Once upon a time, tech pundits predicted Sony's PlayStation Portable would be an "iPod killer" because of all its flashy features. But the PSP has suffered from a slightly unfortunate image among gamers and gadget lovers: It's the device that can do pretty much anything, from surfing the Web to playing games, but that actually seems to spend most of its time gathering dust.
As the PSP hits the third anniversary of its U.S. launch this month, Sony is cranking up the fight again. Updates to the operating software have introduced Internet radio stations, for example, and Sony recently made voice-over-Internet service Skype available on the device, meaning that users can make cheap or even free phone calls to anywhere in the world.
Later this year Sony is rolling out a GPS service for the gadget, with which users will be able to navigate the real-world streets with 3-D versions of major U.S. cities, including Washington. A video download store for the PSP is on the way.
But the biggest selling point may be coming this week, with a new game called God of War: Chains of Olympus. It's the latest installment of one of Sony's most popular franchises, and the only version to premiere exclusively on the mobile device. The move represents a serious push for the gadget, which is about the size and shape of a car's rearview mirror.
While not a household name like Halo or Grand Theft Auto, God of War is a big business for Sony. When a sequel was released last spring on the PlayStation 2, it was the No. 1 seller for the month; the next game on the list sold only half as many units. The game's popularity helped Sony's console outsell even the mighty Wii -- if only for a month or so.
Full disclosure: My own PSP sits around ignored most of the time, but an early copy of the blood-soaked game has me pretty psyched about the device again.
The games' star is an angry, muscular Spartan warrior dude named Kratos, who hacks and slashes his way through hundreds of mythical monsters on a mission to avenge something or other. Imagine a set from "Raiders of the Lost Ark," dressed in "Clash of the Titans" wardrobe, and dosed with gore. (Parents, this is not a game for young kids.)
For the non-gamer -- and, okay, maybe even for us gamers -- God of War might look like pretty cheesy stuff, but somehow it works, and the new version is as addictive as its predecessors. I've squandered eight or nine hours of commuting time on the game so far, in any case.
The $40 title will be released in stores Tuesday, but the early write-ups are already in: Chains of Olympus has earned the biggest rave reviews of any title released on the device, according to review aggregate site Metacritic.com.
Now, on the game news sites, a new line is displacing the cliche about the PSP's rep as a dust gatherer: Some say, they're buying Sony's gadget just to check out God of War.
In recent years, tech pundits have sometimes wondered whether Sony would give up on the PSP as a result of what seemed to be ever-lowering expectations for it. Sony had pushed a movie format for use on the device, called Universal Mini Disc, but that sold poorly enough that many major movie studios eventually abandoned it. Sony, naturally, is still supporting the format, a silver disc that's half the size of a DVD.
But Chains of Olympus is showing up at the beginning of a year when the PSP's fortunes have already seemed to be improving, if modestly. Sales were up 10 percent in January over the same period a year ago, according to market research firm NPD Group. Sony recently increased its 2008 worldwide sales projections for the device to 13 million from an earlier estimate of 10 million. The PSP cost $250 when it first launched; a slimmer, updated version runs $170.
Form and Continue : http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Dusting Off the PlayStation Portable
Once upon a time, tech pundits predicted Sony's PlayStation Portable would be an "iPod killer" because of all its flashy features. But the PSP has suffered from a slightly unfortunate image among gamers and gadget lovers: It's the device that can do pretty much anything, from surfing the Web to playing games, but that actually seems to spend most of its time gathering dust.
As the PSP hits the third anniversary of its U.S. launch this month, Sony is cranking up the fight again. Updates to the operating software have introduced Internet radio stations, for example, and Sony recently made voice-over-Internet service Skype available on the device, meaning that users can make cheap or even free phone calls to anywhere in the world.
Later this year Sony is rolling out a GPS service for the gadget, with which users will be able to navigate the real-world streets with 3-D versions of major U.S. cities, including Washington. A video download store for the PSP is on the way.
But the biggest selling point may be coming this week, with a new game called God of War: Chains of Olympus. It's the latest installment of one of Sony's most popular franchises, and the only version to premiere exclusively on the mobile device. The move represents a serious push for the gadget, which is about the size and shape of a car's rearview mirror.
