Thursday, July 19, 2007

Xbox chief defects to games firm

Peter Moore, the head of Microsoft's gaming business, is leaving to join game maker Electronic Arts.

For the past four years Mr Moore has been the public face of Microsoft's Xbox and PC gaming business, and oversaw the launch of the Xbox 360.

He will join Electronic Arts as the head of its sports games division which makes some of its most popular titles.

He will be replaced by Don Mattrick, a former EA senior executive who has worked as a consultant at Microsoft.

The news about Mr Moore comes only weeks after Microsoft announced it would be spending $1.15bn to fix faulty Xbox 360 consoles.

Microsoft said nothing should be read into the timing of Mr Moore's departure.

On joining the game firm Mr Moore will receive a $1.5m golden handshake to offset future bonuses he was due from Microsoft.

At the EA division he will oversee the development of popular game franchises such as Madden NFL football, NBA Live and Fifa Soccer. About one-third of EA's revenue comes from sales of sports-related games.

Mr Moore, a Liverpudlian, joins EA shortly after a major re-organisation that saw it split into four divisions in a bid to become more competitive. In its last quarter, EA reported losses of $25m.

Before joining Microsoft in 2003, Mr Moore was president of Sega America and prior to that head of marketing at Reebok International.

He is scheduled to join EA Sports in September whilst Don Mattrick will be on Microsoft's fulltime payroll in August.

Xbox chief defects to games firm by BBC News

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Sony Ericsson W810i Phone (AT&T)

Sony Ericsson W810i Phone (AT&T)

Product Features and Technical Details

Product Features

  • Disc2Phone™ music copying software is supplied in the W810 kit and it’s easy to copy songs from your favorite CDs, and PC music folders
  • The built-in W810 2 megapixel digital camera with autofus takes excellent photos and when you need to catch some action, W810 has video too
  • Sharing images and other phone content is easy. Use Bluetooth™, or Multimedia messaging when you want to send images and video
  • Wherever you are, you have high speed access to the internet with EDGE technology
  • A full-function email client in your W810 gives you access to your inbox wherever you go

Dimensions

  • Size (LWH): 3.54 inches, 1.85 inches, 0.96 inches
  • Weight: 3.31569664902998 ounces

Product Features

  • Network Compatibility: GSM
  • Phone Book Capacity: 250 Entries
  • Minimum Rated Talk Time: 450 minutes
  • Minimum Rated Standby Time: 275 hours
  • Battery Type: Lithium Ion

Product Description

The Sony Ericsson W800 was a big hit. Now, here comes the sequel, the W810i. All the same great Walkman features are here, along with robust phone functions, but now you get quad-band GSM, a larger and brighter display, and perhaps most importantly, support for EDGE high speed data. In addition to a powerful and easy-to-use Walkman music player, the W810i boasts a 2-megapixel auto-focus camera with flash, a Memory Stick Duo card slot, Bluetooth, and a speakerphone. Simply put, this baby's loaded.

Design

The W810i follows a long tradition of beautifully designed and crafted phones from Sony Ericsson. The same candy-bar style that graced the W800 is here, as is the horizontally-oriented camera unit on the back of the phone, allowing you to hold the phone just as you would a camera when you're taking pictures. The W810i's screen sports 176 x 220 pixel resolution with support for 262,000 colors. Quick access buttons below the screen make it easy to control the phone's Walkman music features, while a five-way center button controls most of the phone's menus and features.

The W810i contains 20 MB of embedded memory, but as mentioned, a Memory Stick Duo slot is provided, and it also supports Pro Duo cards, giving you storage capacities of 2 GB and beyond. The phone ships with a 128 MB Memory Stick Duo card. Of course, there's also a port for the phone's included stereo headset. USB and infrared data ports are provided, as well, and the phone supports USB mass storage so you can simply plug the phone into your computer and drag and drop files into the phone's memory using the included Disc2Phone PC application. To top it all off, the W810i's camera flash can double as a flashlight.

Calling Features

The W810i's phone book can hold up to 1000 contacts with multiple entries per contact. A call list remembers your most recent missed, received and dialed calls. The phone's voice activated dialing makes calling your contacts as easy as saying their names, while the built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. Polyphonic ringtones are included and you can also use MP3 and AAC music files as ringtones. A cool application called Music DJ even lets you mix your own ringtones. Meanwhile, picture caller ID lets you assign a photo to specific callers. Similarly, a ringer ID lets you assign ringtones to callers. More ringtones are available from AT&Amp;T's MEdia NET mobile web service. For those times you want to keep things discreet, there's a vibrate ringer mode. And because the W810i is Bluetooth-enabled, you can use a variety of headsets and handsfree kits for total wireless freedom when you're on the go.

