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• Nintendo Wii U controller, first hands-on!
• Motorola clarifies position on Android apps, is still cool with developer community
• The Wii U controller, revealed! (video)
• The Wii U, Nintendo's next console (video)
• Live from Nintendo's E3 2011 keynote!
• Nintendo announces gold Wiimote for Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
• Sony S1 Honeycomb tablet slips through the FCC with AT&T frequencies and HSPA+ broadband module
• BlackBerry PlayBook gets updated with new power menu, better Facebook app, and more
• RED Scarlet captures Hollywood-style street scene at 120fps (video)
• SSI's rugged Spark S9T brings triple-screen computing to power-hungry road warriors (hands-on)
• New and improved Droid Bionic getting a 4.5-inch display and docking connection?
• Apple patent app sheds light on wireless charging dreams, NFMR love affair
• ViewSonic announces $250 ViewBook 730 tablet, steps on Nook Color's turf
• Turtle Beach's XP500 headset brings totally wireless 7.1 to the Xbox 360, PX5 is mildly jealous
• Antimatter gets trapped for 15 minutes by CERN scientists, escapes unharmed
• iTunes (in the Cloud) 10.3 beta available for download, we go hands-on
• Skype goes down globally again, Microsoft starts wondering if it bought wisely
• Tesla Model S is almost production-ready, does photo shoot to prove it
• iOS 5 jailbroken
• Delorme's inReach two-way GPS Communicator receives txts on mountains, teenage hikers rejoice
• HTC sales in May reached $1.42 billion, more than double last year's total
• Gears of War limited edition Xbox 360 paints the town crimson, coming September 20th for $400
• Atrix 4G available for $100 from AT&T, just 50 bucks per Tegra 2 core
• Xbox 360 Wireless Speed Wheel will arrive in early October for $60, give you something to hold on to
• Nintendo 3DS system update is live, grab your free copy of Excitebike now
• Zotac unveils new ZBOX mini-PC, powered by VIA's dual-core Nano X2
• Sony's 24-inch PlayStation 3D display first hands-on!
• Acer announces redesigned Aspire TimelineX Series laptops, prices start at $599
• Sony's PlayStation Vita: first hands-on impressions
• 441 drops of water carefully printed for a very wet work of art (video)
• Apple iOS 5 hands-on preview
• Sony sells 70 million PSP units worldwide, still firmly in DS' rearview mirror
• Sony's PlayStation Vita official: $249 for WiFi, $299 for 3G
• Sony introduces PlayStation-brand 3D monitor and 3D glasses, bundle available for $499
• Sony's PS3 claims the lead in Netflix streaming, adds VOD from Best Buy's CinemaNow
• Live from Sony's E3 2011 keynote!
• HTC Flyer quietly gets over-the-air software update, promises to 'improve system performance'
• Waiting for a taste of the iCloud? Check your iPhone
• Mozilla's Webian Shell interface will cloak your OS in a browser (video)
• Editorial: Engadget on iCloud and iTunes Match

Nintendo Wii U controller, first hands-on! Posted: 07 Jun 2011 10:58 AM PDT We just elbowed our way through the crowds and managed to get our first hands-on time with Nintendo's revolutionary new controller, the Wii U. As you can see in the images, it's a rather different thing than even the company's typically unusually styled contraptions. The dominant feature is the center-mounted 6.2-inch touchscreen, which actually looks really good. We'd expected Nintendo would cheap out to keep costs low, but that doesn't appear to be the case, at least not in our first impressions. Join us after the break for more details. Nintendo Wii U Hands-On In the hand the controller feels light, and it feels comfortable. It's most similar to the old GameCube controller, really, but much wider and with more buttons. There are four face buttons, a D-pad, dual-analog sliders, start, select, and four more 'round the back: ZL, ZR, L, and R. All fall to hand quite readily, even for gamers with bigger mitts. Looking back at ya is a front-facing camera, and there's a plain plastic stylus tucked in the top, so we're certainly looking at a resistive touch display. We got hands-on time with a simple game called Shield Pose that is a good demonstration of the gyro and accelerometer aspects of the game. Here you have to fend off a vicious flotilla of pirates who are firing... vicious suction cup arrows at you. You have to swing the controller up and around to catch the arrows from the various ships, but in a curious twist of difficulty you actually have to do it to a very specific beat. So, it's also a rhythm title, and a pretty tricky one at that. It's interesting that Nintendo chose this year to unveil the controller ahead of the console, a 180 degree twist from the E3 unveil a few years back, where we saw the console first. Does this mean all will be unveiled in Tokyo at TGS in a few months? We'll be there to find out.

Motorola clarifies position on Android apps, is still cool with developer community Posted: 07 Jun 2011 10:31 AM PDT Being an outspoken executive often involves a steady diet of crow. So, when Sanjay Jha seemingly threw Android developers under the proverbial bus with last week's comments, it seemed only a matter of time before the backtracking commenced. Motorola has fittingly issued a clarification on the CEO's statement, explaining that Jha didn't mean to suggest that apps were at fault for 70-percent of returns. Instead, they're a contributing factor, along with poor battery life and slow performance. The company also took a moment to point out its continued support of the Android developer community, just in case anyone on that side was planning on adding to the aforementioned return rate.

The Wii U controller, revealed! (video) Posted: 07 Jun 2011 09:46 AM PDT Woah! The rumors turned out to be true: a 6.2-inch screen will be built into the controller for Nintendo's next-generation Wii U console. It'll also feature a microphone, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, dual analog controls, two shoulder buttons and two triggers, a front-facing camera, a stylus, and yes, it's a touchscreen, too! Satoru Iwata was careful to forewarn that the Wii U's controller was "not designed to be a portable game machine," even if it shares some characteristics with handhelds. You will, however, be able to game and video chat even without a TV. Screen resolution isn't given yet, but the display ratio is stated as 16:9, matching every other widescreen in your living room. Check the video after the break while we go try to hunt down some hands-on time with this multifunctional new beast of a controller. Nintendo Wii U Controller Nintendo Wii U press images Show full PR text Nintendo's Upcoming Wii U Console Features Controller with 6.2-inch Screen Nintendo 3DS Continues its Evolution with Mario Kart, Super Mario and the Nintendo eShop as Nintendo Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of The Legend of Zelda E3 Expo 2011 LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At the E3 Expo, Nintendo introduced a new paradigm for video games and home entertainment: Wii U™, a new console that includes a controller with a 6.2-inch screen. Adding a second screen to the living room creates a multitude of new video game experiences while offering families a variety of options to customize their entertainment. "Wii U redefines the structure of home entertainment by fundamentally changing how the TV, the game console and the Internet function and interact together" Previously, video games played on a home console have been confined to the TV and offered identical viewpoints to each player in a multiplayer environment. Furthermore, watching TV and playing console games have been completely separate experiences. The new controller removes these boundaries, creating a more dynamic and fluid gaming and entertainment experience. Visitors to the E3 Expo will see firsthand the type of gaming experiences made possible by Wii U and the new controller such as: In single-player games: The new controller can display information on its screen that does not appear on the TV. The information and viewpoint can also change in the new controller based on the orientation of its gyroscope. In multiplayer games: The player using the new controller can have a different experience than those looking at the TV. This will offer a wide variety of competitive and cooperative opportunities. In addition to the 6.2-inch screen, the new controller also features an accelerometer and a gyroscope, a rumble feature, an inward-facing camera, a microphone and speakers. Adding these features to the Classic Controller™ button scheme – two analog Circle Pads, +Control Pad, A/B/X/Y buttons, L/R buttons and ZL/ZR buttons – will enable a breadth of game-play experiences while appealing to both casual and dedicated video game players. Wii U combines motion-sensing game play with the ability to support full HD graphics. Each Wii U console will be partnered with a new controller and can also use up to four additional Wii Remote™ or Wii Remote Plus controllers. The system is also backward compatible and can play all Wii games and use all Wii accessories. The Wii console has sold more than 86 million units globally and greatly expanded the overall audience for video games. Wii U aims to expand that audience even further. Developers worldwide are already working on new games and experiences for the console. "Wii U redefines the structure of home entertainment by fundamentally changing how the TV, the game console and the Internet function and interact together," said Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. "The experience enabled by Wii U and the new controller takes players deeper into their games, while reaching out wider than ever before to be inviting to all kinds of gamers." Nintendo 3DS™, which lets users see 3D images without the need for special glasses, launched in the United States on March 27 and continues to evolve. Owners will find that their Nintendo 3DS experience is different every time they pick up the system, thanks to new content and updates delivered by Nintendo, by third parties and exchanged between users. A new system update is now available for the Nintendo 3DS system. Users who connect to a wireless broadband Internet connection and install the system update will instantly gain access to the Nintendo eShop, which contains a variety of games and applications for download using a cash-based system. Users can browse original 3D software, 3D Classics (select classic video games re-mastered in 3D), classic Game Boy™ and Game Boy Color games, and more than 350 games and applications currently offered for the Nintendo DSiWare™ service. Visitors can also see videos and screen shots for games, plus see how other players rank games. The system update also provides Nintendo 3DS owners access to free items, including an Internet browser that can show 3D images on sites specifically designed to show 3D images, a download of a re-mastered 3D version of the NES™ classic Excitebike™ game (free until July 7) and Pokédex™ 3D, which lets users discover and view more than 150 Pokémon™ from the Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version games in visually engaging 3D. Nintendo also announced a huge lineup of upcoming new and fan-favorite franchise games, many of which are playable on the E3 Expo show floor in booth 4922. Nintendo 3DS: Super Mario™, Luigi's Mansion™ 2, Mario Kart™, Kid Icarus™: Uprising, The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ 3D, Star Fox 64™ 3D, Animal Crossing™, Paper Mario™, Picture Lives!, The Rolling Western™. Wii: The Legend of Zelda™: Skyward Sword, Kirby™ Wii, Wii Play™: Motion, Mystery Case Files™: The Malgrave Incident™, Mario Party™ 9, Rhythm Heaven™ and Fortune Street™. Nintendo DS™: Kirby™ Mass Attack, Professor Layton and the Last Specter™, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker™ 2 and Super Fossil Fighters™. Nintendo kicked off its E3 Expo Presentation by announcing a number of initiatives to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda. A re-mastered 3D version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches for Nintendo 3DS on June 19, while Wii owners will see the arrival of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword in the 2011 holiday season. Additionally, Nintendo announced a tour of orchestral concerts featuring music from the beloved franchise. Additional commemorative activities will be announced at a later date. For the duration of the E3 Expo, Nintendo will provide fans with exclusive videos and Nintendo content on the Nintendo Network. People can visit http://e3.nintendo.com to watch developer interviews, get all the information about new games and see coverage coming directly from the show floor. The same exclusive content also will be streamed through the Nintendo® Channel to Wii owners who have a broadband Internet connection.

The Wii U, Nintendo's next console (video) Posted: 07 Jun 2011 09:45 AM PDT Coming in 2012, Nintendo's next home console will deliver "deeper game experiences" that aim to offer "something for everyone." And it'll be called the Wii U! A variety of new controls will be made available by that crazy new controller with a 6.2-inch touchscreen embedded in it. Most importantly, you'll no longer be tied to a TV to enjoy your home consoling action -- the Wii U controller can handle your gaming session when the television is needed for other purposes, while a built-in front-facing cam will let you video chat from anywhere too. Notably, you won't have to use the 6.2-inch behemoth if you don't want too -- the Wii U will be compatible with all current-gen accessories and software. Yes, your expansive Wii collection will play on the U version of the console as well. We've also seen some decidedly high-def visuals from Nintendo showing off the Wii U's graphical prowess. See video of the unveiling after the break! Batman: Arkham City, an Assassin's Creed game, Dirt, Ghost Recon Online, Tekken, Metro Last Light, Aliens Colonial Marines, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge, and Darksiders II all got a mention as coming to the Wii U. Yes! EA's John Riccitiello just said the Wii U will deliver "brilliant HD graphics." Finally, the Wii is going HD! Speaking of HD, the fact sheet from Nintendo informs us that the Wii U can pump out 1080p video over HDMI. It'll also be compatible with component, S-video and composite cables. There'll be "internal flash memory" of unspecified quantity, which will be expandable via either an SD card or external USB HDD. IBM is, as with the original Wii, once again responsible for providing the processor inside. Four USB 2.0 slots are made available, while game media will be served up on "proprietary high-density optical discs." There's also another, worthwhile, reminder that the Wii U will play Wii games and their optical discs without a problem. Nintendo Wii U Nintendo Wii U press images Show full PR text Nintendo's Upcoming Wii U Console Features Controller with 6.2-inch Screen Nintendo 3DS Continues its Evolution with Mario Kart, Super Mario and the Nintendo eShop as Nintendo Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of The Legend of Zelda E3 Expo 2011 LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--At the E3 Expo, Nintendo introduced a new paradigm for video games and home entertainment: Wii U™, a new console that includes a controller with a 6.2-inch screen. Adding a second screen to the living room creates a multitude of new video game experiences while offering families a variety of options to customize their entertainment. "Wii U redefines the structure of home entertainment by fundamentally changing how the TV, the game console and the Internet function and interact together" Previously, video games played on a home console have been confined to the TV and offered identical viewpoints to each player in a multiplayer environment. Furthermore, watching TV and playing console games have been completely separate experiences. The new controller removes these boundaries, creating a more dynamic and fluid gaming and entertainment experience. Visitors to the E3 Expo will see firsthand the type of gaming experiences made possible by Wii U and the new controller such as: In single-player games: The new controller can display information on its screen that does not appear on the TV. The information and viewpoint can also change in the new controller based on the orientation of its gyroscope. In multiplayer games: The player using the new controller can have a different experience than those looking at the TV. This will offer a wide variety of competitive and cooperative opportunities. In addition to the 6.2-inch screen, the new controller also features an accelerometer and a gyroscope, a rumble feature, an inward-facing camera, a microphone and speakers. Adding these features to the Classic Controller™ button scheme – two analog Circle Pads, +Control Pad, A/B/X/Y buttons, L/R buttons and ZL/ZR buttons – will enable a breadth of game-play experiences while appealing to both casual and dedicated video game players. Wii U combines motion-sensing game play with the ability to support full HD graphics. Each Wii U console will be partnered with a new controller and can also use up to four additional Wii Remote™ or Wii Remote Plus controllers. The system is also backward compatible and can play all Wii games and use all Wii accessories. The Wii console has sold more than 86 million units globally and greatly expanded the overall audience for video games. Wii U aims to expand that audience even further. Developers worldwide are already working on new games and experiences for the console. "Wii U redefines the structure of home entertainment by fundamentally changing how the TV, the game console and the Internet function and interact together," said Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. "The experience enabled by Wii U and the new controller takes players deeper into their games, while reaching out wider than ever before to be inviting to all kinds of gamers." Nintendo 3DS™, which lets users see 3D images without the need for special glasses, launched in the United States on March 27 and continues to evolve. Owners will find that their Nintendo 3DS experience is different every time they pick up the system, thanks to new content and updates delivered by Nintendo, by third parties and exchanged between users. A new system update is now available for the Nintendo 3DS system. Users who connect to a wireless broadband Internet connection and install the system update will instantly gain access to the Nintendo eShop, which contains a variety of games and applications for download using a cash-based system. Users can browse original 3D software, 3D Classics (select classic video games re-mastered in 3D), classic Game Boy™ and Game Boy Color games, and more than 350 games and applications currently offered for the Nintendo DSiWare™ service. Visitors can also see videos and screen shots for games, plus see how other players rank games. The system update also provides Nintendo 3DS owners access to free items, including an Internet browser that can show 3D images on sites specifically designed to show 3D images, a download of a re-mastered 3D version of the NES™ classic Excitebike™ game (free until July 7) and Pokédex™ 3D, which lets users discover and view more than 150 Pokémon™ from the Pokémon Black Version and Pokémon White Version games in visually engaging 3D. Nintendo also announced a huge lineup of upcoming new and fan-favorite franchise games, many of which are playable on the E3 Expo show floor in booth 4922. Nintendo 3DS: Super Mario™, Luigi's Mansion™ 2, Mario Kart™, Kid Icarus™: Uprising, The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™ 3D, Star Fox 64™ 3D, Animal Crossing™, Paper Mario™, Picture Lives!, The Rolling Western™. Wii: The Legend of Zelda™: Skyward Sword, Kirby™ Wii, Wii Play™: Motion, Mystery Case Files™: The Malgrave Incident™, Mario Party™ 9, Rhythm Heaven™ and Fortune Street™. Nintendo DS™: Kirby™ Mass Attack, Professor Layton and the Last Specter™, Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker™ 2 and Super Fossil Fighters™. Nintendo kicked off its E3 Expo Presentation by announcing a number of initiatives to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda. A re-mastered 3D version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time launches for Nintendo 3DS on June 19, while Wii owners will see the arrival of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword in the 2011 holiday season. Additionally, Nintendo announced a tour of orchestral concerts featuring music from the beloved franchise. Additional commemorative activities will be announced at a later date. For the duration of the E3 Expo, Nintendo will provide fans with exclusive videos and Nintendo content on the Nintendo Network. People can visit http://e3.nintendo.com to watch developer interviews, get all the information about new games and see coverage coming directly from the show floor. The same exclusive content also will be streamed through the Nintendo® Channel to Wii owners who have a broadband Internet connection. For more information about Nintendo, visit http://www.nintendo.com or http://www.facebook.com/nintendo. About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console, Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.7 billion video games and more than 600 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company's website at http://www.nintendo.com. Note to editors: Through July 7, Nintendo press materials for the E3 Expo are available at http://press.nintendo.com/e32011. The username is E32011 and the password is nintendo. To obtain a permanent login, please contact Deanna Talamantez at 213-438-8742 or dtalamantez@golinharris.com. Users can receive instant Nintendo information by subscribing to the site's RSS feed. B-roll is available at http://www.thenewsmarket.com/Nintendo.

