Sony Announces New 4GB Digicam

t's going to be easy to keep this season's holiday photos in one convenient location with Sony's new mega-capacity Cyber-shot DSC-T2 digital camera. This 8 megapixel model features 4GB of internal memory and can store up to 40,000 VGA-quality photos or 1,000 8-megapixel pictures, doing away with the need to manage multiple media cards.

And no, you won’t need to spend hours trying to find your pictures on this camera. The camera's album folder makes it easy to organize and access thousands of photos in-camera. Images can be viewed in chronological order and displayed in a helpful calendar view. By installing the bundled Picture Motion Browser software, you can also view images by events like birthdays or Sunday BBQs.

Your precious photos can be selected and moved to the camera's 'Favorites' folder for virtually instant retrieval, without any need to navigate through hundreds of pictures. In Favorites, photos can be arranged in six separate subfolders at the touch of a finger.

The 'Sharemark' folder can store photos and videos deemed worthy for sharing beyond the camera on to the web. The T2 model is preloaded with Sony PMB Portable software, a user-friendly application that automatically runs when the device is connected to a compatible PC via the supplied USB cable. You can publish photos and videos directly to web-sharing sites such as Flickr, Photobucket, Shutterfly and YouTube.

A touch-panel LCD screen replaces small buttons with on-screen icons, and camera operation is made fast and simple thanks to a user-friendly interface. You can simply touch the screen to select the subject you want to focus on (shooting mode), and where you want to zoom in (playback mode).

The Cyber-shot DSC-T2 digital camera will ship in December for about $350 in the US. No news yet on its Indian launch and price.

Kodak Launches M-Series Digicams in India

Last night, Kodak, along with Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif, launched its new EasyShare M-Series digicams aimed at consumers who are style savvy as well as budget-conscious. Four cameras were launched in the series – M753, M853, M873, and M883.

"Kodak believes in creating the best offering for consumers so they can enjoy digital photography. Our range of M series digital zoom cameras are not only packed with rich and easy-to-use features, it also adds that instant style quotient to your personality," said Warren Wisnewski, Managing Director, Consumer Business, Asia Pacific Region and VP, Consumer Digital Imaging Group, Eastman Kodak Company.

The M873 and M883 offer 8 megapixel resolution and high ISO settings along with 3 inch LCD displays, while the M753 and M853 offer 7 and 8 megapixel resolutions respectively with 2.5 inch displays.

The M753 will be available for Rs 10,999, M853 for Rs 11,999, M873 for Rs 12,999 and the M883 for Rs 13,999. All these cameras will be available in the stores by early November.

New Olympus DSLR Boasts Fastest AF Speeds

Olympus Imaging Corporation has just announced that "E-3", the new flagship of Olympus E-System digital SLR cameras for professionals and serious amateurs, will be released in November 23, 2007.

Some of its main features include:
High-speed performance thanks to the world’s fastest AF sensoring, high-speed sequential shooting at 5 frames/sec., and high-speed shutter up to 1/8000 sec.
Ultrahigh image quality thanks to a built-in image stabilization mechanism with a compensation range up to 5 EV steps, an advanced 10.1-megapixel High-Speed Live MOS Sensor, and the “TruePic III” image processing engine.
Expanded shooting possibilities thanks to Free-Angle Live View that uses a dual-axis flexible-angle HyperCrystal LCD monitor with free horizontal/vertical swiveling.
High reliability thanks to a large optical viewfinder with 100% field of view and 1.15x magnification, a high-powered, always-on Dust Reduction System, dust- and splash-proof magnesium-alloy body that stands up to the most severe conditions, and a durable shutter design tested to more than 150,000 releases
The E-3 is also the first camera in its class to incorporate Olympus’s exclusive Live View function, which allows users to compose their shots on a rear-panel LCD monitor.

The package will include: E-3 Body, USB Cable, Video Cable, Li-Ion Battery Pack (BLM-1), Li-Ion Battery Charger (BCM-2), Shoulder Strap, OLYMPUS Master 2 Software CD-ROM, Manuals and Registration card.

The following is the U.S. pricing:
E-3 Body Estimated Street Price: $1,699
HLD-4 Battery Holder Estimated Street Price: $199
FL-50R Estimated Street Price: $499
FL-36R Estimated Street Price: $299
Indian pricing is currently unknown.

Google to Reveal GPhone Info on Monday

Google’s big idea to launch a mobile phone handset has proved a fertile ground for rumors galore in the mobile industry for a while now. Nothing conclusive so far about the design, UI or anything else has been disclosed. It been under wraps for so long, it’s driving people into a speculative frenzy.

Come Monday and the fog should clear and we should finally be able to get a more-or-less clear picture regarding what the actual deal is. Yes, that's apparently when Google is going to announce its plans for entering the mobile world. So stay tuned.

Nokia's Small and Affordable BT Headset

Nokia’s BH-101 Bluetooth headset is designed primarily for those who are constantly on the go and on the phone. According to Nokia the BH-01 has a talktime of up to 8 hours and a standby of 180 hours.

It’s a very small device with an adjustable ear-loop. The headset has basic call handling functions and supports Bluetooth functions up to version 2.0 with EDR and Handsfree v.1.5 and Headset v.1.1.

The BH-101 will be out for Christmas and has an estimated price of Rs 2,270 (40 Euro), not including taxes.

Nokia, BharatMatrimony Offer Mobile Matchmaking

Global leader in mobile communications Nokia has announced a tie-up with matrimonial website BharatMatrimony to allow Nokia device owners in the country to use its matrimonial services through Nokia catalogs.

Speaking to reporters at the announcement, BharatMatrimony group CEO Murugavel Janakiraman said, "Through this collaboration with Nokia and Mobile2Win, we are happy to take our matrimony services to a new platform."