While not a household name like Halo or Grand Theft Auto, God of War is a big business for Sony. When a sequel was released last spring on the PlayStation 2, it was the No. 1 seller for the month; the next game on the list sold only half as many units. The game's popularity helped Sony's console outsell even the mighty Wii -- if only for a month or so.
Full disclosure: My own PSP sits around ignored most of the time, but an early copy of the blood-soaked game has me pretty psyched about the device again.
The games' star is an angry, muscular Spartan warrior dude named Kratos, who hacks and slashes his way through hundreds of mythical monsters on a mission to avenge something or other. Imagine a set from "Raiders of the Lost Ark," dressed in "Clash of the Titans" wardrobe, and dosed with gore. (Parents, this is not a game for young kids.)
For the non-gamer -- and, okay, maybe even for us gamers -- God of War might look like pretty cheesy stuff, but somehow it works, and the new version is as addictive as its predecessors. I've squandered eight or nine hours of commuting time on the game so far, in any case.
The $40 title will be released in stores Tuesday, but the early write-ups are already in: Chains of Olympus has earned the biggest rave reviews of any title released on the device, according to review aggregate site Metacritic.com.
Now, on the game news sites, a new line is displacing the cliche about the PSP's rep as a dust gatherer: Some say, they're buying Sony's gadget just to check out God of War.
In recent years, tech pundits have sometimes wondered whether Sony would give up on the PSP as a result of what seemed to be ever-lowering expectations for it. Sony had pushed a movie format for use on the device, called Universal Mini Disc, but that sold poorly enough that many major movie studios eventually abandoned it. Sony, naturally, is still supporting the format, a silver disc that's half the size of a DVD.
But Chains of Olympus is showing up at the beginning of a year when the PSP's fortunes have already seemed to be improving, if modestly. Sales were up 10 percent in January over the same period a year ago, according to market research firm NPD Group. Sony recently increased its 2008 worldwide sales projections for the device to 13 million from an earlier estimate of 10 million. The PSP cost $250 when it first launched; a slimmer, updated version runs $170.
Form and Continue : http://www.washingtonpost.com/
As the PSP hits the third anniversary of its U.S. launch this month, Sony is cranking up the fight again. Updates to the operating software have introduced Internet radio stations, for example, and Sony recently made voice-over-Internet service Skype available on the device, meaning that users can make cheap or even free phone calls to anywhere in the world.
Later this year Sony is rolling out a GPS service for the gadget, with which users will be able to navigate the real-world streets with 3-D versions of major U.S. cities, including Washington. A video download store for the PSP is on the way.
But the biggest selling point may be coming this week, with a new game called God of War: Chains of Olympus. It's the latest installment of one of Sony's most popular franchises, and the only version to premiere exclusively on the mobile device. The move represents a serious push for the gadget, which is about the size and shape of a car's rearview mirror.
While not a household name like Halo or Grand Theft Auto, God of War is a big business for Sony. When a sequel was released last spring on the PlayStation 2, it was the No. 1 seller for the month; the next game on the list sold only half as many units. The game's popularity helped Sony's console outsell even the mighty Wii -- if only for a month or so.
Full disclosure: My own PSP sits around ignored most of the time, but an early copy of the blood-soaked game has me pretty psyched about the device again.
The games' star is an angry, muscular Spartan warrior dude named Kratos, who hacks and slashes his way through hundreds of mythical monsters on a mission to avenge something or other. Imagine a set from "Raiders of the Lost Ark," dressed in "Clash of the Titans" wardrobe, and dosed with gore. (Parents, this is not a game for young kids.)
For the non-gamer -- and, okay, maybe even for us gamers -- God of War might look like pretty cheesy stuff, but somehow it works, and the new version is as addictive as its predecessors. I've squandered eight or nine hours of commuting time on the game so far, in any case.
The $40 title will be released in stores Tuesday, but the early write-ups are already in: Chains of Olympus has earned the biggest rave reviews of any title released on the device, according to review aggregate site Metacritic.com.
Now, on the game news sites, a new line is displacing the cliche about the PSP's rep as a dust gatherer: Some say, they're buying Sony's gadget just to check out God of War.
In recent years, tech pundits have sometimes wondered whether Sony would give up on the PSP as a result of what seemed to be ever-lowering expectations for it. Sony had pushed a movie format for use on the device, called Universal Mini Disc, but that sold poorly enough that many major movie studios eventually abandoned it. Sony, naturally, is still supporting the format, a silver disc that's half the size of a DVD.
