It didn't take long for the the iPhone's release for it to get a VNC client enabling remote desktop access. No surprise, then, that it's taken even less time for Palm's Pre to get similar functionality -- well, the beginnings of similar functionality, anyway. As the thrilling video after the break proves, it's possible to get today's hottest smartphone to connect to a VNC server, but rather sadly keyboard and mouse support aren't there yet. So, while you can watch all those wonderful command prompts and other windows majestically move across the screen, you can't touch a single one. Surely that'll be fixed soon, but will it be soon enough?

http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/17/v...from-afar-but/ ...

PSP, DSi, and Xbox 360 owners can expect their consoles to gain some new abilities over the next month — many for no added cost. We've broken down the big changes coming.

[NOTE: The following reflects the plans for the U.S. market]

Spring

In June, during E3, Sony enabled the PSP Video Store, which allows direct downloading of video content to the Sony portable.

Summer

The Nintendo DSi is scheduled to gain the ability to upload pictures snapped by either of the DSi's cameras to Facebook. Nintendo slates this for summer. It will assumedly be made available via a download to the DSi.

In August, the Xbox 360's Netflix service, which is available to paying Xbox Live Gold users who also have a Netflix account, will be upgraded to allow users to add movies to their queue via the 360, rather than strictly through their PC.

Also in August, Microsoft will launch a Games on Demand service, which will allow consumers to download full-sized Xbox 360 games to their harddrive. Based on the games shown at E3 in a mock-up of the service, expect these to be older games, like Lego Batman, Oblivion and Mass Effect.

Fall

In the fall, Xbox 360s will gain the ability to be receive Facebook and Twitter updates on their 360. The integration won't send status updates at you while you're playing games, but it will let you check up on your friends and link their accounts to their Gamertags for better social networking without the need of a computer.

In the fall, the Xbox 360 will offer Last.FM integration to Xbox Live Gold members.

Also in the fall, the 360 will enable users to try Instant-Streaming in 1080p, an on-demand video service that will allow 1080- video to be streamed without caching, buffering or delay for users with an 8mbps Internet connection or better.

As of October 1, when the PSPgo launches, all PSP users can expect that major new games issued by Sony for PSPgo will also be downloadable for regular PSPs. Sony isn't committing to when this transition will kick in for all PSP first-party games or the extent to which it will also take place for third-party PSP games, but users can expect October 1 to be an important date to watch as this move occurs.

—

There may be other firmware or app-enabled changes to these systems as well as to the Wii and PS3 by the end of the year. These are the ones announced so far. And the game consoles keep on evolving...

http://gizmodo.com/5292598/how-our-g...change-in-2009 ...

If you were wondering how the Zune HD could pack in such iPod touch-beating smoothness into such a small size, we might have an answer for you: It's packing Nvidia's teeny, high-performance Tegra processor.

As we explained in our Giz Explains: Low-Power Chipsets, Nvidia's Tegra proc is designed to handle high-def video and Flash with buttery smoothness in small packages, just like the Zune HD. So while this is as yet still unconfirmed, given that we haven't had confirmation from Microsoft, it makes a lot of sense and would actually be a very smart move—and the sources reporting the rumor seem very certain that it's true. With a Tegra processor, the Zune HD would certainly be able to decode videos with far less necessary power than with any other chipset, which means better battery life combined with better video quality. What else could you want from a next-gen PMP?

http://gizmodo.com/5293404/zune-hd-p...r-battery-life ...

The latest firmware for the iPhone and iPod Touch and a new, more powerful iPhone both hit this week.

Gameloft CEO Michel Guillemot says that the two are the most significant changes to hit the still emerging gaming platform to date, but points out that Apple still has a ways to go before working out all of the kinks in iTunes gaming.

"I think these are very significant," he said. "Firmware 3.0 is really important because it opens the iPhone apps to the Internet world. It gives a lot of choice to users, the possibility to purchase levels, to contact your friends, to be open to the Internet."

For Gameloft the new firmware, due out today, means creating games that are more open, more customizable to users.

"You can purchase the levels you like, you can race in the cities you like, all of that is something that will make a sort of revolution," he said. "It is amazing what Apple is doing with 3GS, you are really reaching a kind of console power now. With this new model you will be able to create games that are perfect console games, give an experience to users that are second to none."

"For the first time gamers can choose to play on a dedicated console or choose to play on an iPhone, but have no compromise in the experience."

While Gameloft doesn't yet have plans to make games specifically for the 3GS iPhone, due out on June 19, Guillemot says that one day they likely will. Until then, Gameloft games will be scalable.

"I think the games will take advantage automatically of the new iPhone, to a certain extent. For the specific features in an iPhone 3Gs we will have to wait a bit. It's a little early to give you exactly which games will have what. "

While the new firmware brings with it plenty of new game-centric features and the iPhone 3GS is more capable of handling games, there are still plenty of kinks to work out in the App Store.