"Nokia device owners will now be able to access the Nokia Catalogues, which will offer a variety of content, applications and services anytime, anywhere. This will also help us reach out to a wider audience."

"BharatMatrimony is a great service that caters to Indian consumers who are seeking partners. Thanks to the collaboration we have with BharatMatrimony, Nokia is now able to offer this service to more people all over India via a downloadable application that can be found in catalogues, providing them with all the necessary information they need about prospective partners," said Nokia vice president Forum, Lee Epting.

"By offering customized content for each country, Nokia Catalogs strives to deliver a unique and personalized experience for consumers around the world, and our goal remains unchanged - to revolutionize the way consumers can access relevant local services from their mobile devices."

"Convenient and easy to use, all one needs to do in order to start looking for a spouse is register and list a profile, pay and search for profiles of potential spouse. Or contact a profile that you are interested in and engage a background verification service," Janakiraman said.

"Soon, BharatMatrimony on Nokia devices will also offer features such as support videos, images and voice introduction, and a click-to-call facility.

"In order to reach out to consumers across the country even better, the service will also be offered in multiple Indian languages."

Nokia, through its Nokia Catalogs already offers consumers a wide range of exciting content on their Nokia devices, ranging from entertainment-related ring tones, branded Bollywood content, to games and productivity applications.

"Users can access catalogs easily and browse for content to purchase anytime. Content providers who are currently offering content in India on Nokia Catalogs include CornerShop, Hungama, Indiagames and Mauj," said Epting.

"Regional and global content from CNBC and Nokia Software Market are also available for consumers in India. Nokia Catalogs facilitates easy access to downloadable content and services through a collection of shopping mall 'stores' run by branded content providers, leading content aggregators and mobile service providers," he said.

Google in Talks With Verizon Wireless, Sprint

Verizon Wireless and Sprint Nextel Corp. are in "advanced talks" with Google Inc. about carrying a cell phone powered by the Web company's software, according to a published report.

The Wall Street Journal's online edition cited unnamed sources in reporting the talks Tuesday.

The paper said Google is expected to announce within two weeks a set of software and services that cell phone makers could use. The software would likely allow third parties to add applications, and it would probably be able to take advantage of Google's advertising network.

Deals with Verizon Wireless and Sprint, the country's second and third largest carriers, would give Google a wide platform for its software.

Google already has "significant traction" with the fourth largest U.S. carrier, T-Mobile USA, the Journal reported.

Representatives of Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and Google said they had no comment on the report. Calls to Sprint after office hours were not returned.

Rumors about a "Google phone" have swirled for months, mainly linked to the company's stated intent to bid on a chunk of wireless spectrum coming up for auction in the next few months.

But developing the spectrum acquired in the auction would take years, while a deal with major wireless carrier would allow Google to quickly jump into the cell phone market.

Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of New York-based Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group PLC of Britain.

Google to Release Cellphone Next Year

Google is to release its own mobile platform next year in a bid to drastically shake up the cellphone industry and provide mobile users with a host of new applications, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The paper said Tuiesday that Google is planning to make a formal announcement in about two weeks.

The report said that Google was in talks with cellphone maker HTC of Taiwan and LG of South Korea to manufacture the phone, which would be tailored to Google software.

Google is also seeking partnerships with wireless operators like Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile USA, France Telecom's Orange SA, and Hutchison Whampoa's 3 in Britain.

With this move, Google applications and services would be as easily accessible on mobile phones as on PCs, so that the company can extend its advertising business to the more than three billion users of cellphones and other wireless devices.

Worldwide, mobile ad spending is expected to reach $1.5 bn this year and grow to $11.3 bn by 2011, according to market researcher Informa Telecoms & Media.

Until now, Google has pursued various strategies to tap this market, adapting Google websites for mobile browsers as well as preloading Google software in handsets such as Apple's iPhone.

LG's Shine Goes Wooden

At first glance you may think LG decided to follow today’s trend for natural products when it designed this mobile phone. But take another look and you'll see the device is not made of wood after all – it only looks like it is. The phone is actually encased in a faux wood-like finish

The Shine Wood – that’s the official name – is called the LG LB-2500H in Korea. This flip phone has a 2 megapixel camera, MP3 player, Bluetooth, and support for a memory card. The display is 2.2 inches, with 262K colors, but the resolution hasn't been revealed yet.

Rumor has it that the LG Shine Wood will be launched in Korea soon, and should cost around 362 Euro (Rs 20,500). Stay tuned.

Via Akihabara News.

SanDisk Launches 8GB Flash Cards

At an exclusive star-studded event (called "Wake up your phone") in LA, California, on the famous Sunset strip, SanDisk announced the release of its 8GB microSD High Capacity (microSDHC) and Memory Stick PRO Duo (M2) flash cards.

Linkin Park, Crystal Method and Cut Chemist were among the artists who performed at the events held in the LA’s best night spots such as the Viper Room, the Roxy and Key Club. SanDisk went all out by booking all three clubs simultaneously. The event was held to promote publicity for SanDisk’s Wake Up Your Phone campaign that’s directed at helping people understand how to get the best out of their mobile phones with the use of memory cards.

Said Michael Romero, Senior Director, Global Retail Marketing, at SanDisk’s Mobile Consumer Solutions Division: "While many people may have a mobile phone with a built-in MP3 player, digital camera, video player/recorder or other storage-intensive features, surprisingly few realize that with the simple addition of a large capacity storage card they can use their phone to listen to thousands of songs or take thousands of photos or watch hours of video."

"Our goal is to help people to get the most out of their phone by using a memory card. The growing numbers who do, find they have more experiences to share with friends, family and social networking sites,” he added.

The 8GB microSD card launched at the event comes with SanDisk’s five-year limited warranty and is designed to have an operating shock rating of 2,000 Gs, equivalent to a ten-foot drop. It’s priced at $139.99 (around Rs 5,525).

