However, it seems that XBMC will be available on the GameStick right at launch. Previously, it was said that the console wouldn’t be seeing XBMC support until later in September, but it looks like the partnership with Pivos will eradicate the need to wait, allowing gamers and home entertainment junkies access to XMBC right away.

XBMC stands for “Xbox Media Center,” and it was essentially created for the original Xbox, but has sense been released as an open-source media center platform. It’s available on a wide range of devices, and it can run on Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, and iOS. It’s also available on a handful of set-top boxes like the Boxee Box.

Of course, PlayJam says that the GameStick will still primarily be a portable gaming console, but the added functionality of a home theater media center will no doubt attract a larger niche of users, especially at a price of only $79, which comes with the HDMI dongle and a nifty game controller to go along with it. Developer units will begin shipping out very soon, and the console will be available to the public next month.

It’s good to know that pricing seemed to be the only barrier stopping gamers from buying the device rather than the PS Vita software itself. It would be terrible to see the PS Vita suffer the same horrible sales as its predecessor, the PSP Go. The sales for the PS Vita should equal around 44,000 this week, considering two weeks ago the PS Vita sold somewhere around 11,000 copies. The official sales number won’t be released until tomorrow.

Sony stated that the United States won’t be receiving the same sales cut treatment for its PS Vita systems. Maybe after seeing the success rate that the PS Vita can achieve with a price cut, Sony will change its mind. However, it did state that one of the major reasons for reducing the price of its Japanese PS Vitas was due to Japan’s “current exchange rate”.

Now more Japanese gamers can enjoy the wonders of PlayStation 4 cloud-gaming with their new PS Vita devices. The PlayStation 4 will allow gamers to access all of their games remotely through the PS Vita. So if you’re in a situation where you can’t play your PlayStation 4 in peace, you can just enable remote play for your PS Vita and run off to a different room. Sony is redefining the way games are meant to be played.

[via Gematsu]

While pre-orders are processed on the GameStick website, they’re powered by Amazon, so assuming you already have an Amazon account like everyone else, the checkout process should be rather simple and quick. Aside from the console and the controller, you can also pre-order a dock or a case for $24.99 and $9.99, respectively.

As far as availability is concerned, it seems like we’re looking at a release date of April 30, which is revealed during the checkout process. PlayJam itself says that “pre-ordered devices will ship immediately after fulfillment of the initial Kickstarter run in April,” so the date at checkout seems to be accurate at this point.

However, PlayJam has also noted that Kickstarter backers will receive their units first, so those pre-ordering right now will be placed at the end of the line, so it could be several weeks to several months before pre-orderers receive their consoles. The only question remaining is, will the GameStick outdo the OUYA? Or will it be the other way around?

[via Android Community]

Uhrman said that the updated yearly consoles will “take advantage of faster, better processors,” thanks to the decline of component prices every year. However, it seems that the yearly console will get a naming scheme instead of simply remaining the “OUYA.” Uhrman says that each new console will be the “OUYA 2,” OUYA 3,” and so on.

However, Uhrman assures gamers that all games will be compatible with all the consoles, meaning that you don’t have to worry about an older game not working on a newer console. This is certainly great news for gamers, but since the OUYA won’t see a release cycle like all the other gaming consoles, one may worry about futureproofing, and the minute they buy an OUYA, it’ll be obsolete within a year, something that other console gamers don’t need to worry about.

In any case, the OUYA should be a huge it when it release to the public in a few months. In fact, it’s already been a huge hit. The Kickstarter campaign collected almost $8.6 million, absolutely shattering its original goal. This first OUYA comes with a quad-core A9 Tegra 3 clocked at 1.6GHz, so if the company sticks with NVIDIA for future consoles, we could see them move to the Tegra 4 chip that we’ve been hearing a lot about recently.

[via Engadget]

The console will also be available online at the company’s website and on Amazon. Of course, though, Kickstarter backers will be the first to get their units. Ouya CEO Julie Uhrman says that Kickstarter backers will receive their consoles in March, while orders from the OUYA website will go out in April, and retail stores will begin selling them in June. You can pre-order the console now through Amazon, Best Buy, or Target.

The console will sell for $99.99, and it’ll come with one controller. An extra controller will cost you $49.99 in retail stores, while getting one on OUYA’s website will only cost $40 shipped. Paying $50 for a controller certainly isn’t outrageous, but it raises some concerns when a controller costs half the price of the console itself. Uhrman says that $49.99 is a “premium price” for a controller, indeed, but she says that the touchpad built into the controller makes up for the cost.

