Xbox 360 beats Wii, PS3 in Japan weekly sales

Microsoft Corp's Xbox 360 outsold rival machines from Nintendo and Sony for the first time in five months in Japan last week, helped by Square Enix's popular role-playing game title, a research firm said.

Microsoft's video game operations have struggled in Japan, home to both Nintendo Co Ltd and Sony Corp, and its Xbox 360 has rarely topped Nintendo's Wii and Sony's PlayStation 3 in weekly sales.

But in the week that ended Feb. 22, it beat its rivals thanks to the launch of the latest installment of Square Enix Holdings' blockbuster role-playing game series, "Star Ocean".

Microsoft sold 21,013 units of its Xbox 360 last week, compared with 16,900 units of the Wii and 15,967 units of the PS3, Ascii Media Works said on Thursday.

New Xbox controller on the way?

At yesterday’s Gamefest event in Seattle, Microsoft’s product unit manager, Robert S. Walker suggested that they might be creating an advanced version of the Xbox360 controller. The plan is to make the controller a second choice for gamers, instead of replacing the original one.

The new controller would have an improved and more precise right analog stick for games requiring higher precision, like first person shooters. The current 360 controller does a decent job in FPS games, although improving controls for console shooters is always welcome.

Sonys Walkam X-Serie with Oled priced and dated

Sonys NWZ-X1000 Walkman serie with an 3 inch OLED Touch (432x240 Pixel) screen gets now priced in the UK.

Amazon.co.uk has priced the 16GB version at 310 Dollar, with the 32GB model clocking in at 410 Dollar. The NWZ-X1000 serie is available in two to five weeks in the UK.

Bugatti Centenaire Edition with 1350hp Rumored to Debut in Geneva

Bugatti is a super brand, an automotive legend, and even if the company has laid dormant from time to time over the last 100 years, it has to celebrate its centennial in a way that lives up to its history and image.

And it's not going to be yet another special edition Veyron. In fact, the car that Bugatti is rumored to be debuting at Geneva next week will carry the name of the event it is meant to mark. According to Autoblog, the car will be named the Centenaire and, although it may be based on the Veyron, it will distinguish itself from Bugatti's standard Veyron 16.4.

How exactly will it do that? By uprating the 8.0 liter, 16 cylinder (W16) quad-turbo Bugatti engine to a Jack Nicholson-in-the-Shining-level of crazy - a maniacal 1350 hp. (The 'standard' Veyron comes with a mere 1001 hp and 1250 Nm of torque. Don't ask how you get to measure that extra horse over the 1000 mark. Just don't.)

Top speed on the Centenaire beats out the discount, pedestrian showroom version of the Veyron 420 km/h (261 mph) to 407 km/h (255 mph).

None of this has been confirmed, of course.

Windows 7 Available in September/October 2009

When it comes down to the deadline for the general availability of Windows 7, Microsoft has been undeterred from its initial claims that the next iteration of the Windows client would ship within three years of Windows Vista's GA. However, this is not exactly the case, revealed a computer-industry executive from Asia. In fact, Microsoft seems keen to beat its three years from Vista GA estimate for the delivery of Windows 7. A report via Bloomberg indicates that the Redmond company is actually planning to wrap up Windows 7 well ahead of the 2009 holiday season, namely in the September – October 2009 time frame.

Lost Planet 2 Confirmed as Xbox360 Exclusive

Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of ,today announced that Lost Planet 2 is being developed for the Xbox360, following an exclusive announcement on XboxLIVE! that happened Monday, February 23. Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, the landmark third-person shooter that debuted on Xbox360, went on to sell over 2.2 million units worldwide after its release. This next riveting instalment will offer deeper insight into the world of E.D.N III and the uncertain fate of future mankind.

Red 'Resident Evil 5' Xbox 360 unveiled!

