11/06, 2:15pm
Nintendo head says Wii HD not happening
Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime has again taken time to deny rumors of an advanced Wii shipping next year. Following assertions by analyst Michael Pachter that a new model is due in 2010, Fils-Aime tells Gametrailers TV that Pachter is the only one making such claims and that the rumored console is "not happening." Fils-Aime doesn't talk about whether or not the Wii will be updated at any point in the future but is emphatic that a replacement isn't coming soon.
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10/29, 11:05am
Nintendo Wii rumored to get Netflix streaming
Leaked images that were not made public reveal the Nintendo Wii will soon get Netflix streaming capabilities, StreamingMedia reported on Wednesday. The source is said to be someone involved with the project, who confirms the development is already in testing stages and the arrival of the service is due fairly soon.
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10/29, 10:00am
Nintendo DSi LL to leave Japan in early Q1
Nintendo has quickly confirmed that the DSi LL will ship outside of Japan. A British representative explains that the larger handheld, named in a statement as the "DSi XL," should reach at least Europe sometime in the first quarter of 2010, or before the end of March. The contact isn't ready to supply pricing but does say it will cost more than the DSi when it goes on sale.
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10/29, 7:40am
DSi LL has larger screen for Internet use
Nintendo quickly confirmed rumors today by unveiling the DSi LL. Its screens have increased by more than an inch to 4.2 inches each and are seen as better for Internet access as well as for gameplay. It also gets a larger, more comfortable second stylus and a battery life that increases from 2.5 hours to three during active gameplay.
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10/26, 8:45pm
4" screen expected with updated model
A report originating from the Japanese financial newspaper Nikkei claims that Nintendo is readying an updated DSi featuring a 4-inch display. If true, the revamped device would exceed the current model's screen by ¾ of an inch. The company is reportedly making the adjustment in response to user feedback, while accommodating older users who have complained of problems using the smaller size.
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10/26, 1:20pm
MiFi 2200 now supports BB Curve, Nintendo DS
Novatel's MiFi 2200 has recently benefitted from a firmware update that has upgraded much of its functions. The device connects to either Sprint's or Verizon's EVDO Revision A Internet connection and shares with up to five compatible devices across an 802.11g Wi-Fi network. Most notably, the new software allows the modem to never enter hibernation mode when it is plugged into a wall outlet instead of running off its built-in battery, and is now compatible with the Nintendo DS and BlackBerry Curve.
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10/23, 11:40am
Analyst sees Apple winning mobile gaming
The iPhone platform could overtake rivals Nintendo and Sony for the lead in growing handheld gaming in as little as five years, a DFC Intelligence report says. The analyst group believes portable hardware from the Japanese companies is likely to still lead in terms of sheer units in the future but believes growth has "peaked" for devices like the DSi or PSP Go where Apple's platform is still climbing quickly. By 2014, the iPhone and iPod touch are expected to be the only major devices still seeing significant growth.
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10/21, 8:20pm
Company to make the console less of a 'toy'
Game designed Shigeru Miyamoto has provided insight into Nintendo's upcoming Wii 2 console. In an interview with Popular Mechanics, Miyamoto suggested that the Wii's successor will feature a smaller form-factor and a lower price tag. He also hinted that the company may expand the Wii's capabilities to extend beyond its basic functionality as a toy.
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10/21, 5:15pm
Morgan Stanley sees Apple leading mobile
The iPhone and iPod touch are pushing the entire industry towards the mobile Internet, Morgan Stanley analyst Mary Meeker said at the Web 2.0 summit yesterday. With about 57 million of Apple's devices shipped since June 2007, their growth has not only been much more aggressive than landline Internet access in general but the entire home electronics industry. Three times as many iPhone-based devices exist as did AOL and Netscape users two years into their respective histories; Apple is also already outselling the Nintendo Wii despite its products coming half a year later.
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10/20, 4:15pm
Altec intros amp-like portable speaker
Altec Lansing on Tuesday introduced a new gaming console speaker system, its Stage-Gig. Resembling a guitar amp, the amplified speaker is made to work with Rock Band, Guitar Hero, and DJ Hero titles on any gaming console. The 6.5-inch woofer contains a horn-loaded silk tweeter and has 40W of power. For easy portability, a carrying handle is built in, and the device can be daisy-chained with others thanks to a built-in AC outlet and RCA connections.
