UVERworld’s new single, Hakanaku mo Towa no Kanashi (the opening theme for Gundam 00 season 2) was released by Japanese music torrent sites today, 3 days ahead of the official release date.

Without further blogger-rants/garbage, here’s the song in every form I could put up online.

Official Music Video

Music Direct Download [mp3 320 kbps]

UVERworld – Hakanaku mo Towa no Kanashi (4shared)

UVERworld – Hakanaku mo Towa no Kanashi (megaupload)

Music Torrent [mp3 320 kbps]

UVERworld – Hakanaku mo Towa no Kanashi (nipponsei)

It’s a long-standing question that few have tried to answer. But it’s important, so I’ve decided to write about it.

The oldest conflict known to man

Gaming PCs

Some people say PC gaming is dead. Well, that’s simply not true.

To many gamers, consoles just don’t do enough. Even a console as powerful as the PS3 won’t compare to a top-of-the-line PC. You can custom-build your own PC (or pay somebody like me to do it) to suit your specific gaming needs, as well as the gazillion other uses you’d obviously have for a computer.

Another thing that die-hard PC gamers emphasize is the input methods. PCs use the easy-to-use, deadly-efficient keyboard and mouse. It’s the speed you need to make a full 180-degree turn to shoot somebody behind you, or to put that unlucky enemy’s head right on the crosshair in your scope. (Although some PS3 games, such as Unreal Tournament 3, support the use of a USB/Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, the vast majority use the typical controllers we’ve come to associate with consoles)

The Dell XPS brand, a symbol of PC gaming supremacy

Game Consoles

Game consoles are for gaming and, in the case of the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, superb multimedia devices as well. But that’s pretty much it. Developed for standardized, mass adoption, consoles bring long-lasting and inexpensive entertainment to gamers everywhere.

The key word: inexpensive. Although not as powerful as some PCs (of course, this varies a lot depending on which console you’re talking about), consoles deliver gaming performance with the bottom line in mind. Virtually without exception, game consoles feature more processing power and overall technical performance than equally-priced PC machines. At $400, the PS3 puts the pressure on comps ranging from $800 to $1200. The 360 boasts good power as well, with models from $200 to $400 matching decent computers costing more. And the Wii… well, that’s an exception.

A Technical Comparison: PS3 vs. PC

For the sake of simplicity, we’re using the PS3 to represent consoles, since it is the most powerful, and because more information on its tech specs is available than the other consoles.

GPU (Graphics Processing Unit):

Back when the Nvidia 7 series wasn’t even out yet, the PS3′s RSX video card was already being designed. In 2006, Sony stated that the RSX “shares a lot of inner workings with Nvidia 7800….”, and Nvidia said that the RSX would be “more powerful than two GeForce 6800 Ultra video cards combined”.

In comparing the RSX specs, Nvidia 7-series specs, and Nvidia 8-series specs, I have determined that the overall performance of the RSX is equivalent (or at least closely comparable) to either an Nvidia 7800-7900 GTX, or an Nvidia 8600 GT.

Processor

The Cell Processor (click to enlarge)

This one’s difficult to compare. All PCs use standard single- or multi-core processors.

The PS3′s Cell Processor is an entirely different grid architecture that includes 1 PPE, which is basically a normal PC processor. However, the other 8 SPEs (7 usable, 1 backup) do not perform in the same way as PC cores. So although undoubtedly powerful and largely untapped, the PS3′s processor is too different from PC cores to compare the two.

However, it is known that the Xbox 360 processor is similar to those in PCs. The Xbox 360′s Xenon processor has three cores, each clocked at 3.2 GHz, putting it somewhere in the range of a fairly good computer.

Conclusion

So in the end, I can’t end a decades-old debate raging between PC fanboys and console fanboys all over the internet, but I can tell you what to do with your money:

-If you want the goods, get a top-spec PC. It’ll cost you, but that $1,000+ PC will deliver beyond what current consoles can. But if you aren’t willing to spend that kind of money, it’s not worth it.

-If you want to make the most of your money, but can’t afford to spend over one grand on an expensive rig, consider buying a console. It’ll last you a long time, since you won’t have to upgrade as often as PC gamers do.

Special thanks to ZN-00 for the topic suggestion.

“Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt,” says Jobs. “It’s great to watch the movies, but the licensing of the tech is so complex, we’re waiting till things settle down and Blu-ray takes off in the marketplace.”

Because Apple’s computers are already a great deal more expensive than their Windows-based competitors, the company cannot afford to push Blu-ray technology, which would increase their laptop and desktop prices even further. However, if demand grows, says Jobs, the company might consider adding the technology to future models.

At the same time that Apple dismisses Blu-ray as an unnecessary feature, the tech giant is pushing its own entertainment platform, iTunes, where users can purchase various kinds of media, including HD movies and other videos.

But there are a few problems with this decision. Apple’s friendly competitor bitter archenemy Microsoft has already made Windows the “first operating system to feature native support for Blu-ray playback and burning”. Apple is literally shunning Blu-ray adopters, of which there are already a large number. And although Apple can distribute HD content from iTunes all it wants, there is growing discontent with the service, for several reasons:

1. DRM (Digital Rights Management): Apple’s iTunes store is notorious for spamming everything, including music and video content, with restrictive, anti-copying technology, so that you won’t pirate the media or use it on more than a certain number of devices.
2. Quality: Although many videos are in HD, none can even begin to compare to the high megabit rates and incredible visual/audio quality that Blu-ray discs or even DVDs offer.
3. Bandwidth and hard drive space: Downloading/streaming video from iTunes takes bandwidth. A lot of it. To keep the download time reasonable, online services have to lower the quality (surprise surprise). Also, users don’t want to take up valuable hard drive space, and prefer to keep all that video data on discs.

Despite Apple’s decision to put off Blu-ray for awhile, the popular tech company’s profits are sure to stay strong for quite some time.

As a kind-of-related side note, Blu-ray player prices reached an all-time low of just $200 (PS3s are still $400), so there are good, cheap alternatives for Mac users who want to use Blu-ray discs.

Take, for example, a typical anime release. It usually says something like:
[Fansub Group] Mobile Suit Gundam 00 S2 – 04 [1280x720 H.264 AAC].mkv

What I am concerned about is that anime “fans” don’t even know what basic terms like “H.264″, “AAC”, and “mkv” really mean, which is why I am writing this article (and its follow-ups) on basic video/audio terminology that everyone should know with confidence.

Video container formats

Video and audio don’t just come together on their own. Every video/audio file has to come in a container. The container, obviously, contains the individual video, audio, and subtitle files within itself. Upon playback, the individual video, audio, and subtitle streams are put together and synchronized to give you your entertainment experience.

Examples of common container formats:
-.mkv (Matroska video)
-.mp4 (MPEG-4)
-.mpg/.mpeg (MPEG-1 or MPEG-2)
-.avi (Audio Video Interleave)
-.wmv (Windows Media Video)

Different video containers have their advantages and disadvantages. Some types waste less file size than others. Others are more versatile, and can support a wider variety of video and audio formats. Here is some useful information for determining the best container format to download/use/convert to:

-MPG or MPEG video files are the lowest-quality containers (meaning that it takes more space to achieve the same quality as other formats). They are best suited for streaming videos due to their high compatibility with various living-room devices like DVD players. The main use for MPEGs is cable/satellite TV and Video CDs.
-MKV files are extremely versatile, with good quality. They can hold almost any kind of video or audio stream inside. However, virtually no device can play them, except a computer running specific software capable of reading it. Also, MKVs are one of the most difficult files to convert to another format. Despite this, they are widely used in the anime community for their ability to store many stream types (as a consequence, anime is notoriously hard to convert).
-AVI files were introduced by Microsoft in 1992. They were the standard for Windows PCs until recent years, in which newer, higher-quality formats have gained popularity. AVI files are somewhat picky about which video and audio types it will work with, and maintains average quality. It still sees wide usage in downloadable movies and other video content, and is compatible with a wide variety of devices.
-MP4 files are, in a nutshell, the international high-quality video standard. They do not have the same kind of versatility that MKVs do, but still give video makers a lot of choices. Due to unrivaled support from major companies like Apple, Sony, and almost every cellphone and portable video player manufacturer, the MP4 format is compatible with a huge variety of cellphones, portable video players, game consoles, and more.
-WMV files are Microsoft’s official high-quality successor to the aging AVI format. However, WMV proved largely unpopular due to little support in the portable media player industry.

