Next generation Xbox 360 with built-in Blu-ray coming in 2008?

Filed under: Gaming, HDTV

Ok, here we go again. Despite Microsoft's attempt to quash Xbox 360 Blu-ray rumors, they're back... with a vengeance. According to "industry sources" speaking to DigiTimes, Lite-On is developing built-in Blu-ray Disc drives for the "next generation" Xbox 360 game console. Lite-On is expected to begin shipping the new BD players for assembly in the second half of 2008. DigiTimes also claims that the new, presumably smaller Xbox 360 will reduce the power supply from 210-watts to 170-watts. So... care to comment, Microsoft?

Update: As noted by our readers, Falcon-based 360s are already running at 175-watts.

 

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Motorola's Z9 with GPS goes for a ride on AT&T

Filed under: Cellphones, GPS

Just like we heard, AT&T is now offering Motorola's MOTO Z9. $150 (after $50 on-line discount and 2-yr contract) nabs the new slider with GPS for AT&T's rebranded TeleNav service -- now called AT&T Navigator. It's also stuffed with microSD expansion, stereo Bluetooth, and quad-band GSM with WCDMA 850/1900 supporting 3.6Mbps HSDPA data. Surprisingly, the 2 megapixel camera we saw in the early prototype last year has been whittled back to 1.3 megapixels. Come on Moto, what's 0.7 megapixels between friends?

[Thanks, Mark and Orhan C.]

 

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Greenhouse's absurd 8x optical zoom kit for cameraphones

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Guess what's going to happen when you bolt Greenhouse's 8x optical zoom onto your pathetic little cameraphone lens? Right, 8 times the slop. Nevertheless, we're curious to try the kit -- which includes the tripod and universal lens mount -- ourselves. Just not ¥8,800 (about $88) curious.

Gallery: Greenhouse's 8x optical zoom kit for cameraphones

[Via Akihabara News]

 

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HPI's G-Dog sniffs out your human wreckage

Filed under: Robots

HPI Japan just conjured up GR-001's new best friend: the G-Dog. The DIY, four-legged robot with a taste for jugulars and what appears to be a sword for a tail stands just 5.3-inches tall and features the same control unit and sensors of his bipedal buddy. Presumably, G-Dog will only respond to street-wize greetings of "Whut up Gee?" and "'Sup Dawg?" at which point he'll lubricate his turf (aka, your carpet). G-Dog is expected to terrorize Japan sometime in July for around $1,000. Backside front, after the break.

Continue reading HPI's G-Dog sniffs out your human wreckage

 

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Colorware gets ahold of Guitar Hero axes -- we're in love

Filed under: Gaming

If you thought a Colorware'd DS Lite was the new heat, get a load of this. The company famous for making gadgetry of all kinds look its best has turned its talents on the iconic Guitar Hero axe, and we must say, we're infatuated. Wii, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 thrashers are all invited, and while users can join the revolution for as little as $198 (that includes the title and a painted instrument), current slingers can send their guitar in and get it colorized for as little as $99. For those on a budget, we strongly recommend not clicking the links below. Those completely unafraid of purging their wallet on impulse buys can go ahead.

[Thanks, Adam]

Read - Colorware's Xbox 360 guitar
Read - Colorware's PlayStation 3 guitar
Read - Colorware's Wii guitar

 

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T-Mobile snags the BlackBerry Pearl 8120 on April 14th

Filed under: Cellphones

April 14th -- just like we expected, that's the date T-Mobile subscribers will gain access to the WiFi totin' BlackBerry Pearl 8120. Unlike AT&T's offering, that's WiFi for voice and data thanks to T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home service. EDGE data, 2 megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, 3.5-mm headphone jack, SureType keyboard, and microSD / SDHC expansion for your multimedia round out the specs quite nicely. Now all we need is the price, right T-Mob?

 

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Sega dissolves Korean subsidiary, nixing $330m Yokohama arcade complex

Filed under: Gaming

Aside from planning to axe 400 jobs as part of Sega Sammy's most recent "turnaround efforts," the outfit will also be closing the doors to its Korean subsidiary. Currently, Sega Korea is "handling the domestic distribution and sales of video game software, as well as the operation / sales of amusement facilities and machines," and reportedly, the closure will be executed in the name of "global business optimization." As it stands, there's no set date for the branch's dissolution, but just in case your smile wasn't turned upside-down already, the company also stated that it would discontinue the development of a ginormous $330m arcade complex slated for construction in Yokohama, Japan -- if you couldn't guess, that one's being shuttered so the firm can "focus its efforts on its core business to improve its performance" in short order. Seriously though, what the hell kind of company would spend $330m on arcade, anyway?

[Via Joystiq, image courtesy of USMC]

 

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