Looks like that red Resident Evil 5 Xbox 360 bundle wasn't just some tripped out figment of your imagination. Just moments ago, the package popped up for Xbox Live subscribers, detailing a handsome red Xbox 360 Elite with a 120GB hard drive, Resident Evil 5, Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, and a few other odds and ends (like a handful of cables). There's an indication that you can pre-order the kit, but at this point, we're not aware of any place to follow through. We'll keep our eyes peeled, of course.

Philips gives Cinema 21:9 HDTV a price and release date

We'd already heard during a UK preview show that Philips' Euro-only Cinema 21:9 HDTV would be priced around £3,000 when it launched sometime this Spring, but now we've got some more official details to share (and only half of it is good). So, the good news -- we're told that this behemoth will start shipping "as soon as June." The bad? The 56-inch ultra-widescreen panel will run you €4,000 ($5,045). Don't bother turning your head, that's just your wallet over in the corner wailing.

source : EngadgetHD.com

Microsoft announces Windows Mobile 6.5

With an endless chain of leaks dating back several months, the suspense factor might not be there that Microsoft had been hoping for -- but for what it's worth, Windows Mobile 6.5 is now official. The latest rendition of Microsoft's mobile platform puts an emphasis on touch-friendliness with a honeycomb-style main menu that the company says is easier to finger than a traditional grid layout; a new lock screen that can be slid on different alerts to automatically call up texts, voicemails, and so on; a thoroughly-restyled cut of Internet Explorer Mobile that features a touchable zoom slider and frequently-used commands; redesigned menus that don't need a stylus to actuate; fingerable home and contacts screens, and more. It's not the thorough gutting of the platform many were hoping for, but for anyone thinking that Windows Mobile 6.1 can stand another facelift without ending up looking like Joan Rivers, 6.5's clearly your baby. Sadly, Microsoft's saying that no devices in the market today will receive official 6.5 updates, but don't pull out your wallets just yet, though -- the first devices with Windows Mobile 6.5 preinstalled should be available in the fourth quarter of the year.

Proton Exora Interior Teaser

Acer makes its smartphone debut

Acer's intention to enter the mobile phone market was plain for all to see after it acquired E-Ten, a maker of Windows Mobile (WM) handsets. After a year of radio silence, the company finally unveiled its first range of four mobile devices dubbed the Acer Tempo.

The M900 has a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and a massive 3.8-inch screen.

The new products all run Microsoft's mobile operating system (OS), WM6.1. The most feature-packed device of the lot is the M900 which comes with a huge 3.8-inch WVGA (800 x 480) screen, 5-megapixel camera with autofocus and LED, full suite of connectivity features and a fingerprint sensor to boot. The sheer number of features gives it quite a bit of heft and the M900 measures in at 119 x 62 x 17.1mm with a weight of 188g.

The F900 has specifications that are similar to the M900. It doesn't have a keyboard or fingerprint sensor but also features the large 3.8-inch display and a host of connectivity features including HSDPA, HSUPA, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The DX900 is a carryover from E-Ten's lineup before the latter was bought over. This model includes a 2.8-inch VGA display, 3-megapixel camera and two SIM card slots. The first SIM slot supports 3.5G and quad-band GSM, while the second only has tri-band GSM compatibility. WM phones that support two SIM cards are still not very common and the DX900 should appeal to those who shuttle between two countries and frequently have to swap between operators when traveling.

Lastly, we have the X960, a relatively compact model which comes with a 2.8-inch VGA display, 3.5G connectivity and a 3.2-megapixel camera. All four models have the SiRFstar III GPS chip and either Acer Shell or Spb Mobile Shell as alternatives to the default WM interface.

Unfortunately, Acer did not indicate that any of these products can be upgraded to WM6.5 when the new mobile OS launches in Q3 this year. According to CNET US, availability information is also up in the air for now as the company indicated that it is talking to operators and will be making announcements in the coming months.

Next Superman Film to Be Superman Unleashed?

There has been much talk since Superman Returns was released about a sequel or a reboot, and some new information has just come to light. A /Film reader sent in some info from a password-protected site for Legendary Pictures that reveals the new Superman film is to be titled Superman Unleashed.



