Playstation 3

Thank goodness my son doesn't want one. I mean jeez, people were camping out in frigid temps literally risking their lives to be the first to hand over $500 bucks for the latest Sony Playstation 3. One guy was shot by thugs who tried to steal his money while waiting in line to buy the system, and another kid actually bought a system in the store, only to have it stolen once he was outside.

Anyway - I'm certainly glad that none of my offspring asked for the PS3 this year. If you're a PS3 owner, check out IGN's Official PS3 FAQ.

XBOX TV? In time for Thanksgiving...

Microsoft announced that XBOX 360 system owners will soon have access to Hi-def movies and tv programs via the points system currently in use by XBOX Live.

NOTE TO SELF...
remove my credit card from my son's XBOX 360 before November 22nd.

Patrick Klepek - PC Magazine
Nov. 7 In a move that will continue to let Microsoft compare themselves to the iTunes music store, Microsoft announced that hi-def movies and television programs would be available on the (U.S.-based) Xbox Live Marketplace on November 22.

In addition to adding the Video Marketplace to the Xbox Live experience (yes, it will use the same point system that Xbox Live Arcade, Marketplace and the Zune all use), Microsoft announced partnerships with six media companies to provide content for the Video Marketplace.

CBS, Warner Bros., Viacom, Paramount, UFC and Turner will all provide content (in their own release windows) for the Video Marketplace. Microsoft's corporate vice president of Microsoft Game Studios, Shane Kim, said that users can expect 1,000 hours of unique content by the end of the year, with over 200 hours of it available in HD.

Google Has Some Competition and so does Microsoft

Looks like Microsoft will compete with Google to control the Earth - at least the maps and imagery of the Earth. So far, the cities available include San Jose, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Seattle. Although both systems maps seem a bit outdated, I've used Google Earth, and it helps me in my inspection business to identify landmarks when I'm plotting my route. It's a handy tool and Microsoft is going to have to do some overtime to play catch-up.

iPod Shuffle Shrinking in Size and Price...

I think that my son would love one of these to take to the gym since it's extremely small, light and wearable and it really doesn't matter if you can see the song title playing while you're working out. And, at only $79 - Santa could consider bringing Mom one, too!


Smallest iPod yet going on sale

November 2, 2006 - Mike Wendland - Free Press technology columnist

The new iPod Shuffle, $79. (Apple)
Five years after it changed the music world with the iPod, Apple Computer has released its new Shuffle, the smallest digital music player yet in its line up of iPod models.

Priced at an affordable stocking-stuffer price of $79, the shuffle officially goes on sale today in Apple Stores and major electronics retailers and is predicted to be a hot seller for the holidays, perhaps at the expense of the more costly iPod nano (starting at $149) and the larger video iPod (starting at $249).

The new Shuffle model is super small, measuring about an inch high by a little more than an inch-and-a-half wide and a quarter-inch thick. It weighs a half an ounce, but it holds up to 240 songs.

As such, the Shuffle is about half the size of the original model and comes in a new brushed aluminum case with a built-in clip for fastening to a shirt collar, a pocket or waistband.

Battery life is about 12 hours.

You charge the Shuffle and get its tunes by fitting the headphone jack into a special dock that in turn is connected by a USB cable to the computer, be it a Mac or a Windows PC.

As with the earlier shuffle model, the downside to this entry level iPod is that there is no screen that lists the music so you can select a specific song. Instead, the music is played at random, shuffled, if you will, thereby explaining the name.

But, hey, come on, for $79 and 240 songs and iPod cool, I wouldn't shuffle off to a store to get it. I'd run.

Games Galore for XBOX this Christmas

My son will probably be making his Christmas list right away after he hears this...I read today that XBOX is releasing multiple titles for the Holiday Season. He's a big XBOX 360 gamer who plays in tournaments and even hosts his own local tournaments.

From Ubisoft:

• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent
• Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas
• Open Season

From Electronic Arts: Need for Speed Carbon

• FIFA 07

And, there's more announcements to come from Atari, THQ and its subsidiaries, and Activision.

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