The OUYA console raised more than $8.5 million on Kickstarter and has been taking pre-orders for the consoles on its website. There are over 68,000 consoles that need to be shipped out so far, with potentially even more orders to come no doubt. The tiny Android-powered gaming console is already a huge hit, and we’re pretty excited to see how the OUYA community will grow once the consoles start selling.

[via WSJ]

The GameStick is expected to ship to all of its customers by April, and the company just got done making final revisions to the portable gaming console, making the controller a bit more rounded, and adding a microSD card slot to the HDMI dongle. If everything goes as planned, the company expects to ship out its first commercial run by next month.

If you’re still not familiar with GameStick, it’s essentially a game controller with an Android-powered gaming console that’s essentially a HDMI dongle. You plug the dongle into your HDTV and start gaming away. It’s novel concept, and its looking to take on the other Android-powered portable gaming console, the OUYA.

Furthermore, GameStick can also act as a media center of sorts, thanks to XBMC and DLNA support. It’ll be interesting to see how well the little dongle can handle 1080p HD video, but if it does, we’re looking at quite a game-changer for not just the portable gaming market, but also the media center business.

GameStick added a new $250 tier, which offers indie game developers a six-month window of 100% revenue on any games they release before July 2013. Indie game devs who buy into the $250 tier will receive these benefits, as well as a GameStick console for their contribution. GameStick hopes this will ramp up the number of new games that release for the console once launch day hits.

Sadly, though, devs who buy into this tier won’t get the GameStick console any earlier than everyone else, but we have to say the benefits are probably worth it in the long run. Also, the new tier is only available to 250 developers, so if you’re at all interested in making 100% revenue on your game, you may want to act swiftly.

GameStick was first announced earlier this month and it hit its $100,000 funding goal within 30 hours of launch. As of this writing, over $460,000 has been pledged, thanks to the contributions of over 4,250 backers so far. Furthermore, stretch goals were also announced this week, including black and red controller options (for those who don’t like white), microSD support, and an additional color to be decided on within the GameStick Facebook page.

The only catch is that you’ll have to wait a few months before you can get XBMC or DLNA support on your GameStick. The company will be releasing an optional firmware update in September 2013 that will include both of these features. The portable gaming console isn’t expected to ship until April 2013, so gamers will have to make do for several months.

GameStick is the latest Kickstarter success story, and the team quickly reached their $100,000 funding goal in only 30 hours, leaving 28 days left over to raise even more money. At the time of this writing, the GameStick has reached $144,350 in funding from 1,473 backers with 27 days left to go.

If you haven’t been keeping with the goings-on at Kickstarter, the GameStick is essentially a $79 portable gaming console powered by Android. It’s an HDMI dongle that you can plug into any HDTV, and when not in use, the dongle easily snaps into an accompanying controller. It’s currently taking on the OUYA gaming console, which has just recently began shipping out to developers.

The console uses Android as the basis for the software, so the console boasts an open platform that more game developers can join in on easily, and the team behind GameStick has made it really easy to play the console. You simply plug it into the HDMI port of your HDTV, grab the controller, and start playing games.

So far, GameStick works on roughly 200 titles that are in the Google Play store, but the team is working with over 250 developers, including Madfinger, Hutch, and Disney to bring GameStick gamers an even greater selection of games. The company boasts that since most of the games come from Google Play, you won’t be spending any more money on games than what you have to in order to play them on the big screen.

The company only has a working prototype of the GameStick so far, but they’re 90% of the way to getting the final pre-production samples made, and expect them to be done in 5-6 weeks. The team expects to have final units shipped out to customers starting in April at a cost $79 each — that includes the dongle and the gaming controller.

Although the trailer shows scenes of Scorpion and Sub-Zero duking it out on a city street, suggesting that there may be some augmented reality in play, it has not been confirmed and is most likely a negative But even without the AR effects, Mortal Kombat is looking rather kickass on the Vita.

With the PS Vita, you’ll be able to dish out fatalities while on the go. Plus, the Vita version comes jam packed with special features and content developed specifically for the handheld. It also includes a new Challenge Tower mode with 150 brand new missions, including Touchscreen Fatalities, X-Ray moves, and much much more. Other major franchise titles to come include Call of Duty and Assassin’s Creed.

