Embraceware have released a new version of Awaken, version 2.0.1. Awaken is a digital alarm clock that wakes you up by playing the iTunes playlist of your choice. Alarms can be created to alert you on a weekly basis at a set time, or at any specific date and time. You can also fall asleep to your favorite music using the newly introduced sleep timer.

Awaken Features
– Easy to use interface which was designed in accordance with Apple's Aqua Human Interface Guidelines.
– Weekly and specific date alarms at any time.
– Customizable snooze timer.
– Wake-From-Sleep feature which allows Awaken to wake the computer from sleep at the time of an alarm.
– Utilizes your playlists that have been created in iTunes.
– Current song information and album artwork displayed at alarm time.

What's New in Version 2.0.3
– Sleep Timer enhanced to include option for putting the computer to sleep.
– Option added to allow closing of an alarm without stopping the music.
– Fixed a bug where music would not play if the playlist name contained special characters.
– Fixed a bug where the sleep timer would crash at random times.
– Fixed a problem which may caused the computer not to wake from sleep at the correct time.
– Fixed a glitch in the sleep timer when displaying seconds less than 10.”

http://www.embraceware.com/awaken.html ...

Embraceware have released a new version of Awaken, version 2.0.1. Awaken is a digital alarm clock that wakes you up by playing the iTunes playlist of your choice. Alarms can be created to alert you on a weekly basis at a set time, or at any specific date and time. You can also fall asleep to your favorite music using the newly introduced sleep timer.

Awaken Features
– Easy to use interface which was designed in accordance with Apple's Aqua Human Interface Guidelines.
– Weekly and specific date alarms at any time.
– Customizable snooze timer.
– Wake-From-Sleep feature which allows Awaken to wake the computer from sleep at the time of an alarm.
– Utilizes your playlists that have been created in iTunes.
– Current song information and album artwork displayed at alarm time.

What's New in Version 2.0.3
– Sleep Timer enhanced to include option for putting the computer to sleep.
– Option added to allow closing of an alarm without stopping the music.
– Fixed a bug where music would not play if the playlist name contained special characters.
– Fixed a bug where the sleep timer would crash at random times.
– Fixed a problem which may caused the computer not to wake from sleep at the correct time.
– Fixed a glitch in the sleep timer when displaying seconds less than 10.”

http://www.embraceware.com/awaken.html ...

Joe Jimenez and Benito Flores are avid fans of Microsoft's Xbox video game console. And they're both eager to see the latest model slated to hit stores this fall.

Yesterday, they discovered they will have a choice, as Microsoft announced it will make two versions of its new console -- the Xbox 360, priced at US$399, and a stripped-down version, the Xbox 360 Core, priced at $299.

It marks the first time a gaming console has been introduced at a multiple price point, something common with other electronic gadgets. Analysts said it is a good strategy by Microsoft in its battle against Sony, the reigning champion of home video game systems. ...

After the announcement of the Xbox 360 pricing plan our reader response has been a fiery mix of anger, jubilation, and confusion. The total package which includes the hard drive will cost gamers $399.99 meaning that a typical holiday bundle including a second controller and a game will run about 500 dollars. The Core unit is $299.99 (the launch price of the first Xbox) but lacks the wireless controller, HD cables, and hard drive which will enable backwards compatibility.

There is no question that four hundred dollars is a good chunk of money, but how wide is the gap between this console launch and the price of previous gaming hardware? What follows is a list of previous consoles with their prices adjusted for inflation according to the Consumer Price Index. NASA.org is kind enough to provide an array of inflation calculators including a separate calculator based on the Employment Cost Index which is based on employee wages and benefits.

As pointed out by Erik Brudvig, our guides editor and resident smart aleck, computer technology doesn't exactly follow the same rules of inflation as other products. This is due to the decreasing cost and increased capabilities of the guts of a machine. So while the value of the $650 smackers paid for a Neo Geo is an exorbitant amount of cash by today's standards, the actual hardware could now be produced for a tiny fraction of that cost.

Perhaps the best illustration of this principle is the evolution of the PS2 architecture. What was originally a 300 dollar system was later re-released with a more compact design and a lower price tag. This was basically done a third time with the PSP which is only slightly less powerful and of course portable.

Another factor contributing to the worth of a console is the functionality of each system. For a short time the Nintendo Entertainment System included a robotic opponent for gamers without friends but this is hardly comparable to features like DVD playback, custom soundtracks, online capability, and a remote control.

For the purpose of this article we'll be looking at the price of a video game console statiscally and comparing its cost to today's dollar value.

Atari VCS launched in 1977 for $249.99 — $811.21 in 2005
Nintendo Entertainment System launched in 1985 for $199.99 — $354.91 in 2005
SEGA Genesis launched in 1989 for $249.99 — $389.67 in 2005
NeoGeo launched in 1990 for $699.99 — $1041.12 in 2005
Super Nintendo launched in 1991 for $199.99 — $282.21 in 2005
Jaguar launched in 1993 for $249.99 — $328.69 in 2005
3DO Interactive Multiplayer launched in 1993 for $699.95 — $920.30 in 2005
SEGA Saturn launched in 1995 for $399.99 — $497.66 in 2005
Nintendo 64 launched in 1996 for $199.99 — $242.75 in 2005
SEGA Dreamcast launches in 1999 for $199.99 —$228.09 in 2005
PlayStation launched in 1995 for $299.99 — $372.01 in 2005
PlayStation 2 launched in 2000 for $299.99 — $333.15 in 2005
Xbox Launched in 2001 for $299.99 — $325.34 in 2005
GameCube launched in 2001 for $199.99 — $216.89 in 2005 ...