In my follow-up to this post (not sure when, but we’ll see) I’ll talk about video stream formats.

Anyway, some you might already know that I’m a big fan of Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games. These are basically games where you command an army and eliminate your opponent(s), all in real time.
The RTS genre brings about some of the best-selling and most respected titles in the industry, including the Red Alert series, Starcraft, and the Command and Conquer series.

And now, a new game is about to join these ranks. Tom Clancy’s EndWar, set in good old World War III. Here’s the basic state of the world:
In 2011, the United States and the European Union sign the SLAMS Treaty, agreeing to co-develop a comprehensive anti-ballistic missile system. In 2014, it is activated, and the U.S. and E.U. proclaim the end of nuclear war. However, the very next year, the world finds out that major oil companies had lied about the amount of oil left on Earth; thus, energy security becomes every nation’s top priority. Russia, the world’s #1 supplier of crude oil and natural gas, has its economy skyrocket. Fearing their new military power, the E.U. becomes the European Federation in 2018. All three factions engage in a space arms race. The U.S. plans to launch Freedom Star, giving them the ability to deploy companies of Marines anywhere on Earth in under 90 minutes. However, the international reaction is extremely negative, and when the final piece of the Freedom Star is attacked by terrorists before its launch, the three factions find themselves at odds, moving irreversibly towards full-scale global war.

The game is in the same universe as many other Tom Clancy games: Ghost Recon, H.A.W.X., Rainbow Six, and Splinter Cell. You will find popular characters and groups from those games, such as Captain Scott Mitchell, Rainbow operatives, and Third Echelon.

Factions:
-Russian Spetsnaz Guards Brigade, specializing in heavy weapons and armor.
-European Federation Enforcers Corps, specializing in electronic warfare and directed energy weapons.
-United States Joint Strike Force, specializing in speed and precision, as well as stealth technology and robotics.

Trailers!

According to Japanese sources, the new version includes a camera and music playback, features not available in any current DS models. Also, the system’s wireless communication is said to be improved, although currently it is unclear how. Pricing is also unclear at this point, but it is known that the new DS will sell for under 20,000 yen – about $189.

My commentary:
Unfortunately, when Nintendo (and most Japanese companies) says “the U.S. is being considered”, it means we’ll either never see it, or it will take a long time. And, from a market and economical perspective, this sudden move by Nintendo is a response to recently-competitive PSP sales. It’s also Nintendo’s counter to Sony’s planned release of the PSP-3001 (read more about the PSP-3001 here).

Nintendo says the Wi-Fi capabilities of the DS will be improved, but don’t get too excited – it will almost certainly not include a web browser. We can, however, look forward to improved Wi-Fi and camera integration, which would enhance player interaction in new games that support them. Currently, the Wi-Fi on a DS doesn’t do much, and I’d like to see it become more useful.

As for the music player, many gamers are skeptical about sound quality (especially if you know what sound quality means on a current-generation DS), as well as whether or not it will prove successful. Think about it: almost everyone in Japan already has a super-awesome-chocolate-fudge-covered-ultra-mega-uber-phone (not like the garbage we call a smartphone), so they don’t need a DS to play it. And even in America, everyone at least has a decent MP3 player. There isn’t a substantial consumer need for a music-integrating DS.

The PSP, with its all-around wide range of media support (high-quality music, videos, pictures on a hi-res screen), can go for the portable media player market because it’s more powerful (i.e. considerably faster processor, more RAM) and is designed to do that, but even if Nintendo added music support, it would come nowhere close.
And what’s the price? “Under 20,000 yen ($189)”, which means it’s going to be more than a new PSP-3001; when the new PSP that comes out, it will be $170 alone and $200 in bundles. So while the improved PSP model is the exact same price as the current, the improved DS will be even more. Despite the progress it would make for DS hardware, I think it’s a bad move for sales. But we’ll just have to wait and see.


Important update!!! (10/17/08)
The Nintendo DSi, as the new model is called, is already for sale in Japan, and goes for 18,000 yen (roughly $180, but who knows what the U.S. dollar will be worth when it comes out here). That’s $10 more than a new PSP-3001 (not out yet, but soon), like I said it would be. However, I was wrong about one thing; there will be a web browser on the DSi. It is a heavily scaled-down Opera browser, kind of like the Wii’s. The problem: it’s worse than the Wii’s web browser, which means MUCH worse than the PSP’s web browser.
As for the camera, well, there will be two. A crappy one for general game interactivity, and a 3.2-megapixel on the outside for higher-quality shots.
The DSi will also have an SD card slot. This will be used for music playback and viewing photos; however, there will NOT be video playback functionality.

Though the relatively expensive new DSi doesn’t compare favorably against its competitor in terms of value, price, or functionality, it will certainly have the same advantage that its predecessors did – and that is the games and interactivity that casual gamers (and hard-core gamers, for whom this is most definitely not a good thing) have come to expect of Nintendo.

But many of us with these consoles don’t know their potential to provide video playback. Each system has the ability to do it (albeit to varying degrees), but you need to know some tips in order to get things working properly.

The Wii

Unfortunately, due to the lack of video support for most formats on the Wii (for more information on what formats the Wii can play, read the “Videos” section of my article on the Wii), you will have to do some specific things to get videos on it.

Method: using a video converter and SD card
-Download and install a video converter that works with the Wii (I recommend using Wii Video 9)
-Use the program to convert your videos into a Wii-friendly format (adjust quality as needed)
-Transfer the converted video onto an SD card
-Play the video off the SD card on the Wii
NOTE: The Wii can only support a very limited number of video formats. Video quality is also heavily restricted. The Wii cannot copy videos onto its internal memory. It can only stream them from an SD card.

The Xbox 360

Microsoft emphasizes the 360 as a device that plays a good variety of video formats in excellent quality (for information about what formats the 360 can play, refer to the “Videos” section of my article on the Xbox 360). There are essentially two practical ways to get videos playing on it.

Method 1: using a video converter and removable storage (easiest method)
-Download and install a video converter that works with the 360 (I recommend using Videora Xbox 360 Converter)
-Use the program to convert your video to a 360-compatible format (adjust quality as needed)
-Copy the converted video to a removable device (DVD, flash drive, external hard drive, portable media player, or PSP)
-Insert/connect the storage device to the 360 and play
NOTE: The Xbox 360 cannot copy videos onto its own hard drive or internal memory. It can only stream them from external devices.

Method 2: using Windows Media Player
-Make sure your PC has Windows Media Player 11 installed
-Connect the 360 to the PC via an ethernet cable
-The PC will send the video file directly to the Xbox 360
-Further instructions can be found on the Xbox 360 website
NOTE: Xbox and PC must be directly connected (does not work over a network). The video must be in a format recognized by Windows Media Player.

The Playstation 3

For the PS3, which can play all sorts of high-quality video, music, and pictures, media is just as important an aspect as gaming. It boasts unmatched video codec support and quality (for details, see the “Videos” section of my article on the PS3).

Method 1: using a converter and removable storage
-Download and install a video converter that works with the PS3 (I recommend using PS3 Video 9, mkv2vob, GOTSent, and TsMuxer. For more information, contact me on AIM or through email)
-Use the program to convert the video into a PS3-compatible format (adjust quality as needed)
-Copy the converted video file onto a removable medium (CD, DVD, BD, flash drive, portable media player, PSP, external hard drive, memory card, or digital camcorder)

Method 2: using a PC as a media server (Windows Media Player 11)
-Make sure your PC has Windows Media Player 11
-Open Windows Media Player. Click Tools>Options>Library tab>Configure Sharing. Check the box next to “Share my media to” to enable media sharing
-On the PS3′s menu, under the “Video” icon, select “Search for media servers”
-Your PC should show up as an icon under the “Video” category. Select it to access your videos over your wired/wireless network
NOTE: You can also use WMP 11 to stream music and pictures to the PS3 as well. All this is done over your home network. The video(s) must be in a format recognizable by Windows Media Player. If not, they must be converted or remuxed (contact me for more information).