The PS Vita itself is hitting store shelves on February 22 with a good roster of game titles on launch. There’s also bundle deals you can take advantage of as well. But, for the Mortal Kombat title, you’ll have to wait until later this spring.

[via Kotaku]

The PS Vita First Edition bundle will include the 3G-enabled unit itself along with a 4GB PS Vita memory card, a limited edition carrying case, and a physical copy of the Little Deviants game. The bundle will also include a set of AR Play game cards that enable augmented reality play with a host of mini games that can be downloaded for free.

Additionally, the PS Vita First Edition bundle packs an AT&T DataConnect Session Pass good for one free 250MB data session when you purchase one 250MB data session and a free PlayStation Network game that can be redeemed when you activate 3G for your PS Vita.

[via PlayStation Blog]

The PS Vita has been available in Japan since last December and will be launching in the US on February 22 along with more than 20 game titles. Since Sony is pushing for more digital downloads, it only makes sense to give consumers added incentive with discounted digital copies.

Best Buy has already begun selling codes to redeem games from the PlayStation Network for MLB 12 The Show at $35.99, Reality Fighters at $26.99, and Uncharted: Golden Abyss at $44.99. The difference is about a 10% discount from boxed copies.

ShackNews reached out to Sony regarding the matter and a company rep responded with the following confirmation:

I can confirm that there will be a discount on the downloadable PS Vita titles from PSN. Exact details have not yet been revealed, but be on the lookout for an announcement in the very near future.

[via PlayStation Lifestyle]

The first deal called the PS Vita First Edition Bundle has already been available for pre-orders. It initially included the PS Vita 3G/Wi-Fi hardware plus a limited edition case, a 4GB PS Vita Memory Card, and Little Deviants game, but now Sony is adding an AT&T DataConnect Session Pass good for one free 250MB session and a PlayStation Network game, both of which you’ll receive upon 3G activation. And if you’ve already pre-ordered you will still be getting it all a week ahead of launch.

The new bundle meant to draw the masses on launch day, packs the PS Vita 3G/Wi-Fi hardware, an 8GB PS Vita Memory Card, an AT&T Data Connect Session Pass, and a PlayStation Network game all for only $299, the regular retail price for the hardware alone. Sony emphasizes that it’s a very limited edition offering, so you want it you better lineup on launch day.

[via PlayStation Blog]

The games released with the PS Vita have yet to garner much fanfare in Japan with its titles absent from the country’s top charts. However, this week’s Tales of Innocence R by Namco Bandai is expected to give sales a boost as one of the handheld’s highest profile releases so far. In two more weeks, Sony will be releasing its own Gravity Rush title, which could also help boost PS Vita sales.

Sales of rival handheld Nintendo 3DS also continued to slide, but it remains well ahead in the lead with 80,960 units sold in the latest week, compared to the PS Vita’s 15,219 units sold. The PlayStation 3 console is in second place with 21,155 units sold followed by the PSP in third with 17,181 units sold. The overall progression of PS Vita sales over the last six weeks is shown below:

Week 1: 324,859
Week 2: 72,479
Week 3: 42,648
Week 4: 42,915
Week 5: 18,361
Week 6: 15,219

The PS Vita is expected to launch here in the US on February 22. It will launch with more than 20 games along with major franchise titles lined up in the following months that should keep sales momentum going stronger than what we’ve seen in Japan.

[via Gamasutra]

The original data plans announced include one that offered 250MB per month for $15 and another that offered 2GB of data per month for $25. This second plan has now been adjusted with the bandwidth and cost increased to 3GB per month for $30. But other than that, the plans remain the same with free WiFi hotspot access, no contract, and recurring opt out.

It’s not clear what inspired this change and it forces customers to pay more for an extra GB of bandwidth they may not need. The PS Vita has already launched in Japan, where its weekly sales numbers have dropped significantly since launch. It’s set to launch in the US on February 22, with the 3G model priced at $299.99, while the WiFi-only model is priced at $249.99.

[via PlayStation Lifestyle]

The sales tracking data, which came from Media Create, shows the progression of PS Vita sales over the past five weeks as listed below:

Week 1: 324,859
Week 2: 72,479
Week 3: 42,648
Week 4: 42,915
Week 5: 18,361

Other gaming consoles, such as the 3DS, PS3, and PSP also experienced a decline in sales following the holiday period, but none had dropped below 20,000 units. The fifth week rankings, which are from January 9 to January 15, shows the 3DS continuing to take the lead at 100,668 units, followed by the PS3 at 30,332, the PSP at 22,538 and then the PS Vita at 18,361.

