As a prelude to today’s momentous gathering of the geek kings (that’s Jobs and Gates delivering a joint keynote at the D5 conference in San Diego today) Microsoft announced a new product called Surface.

It’s a table-top computer — and by table top we do of course mean the computer IS the table, not that this is a computer ON a table — with a fancy touch screen interface and no wires. It can sync wirelessly with mobile phones, digital cameras and MP3 players via Bluetooth just by placing the device on the table and runs a version of Windows Vista modified specifically for the job. It looks like one of those devices you’ve seen in movies and wondered if they’ll ever exist in the real world, well, as of the end of this year they will. After a fashion.

To start with customers will likely be limited to corporate entities in the hospitality and retail market space; some early adopters in the US include hotel and casino chains and even mobile phone operators looking for interactive self-help kiosks for customers.

At US$5000-$10,000 these things aren’t cheap, but then first generation products hot off the manufacturing line rarely are. As manufacturing ramps up and prices fall, newer, more streamlined versions may well enter the consumer space, which is exactly how Microsoft are pitching the time line of this product and given the company’s willingness to sell a product at a loss to enter a market segment (Xbox anyone?) who’d doubt them? Well, plenty probably, this is Microsoft we’re talking about after all, but if they can pull it off through useful features that consumers want and price points to match, the table-top computer may just be something our kids wonder how we ever managed without. Maybe.

UPDATE

Having trouble coming to grips with written descriptions of Microsoft Surface? Check out this fantastic video demonstration over on CNET.

Posted by Scott Bartley at 4:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One of the best things about Sony’s handheld PSP gaming console is that it is a regular recipient of bug-fixing, feature-enhancing firmware upgrades. By releasing patches periodically Sony has been able to fix glitches as they’re discovered and add new functionality such as increased video format support, web browsers and so on. Happily the PS3 is getting much the same treatment and already we find ourselves being updated to version 1.8.

Big news in this installment is the addition of 1080p video upscaling for PS1 and PS2 games and DVD movies. Whilst being able to play old games and watch "old" movies at 1080p resolution provides a marked improvement in video quality over the originals, don’t be expecting miracles because the technical wizardry behind video upscaling can only do so much using the standard definition source material.

Still, I did a few tests of the DVD upscaling to see how my standard definition movies looked on the PS3 after the update and came away most impressed. Anti-aliasing problems, or "jaggies" as they’re more commonly known, were virtually non-existent and overall image detail was a step up from before. In fact DVD playback is now so good I could quite happily recommend the PS3 to home theatre buffs looking for an all-in-one replacement for their old, high-end DVD player (with the added bonus of high def Bluray playback and gaming on top).

As a DVD player the PS3 trounces its arch rival the Xbox 360 which, despite numerous firmware updates of its own, still manages to be an abysmal DVD player at best. I don’t have a PS2 or any PS2 games to see what difference it makes for old games but a quick scout around the internet reveals they certainly don’t look any worse.

So overall, video upscaling can only be a good thing for PS3 owners and since the PS3 is now a great performing DVD player in its own right the higher price of the machine can be somewhat more easily justified when comparing the PS3 to the Xbox 360 as a home entertainment device.

There’s more bad news for Xbox 360 in this 1.8 update however, the PS3 can now stream audio, video and photos from any DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) equipped computer. Any computer can become a DLNA server simply by installing software such as Twonkyvision or TVersity. Also, any computer with Windows Media Player 10 or 11 installed (which is just about all of them) can stream media to the PS3.

I installed the 30-day trial of Twonkyvision on my Vista PC and had it up and running within minutes. The usual video format caveats apply to the PS3 just as they do the Xbox 360 but so far it supports H.264/MPEG4-AVC/SP, MPEG2 and MPEG1. Apparently TVersity can re-encode your existing unsupported video files on the fly to a format the PS3 can play but I haven’t tested this on the PS3 yet.

The video upscaling and media streaming alone make the 1.8 update a must have but the fun doesn't stop there and one of the most intriguing additions to the PS3 feature set is the new Remote Play trick. This lets you access your PS3 via an internet connected PSP from anywhere in the world. I’m not too sure exactly how this will work but intend to give it a try just as soon as the 3.5 firmware update for PSP is released this week.