The 8GB M2 card is equipped with Sony’s MagicGate encryption technology support and is priced at $149.99 (approximately Rs 5,912).

Skype and 3 Launch New Skypephone

Skype and mobile operator 3 have apparently decided it's time they got together and allowed us to connect with each other – via their new 3 Skypephone. This 3G (obviously) enabled Internet phone can be used both as a normal mobile phone and also to make Skype calls.

The best part is that users can make free Skype-to-Skype calls and send free Skype instant messages. This is the first time an operator has offered a mass-market device which is tailormade for free calling over the Internet using a mobile.

The handset was developed by Skype and 3 in partnership with Qualcomm, using Qualcomm's BREW platform to enable Skype to work with core handset features such as address book and messaging.

The 3 Skypephone will be out in November in the UK, Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Macau and Sweden. Free Skype-to-Skype calls will be available only if you are on contract with (or have enough balance with) the service.

The 3 Skypephone is expected to cost £49.99 (approximately Rs 4,050) on a PAYG tariff or free on contract. I guess we’ll just have to wait and watch to see if it’ll be coming to our shores. Stay tuned.

Rugged Entry Level Mobile From Samsung

Rumor has it that Samsung is planning to launch a new entry-level mobile phone, but it won't be your run-of-the-mill simple handset. This one, aptly dubbed the Samsung Solid, is a rugged, outdoorsy phone.

It’s designed for rough use (presumably) with a protective case around the body and rubber keys. It’s possible that the phone should be able to withstand a drop of about 2-3 feet, but till we test it we can’t confirm or deny it!

The specs may not be accurate as of now, but it’s claimed the Solid will have a VGA camera and Bluetooth. The price will to be around £70 (Rs 5670) and it's expected to be out this December. Stay tuned.

Via Pocket-lint.

Apple Imposes New Limits on iPhone Sales

Apple Inc. no longer accepts cash for iPhone purchases and now limits sales of the cell phone to two per person in a move to stop people from reselling them.

The new policy started Thursday, according to Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris. Before then, there was no cash restriction and the purchase limit was five per person.

"Customer response to the iPhone has been off the charts, and limiting iPhone sales to two per customer helps us ensure that there are enough iPhones for people who are shopping for themselves or buying a gift," Kerris said. "We're requiring a credit or debit card for payment to discourage unauthorized resellers."

More than 1.4 million units of the hybrid cell phone-iPod have been sold since it debuted on June 29, according to Apple. It is expected to be a hot gift for the holidays.

Apple thinks some people already have purchased multiple iPhones to resell, including those looking to modify or 'unlock' the phones so they work on networks other than AT&T, Apple's carrier partner in the US.

Apple estimates that buyers of 250,000 of the iPhones sold so far intended to unlock them, Apple COO Tim Cook said in a conference call with analysts this week.

Apple's attempts to prevent that 'unlocking' activity, which included a software update that blocked hackers' workarounds, have frustrated users – and sparked two lawsuits.

Nokia Unveils Future Trends in Mobile Tech

Nokia has unveiled plans for its next-generation mobile technology. It's not simply about mobile devices either; preference is also being given to operating systems and software. The plans were put forward at the 'The Way We Live Next' event, an exclusive briefing at the Nokia Research Center in Oulu, Finland’s northern technology hub.

"The world of mobile communications is changing at an ever increasing pace," said Tero Ojanperä, CTO, Nokia, in his keynote address. "To continue to stay ahead in this environment and to develop innovative new products and services that excite consumers, companies need to embrace openness on many levels."

"At Nokia, we work with experts in the academic, scientific and developer communities, and increasingly importantly, directly in interaction with our customers. Innovation can come from anywhere, and we need to have the tools and flexibility to respond to that challenge," he added.

At the briefing, Nokia delivered presentations on a range of topics, such as:
Web technologies driving innovation in mobile
Nanotechnology and solutions for the environment
The evolution of the Internet user experience
Mobile payments and banking using Near Field Communications
Future energy sources
Smart Connectivity and the future of wireless broadband

Nokia also demonstrated a variety of breakthrough technologies, including the following:

MOSH: A one-to-many distribution platform; a targeted channel for developers and technology leaders to publish applications and other content for mobile devices, to a global audience.

Widsets: A mobile Internet service with more than 3 million registered users and over 2000 widgets, which allows people to enjoy and share their favorite Internet content and to create and publish their own widgets in the spirit of Web 2.0.

Point & Find: An exciting new way to discover more about your surroundings, using the camera on your mobile device. The mobile device then displays relevant information about what you are looking at, fetching real-time information from the Internet.

Shoot to Translate: A demonstration using software that translates written characters into another language; the original text is captured with the camera on the Nokia multimedia computer and translation happens in real time.

Virtual worlds: In addition to previewing the first ever photographic exhibition taking place simultaneously in Second Life and the real world, Nokia showed how 3D virtual environments could be implemented on mobile devices to create an immersive user experience.

In addition, Nokia announced a relaunch of its Beta Labs site, with more interactive features. Beta Labs shares some of the new ideas that Nokia is working on and lets users help shape their future development.

Nokia also demonstrated Mobile Web Server, a beta lab application running on S60 smartphones. It allows a mobile device to function as an Internet server, making it possible for people to access content on their mobile remotely from a web browser on another device, or to allow other people to do so.

Mobile Web Server takes the development of Web 2.0 communities to another level as, rather than centralizing content from many people on a single site, it emphasizes decentralization as a way of creating another kind of community.

Rugged Windows Mobile PDA Announced

A company called Psion Teklogix has developed what might be called a rugged or outdoorsy Windows Mobile PDA called the iKon. Its 2 megapixel camera can be used as a scanner/barcode reader and the 3.7 inch VGA display can function as the viewfinder.