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10/20, 3:30pm
Europeans to get black Wii bundle with two games
Nintendo UK announced on Tuesday that it will soon offer a limited edition Wii bundle in Europe that includes a black console, black Wii remote with Wii MotionPlus adapter and Nunchuk, along with Wii Sports Resort and Wii Sports game titles. Europeans will also get a standalone version of the Classic Controller Pro in black, which improves upon the existing Classic Controller, though just how hasn't been discussed. Black versions of the Wii remotes, Wii MotionPlus add-ons and Nunchuk controllers will also become available.
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10/14, 10:55am
Nintendo Wii black controllers for US
Nintendo on Thursday brought out its first non-white Wii controllers for the US. Previously only found in Japan, black versions of both the Wii remote and the nunchuk controller will reach the country. Both are functionally identical to their reference versions, although the remote will include the MotionPlus add-on and all-black protective jacket in the box.
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10/13, 6:50pm
Nintendo said due to use next Tegra chip
Nintendo's next-generation DS may be powerful enough to rival the current iPod touch in terms of power if a purported source is accurate. Contacts at BSN say NVIDIA has won a contract with Nintendo to use a variant of the Tegra chipset in a future handheld. Which model would be used is unknown, but it's still expected to be a single-chip design and may be a second-generation Tegra rather than the existing component.
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10/08, 9:20am
PSP sales triple, PSN downloads double
The launch of the PSP Go last week shot Sony's total PSP hardware sales up 300 percent in the US, according to the company's local communications director Patrick Seybold. He wouldn't break down the ratio of the new PSPs versus the old, UMD-supporting PSP-3000 but told Gamasutra that it was evidence of "strong" interest in the handheld system as a whole, not just the new model, over the first few days. The PSP-3000 is normally $200 in a bundle with one or more games and is widely assumed to be the backup choice for those who consider the $250 PSP Go too expensive or limited by its download-only catalog.
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10/07, 4:35pm
Wireless Powermat chargers go on sale
Powermat has released its lineup of wireless chargers on Wednesday. The system utilizes an ultra-thin mat along with a receiver that attaches to each portable device a user charges. Powermat now also offers a custom Powercube receiver that can attach to iPhones, iPods, Nintendo game consoles and BlackBerry handsets for wireless recharging.
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09/30, 4:40pm
Dell, LG, Lenovo suffer criticisms
Activist group Greenpeace has released a new edition of its Guide to Greener Electronics, which ranks major high-tech corporations in terms of their alleged environmental friendliness. Among the companies favored by Greenpeace's press efforts is Apple, which the group notes recently disclosed its carbon emissions. Apple has risen in rankings from 11th to 9th, aided not by the disclosure but by being the "most progressive" computer maker in terms of removing product toxins.
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09/30, 10:45am
SanDisk boosts gaming system storage capacities
SanDisk on Wednesday announced it has released memory cards meant specifically for portable gaming systems such as Sony's PSP Go and PSP as well as the Nintendo DSi. All significantly boost the storage capacity of said systems, with the PSP Go's capacity doubled by the new 16GB Memory Stick Micro M2 card. There is a 32GB Memory Stick PRO Duo and a Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo of the same capacity for the PSP from Sony, while the DSi gets an 8GB SDHC card.
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09/28, 1:00pm
May compete with offerings from Sony, Microsoft
Nintendo is planning to expand its Wii-based video distribution service to reach outside of Japan, according to a regional business publication. The suggested expansion (subscription required) would begin as soon as Nintendo's next fiscal year, and likely involve places such as North America and South Korea. Content is expected to parallel offerings in Japan, in the sense of providing inoffensive cartoons, educational programs and general entertainment. Also present may be ads, possibly including full-length infomercials.
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09/25, 7:35am
Wii Sports Resort with 2 MotionPlus add-ons
Nintendo added more fuel to its Wii price cut on Friday by promising a special version of its Wii Sports Resort bundle with added hardware. The Limited Edition pack adds a second MotionPlus peripheral and matching Wii remote jacket to give a second controller the extra precision in movement needed for this and other newer Wii games. The new bundle helps players get started in an already multiplayer-focused game.
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09/23, 11:05pm
Wii at $200 on Sept. 27
Nintendo this evening confirmed repeated leaks by formally detailing its price cut for the Wii. The console's regular price will fall from $250 to $200 as of September 27th. The box will continue to include the regular bundle of the system, a Wii remote, a nunchuk and Wii Sports.