A small synopsis was revealed as well, which would indicate that this would be a sequel to Superman Returns and not a reboot.

"Ramping up the action of its esteemed predecessor, the sequel to Superman Returns promises to raise the stakes and take the audience to heights of action that no other superhero movie can achieve."

The site also reported that the studio is hearing pitches from writers on this new film. We'll surely keep you updated with any developments regarding this possible sequel.

Facelifted Mercedes S-Class Coupe AMG Spied for First Time

Mercedes is working on a new CL which will be more appropriately named the S-Class Coupe when the new model is released.

These are some spy shots of the AMG version of the S-Class coupe looking mean is light-camouflaged black.

New features will include LED daytime headlights and, possibly, LED tail lamps too. A newly designed front bumper is also hinted in these photos and will sport a more aggressive look in this AMG version than on the standard S-Class coupe. The grill isn't as slanted as on the current CL and will now come split with a single chrome bar across it, giving more prominence to the Mercedes badge sitting in the middle.

AMG is also promising more power and less consumption from its new slew of engines. Doing so by focusing on better engine management as well as reducing consumption by lightening the weight of the car through the greater use of composite materials.

Audi is Western Europe’s Top Premium Brand

Audi continues on the warpath and its strategy of matching and exceeding its fellow German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz in sales seems to be working.

For the first time, Audi reported sales figures for January 2009 which topped its premium brand competitors. The automaker, part of the VW Group, sold 45,124 new vehicles in Western Europe, beating both Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

It seems Audi's market share is benefiting from the slump in auto sales currently hitting the market not only in Western Europe but all over the world. For January, its market share in the region was 5.1 percent, compared with a 3.9 percent share in January 2008.

Peter Schwarzenbauer, who heads Sales and Marketing at Audi AG, believes that the age of the brand's product range is what is helping the automaker gain share in the market. Audi has one of the youngest fleets in the premium segment. Last year, it released 12 new models and for the first half of 2009 there will be 6 more.

A lead in monthly sales has been a long time coming for the Ingolstadt-based premium automaker, which has spent the past two decades creating a brand name that can match the more established ones of BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Whether the image of an Audi has caught up with the prestige of either of those brands is still an open question and one difficult to quantify. But sales figures, one cannot argue against.

Proton Exora

Proton has announced the name for the new Proton MPV - the Proton Exora! The Exora is based on the name of the Ixora flower, with the tagline “Keriangan Keluarga”. The name was picked by the Name The Proton MPV competition grand prize winner Norsholihan Bt Abdul Eanich, who will get to drive the 7-seater vehicle she named once it is launched sometime in this year.

The company also revealed that the Proton Exora MPV will be priced at under RM 80,000 and will be available in 5 colours - Genetic Silver, Tranquility Black, Blue Haze, Pyrite Brown and Gaia Blue. In terms of safety, all variants will have at least 2 SRS airbags as standard, but this will be as far as it will go in terms of total airbag count. The Proton Exora will be built in the Shah Alam plant. Cost of development was slightly over RM 450 million.

Proton will produce between 3,000 to 3,500 units of the Proton Exora a month initially. After the local launch in April, the MPV will be swiftly exported to markets such as Thailand and Indonesia by July. We’ll see how the new Proton Exora fares in an open market up with our Tomyam-consuming friends up north against their favorite Toyota MPVs.

For more, please read some past coverage on the Proton Exora to find out more about the new MPV, expected to be powered by the Campro CPS engine. Bookings will be open at a fee of RM1,000 from this Saturday (21st Feb 2009) onwards

It's Getting Worse For The PS3

A new report out of Japan and China suggests that Sony's recent restructuring is proving to be way to conservative. The report indicates that part suppliers for the PS3 and other Sony Electronics products are growing weary of their future with Sony. As suppliers are being hit hard by the global financial crisis.

Can Panasonic save plasma?