Live from Nintendo's E3 2011 keynote! Posted: 07 Jun 2011 08:41 AM PDT 1:16PM Thanks for joining us, it was a fun ride! 1:15PM Lights are up, show's over folks! 1:15PM "At home or on-site here in LA you've got incredible new game worlds to explore this week." 1:14PM Ninty will be pumping out the videos and content, so if you're not here (or don't feel like standing in all the lines) you can enjoy all the experiences. 1:14PM "This year the Nintendo Network is back at E3, and it's even better." 1:13PM Looks like the new 3DS games are here, while Wii U is over at the convention center. 1:13PM ...or whether you're at the show. 1:13PM "The experience continues right now, whether you're here in the Nokia Theater." 1:13PM He's also saying that the glasses-free 3D of the 3DS changed gaming, and of course the Wii U will do it too, naturally. 1:12PM "The two screens of Nintendo DS changed gaming. The motion control of Wii changed gaming." 1:12PM "I want to conclude this morning by asking you to consider four platforms: Nintendo DS, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U. Think about what they represent together. Each of these platforms is unique, but they share a common pedigree. It's called innovation." 1:11PM John is out, Reggie is back. 1:11PM "Thank you, we can't wait to see EA games on this new system." 1:11PM "We're changing games from the thing that you buy to the place that you go. Nintendo's next console is truly transformational as well." 1:11PM He's also talking about an online system with leaderboards and community features. 1:10PM "Imagine a shooter like Battlefield with jaw-dropping graphics and smooth animations from the Frostbite engine, brought to you on a Nintendo system with that brilliant controller." 1:10PM He just said the new console will deliver "brilliant HD graphics." 1:10PM "Over the years I've made E3 appearances with several console partners, but never before with Nintendo." He's calling Wii U a "stunning breakthrough" that "speaks directly to EA sports games." 1:09PM John Riccitiello from EA is up on stage. 1:09PM In other words: lots of time for devs to improve. 1:08PM The games are looking good, graphics about on-par with the Xbox 360 or PS3 from what little we're being shown so far. But keep in mind we're only seeing a glimpse, here, and we're still potentially a year away. 1:08PM Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge looking intense as ever. 1:07PM A little Tekken gameplay, including customization of characters. You can add facepaint, draw logos on your fighters! 1:07PM Metro Last Light now, again from THQ, a dark and violent shooter. 1:06PM Aliens: Colonial Marines from Sega, replete with facehuggers and lots of gore. Nintendo is definitely pushing the mature content here, just in case you had any doubt. 1:06PM Dirt from Codemasters, with Ken Block getting his drift on. 1:05PM Looking at the new Darksiders now, from THQ, which looks properly brutal and fun. 1:05PM Looking like it's Wii U in the press materials, so we hope you enjoy the extra space. 1:05PM Darksiders 2 will be at launch, Tekken will be there, Batman Arkham City, a new Assassin's Creed, Ghost Recon Online. Solid, serious titles these. 1:04PM Warren Spector says he can "make games we've never been able to make before." 1:04PM Producers and developers from major studios are gushing about the possibilities here. Ken Levine "A full console experience... in bed on this smaller screen. That's a really revolutionary thing for me as a gamer." 1:03PM Video from developers. Peter Moore: "My mind immediately started racing about what we can do about this in the world of sports." 1:03PM It's coming exclusively to Wiiu and Nintendo 3DS. 1:03PM Lego City Stories looks to be the first third-party announced game, "a new open world game packed with action, humor, and a whole city full of Lego vehicles" 1:02PM Reggie is showing a shooter, with "galactic fighers" shooting up at a ship, while the pilot in the ship is shooting back down. 1:01PM There's a game called Shield Pose, which tasks you with swinging the controller around to block pirate arrows. 1:00PM Actually that's Mii, as in your Mii is the one jumping around. 1:00PM Reggie again "I'm going to focus on how the new controller can change things. The first is simple: something that looks a lot like New Super Mario Bros. WIi, but it's called New Super Mario Bros. Me." 1:00PM All the usaul visual effects are here -- depth of field, gorgeous reflections and water effects, it looks good. 12:59PM Were watching a video of a bird landing on some cherry blossoms outside a temple. It's an example of "what the system can do." 12:59PM This is pretty similar to how the DS and 3DS were launched at E3 in years past, basically tech demos to give a taste of the potential. 12:58PM We're told we'll experience eight "interactive experiences" -- they're not actual games, sadly. 12:58PM Reggie: "Stating that Wiiu will play the way you change games is a pretty bold assertion, so this week we're providing pretty tangible proof." 12:58PM Reggie is back up, talking about software we can play this week. 12:57PM But, he's promising that the 3DS version and Wiiu versions will work together, somehow. 12:57PM Iwata is saying that he "shouldn't go into any details today." Boo, Iwata, Boo. 12:57PM Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wiiu! 12:56PM "I think as the third-party developers are also thinking up their ideas." 12:55PM He's in a video talking about possibilities here. "More than anything I'm really looking forward to new styles of play... There are so many we're just trying to decide where to begin." 12:55PM "Let's hear from the developer who has given the most thought to new possibilities. Mr. Miyamoto." 12:54PM "It's a new structure for home entertainment." 12:54PM "And also similarly between you, your friends, and your family." 12:54PM "We decided on this new structure for Wiiu because we wanted to create a strong bond between games, your TV, and the internet." 12:53PM "Or, games can be structured to use two screens at the same time." 12:53PM "Or you can play the controller on the table by itself." 12:53PM "You can play in a number of ways. Connect with an HDTV in a traditional way and you can enjoy the most up-to-date high-quality images even without using the screen in your hands." 12:53PM "Please understand that it was not designed to be a portable gaming machine, even though it shares some characteristics. The images displayed on the new controller are generated only by Wiiu" 12:52PM "Wii U was created so that the widest variety of games can be supported. That means those aimed at experienced controllers that can use circle controllers using both their hands, plus those games that can be intuitively played without the need for any buttons." 12:52PM Again, dual analog sticks, a D-pad, four buttons, triggers and shoulder buttons. There's rumble-feedback, touchscreen, microphone, speakers, accelerometers, gyro, and that camera. 12:51PM You can weigh yourself in Wii Fit without the TV. "This device is designed to appeal to all people, particularly the most experienced players." 12:51PM It's backward compatible, so all Wii accessories can be used. 12:50PM "Up until now, home console games had to occupy the TV screen in order to be played. But, the new controller for Wii U with 6.2-inch screen means you won't need to give up your gameplay when someone else comes in the room and wants to watch a TV program." 12:50PM Iwata's back. "Thank you. I believe this video may have answered some questions, but it probably raised several others, too." 12:49PM Coming in 2012! 12:49PM You can share pictures and videos from the controller to the TV just by swiping up flicking content right onto the TV and into your companion's faces. 12:49PM Dogs, apparently, can also make video calls, which is really great. 12:48PM You can even make video calls with it, using the front-facing camera. 12:48PM That game looks a bit like Silent Scope. 12:48PM Okay, we're seeing a Blaster attachment, and we're asked to "take aim with the new controller." 12:48PM Another gamer just used it like a golf ball, swinging a Wiimote over the new controller, which was situated on the floor. 12:48PM Okay, playing Wii Sports a gamer held up the controller to get an overlay on the screen, basically able to catch a baseball using a virtual mitt. 12:47PM Two gamers are playing Go on the controller, which has some aspect of motion controls. 12:47PM Game was playing on the TV, but the player just transferred it effortlessly to the display on the controller. 12:47PM Console on the right of the screen looks like a rounded Wii. 12:46PM There's also what appears to be a touchscreen, but we're watching a demo video now to see more. 12:46PM We're seeing dual analog sticks, a front-facing camera, start/select/home buttons, a microphone. 12:46PM "It's different from anything you'vep layed before." 12:46PM "This is the new controller for Wii u" 12:46PM "Is it unique, unifying, maybe even utopian? The answer is even yes to all of this." 12:45PM It's a Wii logo with a blue U on the right... "It's a system we will all enjoy together, but also one that's tailor made for you." 12:45PM "Today, welcome to the world of Wii U" 12:45PM "The answer to that question is an emphatic: Absolutely." 12:45PM "But in thinking about a new Nintendo system we knew the prevailing thought would be this: yes, the game would probably be right for all of us, but could it also be a perfect fit just for you." 12:44PM "You might remember how the Wii name began to make perfect sense once you started hearing it as Wii. It was clear how much fun we all had playing together." 12:44PM "There's one more order of business left for us today. To make a proper introduction to a new gaming companion." 12:44PM The Pokedex 3D is available exclusively through the eShop, and it's "complementary" -- that means free! 12:43PM Each Pokemon has an AR marker, meaning you can pose and get your picture taken with your Jigglypuff. Perfect for your next holiday card. 12:43PM You'll need to use SpotPass, AR cards, and other means to share and collect 'em all. 12:42PM "With Nintendo 3DS, an enhanced Pokedex has been created." 12:42PM Pokemon White and Black version. 12:42PM Reggie just said the "P" word -- "Pokemon." 12:42PM "Excitebike is now 27 years old. It doesn't get more classic than that, but it's still a blast." 12:41PM There are also some "classic" titles, some of which are said to date from before the NES. 12:41PM Game demos are coming later this year, for downloadable and retail software. Plus Virtual Console, starting with Game Boy and GBC titles. 12:40PM He's talking about the web browser and eShop that deployed last night, of course. 12:40PM "The library of games coming to Nintendo 3DS is unprecedented. In part, that's because a world of content opened up overnight." 12:40PM ... and Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D. Snake is back, and this time the carnage has depth. 12:39PM Time for another game reel, this time third-party devs. We're looking at Ace Combat 3D, Tetris, Cave Story 3D, Resident Evil: Revelations, Driver Renegade, Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions, Tekken 3D... 12:38PM No date, but it looks like a lot of fun whenever it does ship. 12:38PM "Luigi's Mansion 2 is not a simple revision. It's an entirely new game making extraordinary use of 3D, and featuring not just one, but several new mansions." 12:38PM It's Luigi's Mansion 2. What, no "3D" in the title? 12:37PM Don't cross the suction, Luigi, don't cross the suction. Bad things. 12:37PM Good 'ol Luigi, dressed in green, is wandering through some pretty creepy locales. 12:37PM Okay, Luigi time. "The first brother of videogames is back, and he's got his vacuum." 12:36PM This is also coming "later this year" -- Nintendo's not really into giving hard dates this year, apparently. 12:36PM "This week on the show floor you'll be squaring off against several human opponents, because you're going to experience 3-on-3 combat." 12:36PM Looks like at least one gameplay mode has you trying to attack the opposing player's angelangel. Oh, and there's some augmented reality stuff coming too. We just saw Pit face off against Medusa on a pair of AR cards. 12:35PM Giant, fiery bosses, multi-headed hydras, and even multiplayer combat. 12:34PM There are Panzer Dragoon-style on-rails segments by the looks, plus more free-exploration areas. 12:34PM Now it's time for Kid Icarus: Uprising. We saw this game last year, but now we're seeing a good bit more. 12:34PM The game is coming "before year is over" -- crowd goes "Hrm." 12:34PM Jumping on giant pianos, fighting Bowser, stomping Koopas, you know the deal. 12:33PM This, as ever, looks like a whole lot of fun. 12:33PM Getting a little gameplay. It's looking a lot like Galaxy, and yes, there's the raccoon suit in full-effect. 12:32PM "This is the first 3D Mario adventure created from scratch for a portable system, and once you've played Super Mario 3D, I think you'll agree it incorporates quite a tale." 12:32PM "If it's true that software sells hardware, then it's also true that no franchise has sold more systems then Mario. So get ready: he's coming to Nintendo 3DS." 12:32PM The game will launch in September. 12:31PM Ahh, nice. For multiplayer the 3D cameras capture your faces and show them on the screen. No more getting chided by cartoon frogs and roosters! 12:31PM Of course, you won't want to be using the 3D effect if you're doing that. 12:31PM "Now, Star Fox is back, and with Nintendo 3DS this time the 3D is entirely real. When Fox jumps back into the cockpit. You can use buttons into traditional control, or turn the hardware itself into the control yoke." 12:30PM Sadly no spinners, but you will at least get to play the game "this holiday season." 12:30PM Okay, there are definitely some big wheels going on here. You can customize your kart and put what looks to be gold 20's on there! 12:30PM Oh, we can go underwater too, with a propeller coming out the back. 12:29PM Biggest addition so far is the flying bits we saw a glimpse of earlier -- go off a jump and a hang-glider pops up. 12:29PM No sign of dubs or melon-shooter exhausts yet, but we're hoping that's what he means. 12:29PM We're looking at Mario Kart, said to be a "tricked out version you haven't played before." 12:28PM Or, they could have given us 3D glasses... but never mind that. 12:28PM "On the show floor you'll see these games in full 3D, but here on stage of course we can only offer you 2D version." 12:28PM "Is it fair to ask, and is it even possible to deliver something for everything? As Mr. Iwata suggested with our new home console, this is also what we're going to achieve with our new 3DS." 12:27PM "You want comfortable and you want surprise. Contradictions? No problem, they come with the territory." 12:27PM "We hear you: you want what you've also wanted, but you also want something new." Ooh, starting with a riddle. 12:27PM And that's it for the demo reel, now it's time for Reggie Fils-Aime on the stage! 12:26PM Luigi's Mansion is back, and he's looking scared as ever. Poor guy. 12:26PM Okay, Kid Icarus this time, and we're looking at what is a pretty badass laser blaster/sword thing. 12:26PM Okay, a new Mario game, and he has the raccoon suit! 12:25PM Next up: Star Fox, and yes, we were just told to do a barrel roll. Really. 12:25PM Looks like Mario Kart is going 3D, and Mario's got a hang glider attachment. 12:25PM Okay, game reel time. 12:25PM "I believe a new platform represents a measured step toward reaching our goal. However, our new home console is a product to look forward to next year. This year there are bold new experiences coming to 3DS, and several of the franchises you know well are moving into 3D." 12:24PM "We are going to leave the full details for a little later this morning..." a big groan 12:23PM Oooh boy, this is getting good. 12:23PM "How might that happen? I would suggest two words: deeper and wider." 12:23PM "Some hardware is seen as being appropriate for only the most passionate of gamers. Others, like Wii, are said to attract a large number of casual gamers. As an industry, what we haven't achieved yet is a gaming platform that is equally satisfying for all players. Yet this is exactly what we intend to create with our new home platform." 12:22PM "The boundaries that once divided gamers... are being erased." 12:22PM "Today we have seen changes in who plays, where we play, and most importantly how we play." 12:22PM He's talking about Nintendo's goal of "expanding the gaming population.' 12:22PM Now it's time for Satoru Iwata on stage, Nintendo's Global President. 12:21PM Goodbye. 12:21PM Orchestra is swelling again... while also sinking down below the floor. Goodbye, orchestra. 12:21PM But they're ending this part of the session with a big thanks to the gamers, who make it all possible. 12:20PM Many of the Zelda and Mario producers are up on-stage. These are the men who have captured many, many of your idle hours. 12:20PM "Just internally within Nintendo over 200 people have worked on the series, and I have been truly honored to work with such talented people. We have several of them here today, so I would like to invite them here on-stage today." 12:19PM And there are other activities and events coming, so keep that calendar clear, gamers. 12:19PM The next CD will be released with Skyward Sword, and will be recordings of the orchestra performances. 12:19PM "Additionally we're preparing two music CDs. The first is the Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D Official Soundtrack." This will be a gift for those who first register the game with Club Nintendo. 12:18PM Nintendo will also be holding The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony concerts around the world this year, "in each region." They'll be in the fall, but we'll have to wait for specific dates and locations. 12:18PM We're told there are many things we'll need to experience to really enjoy, so we're being asked to play the game on the show floor. We're pretty sure we can manage that. 12:17PM And yes, it has a little Triforce on there. 12:17PM There will be a special controller! A golden one with MotionPlus built-in, of course. 12:16PM It'll use Motion Plus for using the sword. 12:16PM "It's finally done." Yes! 12:16PM Skyward Sword, meanwhile, will launch this "holiday season" for Wii. 12:16PM On the DSi, Four Swords will be coming as a free download in September on DSiWare. 12:15PM There will also be hint movies, and the Master Quest mode will be included, as well as a Boss Challenge mode. 12:15PM This is the Ocarina of Time port, by the way, which is said to have an increased frame rate. 12:14PM "Starting next weekend, the Legend of Zelda 3D will launch for Nintendo 3DS around the world." 12:14PM "This is a game that we created perhaps with the most unbridled creativity of any game in the series." 12:14PM The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is the first title in the eShop Virtual Console, available today. 12:14PM "For the 25th anniversary we have prepared a Zelda gaming system for each of our systems." 12:13PM "Did you know all these songs? I have to thank all of you for remembering these simple 8-bit tunes in this age of high-end gaming machines." 12:13PM A BIG item this time. The bomb, maybe? 12:13PM Okay, we're getting an item again. 12:13PM "Isn't that nice?" It is. 12:12PM The fairy's fountain melody is playing now. Our hearts, and our heart containers, are filling. 12:12PM Now we're opening a treasure chest, with Myiamoto acting it out on stage. 12:12PM Hah! It feels like we just opened a door. 12:12PM "Let's start with the chime for solving a puzzle." 12:12PM "Link has often used a musical instrument as an important item in each of his quests, but since we have a full orchestra here today, a very talented one, I think we should ask them to play some of these songs for us." 12:11PM The last song we heard was from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. 12:11PM "So, last year was the 25th anniversary of the Super Mario Series. This year is the 25th anniversary of the Legend of Zelda." 12:10PM His translator is joining him on stage. 12:10PM "How are you doing? And welcome. Zelda, it sure does bring back memories!" 12:10PM Shigeru Miyamoto is up on stage, and the orchestra is swelling again. 12:09PM Huge applause! 12:09PM This is all to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the series, and the orchestra is finished. 12:08PM ...even Tati is making a cameo here. 12:08PM ...Link riding Epona, floating on his boat, fighting various monsters... 12:08PM ...majestic Zelda, little kid Zelda... 12:07PM We've got young cell-shaded Link, older pixelated Link... 12:07PM The montage is clips from all the various Zelda games, Link battling Ganon in many, many incarnations. 12:06PM Excuse us for a moment, our hearts are swelling uncontrollably. 12:05PM Chills, serious chills. This is moving stuff people. 12:05PM Wow, some serious harmonics going on here as we get treated to a Zelda montage. 12:05PM There's also about 40 singers coming along as well. 12:05PM Yes, a real orchestra with real instruments. 12:04PM Wow, lights are coming down, and an orchestra is coming up! 12:04PM A: King of Red Lions, which you may recall spending an awful, awful, awful lot of time within. 12:04PM Q: What as the name of Link's boat in Wind Waker? 12:03PM A: It's Goomba's shoe. 12:03PM Q: What's the name of Mario's special shoe in Super Mario Bros 3? 12:02PM Q: It's Pit! 12:02PM Q: Who is the hero in Kid Icarus? 12:02PM A: False! It was called Star Wing in Australia and Europe. If you got that right... well, you know what to do. 12:01PM Q: True or false: Star Fox on the Super Nintendo was the same in all regions? 12:01PM If you got that one wrong, do a barrel roll! 12:01PM A: Cornerian Academy. If you got that one right, do a barrel roll! 12:00PM Q: What academy did Fox McCloud attend? 12:00PM A: Super Mario World: Yoshi's Island, and as you may recall he was a very, very cranky baby. 12:00PM Q: What was the first game to feature Mario as a baby? 11:59AM Okay, we're almost at the top of the hour here. The random pop music is being replaced by random dance music. Maybe we're almost ready? 11:59AM A: Vaati, apparently. Yeah, we barely remember that one too. 11:59AM Q: Who is the final boss in Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap? 11:58AM A: Super Mario Kart! If you answered DK Country you lose three Nintendo fanboy points. 11:58AM Q: What's the first Super NES game to feature Donkey Kong? 11:57AM A: The lightning bolt, which is only slightly less annoying than the spikey turtle shell. 11:57AM Q: Which power-up in Mario Kart lets you shrink your opposition? 11:57AM A: Cool dude Albert Wesker. 11:57AM Q: Who wears sunglasses in Resident Evil: The Merceneries 3D? 11:56AM A: That would be good 'ol Super Mario Bros 2 -- the American release, that is, which you may know was considerably different than the Japanese sequel, deemed too difficult for weakling American gamers. 11:55AM Q: Which Mario game featured a flying carpet? 11:55AM A: Paper Mario, one of our favs. 11:54AM Q: Tubba Blubba comes from which Mario game? 11:54AM If you're enjoying these fine photos today they're being provided by Zach Honig. Text is coming from your humble servant, Tim Stevens. 11:53AM A: That would be RE4, of course, which you may recall as being pretty durned awesome. 11:53AM Q: Which resident evil game came with a special controller shaped like a chain saw? 11:53AM A: It's the Tanooki Suit, which doesn't need a joke, really. 11:52AM Q: What is the official name of the suit that turns Mario into a Stone Statue? 11:51AM A: A Game Boy Horror, which curiously still hasn't seen a US release. 11:51AM Q: Luigi uses what device to investigate item in Luigi's Mansion? 11:50AM A: Courage, but if you voted for Love, we think that's all right, man. 11:50AM Q: Link holds the Triforce of what? 11:50AM A: There are nine worlds, which is some beautiful symmetry if you're into squaring numbers. 11:49AM Q: How many worlds are there in Super Mario Bros 3? 11:48AM A: Bottle Ship, which also featured in a famous song by the Police. 11:47AM Q: What's the ship that Samus lands on in Metroid: Other M? 11:47AM A: Blooper, obviously. You know, the squid. 11:46AM Q: Which power-up in Mario Kart allows you to blind the other players with ink? 11:46AM A: 1983! 11:45AM Q: When did Luigi first appear? 11:43AM And it's time for the usual Nintendo trivia fun. Did you know that the bushes in the original Super Mario Bros. are just the clouds colored green? 11:40AM And we're in our seats! Front and center to give you the best perspective of what's to come. Another day another liveblog, but not just another company. Today it's Nintendo that will be keeping us rapt with anticipation, and with any luck the big man, Reggie Fils-Aime, will be taking us on quite a ride. Will we see the unveiling of Project Cafe? Will Nintendo tell us just how its 3DS is going to compete in a PlayStation Vita world? Could we finally get that Nintendogs and Paper Mario mash-up we've been waiting for? We'll be going live shortly, at the following times below: 06:00AM - Hawaii 09:00AM - Pacific 10:00AM - Mountain 11:00AM - Central 12:00PM - Eastern 05:00PM - London 06:00PM - Paris 08:00PM - Moscow 01:00AM - Tokyo (June 8th)