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09/23, 3:25pm
PS3 shortages may follow $300 price
The PlayStation 3 could face shortages during the holidays if its current sales rate keeps up, SCEA chief Jack Tretton warned today. He explained that PS3 sales have tripled since the price drop to $300 and the slim redesign and that it's "conceivable" a sustained surge could lead to some stores running dry due to demand finally outpacing supply. He didn't provide a more specific estimate for when this could happen.
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09/23, 8:40am
Memo proves Wii dropping to $200
A leaked note today has all but confirmed Nintendo's plans to cut the Wii's price to $200. The memo sent to Engadget tells staff that Nintendo will announce the cut on the 25th and have it take effect on the 27th. Such a schedule is consistent with Nintendo's past practices of announcing minor console updates on Fridays and of shipping updates on Sundays.
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09/22, 11:45am
Xbox 360 Elite now $250 after rebate
Microsoft surprised gamers Tuesday morning with word of an Xbox 360 Elite rebate (link active soon). The deal gives buyer of the 120GB game system a $50 mail-in discount that effectively brings the price of the system down to $250, or the same price as the Nintendo Wii. It lasts only until October 6th.
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09/21, 3:05pm
Next-gen Nintendo Wii coming in 2011?
Speaking in an FT interview, software developer Square Enix's chief Yoichi Wada implied the second-generation Nintendo Wii console will be launched sometime in 2011. When it does arrive, Wada believes the so called Wii HD will be capable of many of the same features of competing gaming systems, namely Sony's PlayStation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360. This likely means it will be capable of HD video playback and other multimedia capabilities already offered by its more expensive competition.
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09/14, 5:40pm
Wii at $200 says Toys R Us
Nintendo will finally react to Microsoft and Sony price cuts with one of its own, a Toys R Us flyer leaked on Monday appears to show. The ad obtained by Kotaku shows the Wii dropping from $250 to $200 for the regular bundle, which packs in Wii Sports. The cut would allegedly take effect for the last week of September, when the ad for the new price is supposed to run.
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09/09, 9:10am
Logitech wireless drums, guitar for Wii
Logitech this morning countered the launch of Beatles: Rock Band with the launch of three music game controllers, including its first two for the Wii. The Wireless Guitar Controller for Wii and companion Wireless Drum Controller for Wii both replace the stock plastic controllers with more authentic metal and wood that both feels more natural and is quieter to use. These Nintendo-specific models also have a slot for the Wii remote to provide normal controller functions in a single body.
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09/04, 3:20pm
PS3 outsells X360 and Wii
Sony's introduction of the slim PS3 and the resulting price cut have led it to a rare lead in game consoles in North America, weekly data for the end of August shows. While the new model itself wasn't on shelves for most of the August 23rd to 29th period covered by VGChartz, the outgoing 80GB and 160GB models registered 75,931 sales. The number is more than double the 37,167 Sony sold the week earlier and in a rare instance had Sony not only outsell the Xbox 360, which came next with 74,689 sales, but also the Wii's 74,245 units.
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09/01, 12:15pm
Wii Web and Black Remote
Nintendo today treated buyers of the Wii and DSi with a mix of new hardware and software. The former's web browser, also known as the Internet Channel, is now free to use instead of paying the 500 Wii Points ($5) necessary from July 2007 onwards. On top of eliminating the price, the console maker has upgraded to a newer version of Adobe's Flash for better support of video and other web features.
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08/27, 7:15am
Xbox 360 Elite Drop to 300
As rumored, Microsoft on Thursday slashed the price of the Xbox 360 Elite to $300. The move puts the 120GB game console at the same price as the slim PS3 and will take effect Friday, August 28th. To clear stock, Microsoft also says it will drop the price of the 60GB Xbox 360 Pro to $250 until it clears store shelves. The Arcade will remain at $200.
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08/25, 5:10pm
Wii to get PlayOn app
Nintendo's Wii will get the ability to play movies on users' Windows PCs thanks to Media Mall's PlayOn app on Wednesday, August 26th. PlayOn has already allowed PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 users to access Netflix Watch, Amazon VOD and Hulu content. The Wii version will also have support for a few other unnamed online video services, though does require an Internet-connected Windows XP or Vista computer as the source.