After the announcement of the Xbox 360 pricing plan our reader response has been a fiery mix of anger, jubilation, and confusion. The total package which includes the hard drive will cost gamers $399.99 meaning that a typical holiday bundle including a second controller and a game will run about 500 dollars. The Core unit is $299.99 (the launch price of the first Xbox) but lacks the wireless controller, HD cables, and hard drive which will enable backwards compatibility.

There is no question that four hundred dollars is a good chunk of money, but how wide is the gap between this console launch and the price of previous gaming hardware? What follows is a list of previous consoles with their prices adjusted for inflation according to the Consumer Price Index. NASA.org is kind enough to provide an array of inflation calculators including a separate calculator based on the Employment Cost Index which is based on employee wages and benefits.

As pointed out by Erik Brudvig, our guides editor and resident smart aleck, computer technology doesn't exactly follow the same rules of inflation as other products. This is due to the decreasing cost and increased capabilities of the guts of a machine. So while the value of the $650 smackers paid for a Neo Geo is an exorbitant amount of cash by today's standards, the actual hardware could now be produced for a tiny fraction of that cost.

Perhaps the best illustration of this principle is the evolution of the PS2 architecture. What was originally a 300 dollar system was later re-released with a more compact design and a lower price tag. This was basically done a third time with the PSP which is only slightly less powerful and of course portable.

Another factor contributing to the worth of a console is the functionality of each system. For a short time the Nintendo Entertainment System included a robotic opponent for gamers without friends but this is hardly comparable to features like DVD playback, custom soundtracks, online capability, and a remote control.

For the purpose of this article we'll be looking at the price of a video game console statiscally and comparing its cost to today's dollar value. ...

Rumble Roses XX for Xbox 360

Source: gameplanet


Konami of Europe has announced its first title for the Xbox 360 in the shapely form of Rumble Roses XX (working title), an all-girl wrestling game starring a bevy of beautiful combatants.

Featuring over 20 female characters, Rumble Roses XX is a "graphically stunning" wrestling title featuring a wide range of throws, counter-moves and pin-downs. Each character has a distinct personality, from Cow-Girl Dixie through to schoolgirl Reiko and wicked nurse Anesthesia. In addition to the staple throws, slaps and pins of the wrestling genre, each girl has specific attacks linked to their overt personalities and can also string together a number of moves to create formidable combinations. In keeping with the glitzy showcase nature of the game, the girls also have taunt moves to rile their opponents and to get the crowd going.

Rumble Roses XX features a number of solo modes wherein players can pummel their way through the game's many characters and unlock additional foes. There is also a number of additional competitions to put the player through their paces, each giving the player a chance to access the hundreds of possible attacks the game can produce.

Multi-player action is also included via a four-player tag team competition, wherein two pairs of girls can fight against each other. The Tag Team mode also gives players access to previously inaccessible moves as the pairs work together. Rumble Roses XX will also make use of the Xbox Live online gaming service, with one-on-one bouts or team battles to be enjoyed against like-minded fans. ...

Infantile Paralyser have released a new version of MoonShell for the Nintendo DS:

MoonShell v0.2+7 JpegTest for NDS

Infantile Paralysiser has released yet another version to his long list of releases for MoonShell, version 0.2+7. This guy is really dedicated to this multi media format player for the Nintendo DS. In this version he writes about it:“

A large jpeg image was supported. maximum width is 16384pixel.
'16000x12800 24bitColor 40MByte JpegFile' has been confirmed.
BUT!!
It is very very slow. hahaha.”

Download Here --> http://nintendo-ds.dcemu.co.uk/moonshell.shtml ...

Source - Joystiq

Let’s remind ourselves of the words of SCEA, posted last week and still resting as they were, regarding the expected release of the 2.0 update to the PSP firmware:

The PSP Firmware 2.0 Upgrade for the North American market will be available during the week of August 15th, instead of on August 12, as previously reported.
Well… its afternoon on Friday the 19th of August here in the US (except for those in the pacific islands). And like a bride (or groom) standing at the alter during some uncomfortable pause as the expected to be betrothed does not appear upon the 3rd replay of their musical cue, PSP fanatics sit/stand dumfounded. There’s no reference to the update on the Playstation/PSP website, no updates in the message boards. We can only hope that this update is so fantabulous that it brews espresso, runs the lights and features of our homes and carries no bugs that might make our happy little portables sick to their stomachs. ...

It’s been a good few days since we’ve heard a good Revolution rumor, but we may get some actual facts in the weeks to come. IGN’s Matt Casamassina, whom I respect for being pretty much unbiased in his Nintendo coverage (critical and loving of the hand that feeds him), has made a few interesting remarks in his recent mailbags. I’m sure he gets a dozen e-mails every day about Revolution news, but in Monday’s edition he answered that we will receive more information “shortly after the Leipzig Games Convention. I don’t have an exact time frame - it could be a day or a week, but I don’t expect it will be much longer.” The next day, he stated that he “wouldn’t call it a guess.” So, in other words, he knows something, and hopefully we will soon. Because nothing else drives speculation and rumors like actual facts.

The Leipzig Games Convention ends this sunday, so maybe we could find out something new as soon as this Monday - wouldn’t that be a great way to start the week? ...