In a pile of new Apple patent applications released today, one surprise stood out: Apple is working on an external transceiver that would turn an iPod touch - or any mobile device, from a media player to a game console - into a full-featured cellular phone. The patent, called "Accessory Transceiver for Mobile Devices," was highlighted by Patently Apple today. In addition to giving calling services to an iPod, the patent also details how the transceiver could be used to connect an iPhone to a different cellular network, specifically referencing a CDMA network like the one used by Verizon in the US.

http://modmyi.com/forums/iphone-news...le-patent.html ...

[Catea] has put some considerable effort into making a wiimote more accessible to people with physical disabilities. He started by extending the buttons out to much larger versions mounted on a lap tray. This makes playing games much easier for those that are lacking the fine motor skills to hit the buttons on the wiimote. This alone is a pretty substantial improvement, but [Catea] wanted to do more.

Taking the whole idea further, [Catea] published a second instructible where he outlines the process of adding two Arduinos and Xbee modulse to make the external buttons wireless.

http://hackaday.com/2010/09/19/wiimo...modifications/ ...

Another week, another well-detailed tear down from the kids at iFixit. Blessed with an eight out of ten on the repairability index, the PlayStation Move was said to be one of the easiest devices yet to break down and reassemble, so there's a good chance that any novice DIYer with a steady hand and a Phillips screwdriver could accomplish what's shown in the link below. No huge surprises were found once the PCB's clothing was removed, but we were told that the Move controller contains a great many components that are found in today's modern smartphones: a processor, accelerometer, gyroscope, Bluetooth transmitter, vibrating motor, and even a MEMS compass. The sphere at the top can flash any color thanks to the included LEDs, and the integrated Li-ion battery can be disconnected (and thus, replaced) from the device without any soldering. Hit the source for the nitty-gritty, and hop on past the break for the highlights. Oh, and as a reminder, you can grab your own Move starting today if you call North America home.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/19/p...nd-user-could/

http://www.ifixit.com/blog/2010/09/p...move-teardown/ ...

HP's been saying it'll use webOS on a tablet since the first moment it bought Palm, but it looks like things are starting to pick up ahead of that "early 2011" due date -- in an email to the Palm Developer Community, HP's Peter Helm says webOS will be used on "tablet-style devices similar to the iPad." Check it:
Now that we are officially part of HP, we are going full speed ahead with our applications initiative. Our proprietary operating system, webOS, is now the OS that will be used in HP's mobile devices. This includes mobile handsets as well as tablet-style devices similar to the iPad. We will accordingly leverage Palm's ability to innovate and the scale of HP's vast install base and distribution network previously unavailable to us.
Yeah, that's pretty much the Rorschach test of seemingly-innocuous quotes; you can read it as anything from a meaningless passing reference to the market leader to an overt hint that we'll be looking at an ARM-based device with a 9-inch display and a lengthy battery life. The possibilities are endless -- let's just hope whatever Palm and HP are actually working on delivers on the enormous promise of the platform.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/20/h...r-to-the-ipad/ ...

It's been just over a month since we broke the news that Sony's working on an Android 3.0-based gaming phone with PlayStation branding, and a new job posting seems to indicate that progress is being made -- the PlayStation division is looking for a senior server engineer in London with "experience in mobile development, specifically Android." The rest of the listing sounds like this person will be involved in running an online game service, which certainly makes sense; Sony would do well to counter Xbox Live on Windows Phone 7 and Apple's Game Center with PSN on their own device. Either that, or this just means nothing -- but you know us, we're eternal optimists.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/20/s...ith-android-d/ ...

Sony has fully detailed the PS3 Firmware update 3.50 - letting gamers know what the upgrade is about to offer their console.


The upgrade not only offers the widely reported 3D Blu-ray support - but also enables users to use PlayStation Move to control their on-screen cursor.

Firmware update 3.50 will go live tomorrow evening. According to the Spanish PlayStation Blog (translated by The Examiner), it will offer:

-3D Blu-ray Support

-Move can be used as web browser cursor

-Users reports can be sent from PS3 through the 'Friends' tab

-3D notice screen for 3D enabled games

- Better access to your Facebook profile
- Better description of the 14 most common errors

-Updated user interface for PlayStation Plus in PlayStation Store

-New Qriocity icon in the Music section.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS ...

The issue of pre-owned and the second-hand games market is a hot topic at the moment in the industry.

As increasing numbers retailers expand their video game offerings to encompass used games, publishers and developers have spoken out about the damaging effects of the second-hand market.

Activision and THQ are just two of many publishers taking steps to combat the increase in pre-owned sales.

One of the methods being discussed is to charge those who buy used extra for online features. PSM3 makes the case for - and against - this method.