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08/20, 3:05pm
Apple pulls DS app
Nintendo on Thursday acknowledged its role in the removal of a DS simulator app, DS DoubleSys, from the App Store. The app was not licensed or approved by Nintendo, although it simulates the DS interface with similar sounds and menus. Nintendo spokesman Charlie Scibetta told CNET News the company notified Apple that the app was violating intellectual property rights.
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08/19, 9:40am
DS DoubleSys dead
A popular iPhone app based on the Nintendo DS handheld has been pulled from the App Store, investigation reveals. The app, DS DoubleSys, does not allow users to play DS games; it instead simulates the interface of the DS, including a number of menus and sound effects. Two original games, including a rhythm title, can nevertheless be played from within DoubleSys.
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08/18, 2:40pm
PSP Go 15 Games to Start
The PSP Go's launch October 1st will come with easily downloadable small games to match, Sony said during its Gamescom expo keynote. Known as Minis, the titles will be capped at 100MB or less to make them quick downloads over Wi-Fi and are similarly meant to encourage smaller, more independent developers to produce titles that don't have to compete on the same field as full-fledged PSP titles. Prices and other details weren't made public, but up to 50 games should be ready by the end of the year.
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08/14, 2:45pm
iPhone Devs Lured to PSP
Sony has been recruiting existing iPhone game developers to build versions of games for the PSP ahead of the launch of the download-only PSP Go, sources said on the Friday ahead of Germany's gamescom expo. While the specific titles haven't been named, Pocket Gamer explained they would all be titles that could port to the slightly smaller resolution display as well as without touch. The move would help bulk up Sony's initial game library for PSN beyond retail-level titles.
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08/12, 3:55pm
Wi-Fi suit targets Apple
A business based in Austin, Texas has filed a new lawsuit through a US District Court, targeting Apple, Sony and Nintendo. Bandspeed accuses the three other companies of violating its Wi-Fi patents, specifically a pair related to choosing a Wi-Fi channel according to signal strength. These are titled Approach for selecting communications channels based on performance, and Approach for managing communications channels based on performance.
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08/12, 1:45pm
SDHC-bootable Wii DLC
Future games for Nintendo's Wii console, beginning with Guitar Hero 5, should allow automatic recognition of DLC on SDHC cards, a preview article reveals. In the past, some Wii music titles have required leaving the console's internal memory open to handle downloadable content. Because of a new detection process however, it should be possible to both store and boot necessary media from the same SDHC card.
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07/30, 2:20pm
Nintendo Hurt by iPhone
Nintendo today encountered a rare setback in its history owed partially to the impact of Apple on its business. The company's profit has dropped a steep 66 percent year-over-year to $426 million and said in a conference call that the iPhone and iPod touch, not Sony's PSP, are having the greatest impact on the performance of the DS and DSi. It also expects its fiscal 2010 profit to drop for the first time in years as a result of the added pressure from Apple's touchscreen devices.
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07/27, 10:30am
Sony Doubling PS3 Builds
Sony is rapidly accelerating production of the PlayStation 3 in what may be a sign of confidence in its upcoming 120GB slim model. Tips from integrated circuit (IC) distributors sent to DigiTimes have Sony ordering enough of their parts on average to make 1 million of the game consoles just for this summer, or twice the rate that was seen in the spring. The rate is said to be high enough that demand is outstripping supply at Renesas, which makes the key chipsets for the PS3.
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07/08, 1:25pm
Razer outs Moray+ headset
Razer on Tuesday announced the release of its Razer Moray+ in-ear noise isolating headset and inline microphone combo. The replacement for the original Moray, the device is meant for those who do their gaming on a wide array of portable devices, including cellphones. The headset's 3.5mm audio jack fits into all iPhones, and Razer includes three adapters that make the microphone usable with Sony's PSP 2000 and 3000, the Nintendo DS Lite and DSi, as well as netbooks and most other notebook PCs.
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07/07, 11:35am
Sony PSP2 Specs Rumor
A leak today hints that a true second-generation PSP is in development that could have graphics better than the iPhone 3GS and last-generation consoles. The Spanish branch of Eurogamer claims to have internal Sony information that the next handheld will use a PowerVR SGX543MP4 graphics core closely related to the SGX535 found in the iPhone but which should be even faster. Where the chip used by Apple renders a maximum 28 million polygons per second, the PSP's hardware is a quad-core part and would draw 133 million polygons and allow for much more complicated 3D scenes.
