Microsoft chopping Zune prices

With the economy tanking and the holidays looming, Microsoft is hoping to salvage some Zune sales by chopping prices.

The software maker plans to announce on Wednesday a price cut for its flash-based models. The 4GB version will drop to US$99, the 8GB model will drop by US$10 to US$139, and the 16GB model will sell for US$179, down from US$199.

Microsoft is also cutting prices for several of its Zune accessories. The cuts take effect on Wednesday in the U.S. and on Friday in Canada.

Zune marketing director Adam Sohn said in an interview on Tuesday that the moves were being made to "ensure hopefully we have a good holiday season." The prices put Zune's flash players cheaper than a similar capacity iPod Nano, though Sohn said that wasn't the explicit goal of the price cuts.

"We're trying to take into consideration what the realities of the market are," Sohn said.

The company introduced the latest Zune models, as well as the version 3.0 update to its software in September. Microsoft introduced a few new games and other device features on Tuesday as part of a version 3.1 firmware update.
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Sony announces Bluetooth headphones, travel-friendly speakers

This morning saw the release of several new Sony audio products aimed at frequent fliers and other on-the-go users. The company announced a pair of ultracompact, travel-friendly speakers and three sets of headphones: One with noise-canceling, one with Bluetooth, and one with inline volume controls. You can find out all the details about the SRS-M50, MDR-NC7, DR-BT160AS, and MDR-EX36V in our photo gallery.

Via CNET Crave

New game brings iPhone into Wiimote territory

The Social Gaming Network, a company best known for its Facebook Platform apps, has launched a new iPhone app that uses the handset as...a gaming controller.

Called "iFun," the app is a takeoff on the Social Gaming Network's existing sports apps: iGolf, iBowl, iBaseball, and the like. But instead of playing on your iPhone, you use your iPhone or iPod touch much like the "Wiimote" device for Nintendo's Wii console. (Both gadgets use accelerometer technologies.) It connects via Wi-Fi or cellular network to your PC. You can then play against friends--remotely, and in real time.

Currently, iFun is restricted to a golf game but will soon expand--as well as to other devices with accelerometers in them, like the Android-powered G1. It also uses Facebook Connect for authentication.

Social Gaming Network CEO Shervin Pishevar told CNET News that the company is currently "lining up advertisers" and is interested in turning iFun into a platform for external developers to create their own games. The Social Gaming Network raised a US$15 million investment round last spring, followed by more funding from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' venture firm.

And--wait for it--here's the recession angle. Playing the free iFun game on an iPod touch is "significantly cheaper than buying a Wii for Christmas," Pishevar said.

Via "The Social" blog at CNET News

Ecosol's Powerstick V2: Power anywhere, anytime

While I still love my iPhone 3G, we've hit some bumps in the road in our relationship--in particular its battery life, or lack thereof, depending on what I'm using it for.

I recall one instance in particular. After using the phone more than I usually do in a day, I went to bed without charging it. The next day I woke up to a dead phone. Luckily this was a Saturday morning, so I didn't particularly need it for the next few hours, but this could have easily happened on a weekday.

And there I'd be. On the bus, on my way to work with no way of checking my email or the news of what happened in the world while I slept. I shudder at the thought.

Ecosol has figured out that this is an area where it may be able to help poor guys like me. With its Powerstick V2, users can charge their USB-compatible portable devices anywhere, at any time. Simply hook your USB compatible device and voila, instant juice.
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"Guitar Hero" mobile: New look, new sound, drums!

When you've got a game as compelling and competitive as Guitar Hero World Tour, you get it on as many platforms as you can as fast as you can, including the mobile phone. On Thursday, the mobile version of Guitar Hero World Tour became available on AT&T phones. We got to try it out.

On the PlayStation, Wii, and Xbox, this fourth Guitar Hero installment counters Rock Band's drum and vocal tracks, which themselves had one-upped Guitar Hero's original stringed instrument. Vocals aren't practical for the mobile version--which still rocks, by the way--but a drum track is. Activision and game-maker Hands-On Mobile have introduced a drum choice for every song.

There's a lot more news here--the updated game, which has a new look and two fresh game-playing features (can you say "battle mode"?). There are also technical details that could make a difference to how the game looks and sounds on your individual phone. Finally, there's all the practical stuff about when your carrier will stock the game and how much it'll cost you. Let's take one at a time.
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