With Japan's Pioneer and US-based Vizio recently announcing their exits from the plasma market, there's been a lot of chatter about the technology's short- and long-term viability. Some of plasma's problems are PR related. Lingering questions--justified or not--about burn-in and energy efficiency have become part of the public conscious and remain a stumbling block at point of sale. Ultimately, however, there are more simple economics at play. Far more factories are available to produce LCD TVs than plasmas which haven't been able to maintain their price advantage as margins have eroded and the performance gap between the technologies has narrowed.

But let's not dwell on how we got here. The key question is how can plasma survive? And for better or worse, the answer is really in the hands of Panasonic, the brand that has most closely linked its TV fortunes to the technology. Yes, Samsung and LG make lots of plasmas--and some good ones, too--but both are also well-committed to LCD and well-hedged should plasma go away (Panasonic makes some LCD TVs as well, but nothing larger than 37 inches, while plasma starts at 42 inches). Alas, with Pioneer's departure--a sad day for those who value great TV picture quality--Panasonic is left to carry the plasma mantle largely on its own.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Trailer to Play Before Friday the 13th This Weekend

We've all seen the thirty second Super Bowl Ad. Now, come this Friday the 13th, we will be able to watch the very first full length Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen trailer. That's right, this latest look at Michael Bay's giant robot sequel will unspool in theaters playing Warner Brothers' Friday the 13th remake. If you needed one more reason to watch Jason Voorhees chop up naked teenagers, this should be the incentive that pushes you over the edge.

We don't have a run time on the upcoming trailer, or any idea what footage will be shown. But you can rest assured that it will contain some never before scene moments that will have bloggers dissecting it shot for shot once it becomes available on the Internet. It will be the perfect Valentine's Day gift for that special someone in your life. An advanced look at robots followed by campsite carnage. What could be better?

So, make sure you check out Friday the 13th this weekend so that you can tell all your friends that you saw the new Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen trailer. Michael Bay's mega-opus will be released this summer on June 26th, 2009.

Kia Soul's speakers change their glow according to the music!!!

This is somewhat quite interesting. As you’ve previously read, the Kia Soul will be positioned as a lifestyle vehicle, Kia’s very own version of the MINI Cooper, the Alfa Romeo Mi.To and the Fiat 500. It’s gotta be cute and full of gimmicks to keep its owner amused and smiling. MINI has its little mood lighting thing going on in the interior where the user can change the ambiant light from various shades from blue to purple to an orangey-red. And the Kia Soul has the “sound volume reflecting speaker lamp.”

Lights in speakers are nothing new. My Perdana’s speakers are lit up too - they’re Soundstream units that have a light glow behind the spider-shaped speaker grille. They look out of place in an executive car like the Perdana though. The Kia Soul’s speakers take the light behind a speaker grille concept further - the light can actually brighten and dim according to the music being played.

There are four modes - On, Music, Mood and Off. On and Off are self-explanatory - the light will either be permanently on or off. Music and Mood behave differently - Mood just dims and brightens repeatedly in 2 second intervals while Music changes its brightness according to the music’s volume, bass tone and beat.

source: paultan.org

Pioneer reportedly ending TV production, spinning off DVD business

Say it ain't so (again) Pioneer, Japan's Nikkei is reporting that despite planning a return to profitability by sourcing Panasonic plasma panels, facing a consolidated loss of 100 billion yen ($1.08 billion U.S.) it will end TV development and production entirely. The DVD business will be spun off into a new venture with Sharp as part of a plan to shed several thousand employees over the next year, including a shutdown of its Shizuoka plant, along with already planned closings in the U.S. and Europe. Honestly, we should have seen things were going badly when it let LaserDisc die, but the worsening economy may have proved too tough for the idea that its Kuro and Elite line of products would not be subject to the ups and downs of the economy.


source : engadgetHD.com

Friendly Futsal Match

ps: Looking forward to it!!!

Revenge Of The Fallen - Close up Photo from Teaser