Method 3: using a PC as a media server (other media server programs)
-There are programs besides Windows Media Player that can turn your PC into a media server for the PS3.
-Download and install a media server program (TVersity and Winamp recommended)
-Make sure the program detects the media on your computer
-Find the media server on the PS3
-Stream videos (or other media)

Following these steps will allow you to watch videos on your 7th-gen console. For the Xbox 360 and PS3, this means High-Definition video as well. So enjoy, and if you have any questions about how to do any of this or how to achieve higher quality, etc., talk to me. Contact information is provided in the right panel of the blog page.

If you don’t have time to read the entire article, you can skip down to the conclusion.

This article reviews the following phones:
-N96 by Nokia
-HTC P3700 “Touch Diamond” by HTC
-iPhone 3G by Apple
-XPERIA X1 by Sony Ericsson
-i900 “Omnia” by Samsung

Each of these phones excels in a broad range of my strict criteria, including screen resolution, processing power, functionality, and connectivity. Please note that this article does not address pricing, as some of these phones have not yet been released (all of them, however, will probably be released within six months).

Nokia N96 (not yet released)

Screen: Unfortunately, like most other Nokias, the resolution is only 320×240 (below average), and not touch-sensitive. However, a motion sensor does allow the N96 to automatically rotate the screen when the phone is tilted.
Camera: With a 5 megapixel camera (far above average), Carl Zeiss optical lens, autofocus, and dual LED flash/video light, the photography element of this phone is simply unmatched. Plus, it can also record video in high-quality 640×480 resolution at 30 frames per second and video-conference.
Media: Can play a wide variety of videos (including support for Flash Video sites like YouTube), music, and pictures. Of course, it has a full internet browser, which which you can stream/download media. It also has some neat features like RSS feed, FM radio, document reader (Word, PDF, etc.), and a built-in Live TV receiver/TV recorder.
Connectivity: The N96 has all the connectivity you would expect and more: 3.5 mm headphone jack, B/G Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP (Bluetooth stereo), and UPnP (Universal Plug and Play), allowing it to stream/download media through a network from computers wirelessly.
Tech specs and storage: 264 MHz CPU (below average) and 128 MB RAM (average). It has a ton of storage capacity: 16 GB (far above average) built right in, and can even add up to 32 GB more via a MicroSDHC slot.
Design and interface: The N96 is built around a brilliant Nokia design called the “two-way slider”. Slide it one way and you get the keypad; slide it the opposite direction and you get music control buttons. The operating system is the same as most other Nokia phones. As for its size, the N96 is smaller but slightly thicker than the iPhone 3G.

Summary: Nokia, the world’s leading cellphone maker, always brings something new and impressive to the market, and this N-series phone is no exception. However, it fails to deliver at some of Nokia’s weaker spots. The screen resolution is not good enough (and no touch screen, although not everyone wants one), and the CPU/RAM are quite slow. Nevertheless, the super-high-quality camera, cool design, and impressive connective abilities make the N96 a very competitive phone.

HTC Touch Diamond

Screen: Not making the same mistake as Nokia, the Touch Diamond has a 640×480 (far above average) touchscreen with motion sensor and handwriting recognition.
Camera: 3.2 megapixel main camera (above average), as well as a 0.3 megapixel secondary camera in the front for video conferencing. It has no zoom or flash, but does have autofocus.
Media: Can play a wide variety of music and pictures (no info on video support). Features an Opera Mobile internet browser, media streaming/download, and FM radio.
Connectivity: Built-in B/G Wi-Fi (no UPnP), Bluetooth 2.0 (but not stereo support). It does not have a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, a huge disappointment; however, a special earphone set can be purchased.
Tech specs and storage: 528 MHz CPU (far above average) and 192 MB RAM (above average). It has a good amount of storage – 4 GB (average) built-in, but is not expandable.
Design and interface: The Diamond is a simple and boxy device (reminiscent of the Zune), and has very few buttons. The front is incredibly shiny and vulnerable to smudges and fingerprint marks, and overall the phone is smaller, thinner, and lighter than the iPhone 3G. The Diamond operates on Windows Mobile 6.1, though the Microsoft garbage is mostly buried under HTC’s own brilliant touch menus. The Diamond also places emphasis on Asian-language recognition.

Summary: Though the HTC Touch Diamond is undoubtedly a powerful do-it-all, it doesn’t place enough emphasis on media. You’d expect a 3.5 mm jack, Bluetooth stereo support, and possibly UPnP for media networking, but the Diamond has none of these. Most of everything else, though, is outstanding – the high-resolution camera, brilliant touchscreen, friendly user interface, thin design, and fast processor.

Apple iPhone 3G

Screen: The iPhone 3G and original are both well known for its revolutionary touchscreen. The resolution is 480×320 (slightly above average) with motion sensor and multi-touch technology.
Camera: The iPhone has a 2 megapixel camera (average), but does not support video conferencing or even video recording. It also has no zoom, flash, or autofocus.
Media: Featuring iPod interfaces, the 3G supports a good variety of videos (only YouTube for online videos), music, and pictures. The internet browser is a heavily reduced Safari browser; it supports internet downloads and RSS feeds, but not FM radio, Live TV or document reading.
Connectivity: Being an iPod, the 3G naturally has a 3.5 mm headphone jack. It also features B/G Wi-Fi (but not UPnP network streaming), Bluetooth 2.0 (but does not support A2DP or any other Bluetooth standards, only mono headsets)
Tech specs and storage: 412 MHz CPU (above average) and 128 MB RAM (average). It has plenty of storage: 8 (above average) or 16 GB (far above average), but no expansion slots.
Design and interface: The iPhone is famously simple and fairly thin; it is, however, larger than the N96, Touch Diamond, XPERIA X1, and Omnia. The operating system is the highly proprietary iPhone OS, which focuses on touch-oriented menus.

Summary: The iPhone 3G is undoubtedly one of the most advanced phones distributed in the United States, but obviously nothing against Europe and Asia. Many important features expected of excellent phones are missing here, including UPnP, stereo Bluetooth, video codecs (only H.264 is supported), Flash Video support (thus, you can’t watch videos from sites other than Youtube), video recording, Live TV, video conferencing, and Word/Excel/PowerPoint/PDF reading. The main upside to the iPhone is its simple, elegant design and user interface.

Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 (not yet released)

Screen: The X1 boasts the sharpest screen – an 800×480 (far, far above average) touchscreen with motion sensor and handwriting recognition.
Camera: 3.2 main camera (above average) with autofocus and flash, as well as a secondary camera in front for video conferencing. Can record video in high-quality 640×480 at 30 frames per second.
Media: Plays a wide variety of video (including all Flash Video), music, and pictures. It uses the Internet Explorer Mobile browser, which allows streaming/downloading media. Also features RSS feed support, FM radio, picture editor, Music ID, Live TV, and document reader (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/OneNote/PDF).
Connectivity: Equipped with a 3.5 mm headphone jack, B/G Wi-Fi (no UPnP, however), Bluetooth 2.1 (with A2DP), and PlayNow media downloading.
Tech specs and storage: 528 MHz CPU (far above average) and 384 MB RAM (far above average). It has only 512 MB of internal storage (far below average), but can expand by up to 32 GB via the MicroSDHC slot.
Design and interface: Unique “arc-slider” mechanism – the screen tilts as it is pushed upwards, revealing the keyboard. Has both a touchscreen and full QUERTY keyboard. Also features an optical joystick, handwriting recognition, and stylus. The XPERIA panels interface designed by Sony Ericsson pretty much conceals the fact that it actually runs on Windows Mobile 6.1, and some images even indicate a version of Sony’s famous XrossMediaBar menu (still unconfirmed).

Summary: The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 is an all-in-one solution for both business and entertainment. The only feature I would like to see added is UPnP. Besides that, it excels in every category.