Despite these poor numbers on the PS Vita’s Japan launch, its US release could fare better. Sony has a staggered lineup of game releases with major franchise titles that should carry PS Vita sales in the months following the launch period.

[via Andriasang]

Koller revealed some exciting titles that should keep PS Vita momentum going. The titles include some major franchises, such as Call of Duty, Mortal Kombat, and Assassin’s Creed. Learning from past experience, Koller explained that the company is now wiser about having a more steady flow of titles launching instead of opening strong and then going dark for three or four months without anything new.

And so, following the PS Vita launch will be MLB, then Mortal Kombat, Resistance, Little Big Planet, Call of Duty, and then Assassin’s Creed. However, it’s not certain if this is in chronological order. Titles launching with the PS Vita include Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Resistance: Burning Skies, and ModNation Racers: Road Trip. For the full list you can take a look at GameStop’s PS Vita page.

[via PlayStation Lifestyle]

The discounts being offered on the PS Vita are said to be as much as 20 percent, but only on the more expensive 3G version of the device. Apparently, the 3G version isn’t moving and it’s understandable given the added cost for the 3G capability itself plus the extra cellular data plan that would be required. Here in the US, that means signing up with AT&T for either a $14.99 per month plan for 250MB or a $25 per month plan for 2GB.

The PS Vita is set to debut stateside starting February 22 along with the release of several game titles for the device. GameStop has already posted pricing and arrival estimates for the PS Vita and its accessories, listing the WiFi-only version at $249.99 and the WiFi-plus-3G version at $299.99. Games are priced at around $39.99. It’ll be interesting to see how the PS Vita is received here and if we’ll also be seeing a price cut.

[via GamesRadar]

Second week sales of the PS Vita is unusually low for game consoles and is also a 78 percent drop from its first week sales. It puts Sony’s next-gen portable game console in fifth place after the PS3, Wii, PSP, and the 3DS, which is still flying off the shelves, selling 482,200 units during the same week.

In comparison, second week sales for the 3DS dropped only 45 percent from 374,764 units to 209,623 units when the portable debuted in late February priced close to the PS Vita’s WiFi-only model.

The poor sales may be due to the quality of the initial selection of game titles as well as to the slew of bugs, including system freezes and unresponsive touchscreen issues. The problems should be resolved when the PS Vita hits the US on February 22 along with 25 game titles.

[via Gamasutra]

The system freezes appear to occur when users attempt to do a system update. And when the PS Vita freezes up, it cannot shutdown for some despite holding down the power button. The touch screen has been reported to be unresponsive at times and there are also reports that the PS Vita cannot shutdown during online play and cannot power up after charging.

It’s not certain if the majority of new PS Vita owners experienced these issues, but it seemed widespread enough and Sony may have been aware of these issues since it quickly released a software update along with an apology. With the PS Vita not due here in the US until February 22, Sony will hopefully be able to iron out most of the kinks before the device hits stateside.

[via Engadget]

Trophies for physical, retail PS Vita games can only be earned for a game on the system the game was started on. If you play the game on another PS Vita, you will not be able to earn Trophies unless you associate the game with your PSN account. This means that you would sign up for PSN when you start the game on one console and when you play it on another you would have to sign in to PSN first.

As for saving backups, if you have application/game data along with save data are on a Memory Card, then both can be backed up to a PS3 or a computer. But, if the game saves to a PS Vita game card, then neither types of data can be backed up.

When it comes to Remote Play, there are three different kinds of button assignments and image quality options of +1, Standard, and -1. Screenshots can also be taken by pressing the PS Button and Start button at the same time, although this may not be supported in all applications or all parts of an application.

And lastly, the manual detailed battery life estimates for the PS Vita, pegging 3-5 hours of game play when network features are off, about 5 hours of playing videos, and 9 hours for listening to music. Recharge time from empty to full will take about 2 hours and 40 minutes.

[via PlayStation Lifestyle]

Capcom has recently announced that Sony’s PS Vita will be the “ultimate controller” for the PS3 version of the Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 game. It features dual analog sticks as well as all of the PS3′s face buttons, which means that it can not only duplicate the controller experience, but also add extra touch features to perform moves or attacks exclusive to it. In a way it could work in a similar fashion to what Nintendo has planned with the Wii U.