Nintendo announces gold Wiimote for Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Posted: 07 Jun 2011 08:37 AM PDT Nintendo just announced at E3 that The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for Wii is "finally done," and it also revealed that it'll have something of a surprise to mark its release this holiday season: a limited edition gold Wiimote. That, of course, comes with MotionPlus built-in, but details (including a price) are unfortunately a bit light otherwise. We'll let you know more as we get it.

Sony S1 Honeycomb tablet slips through the FCC with AT&T frequencies and HSPA+ broadband module Posted: 07 Jun 2011 08:36 AM PDT Ah Sony, your S1 and S2 tablet secrets are safe with trusty ol' Engadget. Take these new SGPT113JP/S and SGPT114JP/S tablets that just passed through the FCC. We won't tell anyone that they're actually variants of your S1 tablet, that 9.4-inch jobbie with Android 3.x Honeycomb and custom-made "Quick and Smooth" UI and "Swift" web browser. And mum's the word on the 2.4GHz 802.11n WiFi and WCDMA bands II and V radios -- the latter making an introduction on AT&T (or perhaps Rogers in Canada) highly likely. And you won't hear us making a peep about the Ericsson F5521gw HSPA+ capable modem that's mentioned, the same module spotted in the S2's FCC filing. Really, we won't say a word until this PlayStation Certified tablet hits retail later in the fall.

BlackBerry PlayBook gets updated with new power menu, better Facebook app, and more Posted: 07 Jun 2011 08:22 AM PDT The PlayBook isn't even two months old yet and it's already scored a second update to its QNX-based OS. First up from BlackBerry Tablet OS v1.0.5 is an upgraded Facebook app, which is now a preloaded part of the system software and can do some really neat things... like delete unwanted messages. Devs will be happy to hear that they can include in-app payments, while our European friends should be excited about the expanded language support. There are a few other welcome changes, including some enterprise-friendly tweaks to video chat, a new pop-up power menu (pictured above), and the ability to charge even when the device is turned off -- a constraint we're sure had at least a few owners pulling a Picard-like facepalm. The update is available now and, while you wait for it download, check out the source link for more details.

RED Scarlet captures Hollywood-style street scene at 120fps (video) Posted: 07 Jun 2011 07:59 AM PDT The bad news is that the RED Scarlet is a still a prototype two and a half years after it was announced. The good news is that the folks at RED have shot some stunning test footage with the 8x fixed lens version to show off the Scarlet's prowess at 120 frames per second. Remember, every one of those frames is a 3072 x 1620 RAW masterpiece -- and while the video after the break obviously can't deliver that resolution, it can nevertheless give you a feel for the slow-mo power of this thing. Prepare yourselves. [Thanks, Jarred]

SSI's rugged Spark S9T brings triple-screen computing to power-hungry road warriors (hands-on) Posted: 07 Jun 2011 07:33 AM PDT A portable desktop tower with three LCDs mounted on its side, you say? Why yes, there is such a thing. At Computex, we spotted SSI's camouflaged booth demoing this eccentric Spark S9T rig: a rugged ATX case sporting a handle, a keyboard with a touchpad, plus three 17.3-inch 1920 x 1080 LCD panels. As you've probably already guessed, the keyboard and the screens can be folded up for storage convenience. Let's be clear, though: you'll still need to find a wall socket to power this beastly machine, but such all-in-one solution should still appeal to video editors, military personnel, or even gamers that are regularly on the road. Alas, we couldn't get a price for single purchases, but feel free to check out the full detail over at SSI's website -- maybe a nice postcard will get you a deal. SSI's rugged Spark S9T brings trial-screen computing to power-hungry road warriors (hands-on)

New and improved Droid Bionic getting a 4.5-inch display and docking connection? Posted: 07 Jun 2011 07:11 AM PDT Since Motorola delayed the launch of the LTE-equipped Droid Bionic to carry out "several enhancements," we've debated if this might entail swapping out Tegra 2 in favor of a PowerVR GPU. But now leaked photos are starting to surface, and it would seem that Motorola went and redesigned the body, too. These pics reveal a phone with a 4.5-inch qHD display running Gingerbread -- not the 4.3-incher with Froyo that was originally slated to ship this spring. Even more intriguing, the revamped handset sports an Atrix-like docking connection, suggesting that new and improved user experience will include the option of a so-called lapdock. And, as an added flourish, Motorola smoothed out the rubberized back cover, nixing the pattern it had at CES. No further word on a launch date, but for now you can get your fill of spy shots at the source link.

Apple patent app sheds light on wireless charging dreams, NFMR love affair Posted: 07 Jun 2011 06:54 AM PDT Apple threw quite the wireless party by introducing PC Free and iCloud at yesterday's WWDC keynote, but it seems that the engineers in Cupertino may have even more tricks up their sleeve. Judging by a recently filed patent application, the company's hoping to add charging to its list of cord-cutting services. Specifically, the patent describes building a NFMR (near-field magnetic resolution) power supply directly into your iMac so it can charge your iPhone, iPad, or even peripherals -- such as a keyboard or mouse, when equipped with a special antenna -- without the assistance of your ol' trusty charging cords or batteries. Sporting a somewhat mature iMac that's operating sans NFMR? Pop a special USB dongle in that bad boy and presto, you're good to go. The patent points out that the range is limited to one meter, though there may be ways to install repeaters in peripherals to extend that distance further. Of course, patents won't guarantee we'll be grabbing the scissors to cut our cords anytime soon, but at least we won't have to rely on these things for the rest of eternity.

ViewSonic announces $250 ViewBook 730 tablet, steps on Nook Color's turf Posted: 07 Jun 2011 06:31 AM PDT Does that bulky black plastic surround look familiar? It's becoming standard uniform for Android tablets at the $250 price point like the Nook Color and now ViewSonic's latest offering, the ViewBook 730. Basic specs also look pretty similar -- the ViewBook has a 7-inch screen (albeit with a 800x480 resolution, lower than the Nook's), 8GB of internal storage and an SD card slot. But the 730 does have some significant advantages over its older rival: notably a front-facing VGA camera and a faster 1Ghz Cortex-A8 processor (versus 800Mhz on the Nook Color) that claims to handle 1080p video and output it via an HDMI port. Plus there's full Android 2.2 instead of the Nook Color's walled-off ecosphere. Interestingly, the ViewBook also tries to distinguish itself with stylus support for note-taking -- akin to the HTC Flyer. Goes to show you can't judge a multi-function e-reader by its bezel. Hit the PR after the break to see if this budget tablet will tick your boxes when it arrives at the end of June. Show full PR text ViewSonic Changes the Face of Tablets New ViewBook® 730 Tablet Is a Fully-Featured Low-Cost Powerhouse WALNUT, CA--(Marketwire - Jun 6, 2011) - ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of computing, consumer electronics and communications solutions, today expanded its tablet offerings with the launch of the ViewBook tablet line and new ViewBook 730. Designed for the value seeker who doesn't want to compromise on features, the ViewBook 730 makes it easy for anyone to make multimedia mobile. This Android™ 2.2 OS tablet combines a fast and powerful ARM® Cortex-A8 1Ghz processor with Wi-Fi® and Bluetooth® support in a convenient 7" form factor. Whether experiencing 1080p video playback via the HDMI connection, or engaging in video chat and conference calls using the integrated front VGA camera, the ViewBook 730 is the ideal tablet for staying connected and enjoying all the exciting possibilities of digital media content on the move. With its RiteTouch technology, the ViewBook 730's high-resolution 800x480 LED backlit screen serves as a great tool for pen writing. Whether taking notes in the classroom, highlighting excerpts within a novel or textbook, or working on art projects with the pre-installed Sketcher® app, the included stylus and RiteTouch make it easy to write directly on the screen of the device, swipe across content and scroll through emails. Fully integrated with the Amazon Appstore, the most popular games and entertainment have already been installed: from Twitter, to Amazon's MP3 music downloader, shopping on Amazon.com, plus YouTube and Mediafly, along with Amazon® Kindle™ software for industry-leading eBook reading. "In the tablet marketplace, there are plenty of solutions to choose from," said Michael Holstein, vice president of business development, ViewSonic. "We recognized a need for a tablet device that offers users an excellent multimedia experience with a very affordable value proposition. From the pre-installed Amazon Kindle eReader to full Amazon app integration and Flash 10.1 support, our new ViewBook 730 enables consumers to do all the fun things that they want to do on a tablet without the added cost for features they don't need." In addition to an ample 8GB of memory, the ViewBook 730 offers up to an additional 32GB of storage capacity via the microSD card slot. Teamed with a long-lasting battery for up to 8 hours of use per charge, consumers can bring all their favorite multimedia content with them wherever they go. For added convenience and functionality, the ViewBook 730 offers ViewSonic's AirSync technology to ensure that tablet owners will receive over-the-air device updates as they are rolled out, from feature add-ons to software updates. The ViewBook 730 will be available at the end of June 2011 for an ESP of $249.99.