This apparently heavy-duty mobile runs on Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional with an Intel XScale processor. It’s equipped with 128MB of RAM and 128MB of ROM, and supports external memory via microSD cards. It also has an integrated GPS unit.

The device is EDGE-enabled and has Wi-Fi support, USB and Bluetooth v2.1. According to the company, it can withstand a five-foot drop on to concrete, and is also well protected from dust and water.

The iKon will be launched in the US this December, but there’s no word on the pricing yet.

Via Engadget.

i-mate Reveals Two New Ultimates

The Ultimate 8502 and the Ultimate 9502 are the two latest additions to i-mate’s growing collection of Windows Mobile devices.

Both phones feature Wi-Fi, in-built GPS receivers, AV-in and AV-out, and QWERTY keypads. They are triband phones with GPRS, EDGE and HSDPA. Both run on Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional and are equipped with Qualcomm MSM 7200 400 MHz processors.

In addition to these similarities, the two devices are Bluetooth-enabled and A2DP-compatible, with 256MB ROM and 128MB of RAM. They also support external memory with microSD cards and use 2.5mm earphone sockets (which seems to be a major turn-off).

The Ultimate 8502 is equipped with a 2 megapixel camera (with LED flash), supports Push Email, and has document viewers for MS Documents and PDF files. Its 2.6 inch TFT touchscreen display has a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels with 256k colors.

What seems to be the Big Brother of the Ultimate series is the i-mate Ultimate 9502 that comes off looking more like some sort of Tablet PC. The QWERTY keyboard is under the large 2.8 inch TFT touchscreen display that has a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels with 256k colors.

The display simply slides up, much as in the Sony Vaio UMPC. The 9502 is equipped with a 3.2 megapixel camera, auto-focus, LED flash, and a secondary camera for video calling. The device is quite heavy at 200g

Neither the pricing nor availability of these phones have been disclosed yet, so stay tuned.

Via GSM Arena.

Spice Mobile 'Upgrades' Two Phones

Spice Mobile has launched two new mobile phones that are apparently upgrades to existing models – the Spice S808n with a metallic finish, and the S600n with a dedicated music player key.

The S808n, a revamp of the earlier S808, is equipped with a one-touch music and FM key, and has an inbuilt memory of 128MB. It’s a lightweight phone, at just 66g. The TFT display resolution of the screen is 128 x 128 pixels with 65k colors. It has a 1.3 megapixel camera with video, and video caller ID is supported. The phone is GPRS and WAP enabled but has no provision for Bluetooth or external memory.

The S600n is the upgrade to the S600, a model that was dubbed the ‘Mobile Disco’. It now comes with 256MB of internal memory but has no provision for external memory. The 65k color TFT display has a resolution of 128 x 128 pixels. An in-built speakerphone and applications such as Melody Composer, health care apps such as BMI (Body Mass Index), and auto power on/off round off the package.

These new upgrades are priced at Rs 6,299 for the S808n and Rs 4,599 for the S600n.

Samsung's G800 to Launch in November

Samsung’s latest camera phone, the triband G800, has a 5 megapixel, auto-focus camera with a xenon flash and 3x optical zoom. The camera utilizes face detection for taking better snaps. All this is neatly concealed with a lens cover for protection and style.

That’s impressive enough, but just in case you’re picky and such features don’t hold you in thrall, the G800 has plenty more to... well, tickle your tech-bone.

Apart form the camera, the G800 has a 2.4 inch TFT LCD display with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels and 256k colors. It’s equipped with 160MB of internal memory. As if that’s not enough, the G800 can be fitted with a microSD card for more memory.

Connectivity-wise, the G800 is GPRS, EDGE-enabled with HSDPA for fast transfer of data. Bluetooth with A2DP compatibility and USB v2.0 come bundled. It also has an FM radio and a document viewer.

The phone will hit the European market next month but there’s no word on the official price. Estimates, however, hover around Rs 24,000 (approx. $600). Stay tuned!

Nokia Launches N81

Nokia's recently launched N81 and N81 8GB multimedia phones are now available globally. Designed specifically for music and gaming, these devices come with dedicated music and game keys and are loaded with memory so you can store more and play more.

The 3D Multimedia Menu introduced in these devices is the first step to bringing a new user interface to the Nokia Nseries range.

"Accessing your portable music and games collection is not enough anymore," said Jonas Geust, vice president, Multimedia, Nokia. "Today people want to be more in control of how and where they consume their digital entertainment. They want to discover new favorites and share them without being confined to one location – and it's devices like the Nokia N81 that facilitate this."

The Nokia N81 and Nokia N81 8GB also offer access to songs through the Nokia Music Store. And with their integrated Nokia Music Players, creating playlists and managing music collections on the move is simple. For enhanced sound quality, compatible high-quality headphones or speakers can be used with the standard 3.5mm headphone connector.

A preview of the N-Gage games service is also available in the devices, including playable demos of EA Sports FIFA 07, Asphalt 3: Street Rules, and Space Impact Light. After the launch of the N-Gage later this year, the full N-Gage application will be available for download. Players can then sample all N-Gage games for free and buy the ones they want.

The estimated retail price of the Nokia N81 is 360 Euro before subsidies or taxes. The 8GB version is expected to retail for 430 Euro before subsidies or taxes.

Pantech Develops Phone for Hearing Impaired

Pantech, the Korean mobile phone manufacturer has developed a mobile phone that will be effective even for people who have hearing problems. The Pantech A1407PT is a clamshell phone which uses bone conducting technology to transmit sound waves to the users inner ear. As strange as that may sound, it will also come in handy when using the phone in noisy environments.

