Xbox 360 has no love for Blu-ray

While Toshiba has reluctantly embraced the Blu-ray format, its former HD-DVD ally Microsoft is still refusing to budge. Earlier, its CEO Steve Ballmer had hinted at a Blu-ray addon for the company's Xbox 360 to gadget blog Gizmodo. But this turned out to be a "miscommunication" according to a Microsoft spokesperson, as Ballmer was referring to the PC market instead. This official response is in line with the Redmond software giant's vision of an online content distribution model, including Xbox 360's upcoming full-HD movie-streaming service in the US.

We would like to buy that idea, too, except that broadband penetration in this part of the world is still somewhat lacking. I just have this feeling that Microsoft would have been much more receptive to Blu-ray if it wasn't championed by Sony with its competing PlayStation 3 consoles. Too bad.

Via CNET.com

DIY driving station at its best

A hardcore racing simulation fan from Japan has created this very rudimental, yet somewhat cool DIY driving station out of PVC pipes, a wooden plank and cable ties. While it doesn't look as polished as its video game arcade equivalent, this skeletal concoction is actually very functional, complete with a steering wheel and foot pedal mounts, plus folding capability for easy storage. There's one important thing we'd like to highlight. This driving station has nothing to do with Gran Turismo (which is a PlayStation exclusive) claimed by game portal Kotaku, since the pictured steering wheel is manufactured by Microsoft and designed for its Xbox 360 consoles.

Click here for more DIY driving stations.
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TV vs. PS3 crash test

We're not sure if we entirely approve of this. Don't get us wrong, we love watching things smash into each other in slow motion. Recently, America's Insurance Institute for Highway Safety began a series of exceptional crash tests to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

First it collided a 1959 Chevy Bel Air into a 2009 Chevy Malibu at 40mph (64km/h). Then, last week, the institute rammed some large cars into some smaller ones, with the Mercedes-Benz C-Class running into a diminutive Smart ForTwo being the highlight.
Read more »

Next-generation Wii will be smaller and cheaper

If you're expecting bigger and better things from the Wii's successor, you might be let down. Nintendo might be satisfied with what the current Wii is already able to offer. According to TechRadar and Popular Mechanics, the company's creative mastermind Shigeru Miyamoto says, "With both the Wii remote itself and Wii Motion Plus, what we've been able to do is introduce an interface that is both I think appealing and at the right price for a broad audience."

Does the "right price" mean the next Wii will go for a comparable price to what it is now? Miyamoto continued: "And while we don't have any concrete plans for what we'll be doing with hardware in the future, what I can say is that, my guess is that because we found this interface to be so interesting, I think it would be likely that we would try to make that same functionality perhaps more compact and perhaps even more cost-efficient."
Read more »

New Sanyo beamer sets new lumens record

The latest Sanyo LP-XF1000 is hailed as the world's brightest projector with a staggering 12,000 lumens output. This is easily four times the performance of an average multimedia model in the market. To achieve this ultra-high luminance for large venue installations, the LP-XF1000 features an integrated dual-lamp system enhanced by its proprietary QuaDrive Engine technology.

With such an impressive projection credential, this 3LCD-based Sanyo is capable of rendering up to a whopping 600-inch image at full 1.07 billion colors. Its modular design also enables optimum setup flexibility through a selection of 10 optional lenses of various throw distances and built-in expansion slots for adding networking and HD video wireless transmission capabilities.

The Sanyo LP-XF1000 will cost 4,200,000 yen (US$46,400) when it rolls out in Japan on December 18. The company's press release did not specify availability and pricing for other countries and regions.

Via Akihabara News

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