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07/06, 8:50pm
Patent suit targets Apple
A new lawsuit has targeted Apple, Sony and Nintendo, for allegedly infringing on patents involving technology used in the iPhone, Wii and PS2, among others. The plaintiff, Shared Memory Graphics LLC, holds U.S. Patent No. 5,712,664 that describes a "shared memory graphics accelerator system."
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07/01, 12:40pm
Greenpeace attacks PCs
Large PC builders are dragging their feet when it comes to environmental promises, claims Greenpeace. The activist group has once again updated its Guide to Greener Electronics, which assigns relative rankings to major high-tech corporations. A new development is the assignment of "penalty points" to major PC builders, including HP, Dell and Lenovo. The companies have delayed plans to strip PVC and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from computers, Greenpeace says, and in the case of HP, none of its current systems have reduced toxicity.
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06/25, 4:15pm
Sony PSP Non Game Tease
Sony spokesman Al De Leon today teased that Sony is considering downloads of non-game software for the PSP. In an early demo of the upcoming PSP Go, De Leon told Crave that most of the downloads from the soon to be expanded PlayStation Network store will be games but that there's a chance "non-gaming applications" will be available. What these would entail isn't mentioned, but Sony already incorporates utilities such as Skype in PSP firmware.
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06/25, 10:55am
Wii to get CinemaNow
Sonic Solutions, the company behind Roxio, on Thursday announced its streaming movie service CinemaNow will be made available for the Nintendo Wii. Sonic will partner with Fujisoft to bring the former's content to the game console via the latter's video-on-demand Everyone's Theater Wii service. While the announcement only covers Japan, its successful integration potentially leads to the service arriving in other countries as well. CinemaNow offers more than 1,500 streaming movies, short films, and concerts to buy or rent.
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06/12, 11:05pm
Project Natal and New Xbox
Microsoft's Project Natal could not just be an add-on for the Xbox 360 but the foundation of a new Xbox altogether, according to fresh rumors. Those at 1UP hear that the full body motion controller will be the "cornerstone" of a new console and come with it. Details of the new Xbox itself aren't clear, but it's believed the machine could be an evolution of the Xbox 360 that has extra performance but which could still run legacy games. It would ship in fall 2010 and could be announced as early as the Game Developers Conference in March of that year.
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06/09, 3:30pm
ASUS Aims at Apple
ASUS vice chairman Jonathan Tsang today said in an interview that his company intends to beat Apple in design in the US. Even though the Eee PC line has been successful in the country, Tsang tells the New York Times that ASUS has little recognition in the US and that it plans to rely on engineering to boost its name, with Apple's MacBooks as the conspicuous target. The company's focus on product design reportedly leaves little room for a marketing budget and thus gives it little room to depend on advertising.
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06/09, 10:35am
$100 PS3 price cut rumored
Sony is rumored to be getting ready to drop the price of its PlayStation 3 gaming console to coincide with the next release of EA Sports' Madden this fall, according to a Monday IndustryGamers report. Sterne Agee analyst Arvind Bhatia notes that Madden is due for an August 18th release and claims that "industry sources" know the console should lower in price in time for the game's appearance, which could potentially boost sales.
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06/04, 3:05pm
Nintendo Black Wii Red DSi
Nintendo in a late E3 update today added special colors for the Wii and DSi in its home country. Normally only available in white, the Wii will now come in a special black; the DSi has already been available in multiple colors but will get a bright red color trim. Both should sell at the same prices as regular colors.
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06/02, 3:00pm
Sony PSP Go Official
Sony this afternoon confirmed the existence of the PSP Go, its first major redesign of its handheld console. The new slider design reflects a shift towards download-only content and drops the UMD disc loader entirely in favor of 16GB of built-in flash memory that helps it slim down. Users can either download software directly over Wi-Fi or transfer it from a PC or PS3. A Memory Stick Micro slot gives it extra room. The PSP Go also gets Bluetooth to pair with headsets or cellphones themselves for communications.
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06/02, 1:05pm
Wii Vitality Sensor
Nintendo chose its E3 press event to give an early look at the Wii Vitality Sensor. The add-on attaches to a Wii remote and measures a player's pulse rate by inserting a finger into its slot. Rather than try to stir up gamers, the sensor can be used to encourage them to slow down their pulses and relax, the company's Satoru Iwata says.
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