Until then I'll be enjoying the PS3 as a top notch DVD player. Well done Sony.

Posted by Scott Bartley at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Verbatim have just announced they’re the first company to release recordable HD DVD media.
According to the release their new HD DVD-R discs can store up to 15GB of data, presumably meaning they’re of the single layer variety and the possibility of dual layer 30GB discs is still to come.They're available now for $24.95 a pop or $112.95 for a five-pack which, given their increased capacity over standard single and dual layer DVD-R’s and the fact this is a brand new medium, seems a pretty sharp price to us. They’ll only get cheaper too.

If you’re into such kinky stuff as substrate thickness, groove shape and read cycles then by all means, read the full press release below.

Verbatim Shipping Industry's First HD DVD-R Recordable Media
Verbatim Australia announced today the immediate availability of the industry's first 15GB HD DVD-R. The HD DVD-R media is produced at Verbatim's parent company, MKM's technically advanced Singapore factory. Widely recognised as the leading facility for producing new CD/DVD technologies, the Singapore factory also developed and now manufactures the world's premier dual layer DVD media.

Availability & Pricing
Verbatim 15GB HD DVD-R discs are available in single units or packs of 5 jewel cases from authorised Verbatim resellers nationally. Recommended retail is $24.95 NZD for 1pk (part number #43600) or $112.95 NZD for the 5 pack (part number #43601).

Posted by Scott Bartley at 3:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A year after they first announced it Microsoft have officially started banning modded Xbox 360 consoles from using the Xbox Live service.

According to the folk over at Microsoft’s official Xbox 360 blog no one’s LIVE account will actually be banned but if their network detects you’re using an Xbox with modified firmware or un-sanctioned hardware modifications (we assume stickers and home-baked paintjobs are OK, no matter how ugly they are) you’ll be blocked from connecting to the service. While Microsoft have said the reason for this sudden fit of proactive-ness is to stop people from being able to cheat at online games (surely the lowest form of online treachery) it’s fairly obvious to us that this move is also being made to stop people playing pirated games online. And fair enough too.

Still, in the couple of days since the announcement interweb message boards have been going nuts with unreasonable people (cheaters or thieves no doubt) presumably panicking that their illegally modded console now won’t work online. Stiff biscuits we say. The fact is the vast majority of mods are made for the sole purpose of enabling your console to run pirated games, so even if this move catches out a few pure of heart souls out there who modded their console to play backed up copies of legitimately purchased games, this move has to be a good thing.

A word of warning though, if you’re thinking of buying a second hand Xbox 360 on Trademe or EBay you may want to get assurances beforehand that it isn’t modified in anyway, or you’ll find yourself locked out of Xbox LIVE for someone else’s crime.

Posted by Scott Bartley at 6:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

News just in from Microsoft, Halo 3 will release worldwide on September 25 this year. That's not too long to wait at all really.

Here's the official press release if you'd like a read.

AUCKLAND 16 May 2007 - In a year when Hollywood is launching its biggest blockbusters ever, one video game may well conquer them all. Halo® 3, the final chapter in the groundbreaking Halo trilogy, is preparing to shatter day-one entertainment sales records when it is released worldwide on September 25.

Created by legendary developer Bungie Studios and exclusive to the Xbox 360TM videogame and entertainment system, Halo 3 will raise the bar for interactive story-telling and social gaming by engaging consumers worldwide in Master Chief’s epic battle to save humankind.

Xbox New Zealand Product Marketing Manager Tom Hunt says, ”Halo 3 is much more than a video game release - it’s potentially the biggest entertainment event of the year. Gaming fans have been waiting with bated breath since 2004 for the chance to revisit the Halo legend and finish the fight in stunning high definition.„

In November 2004, the world’s view of video games changed forever with the release of Halo 2, which generated a record-setting US$125 million (NZ$170 million) in sales within the first 24 hours and changed the way people think about interactive entertainment. Three years later, it remains the single most-played game on the Xbox LIVE online games and entertainment network, with nearly one billion hours of online gaming logged to date.

