Podcasting For Dummies

Just created a nice new blog focused on Podcasting. If you're new to this recent phenom, head over to Podcasting for Dummies and check it out. While your in a clicky mood, you should also check out my new homepage - UtahSaint. I'm a busy guy, I'm not sure how I do all this work...

Sony PSP UK release slips to August?

Sony PSP UK release slips to August? | The Register: "Sony PSP UK release slips to August?"

Amazon.co.uk still lists the UK debut of the Sony PlayStation as 24 June 2005, but that date was called into question today. If High Street retailer Dixons' PSP pre-order service is anything to go by, the eagerly anticipated handheld console will not appear here until August.

The Dixons service, launched today, is offering up to two PSPs per person for £179 a pop. The pre-order page on the company's web site lists 1 August 2005 as the "estimated" release date.

The PSP was originally to have made its European debut in March, though the release was put back to allow Sony to increase the number of consoles it had allocated to the US launch, which took place on 24 March.

By then, Sony had already admitted that the European release date had slipped, though at the time, it said the delay was more a matter of "a few months rather than a few weeks". The day before, Amazon.co.uk had update its PSP ETA to June, having already moved it from March to April.

Dixons' date suggests the wait will be even longer, right out into Q3. High Street games retailer GAME recently said in its latest financial outlook that it expects the PSP to appear in the second half of the year.

The HDTV Rundown

The HDTV Rundown What exactly is HDTV?
In a nutshell, high definition television (HDTV) is a form of digital television (DTV) that offers super-high resolutions for your viewing pleasure in a 16:9 format. This format is sometimes referred to as widescreen, but basically means that there are 16 units in width for every 9 units in height, compared to 4:3 for standard television. HDTV is different than the standard analog television that you are used to, in that it uses a bunch of 1s and 0s to pass information to your display (thus ‘digital”) and comes with a native 16:9 format. For specifics, you can either wait for the next installment of our eXpert Guide or check out the following site: http://www.hdtvinfoport.com/high-definition-television.html.

Bit blurred this one, but it shows the beta version of Mech Assault 2 playing on our Xbox XDK (Developer Kit)...
Jason, International Rockstar

The latest addition to our connected home, the Linksys wireless network stereo/media player... This bad-boy can grab any of the 45 Gig of music...
Jason, International Rockstar

Halo Limited Edition Xbox - in slime green. v.nice.
Jason, International Rockstar

Spyware Nation

Spyware NationThink your machine is infected with Spyware? check out the guys at spyware nation - they have the tools, they have the technology, they have the amazing insight into Spyware and Adware - I hate that stuff!

Halo Flu Anyone? Halo 2 Pre-Sells Top 1.5 Million

Halo 2 Pre-Sells Top 1.5 Million
"'Halo 2' is expected to be the biggest 24 hours for a video game title in retail history and is projected to bring in more revenue than any day one box office blockbuster movie in the United States," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of worldwide publishing and marketing for Xbox. "We call it the Halo 2 effect. We've even heard rumors of fan anticipation of the 'Halo 2 flu' on November 9."

Technology moves the mouse over to the couch

L.A. Daily News - Business: "In Los Angeles, Microsoft is expected to unveil Windows Media Center Edition 2005 for entertainment computers, as well as other software and gadgets that seek to simplify sharing video and music while enforcing copyrights.
Separately but not coincidentally, Intel Corp. will be in New York showing off prototypes for entertainment PCs.
The industry is touting such systems as the best example yet of the PC's convergence with couch-centric diversions -- a goal that has so far proven elusive despite repeated attempts.
This time, the stars may be aligning for success: Hollywood is opening its vaults of songs and movies to digital distribution. The hardware is better and cheaper. And new software makes using an entertainment PC as easy as clicking a remote control.
The high-performance computer systems being unveiled this week promise to serve music, pictures, video and live television to stereos, TV sets and other displays.
Depending on the setup, the PCs also can support high-definition digital TV, multiple analog TV streams, radio and other content.
They also will allow sharing over home networks and with portable devices."

Janet Jackson still holds TiVo title

Janet Jackson still holds TiVo title: "Eight months later, Janet Jackson's infamous performance during the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show remains the most replayed moment in TiVo history, a representative for the digital video recording company said.
One of Jackson's breasts was exposed at the end of her duet with singer Justin Timberlake, which Timberlake later blamed on a 'costume malfunction.'
The Federal Communications Commission recently ordered that Viacom, which owns the 20 CBS stations that broadcast the Super Bowl, pay a fine of $550,000 for allegedly violating indecency standards. Viacom is expected to argue that the incident was legal"

XboxTV?

Xbox 2 - Xbox TV?: "More news regarding Xbox 2, or Xenon as the code-name seems to have been confirmed. Spong.com posted an article about a new Microsoft job offering. The job details not only confirm the internal codename of the next generation Xbox console is Xenon, but it also reveals more information regarding Xbox TV. What is this you ask, a secret TV channel for Xfans?

Here's the info from the Microsoft Job Offering
Are you interested in using C# and .NET to improve the integrity and performance of servers? Want to help create a new feature for Xenon not available on any other platform? Microsoft Game Studios Publishing is looking for an SDET with server experience to help design and implement the new Xenon Title Server features, including: a spectator mode for many Xenon games, Xbox TV - with tickers at the bottom of the screen featuring recent high scores and game highlights, a tournament system, and tradable trophies."

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | US bill aims to jail film pirates

US bill aims to jail film pirates:
Staff at UK cinemas use night vision goggles to detect film pirates
Using video cameras to record films in cinemas would become a federal crime punishable by up to six years in prison under a proposed US bill.
It would also make it easier to prosecute internet users who illegally distribute music and copyrighted works.
The Piracy Deterrence and Education Act urges the FBI to warn people whose web accounts are used for illegal activity.
Passed on Tuesday by the US House of Representatives, the Senate is expected to consider the proposal next week."

Toshiba presses play on 60GB audio player | CNET News.com

Toshiba presses play on 60GB audio player
Toshiba on Monday announced in Japan that it's increasing the song capacity of its Gigabeat line of hard drive-based digital audio players.

The HDD Audio Player Gigabeat line will top out at 60 gigabytes and will be available before the end of the year in the country, along with 10GB and 20GB versions. The devices will come with a high-resolution 2.2-inch color display and a navigation system based on a plus-sign sensor on the front of the device.


Up to 15,000 audio files, in WMA or MP3 formats recorded at 128 kilobits per second, can be stored on the 60GB version, according to the company. Songs are transferred over a USB (universal serial bus) 2.0 connection.

The electronics company is one of the major suppliers for 1.8-inch drives used in many hard drive-based digital audio players, including Apple Computer's iPod, which tops out at 40GB.

The Original MTV Cribs Connected Home

Ever wondered where MTV got the "cribs" program from? Check out my Connected Home here - I'll quickly walk you through each room demonstrating some of the technologies I have in place...
Click here to check my Connected Home Video