Turtle Beach's XP500 headset brings totally wireless 7.1 to the Xbox 360, PX5 is mildly jealous Posted: 07 Jun 2011 06:01 AM PDT Turtle Beach's PS3-oriented PX5 performed great in our recent review, and just after we've arrived at E3 the company has announced another new release for the show: the XP500 for the Xbox 360. It's essentially a PX5, featuring the same design and programmable Dolby virtual 7.1 goodness, but with a Microsoft loving green trim and a rechargeable Xbox 360 Bluetooth Chat Adapter -- the latter plugs into your controller for some wireless chatting action. This makes it the only other completely wireless Xbox headset besides the Tritton / Microsoft cans we got a glimpse of last week. The XP500 will cost $260 -- $10 more than the PX5 -- when Turtle Beach releases it this fall, but current PX5 owners can just purchase the $30 Chat Adapter to join the fun. In addition, TB is also announcing the $30 XL1 as a replacement for your Xbox's standard headset -- you can view its full-on stereo glory alongside the XP500 in our gallery below. We'll hopefully grab some ears-on time with all of the new gear while we're here at E3. E3 2011: Turtle Beach XP500 & XL1 Headsets Show full PR text E3 2011: Turtle Beach Debuts A New Generation of XBOX 360 Gaming Headsets at E3 2011 Turtle Beach continues the tradition of award winning XBOX 360 headsets by introducing the super-premium XP500 and economical XL1 models Elmsford, N.Y., June 7, 2011 – Turtle Beach, the leader in premium gaming headsets announces two exciting additions to their XBOX 360 line up of gaming headsets. The story begins with the top of the line Ear Force XP500 Programmable Wireless Gaming Headset with Dolby7.1 Surround Sound and Bluetooth Chat; the long-awaited XBOX 360 focused companion to the acclaimed PX5 introduced earlier this year. At the other end is the economical and performance-packed Ear Force XL1 Amplified Stereo Gaming Headset. These headsets join the recently announced PX3 and Z6A models, all making their debuts at the 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, California, from June 7-9, 2011 at the Turtle Beach booth #435 in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. Turtle Beach Ear Force XP500 Programmable Wireless Gaming Headset with Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound and Wireless XBOX 360 Chat Like the revolutionary Ear Force PX5, the new Ear Force XP500 delivers all of the PX5's impressive features, along with wireless XBOX 360 chat via Bluetooth. Like the PX5, the XP500 incorporates programmable custom presets that allow independent customization of the chat, game and microphone signals. These custom presets are stored in the headset and can be selected on the fly during specific parts of the game to emphasize sounds like enemy footsteps or ammo reloads that might otherwise be difficult to hear. The XP500 sets itself apart from the PX5 with its ability to function with the XBOX 360 completely wirelessly right out of the box. The included XBOX 360 Bluetooth Chat Adapter (XBA) lets players eliminate the chat wire connecting their headset and controller, making it the first XBOX 360 headset with wireless chat. The XP500's dual-paring Bluetooth functionality also enables the headset to answer mobile phone calls and stream music from Bluetooth enabled digital audio players while enjoying the freedom of wireless chat. The XBA adapter will also be available for purchase on the Turtle Beach website for PX5 owners looking to upgrade to full wireless XBOX LIVE chat. "The PX5 pioneered a new generation of headsets that recalibrated people's expectations of what a gaming headset can be." Said Carmine Bonanno, President and CEO of Turtle Beach. "With the release of the XP500, XBOX 360 owners can enjoy the super-premium gaming experience they have been waiting for, complete with wireless chat." Key features and user benefits of the Turtle Beach Ear Force XP500 include: · Customizable Presets: Configure up to 18 personalized presets to optimize game, chat, and microphone audio for different gaming situations. Download the Advanced Sound Editor software and make your own presets, or simply upload any of the numerous custom files posted on the Turtle Beach website. · Dolby 7.1 Surround Sound: Immersive 360 degree audio lets you hear the direction of every sound as if you were playing with speakers all around you · Digital RF Wireless Game Sound: Uncompressed wireless digital audio signal delivers CD-quality game sound that rivals professional grade wired headphones · Xbox Chat Adapter (XBA): For the first time, play XBOX 360 games untethered and chat without any wires using Bluetooth technology! · Dynamic Chat Boost: Chat level increases automatically as the game volume gets louder, so you can always hear the voices of other players · Microphone Monitoring: Lets you hear your voice in the headset, so you won't need to shout to hear yourself · Sonic Silencers: Enjoy total silence by eliminating ambient noise pickup on your mic and cutting background noise from PSN or XBOX LIVE chat sound · Sonic Lens™ with Sound Field Expander: Widen or narrow the sound field to focus on difficult to hear audio cues like footsteps sneaking up on you or the clicks of someone reloading in the distance · Intuitive Voice Prompts: A real voice announces critical headset status conditions, such a low battery, preset numbers and more · Ear Guard with Blast Limiter: Limit the intensity of deafening games sounds such as explosions and gunfire to reduce ear fatigue during long gaming sessions · PS3 and XBOX 360 Compatible: Delivers the ultimate gaming experience with PS3 and XBOX 360 consoles MSRP: $269.95 Availability: Fall 2011 URL: www.turtlebeach.com/XP500 Ear Force XL1 Amplified Stereo Gaming Headset The Ear Force XL1 Amplified Stereo Gaming Headset for the XBOX 360 is an affordably-priced headset for the casual gamer who wants to improve their gaming experience without breaking the bank. The in-line amplifier features a built-in bass boost and independent controls for the game and chat volume. With 50 millimeter speakers, comfortable fabric mesh ear cushions and lightweight design, gamers will enjoy amazing audio fidelity and extreme comfort during long gaming sessions. "Turtle Beach has always been obsessed with providing value and performance in the same package and the new Ear Force XL1 is no exception." stated Carmine Bonanno, President and CEO of Turtle Beach. "This new entry level headset offers XBOX 360 owners all the features they need to enjoy a more immersive gaming experience, at a price that rivals the cost of a mono communicator headset. MSRP: $39.95 Availability: Fall 2011 URL: www.turtlebeach.com/XL1

Antimatter gets trapped for 15 minutes by CERN scientists, escapes unharmed Posted: 07 Jun 2011 05:31 AM PDT Antimatter particles are elusive little critters that tend to disappear moments after being spotted. Unless, it turns out, you trap them in a "magnetic bottle" and turn the temperature right down to almost absolute zero. CERN scientists have now used this technique to hold 300 antihydrogen particles for up to 1,000 seconds, relaxing them into their ground (stationary) state to make them easier to study. This opens the way for further research later in the year, when captured particles will be prodded with lasers and microwaves to see if they obey the same laws of physics that govern everything else in our universe. After all this effort, we're quietly hoping they don't. [Thanks, Howard]

iTunes (in the Cloud) 10.3 beta available for download, we go hands-on Posted: 07 Jun 2011 04:55 AM PDT If you live in the US or Canada then the iTunes 10.3 beta is ready to rumble on your PC or Mac. Automatic downloads and access to your purchase history is limited to iOS 4.3.3 users on the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 (GSM only, sorry Verizon subscribers), iPad and iPad2, and 3rd and 4th generation iPod touch devices. Once you meet those requirements, the iTunes in the Cloud beta promises to keep all of your newly purchased iTunes music in sync between devices while giving you the choice to download previously purchased tracks whenever you want at no additional cost. 10.3 beta also brings the Automatic Downloads feature to your apps and books, now allowing you to purchase tomes from your desktop while keeping them in sync with the iBooks app running on your iOS devices. Naturally, we couldn't help but test it out ourselves from both a Mac and iPhone 4, so click through for our first impressions. To start with, we gave Apple's new cloud offering a go on an iPhone 4 running the latest iOS (production) build, aka 4.3.3. A click on the new "Purchased" icon in the lower tray of the iTunes app gave us a quick look at our purchase history, divided into two panels: "All," and the more useful "Not On This iPhone." A tap on the iCloud icon sent the bits scurrying down to the iPhone over WiFi and even 3G as we wandered beyond the range of our router. Easy. Same experience on the Mac in iTunes 10.3... just as soon as we discovered the modest "Download Previous Purchases" link tucked away in the corner of the iTunes window. A click reveals your purchase history with similar "All" and "Not In My Library" views. iTunes also provides additional sorting by album, songs, and most recent purchases. Downloading is initiated with a click on "Download All" or the cloud icon next to each selection. You also have the option to download all your purchased Apps and Books from the appropriate tabs along the top. Of course, you can let iTunes control your downloads by selecting the appropriate content -- Music, Apps, and/or Books -- in the iTunes preferences. By default, these automatic settings are disabled. Generally speaking, the whole ordeal was fairly intuitive as you'd expect from Apple software, even in beta. Unfortunately, the $24.99 per year iTunes Match service that adds music to your iTunes in the Cloud library after scanning your local hard disk drive is not part of the update (it's coming in the fall). Regardless, the 10.3 beta release of iTunes is definitely a welcome update as we look forward to Apple's other unfulfilled "Post PC"-era promises of wireless activation, OTA software updates and a full suite of iCloud services coming with iOS 5 and OS X Lion. We just can't help wondering when Apple will offer a proper subscription music streaming service (a la Rhapsody, Spotify, Rdio, etc.) and leave this individual pay-per-track download nonsense behind. While some might be fine paying $24.99 annually for songs they already own, others would prefer to pay about $10 per month to stream (and locally cache) any and all of those 18 million songs stored in Apple's new North Carolina data center, to any device of their choosing. Baby steps, we suppose. Hit the source link below to try iTunes 10.3 beta for yourselves. While anyone can install it, the Automatic Downloads for iTunes Music appears limited to the US and Canada during the beta.

Skype goes down globally again, Microsoft starts wondering if it bought wisely Posted: 07 Jun 2011 04:23 AM PDT Uh oh, Skype's experiencing its second big outage in the space of just a couple of weeks, as we're hearing reports from the UK, Netherlands, and yes, even Bulgaria, claiming the online communications service is down. Our own Skype clients are currently unable to move past the "Connecting..." status note, both on Mac OS X and Windows 7. While we've confirmed it in Europe, the issue seems to be affecting people all over the world. Nonetheless, Skype believes only "a small number" of us have been hampered by whatever's ailing it, and further details should be available soon. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in] Update: Our comments indicate issues are also being encountered in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Brazil, Belarus, and Croatia, among other places. Notably, we've also heard reports of Skype functioning in the UK, so it's not down universally -- that supposedly small number of affected users must simply be spread out very sparsely across the globe. Update 2: Skype is now saying that the "situation is improving," and we have also confirmed that the service is back up in at least some places where it was down before.

Tesla Model S is almost production-ready, does photo shoot to prove it Posted: 07 Jun 2011 03:51 AM PDT You're looking at an unlikely picture: two Tesla EVs on the same street. The Silicon Valley carmaker is hoping to become more mainstream, however, when it releases its Model S sedan next year to complement the exuberantly expensive Roadster 2.5. Tesla has just released photos of the latest, nearly production-ready build of the Model S to whet our appetites. The shots reveal a couple of sleek cosmetic changes to the front bumper and body panels, but mainly we're just happy to see the S rolling on schedule. Oh yes, and there's another glimpse of the 17-inch infotainment console, which Auto Evolution now reports will be accompanied by built-in 3G. Sounds dandy, but that $57,400 starting price had better include a data plan. Man, who are we kidding? [Thanks, Lucian]

iOS 5 jailbroken Posted: 07 Jun 2011 02:58 AM PDT See those Cydia and iSSH icons? How about the Reminders and Newstand apps, see those? What you're looking at is the harmonious coexistence of hacks and Apple's virgin iOS 5 beta release running on a 4th generation iPod touch. In other words, MuscleNerd and Co are letting us know that iOS 5 presents few surprises so far when its comes to closing the existing holes exploited by the tethered limera1n jailbreak. Update: It's worth mentioning that limera1n is a bootrom exploit that Apple can't patch on the iPod touch through firmware alone. The real test of the Dev Team's wits will be an untethered jailbreak for the iPad 2.

Delorme's inReach two-way GPS Communicator receives txts on mountains, teenage hikers rejoice Posted: 07 Jun 2011 02:46 AM PDT Until Delorme's inReach two-way GPS Communicator, sending text messages over satellite signals was mostly a one-way affair. This 4.78 by 2.85 by 1.73-inch battery-powered minibeast pairs with either the company's PN-60w or an Android OS device to send and receive 160-character text messages and real-time GPS data to those tracking you. It can also beam an SOS message at timed intervals then receive confirmation that help is on the way when you ultimately realize that being at home with a fast connection is really all the adventure you needed anyway. Delorme tells us that the inReach will be available in October for $250 and monthly plans start at $9.95 with a one-year contract.

HTC sales in May reached $1.42 billion, more than double last year's total Posted: 07 Jun 2011 01:51 AM PDT We're seriously considering just reposting the same bit of text every time HTC's earnings come up for discussion. The story never seems to change. Taiwan's premier smartphone maker has once again blown away its performance from the previous year, having informed the Taiwan Stock Exchange that it tallied up T$40.62b ($1.42b) in consolidated sales for May 2011. That's a neat chunk of change more than April's T$38.73b and it also comfortably dwarfs last year's May total of T$18.82b ($656m). There's no breakdown of what devices are to credit for HTC's ever-ascending revenues, but if you ask us, its future prosperity looks pretty good with the Sensation, EVO 3D, and a few tablet-shaped things lurking on the horizon.

Gears of War limited edition Xbox 360 paints the town crimson, coming September 20th for $400 Posted: 07 Jun 2011 01:14 AM PDT The E3 2011 announcements from Microsoft just keep on coming, though this one's a little more superficial than the rest. An Xbox 360 console, specially refashioned with a set of blood-red Gears of War 3 visuals, is set to launch on September 20th, equipped with a 320GB hard drive, two matching wireless controllers, and the obligatory copy of its headline game (plus some DLC goodies). The whole bundle will set buyers back $400, but if you already have a 360 of your own and just want one of those snazzy-looking crimson controllers, your wait and expense will be significantly reduced -- you'll be able to buy the GOW3 control pads for $60 on August 11th. See a closeup of it after the break. Show full PR text Own a Piece of History with the Xbox 360 "Gears of War 3" Limited Edition Console LONDON - June 7, 2011 - Designed by Microsoft and Epic games, this limited edition Xbox 360 console commemorates the spectacular story conclusion to one of the most celebrated trilogies in videogame history. Inspired by the blockbuster Xbox 360 franchise, the Xbox 360 limited edition "Gears of War 3" Bundle includes an exclusive red and black console design with two custom-designed Xbox 360 wireless controllers, a 320GB hard drive and built-in Wi-Fi connection for easier access to the world of entertainment on Xbox LIVE, and will be available from 20th September 2011, The package includes a standard copy of "Gears of War 3," a wired headset, plus a download token for bonus game content including the Infected Omen Weapon Pack and the Adam Fenix character for use in multiplayer. The Infected Omen Weapon Pack gives fans the infected omen skin for use on the five starting weapons: Lancer, Retro Lancer, Hammerburst, Gransher, and Sawed-Off Shotgun. Also, the power and eject buttons have been customised with unique sounds from the "Gears of War" universe. Truly a collector's item for Xbox 360 and "Gears of War" fans, the console is incredible value with more storage than any other Xbox 360 console, and includes two customised limited edition wireless controllers. Customers can also purchase the customised Limited Edition "Gears of War 3" wireless controller separately. For more information on Xbox360 "Gears of War 3" limited edition bundle visit www.xbox.com.

Atrix 4G available for $100 from AT&T, just 50 bucks per Tegra 2 core Posted: 07 Jun 2011 12:33 AM PDT We're not going to mince words, the Motorola Atrix has a number of urgent software issues that make it tough to recommend, but at least AT&T is pricing the Blur-saddled smartphone into the realm of reason. As of right now, the dual-core Tegra 2 device can be purchased for $99.99 when signing a two-year agreement with Ma Bell. Its qHD display resolution, 1GB of RAM and 14.4Mbps HSPA+ capabilities are still pretty much top notch, so if you can figure out a way to make peace with Motorola's software, now might be the time to strike. [Thanks, Logan]

Xbox 360 Wireless Speed Wheel will arrive in early October for $60, give you something to hold on to Posted: 07 Jun 2011 12:02 AM PDT Microsoft's Kinect motion controls may be infiltrating all sorts of games at this year's E3, but the Xbox maker isn't neglecting those in need of a more tangible control scheme. A new Wireless Speed Wheel has just been revealed, with a reasonable $60 price tag and an early October launch date. As you see above, it's technically three-fourths of a wheel, but that does allow for extra green bands of lights to be applied and, slightly more importantly, a set of directional and action buttons to be added to the handles of this steering implement. There's a rumble pack inside for force feedback and a pair of trigger buttons on the underside for smashing the gas or dabbing the brakes. Another image after the break.

