather The Don's Edition is the name of the version coming to PS3 whilst the Wii game will be titled, The Godfather Blackhand Edition.

Both games will feature new missions, new ways to find dirty cops for your dodgy deals, and the added ability to follow the path of either an Enforcer or Operator, offering you different "perks and abilities".

The Don's Edition on PS3 will also have new Shipyard and Rail yard transportation hubs which will presumably increase mobility throughout the city, whilst the Blackhand Edition on Wii will have you swinging the Remote and Nunchuk to fight, and pointing the Remote like a gun to shoot your enemies.

The already-released Godfather game is a decent urban-gangster romp and, even though it's been out for a while already, with the new features added these versions, they could be well worth a look for Wii and PS3 owners this spring.

Both games are due in March in the US, and presumably shortly after in UK. ...

via cvg

Extended versions of The Godfather game previously released on Xbox, Xbox 360 and PS are on their way to the Wii and PS3, with extra content and enhanced controls.

The Godfather The Don's Edition is the name of the version coming to PS3 whilst the Wii game will be titled, The Godfather Blackhand Edition.

Both games will feature new missions, new ways to find dirty cops for your dodgy deals, and the added ability to follow the path of either an Enforcer or Operator, offering you different "perks and abilities".

The Don's Edition on PS3 will also have new Shipyard and Rail yard transportation hubs which will presumably increase mobility throughout the city, whilst the Blackhand Edition on Wii will have you swinging the Remote and Nunchuk to fight, and pointing the Remote like a gun to shoot your enemies.

The already-released Godfather game is a decent urban-gangster romp and, even though it's been out for a while already, with the new features added these versions, they could be well worth a look for Wii and PS3 owners this spring.

Both games are due in March in the US, and presumably shortly after in UK. ...