NO: IT'S THE THIN END OF A DANGEROUS WEDGE. IT NEEDS TO STOP NOW

If extra payments remain limited to multi-player, and fees become standard - say, a £5 flat rate on any game - few could seriously complain. Multi-player's a continuing service, with running costs attached.

But it won't stop there. Some major figures have spoken of their desire to destroy the second hand market.

While last year EA boss John Riccitello equated used sales to piracy - propaganda designed to soften up opposition, seeding the idea that used game sales, uniquely in our capitalist, consumer society, are immoral.

This goes against notions of property accepted for thousands of years. It's breathtakingly cynical.

One-use codes are far too tempting to waste on additional services. EA's Project $10, for instance, is less about adding value than controlling it.

Publishers can't control discs once they're out, but they can control downloads. Download-only gaming isn't quite here yet. So in the meantime, why not make discs worthless? Hobble the game, then ask buyers to download the balance as 'extras'. For a fee.

So thin out the 'extra' enemies, remove the 'extra' guns and chop 'extra' levels from Future Shooter X and you've shifted the value from the physical property to a download code.

Publishers get to sell discs and we get to buy them, but not own them or sell them or anything annoying like that. Ace. - Steve Williams

YES: ONLINE SUPPORT AND DLC COSTS MONEY, SO YOU SHOULD PAY FOR IT

It's an unpopular view, but I genuinely believe games are fairly priced. Yes, I know £50 is a substantial outlay, even if you're reasonably well-off, but for the amount of effort that goes into games (well, the ones that are actually worth buying) it's a fair deal.

And, the longer you own a game, the more value you get from it. £50 for Battlefield Bad Company 2 is more reasonable if - like me - you bought on day one.

Why? It costs EA money to support the game online, and it costs DICE time and effort (so, money again) to develop the VIP map packs we've all enjoyed for free.

So, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask anyone who paid less for Battlefield because they picked up a pre-owned copy, to pay the extra money. After all, they're enjoying the same services as everyone else.

EA (or indeed any publisher) is perfectly entitled to charge a fee for anyone buying pre-owned, because they don't see a penny of the money from when that person actually buys the game. Why?

That cash is in the retailer's pocket, and I don't see them offering to help EA support their servers. And if you don't want to pay for an 'online pass' or any other locked out services - well, that is your choice.

You can still play the majority of the game without worrying yourself about how the publishers and developers are going to recoup their costs for support or future sequels.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS ...

Industry veteran David Braben has called on the industry to not be complacent in the view that online game portals will end piracy.
In a new Develop opinion piece, the Frontier Developments founder agreed that online-focused game platforms largely circumvent the threat of illicit file sharing.
“But experience shows it is unlikely to last,” he warned.
“There are quite a few worrying aspects to this. Some of the online distribution services are already now damaged by piracy; look at the recent ruling against Apple, suggesting ‘jail-breaking’ the iPhone is legitimate.
“That is a very dangerous precedent,” he added.

Braben’s observations come as part of a wider look at social and online gaming, with the Elite creator exploring what he sees as four ‘misconceptions’ of the sector.
He agreed that online-only games such as World of Warcraft provide a valuable answer to piracy – yet they are not without their own side-effects.
“The downside to this is the maintenance of back-end servers for each game; not a problem while the game is new, but when are the servers and support turned off?
“Eventually this time will come, and where are the genuine players left then? And what about single player? The key thing is to make sure common platform functionality – offered by Live and PSN – is used rather than bespoke servers, but this currently doesn’t address the pre-owned issue.”

http://www.develop-online.net/news/3...iracy-solution ...

The battle to for which game is the King of the FPS genre is never ending. Whether it's in-game, on forums or even at the water cooler, the dominance of the genre is a topic that always generates heated and passionate debate.

Fortunately, The Golden Joystick Awards are here to settle the debate once and for all - well, until next year, that is.

Gaming's most popular franchises are battling out to claim the ITN Game On Shooter of the Year award at this year's Golden Joystick Awards.

And you can vote for your game of choice and share in the glory.

"The FPS genre is perhaps the most fervently supported of any gaming category."

"The soaring sales and continuing popularity of the nominated titles in the ITN Game On Shooter of the Year category proves that whilst video gaming has broadened it's appeal into a mainstream lifestyle pursuit over the last few years, quality shoot 'em ups have grown their popularity in the bedroom and living rooms of the world." explains the Golden Joysticks' release.

Make your voice heard and your opinion count by casting your vote here.

Here's the full list of nominees for shooter of the year

Aliens vs. Predator
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Bioshock 2
Borderlands
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Halo 3: ODST
Left 4 Dead 2
Metro 2033
Metriod Prime Trilogy
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Call of Pripyat

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS ...