Last Week’s Top Posts

• Sony PSP Go Pictures, Video
• Palm Pre Dissected
• Showdown of “New Generation” Smartphones
• China to Limit Texting as Anti-Spam Measure
• Portable Gaming PCs For Any Price Point

Sony PSP Go Pictures, Video

Introducing the Sony PSP Go: Seems Sony realized that the UMD format was effectively dead; the latest planned incarnation of the Sony PSP only accepts media through Memory Stick Micro cards and wireless downloads (via the PlayStation Network). Bad news for current UMD and normal-sized Memory Stick users.

Yet the focus on digital delivery means that Sony was reportedly thoughtful enough to equip the PSP Go with 16GB of onboard memory. The new slide-down form factor may be something new for longtime PSP users. That’s because controlling the portable console requires the hands to be closer together—and below the Go’s 3.8″ screen. Compare that to the thumbs-on-the-side configuration that has defined every PSP model until now. Read more

Canon Work Conditions Suck, Says Nikon Dude

Danny Choo decided to report on the alleged work conditions in a Canon Electronics, highlighting how people are required to stand and move fast in at least one hallway:

Read more

New Sony DSLRs Support SD Cards!

Sony’s new Alpha DSLR-A230, A330 and A380. But for those who are fans of the maker’s cameras, here are the useful facts (courtesy of Crave):

Model	A230	A330	A380
Sensor	10-megapixel CCD		14-megapixel CCD
Sensitivity range	ISO 100 – ISO 3200
Viewfinder	95 percent coverage 0.83x magnification	95 percent coverage 0.74x magnification
LCD	2.7-inch fixed	2.7-inch tiltable
Live View	No	Yes
Continuous shooting	2.5fps
Autofocus	9 points
Dimensions (W x H x D)	5.0″ x 3.8″ x 2.7″	5.0″ x 3.8″ x 2.8″
Weight (ounces)*	15.9	17.3
Replaces	A200	A300	A350
Price	$549 (with 18-55mm lens) $749 (with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses)	$649 (with 18-55mm lens) $849 (with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses)	$849 (with 18-55mm lens) $1,049 (with 18-55mm and 55-200mm lenses)

*add about 1.8 ounces for battery and card

Most interesting about all three new models though is its support for SDHC cards, on top of typical support for Sony’s own Memory Sticks. Here’s to hoping the same happens to some future version of the PSP.

All three cameras will become available for pre-order “this week” from sony.com, for a sometime July release.

Last Week’s Top Posts

Here’s what attracted your fellow readers over the last week:

• PSP-3000 Now Hacked
• Why iPhone Kindle Won’t Kill Kindle
• IPhone Baby Shaker App Saga, Part N
• Study Ball Chains People to Their Work
• Gaining Access to Private Facebook Accounts

And here’s an Intel ad you may have missed:

PSP-3000 Now Hacked

So, despite the best efforts of Sony to protect the PSP platform from those evil hackers and homebrewers, Team Typhoon has conquered!

Typhoon’s hack takes advantage of a tiff exploit; viewing a carefully crafted image with the PSP-3000’s built-in viewer reboots the portable and makes it load the HEN environment. This, in the words of Boing Boing, opens the PSP-3000 up to “homebrew, customization and piracy.” Here’s the full declaratory message from Typhoon:

This is a demo of the 5.03 firmware running the tiff exploit and booting into a HEN environment on a PSP 2003 (3000 Support also) on 5.03 Official Firmware. This proves that the code survives a reboot and the system software and MAC address can be changed. This is something that only can be done with a kernel exploit. A video launching homebrew will be posted later.

Credits: Homebrew Enabler – (Davee) Team Typhoon
5.03 Tiff Exploit – MaTiAz
Video – Granite
The Community – All your support.

What demo you ask? Here (Typhoon’s currently working on packaging the exploit for the public, by the way):

All I can say is: Wow! Wasn’t it awesome how the background music cut in at just the right time? Thoughts on what this means for Sony are of course welcome below. Me? I’m still happy with my PSP-2000, thank you very much.

Kinda Old Patapon 2 Ad is Still Weird

Finally being able to play Engrish Patapon 2 over the weekend, I found myself wondering, why are there no real-life Patapon tourneys?

The rules would be simple: organizers would play the boss, participants would organize into groups controlled by the ever-omniscient drums. Points would be awarded/taken away for proper organizations based on the Patapon commands.

If you really have no idea what I’m talking about, fellow PSP users, make sure to play Patapon. Once you’ve enjoyed the game enough to finish it, progress to Patapon 2. You’ll need a good sense of rhythm and the ability to remain calm to properly command your miniscule minions against the various challenges they will face.

It’s worth going through the game so you won’t be left scratching your head while hearing Pataponics chanting Pata Pata Pata Pon or Pon Pon Pata Pon in their sleep.

$44.50 Laptop Backpack Seems Better Than “Steal-Me!” Counterparts

Yes, we’ve already shown that expensive cases like camera bags have their very affordable alternatives. Here’s something we found through Philippine affiliate Technograph. Read more

Sony PSP 2 Presumed for Later This Year

The internet is currently buzzing over what David Perry, the chief creative officer of Acclaim, surmised in a conversation with kotaku.com yesterday: “I spoke to a developer who is working on it right now. I know this developer is already working on it, so that means they have a prototype. That would sound like a fall release to me.”

Other juicy tidbits: the PSP 2 will be entirely digital, meaning all content will be stored on-board. If true, then the UMD format is now scheduled for obsolescence. Just rumors for now, so stay tuned for updates. Maybe it’s time to start budgeting for a new console purchase.

Thanks Gearlog!

Deluxe X-Rocker Recliner is Perfect for Couch Potatoes

Of course, it made sense to get a leather-fitted La-Z-Boy and equip it with electronics to make any lazy geek proud. Why not make the lazing experience complete, and integrate entertainment functionality? Such is the complete relaxing-cum-audio experience as claimed by the Deluxe X-Rocker Recliner’s manufacturer:

This chair has endless features including: deluxe leather cover and double foam padding, lockable reclining feature, 3 channel wireless audio, amplifier, surround sound speakers, booming bass unit, cup holder, storage in one armrest. It works with Xbox, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Nintendo gaming units and all major game platforms, including handheld units such as PSP and DS lites. It also will work with your TV, DVD, VHS, and stereo system, your MP3 and iPod player and your phone if it has a standard earphone jack.

The only problem is, can any lazy geek afford the £600 ($937) price tag? After all, how can bums earn enough money to make this purchase? The only market I see for this are trust-fund babies with nothing better to do with their lives. Ah, in any case, you have to live in the UK to buy this chair anyway. Visit boysstuff.co.uk to make a purchase.

(image from boysstuff.co.uk)

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