Samsung Omnia

Screen: Good 480×240 (average) touchscreen with motion sensor and handwriting recognition.
Camera: 5 megapixel (far above average) with flash, autofocus, and face/smile recognition, but no zoom; secondary camera in front. Can record video in 640×480 at 15 frames per second.
Media: Plays a wide variety of videos (including all Flash Video), music, and pictures. Features Opera Mobile web browser, media downloading, FM radio, and document reader (Word/Excel/PowerPoint/OneNote/PDF).
Connectivity: B/G Wi-Fi (with DLNA/UPnP) and Bluetooth 2.0 (with A2DP). Disappointingly, no 3.5 mm jack.
Tech specs and storage: 624 MHz CPU (far, far above average), 128 MB RAM (average). Has 8 GB or 16 GB storage built-in, expandable by up to 32 GB via the MicroSDHC slot.
Design and interface: Simple and attractive candybar design (*cough* iPhone). Has very few buttons, relying mostly upon the touch interface and handwriting recognition. The operating system is Windows Mobile 6.1, with the addition of a few Samsung menus.

Summary: The Omnia is Samsung’s assertion of South Korean dominance in the cellphone industry (still lagging behind Finland by a lot though). It is another excellent do-it-all device. My only complaints are the mediocre screen and the absence of a headphone jack; 480×240 doesn’t cut it when it’s up against the X1 and the Touch Diamond, and not having a 3.5 mm jack is just stupid.

Conclusion
Which one is the best? Let’s consider each phone individually.
Nokia N96
Has the best camera and connectivity, but the worst tech specs and horrible screen.
HTC Touch Diamond
Boasts an outstanding screen, camera, and tech specs, but fails to deliver on basic features like a headphone jack and Bluetooth stereo
Apple iPhone 3G
An absolute disappointment in almost all categories – it has the worst camera and media capabilities; has no video recording, Bluetooth stereo, Flash Video, video conferencing, radio, Javascript support, Live TV, or document reader. Mediocre in terms of screen and tech specs.
Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1
Has the best screen, technical performance, and media capabilities; also has good connectivity and camera. Disadvantages: poor internal storage and lack of UPnP.
Samsung Omnia
Excellent camera, media capabilities, tech specs, and internal storage. Less-than-impressive screen. Missing critical feature: headphone jack.

Final review winner: Sony-Ericsson Xperia X1
2nd: Samsung Omnia
3rd: Nokia N96
4th: HTC Touch Diamond
5th: Apple iPhone

As you can see, it’s mostly the same as the PSP-2000 “Slim”, especially in appearance. There are only a few minor cosmetic changes here and there, including a new green Wi-Fi indicator light, small, shallow depressions where the D-pad and XO-square-triangle pad is, the change in the “Home” button to a “PS” button much like the PS3 controller’s, and a thinner ring around the “PSP” logo on the back.

More to the point, however, is the technical differences. The PSP-3000′s screen is greatly enhanced, featuring five times the contrast ratio, anti-reflective technology (following criticism of its outdoor glare problem), an expanded color spectrum (even the previous PSP models already had 16.7 million colors), and half the pixel response time (to decrease “ghosting” and blurring). Also, to make the PSP a more considerable communications tool, a built-in microphone has been added; for previous models, an external headset is needed to transmit voice over the PSP’s Skype program.

With these improvements, as well as a new model number, you might ask “Is it going to cost more?” Fortunately, the answer is “No”. The 3001 will at first be shipped to the U.S. in two bundles (Europe gets eight different choices), each for $200:

Bundle 1:
-Mystic Silver PSP-3001
-Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters UMD game
-National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets UMD movie
-1 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo
-Voucher for Playstation Store download of Echochrome game

Bundle 2:
-Piano Black PSP-3001
-4 GB Memory Stick PRO Duo
-Voucher for Playstation Store download of Everyday Shooter game

Later this year Sony will also release the core pack of the PSP-3001 for $170, the same price as the current PSP-2001. Since it isn’t a true “PSP2″, however, it probably isn’t worth it for current PSP-1000/PSP-2000 series owners. But if you don’t already have a PSP, the 3001 is certainly a great way to get into portable gaming.

Examples of overseas cellphone technologies not found in the U.S.:
-Japan: MMORPG games with other cellphone users
-Japan: fingerprint and/or facial identification (security feature)
-Japan: automatic police report system
-Japan: 10,000 characters per text message (compared to typically 150 in U.S.)
-South Korea: track online gaming statuses
-South Korea: watch movies
-South Korea: use GPS to find friends’ locations
-South Korea: dictionary
-South Korea: 20 Mbps broadband speed (faster than American wired broadband)
-Japan and South Korea: Multiple live TV channels
-Japan, South Korea, and Europe: video conferencing
-Japan, South Korea, and Europe: mobile phone wallet (cellphone used as debit/credit/library card, train ticket, etc.)

There’s the civilized world…

AEU…I mean, the European Union…………………South Korea………………………………and Japan

And then there’s…

America, the cellular third world country

Another thing that sets the United States apart from the rest of the world (I call it the “cellular third world country”) is the fact that different mobile service providers here use different radio wave frequencies; CDMA is used by Verizon and Sprint, GSM is used by T-Mobile and AT&T, iDEN is used by Nextel, and a few years ago, TDMA was also in use. In the rest of the world, virtually all service providers use GSM, period. No wonder why all the best phones (yes, much better than the iPhone) are released in Europe and Asia first. In fact, most of those phones don’t ever reach North America at all.

And that’s just the cellphone service. Soon, I’ll cover the cellphones themselves… the best, most advanced in the world.

Last week, the incredible – no, the impossible – happened: the Xbox 360 outsold the Playstation 3 IN JAPAN, 25,000 Xbox 360s to a mere 10,000 PS3s.. Now that’s failure if I ever knew the meaning of the word. I’ll no longer be surprised if I wake up tomorrow morning to see talking monkeys and flying pigs.
Anyway, what did that sly bastard Microsoft do to pull off this landslide victory on enemy territory? Or rather, what kind of retarded stuff was Sony thinking?

It’s all in the RPGs. Back in June 2008, Microsoft spelled doom for rival game consoles in Japan in a press conference in which they announced an incredible line-up of 14 Japanese RPGs. Two months later, that doom became a reality when one of those 14 games, Tales of Vesperia, was released exclusively for Xbox 360, and Japanese RPG fans went wild, buying 360s like there was no tomorrow, and Microsoft went out of stock on Japanese consoles.

But we’re not done there. The list goes on, including the following titles:
-The Last Remnant
-Infinite Undiscovery
-Mass Effect
-Fable 2
-Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope
-Final Fantasy XIII

What!?! FFXIII!?! That’s right, while Sony wasn’t paying attention, Microsoft (sly bastards) bargained their way into a deal to release FFXIII on Xbox 360. And since the Final Fantasy series has been completely Playstation-exclusive (ever since the very existence of the first Playstation), this comes as a great surprise to many Playstation fans who were certain of its exclusivity for PS3.

In fact, I once read this comment made by a game forum member:
“The PS3 wins the Xbox 360 in RPGs for one reason: FFXIII”
Obviously, however, this can no longer be said about the PS3.

In addition to Final Fantasy, Square Enix has now officially announced the release of three other new RPGs for Xbox 360: The Last Remnant, Infinite Undiscovery, and Star Ocean (listed above).

As for the Wii, some new RPG titles are in development/being released soon, including Tales of Symphonia: Knight of Ratatosk, Sword of Legendia, and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (looks like Nintendo did some bargaining with Square Enix as well).

Fortunately for the now exclusivity-robbed Sony, Final Fantasy Versus XIII (pictured right), an independent title with a whole new plotline, will still be a PS3 exclusive. *Phew* And though Sony Computer Entertainment has undoubtedly lost their previous dominance over the RPG field, PS3 sales returned safely to the top this week, and are still on the path towards overcoming global Xbox 360 sales.

