Gadgets, Gizmos, and Games for Geeks

Microsoft has just posted the product page for the forthcoming add-on HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360. No new details have been revealed at this point, but here’s hoping it’s an indication that the device is likely to be released soon.

[UPDATE 9/28/2006: After rumors of a low-ball $229 price, the Zune was officially announced for $249.99 – that’s the real, final MSRP] This Week in Consumer Electronics (TWICE) has learned from several retailers that Microsoft is planning to release their “iPod killer”, Zune digital media player this fall (rumors have it as a November 14th release date) at an MSRP of $299.

Classic arcade games are coming fast and furious on Xbox Live Marketplace, and this week’s release is Namco’s classic Pac-Man. The Xbox 360 version features more than 250 levels, improved graphics, new music and sound effects.

In case you’re too impatient to wait for the Nintendo Wii-mote or the Sony PS3 motion sensing controller, peripheral maker eDimensional has announced the upcoming release of its gyroscopic motion sensing controller for the PS2 and PC.

Logitech has revealed their new Wireless DJ Music System. The compact system is designed to allow you to stream digital music from your PC to your stereo with the unique addition of a wireless remote control navigation system with a familiar click wheel control scheme.

A official post on the UbiSoft community forums confirms the the anxiously awaited Splinter Cell Double Agent for the Xbox 360 and PC will be released on October 19th, 2006. Also revealed was an Xbox 360 multiplayer demo in the works for the Xbox Live Marketplace, and single/multiplayer demos for the PC both to be available around the end of September or so.

Details in a Japanese press release give insight into a new SXRD front projector from Sony, codenamed “Pearl”. The VPL-VW50 projector will be 1080p native (1920×1080) with a contrast ratio of 5,000:1. The projector features a 200-watt mercury lamp, a low noise fan system claimed to run at just 22dB, a 1.8x zoom lens and dual HDMI inputs.

The new Sony “Mylo” media player supports MPEG-4 video, audio and photos. It also has a built-in wireless connection that supports wireless music streaming to other mylo players and it works as a wireless Skype phone.

The folks at TrustedReviews have learned that the Playstation 3 will require a special adapter in order to load saved games from PS1/PS2 memory cards. This quote is pulled directly from Sony’s Website: To use saved data on a PlayStation 2 memory card, you must copy the data onto a virtual memory card within the hard disk.

Here’s the latest news from Steve Jobs’ keynote address at Apple’s 2006 Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) today… 9:50am (Pacific): The Apple Store is temporarily down for maintenance, so clearly something new will be released today… 10:03am: Steve Jobs has taken the stage.

Check out this cool video of Microsoft’s prototype for an augmented reality system known as “PlayAnywhere“. The system combines a video projector and a sensing device that can detect a user’s gestures and the position objects placed on a surface in real time, and utilize that data to create a highly interactive and intuitive user interface.

This clip has been floating around for a couple of months, but it’s the first time I’ve seen it. The headline says it all:

Not that this is the first time we’ve heard of a laptop exploding due to defective LI-ION battery, but this is one of the more spectacular examples of devastation we’ve seen. Clearly, leaving your laptop on and unattended has its potential consequences.

There’s a video floating around on YouTube demoing Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam for the Nintendo Wii. While the game doesn’t look terrible, I have to say it’s time to retire this whole franchise. There’s really nothing innovative here, and the whole thing kinda smells like a poor cousin of the SSX franchise.

Capcom’s zombies-in-a-mall actioner, Dead Rising, is now available in demo form on Xbox Live Marketplace for your enjoyment. Since I haven’t gotten to check it out yet, here are some comments posted on Major Nelson’s blog that I thought would give a good idea of what to expect… “You can (get) 15 minutes of run about in the mall.

Publisher Ubisoft has announced that they will release seven titles for the Nintendo Wii when it launched this holiday season… Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WW II: As a squadron leader and ace fighter pilot, leverage the Wii controller to experience intense dog fighting in the famous air battles of WW II.