Other than this highlighted feature the A1407PT is equipped with a 1.3 megapixel camera, a 2.4 inch QVGA internal display and a 96 x 64 pixel resolution external display. The A1407PT also has support for microSD cards but has only 20MB of internal memory.

The phone will be available in Japan in November. Price details have not yet been disclosed.

Windows Mobile 6.1 Rumored for Feb 2009

Is a Windows Mobile version 6.1 likely to be out sometime in February of 2009? According to the grapevine a few stories were up here and there but nothing concrete was confirmed. So don’t get your garters in a twist yet – as of now it’s still a rumor.

While any details of the UI at this stage are just speculation, I’m sure we can expect a few surprises that should turn our heads. Till then, stay tuned.

Meizu Develops iPhone Lookalike UI for M8

Meizu’s MiniOne M8, dubbed the iPhone clone, looks uncannily like the iPhone in almost every aspect when it comes to design. The company seems to have taken it to the next level though, by actually developing a UI that mimics Apple's!

It may not be absolutely identical, but there are plenty of similarities that would make you wonder. If the price is right and the iPhone is out of your reach, this could be the next best thing – if you don’t mind running the risk of being considered a wannabe.

Meizu has changed the design slightly to incorporate a new aluminum alloy finish in gray and black.

Audi's Bond-style Mobile Concept

You’ve probably seen and drooled over James Bond’s Ericsson all-in-one mobile phone – the gadget that allows him to control his all-in-one Beemer via remote control in "Tomorrow Never Dies".

Car manufacturer Audi has now come up with something that could interest the likes of James Bond. The concept has been called the "Audi Mobile Device" (as of now) and it does apparently allow you take full control of the car.

The phone seems simplicity personified, with just three buttons for making and taking calls, and a menu key in the center. It has a touch-sensitive display, Wi-Fi capability and 3G support, and fits in a special niche just ahead of the gear stick.

The purpose – or should I say, function – of the phone is to allow the user to enter the car without using a key. Quite useful if you've left your key at home but are carrying your cell phone. It will also be able to control navigation, the car's AV functions and temperature.

The phone is wirelessly hooked up to the car at all times so you’ll know if someone tries to break in. If the intruder does make off with your car, a tracking function will be activated and an onboard camera will take a picture of your car thief and send it to your phone.



There’s no information on the cost of this car-and-phone combo yet, but the first car that will carry this technology is the Audi A1. So, while it isn’t an exact replica of Bond’s remote-control mobile phone for his car, it’s certainly a start in that direction.

Turok Dated

If hunting bigass dinosaurs with some bigass weapons works for ya, Turok is the game you should be looking out for. The game was to release this year but developer Propaganda Games delayed it to the first quarter of 2008 (a wise decision, nevertheless).Turok will now be releasing for both the Xbox 360 and the PS3 on the February 5 next year. A PC port by developer Aspyr Studios (Stubbs the Zombie) is expected to follow suit.

BlackSite: Area 51 Goes Gold

BlackSite: Area 51, the spiritual successor to Midway’s not-so-loved FPS, Area 51 has gone gold and should be hitting the stores by November 12 for the PC and the Xbox360. (Expect the PS3 version sometime in December).

BlackSite: Area 51 is an action packed, first person shooter experience which pits gamers against alien enemy forces using the infamous US government landmark, Area 51, and the surrounding areas as the battlefield backdrop. Set in present day, players take the role of a decorated military veteran charged by the government to lead a squadron of 'secret soldiers', each with his/her own specialty skill set, into the Rachel, Nevada area to fight off the invasion of unidentified enemy races.

The player's modern-day emotions and fears are driven into a world charged with grave responsibility affecting lives hanging in the balance and eventually finding himself torn between his professional orders and his own ethical standards. In the end, only the actions of the player and his squad can shape the outcome of BlackSite: Area 51 during this potentially pivotal moment in history.

NFS: ProStreet Demo Out Now

The latest Need for Speed game is now yours for sampling in the form of a single player demo that can be nabbed from our Downloads section. This demo will allow players to try out two of the game’s new modes – Grip and Speed Challenge.

Need for Speed ProStreet releases on November 13 for nearly every platform out there.

NOTE: Do not install the Need for Speed ProStreet demo in the same Windows directory as the retail Need for Speed ProStreet game. Use separate directories for each version.

Hackers Unlock Violence in Manhunt 2

Hackers have unlocked violent content that was censored by the publisher of the game "Manhunt 2" to give it a marketable rating, the company confirmed Thursday.

The game, initially given an "Adults Only" rating by the Entertainment Software Rating Board, went on sale in the U.S. on Wednesday with a "Mature" rating, after being modified. Most stores refuse to carry "Adults Only" games; Mature means a game is intended for player 17 or older.

Game publisher Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. and the studio that designed the game, Rockstar Games, have long been at the center of the debate over video game violence and children.

Two years ago, a hacker uncovered a hidden sex scene in their game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."

In "Manhunt 2," the player takes the role of a man who escapes from an insane asylum and goes on a killing spree.

Take-Two edited parts of the game, including blurring some of the most gruesome killing scenes, to get the less restrictive rating.

Hackers defeated that blurring on the version of the game for Sony Corp.'s PlayStation Portable. The game is also available for the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii systems, and those versions do not appear to have been hacked.

The hack does not roll back all the changes that enabled the game to qualify for the "Mature" rating, and it requires some technical expertise and a PSP unit that is itself hacked to accept modified software.

But Common Sense Media, a San Francisco nonprofit that advises parents about entertainment that may be inappropriate for children, Thursday asked the Federal Trade Commission to look into the ratings process, now funded and governed by an industry association. The process lacks basic transparency, Common Sense Media CEO James Steyer said in a statement.

"We believe that families and all consumers should have an assurance from game publishers and the game ratings board that the content being advertised is the same as the content being sold," Steyer said.