Features
Controller (Sixaxis, DualShock 3)
-Maximum number of controllers

1. Sixaxis: 7
2. DualShock 3: 7
3. Total: 7 Sixaxis/DualShock

-Technology

1. Bluetooth (connection)
2. USB (pairing/charge battery)
   
3. 3-axis accelerometer (force sensing, motion sensing) [x2]
4. Vibration feedback (Dualshock 3 only)

-Power source

1. Rechargeable battery pack [x1]

-Accessories/Inputs

1. Keyboard (USB/Bluetooth)
2. Remote (Bluetooth, USB wireless)
3. Driving wheel (USB, USB wireless)
   
4. Musical instruments (USB/USB wireless)
   
5. Headset (USB/Bluetooth) [x7 maximum]
6. Microphone (USB)
   
7. Webcam (EyeToy, Playstation Eye, USB)
   
8. PS2 accessories (USB) (adaptor required)
   
9. DVR/TV Recorder (PlayTV) (coming soon)
10. Other 3rd-party accessories

Home Menu (XrossMediaBar)
-Main Menu

1. Accessible in-game: yes
2. Interface: horizontal/vertical scroll (categories/items respectively)

-User Profile

1. Personal picture
   
2. Profile information
3. Add online money (US Dollars)

-Games

1. Plays Playstation 3 game discs
2. Plays Playstation 2/PSX game discs (via hardware on 20/60 GB models, via emulation on 40/80 GB models)
3. Plays Playstation/PSOne game discs (via emulation)
4. Plays downloaded games (via emulation)

-Music

1. Sources: CD, DVD, BD, internal hard drive, flash drive, Memory Stick card, CompactFlash card, SD card, portable media player, external hard drive, “USB Mass Storage Device”, media server, Playstation Portable
2. Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC, ATRAC, WAV, MP4A
3. Play in-game: no
4. Copy to system: internal hard drive (MP3, AAC, ATRAC)
   
5. Copy to external device: flash drive, portable media player, external hard drive, “USB Mass Storage Device”, Playstation Portable
6. DRM/copyright support: yes

-Pictures

1. Sources: CD, DVD, BD, internal hard drive, flash drive, Memory Stick card, CompactFlash card, SD card, portable media player, digital camera, external hard drive, webcam, “USB Mass Storage Device”, media server, Playstation Portable
2. Formats: JPEG, GIF, TIFF, BMP, PNG
3. Editor: EyeCreate (Playstation Eye required)
4. Copy to system: internal hard drive
5. Copy to external device: flash drive, portable media player, digital camera, external hard drive, “USB Mass Storage Device”, Playstation Portable

-Videos

1. Sources: CD, DVD, BD, internal hard drive, flash drive, Memory Stick card, CompactFlash card, SD card, portable media player, digital camcorder, external hard drive, “USB Mass Storage Device”, media server, Playstation Portable
2. Container formats: WMV, MP4, AVI, MPG
3. Video codecs: MPEG-4 SP, H.264/AVC, WMV, Motion JPEG, DivX, Xvid, AVCHD, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 PS/TS
4. Audio codecs: MP3, MP3 Surround, WAV, AAC/AAC LC, WMA, ATRAC, MP4A
5. Editor: EyeCreate (Playstation Eye required)
6. Copy to system: internal hard drive
7. Copy to external device: internal hard drive, flash drive, portable media player, digital camcorder, external hard drive, “USB Mass Storage Device”, media server, Playstation Portable
8. DRM/copyright support: yes (MPEG-4 and AVC only)

-Online Store

1. Payment methods: point cards/tickets, credit card
2. Downloadable games: Playstation 3, Playstation 2, Playstation, Playstation Portable games, arcade games (purchase)
3. Downloadable demos: Playstation 3 game demos (free), Playstation Portable game demos (free)
4. Downloadable patches/add-ons: Playstation 3 patches, add-ons (free, purchase)
5. Downloadable music: game soundtracks (free, purchase)
   
6. Downloadable videos: trailers (free), interviews (free), commercials (free), TV shows/anime (purchase), movies (purchase)
   
7. Other downloads: themes (free), wallpapers (free), interactive magazine (“Qore”) (purchase/subscription), software (free)
8. Video streaming: trailers (free), interviews (free), commercials (free), TV shows/anime (purchase), movies (purchase)

-Web Browser

1. Version: NetFront browser (PS3 version)
2. Price: free
3. Maximum number of tabs: 6
4. Image support: yes
5. Animation support: yes
6. JavaScript support: yes
7. Flash support: Adobe Flash 7
   
8. Adobe PDF support: no
9. YouTube video support: yes
10. Navigation: Sixaxis/DualShock 3, USB/Bluetooth keyboard, USB/Bluetooth mouse, other controller
11. Text input: virtual (on-screen) keyboard, USB/Bluetooth keyboard

-Communication

1. Send text messages to Playstation 3 users
2. Send pictures
3. Voice chat [x6 users maximum]
4. Video conference [x6 users maximum]

Technical Specifications
Processors (Collectively Sony/Toshiba/IBM “Cell Broadband Engine”)
-Main CPU: Sony/Toshiba/IBM “Power Processing Element” (PPE)

1. Cores: 1 (controls SPEs)
2. Process technology: 90 nm (20 GB/60 GB models)/65 nm (40 GB/80 GB models)
3. Speed: 3.2 GHz
4. L2 Cache: 512 KB

-Other CPUs: Sony/Toshiba/IBM “Synergistic Processing Element” (SPE)

1. Cores: 8 (2×4 rectangular grid) (1 core kept as spare)
2. Process technology: 90 nm (20 GB/60 GB models)/65 nm (40 GB/80 GB models)
3. Speed: 3.2 GHz
4. L2 cache: not applicable

Graphics
-GPU: NVIDIA “RSX/Reality Synthesizer” graphics

1. Process technology: 90 nm
2. Speed: 550 MHz

Memory
-512 MB total memory

1. Main memory: shared
   
2. Graphics memory: shared (up to 480 MB)
3. Texture memory/framebuffer: unknown

Storage
-Internal data storage

1. Standard 2.5″ SATA hard drive: 20 GB/40 GB/60 GB/80 GB

-External data storage

1. USB flash drive
2. USB hard drive (supports FAT32)
3. Flash memory (Memory Stick, CompactFlash, SD)
4. USB digital camera/camcorder
5. USB media player (music player, video player)
   
6. Generic USB device

-Disc drive

1. Load type: slot-loading
2. Game disc formats: Playstation 3 game disc (12 cm BD/BD-DL), Playstation 2 game disc (12 cm DVD/DVD-DL), Playstation game disc (12 cm CD)
3. Standard disc formats: BD-ROM, BD-R/RE, DVD-ROM, DVD±R/RW, DVD-Video, DVD-Audio, AVCHD Disc, DSD Disc, DualDisc, CD-ROM, CD-R/RW, CD-Audio, Super Audio CD, CD-DA, Photo CD

Ports and Peripherals
-Bluetooth

1. Bluetooth standard: 2.0 +EDR
2. Compatible with: Sixaxis controller, DualShock 3 controller, Bluetooth headsets, some Bluetooth phones

-Controller ports

1. Bluetooth 2.0 +EDR [x7]
2. USB 2.0 [x4 (20 GB/60 GB/80 GB models)] [x2 (40 GB model)]

-Card slots

1. Memory Stick (MS) card slot (40 GB/60 GB/80 GB models) [x1]
2. CompactFlash (CF) card slot (40 GB/60 GB/80 GB models) [x1]
3. Secure Digital (SD) card slot (40 GB/60 GB/80 GB models) [x1]
4. Playstation 2 memory card (external adaptor required)

-USB port [x4 (20 GB/60 GB/80 GB models)] [x2 (40 GB model)]

1. Version: 2.0
2. Compatible with: Sixaxis controller, DualShock 3 controller, keyboard, mouse, headset, media player, camera, camcorder, flash drive, external hard drive (supports FAT32), USB hub, USB flash media adaptor, Playstation 2 memory card adaptor, some Playstation 2 controllers (adaptor required), Playstation Portable, any “USB Mass Storage Device”

-Power ports

1. Power supply: internal universal power supply
   
2. Main power port

-Ethernet ports

1. 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet port [x1]
2. Internal Wireless-B/G adaptor [x1]