Nintendo 3DS system update is live, grab your free copy of Excitebike now Posted: 06 Jun 2011 10:21 PM PDT True to its word, Nintendo has released a system update for anxious 3DS owners. The free update over WiFi delivers an internet browser and the eShop digital store to your multidimensional handheld. As a bonus, Ninty's offering the 3D-remastered NES game, Excitebike, for free until Tuesday with additional cash-money content coming to the store on Thursdays. We'll be hearing more from Nintendo, much more we hope, on Tuesday morning where we'll be bringing you live coverage of its next generation console announcements from E3. Join us, won't you? [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Zotac unveils new ZBOX mini-PC, powered by VIA's dual-core Nano X2 Posted: 06 Jun 2011 10:13 PM PDT We covered lots of ground at this year's Computex, but here's one gem that slipped past our radar: the new Zotac ZBOX mini-PC, powered by VIA's latest dual-core processor. Measuring 12 x 12 x 4cm, this little beast runs on VIA's low-power Nano X2, which is available at speeds of either 1.2 or 1.6GHz, depending on your preference. It also comes equipped with native 64-bit software support, VIA's PadLock data encryption engine and is compatible with the company's other processors, including the Nano, C7, C7-M and Eden. Plus, there's an SD card reader, two USB 3.0 ports and HDMI and DisplayPort outputs. Availability and pricing remain a mystery, though we're certainly hoping it won't be as exorbitant as some other bite-sized PCs we've seen in recent months. Steer past the break for the full PR. Show full PR text VIA to Demo ZOTAC® ZBOX Mini-PC Featuring the VIA Nano X2 Dual-Core Processor at Computex The ZOTAC ZBOX mini-PC offers high performance computing in an ultra compact chassis. Taipei, Taiwan, 30 May, 2011 – VIA Technologies, Inc, a leading innovator of power efficient x86 processor platforms, today announced that it will demo the ultra compact ZOTAC ZBOX mini-PC featuring the VIA Nano X2 dual-core processor at the VIA Computex booth, TICC, room 201D. Powered by the VIA Nano X2 dual-core processor, the ZOTAC ZBOX features a palm-sized chassis measuring just 12 x 12 x 4cm, making it an ideal solution for integration into a home entertainment system as well as space constrained workspaces. "The ZOTAC ZBOX is a great example of the kinds of innovations in form factor design that are possible on our low power VIA Nano X2 dual-core processor platform," said Richard Brown, Vice President of Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc. "It provides an excellent solution for home and officer users seeking a premium computing experience in an ultra compact size." VIA Nano X2 Dual-Core Processor VIA Nano X2 dual-core processors are available at speeds of 1.2 and 1.6GHz and are built using the latest 40nm fabrication process. VIA Nano X2 processors come with native 64-bit software support, VT CPU virtualization technology, and VIA PadLock™ hardware security features and are also pin-to-pin compatible with VIA Nano, VIA C7, VIA C7-M and VIA Eden processors, facilitating easy upgrades of existing designs.

Sony's 24-inch PlayStation 3D display first hands-on! Posted: 06 Jun 2011 09:02 PM PDT We knew you were dying to know what Sony was planning with those stereoscopic multiplayer display patents last year, so we took a look at Sony's new PlayStation-branded 3D display, just for you. True to its schtick, the stereoscopic display simultaneously displays two separate full screen images, hidden behind the smoke and mirrors of active shutter 3D technology -- while suffering only a minimal amount of ghosting. The dual-full-screen trick will only work with PlayStation 3 games specifically programmed to make use of the feature, and although none have been announced yet, we wouldn't be surprised if pack-in title Resistance 3 is compatible. Staff couldn't say if the games featured in the demo video, Motorstorm Apocalypse and Wipeout, would be updated to support this feature. While the demo units we saw performed their trick reasonably well, visible ghosting and flat, muted colors give us some reservations about that competitive $499 price tag. Sony PlayStation 3D Display

Acer announces redesigned Aspire TimelineX Series laptops, prices start at $599 Posted: 06 Jun 2011 09:01 PM PDT If Acer's current Aspire TimelineX notebooks look a little too dull for your tastes, have a peek at that industrial-looking number in the picture above. The company just redesigned its line of skinny laptops, and refreshed them with Sandy Bridge processors while it was at it. The 13.1-inch 3830T, 14-inch 4830T, and 15.6-inch 5830T all have that two-tone aluminum design (also available in black), along with USB 3.0, a choice of Core i3 and Core i5 CPUs, and Acer's clear.fi software for sharing media among DLNA devices. The 14- and 15.6-inch versions have onboard optical drives and number pads, and, on select models, you can choose a discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT520M or GT540M card. However, the screen resolution is going to be 1366 x 768 regardless of which you pick. The 3830T, 4830T, and 5830T are available now, starting at $799, $699, and $599, respectively, and you can find specs for a handful of models after the break. Acer Aspire TimelineX 3830T, 4830T, and 5830T Acer Aspire TimelineX series hands-on Acer Aspire TimelineX AS3830TG-6431 ($779.99) 2nd Generation Intel Core i5-2410M Processor 2.30GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.90GHz 13.3" HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit display (1366x768 resolution, 16:90 aspect ratio) Mobile Intel HM65 Express Chipset 4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz Memory NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M with 1GB DDR3 VRAM 500GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive 1.3 Megapixel HD Webcam Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Bluetooth 3.0+HS Dolby Advanced Home Theater v4 Audio Enhancement Two Built-in Acer 3DSonic Stereo Speakers High Definition Audio Support 2 - USB 2.0 Ports & 1 - USB 3.0 Port 1 - HDMI Port with HDCP Support VGA Port Multi-Gesture Touchpad Media Control Function Keys 6-cell Li-ion Battery (6000 mAh) Windows® 7 Home Premium 64-bit Microsoft® Office Starter 2010 4.12 lbs. (system unit only) Acer Aspire TimelineX AS4830T-6642 ($699.99) 2nd Generation Intel Core i5-2410M Processor 2.30GHz with Turbo Boost Technology up to 2.90GHz 14" HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit display (1366x768 resolution, 16:90 aspect ratio) Mobile Intel HM65 Express Chipset 4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz Memory Intel HD Graphics 3000 40GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive 8X DVD-super multi double-layer drive 1.3 Megapixel HD Webcam Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Bluetooth 3.0+HS Dolby Advanced Home Theater® v4 Audio Enhancement Two Built-in Acer 3DSonic Stereo Speakers High Definition Audio Support 2 USB 2.0 Ports & 1 - USB 3.0 Port 1 HDMI Port with HDCP Support VGA Port Multi-Gesture Touchpad Dedicated Numeric Keypad Media Control Function Keys 6-cell Li-ion Battery (6000 mAh) Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Microsoft Office Starter 2010 4.88 lbs. (system unit only) Acer Aspire TimelineX AS5830T-6862 ($599.99) 2nd Generation Intel Core i3-2310M Processor 2.1GHz 15.6" HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit display (1366x768 resolution, 16:90 aspect ratio) Mobile Intel HM65 Express Chipset 4096MB DDR3 Dual-Channel 1066MHz Memory Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 128 dedicated system memory 640GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive 8X DVD-super multi double-layer drive 1.3 Megapixel HD Webcam Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader Dolby Advanced Home Theater v4 Audio Enhancement Two Built-in Acer 3DSonic Stereo Speakers 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Bluetooth 3.0+HS High Definition Audio Support 3 USB 2.0 Ports & 1 - USB 3.0 Port 1 HDMI Port with HDCP Support VGA Port Multi-Gesture Touchpad Dedicated Numeric Keypad Media Control Function Keys 6-cell Li-ion Battery (6000 mAh) Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Microsoft Office Starter 2010 5.6 lbs. (system unit only) Show full PR text Acer TimelineX Notebook PCs Deliver Big on Style, Mobile Performance, Long Battery Life Award-winning line delivers new slim sophisticated design with more entertainment features including Dolby Home Theater v4 Audio SAN JOSE, Calif., June 7, 2011 – Acer America today elevates its highly-touted Acer Aspire TimelineX series notebooks with a new sleek and stylish, thin and light design complemented by long battery life and the latest technology and new entertainment features, including Dolby Home Theater v4 Audio. The Acer Aspire TimelineX Series is a best-in-breed notebook line that combines performance and portability in an incredibly beautiful and refined form factor. The notebook's upscale look and feel centers around its uncluttered, elegant design. The notebooks have a clean layout with a large touchpad and chiclet keyboard to promote both enjoyment and productivity. Available in three sizes – the 13.3-inch 3830T, 14-inch 4830T and 15.6-inch 5830T – the designs measure about an inch thin and are very light-weight. Powered by the latest second-generation Intel Core i5 and i3 processors with Turbo Boost technology, the Acer TimelineX notebooks deliver the performance that savvy consumers, students, small businesses and families have come to expect for running multiple websites, videos, email, games and more. In addition to providing superb performance, Acer PowerSmart Technology provides extra long battery uptime of up to nine hours on models with integrated graphics and up to eight hours for models with discrete graphics, as well as a long battery lifecycle of up to four years. The new Aspire TimelineX notebook PCs are perfect for entertainment thanks to new High- Definition audio support with Dolby Home Theater v4 Audio that delivers crisp and clear sound through its two built-in 3DSonic Stereo speakers and when connected to a home theater system. The notebooks also have HDMI 1080p output, so customers can use a convenient single cable connection to deliver HD video and audio to an external source. In addition, the notebooks have a USB 3.0 port for fast transfers. Plus, the port can charge USB devices even when the notebook is turned off. The new Acer Aspire TimelineX models feature an HD Widescreen CineCrystal™ LED-backlit display with 16:9 HD True Cinematic View and excellent 1366x768 resolution for stunning clarity and viewing at any angle. Several models in the new lines come with integrated NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 540M and Nvidia 520M graphics with NVIDIA® Optimus™ technology to deliver crystal-clear images, brilliant color and lifelike video while maximizing battery life. Additional models feature Intel® HD Graphics to provide superb visual performance with sharp images and rich color. "From its inception, the Acer Aspire TimelineX Series has hit the mark in style, mobility, performance and battery life for ultimate PC productivity," said Eric Ackerson, senior product marketing manager, Acer America, "The new updated models build upon this proposition to provide even more value for our customers." The thin and light TimelineX Series is ideal for staying in touch on the go. The HD webcam has a high 1280x1024 resolution and is placed in the center of the notebook for convenient video-chatting and capturing photos and video. The built-in digital microphone supports the webcam to convey excellent voice quality, while minimizing background noise and echoes. All of the new models have 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi for connecting to wireless networks as well as Gigabit Ethernet LAN for a reliable wired connection. Also, many configurations include Bluetooth. A Range of Sizes to Meet Customers' Needs The Acer Aspire TimelineX 3830T thin and light notebook has a 13.1-inch display, weighs only 4.12 pounds and measures only 0.87-1.15 inches thin. The Acer Aspire TimelineX includes models for customers that want extra features along with portability, battery life and performance capabilities. Both the Acer TimelineX 4830T (14-inch screen, 4.88 pounds) and Acer Aspire Timeline X 5830T (15.6-inch screen, 5.6 pounds) come with integrated DVD drives and feature a dedicated numeric keypad for quick and easy number input. Software, Pricing and Availability The new Acer Aspire TimelineX 3830T, 4830T and 5830T models are ready to use right out of the box with Windows Home 7 as well as useful extras including Nook for PC, Adobe Flash Player 10.1, Adobe Reader, WildTangent Demo Games, Skype, Norton Online Backup, and Microsoft Office 2010 (preloaded for online purchase). The new Acer Aspire TimelineX notebooks also come with Acer clear.fi, a cross-platform solution for media enjoyment and sharing with DLNA-compliant devices, so customers can easily access, store and enjoy digital media from almost anywhere in an office, home or from the cloud. The products are available at retailers now. The Acer TimelineX Series starts at a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $599.99. Limited Warranty The new Acer Aspire TimelineX models come with a standard one-year parts and labor warranty, which can be extended to three years with the Acer Advantage service. All Acer netbooks are backed by toll-free service and support.

Sony's PlayStation Vita: first hands-on impressions Posted: 06 Jun 2011 08:30 PM PDT We've seen Sony's PlayStation Vita, and more importantly, what it can do -- but this evening, we touched that Next Generation Portable for the very first time. How does it compare to its single-sticked predecessor? And will we make another Madonna joke? Find out after the break. The first thing that struck us is just how light the Vita feels in the hand. It's got a gorgeous five-inch OLED panel, monstrous for a portable system, but the plastics used in its construction make it seem lighter than the PSP or even some of our weightier smartphones. You're looking at firm glossy and matte plastic surfaces here, with the Start, Select and Power buttons flush in the glossy front. The face buttons feel small compared to the PSP or a DualShock 3, but they're firm and comfortable to press, and there's a nice floating D-pad on the left side which feels like it could handle a Street Fighter shoryuken or three. The transparent shoulder buttons don't feel much different than the ones on the PlayStation Portable, though perhaps a tad springier in their action, and between them there are a pair of iPod nano-like volume buttons and a pair of thin plastic covers. One hides the flash card slot, while another reveals a mysterious port of some sort -- none of the Sony representatives could tell us what it does, though there's also a larger port on the bottom of the system which apparently connects proprietary USB and / or networking cables. Despite the lack of weight, the PS Vita definitely has a bit of bulk, and we have to admit it wasn't completely comfortable to hold as instructed. There are a pair of smooth plastic indents on the back for your fingers to rest on (when they're not manipulating the rear touchpad) but they may only work for smaller hands given how close they are to the edges of the system -- we found it far more comfortable to rest our fingers on the touchpad itself, which could potentially pose trouble in certain games that use it, though the jury's out on that one. Speaking of touch, we found both the front and rear screens plenty responsive in early use, and they really do add a lot to well-thought-out games, with both Uncharted and LittleBigPlanet using them to fantastic effect. Navigating obstacles in Uncharted really is as simple as swiping from ledge to ledge; you can line up a whole series of ledges to have Drake shimmy along by himself; and LittleBigPlanet had us not only dragging objects but intuitively pushing and pulling blocks in and out of the screen with both touchpads simultaneously -- building a staircase of Tetris-like blocks. And how about the dual analog sticks? We're glad you asked -- they completely blow away the original PSP's analog nub, and we don't think first-person combat (or most any PS3 port) will be much of an issue. On this demo unit, they were slightly looser than those on a DualShock 3, but we had no trouble squeezing off a few headshots in Uncharted with a little bit of practice. There were other games on display, but Uncharted and LittleBigPlanet were by far the standouts here, and they both look and play fantastic in person. On the 5-inch screen, we have to say neither entirely looked the junior of its console counterpart -- given the relatively high PPI, you have to look closely to see the graphical compromises. We said it before, but we'll say it again: $250 is a chunk of cash, but it sure looks like you're getting a lot of handheld for your money here.

441 drops of water carefully printed for a very wet work of art (video) Posted: 06 Jun 2011 08:06 PM PDT Pe Lang's Positioning Systems, from his Falling Objects collection, is bit of a curiosity -- it's a work of art that's equal parts printer and science experiment. A machine squeezes single drops of water onto an omniphobic surface, creating a 21 x 21 grid of tightly packed, but isolated beads of agua (that's 441 moist little spheres, for those of you keeping count). Slowly, over about five hours, the water evaporates and the process begins again, with each tick of the machine slowly reforming the square. Trust us, you want to see it in action after the break. Next, maybe Pe Lang can whip up evaporating images -- the Engadget logo would look pretty sweet as a dot-matrix water print.

