Gadgets, Gizmos, and Games for Geeks

IGN has posted this video showing a direct feed of the Sony Playstation 3’s “dashboard” user interface. At this point, it looks strikingly similar to the PSP’s interface: No real surprises here… The ability to pull up system menus while playing a game is really the only “new” thing for Sony, and this has already been done on the Xbox 360.

The upcomping RS Media robot from WowWee is the latest in their Robosapien line of programmable hobby robots, and this new model features a host of new capabilities for you to play with. The RS will feature the ability to program the ‘bot from your PC via an integrated USB port, and provided software.

Scheduled for a September 19th release, the Xbox Live Vision camera add-on was accidentally put out on the shelves of a Toys R Us store on August 18th, and this lucky buyer managed to get his hands on one over a month early.

Razer Pro|Solutions has announced the upcoming release of the Pro|Type line of multimedia keyboards which incorporate built-in docks for either Apple iPod or Microsoft Zune media players. The keyboards will also include 10 programmable hotkeys for macros (32k of onboard memory for macros), Media Center control keys, Line-level out for audio peripherals and two built-in USB ports.

While researching the topic of innovative musical devices, I came across the guys at Bleep Labs and their totally wacky Thingamagoop custom synthesizer series. These portable sythesizers generate electronica using a unique control interface: as you move a colorful LED over a photosensor, the sound’s waveform changes.

Australia’s Mungo Enterprises has engineered the “Infinite Horizon“, a concept device capable of programatically generating modern dance/trance music with, literally, the push of a button. Just press the BIG RED BUTTON, and out comes a track.

Dana Jongewaard, Managing Editor of the Official Playstation Magazine has posted a fascinating story on her blog which sums up the public (negative) sentiment surrounding the forthcoming Sony Playstation 3. She even went so far as titling the article “Why I am buying a 360 this November.”

Gamesradar has done a side-by-side comparison of the Sony Playstation 3 and the Microsoft Xbox 360, using an accurately sized display prop provided by Sony. I’m not sure what the Japanese market will think about this beast, given the past failure of larger consoles in that market.

SEGA has announce a Fall 2006 release date for their new compilation, the SEGA Genesis Collection. The title will be released for Sony’s Playstation 2 and Playstation Portable systems. The disc will include 30 titles from the Genesis system including classics such as Altered Beast, Sonic The Hedgehog, Shinobi III, Phantasy Star and Golden Axe.

Microsoft Games has posted the demo for its much anticipated Flight Simulator X. This version contains major upgrades from past releases including massively improved visuals, a dynamic world with insane amounts of detail, multiplayer skies with real-time online traffic from other flyers and many new planes to fly.

Reception was lukewarm to last year’s release of Sony’s ChromaVue front projection screen that provided the ability for Sony front projectors to work in brightly-lit rooms. The screens did improve image contrast, but exhibited problems with hotspotting and off axis viewing.

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.