-Audio/video output ports

1. A/V output: multiple-A/V out (adaptor necessary) [x1], HDMI 1.3a [x1]
2. Video-only output: D-Terminal [x1]
   
3. Audio-only output: USB [x4 (20 GB/60 GB/80 GB models)] [x2 (40 GB model)], TOSLINK (optical) [x1]

-Proprietary accessory ports

1. Playstation 2 memory card slot (adaptor required) [x1 per adaptor]
2. Playstation 2 controller port (adaptor required) [x1 per adaptor]

Video Output
-Standard Definition (SD)

1. 480i (NTSC)
2. 480p (PAL/NTSC)
3. 576i (PAL/SECAM)
4. 576p (PAL/SECAM)

-High Definition (HD)

1. 720p (NTSC)
2. 1080i (NTSC)
3. 1080p (NTSC) (native)

-Aspect ratio

1. 4:3 (standard)
2. 16:9 (widescreen)

Audio Output
-Main audio

1. Channels: 2.0, 2.1, 5.1, 7.1
2. Standards: stereo (compressed), Dolby Digital (compressed), Dolby TrueHD (uncompressed)

-Other audio

1. USB headset [x4 maximum (20 GB/60 GB/80 GB models)] [x2 maximum (40 GB model)]
2. Bluetooth headset [x7 maximum]

Power Consumption
-On

1. 170-200 watts (20 GB/60 GB models)/120-140 watts (40 GB/80 GB models)

-Standby

1. 2.5 watts

Other Information
Current Retail Prices
-20 GB model (discontinued): $500
-60 GB model (discontinued): $600
-40 GB model: $400
-80 GB model: $500 ($400 in September 2008)

Technical Issues
-System failure rate: less than 1%
-Most common technical problems

1. None

Season 2 teaser trailer:

Celestial Being’s Gundams have been redesigned as follows:

00 Gundam       Cherudim Gundam              Arios Gundam                 Seravee Gundam

Close-quarters/melee    Sniper/long-range               Transforming/aerial               Heavy assault/support

Some more screenshots (click to enlarge):

“World End” by FLOW (J-Rock)

“Prisoner of Love” by Utada Hikaru (J-Pop)

[Video taken down by YouTube]

“Chain” by Back-on (J-Rock)

“Shuo Ai Ni” by Jolin Tsai (Taiwanese Mandopop)

If you like to have any of these songs, simply leave a comment here, or send me a message via AIM.

Forget your typical MMOs. Hell, forget “ground wars” in CoD4. This is huge. How huge? 256 human players in each battle. No, not AIs. 256 actual people, arranged into two teams of 128. It’s an online shooter where strategy definitely prevails.

-256 human players per game
-8-person squads directed by squad leaders
-Wide variety of soldier classes
-Strategy-based first-person combat
-Advanced tactics such as air strikes and paratrooper reinforcements
-Vehicles ranging from APCs and tanks to aircraft
-Huge fighting landscapes

Here, see for yourself (from Sony’s E3 2008 press conference).

MAG was announced at this year’s E3 Expo. It will be released exclusively for Playstation 3 in 2009.

Features
Controller (wired/wireless controller)
-Maximum number of controllers

1. Wired controllers: 3 (up to 4 with external USB hub)
2. Wireless controllers: 4
3. Total: 4 wired/wireless

-Technology

1. 2.4 GHz wireless “Digital Spread Spectrum” (connection) (wireless only)
2. USB (connection) (wired only)
   
3. Vibration feedback

-Power source

1. AA battery [x2] OR
2. Rechargeable battery pack [x1]

-Accessories/Inputs

1. Keyboard (“ChatPad”, USB)
2. Universal remote (“Universal Media Remote”, infrared)
3. Driving wheel (USB, USB wireless)
   
4. Joystick (USB)
   
5. Musical instruments (USB/USB wireless)
   
6. Headset (USB/wireless) [x4 maximum]
   
7. Webcam (“Live Vision Camera”, USB)
8. Other 3rd-party accessories

Home Menu (Xbox 360 Dashboard)
-Main menu

1. Accessible in-game: partially
2. Interface: tabs (“Blades”), “Twist” (coming soon)
   

-User profile

1. Personal picture
2. Profile information
3. Add online credits (“Microsoft Points”)
   

-Games

1. Plays Xbox 360 game discs
2. Plays some Xbox game discs (via emulation)
3. Plays downloaded games (via emulation)

-Music

1. Sources: CD, internal hard drive, flash drive, portable media player, external hard drive, “USB Mass Storage Device”, media server, Playstation Portable
   
2. Formats: MP3, WMA, AAC (optional update required)
3. Play in-game: yes
4. Copy to system: internal hard drive (only WMA at 192 kbps)
   
5. Copy to external device: no
6. DRM/copyright support: no

-Pictures

1. Sources: CD, internal hard drive, flash drive, portable media player, digital camera, external hard drive, “USB Mass Storage Device”, media server, Playstation Portable
2. Formats: JPEG
3. Editor: no
4. Copy to system: no
5. Copy to external device: no

-Videos

1. Sources: DVD, HD-DVD (external HD-DVD drive required), internal hard drive, flash drive, portable media player, external hard drive, ‘USB Mass Storage Device”, media server, Playstation Portable
2. Container formats: WMV, MP4, AVI, MOV, ASF
   
3. Video codecs: MPEG-4 SP/ASP, H.264/AVC, WMV, DivX
   
4. Audio codecs: MP3, AAC, Dolby Digital, WMA
5. Editor: no
6. Copy to system: no
7. Copy to external device: no
8. DRM/copyright support: no
   

-Online store

1. Payment methods: point cards, credit card
2. Downloadable games: Xbox 360, Xbox games (purchase)
3. Downloadable demos: Xbox 360 game demos (free)
4. Downloadable patches/add-ons: Xbox 360 add-ons (free, purchase)
5. Downloadable music: none
6. Downloadable videos: trailers (free), TV shows (purchase), movies (purchase)
7. Other downloads: themes (purchase), gamer pictures (free)
8. Video streaming: none

-Web browser

1. Version: Unknown (Windows Media Center program)
2. Price: free (Media Center PC required)
3. Maximum number of tabs: unknown
4. Image support: yes
5. Animation support: unknown
6. JavaScript support: unknown
7. Flash support: unknown
8. Adobe PDF support: unknown
9. YouTube video support: unknown
10. Navigation: Xbox 360 controller
11. Text input: virtual (on-screen) keyboard

-Communication

1. Send text messages to Xbox 360 users
   
2. Send messages to Windows Live Messenger users
3. Voice chat [x2 users maximum]
   
4. Video conference [x2 users maximum]
   

Technical Specifications
Processors
-CPU: IBM “Xenon” processor

1. Cores: 3 (symmetrical)
   
2. Process technology: 90 nm (Core, Arcade models)/65 nm (Premium, Elite models)
3. Speed: 3.2 GHz
4. L2 cache: 1 MB

Graphics
-GPU: ATI “Xenos” graphics [x1]

1. Process technology: 90 nm
2. Speed: 500 MHz

Memory
-512 MB total memory

1. Main memory: shared
2. Graphics memory: shared
3. Texture memory/framebuffer: 10 MB

Storage
-Internal data storage

1. Standard 2.5″ SATA Hard drive (in proprietary casing): none (Core, Arcade models)/20 GB (Premium model)/120 GB (Elite model)

-External data storage

1. USB flash drive
2. USB hard drive (supports FAT32, HFS+)
3. Xbox 360 memory unit

-Disc drive [x1]

1. Load type: tray-loading
2. Game disc formats: Xbox 360 game disc (12cm DVD-DL), Xbox game disc (12 cm DVD)
3. Standard disc formats: DVD-ROM, DVD±R/RW, DVD Video, CD-ROM, CD-R/RW, CD Audio, CD-ROM XA, CD-Extra, JPEG Photo CD

Ports and Peripherals
-Infrared (IR)

1. Compatible with: Universal Media Remote, standard universal TV remotes

-Controller ports

1. “Digital Spread Spectrum” [x4]
2. USB port [x3]

-Card slots

1. Memory unit slot [x2]

-USB port [x3]

