2008 August - SlashGear

Archive for August, 2008

Trekstor Vibez, i.Beat Organix & Nova PMPs: more memory, more choice

Chris Davies, Aug 25th 2008 Discuss [0]

Trekstor's PMP range is in for another refresh, with the company's flagship Vibez media player getting a flash storage boost to 32GB, while their i.Beat Organix gains extra battery life over its predecessor. There's also a new PMP, the i.Beat Nova, which is basically a USB key audio player. Read The Full Story

Apple PowerBook G4 display failure cover-up suggested

Chris Davies, Aug 25th 2008 Discuss [0]

Apple has been accused of attempting to cover up a persistent hardware problem with its PowerBook G4 notebooks, in which screen quality degrades. The problem, known as the "Vertical Lines" display defect, apparently stems from a manufacturing and/or design defect, whereby a cable grip is causing the display cable to fray. However Apple is reportedly deleting posts related to the issue on its support forum. Read The Full Story

Panasonic DMR-BR630V Blu-ray DVR with retro VHS

Chris Davies, Aug 25th 2008 Discuss [0]

Someone at Panasonic must think retro is back in fashion, as the DMR-BR630V - the company's latest Blu-ray and DVR combo deck - also manages to include VHS functionality. Presumably intended for people wanting to archive their old VHS tapes onto Blu-ray (or maybe just continue to view a large back-catalogue), the BR630V has a 320GB hard-drive, digital and analog TV tuners and an SD slot. Read The Full Story

GameRigs PC Gaming Systems – The QUAKE Wars and QUAKE 4 desktops

Emily Price, Aug 25th 2008 Discuss [0]

GameRigs have announced a new line of gaming PC systems. The Enemy Territory QUAKE Wars and QUAKE 4 desktops are each designed with their respective games in mind providing optimal game play for users. Read The Full Story

Limited Edition Stella Artois PSP

Emily Price, Aug 25th 2008 Discuss [0]

Check out this extremely limited edition Stella Artois PSP. The PSP with Stella branding was created as a special edition for Fosters employees who are brewing Stella Artois for Australia. Read The Full Story

Control your Roomba with a Wii Balance Board

Emily Price, Aug 25th 2008 Discuss [0]

How would you like to control your Roomba with your Wii Fit Balance Board? A Japanese man has managed to turn his Wii Balance Board into a controller for his Roomba with just a few steps. Essentially the man used the Bluetooth capabilities of the balance board to link the Roomba and the balance board. Afterwards he’s able to shift his weight from one side of the board to the other to move the Roomba around the room. Read The Full Story

USB Metal Game Pad for NES on your PC

Emily Price, Aug 25th 2008 Discuss [1]

If you still long for the good old days of SNES, now you can relive them on your home computer with a new and updated controller. The “USB Metal Game Pad” is a USB controller for your PC that is created in the style of the old SNES controllers. Read The Full Story

Record companies asking for more of Rock Band profits

Emily Price, Aug 25th 2008 Discuss [0]

Record company executives think they deserve a bigger piece of the profits from games like Rock Band and Guitar hero. The games success (in the eyes of the company) are almost completely dependent on the music they choose to include. In a conference call discussing company earnings earlier this month Edgar Bronfman Jr, the chief executive of Warner Music Group Corp. said “The amount being paid to the industry, even though their games are entirely dependent on the content that we own and control, is far too small” Read The Full Story

Xbox 360 Arcade may come with motion controller

Emily Price, Aug 25th 2008 Discuss [1]

The Xbox 360 Arcade bundle may be packaged with a motion controller and some motion controlled mini games. The bundle, which is expected to be released this holiday season is expected to be in direct competition with the Wii. Xbox 360 Fanboy received a tip from someone “close to Microsoft’s marketing department” that claims the new Xbox 360 Arcade will come packaged with the motion controller as well as the motion controlled mini games developed by Rare. Read The Full Story

Bluetrek Sugar Bluetooth Headset has average function; pretty exterior

Brenda Stokes, Aug 25th 2008 Discuss [0]

The Bluetrek Sugar Bluetooth Headset is average, at best. But the prism design is interesting and could make a decent accessory for your on-the-go talking needs. Read The Full Story

Olympus SP-565 UZ has 20x zoom

Brenda Stokes, Aug 25th 2008 Discuss [0]

Olympus appears to be updating their 18x SP-560 UZ by introducing the SP-565 UZ, which possesses a f2.8-4.5 26-520mm-equivalent lens that was formally a part of the SP-570 UZ--their top-of-the-line product. And at the moment, that appears to be the only difference between the old and new models. The only real benefit of the SP-565 UZ is the lack of the zoom ring. However, it also lacks a hot shoe. Read The Full Story

Cycling vest shows off your speed

Brenda Stokes, Aug 25th 2008 Discuss [0]

The Bicycle Speed-Vest is great way to let drivers around you know where you're at while showcasing your current speed in a bright, illuminated manner. It's actual pretty practical, though it might draw too much attention to yourself. Read The Full Story