Prices range from free to $10 and developers regularly complain that their titles get lost in the constant stream of games adding daily to the more than 50,000 apps in the store.

Some have pointed to Gameloft as a culprit in the pricing problems on the system. Several of their games hit the store for $10, much higher than the typical iPhone price. Guillemot defended their pricing model, saying that games on the device should sell for $5 to $10.

"We feel at that price there is still a lot of value for consumers," he said. "It is the right price point in terms of value for money."

But pricing and visibility are a constant source of concern even for big developers like Gameloft.

"There are two trends right now in the App Store," he said. "One is to say we should remain in what is the logical price for a game of that quality on a device of that quality. But there is an attraction in saying that you can reach millions of people, so price isn't important.

"I think the App Store is something that has never been done before. It's a new experiment for everyone including Apple and developers. I think everyone is adapting in real time to what this eco system is."

"Gameloft is looking at all of this as well and adapting also when we can."

Pricing, though, will become less of a concern with the iPhone's latest firmware, Guillemot thinks. That's because more games will likely rely on the ability to sell content within their title to make money.

"It will open a completely new way of monetizing games," he said.

While visibility is a struggle for everyone in the increasingly crowded App Store, Guillemot has faith in Apple solving the problem and doing so without needing to create a stand alone store for games.

"I think everyone is surprised by the level of success of the App Store, getting from zero to 50,000 apps in one year is a challenge for everyone," he said. "It's a challenge for everyone to get visible when you have that many appsl, but I think Apple is working regularly to fine tune the store so the best games get the best visibility."

Guillemot doesn't want a gaming store because he thinks the open nature of the App Store is one of its greatest strengths.

"The logic of it is to be wide-open like the Internet, but to also be promoting people who make a premium experience for users," he said. "If they were to create a specific App Store for games we may lose the Internet effect of it, the openness of what the App Store has today.

"It's a delicate balance to handle," he said. "To keep the richness of apps and to still promote or put forward the apps that are really bringing a significant value or experience to users."

While Gameloft and other developers struggle with the issues inherent in a blossoming gaming platform, there is one thing that most will agree on. The iPhone and iPod Touch, with more than 40 million users, is a viable and very real platform for gaming.

"It is a real gaming device," he said. "It may have even grown the market, instead of cannibalizing it."

http://kotaku.com/5292671/what-does-...r-apple-gaming ...

A couple months ago, a Major League Baseball spokeperson hinted that live video streaming—one of the vaunted promises of iPhone 3.0—could make its way to the league's $10 At Bat app. Tomorrow, they're making good on their tease.

http://gizmodo.com/5293907/mlb-strea...rting-tomorrow ...

I know this comic is meant to be little more than a tongue-in-cheek look at the corporate green package movement, but I really would eat an iPhone-bundled tortilla. Con frijoles, even.

http://gizmodo.com/5293873/pizza-and...hone-container ...

Sega and High Voltage Software's Wii FPS, The Conduit, has had its UK release delayed until July 10. It was originally planned for June 26.

Sega UK said the delay's due to localisation issues on the European version of the game, and the North American release will go ahead next week as planned.

Disappointing news for us UK folks then, who last time we checked speak the same language as North Americans.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=217738 ...

Whilst its steps may have been tentative, Nintendo’s early digital releases for the DSi have at the least signified an interest in promoting the handheld as a multimedia device as well as a games machine – and two of its newest downloads do a good job of touching both markets.
Amongst the releases on the DSiWare store this week are two curious additions – Mario Clock and Mario Calculator. Both combine practical applications with a bit of Nintendo-branded flair, and whilst both are a little lightweight they definitely position the DSi as a wide-reaching digital companion.
Both titles are cheap, too, at just 200 Points apiece.

Other digital releases on the way from Nintendo this week include Eduardo the Samurai Toaster (WiiWare – 800 Points), Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure (WiiWare – 800 Points), Let’s Catch (WiiWare – 1,000 Points) and Space Harrier (Virtual Console – 800 Points).

http://www.casualgaming.biz/news/287...-appear-on-DSi ...

Long-term PSN favourite heading to the High Street on June 26th in the UK
Well over a year since its release on the European arm of PSN in March 2008, Sony is to grant Idol Minds’ action physics title Pain a boxed retail release across Europe.
The disc will most of the DLC released to game to date, including levels such as Movie Studio and Abusement Park as well as a large number of playable characters.
Pain will be released on Blu-ray in the UK and Ireland on June 26tha dn will cost £19.99. It will be released across the rest of Europe on June 24th and a day later in Australia and New Zealand.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/34763/Pain...retail-release ...