The announcement of the Halo 3 launch date comes on the eve of the release of the Halo 3 multiplayer beta, which will debut to audiences worldwide via Xbox LIVE* on 17 May at 12am and run through to 7 June at 6:59pm (New Zealand time).

The Halo 3 multiplayer beta will provide audiences worldwide with an exclusive, early look at some of the multiplayer elements of Halo 3 on Xbox LIVE.

Gamers who are interested in experiencing the multiplayer beta of Halo 3 can still participate through the purchase of the critically acclaimed Xbox 360 exclusive title CrackdownTM which was launched in February. Starting 16 May the specially marked copies of Crackdown will act as a key for gamers to participate in the Halo 3 multiplayer beta. In addition to giving gamers their first opportunity to get their hands on the new levels, weapons, vehicles and game types, the multiplayer beta will also provide valuable data that Bungie will use in continued development.

Posted by Scott Bartley at 5:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

As a privileged member of New Zealand’s (rather small) gaming press I was treated to a sneak preview of Microsoft’s sneak preview of Halo 3 yesterday. The actual public beta of Halo 3 won’t go live till very late Thursday night local time so, being an avid gamer, I hastily trotted on up to Microsoft’s lavish new HQ to get my fix.

MSHQ is very fancy. They have a purpose built Xbox room filled with untold Xbox360 consoles, two giant high def TV screens, lots of little high def TV screens, a smattering of surround sound speakers, thunderous subwoofers, an endless supply of free Raspberry Tim Tams…you get the picture. I settled in for an afternoon of what most people class as leisure, yet I can legitimately call work.

The lovely Jen from MS’s PR firm ushered me into the Xbox room, she was looking a little jaded by late afternoon and who can blame her, she’d spent all day in the Xbox room by then and was probably crashing after an earlier Tim Tam induced sugar high. I jumped on an Xbox running the Halo 3 beta and started hammering away at the controls, sadly I had a fairly poor showing. Ok so I was pathetic, inept even, yet somehow, most likely through sheer luck, I’d managed a few kills by the end of the round. More importantly however I got a really good look at some of the cool new weapons. Usually a close up view of the pointy end.

The Spartan Laser is a favourite, it’s immensely powerful and can really spoil your day, similarly the Missile Pod, with its rapid firing homing rockets is a delightful weapon, especially if you can get a lock on your target. Brute Spike grenades are even more fun, they stick into whatever they hit and stay there until they explode in a lethal barrage of flying metal.

The three maps in the beta are designed to showcase some of the different environments that will end up in the finished game and all looked pretty decent, though only time will tell how well the maps play.

Matchmaking seemed a little on the confusing side although I didn’t really have enough time to figure out if I just needed to come to grips with the layout or if it actually needed a little work to make it a little more intuitive. We’ll see.

On the whole I came out of the session with a favourable impression of the game, it played well and looks superb and I’m looking forward to the public release later this week — not to mention the pending release of Halo 2 for Windows. Should be a cracker.

The biggest disappointment? Finding out the American press got one of these babies to take home after their sneak previews! Blast.

Posted by Scott Bartley at 4:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Intel has officially launched their next generation notebook platform and they've called it Centrino Duo, although you may know it better by its codename Santa Rosa.

So just what is Centrino Duo and how will it affect us mere consumers? Well since Centrino Duo is a "platform" it consists of more than one single component and as such forms the base upon which notebook manufacturers will be able to build their latest, greatest machines. Here's a breakdown.

Performance
First off, it'll boost performance by introducing Intel's 965 chipset to the mobile sector for the first time. Chipsets in themselves aren't very sexy and for most of us we neither care about nor know about what they are and what they do, we're only interested in the end result. In this case that means support for newer, faster processors built using Intel's new 45 nanometer fabrication process. Spin-offs of these new processors are not only better performance but also less heat and increased energy efficiency -- good news for battery-life.

Better wireless connectivity
802.11n (someone seriously needs to think up a catchier naming convention for wireless networking) wireless connectivity is now included, the benefits of which include increased speed and range of your wireless network. Of course you'll need a new "N" router to power your home network but these are pretty easy to come by these days -- Apple do one in the Airport Extreme and so does Belkin to name but two.