In the Grand Theft Auto incident, the ratings board changed the game's rating from "Mature" to "Adults Only" and retailers pulled it off shelves.

Since then, the board has required that publishers submit even hidden content for review, and Take-Two spokesman Ed Nebb said the publisher had followed that requirement for "Manhunt 2."

It is unclear whether the private, nonprofit ratings board considered the hidden material in assigning the "M" rating to "Manhunt 2."

Board spokesman Eliot Mizrachi said only that it is aware of the hacking issue and is looking into it.

Both the revised and original versions of "Manhunt 2" were banned by the American ratings board's British counterpart.

"I stand behind the game and the ESRB ratings process," Take-Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick said in a statement. "It is unfortunately the case that no one in the entertainment software industry is immune from hacking. We hope that consumers will not engage in hacking or download illegally modified copies of our games."

Perseus Mandate in India by November End

Expanding on the creepy universe created by Monolith in F.E.A.R., Perseus Mandate is a stand alone expansion (which means you do not require F.E.A.R. to play this game) developed by TimeGate Studios that’ll allow players to experience more of the horror and action that made its predecessor such a blast to play.

As a member of a secondary F.E.A.R. team, you are brought in to discover more information regarding the secret project at the Armacham facilities. Expect the intensity of battle to continue in the second expansion pack to the critically acclaimed first-person shooter, F.E.A.R.

Perseus Mandate will hit stores in India by the 21st of November exclusively for the PC for Rs. 999.

TimeShift in India in 2 Weeks

Developer Sabre Interactive’s time bending first person shooter will be arriving in India by the 15th of November for the PC and the Xbox 360 while the PS3 version will hit stores by the 5th of December

The price of the Xbox 360 version has yet to be confirmed but the PC version will set you back by Rs. 1299 while the PS3 version will cost Rs. 2499. For a small sample of the game

Metal Gear Solid 4 Delayed

As if it wasn’t bad enough that the PS3’s holiday lineup was pretty mediocre, Sony’s next-gen console’s one saving grace, MGS4, has now been pushed back to 2008. The reason for this delay? More time to polish the game, obviously.

"Konami has decided to delay the title's release in order to make further improvements to the quality of the game and provide even greater enjoyment for more customers worldwide," said the company in a release update.

Via Actiontrip.

Unreal Tournament 3 Goes Gold

Fans of Unreal Tournament will be glad to know that the series' latest iteration – UT3 – has gone gold and will hit the stores exclusively for the PC by November 19.

Unreal Tournament 3 unleashes the full power of Unreal Engine 3, taking graphics, gameplay, and challenge to a whole new level. Players engage in intense battles with other human players online, or against Unreal artificial intelligence that sets the industry standard. With the most powerful futuristic weapons and vehicles available, this is FPS action at its best!

For more, head over to our hands-on preview right here.

Enable Crysis' DX 10 Effects in Win XP

It’s a known fact that Crysis requires Windows Vista to enable its gorgeous DX 10 effects, but one ingenious member at the Crysis forums has come up with a way that lets players enable DX 10 effects in XP itself. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

If you tweak the configuration files in CVarGroups by copying and pasting the "very high" settings (1st paragraph) IN PLACE of the "high" settings (last paragraph) the game will load the highest possible settings even though the drop-down menus display "high."

If you didn’t quite get the drift, head over to that post right here for more information.

Via actiontrip.

Crysis Strikes Gold

Crytek’s much awaited tropical first person shooter that’s guaranteed to make your PC spaz out has finally gone gold and should be available by November 16.

"We are extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish with Crysis," said Cevat Yerli, CEO of Crytek. "We wanted to push the boundaries both visually and with open-ended, non-linear gameplay, and we believe the end result delivers that vision."

For a small preview of the action, head over to our Downloads section and try out the single player demo.

Crysis Single Player Demo Out Now

PC Gamers rejoice. The moment you’ve all been waiting for is finally here and it’s time to see if all that money spent on hardware can run the game you upgraded for in the first place.

I’m talking about Crysis, and yes, EA released the single player demo of this game a day earlier than expected. It packs in an entire level as well as the Sandox 2 editor for you to mess around with.

SvR 2008 in India this November

Everyone’s favorite wrestling game that’s probably in its thousandth iteration is all set to hit Indian stores by November 13. While details on the Xbox 360 version aren’t available, we did get the dope on the other versions, and they go something like this:PS2 – Rs 1,499
PSP – Rs 1,499
Nintendo DS – Rs 1,499
PS3 – Rs 2,499
Nintendo Wii – Rs 1,999
If you’re interested in preordering the game, shoot E-xpress Interactive a mail at info@expressgames.in.

Assassins Creed in India This December

As the title says, Assassins Creed will be releasing in India in December for all three platforms (Xbox360, PS3 and PC) and while I haven’t got prices regarding the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, I can tell you that the PC version will be selling for Rs. 1299.

To pre-order your copy of the game (for either platform), hit E-xpress Interactive with a mail at info@expressgames.in

New Ninja Gaiden 2 Details Trickle Through

Ninja Gaiden 2 is a tricky little proposition. On one hand, I’m pretty scared of how tough this game would actually be while on the other hand, all the copious amounts of gore and dismemberment have really perked my interest in the sequel.

Either way, if you feel you’re masochistic enough to handle the sequel, here’s a small trickle of information courtesy of computervideogames.com that could make your day:

According to reports, the face-chopping sequel will have you murdering rival ninjas in real-world environments, including settings in Tokyo, Venice and Times Square in New York, although we wouldn't count on there being passer-by grannies to punch.

The fighting system has been enhanced with improved enemy AI and new moves. Enemies can perform co-operative attacks, while Ryu will get a new Obliteration technique - a series of fatal blows delivered if you hit Y immediately after removing an enemy limb.