But Chains of Olympus is showing up at the beginning of a year when the PSP's fortunes have already seemed to be improving, if modestly. Sales were up 10 percent in January over the same period a year ago, according to market research firm NPD Group. Sony recently increased its 2008 worldwide sales projections for the device to 13 million from an earlier estimate of 10 million. The PSP cost $250 when it first launched; a slimmer, updated version runs $170.
Form and Continue : http://www.washingtonpost.com/
Special Article : Review Sony Ericsson W910i
Having looked last week at Sony Ericsson's W960i and come away feeling somewhat nonplussed, I thought I ought to give that phone's near sibling, the W910i, a turn in the limelight.
The bottom line differences between the two mobiles are easily summarised. The quad-band W910i is an HSDPA handset which is nice for those that want the faster data download this offers - obviously fast music download springs to mind. But its camera is a fairly mediocre 2-megapixel affair. It is a smallish slider, and it doesn't go a bundle on built-in memory, with only 35MB on board.
The W960i, you will recall, offers 8GB of built-in memory and a 3.2-megapixel camera, giving it one up on the W910i. In addition it is a fully-fledged smartphone. But its operating system setup left me feeling rather frustrated as it seemed to want to stop me getting at what the phone had to offer.
Will the W910i, with lesser specs in some important respects, actually prove to be a better mobile?
My review sample came from Vodafone and they chose to send me the ‘Havana gold' version. I can't say I liked the colour. Fancy it up in smart sounding language all you want, Sony Ericsson, but this is a dark brown mobile with light brown trim around the edges, and I don't like brown. I suspect I would have preferred the Black and silver version Vodafone is also selling.
The W910i is a slider, and the slider action is smooth and satisfying. It isn't too chunky for the hand or pocket being 99mm tall when closed, 50mm wide and 12mm thick. With the slider opened it grows to an acceptable 130mm. Weight-wise it is a dream at just 86g.
Continue ...
Intel @ Kozhikode, log in digital literacy
KOZHIKODE: One among the chosen districts for implementation of Intel Learn Programme (ILP), Kozhikode now has much to expect from this Kerala State IT Mission’s initiative.
Extending learning opportunities beyond classrooms and engaging the students in a project-centred approach with the help of Intel, a leading company in computer and technology, the programme had its successful experimentation as a pilot project in Malappuram in 2004.
The programme will be officially launched state-wide by Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan at a function to be held in Malappuram on Sunday.
Kozhikode was among the seven districts selected for the expansion of the project, intended for school children aged between eight and 16 years.
Ahead of the official launch, a batch of 65 students from Kozhikode district have successfully completed the course, that too on experimental basis.
Now the project will be implemented across the district through 33 Akshaya centres which would be expanded to 50 centres later this year. “The programme is designed for children with limited access to technology,” said K.A. Jacob, state coordinator, ILP.
Intel had designed this plan as part of their World Ahead Programme which has already been implemented successfully in nine countries, he added.
“The objective of ILP is to provide digital literacy to children, make them work as a team and to create an awareness about the society and the problems they may face.”
ILP is a 60-hour curriculum built around two modules such as Technology and Community (TAC) and Technology at Work (TAW).
Form : http://www.newindpress.com/
Extending learning opportunities beyond classrooms and engaging the students in a project-centred approach with the help of Intel, a leading company in computer and technology, the programme had its successful experimentation as a pilot project in Malappuram in 2004.
The programme will be officially launched state-wide by Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan at a function to be held in Malappuram on Sunday.
Kozhikode was among the seven districts selected for the expansion of the project, intended for school children aged between eight and 16 years.
Ahead of the official launch, a batch of 65 students from Kozhikode district have successfully completed the course, that too on experimental basis.
Now the project will be implemented across the district through 33 Akshaya centres which would be expanded to 50 centres later this year. “The programme is designed for children with limited access to technology,” said K.A. Jacob, state coordinator, ILP.
Intel had designed this plan as part of their World Ahead Programme which has already been implemented successfully in nine countries, he added.
“The objective of ILP is to provide digital literacy to children, make them work as a team and to create an awareness about the society and the problems they may face.”
ILP is a 60-hour curriculum built around two modules such as Technology and Community (TAC) and Technology at Work (TAW).
Form : http://www.newindpress.com/
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