Apple iOS 5 hands-on preview Posted: 06 Jun 2011 07:10 PM PDT iOS 5 won't be ready for the masses until this Fall, but lucky developers -- and eager tech bloggers -- are able to get in on the action right now. We just got done downloading the 730MB BETA, and have decided to turn our iPhone 4 and iPad 2 into guinea pigs for all the newness. Apple says that there are over 200 new features baked into the updated OS, and we've run through the biggies from Notification Center to Twitter to that oh-so-convenient split keyboard for you -- all you need to do is click after the break. iOS 5 BETA 1 for iPhone hands-on iOS 5 BETA 1 for iPad hands-on Many of the new features in iOS 5 are things we've been sitting, waiting, and wishing for since the iPhone first launched. Complete with a more robust notification scheme and a brand new messaging protocol, Apple has filled in many of the gaps that have left it behind other OSs like Android and webOS. When you first power up the device, you're greeted with an option to select your WiFi network -- a necessary step for all the cloud-related goodies and WiFi sync features that are now present in the OS. Once you're online, you enter your Apple ID, or can sign up for one directly on the device you're using -- which is great for those of us living in a post PC era. After that you get prompted on whether or not you'd like to use iCloud -- which you obviously do -- followed by an option to use the free Find My iPhone service. Finally, after deciding whether or not you'd like to share your usage stats with Apple or not (take a guess at what we chose), you're up and running to "start using the most advanced iOS ever" -- Apple's words, not ours. Now that the hard stuff is out of the way, let's get on to what you've most been waiting for: the new stuff. Notification Center We've lamented about iOS's seemingly archaic popup notification scheme since we received our first text message ever on an iPhone -- and then scratched our heads even more when we got our first push notification on an iPad. Apple has taken the Android approach in iOS 5, and has made a home for all notifications in a drawer that is toggled by a swipe down from the top of the screen. When you get a notification, it pops in from the top with a different color so it's not missed, and if not addressed it disappears with a rotating-cube transition. It's quite nice, and looks remarkably like the MobileNotifier jailbreak app -- which is probably not a coincidence given that developer's most recent employer. We should also mention that weather and stock updates are now nested in the notifications tray for quick access, and it updates by location automatically. Notifications also live on the homescreen, though it looks as if they only appear when a new notification has appeared after the device has been locked. Meaning, if you get an email and don't read it while you're doing something else, notifications don't show up on the homescreen. However, if you get one while the device is locked, all notifications appear and you're given the option to swipe directly to any one of your choosing. We hope this becomes an option before this OS goes gold, but for now, it's simply so much better than what we had before, so we don't want to get too picky (especially in a BETA). iMessage Apple has taken on the current king of mobile-to-mobile instant messaging, BBM, with its own take dubbed iMessage. iMessage is integrated right into the Messages app on the iPhone, which is now present on the iPad for the first time. Apple touted the service's ability to recognize when you're messaging someone else eligible for iMessages, but it appears to be limited to e-mail addresses at this point in the BETA. Delivery confirmation is turned on by default, but those of you who don't like the thrill of the chase will be happy to learn that there's an option to disable read receipts. This means that if you don't want the person on the other end to know you've read it, they never will. By default, it works with your Apple ID e-mail address, but you can add as many as you'd like from the settings application after verifying that you do indeed own the account. We should also mention that messages are pushed to all devices you're logged into, so you might want to get used to those push notifications if you carry around an iPad and an iPhone. We're looking forward to putting iMessage to a rigorous test once it's in the final software, but for now we can report that it does work, and seems quite fast -- especially with iCloud integration and multiple devices. Update: We've played with iMessage a little more and it looks like the differentiating factor between iMessages and SMSs is the color. When someone is eligible for an iMessage, the text in the box reads "iMessage" (as opposed to "Text Message") and the bubbles all turn blue. We're still not quite sure how a device tells email accounts apart from phone numbers, but there's likely something magical and revolutionary taking place on Apple's backend. Text bubble previews appear when the other person is typing, along with read confirmations which include the time. Another minor thing we've noticed is that push notifications look identical for both iMessages and SMSs since they use the same icon. It's a bit confusing to figure out the difference between them at first, but once you've started one type of conversation, the different color schemes serve as indicators. Newsstand The rise of newspaper and magazine apps for the iPad -- not to mention Apple's subscription offerings -- has given birth to Newsstand, a one stop shop for keeping track of all those types of publications. When iOS 5 launches in the fall, there will be a new section of the App Store for newspapers and magazines with subscriptions, so you'll be able to fill it up to your heart's content -- or 'till you're out of storage space. But for now, all we're given is a nice empty bookshelf that's identical to the iBooks interface but uses a folder dropdown. It makes us think that Apple isn't quite done with folders just yet. Twitter One of the rumors that gained a bit of traction before the keynote was native Twitter integration directly inside iOS. It's now possible to Tweet from within Apple's native apps: websites in Safari, or photos in the Camera app. The "Tweet" button is located under the familiar sharing pane, and ticking it pops up the keyboard along with an overlay that resembles an index card, complete with ruled lines and a paper clip to visualize what you're attaching. Geotagging is available through a simple tap of the "Add Location" option, and one more tap sends the tweet out to all your followers. The keyboard adds dedicated @ and # keys when you're tweeting, and autocompletes usernames to help you out. The integration here is really slick, and you can add multiple accounts from new Twitter option in the Settings app. There's also the option to automatically link your contacts to their Twitter names. We follow over 200 people, and it was only able to update 66 of our contacts -- though without any options or indications, we couldn't quickly identify who it was able to match. If you're a big Twitter-er, you're going to like this... Your followers? maybe not so much. Reminders We're sure there are a bunch of unhappy developers now that Apple has come through with its own first party solution for reminders on its i-devices. When you launch the app, you'll see two screens: Tasks, and Completed. Adding a task is as simple as tapping the + button, and there are more options for reminders, due dates, and priority sorting. You can make other lists for specific tasks, and when complete they'll automatically transfer over to the Completed list, so you can get on with 527 other things you have to do. The iPad version of the app also makes use of the extra screen real estate with a handy split view that lets you visualize tasks on a monthly calendar. We also noticed that tasks weren't syncing between our devices, but it could very well be a setting we missed. Additionally, if you set a reminder for a task, you'll get a push notification in that handy tray reminding you to get that stuff done. Apple's website mentions the ability to set reminders by location, but our build of the BETA didn't seem to have that functionality. Update: Reader Mark F. has written in to let us know that apparently location features are present, but only when a task is associated with an iCloud list. Camera Apple's updated the native Camera app in iOS to do more than just... take photos. In addition to snapping pics and vids, the iPhone gets an option to lock focus and exposure by holding down on a part of the image. Zoom controls are now activated via pinch-to-zoom, which makes sense but feels a lot more sensitive than the previous tap-and-drag method. Oh, you can also use the volume up button to take photos -- another biggie that many folks have been asking for. In terms of photo editing, Apple has added basic features like auto-enhance, red-eye reduction, rotation, and cropping, though confusingly you have to switch to the Photos app to do so. That's right, photo editing controls aren't available in the Camera app on the iPhone. You have to switch over to the Photos app, which is not the case on the iPad. We're unclear about this disconnect, and it'll probably be addressed before launch. The features here are more than enough for the casual user, but photography aficionados (who can make do with an iPhone at all) will probably be sticking to more robust apps. Finally, you can quickly jump straight to the camera even if your iPhone is locked by double tapping the home button -- a great tweak that'll make those difficult to capture moments just a bit easier. This feature seems to be limited to the iPhone for the moment, but anything could change at release. Safari Reader and updated tabs Mobile Safari for iPad has been updated to take advantage of the larger screen real estate in a more effective manner with a glorified tab bar instead of the old grid layout. As far as we can see, it maxes out at nine different pages, but looks virtually identical to the tab layout in Safari on Mac (or PC). You can re-order tabs by holding and dragging them sideways, and Safari appears to cache pages when not active so you don't have to reload them when you switch back and forth. Also baked in to mobile Safari for both the iPhone and the iPad is Safari Reader, which strips out all the nasty formatting from webpages and leaves you with raw text and images. This feature first made an appearance in Safari on the desktop but has made the jump to iOS with the latest software update. It's disturbingly similar to Instapaper, and yet another common feature that can't be ignored. Split keyboard, text macros, and other various tweaks and settings There are tons of other goodies that we found while poking and prodding through the new OS that we simply had to share with you. First off, there's a handy new split keyboard for the iPad that makes thumb typing lightyears easier than with the previous fullscreen option. Placing two fingers on the keyboard and moving outwards is enough to break the keyboard in half, and the screen animation is pretty nifty too. It's probably one of the things we like most on the iPad update, and is another feature that just makes sense. The Settings app is chock full of new features that will make power users thrilled. Our favorite is the addition of text shortcuts, which can be added in the keyboard settings pane. This allows you to set personalized text macros for frequently typed phrases, and is a huge addition for things like constantly typing email addresses and the like. Sound settings are also fleshed out, allowing users to change the various alert tones, as well as configuring varying vibration schemes. The accessibility settings aren't a usual place for many folks to wander, but here you can further tweak interaction options on your iPhone. The most notable is the ability to enable the LED flash for alerts, which effectively brings a status light to the iPhone. We also found something called "AssistiveTouch" which purportedly allows the iPhone to interact with adaptive accessories. Lastly there's the option to create custom gestures. We couldn't figure out what those were for, nor how to invoke them, so we'll just have to wait on that one. Wrap-up Believe it or not, we've barely scratched the surface of what's in store for iOS 5, but hopefully this preview is enough to help you make sense of it all. None of this code is finalized, but performance seems to be fairly good for the first developer preview build. We're super excited to see what else Apple has in store for this -- and what developers will do with the various new APIs -- so we'll just have to wait until the fall for the t's to be crossed and the i's to get dotted. For now, though, we'll just sit back, relax, and let Apple's spftware engineers work their coding magic and flesh out all the issues to get this OS ready for the masses.

Sony sells 70 million PSP units worldwide, still firmly in DS' rearview mirror Posted: 06 Jun 2011 06:49 PM PDT Sony's PlayStation Vita is obviously the company's handheld of tomorrow, but it's the PlayStation Portable that's being credited with the assist. The PSP has been a flagship device for Sony since December 12, 2004, and during its time on the market, a grand total of 70 million have been moved globally. That's the number belted out here at E3, which sounds downright ginormous at first listen. Unfortunately, that's nowhere near the 100 million DS units that Nintendo had shipped... back in 2009. It's worth mentioning that this tally includes the original PSP-1000, the slimmer / lighter PSP-2000, the not-too-different PSP-3000 and the critically panned PSP go, and we're guessing the Vita will eventually be lumped in here as well at some point. So, Mario's still laughing, but hey -- at least Sony's sold 298 million UMD units, right? Show full PR text PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) Sales Reach 70 Million Units Worldwide TOKYO, June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced that the cumulative worldwide sales of PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system reached a total of 70 million units(*1) as of April 27, 2011. As the first handheld platform from the PlayStation® family, PSP made its debut on December 12, 2004 in Japan, March 2005 in North America, May 2005 in Asian countries and regions, and September 2005 in Europe/PAL territories. PSP has continued to evolve as an innovative handheld entertainment system, offering a wide array of exciting software titles and fun peripherals, as well as upgrading features through regular software updates. With the launch of PSP, SCE opened up an entirely new gaming market by offering users new ways of enjoying digital entertainment, including playing games on-line with family and friends via a wireless LAN feature. In fall 2008, PSP users were given access to PlayStation®Store directly via wireless Internet, where they could access many games available for download. This was followed by the launch of the video delivery service, offering access to downloadable movie content for the PSP system, which was launched in the United States in July 2009, followed by Japan and Europe in November 2009. In October 2009, "minis" offering a range of all-new downloadable games for PSP became available exclusively via digital distribution on PlayStation Store, whilst the digital comic service was launched in Japan, the United States and Europe in December 2009. On the games front, more than 3,200 titles on UMD are available worldwide, with cumulative software sales reaching 298 million units to date (*2). In addition to packaged games, many games have become available for download via PlayStation®3 or PC. Currently, a total of over 2,180 titles, ranging from PlayStation®Network exclusive games to "Game Archive" titles featuring the original PlayStation games, and downloadable version of UMD titles are available for download(*3). Many more exciting new software titles are planned continually for release from third party developers and publishers as well as from SCE Worldwide Studios. Inheriting the basic functions and the design philosophy of PSP-1000, slim and light PSP (PSP-2000) was launched in September 2007, and SCE introduced PSP-3000 to the world in October 2008, featuring an advanced high contrast LCD and a built-in microphone, while maintaining the form factors of PSP-2000. As an additional lineup of the PSP series and the first handheld platform which is exclusively a networked device, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) go was launched in October 2009. SCE will continue to promote the expansion of the PSP platform and offer a variety of interactive digital entertainment along with PlayStation®Vita as an official name of for next generation portable entertainment system, which will make its debut at the end of the this year. (*1) Sell-in number (*2) As of the end of March 2011 (*3) As of the end of April 2011

Sony's PlayStation Vita official: $249 for WiFi, $299 for 3G Posted: 06 Jun 2011 06:31 PM PDT Details about Sony's new handheld have been trickling out for months in the form of spec sheets and fantastic footage of its quad core capabilities. All that, and we still didn't know how much she'd cost or when we could get our grubby paws around one. Thankfully for those tuned in at E3, said mystery is a mystery no more -- the Vita will be listed at $249 for the WiFi-only model, or $299 for the 3G version. Sony's Kaz Hirai confirmed will be available exclusively through AT&T, with both models shipping worldwide toward the end of 2011. For those of you camped out overseas, prices are set for ¥24,980 (WiFi) and ¥29,980 (3G) in Japan, while those closer to that other pond will see tags of €249 and €299. The device, also known as the PS Vita, offers up six-axis motion sensors, dual analog controls (proper ones, with thumbsticks), front- and rear-facing cameras, an OLED touchscreen, and a touchpad on the back, too. The company showed off a number of top-tier titles, including Uncharted: Golden Abyss, a hack-and-slash RPG called Ruin, a new ModNation Racers, LittleBigPlanet, and Street Fighter x Tekken, each showing off plenty of motion and touch interactivity... things that we couldn't be more elated to try for ourselves in due time. They're all looking quite good, and honestly a bit more advanced than what the 3DS has delivered so far -- for the same money. Update: Check out our hands-on impressions from E3! PlayStation Vita Show full PR text Sony Computer Entertainment Announces "PlayStation®Vita" as the Official Name for Next Generation Portable Entertainment System Wi-Fi Model: 24,980 Yen (including tax), $249 and euro 249 3G/Wi-Fi Model: 29,980 Yen (including tax), $299 and euro 299 Realizes Unparalleled Interactive Network Entertainment TOKYO, June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE)today announced PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) (PCH-1000 series) as the official platform name for the next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP). Wi-Fi model will be available for 24,980 yen (including tax) in Japan, $249 in US and euro 249 in Europe, 3G/Wi-Fi model will be available for 29,980 yen (including tax) in Japan, $299 in US and euro 299 in Europe and successively launch in global market starting the end of 2011. "Vita," which means "Life" in Latin, was chosen as the most appropriate name for the next generation portable entertainment system as it enables a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context. SCE is aiming to transform every aspect of user's daily life into an entertainment experience. PS Vita incorporates a beautiful 5-inch multi-touch organic light emitting diode (OLED) as the front display and a unique multi-touch pad on the rear. Together with the front touch screen and the rear touch pad, PS Vita offers new game play experiences never before seen on any device, allowing users to interact directly with games in three dimension-like motion, through "touch, grab, trace, push and pull" finger motions. Also PS Vita features two analog sticks which enable a wider range of game genres to be brought into the portable experience, such as shooters, action games, and fighting games. Exciting and attractive new titles*1 are scheduled to be released from SCE Worldwide Studios, including "GRAVITY DAZE," "Uncharted Golden Abyss," "Little Deviants," "Hot Shots Golf," "Reality Fighter," "Hustle Kings," "ModNation Racers," "Wipeout 2048" and "Super Stardust Delta," as well as from a broad range of third party game developers and publishers, which will deliver value only possible on PS Vita. Also, by having both Wi-Fi and 3G network connectivity, together with various applications, PS Vita will enable infinite possibilities for users to "encounter," "connect," "discover," "share" and "play" with friends wherever they are. On January 27, 2011, SCE announced the first PS Vita application, "near," which will come pre-installed. It will let users discover what games PS Vita users in the vicinity are or were recently playing, as well as let users share their game information. "near" also enables location-based gaming features such as "gifting," in which a user can access virtual game-related items that other users are sharing, through checking in at geographic locations that others have also visited. The virtual items can include content unlocked from games, such as character costumes, weapons, and treasures. Sharing these items between users adds a unique dimension to the portable gaming experience on PS Vita while enhancing the social connectivity among the PS Vita community. Additionally, PS Vita will come pre-installed with a newly developed application called "Party." "Party" is an innovative application for a portable entertainment system which enables users to enjoy voice chat or text chat not only during online gaming, but also when users are playing different games or using different applications such as internet browser. Through "Party," which offers a new form of social networking, and "near," which enables users to share their game information with other users anywhere, anytime, users can dramatically expand the boundaries of interactive communication. Also a tutorial application called "Welcome Park," developed specifically to guide every user about PS Vita's brand new user interface such as the front touch display and the multi-touch pad on the rear, will come pre-installed. By playing "Welcome Park," users can easily become accustomed to the three dimension-like finger motions used on PS Vita. SCE will vigorously promote PS Vita towards the launch as the next generation portable entertainment platform and work towards expanding the portable gaming market.*1 Some title names are tentative. Titles may differ by countries and regions. Show full PR text Sony Computer Entertainment America Unveils Exciting Details About Next Generation Hardware and Exclusive Software SCEA Continues Long-Standing Tradition of Delivering Groundbreaking Technology and Unrivaled Content at the 2011 E3 Media & Business Summit LOS ANGELES, June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. (SCEA) today announced at its annual press conference at the E3 Media & Business Summit in Los Angeles, Calif., a stunning line-up of PlayStation® products, services and exclusive content that will change the way consumers experience their favorite games and entertainment at home and on-the-go. "We are dedicated to providing our consumers with the types of entertainment offerings that have made PlayStation a definitive leader in the gaming and portable entertainment industries for more than 15 years," said Jack Tretton, CEO and President of SCEA. "With the official North American unveiling of PlayStation®Vita as well as the introduction of an extensive line-up of software, hardware and services, the PlayStation platform has never been stronger or more exciting for our customers. We believe that 2011 will be a defining year as we usher in a new era of portable gaming and drive widespread adoption of 3D through our content and hardware offerings." Introducing PlayStation®Vita In March 2005, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system defined new standards in portable entertainment and provided game enthusiasts worldwide with a new way to experience games outside of their living room. The PSP system broke through traditional boundaries then and has gone on to sell more than 70 million units since its launch. In January, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) announced a new portable device for a new generation of gamers --- the next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP). Today, SCE announced PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) as the official platform name for NGP. A Wi-Fi model will be available for 24,980 yen (including tax) in Japan, $249 MSRP in US and euro 249 in Europe, while a 3G/Wi-Fi model will be available for 29,980 yen (including tax) in Japan, $299 MSRP in US and euro 299 in Europe. PS Vita will launch in the global market starting at the end of 2011. Derived from the Latin word "Vita," which means "Life," this next generation portable entertainment system enables a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context. The PS Vita system incorporates a beautiful 5-inch multi-touch organic light emitting diode (OLED) as the front display and a unique multi-touch pad on the rear. Together with the front touch screen and the rear touch pad, the PS Vita system offers new game play allowing users to interact directly with games in three dimension-like motion, through "touch, grab, trace, push and pull" finger motions. Also the PS Vita system features two analog sticks which enable a wider range of game genres to be brought into the portable experience. In addition to the PS Vita system pricing, SCEA also revealed today that AT&T, which powers the nation's fastest mobile broadband network, will be the exclusive service provider in the United States for the PS Vita system. The speed and coverage of AT&T's mobile broadband network will ensure that PS Vita system users will remain connected to content and each other on the go. On the content front, SCEA showcased a robust collection of software titles developed exclusively for the PS Vita system. Featured titles including UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss™, LittleBigPlanet™ and Ruin (working title) utilize the platform's groundbreaking technology to make unprecedented immersive, interactive and social game play available on-the-go. UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss takes full advantage of PS Vita's stunning OLED screen to deliver vibrant cinematic visuals and combines input from the front-touch screen and dual-analog sticks to create the most intuitive 3rd person shooter experience available on a portable system. Also making use of PS Vita's unique feature set, LittleBigPlanet allows users to Play, Create and Share like never before with the system's front touch screen and rear touch pad as well as its front and rear cameras. Finally, Ruin brings the ultimate social action RPG experience and also delivers interoperable compatibility for players to save their game on the PS Vita system and continue on at home using the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system. Adding to this selection of innovative games, SCEA unveiled a collection of PS Vita titles that will be available including wipEout®, ModNation™ Racers, Reality Fighter (working title), Super Stardust™ Delta, Sound Shapes, Hot Shots Golf®, Hustle Kings™ and more. Additionally, conference attendees received a look at Capcom's STREET FIGHTER® x TEKKEN® for the PS Vita system which will feature Cole MacGrath as a playable character from the popular PS3 franchise, inFAMOUS™. PlayStation®3 system Currently in its fifth year, the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system continues to experience tremendous momentum, recently surpassing 50 million units sold worldwide. To-date, more than 2,300 games have been made available for PS3 including 108 stereoscopic 3D titles and 184 PlayStation®Move titles, and that momentum continues into 2012. Expanding PS3 system's industry-leading catalog of stereoscopic 3D games, SCEA presented a selection of new entries from fan-favorite series featuring full stereoscopic 3D support including UNCHARTED 3: Drake's Deception™, Resistance®3 and God of War®: Origins Collection. SCEA also announced the return of one of PlayStation's most beloved franchises, Sly Cooper®: Thieves in Time™, which will treat players to an all-new adventure in stereoscopic 3D featuring classic characters, Sly, Murray and Bentley. In addition, SCEA introduced new titles utilizing the innovative PlayStation Move controller to deliver unique motion gaming experiences such as Everybody Dance™, Carnival Island (working title), and Medievil Moves: Deadmund's Quest™. In addition to an unprecedented line-up of first-party titles, third-party support for the PS3 system has never been stronger. Content shown at the conference includes the highly-anticipated first-person shooter BioShock Infinite from 2K and Irrational Games which will support the PlayStation Move motion controller, and will also include the original BioShock on the PS3 Blu-ray disc. Additional exclusive content that will only be found on the PS3 system was announced for titles including Saint's Row: The Third from THQ, Electronic Arts' SSX™, Need for Speed™ The Run, and Battlefield 3™. For Battlefield 3, the PS3 version promises to be bigger than any other as Electronic Arts will be using the extra storage capacity of the Blu-ray to add a second game to the disc, Battlefield 1943, one of the most popular games available on PlayStation®Network. Innovations in stereoscopic 3D As a leader in 3D entertainment and gaming, SCEA kicked off the 2011 press conference at E3 on the world's largest 3D screen – showcasing a breadth of first- and third-party titles coming this year in 3D that is unmatched. SCE today also announced the upcoming availability of the new PlayStation branded 3D Display. The 24-inch full HD LCD display will give PS3 users easy, affordable access to stereoscopic 3D entertainment. Available this fall, the 3D Display comes bundled with 3D Glasses, an HDMI cable and the highly anticipated Resistance 3 title from Insomniac Games for PlayStation®3 (PS3®) at an attractive recommended retail price (MSRP) of US$499.99. The 3D Glasses will also be sold separately, concurrently with the 3D Display launch for MSRP of US$69.99. Designed to deliver the ultimate gaming experience, the 3D Display comes equipped with a special two-player feature, which allows two players playing a multi-player game to see individual, unique, full-screen images of gameplay using the bundled 3D Glasses and supported software title. PlayStation®Network With more than 77 million accounts worldwide, PlayStation®Network continues to be one of the largest networked entertainment platforms in the world and is the premier destination for games, TV and movies, sports and music entertainment. Today, SCEA announced that coming this fall , BestBuy's CinemaNow video service will be accessible to PS3 owners, providing consumers with access to more than 12,000 of their favorite TV episodes and movies for rental or purchase. Publisher support for PlayStation Network continues to remain strong as CCP introduced a new PlayStation Network exclusive title, Dust 514®, which will feature PlayStation Move support and also be made available for the PS Vita system. Another exciting game coming exclusively to the PS3 system and PlayStation Network in 2012 is Star Trek™ from Paramount Digital Entertainment. The game, which continues the adventure that director and producer J.J. Abrams envisioned with Star Trek™ (2009), boasts a story filled with action- packed combat and will be fully PlayStation Move enabled. Paramount Digital Entertainment will also offer an exclusive prequel to the game only on PlayStation Network.