Ninja Gaiden 2 releases exclusively for the Xbox 360 in 2008.

Microsoft Announces Xbox Live in India

After many hardships, disappointments and delays, Microsoft India is all set to dole out the Xbox Live officially on the fifth of November, in time for Diwali.

Indian users can now log into Xbox LIVE not just to game but also to get their daily dose of entertainment with exclusive Indian content! Trailers of Hanuman Returns and content from the UTV stable of films will be on Xbox LIVE. Also available will be content related to Love Story 2050 starring Priyanka Chopra and Harman Baweja – one of the most awaited movies of the year!

Microsoft has also tied up with Seventymm – a leading name in the movie rentals category for the unique rent-a-game service; ;a first-of-its-kind initiative which will enable gamers to rent "on demand" the latest Xbox 360 games for a fixed number of days.

The Xbox LIVE service will be available to users to log on and sample for free with the Silver subscription level and a paid Gold membership to offer the best in gaming and entertainment to consumers who want a heightened entertainment experience. On the occasion of the launch of Xbox LIVE, Microsoft also announces a number of new trendy accessories to complete the entertainment experience – Xbox Live Vision camera, Xbox 360 Wireless and Wired Headset, Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter, and Xbox 360 Text input device to name a few!

While all this sounds pretty cool, we’re still in the dark as far as prices are concerned. But we’re hoping to get that sorted out soon, so stay tuned for more information.

UPDATE: We finally get some clarity on the pricing courtesy of Indian Gaming Blog, theangrypixel since our Press Release hasn't reached us yet:
Xbox LIVE 1 Month Pack - INR 350
Xbox LIVE 3 Month Pack - INR 880
Xbox LIVE 12+1 Month Pack - INR 2200
Xbox LIVE 12+1 Month Halo 3 Pack - INR 2200
Xbox LIVE 1600 Points - INR 1070
Xbox LIVE 1600 Points Halo 3 Pack - INR 1070
Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter - INR 4210
Xbox 360 Wired Headset - INR 1020
Xbox 360 Wireless Headset - INR 2620
Xbox LIVE Vision Camera - INR 2040
Xbox 360 512 MB Memory Unit - INR 2830
Xbox 360 Text Input Device - INR 1600

FIFA Street 3 Announced

Like the title says, EA’s back with yet another FIFA Street game, the details of which go something like this:

Featuring over 250 of the world’s best players representing 18 of the top international teams, each player has been rendered into a stylized caricature with heroic qualities. Decked out in authentic training kits, every player boasts their own, distinctive style of play with unique abilities to match. Whether you’re after brawn, brains, silky skills or crunching tackles to complete your team, the perfect street player is out there. Choose from Tricksters, Enforcers, Playmakers and Finishers to give you different options on the ball and make your mark on the street.

Using the same engine as the critically acclaimed NBA STREET Homecourt basketball arcade game, combined with the market-leading AI from FIFA 08, FIFA Street 3 delivers animations and ball control that enables you to take complete control of your players with a responsive and intuitive control system that makes it easier than ever to pull off sensational moves. Use the simple button configuration and analog stick to seamlessly combine moves – providing you with hundreds of different ways to show off your street skills. Fill up your all-new Game Breaker to power your ultimate abilities and express yourself like never before. Maneuver your players to leap past defenders, flip off walls, or perform gravity-defying one-timers to score spectacular goals.

FIFA Street 3 releases for the Xbox 360 as well as the PS3 in Spring 2008.

Army of Two Delayed

You can take this in a positive way (fewer games = lower expenditure) or in a negative way, but either way, EA’s much-hyped Army of Two has been pushed back to early 2008.

"Game quality is our top priority. Army of Two has potential to become a lasting EA franchise – so getting the first title right is essential," said President of the EA Games Label. "The team at EA Montreal thinks that more time for polish will make the game truly great. We're going to trust the team and give Army of Two a few more months in the studio. Army of Two will ship in first quarter of calendar 08."

Via 1up

Microsoft Slashes Xbox 360 Price in Japan

Microsoft is slashing Xbox 360 prices in Japan by about 13 percent as the price war among video game consoles heats up around the world ahead of the key year-end shopping season.

The Xbox 360 console will sell in Japan for 34,800 yen ($304) beginning Nov. 1, down from 39,795 yen ($348), the U.S. software maker's Japan unit said Monday in a statement.

A more basic version of the machine now selling for 29,800 yen ($261) will go for 27,800 yen ($243), according to Microsoft Corp.

Last week, Sony Corp. cut the price of its PlayStation 3 game console in the U.S. It had already announced similar price cuts in Europe and Japan.

The top-line PlayStation model, with an 80 gigabyte hard drive, now costs $499 in the U.S., down from $599. That effectively eliminates the lower-end model, which has a 60-gigabyte drive and sold for $499. A new low-end model with a 40-gigabyte drive will go on sale Nov. 2 for $399.

The big winner in game consoles recently has been Nintendo Co. with its Wii machine, which has a wandlike remote.

Nintendo, the Kyoto-based manufacturer of Pokemon and Super Mario games, has not announced any price cuts for the Wii, which is already cheaper than Xbox 36o or PS3.

The Wii now sells for $250 in the U.S. and 25,000 yen ($219) in Japan. The Xbox 360 costs $350 in the U.S.

Nintendo has chosen a different strategy from Sony and Microsoft, with their more expensive machines, and has been trying to woo novices with brain teasers, sport games and virtual pets, instead of the usual shooter and role-playing games.

Since Wii went on sale late last year, Nintendo has shipped 9.3 million units around the world, with supplies barely keeping up with demand. By the end of this fiscal year in March 2008, Wii global shipments are expected to reach 22.3 million.

