Here we go with another week in review. Monday IDC released their data on the number of CPUs shipped for Q3 2009. The number of CPUS shipped grew 23% for the quarter compared to the previous year. ZiiLABS unveiled its new ZMS-08 Blu-ray quality media processor this week. The processor promises to be full 1080p HD video support and more for portable devices like tablets.
Most Xbox 360 fans out there already know about Project Natal that debuted at E3 this year. The tech will deliver motion control to the Xbox 360 that requires no controller to operate.
Microsoft has confirmed that it’s unlikely existing games will be compatible with their upcoming Project Natal motion-controller for the Xbox 360, suggesting that developers would in effect need to push out fully reworked versions of titles rather than merely issue a compatibility patch. The news came courtesy of Microsoft Games’ Kudo Tsunoda, speaking at the Tokyo Game Show, who confirmed that the company had been forced to significantly alter code in the games they used to demonstrate Project Natal.
Another week has come and gone leaving us with memories and a hoard of cool stories to throw your way for weekend reading in case you missed them over the week. An Asus 900HA netbook was hacked into a touchscreen slate on Monday and we really liked it. DIY gear is so cool, especially when it turns out this good. Monday also brought some details on the Blackberry Storm 2 piezo touchscreen tech. We really hope its better than the original Storm.
Microsoft have confirmed that the Xbox 360 Elite console will see a price cut to $299.99 as of tomorrow, while the Xbox 360 Pro will see a more conservative $50 discount to $249.99, for as long as stocks last. Rumors of price shuffles have circulated for some time now, with various leaked store fliers confirming that retailers are getting ready for the cuts.
So, Sony announced the PlayStation 3 Slim yesterday, and while we’re sure you read about it, and are clamoring to get one, Amazon wants you to hold your horses. While they have the console up for pre-order right now, they are now limiting the number of consoles available to a household down to a marginal one console per home. Of course, this isn’t really unheard of, especially not with the launch of a new console, so it’s not necessarily unorthodox. But, Amazon is also saying that there are already shortages across the US. So, did Sony not manufacture enough for the initial September launch? Or has the PlayStation 3 suddenly become preternaturally desired?
Nintendo’s Wii Motion Plus wasn’t the only thing they announced back at E3, and while it may not be on everyone’s collective minds anymore, the Vitality Sensor is something Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata is excited for.
Another week has come and gone and we are a week closer that that wondrous day parents look forward to all summer — back to school! Lots of goings on this week and much of it was centered on mobile phones. Spotify announced that it would have an official app available on the iPhone that works for subscribers on Premium packages. Monday, a bit more light was shed on the much anticipated Android donut update, alas it’s said to not be the OS 2.0 update we hoped for and won’t have multitouch.
A launch in the second half of 2010 for Microsoft’s Project Natal looks even more likely, as THQ CEO Brian Farrell inadvertently confirmed the launch schedule during his company’s recent earnings call. Asked about market changes in the upcoming cycle, Farrell told investors “With respect to the cycle itself, if you look at what’s happening in the industry, the fact that we have for example, Natal from Microsoft, a platform addition coming late next year.”
Well another week has come and gone as time steadily marches on and like every other week here on SlashGear, it has been a busy one. Poor old Toshiba took the old adage “if you can’t beat them, join them” seriously on Monday and announced that it would be launching its own Blu-ray player by the end of 2009. That had to be hard to swallow for the execs who bet it all on HD DVD only to be defeated by Blu-ray. Also on Monday the slick HP Mini 5101 netbooks tipped up starting from $399. I’m not convinced we need another netbook on the market right now personally.
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