There’s also the possibility of having more support for remote play. The PS Vita has already been shown to work with the graphically intensive Killzone 3 game title when it comes to remote play suggesting that many other titles could also support this functionality. Players could be able to save game data from their PS3 console and pick up where they left off on the PS Vita if they have to be on the go.

The PS Vita is set to launch here in the states in February. These connectivity options between the device an the PS3 console are expected to be available at launch or soon thereafter. GameStop has already begun listing the device, its accessories, and corresponding release dates.

[via PlayStation Lifestyle]

According to Kotaku’s Stephen Totilo, multiple Sony reps confirmed with him this week that the GameStop pricing is not final and that the proprietary PS Vita memory cards are not a hidden cost. GameStop listed the 4GB memory card at $29.99, but Sony reps say that it should be $24.99. The 8GB memory card is listed as $49.99 but it, too, should be corrected to $39.99.

Sony revealed earlier this week that Gamers wanting to use multiple PSN accounts on one PS Vita device would have to use multiple memory cards. PSN accounts are tied to each card and therefore gamers wanting to switch accounts on a single card would have to do a complete factory reset. Multiple card can be used one PSN account.

[via PlayStation Lifestyle]

The Nintendo 3DS already has access to free WiFi at various locations, including AT&T’s hotspots as well as at Best Buy. But the addition of 42 airports can certainly be appreciated by families planning to travel this holiday season. The airports supported will include Chicago’s O’Hare, New York’s JFK, and Houston’s George Bush airports.

“With the holiday season approaching, more leisure travelers and families with children will fill our airports and have access to our hotspots,” said Colby Goff, senior vice president of strategy and business development for Boingo Wireless. “Our state-of-the-art networks will provide Nintendo 3DS users with seamless connectivity and fast, reliable service to help them make the most of their travel downtime.”

The latest Nintendo 3DS system update should automatically allow access to Boingo’s Wi-Fi hotspots. The update is expected to be available today.

[via VentureBeat]

According to Sony associate brand marketing manager Crystal MacKenzie, who spoke with Wired.com, PSN accounts are tied to the PS Vita’s proprietary memory cards. You can have multiple memory cards with different PSN accounts associated with each and used them on one PS Vita device. You can also have multiple memory cards with the same PSN account.

However, if you want to change the accounts on each memory card you will have to do a factory reset on your PS Vita. “Your PSN ID is bonded to your memory card and your memory card is bonded to your Vita,” said MacKenzie. “So if you wanted to change different PSN users but use the same memory card, you would need to go factory reset.”

The Sony PS Vita is set to launch in the US starting on February 22. There will be a WiFi-only model priced at $249 and a WiFi and 3G model priced at $299.

Accessories for the PS Vita include 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB memory cards with prices ranging from $29.99 to $119.99 and a portable charger for $49.99. The rest of the accessories are generally under $20, including a travel pouch available for $19.99, a Car Adaptor for $17.99, an AC Adaptor for $19.99, a card case for $9.99, a carrying case for $19.99, and an in-ear headset for $19.99.

The accessories also come bundled in starter kits and will mostly be available starting February 7, although the PS Vita itself won’t be available until February 22. The PS Vita is priced at $299.99 for the WiFi and 3G version, while the WiFi-only version is priced at $249.99. A list of initial game titles for the handheld along with pricing and release dates are also available on the GameStop page.

[via PlayStation Lifestyle]

For downloads to the PS Vita over a 3G network, the initial file size limit will be 20MB. This limit could potentially be increased later on, but to start off, users will only be able to download files larger than 20MB via WiFi.

The proprietary memory cards for the PS Vita are specific to the device, meaning that it won’t be compatible with any other future devices nor with other Sony products like its PSP and digital cameras. Sony did not explain why they chose a completely new format, but they did say that the format will be supported for the life of the platform.

In case you’re not already familiar, the PS Vita was first announced at E3 2011 and features a 5-inch 960 x 544 OLED touchscreen display and an additional touchpad on the backside. It has dual cameras, dual analog sticks, GPS, Bluetooth, and WiFi. The device is expected to launch with 26 game titles in Japan on December 17, followed by a worldwide release on December 31. Pre-orders for the device have already begun with the WiFi-only version listed at $249.99 and the WiFi+3G version at $299.99.