So far, Sony has sold 5 million PlayStation 3s. The game console went on sale late last year in Japan and the U.S. and in March in Europe.

Microsoft has sold 11.6 million Xbox 360 machines in the last two years

Sony Now Encourages Third-Party PS3 Games!

How the mighty have fallen. The once-arrogant Sony is now apparently begging third-party developers not to ditch their console in favor of other more lucrative ones.

Here’s the dope from The Mercury News Blog:

One piece of news that came out this week was that Sony pleaded with third-party developers not to abandon its struggling platform. That change in attitude is a marked difference compared to the arrogance of past years. The argument is that the PS 3 will show its strength as developers learn how to make games for it. But developers know they can staff four or five Wii teams with the same number of people it takes to make one PS 3 game. We may have a glut of Wii games soon, but that’s not as bad as not having enough games on the PS3.

Even if this information is to be taken with a pinch of salt, there’s no denying the fact that PS3's line-up this holiday season isn't all that hot.

Gears of War Goes Gold

The PC version of Gears of War has gone gold and should hit the stores globally on November 9. Now even if you’ve played through this game on the Xbox 360, you may want to check out the PC version since it brings a couple of new things to the table – such as a new boss fight (Brumak), newer levels, newer achievements, a new MP mode, and complete access to the game’s level editor.

Windows gamers can look forward to the Gears of War experience for the very first time, and will get to choose between doing battle via mouse and keyboard, or using the Windows-enabled Xbox 360 controller.

There's no word from Microsoft regarding the Indian release date, but we'll keep you updated as and when that happens.

Spider-Man: FoF to Hit Indian Stores

Not that this makes much of a difference to my life, but Spider-Man: Friend or Foe, the web crawler’s latest game, will be available in Indian stores next week.

It’s time to experience the ultimate fighting team as Spider-Man unites with popular super-heroes and powerful super-villains from the movie trilogy and beyond in Spider-Man: Friend or Foe. Throughout the game’s original story and thrilling battles, players are challenged to defeat and then join forces with notorious movie foes including Doc Ock, Green Goblin, Venom and Sandman, as well as others from the classic Spider-Man family of characters, and embark on a global quest to overcome an evil threat.

Inspired by both the Spider-Man film trilogy and the classic Spider-Man comics, Spider-Man: Friend for Foe is a unique take on the most successful Super Hero franchise of all time. For the first time ever in a Spider-Man game, Spider-Man: Friend or Foe features a unique co-op mode in which a friend can join the game at any time and take control of Spider-Man’s sidekick as they battle side-by-side and replay favorite levels.

Spider-Man: Friend or Foe will be available for the PC (Rs 699), Xbox 360 (Rs 1999), and PS2 (Rs 1799).

Wal-Mart Sells $199 Linux Computer

Linux, the free operating system that's a perpetual underdog in the desktop market, will get another chance this holiday season at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

The chain was taking orders online Wednesday for a computer called the 'Green gPC' that is made by Everex of Taiwan, costs $199, and runs Linux. It will be available in about 600 stores, as well as online.

A comparable Everex PC that comes with Windows Vista Home Basic and more memory costs $99 more, or $298, partly because the manufacturer has to pay Microsoft Corp. for a software license. Both computers come with keyboard, mouse, and speakers, but no monitor.

Open-source Linux is in widespread use in server computers, particularly servers that host Web sites, but it hasn't yet made much of a dent in the desktop market.

Wal-Mart started selling Linux computers at its online store in 2002, at prices as low as $199. Computers from several manufacturers were available for several years, but no longer.

The variant of Linux on the gPC is called gOS and is derived from the popular Ubuntu variant. It's heavily oriented toward Google's Web sites and online applications, such as YouTube, Gmail and the company's word processing program, all of which can be used only when the computer is connected to a broadband line.

Even though the gPC comes with a dialup modem, gOS doesn't support it. So most users are likely to get online through other means.

Google's push into desktop applications is relatively new, and gOS, the Los Angeles-based startup behind the software, sees it as crucial in overcoming consumers' reluctance to leave the familiar Windows environment.

"We feel the timing is right for open source because of that," said gOS founder David Liu. The company has fewer than 10 people on it staff but gets help from volunteers in the Linux community.

Whether value-minded shoppers who would be enticed by a $199 PC will also be interested in making the jump to Linux remains to be seen. The operating system isn't known for ease of use and mainly attracts the tech-savvy.

The gPC has a low-end processor from VIA Technologies, 512 MB of internal memory, an 80GB hard drive, and a combination DVD drive and CD burner.

Everex says the processor is very energy efficient, meriting the 'Green' part of the name.

Western Digital Thinks Pink

With the introduction of its new pink-colored Passport Portable Drives, Western Digital today announced that the company is a proud sponsor of the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).

The new pink WD Passport Portable Drive has a capacity of 250 GB and costs costs $199.99. To aid in the fight against breast cancer, Western Digital is making a donation to the NBCF.

"WD recognizes the responsibility to respond to the needs of the communities in which we operate," said John Coyne, CEO and president of Western Digital. "By partnering with the NBCF, WD has the opportunity to the contribute to the needs of our community through the sales of our pink WD Passport drives."

WD Passport Portable Drives are popular for their plug-and-play capability and ultra-portable design. At less than five ounces, this drive fits easily in a pocket or backpack and is the perfect solution to back up data such as digital pictures, HD video and music.

WD Sync software allows users to take desktop content with them by simplifying the synchronization of personal files, including Microsoft Outlook data on a PC. The data is protected with 128-bit encryption.

Users can quickly locate files with Google Desktop Search, manage photos with Picasa photo organizer, and simplify Web searches with the Google Toolbar.

The drives are available at WD's online store and expected next month at Best Buy stores. A product specification sheet and photos are available on the company's website.