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World's thinnest full-motion wall mount... from Memorex?
Joshua Goldman | Oct 22, 2008
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Click to see a picture of the mount extended.
If you're itching to hang an LCD or plasma HDTV above your fireplace but unwilling to shell out the cash for a full-motion mount, fear not, Memorex will save you from improper viewing angles. For US$350 (or about half the cost of one of the company's 32-inch LCDs), you can put the safety of your 30-inch to 50-inch display in the hands of a company I still associate with cheap audio cassette tapes (though admittedly this is an unfair association against the Imation-owned brand and has nothing to do with the quality of this product).
Not only is the mount relatively inexpensive, Memorex claims the Lite Wall Mount is the world's thinnest full-motion wall mount, putting just 1.5 inches to 2 inches between the wall and your TV. The full-range motion lets it swivel (+/- 25 degrees), extend, retract, and tilt (down 70 degrees with a 32-inch display). It'll hold a TV up to 68kg, so LCDs and most plasmas less than 50 inches should work with it.
The Memorex Lite Wall Mount also features a "sophisticated cable management system" so your cords stay tucked away and includes all the hardware you'll need to get it up on the wall. It's available now and though I haven't tested it and I'm not endorsing it, it seems like a decent way to go if you need to get your tilt on.
Via CNET Crave
PS3 firmware 2.50 adds support for Flash 9
John P. Falcone | Oct 16, 2008
(Credit: CNET)
Sony rolled out the latest firmware update for the PS3 (version 2.50) in the past few hours, available to all as a free download. The main additions, as reported on the official Sony Europe PS3 forums, are as follows:
- Flash 9 support added to Web browser.
- Improved Bluetooth headset support.
- In-game screenshot capture tool (for future titles).
- Improved user interface for PS3 Trophies.
- Thumbnails added to video search.
- Direct Information Board links to PlayStation Store.
- Power save mode (automatic shut-off after predetermined downtimes).
Read more »
Energy-saving guidelines for consoles
Philip Wong | Oct 16, 2008
There's no escape from the green movement. Next up for the guillotine are power-hungry gaming consoles like the Sony PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. For example, the PS3 sucks up about 170 watts playing a Blu-ray movie, while a standalone player such as a Samsung BD-P1500 uses only about 25 watts.
The Energy Star program backed by the US Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy is preparing power consumption guidelines for these energy hogs. Under its new initiative, these consoles will have to consume less than 1 and 5 watts in off and standby modes, respectively.
That's not all. The auto power-down feature is also now mandatory after an hour of inactivity, while any settop box and video playback functions are to meet current Energy Star standards within a 10 percent margin. We foresee a loophole, though, as this certification is voluntary for now.
Via Kotaku | Photo credit: Energy Star
Wii sabers to duel the Evil Empire
Juniper Foo | Oct 16, 2008
The Wii Empire strikes back! (Credit: Amazon)
Ok, so I own a Nintendo Wii. Like millions of people out there. But I'm not crazy enough to spend hundreds of dollars on games like Rock Band and Guitar Hero World Tour like a colleague, who by the way caved in to getting additional instruments. Not to mention that I like to keep a neat house. There's barely enough room in space-starved Singapore, where the majority live in postage stamp homes, to add yet more toys to their growing Wii collection. So this is strictly for Star Wars fans who want more realism in their gameplay of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. The Thrustmaster Glow Saber Duo Pack is also one of the better Wii lightsaber peripherals we've seen. So porn-sounding name aside, this US$35 duo of sabers, which are LED-lit in red and blue, should up the nerd factor considerably in the battle against the Evil Empire. Though if you ask, the third-party accessories makers are the Evil Empire.
Via Uncrate
Microsoft offers Memory Upgrade Program for new Xbox Live Experience
Jeff Bakalar | Oct 16, 2008
Do you own an Xbox 360 without a hard drive? Well on November 19, the new Xbox Live Experience will require you to have at least 128MB of memory available so that the update can properly install. If you find yourself in this position, you most likely purchased the since-discontinued Xbox 360 Core system.
In an effort to allow everyone who owns an Xbox 360 to enjoy the New Xbox Experience, Microsoft has announced the Xbox 360 Memory Upgrade Program. It will offer those who don't have the means to install the update two options. US Customers can either enter their console's serial number on a special Web site and receive a free 512MB memory card or pay US$20 for a 20GB Xbox 360 hard disk drive.
Editors' note:
We've received confirmation that the Xbox 360 Memory Upgrade Program will be available in Asia. The pricing details for the 20GB hard drive are as follows:Japan (¥2,299), Australia (A$24,99), New Zealand (NZ$29.99), Singapore (S$29.99), Hong Kong (HK$159.99), Korean (₩$22,299), Taiwan (NT$639).
Please check with your local Microsoft office for more information.
We should note that the while the 512MB memory card will allow you to enjoy the new Xbox Live, you still won't be able to participate in Xbox Live Primetime (game shows and other entertainment) or enjoy video downloads. Because of this, we'd recommend going with the US$20 offer for the 20GB hard drive. Not only is it a great deal, but you'll be able to fully enjoy everything the new Xbox Live Experience has to offer.
Via CNET Crave | Photo credit: Microsoft
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