1. Version: 2.0
2. Compatible with: wired controller, keyboard, media player, camera, flash drive, external hard drive (supports FAT32, HFS+) USB hub, USB flash media adaptor, Playstation Portable, any “USB mass storage device”

-Power ports

1. Power supply: external
2. Main power port

-Ethernet ports

1. 10/100BASE-T Ethernet port [x1]
   
2. External Wireless-B/G adaptor (optional)

-Audio/video output ports

1. A/V output: multiple-A/V out (adaptor necessary) [x1], HDMI 1.2 (Arcade, Premium, Elite models) [x1]
   
2. Video-only output: none
   
3. Audio-only output: 2.5 mm audio jack (on controller) [x1 per controller]

-Proprietary accessory ports

1. Controller accessory port [x1 per controller]
2. 2.4 GHz wireless “Digital Spread Spectrum” (for controller, wireless headset, wireless racing wheel, etc.) [x4]
   
3. Memory unit slot [x2]

Video Output
-Standard definition (SD)

1. 480i (NTSC)
2. 480p (PAL/NTSC)
3. 576i (PAL/SECAM)

-High definition (HD)

1. 720p (NTSC)
2. 1080i (NTSC) (native)
   
3. 1080p (NTSC) (system update required)

-Aspect ratio

1. 4:3 (standard)
2. 16:10 (widescreen XGA)
   
3. 16:9 (widescreen)

Audio Output
-Main audio

1. Channels: 2.0, 2.1, 5.1, 7.1
2. Standards: stereo (compressed), Dolby Digital (compressed)

-Other audio

1. Wired headset (2.5 mm stereo jack on controller) [x1 per controller]
   
2. Wireless headset [x4 maximum]

Power Consumption
-On

1. 175 watts

-Standby

1. 3 watts

Other Information
Current Retail Prices
-Core model (discontinued): $280
-Arcade model: $280
-Premium model: $300 ($350 in August 2008)
-Elite model: $450

Technical Issues
-System failure rate: 20-33%
-Most common technical problems

1. “General hardware failure”/”Red Ring of Death” (fatal) (sometimes repairable)
   
2. System overheat (sometimes fatal) (repairable)
   
3. Scratched discs (fatal to affect discs) (not repairable)
   
4. Video output failure (sometimes repairable)
   
5. System bricked by update patches (fatal) (not repairable)
   
6. Disc drive tray jam (repairable)

Features
Controller (Wiimote, GameCube controller)
-Maximum number of controllers

1. Wiimotes: 4
   
2. GameCube controllers: 4
3. Total: 4 Wiimote/GameCube
   

-Technology

1. Bluetooth (connection)
2. Infrared (triangular motion sensing)
3. 3-axis accelerometer (force sensing) [x1]
   
4. Vibration feedback
5. Internal mono speaker [x1]
   
6. 16 MB internal flash memory (stores profiles)

-Power source

1. AA battery [x2] OR
2. Rechargeable battery pack [x1]

-Accessories/Inputs

1. Nunchuck
2. Classic controller
3. Keyboard (USB)
   
4. Gun peripherals (Wii Zapper, others)
   
5. Driving wheel (Wii Wheel, others)
   
6. Rotational motion sensor (Wii MotionPlus)
7. Sports controllers (racket, club, bat, glove)
8. Nerf controllers
9. Swords, shields, knives, etc.
   
10. Balance board (Wii Balance Board)
    
11. Microphone (WiiSpeak)
12. Other 3rd-party accessories
    

Home Menu (Wii Menu)
-Main menu

1. Accessible in-game: no
2. Interface: TV channels
   

-User profile

1. Personal avatar
2. Profile information
3. Add online credits (“Wii Points”)

-Games

1. Plays Wii game discs
2. Plays GameCube game discs (via emulation)
3. Plays downloaded games (via emulation)

-Music

1. Sources: SD card
   
2. Formats: MP3, AAC
3. Play in-game: yes
4. Copy to system: internal flash memory
5. Copy to external device: SD card
6. DRM/copyright support: no
   

-Pictures

1. Sources: SD card, e-mail
   
2. Formats: JPEG
3. Editor: yes
4. Copy to system: internal flash memory
   
5. Copy to external device: SD card
   

-Videos

1. Sources: SD card, e-mail
2. Container formats: MJPEG
3. Video codecs: MJPEG
4. Audio codecs: MP3, AAC
   
5. Editor: no
6. Copy to system: internal flash memory
7. Copy to external device: SD card
8. DRM/copyright support: no
   

-Online store

1. Payment methods: point cards, credit card
2. Downloadable games: Wii, GameCube, SEGA, N64, other games (purchase)
3. Downloadable demos: DS game demos (free)
4. Downloadable patches/add-ons: DS patches (free)
5. Downloadable music: none
   
6. Downloadable videos: none
   
7. Other downloads: additional menu channels (free), internet browser (purchase)
8. Video streaming: commercials, game trailers, interviews (free)

-Web browser

1. Version: Opera 9 (adapted for Wii)
2. Price: 500 Wii Points
3. Maximum number of tabs: 1
4. Image support: yes
5. Animation support: yes
   
6. JavaScript support: yes
7. Flash support: Adobe Flash 7
8. Adobe PDF support: no
9. YouTube video support: yes
10. Navigation: Wiimote, other controller
    
11. Text input: virtual (on-screen) keyboard, USB keyboard
    

-Communication

1. Send text messages to Wii users
2. Send pictures
3. Send avatars
4. Voice chat (coming late 2008)

Technical Specifications
Processors
-CPU: IBM “Broadway” processor

1. Cores: 1
2. Process technology: 90 nm
3. Speed: 729 MHz
4. L2 cache: unknown
   

Graphics
-GPU: ATI “Hollywood” graphics [x1]

1. Process technology: 90 nm
2. Speed: 243 MHz
   

Memory
-88 MB total memory

1. Main memory: 64 MB
2. Graphics memory: 24 MB
3. Texture memory/framebuffer: 3 MB

Storage
-Internal data storage

1. Flash memory: 512 MB

-External data storage

1. SD card slot (up to 2 GB) [x1]
2. GameCube memory card slot [x2]
   

-Disc drive [x1]

1. Load type: slot-loading
2. Game disc formats: Wii game disc (12 cm), GameCube game disc (8 cm)
3. Standard disc formats: none
   

Ports and Peripherals
-Bluetooth

1. Bluetooth standard: unknown
2. Compatible with: Wiimote (buttons/force sensing)
   

-Infrared (IR)

1. Compatible with: Wiimote (3-axis motion sensing)
   

-Controller ports

1. Bluetooth [x4]
2. GameCube controller port [x4]
3. USB port [x2]
   

-Card slots

1. GameCube memory card slot [x2]
2. SD card slot (up to 2GB) [x1]

-USB port [x2]

1. Version: 2.0
2. Compatible with: some controllers, keyboard, external LAN adaptor

-Power ports

1. Power supply: external
2. Main power port
3. Sensor Bar power port
   

-Ethernet ports

1. Internal Wireless-B/G adaptor [x1]
2. External USB-LAN adaptor (optional)
   

-Audio/video output ports

1. A/V output: multiple-A/V out (adaptor necessary)
   
2. Video-only output: none
   
3. Audio-only output: none
   

-Proprietary accessory ports

1. Wiimote accessory port [x1 per controller]
2. GameCube memory card slot [x2]

Video Output
-Standard definition (SD)

1. 480i (NTSC)
2. 480p (PAL/NTSC) (16:9 Anamorphic Widescreen)
   
3. 576i (PAL/SECAM)

-High definition

1. None

-Aspect ratio

1. 4:3 (standard)
2. 16:9 (anamorphic widescreen)

Audio Output
-Main audio

1. Channels: 2.0, 2.1
   
2. Standards: stereo (compressed), Dolby Pro Logic II (compressed)
   

-Other audio

1. Wiimote (internal mono speaker) [x1 per controller]
   

Power Consumption
-On

1. 18 watts

-Standby

1. 1.3 watts (“Standby Connect” mode off)
2. 9.6 watts (“Standby Connect” mode on)
   

Other Information
Current Retail Price
-$250

Technical Issues
-System failure rate: less than 1%
-Most common technical problems

1. System fails to read dual-layer Wii game discs (repairable)
   
2. Wiimote loses connection to system (repairable)
   

Which begs the question: Which console is the best? (DUN DUN DUN)

I know, I know, it’s the topic of tons of speculation and opinion. But there really is a need for an in-depth comparison between the three 7th generation game consoles. Even Cnet’s reviews don’t quite cut it when it comes to the big question above. So I’m going to take the responsibility upon myself and give you guys all the straight facts. Then I’ll answer that question. Simple as that. But it’s going to take a long time, and at least 3 posts in this blog, because I will cover a LOT of things about all three of them.