[via TechnoBuffalo]

This value-priced PSP model dubbed the E-1000 will lack Wi-Fi support, meaning it will not be able to download games. Instead, it will be accompanied by a variety of PSP Essentials titles that will retail for £9.99, including Invizimals: The Lost Tribe, EyePet Adventures, and FIFA 12.

The PSP E-1000 will retail for £99, which is £30 less than the current PSP model. And although there’s no Wi-Fi, users can still access a full catalogue of PSP games on UMD or from the PlayStation Store via Media Go.

[via Kotaku]

The next-gen portable gaming console, initially codenamed the NGP, debuted at E3 2011, where it was revealed to sport a 5-inch OLED touchscreen with another touch panel on the backside. It also boasted both front-facing and rear-facing cameras that could be used for some interesting augmented reality gameplay, along with two analogue sticks and the usual game control buttons.

Additionally, it will introduce two new social gaming features called “Party” and “Near.” Party lets you play and chat with other users in the same game room no matter where they are in the world, while Near lets you detect and interact with other users around you.

[via Engadget]

The revelation of the Wii U controller nearly being a standalone portable that worked with the base console comes by way of Nintendo president Satoru Iwata. He noted that the subject was discussed in round table talks early on. Ultimately, Nintendo decided that the Wii U should be a new and dedicated system with the controller packing the secondary screen as we have seen.

Iwata noted that the conclusion to the discussions decided that the controller would only show the images sent to it by the console. This would allow for better graphics, which is something that a battery wouldn’t have been able to do. Iwata also noted that early on Nintendo considered making the second screen a separate accessory from the controller. Depending on how expensive the Wii U controllers end up being, that screen accessory may have been a good idea. With normal Wii controllers at around $40, the Wii U offerings will be much more than that price.

[via Kotaku]

Sony demoed a good roster of titles including Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Hot Shots Golf, Wipeout, Hustle Kings, Soundshapes, and Super Stardust Delta. These titles will all be a part of the NGP’s diverse launch lineup.

“We’ll talk more about social connectivity features down the line – today is about showing off the core games and getting you hands-on time,” said SCE president Shuhel Yoshida. “I’m sure you have burning questions on launch date, pricing, 3G data plans, and we’ll be very happy to share all those with you moving forward.”

Of the titles demoed, the most high profile one would be the Uncharted: Golden Abyss, developed by the same team that made the best PSP shooters including Resistance Retribution and Syphon Filter.

The following video shows some of the games in action. However, the demo unit shown is not how the final NGP handheld will look like. There is noticeably no marking of a device name anywhere on the unit, suggesting the company’s keeping the official name top secret until the E3 2011 reveal. Recent reports claim that the NGP could be called the Vita.

[via PlayStation Blog]

The NGP will not only be compatible with PSP games, but will also offer an optimized experience for each game. The PSP titles will automatically be smoothed and upscaled, but the option to optimize can also be toggled on and off. Furthermore, the NGP will support dual analogue sticks, which is feature long requested.

Recently, there were rumors that the Sony NGP may actually be named the Vita, after some advertising graphics showing the device emblazoned with the name turned up along with a new subdomain with the name Vita. The E3 conference kicks off on June 7, so we’ll find out all the details very soon.

[via PlayStation Lifestyle]

Well, just check out this list (also, more pics in the gallery):

• 16:9 full HD Amoled Multi touch screen Capacitive type with DTP (Dual Touch Pro for multitouch capability)
• Built-in HD Stereo Speakers
• Built-in HD Microphone
• Gyroscope, accelerometer, ambient light sensor
• 2 analog sticks
• Chat with your friends ( Wimax or 4G), by text, headset bluetooth or Visio
• Download Apps from the Android Market
• Share content and download movies
• Synchronize content with your Android phone
• Built-in GPS System with HP Localization (high precision mode)
• Follow your contacts in real time on the map (MAPlayers zone app)
• Front Camera 8MP HD and 3D 12MP rear camera
• Visio Gaming (watch your friends through the screen and play with them by Visio
• M.I.S.S. touch buttons (Media, I+,Select, Start buttons vibrate to confirm your order and illuminate when you turn the Consolor on
• The Swin’ Bar allows player to access all the contents, volume, 3D effects, camera settings etc…
• Mobile Network connectivity: 4G, Bluetooth 2.1, WiMax, ConsolorR Mode, DLNA,DP Connect Technology4.0sW (Play your game via your TV Full HD 3D wireless)
• Inductive charging
• 250 GB Internal Memory
• Multitask without lag

Ok, but here’s my question. Why do this on a separate gaming console? Why not put it all on a smartphone? That seems to be where things are going. What do you think? Would you want one of these?