Sony introduces PlayStation-brand 3D monitor and 3D glasses, bundle available for $499 Posted: 06 Jun 2011 05:44 PM PDT Jack Tretton just announced PS3 gamers can get into the 3D game for much less this fall when the company launches a 24-inch monitor and active shutter LCD glasses under the PlayStation brand. $499 gets the monitor, a pair of glasses, an HDMI cable and a copy of Resistance, while additional pairs of glasses -- which are compatible with TVs from other manufacturers and can be used to give two split-screen gamers their own full screen view -- are $69. That's a competitive package to be sure, but many will likely still need to be convinced slipping on the specs is worthwhile, and competitors like Vizio are slipping passive 3D glasses TVs in with similar price points and similar features. Update: Sony has issued a press release (included after the break) with full specs: it's a 1080p edge LED lit LCD with two HDMI inputs, stereo speakers, an integrated subwoofer and claims to be the first display at this size with "quad speed frame sequential display technology". The glasses charge via USB and will be available at the same time as the screen this fall. PlayStation 3D Monitor Show full PR text Sony Computer Entertainment Announces 3D Display to Further Expand the World of 3D on PlayStation®3, Hitting Worldwide Market in Fall 2011 Display Features a Special Mode Where Players Can View Individual, Unique, Full-Screen Images of Gameplay When Playing Two-Player Games TOKYO, June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) today announced that it will release a 24-inch 3D Display available this fall in Japan, North America, Europe/PAL territories, and Asian countries/regions. For North America, the 3D Display comes bundled with 3D Glasses, an HDMI cable and the highly anticipated Resistance 3 title from Insomniac Games for PlayStation®3 (PS3®) at an attractive recommended retail price (RRP) of US$499.99. 3D Glasses included in the 3D Display bundle will also be sold separately, concurrently with the 3D Display , at RRP of US$69.99 in USA. Through the introduction of this new product, PS3 users will have easy access to all of their 3D entertainment by simply connecting PS3 to the 3D Display. The 3D Display features a 24-inch full HD LCD display and, in an industry first for its size*1, the display adopts quad-speed frame sequential display technology that is able to minimize crosstalk*2 distortion, delivering stunningly realistic 3D viewing experiences. The 3D Display supports several 3D formats, including "frame packing," "top and bottom" and "side by side," which will offer users various options for enjoying 3D. The 3D display offers a broad range of other attractive features, including: Full high-definition display The display features high contrast (5000:1), wide viewing angle (176 degree) high response time (4ms GTG average), delivering users with crisp high-quality image in stereoscopic 3D, as well as in 2D. Special feature for two-player mode Designed to deliver the ultimate gaming experience only possible on the 3D Display, it utilizes new, proprietary technology, that allows two players playing a multi-player game to see individual, unique, full-screen images of gameplay using the bundled 3D Glasses and supported software title. High quality sound The 3D Display adopts stereo 2ch+subwoofer speakers that can generate a broad range of sound from low pitch to high pitch. Featuring stereo 2ch incorporated on the side of the screen, right and left sides, and subwoofer on the backside of the screen, users can enjoy games and other entertainment content with high quality and dynamic sound. Slim, sleek design Adopting edge-LED lighting as the backlight, the 3D Display is 35 mm thin (the thickest part) and features a curved line form factor that is both stylish and unobtrusive in living spaces, complementing the sleek design of the PS3 system. 3D Glasses The 3D Glasses come with a rechargeable lithium ion battery to enable quick and efficient charging time. A three minute charge results in three hours of use, while a 45 minute charge provides 30 hours of use. Versatility for the supported devices Along with 3D Glasses, the 3D Display comes bundled with an HDMI cable to provide high-definition 3D entertainment out of the box. The display adopts two HDMI input connectors, allowing users to connect the display to the PS3 system as well as to other HDMI-supported device*3. Some devices including PlayStation®2 and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) can be connected to the 3D Display by using a component input connector. Other features With quick start-up mode, users will only have to wait for one second after pushing the power button to boot the display. The 3D Display also offers a power saving mode which shifts to auto standby if it does not receive a video signal for more than five seconds. Additionally users can utilize the separately sold BD remote control (CECH-ZRC1), incorporating infrared transmission to operate the 3D Display remotely. Through the introduction of new peripherals, SCE will continue to further expand the PS3 platform and create a new world of computer entertainment that is only possible on PlayStation. *1 Researched by SCE. As of June 5, 2011. *2 Bleeding of the left and right image thus creating image ghosting *3 The connected device needs to support stereoscopic 3D to enjoy 3D content. Product Outline 3D Display Product name 3D Display Product code CECH-ZED1 Release date To be announced by regions after fall, 2011 Recommended retail price 499.99$US (North America) The price in other countries and regions will be announced by regions when ready. Display Screen size: 23.5 inch Panel type: VA Optimal Resolution 1920 x 1080 Colors About 16.7 Million Viewing Angle 176 degrees/176 degrees (Contrast over 10:1) Color Gamut(CIE1931) 72% Contrast Ratio 5000:1 Response time 4ms (GTG)* Backlight Type Edge type, white LED Sound output Stereo 2ch (full range, 3W x 2, 28mm) Sub Woofer (5W, 50mm) Inputs HDMI x 2 Video: digital GBR/Y Cb(Pb) Cr(Pr) Sound: PCM 2ch(32kHz 44.1kHz 48kHz) Component x 1 Pin jack Y 1Vp-p 0.3V Pb/Pr Cb/Cr 350mVp-p Pin jack 2channel 500mVrms Impedance more than 47kW Outputs Headphone out x 1 3.5mm stereo mini jack Others Support IR remote control with BD remote control (CECH-ZRC1) Electric source AC100 ~ 240V 50/60Hz Power consumption 45W (2D viewing mode) Standby mode; less than 0.2W Mass 5.7kg (stand included) 4.6kg (stand excluded) Dimensions W 650 x H 391 x D 207 mm (stand included) W 650 x H 346 x D 35 mm (stand excluded) Included Power code (1.5m) x 1 3D Glasses set (3D Glasses, Pouch, USB Cable(Type A-micro B, 0.2m)) x 1 HDMI cable (2.0m) x 1 PS3 Software title Resistance 3 x 1* * Items included in the bundle may vary by regions. 3D Glasses Product name 3D Glasses Product code CECH-ZEG1 Release date After Fall 2011, release simultaneously with 3D Display Recommended retail price 69.99$US (North America). The price in other countries and regions will be announced by regions when ready. Mass About 45g Dimensions W 174x H 41 x D 177 mm (in use) W 174 x H 41 x D 60 mm (folded) Battery time About 3 hours for 3 minutes rapid charging, about 30 hours for 45 minutes charging Included Pouch x1 USB Cable for charging (Type A-micro B 0.2m) x1 About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes and markets the PlayStation® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system and the PlayStation®3 (PS3®) system. PlayStation has revolutionized home entertainment by introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and PlayStation 2 further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP is a handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3 is an advanced computer system, incorporating the state-of-the-art Cell processor with super computer like power. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc. develops, publishes, markets and distributes software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI is an independent business unit of the Sony Group. PlayStation and PSP are registered trademarks and PS3 is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

Sony's PS3 claims the lead in Netflix streaming, adds VOD from Best Buy's CinemaNow Posted: 06 Jun 2011 05:37 PM PDT Sony planned the PlayStation 3 from the start as a movie playing powerhouse, but it may not have predicted so many would end up using it for Netflix streaming. CEO Jack Tretton just hit the stage at the company's E3 keynote to announce it is the leading Netflix streamer, accounting for 30% of the video watched on the service. While this is somewhat surprising maybe it shouldn't be -- consoles far outpace other TV connected streamers in install base, and between the Xbox 360, Wii, and Sony's box, the PS3 is the only one that lets you watch without an additional subscription and in HD. Also announced is a new partnership bringing video on-demand movies from the Best Buy-owned CinemaNow service. With any luck, the retail giant will add a subscription element or partner with Redbox and make this interesting, but until then it's just another footnote on the list of providers currently offered on the PS3. Show full PR text PlayStation®Network With more than 77 million accounts worldwide, PlayStation®Network continues to be one of the largest networked entertainment platforms in the world and is the premier destination for games, TV and movies, sports and music entertainment. Today, SCEA announced that coming this fall , BestBuy's CinemaNow video service will be accessible to PS3 owners, providing consumers with access to more than 12,000 of their favorite TV episodes and movies for rental or purchase.