I’ve heard tons of stuff (some of which is just downright stupid) about the game consoles. Here are just a few things people have said:
-The PS3 is expensive
-The PS3 is not worth the money
-The Xbox 360 has the most good games
-The Wiimote is very innovative
-The PS3 has no games
-The Wii has Brawl, so it’s the best
-The Xbox 360 has Halo 3, so it’s the best
-The PS3 has good graphics
-The PS3′s graphics are crap
-The PS3′s graphics aren’t as great as people say
-The PS3 looks like a grill
-The PS3 is huge
-The Xbox 360 is cheaper than the PS3
-The Xbox 360 looks like an oversize external hard drive
-Blu-ray is stupid
-Blu-ray movies are expensive
-PS3 games are expensive
-I hate Microsoft
-I hate Sony
-I hate Nintendo
-The PS3 does a lot of things with the PSP
-Only snobby rich people buy PS3s.
-A lot of Xbox 360s have hardware failures
-Wii sports gets boring
-PS3 games are expensive
-The Xbox 360 controller is the most ergonomic
-The PS3 controller fits the hand the best
-The PS3 controller has sixaxis
-What the heck is Sixaxis?
-The Wiimote could fly into your TV and break it
-Wii sounds like “wee”

So as you can see, many of these comments are opinion, some are true, several are false, and a few are just stupid. Want to know which ones are right, and which are wrong?

Stay tuned and find out.

The words “failure”, “expensive”, and “clumsy” come to mind (for some of us, at least). With the introduction of Vista, Microsoft hoped to build on the tremendous Apple-mashing success of Windows XP. Back in the day of XP, Mac operating systems posed almost no threat to Microsoft’s semi-monopoly over the OS (Operating System) market. Better yet, PC’s actually had versatility, high compatibility with other devices (printers, etc.), and efficiency. What happened to that? Now, Apple’s probably making more business off Vista than it is from its own OS X innovations. What comes to mind now? Maybe “The bigger they are, the harder they fall”?

Enough about XP and Vista. Ahem, the future? Well, Microsoft is already working hard to develop their next operating system. They’re currently calling the project “Windows 7″ (the developers will decide on an official name later), which is scheduled for release in 2009-2010.
And with all the criticism Vista’s getting, Microsoft’s going to have to prove that it’s grown up, and Windows 7 ought to do just that. Sleeker, more versatile, and less performance-hungry, Windows 7 will be able to run on those low-end computers that Vista simply cannot (Vista’s minimum requirements are quite demanding). At the same time, though, it will deliver gaming-grade performance to those who do have fast computers.

Although Microsoft’s CEO Bill Gates has been very careful about exposing its secrets, he has given some information about Windows 7 during international conferences, and has promised that it will “be lower power, take less memory, be more efficient, and have lots more connections up to the mobile phone”. And that is precisely what PC users need – an OS that works for everyone, whether you have a super-fast, or not-so-powerful computer.

To sum it up, here are some new features and improvements that you’ll see in Windows 7:
-Internet Explorer 8
-”Multitouch” interface for touch-screen monitors, countering Apple’s in-screen keyboard
-”Live Mesh”, for file-sharing/synchronizing
-Automated back-up
-HomeGroup, a new networking setup for easy media sharing
-Broad cellphone connectivity (load music, videos, pictures, and games to your phone)
-A new version of Windows Media Center, code-named “Fiji”

Here are some screenshots of Windows 7′s current development stage:
(Click to enlarge)

I’ll tell you.

First, we’ll begin with a brief history of wireless networking. Wireless-A, -B, -G, and -N are all part of the IEEE 802.11 set of standards for wireless communication, developed by the IEEE Standards committee (Wikipedia article for 802.11). They’re the ones who are cranking out all these wireless types and improving the wireless standard.

The first type of “wireless” that really caught on in the market was Wireless-B. It supported data transfers of up to 11 Mbps (which means it could move up to 11 Megabits of data per second). Not alot, but enough for most consumers to do basic tasks like accessing the internet. Then came Wireless-G, which kicked the speedmark up to 54 Mbps. Some later models even went up to 108 Mbps. Amazing, right? Now networks could operate at great speed without the hassle of wires.

But wait, we haven’t even gotten to Wireless-N now, have we? Wireless-N, the successor to B and G, can achieve a whopping 600 Mbps, has up to 15 times the range (broadcast radius) of Wireless-G, and has new features that make things like wireless gaming and media services much easier. These are the advantages Wireless-N provides.

Now you know what Wireless-N can do. But our second question was, “Do I need to buy it?” The truth is, probably not. Here’s why:

Even though home networking has sped up significantly in the past few years, the internet has not. Currently, the fastest local internet connection available for consumers (not businesses or universities) in the Bay Area is Comcast’s blazing-fast 16Mbps Service. But look, at 16 Mbps, your internet isn’t going to get faster just because you buy an N router. In fact, you will only notice the difference when you transfer data within your home network.
Let’s face it, though; most of us don’t have this extremely fast internet plan anyway. Most people have something like AT&T’s 1.5 Mbps or 3 Mbps service. At that rate, Wireless-B is more than enough.

So in the end, it’s your call. Do you need faster streaming to your laptop, XBox 360 or PS3? Do you have a large (huge) house (fortress/mansion) and need more range? If so, then maybe a $100-200 Wireless-N router is for you. But if you don’t do any high-speed video streaming or other advanced networking, there probably isn’t a need to upgrade at all.

The iPod, of course, is the most widely used digital music player in the world, and virtually commands the attention of most American teenagers.

So why exactly did you buy that iPod?
Does the iPod do more than other generic mp3 players? Does it support a wide range of digital music services and formats? Was it even cheap?

Sadly, the answer to those questions is: No.

Here are the facts.

1. Features
In truth, the iPod series boasts far less features than most other mp3 players. Does the iPod even have a built-in radio tuner or voice recorder to start with? For almost all other brands, features like these are inevitably standard. How about connectivity? Microsoft, Samsung, and Sony (as well as other companies) have several players that include Bluetooth, WiFi, or both built right in, while not a single iPod utilizes Bluetooth, and only the Touch includes limited WiFi. Can any iPod expand its data capacity? Of course not. Apple wants you to spend all your money on their products, not third-party hardware.

2. Sound Quality
If you want to defend the iPod’s quality, then please understand this: iPods, as well as all other digital music players, are limited in sound quality by the technical specifications of the music formats (for example, mp3 has a maximum stream rate of 320 kbps), so the iPod cannot really produce higher-quality audio than any other standard-format player. Because of this, audio output quality is mostly dependent upon the earpieces; it should be noted, then that iPods come with poor-quality earphones, while other companies like Sony include premium noise-cancelling earphones (or a Bluetooth wireless headset) with every Walkman player. Sure, you can improve the quality, but to do that you’ll have to spend alot more money.

3. Price
Finally, price is key. When shopping for mp3 players, the most logical thing to do is to find all the products that do what you want, then pick the best-priced, correct? It is obvious, however, that most people do not do this. When pitting the iPod Nano against other players with equal (or greater) specifications and capabilities, the Nano fails miserably in value, being up to 50% more expensive than players that do just as much. The same goes for other iPods, and their accessories, which are terribly overpriced.

That should suffice for this article about iPods. Next, I’ll write about iMacs and maybe the iPhone. Maybe Sony. Maybe Microsoft.

At any rate, thank you for reading. I will update my Buddy Info page when my next article is complete!