Intel Turbo Memory
Turbo Memory is the new name for Intel's previously code-named "Robson" technology. This is an optional add-on for system builders that places a small amount of flash memory (either 512MB or 1GB) on the notebook motherboard itself which is used to speed up application load times and generally aid performance. It makes use of the ReadyBoost functionality built in to Windows Vista and works by caching data in flash memory as opposed to accessing it directly from the hard drive (simultaneously helping to improve battery life by reducing hard drive activity).

At the launch event the Intel tech bods gave us a live demo of Turbo Memory and the performance improvement was more than two-fold. They set up two identical Lenovo T61 notebooks and ran a scripted test that used a 3D fly-by in Google Earth as well as loading and manipulating a large number of images into Adobe Photoshop Elements. The results seemed pretty conclusive, 75 seconds for the Turbo Memory unti and 215 seconds to complete the same task without it.

Improved integrated graphics
The new 965 integrated graphic chipset makes significant gains over previous 915 and 945 attempts and means that notebooks will be able to run Vista in all its 3D-enhanced, transparent glory without having to fork out for discrete notebook graphics chipsets such as those produced by ATI and Nvidia. Make no mistake, Intel's new X3100 integrated graphics is still no match for either ATI or Nvidia's chipsets but at least now the majority of new notebooks, whether they be budget or high end models will at last be able to run Vista properly.

So that's that then, better performance, better wireless and improved graphics for even lower end notebooks. Sure there's plenty of fancy-pants tech going on behind the scenes to make this work but if you're an end user who only wants to know why you should bother with a Centrino Duo notebook...now you know.

Posted by Scott Bartley at 2:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I used to think I was the greatest PacMan player to ever grasp the joystick of an Atari 2600…back in the day. Of course, looking back on those glory days I now know for certain that I was in fact the best PacMan player the world has ever seen. That’s why I’m going to win the first ever Xbox 360 PacMan World Championship. If you care to dispute the matter then whip out your trusty Xbox 360, fire up Xbox LIVE!, download a copy of PacMan via Xbox LIVE! Arcade (400 MS Points) and get gaming.

That’s right, Microsoft are running a global competition to see once and for all who rules most when it comes to munching power pills and chomping ghosts. The competition is running right now and when the clock strikes midnight on May 9, whoever in New Zealand and Australia has the highest score on the PacMan leaderboard will be winging their way to New York to duke it out for the title of World Champion. Imagine the glory and adulation that could be heaped upon you. I can’t wait.

First thing you need to do is head here and sign up, after that it’s simply a matter of playing PacMan til your thumbs fall off. The competition is open to both Xbox LIVE! Silver and Gold members so there’s no excuses.

WIN!
What's more, those kindly folk over at Microsoft have even given us a 12 month subscription to Xbox LIVE! and 1000 MS Points to giveaway. All you have to do to win is email me the answer to this question by 5pm on May 9: What is the name of the person who created PacMan? (Hint: the answer is in one of the two links mentioned above). I'll draw the lucky winner from all correct entries and let you know via email.

Send your answers to scott@pcworld.co.nz

Posted by Scott Bartley at 5:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Sony has today announced two new high definition video cameras that build upon the features of the already available HDRSR1E and will be released in New Zealand in June.

The HDRSR5E will retail for $1999 and features a 4.0 megapixel CMOS sensor for still shots plus a 40GB hard drive that will record up to 15 hours of high definition video. The even fancier HDSR7E, which costs $2499, will capture almost 23 hours of high def footage on its 60GB drive and shoot stills of 6.1 megapixels.

Both cameras feature Super SteadyShot optical image stabilisation technology and a 10X optical zoom lens and both use the AVC/H.264 MPEG4 format for high def recording and 5.1 Dolby Digital for audio recording.

Unsurprisingly there’s a whole raft of other high end sounding features too such as a high speed capture setting that shoots four times faster than normal to create super smooth slow motion video and dual recording that allows you to snap still pictures even while recording video. Face detection technology creates an index of faces that allows you to easily search your footage for a particular shot.

We’ll nab a review unit as soon as we can so stay tuned for a full run down in the coming weeks.

Posted by Scott Bartley at 1:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)