Live from Sony's E3 2011 keynote! Posted: 06 Jun 2011 04:45 PM PDT 10:00PM One last PlayStation video to blow away whatever synapses remain -- in 3D, of course. The whole room is rumbling. 9:59PM And we're done! 9:59PM That's big money, but a lot of handheld for the price. 9:56PM The 3G model is $299. 9:56PM $249.99, 249 euros, or 24,980 yen 9:56PM WiFi-only model: $249 9:56PM NGP coming out this holiday season... 9:55PM Some Dynasty Warriors, what looks like Tenchu, another game that resembles Odin Sphere... 9:53PM PSVita sizzle roll, bits and pieces of upcoming games. So... anybody think NGP is a better name? 9:51PM We've got a lightning lasso, a force shield, and a black tornado of pain coming from Cole's fingertips. Poor Street Fighters. 9:50PM We're going to see the latest build running in real time. 9:49PM And Cole from Infamous will join the fighter's roster. 9:49PM The game was announced last year, but today, we're getting the latest details -- it's coming to PSVita! 9:48PM Yoshinori Ono is here from Japan to give us the news. 9:47PM Capcom's Street Fighter x Tekken -- a trailer. 9:46PM Looks like LBP is using the full ensemble of features... lots of touchscreen use, tapping the rear touchpad to pup out blocks for platforming... making personalized accessories by taking pics with the front-facing camera. 9:45PM LittleBigPlanet on PSVita. 9:44PM Sony's talking up cross-platform play between PS3 and PSVita, like Wipeout HD. 9:43PM Two minutes flat for a custom racetrack -- that's impressive. 9:42PM Adding trees, buildings, other details... and now he's racing through this brand-new track. 9:42PM At least, that's what it looks like -- the fingers press on the back of the NGP, and it looks like they're poking up through the terrain, forming mountains. Very cool. 9:41PM Using both touchscreen and the analog controls, he's adding features... and using multiple touchpoints on the back to add mountains, by pressing *through* the screen 9:40PM It's a "trace to the finish"! Cute. 9:40PM Our demonstrator is creating a racetrack on the NGP touchscreen just by drawing his finger on the screen. 9:39PM ModNation Racers for PS Vita, developed specifically for handheld. 9:38PM Much prettier graphics on PS3, the jaggies are gone, but it looks like the same resources for the most part. 9:38PM Not just a PSVita game, it's also on PS3 -- and you can stop playing on one machine and pick up the session where you left off. Continuous Client for the win! 9:37PM Social network integration at work here -- we're not questing through any old dungeon, but actually the lair of a rival player. 9:36PM His big brutish warrior is bashing on some goblins, trolls and the like, with the occasional special move thrown in to stun baddies or knock them off their feet. 9:35PM It's an action-RPG, looks a lot like a Diablo. 9:34PM Now we're getting a glimpse of Ruin, from Idleminds and Sony San Diego 9:33PM Taking down baddies with the M4 carbine... looks like it's a bit touchy due to the recoil. He's aiming at the assailants with the stick, firing off some shots, then repositioning the aim. 9:32PM For firefights, it's back to the dual-analog controls. 9:32PM Either tilt and press a button, use the touchscreen or switch between the two at will, to do a variety of maneuvers for climbing up and around. 9:31PM While climbing, you can tilt the PSVita in a direction to jump. 9:30PM Showing off some touchscreen melee combat -- you follow the quick-time event prompts by swiping in the appropriate direction, it looks like. 9:30PM We've seen plenty of this game already, of course, but this looks like a new environment. 9:28PM Uncharted: Golden Abyss for PSVita, from the dev team at Sony Bend. 9:27PM Scott Rohde's on stage to show it off. 9:27PM Then there's Near, a location-based system that shows you friends and "discoveries" around you. 9:26PM PSVita has a "party" mode for chat with friends using the system. 9:26PM Pricing and information for carriers for other territories will be announced soon, he says. 9:26PM And free WiFi hotspot access at AT&T locations, of course. 9:26PM "AT&T will be the exclusive carrier for PlayStation Vita in the United States." 9:25PM Partnership with AT&T. 9:25PM Both WiFi and 3G models, as we heard, for social networking and location-based gaming. 9:25PM Six-axis motion sensors, front and rear cameras, dual analog sticks, OLED touchscreen, rear touchpad... you know the drill. 9:24PM or PSVITA for short. 9:24PM PlayStation Vita. 9:24PM "So, I'm very proud to showcase for the first time in North America, the successor to the PlayStation Portable." 9:23PM Dual cameras, OLED screen, all specs we've heard before... 9:23PM But... he's introducing the NGP now. 9:23PM "We continue to have very high expectations for PSP in the years to come." 9:22PM You'll recall this is the program for certifying Android handsets and the like for PlayStation games. 9:22PM Kaz is out on stage, talking up PlayStation Suite. 9:22PM Sorry folks, some technical difficulties, we're back now. 9:17PM Star Trek, based on the movie reboot -- and you play as Kirk and Spock, it looks like. 2012. The models look very accurate, but it could use some polish. 9:16PM The new Star Trek game will have a peripheral shaped like a phaser -- it holds a Move controller inside. The world hasn't been kind to Sony as of late, but today is Sony's day to shine -- we're reporting live from E3 2011 this evening, where the company is about to show off its latest toys. There's little doubt we'll hear about that fancy new Next Generation Portable, but what might it be called? And might there be a pair of PlayStation-certified tablets alongside the monster handheld? How about a library full of PSOne titles to make the Xperia Play relevant, or a price drop for Sony's venerable PlayStation 3 console? Find out for yourself right here, in this very post, when our live coverage kicks off at the times below. 2:00PM - Hawaii 5:00PM - Pacific 6:00PM - Mountain 7:00PM - Central 8:00PM - Eastern 1:00AM - London (June 7th) 2:00AM - Paris (June 7th) 4:00AM - Moscow (June 7th) 9:00AM - Tokyo (June 7th)

HTC Flyer quietly gets over-the-air software update, promises to 'improve system performance' Posted: 06 Jun 2011 04:34 PM PDT No, it's not an upgrade to Honeycomb, but the HTC Flyer is getting some tweaks nonetheless. Over the weekend, owners of the 7-inch tablet should have seen a prompt for an over-the-air update making the vague promise to "improve system performance." We're naturally all kinds of curious, particularly given that the battery life and overall performance were already pretty solid. Flyer owners, are you noticing any differences? Do tell.

Waiting for a taste of the iCloud? Check your iPhone Posted: 06 Jun 2011 04:06 PM PDT The waiting, a great man once said, is the hardest part. And while seeing all of today's WWDC promises come to fruition will certainly take patience, iPhone owners can take some solace in the fact that the updates have already begun. At least a portion of the new functionality is now available by opening up the "Purchased" tab in iOS 4's App Store, revealing a history of apps that have been downloaded with your account, including those not currently on your device. Those not presently installed will feature a cloud icon, making it possible to re-download them onto the handset. It's not quite iOS 5, sure, but it's a start. [Thanks everyone who sent this in]

Mozilla's Webian Shell interface will cloak your OS in a browser (video) Posted: 06 Jun 2011 03:38 PM PDT With Google's fleet of Chromebooks making their way to market, Mozilla Labs has decided to release a similarly browser-based desktop interface, known as the Webian Shell. As of now, the prototype app consists of a screen-encompassing web browser, which essentially replaces your desktop interface. There's an address bar running across the top of the screen, a clock in the bottom right corner, and a tab button for all your web apps. Developed as part of the company's Mozilla Chromeless project, the tool was written entirely in HTML, CSS and JavaScript and, unlike Chrome OS, is designed to run on top of existing operating systems, rather than replace them. For now, the Shell is still in an early phase of development, looks pretty spartan and can't control a system's hardware. Mozilla, however, says it has plans to incorporate multiple home screens, split screen views and an on-screen keyboard, among other features. Windows, Linux and Mac OS X users can download the Shell now, from the source link. Otherwise, you can just head past the break to see a brief demo video.

Editorial: Engadget on iCloud and iTunes Match Posted: 06 Jun 2011 03:00 PM PDT Today, Steve Jobs revealed a great many things, but the biggest bombshell was this -- Apple's iCloud, which promises to sync all your content, automatically, even wirelessly, to Apple's new server farms... for free. All that processing power in the picture above can't have been cheap, and multiplied by the entirety of those data centers... well, let's just say it's a heck of a promise and we've got somewhat mixed feelings about how it'll play out. Hit the break to see what we thought of Apple's play for cloud storage. Tim Stevens: I had some mixed feelings while watching today's iCloud unveil. So much of the service is functionality already available on other platforms, particularly on Android -- if you consider Google Docs and Picasa a part of Android, at least. But regardless of who got there first, Apple's implementation of cloud-awareness in iOS 5 and Mac OS X Lion definitely pushes the entire ecosphere forward a big step. Being able to sync your documents seamlessly across all your devices is hugely attractive, plus photos and contacts and other miscellany, and doing it for free is of course an offer no iOS user will be able to refuse. And then there's iTunes in the Cloud, $25 annually and basically a free ticket to turn all your ripped music into legit iTunes files in high-quality and with no DRM. In other words: iCloud as a whole may not make too may Android users jealous, but Google Music is already looking a bit dated, and it's not even out of beta yet. Darren Murph: Ah, iCloud. We've known it was coming, but Apple seriously pulled a few surprises today. For starters, it made Google Music look a bit like a red-headed stepchild. No offense to stepchildren, nor red-heads. Put simply, the music aspect of iCloud is exactly what Google Music should've been, and it's hard to imagine what kind of talks went on behind the scenes to make that all come together. Either way, at $25 a year, it's a total steal (iTunes Match, that is), and it'll most certainly serve iOS users well. I wasn't quite sold on iCloud only holding Photos for 30 days (why isn't this the same for music and documents?), but I suspect that a few premium options will unfold in due time for heavier users. All told, today's announcements weren't so much eye-popping as they were expected, but as with the introduction of copy-and-paste into the iOS universe, these "expected" additions bring iOS up to par with Android in terms of notifications, contacts, etc. The best part of today isn't so much what Apple did, but what Google will have to do in order to keep step. As an avid Android user, I'm thrilled to see what the next overhaul of Android will hold now that El Goog has its back against the wall once more. It's hard to kvetch with iCloud given it's rock-bottom price tag (read: free), but it also makes it even harder to ever escape the iOS ecosystem should you ever decide to test the waters. But then again, maybe that's the point. Sean Hollister: If you're not a strict Apple adherent, the basic tenets of iCloud should actually look mighty familiar -- in a nutshell, it's exactly what we've come to expect from Google. Why do people use Gmail? Picasa? Google Docs? Multiple reasons, but a particularly important one is that they all store your important data in the cloud and instantly sync changes across devices, for free. The latest versions of Android even back up your apps, too, so bullet point for bullet point, Apple's not too far ahead of Google (though syncing individual app data could be huge). But you know something? Google's been struggling to actually integrate many of its lovely cloud services into Android in a usable, finger-friendly way -- often relying on ugly mobile web interfaces -- and here comes Apple with the promise to tie everything together beautifully. I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop, but assuming there's none, Google had better get with the program if it wants to have a competitive device ecosystem. The battle lines have been drawn. If you ask me, though, Google still has room to fire a salvo of its own: if it can price its music streaming solution cheaper than Apple's music download one (how about free?), it might yet have an edge with tunes. Myriam Joire: Well, it's about time! Cloud syncing (along with notifications and Twitter integration) was one of the few missing items on my must-have list of features for iOS, and it looks like Apple's delivered this with iCloud. I'm most excited about the PC Free and WiFi Sync features, along with the ability to backup / restore apps and settings, which is way overdue. iTunes in the Cloud is pretty interesting, mostly as a way to keep the music on my Macs, iPhone and iPad in sync -- I may even spend the money on an iTunes Match subscription. Photo Stream is less important to me because I already use Flickr, and I have no use for contact, calendar, and email support since I'm heavily invested in Google's services. Ultimately, my adoption of Apple's cloud syncing will depend on ease-of-use, customization, and the amount of balance between the two. While iCloud may be late to the party, it's here, it's free, and it fills an important gap in the iOS ecosystem. Zach Honig: I've been a paid MobileMe (and .Mac) subscriber in the past, but I didn't really have any interest in continuing a $99 annual subscription for sync and yet another email address. Now, with all the new iCloud features, and that awesome price tag (free!), I'm definitely coming back. I'd prefer to be able to access my content at any time over 3G (and soon LTE -- I can dream, right?), but I also like being able to make phone calls and check my email, and judging by AT&T's network performance in NYC, my iPhone would quickly become an iPod touch if hundreds of thousands of iOS devices around the city were bouncing music and movies back and forth. I also imagine some users wouldn't necessarily want all of their content popping up on the family Apple TV (naughty iPhone pics, anyone?), so PhotoStream may be responsible for some awkward moments in the future. Overall, iCloud sounds like a win for Apple and iOS device owners, and you really can't beat the ad-free price tag. Sayonara, MobileMe. Zachary Lutz: As a user who remembers feeling burned when Apple killed its free iTools service (only to be replaced by the $99 / year .Mac), I have intentionally stayed clear of MobileMe. Honestly, it was an easy decision when everything of value was available freely from Google -- where my digital life is now very entrenched. While I don't expect my documents or email to receive an iCloud makeover, subscribing to iTunes Match will be the easiest $25 I've ever spent -- simply to ensure my music collection remains protected. Still, iTunes in the Cloud doesn't match the omnipresence that's at the core of Google Music, and Apple needs to take this extra step to achieve parity. I want to know that all of my music and photos -- regardless of whether it's stored on the iPhone -- will be available from "above." Ultimately, users will demand their content being effortlessly accessible, and I expect massive local storage to become an arcane concept (that only serves to inflate handset prices). Apple is known for changing paradigms and driving industries forward, but I fear it's got some catching up to do in the cloud. Nonetheless, today was quite a leap. Dana Wollman: For me, the biggest news here boils down to one word: "free." With almost no exceptions, I'm not surprised to learn what iCloud actually does. And why be shocked? Certain features, such as email and calendar, have their roots in MobileMe, while a series of leaks and rumors primed us for the fact that syncing among devices was on the way. So it's not the functionality that impresses me so much as the fact that it won't cost anything. That, and the level of integration. I'm a long-time Android user, and I'll be the first to admit that many of the updates today borrow liberally from other platforms (hello, drop-down notifications!). But you know what? As an Android user I wish I could have more native integration between my handset and, say, my Google Docs. And I'd love to download the same things without having to pay all over again. Apple doesn't get a whole lot of points for originality, but it deserves credit for making its service free, accessible, and tightly integrated. And if all of this rolls out smoothly, it would tell us that Apple's learned a whole lot about cloud services since its bungled MobileMe launch. Yes, you can say Apple is trying to out-Google Google at its own game (to quote our friend Sean Hollister), but if the result is a seamless service that offers functionality you're not used to getting for free, and puts pressure on its competitors to step it up, then it's we, the consumers, who ultimately win. Sharif Sakr: My initial response to iCloud? It's a neat solution, but I already have a cocktail of different solutions that work together pretty well. All my work and productivity is already in the cloud thanks to Google Docs, Dropbox and Windows Live Mesh (which has rescued me more times than I care to remember). My contacts and calendars already sync automatically from my iPhone to my Gmail account, and I even occasionally use the cloud photo storage function in Picasa. Like iCloud, they're all free. I don't see myself leaving any of these platforms to shift to Apple's all-in-one service because I'm still cross-platform and I do maybe 60% of my work on a PC. Christopher Trout: So it's here. The eagerly awaited and much-talked about iCloud has finally been revealed, and despite all of the conjecture, it's free -- well, mostly. Of course, we'll have to wait and see how the setup actually performs, but when it comes to music, Apple's managed to deliver a more comprehensive cloud-based system than either Amazon or Google (at least on paper), and they did so (presumably) by playing nice with the music labels. I'm not saying that record companies actually deserve a slice of the sky-pie, but, unfortunately for Apple's competition, it looks like music industry diplomacy means a better deal for the end user -- at least in theory. Brad Molen: This is what MobileMe should've been from the beginning. Steve Jobs even admitted the service was "not Apple's finest hour," but the iCloud has the potential to be quite the opposite. My wife and I own iPhones and an iPad; until now, we've found creative ways to get the same services from third-parties without shelling $99 out of our wallet each year for the same thing. I can definitely see the benefit of iCloud, because sharing calendars, contacts, photos, and music with my wife quickly and easily will make it a much more pleasant experience for us -- especially now that it's free. There's just one problem: I currently have a 2GB monthly data cap on my iPhone. How much data will the iCloud suck up when I'm nowhere near a WiFi hotspot? Or will I be constrained to WiFi? Amar Toor: Today's announcement may have lacked that element of surprise we've all come to expect from Apple's love-fests, but it still left me pretty intrigued. Fluid, cross-iDevice syncing has always been something of a glaring hole in the iTunes fabric, and one that was only exacerbated with the relative failure of MobileMe. If iCloud really is as seamless as Jobs made it look today, it could go a long way toward filling that gap, though I'd still like to know the extent to which users will be able to personalize the service. iTunes Match, for example, seems tailor-made for people (myself included) who may be too lazy to manually upload their massive libraries, though I can certainly understand the hesitation that comes with outsourcing control of your entire music collection to some mysterious hand in the heavens. And, as ironclad as Apple's new data center looks, the company may still need to prove that the iCloud won't suddenly burst one day -- especially since it won't just be housing music, but more personal documents and photos, as well. In an age of privacy concerns and security scares, it may take a lot of time for Apple to build up enough trust to draw a wide swath of consumers skyward. But the carrot definitely looks juicy enough for a convenience enthusiast like myself to take a bite. Terrence O'Brien: MobileMe has finally been put out to pasture and, honestly, it was long overdue. Even Jobs, notorious for tooting his own horn, admitted that the service was "not our finest hour." iCloud, replicates many of the same functions, but most importantly it tackles some of my most nagging complaints about the iTunes ecosystem. Anyone who has ever wiped out a computer or moved to a new iPhone knows that re-downloading all your purchases is a major pain in the neck. The iTunes Store now has a handy purchased tab, something Android has featured for sometime, but even this unrepentant iOS defector is confident that Apple will win on user experience here. The promise of app data synchronization is extremely exciting and could have saved this former iPhone owner tons of frustration. Sadly, iTunes Match has left me wanting. It's certainly an elegant solution to the problem of making your music truly portable but, the fine print reveals a strict 25,000 song limit -- an absolute deal breaker for this avid music collector. Sean Buckley: Everything synced to the Apple iCloud, "just working," all the time? Sounds great, except for stingy data cheapskates like myself -- do all pictures upload to the cloud, or can we only send the images we choose? How about a data monitor, for all that back and forth we're bound to do using up that 5GB of email and calendar storage? I didn't see anything about sync management come out of Apple today, and while I don't expect Cupertino to abandon the data-obsessive, I could use some assurance. Oh, and iTunes in the Cloud? Well, Match is cool, but even us cheapos like to splurge on streaming music every now and then. I expected more. Joe Pollicino: I've always viewed cloud services with a discerning eye and never felt excited about storing data offsite; that's until I caught a glimpse of iCloud. Frankly, I'm giddy over what its cluster of new "cloud apps" will bring to the table. See, I've spent time with private cloud servers like the Pogoplug, and even Google's CR-48, but was constantly let down by clunky access methods. The auto synchronization between devices with iCloud specifically is a small feature that spoke largely to me about how seamless and simple this service is trying to be. That ease-of-use factor mixed with powerful incentives like iTunes Match, have me ready to finally consider ditching the cables and external drives for that mythical cloud -- and it's mostly free? I'm sold.

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