[via Yanko Design]

The special sneak peek of the 3DS is happening Monday through Sunday from 11am until 7pm. All you have to do to get your 3DS on is head down to Pier 39 and look for the Nintendo 3DS Demo Pod. If you aren’t in the San Francisco area you will need to wait until the 27 when the 3DS launches.

At the hands on event, visitors will get to play some games on the device and create their own custom Mii characters using the Mii Maker built into the 3DS. Once those Miis are created, the builder can share them on Facebook and via email. The games available to try at the demo include nintendogs + cats, Pilotwings Resort and Steel Diver.

Heck Said, “It was a blast taking something as awesome as the Sega CDX and making it even easier to use with a smaller footprint so I can bring it with me everywhere,” said Ben Heck. “Not only that, but I reminisced about Full Motion Video games from the early ’90′s and a few diamonds in the rough like ‘Snatcher’ and ‘Lunar: The Silver Star.’”

I may not recall the CDX system myself, but I can appreciate the cool design that Heck came up with. The episode of the show where he created the device walked through the construction and layout process. If you really like the device, you can hit the Element 14 website and register to win the device yourself.

The newest firmware is v6.37, and details are non-existent. Sony has classified the update as “minimal” one, and only allude to the fact that the update will improve the overall system software stability during use of “some features.” No explanation as to what they’re talking about, or what features they mean, but it looks like the system should get at least a bit smoother in daily operation, if nothing else.

No timetable as to when the update will actually be launched, either. Just “soon.” Will Sony include any special surprises? We’ll just have to wait and see.

[via PlayStation Blog]

Obviously, Sony has to do quite a bit to make the PSP2 attractive to developers, especially in light of the overall unattractive sales of the PSP Go, so comparing the handheld gaming device to the powerful PlayStation 3 isn’t so surprising. Additionally, with the focus on mobile gaming so high right now, with Apple’s presence now a dominating factor and Nintendo’s 3DS on the verge of being released, Sony has to show that their upcoming handheld device not only measures up, but surpasses the competition.

In the same report, it states that the PSP2 will have a strong downloadable content backing, but that the device will be able to play physical media too. This means that games will be able to be sold in stores again. As for a release date, some time in the fourth quarter of 2011 has been suggested. It could even find its way onto store shelves as early as October.

[via MCV]

Iwata Asks took some time to chat with Shigeru Miyamoto, the famed developer behind titles like Mario Bros., and Satoru Iwata, the President of the company. In their talk, it was Miyamoto that dropped the first hint that the camera could be developed into a full 3D video capturing device. Thanks to the 3D photo feature, it seems that the company has already made steps into making sure something like that can happen.

But, it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen in the current generation 3DS. Iwata pointed out that a 3D video recording camera could be added to a future version of the 3DS. More details about the device are rumored to hit the world at the end of January, when Nintendo holds their press event.

[via TechRadar]

Nintendo says that it is being proactive in issuing warnings to users. Nintendo didn’t deny that the warning was a preemptive attempt to ward off any potential future litigation if children’s eyes are harmed from playing the 3DS too much reports the Wall Street Journal.

Despite the warning, Nintendo expects to ship about 1.5 million 3DS units in Japan within the first month it is available reports Reuters. Nintendo is working to prevent any shortages of the device to maximize sales. Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata said, “It’s important that we ensure a continuous supply.”

Update: Video added after the cut; thanks David!

The thieving geek took the console and posed it with various other portable console and Nintendo characters for us to peruse with clarity. It really looks 99% the same as the shot Nintendo offered up a while back that we posted here. The only thing I see that is different is that the keys under the screen are flush in these spy shots whereas the Nintendo pic clearly shows them to be raised.

The flush buttons make more sense to me, everything I have owned with slightly raised leys tended to crack after a while around the buttons. We also get some specs along with the spy shots. The thing has 96MB of RAM and a 1300mAh battery. That battery should provide for a decent amount of playtime per charge. There are lots more pics at the source link below.

Via 3DSbuzz