Messaging, Internet, and Tools

If you're looking for a mobile productivity partner, the W810i has you covered. Support is built in for sending and receiving pictures, text, graphics, and sound via MMS messages. When used in combination with the phone's built-in still and video camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging possibilities. The phone also ships with a built-in email client with support for POP3, IMAP4 and SMTP protocols, while the included Access NetFront Web Browser allows you to surf full HTML web sites. An included IM client supports AOL, Yahoo!, ICQ and MSN instant messaging services. T9 text entry, a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

Getting on the Internet is easy with the W810i, as it supports the GPRS protocol, as well as the high speed EDGE data protocol. When used with a AT&Amp;T data plan and the phone's USB or Bluetooth data capabilities the phone can be used as a wireless modem for laptops and PDAs.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the W810i, including a voice memo recorder, a to-do list, a calculator, a calendar and an alarm clock. The phone also supports the SyncML PC synchronization standard, which lets you synchronize your PC-based calendar, contacts, notes and tasks with your W810i.

Imaging and Entertainment

The W810i is a Walkman phone, and that means it offers a great mobile music experience. Load up your favorite songs in MP3 or AAC format on a memory card and listen to your heart's content. The user-friendly music player application also includes a "Music Mode" that shuts down the phone functions so you can listen on an airplane or anytime you don't want to accept calls. Meanwhile, Digital Mega Bass and stereo widening combine to enhance your listening experience. There's even an FM radio for catching the big game or your favorite stations. The radio also supports reception of digital song information from radio stations. To enjoy all your tunes, a stereo headset ships with the phone.

And don't forget about that powerful 2-megapixel camera, which features something most camera phones lack -- autofocus. Finally, you can get consistently great shots from any distance, shots that rival the quality of a dedicated digital camera. The camera also features an LED flash and a 4x digital zoom, and it can capture video, as well. Dedicated controls on the side of the unit will make you forget you're holding a phone in your hand.

And what about gaming? This phone is definitely geared for the mobile fun fanatic, as it supports widescreen and 3D games. The W810i comes preloaded with several games and more are downloadable from Sony Ericsson.

Vital Statistics

The Sony Ericsson W810i weighs 3.49 ounces and measures 3.94 x 1.81 x .77 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 8 hours of digital talk time, and up to 350 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

Product Description

W810 Walkman® is a stylish music player with everything you need for a mobile music lifestyle. An easy-to-use Walkman® digital music player with folders for artists and customized playlists. A 128 MB Memory Stick PRO™ Duo memory. And a stereo headset for quality listening. Enjoy hours of your favorite music wherever you go. And when you want quality entertainment around the clock, W810 has an FM radio with RDS.

Monday, July 9, 2007

BlackBerry 8100 Pearl myFaves Phone (T-Mobile)

BlackBerry 8100 Pearl
BlackBerry 8100 Pearl myFaves Phone

Product Features and Technical Details

Product Features

  • 1.3 mega pixel camera to capture those special moments
  • MP3 player lets you listen to your favorite music on the go
  • Menu and escape keys on the front of the device for easier access
  • Bluetooth technology lets you experience hands free and wire free features
  • Package Contents: phone,AC adapter,software CD,headset,USB cable,sim- card,get started poster,reference guide

Dimensions

Size (LWH): 4.2 inches, 2.0 inches, 0.57 inches
Weight: 3.17460317460317 ounces

Product Features

Network Compatibility: GSM
Phone Book Capacity: 500 Entries
Minimum Rated Talk Time: 165 minutes
Minimum Rated Standby Time: 75 hours
Battery Type: Lithium Ion

Product Description

This major update to the popular 7105t brings the BlackBerry experience to a whole new level. The BlackBerry 8100 Pearl is not only thinner and lighter, it also sports a memory card slot, a music player, and voice dialing. Other features, such as Bluetooth 2.0, EDGE high-speed data, and the popular SureType keypad make this a complete mobile office solution. And of course, legendary BlackBerry push email is fully supported on the BlackBerry 8100 Pearl.

Design

Like the BlackBerry 7105t, the BlackBerry 8100 Pearl is a departure from the form factor of previous BlackBerry devices. This BlackBerry handset is far more phone-like, and RIM's engineers have managed to fit a QWERTY keyboard onto the handset's slim frame. Each button on the keyboard shares two letters and the unit automatically determines which letter is the intended one based on what it predicts you are trying to spell. This unique predictive text technology, known as SureType, makes the BlackBerry 8100 Pearl's handset's diminutive size possible. SureType also learns the words you use most often, further enhancing your typing speed.

The BlackBerry 8100 Pearl sports a large 240 x 260 screen that supports over 65,000 colors-- plenty of real estate to view your e-mails, Web browser content, messaging sessions, and attachments. The venerable BlackBerry trackwheel has been replaced on this model with an innovative four-way trackball placed below the screen. On the rear of the handheld, you'll find a 1.3-megapixel camera and a self portrait mirror. The handheld's microSD memory card slot is located inside the device, behind the battery. There's also a standard 2.5mm headset jack that can be used with the included headset, as well as a mini-USB port for data connectivity.

Calling Features

All the calling capabilities folks have come to expect in a wireless phone are present in the BlackBerry 8100 Pearl. The handset's speakerphone makes it easy to use the device hands-free, or if you prefer, you can use a wireless headset via the BlackBerry 8100 handheld's built-in Bluetooth capability. A vibrating alert, speed dial, and a contacts list/address book (limited only by the unit's 64 MB of internal memory) are also included. Any of the phone's 32 included polyphonic ringtones can be used to create caller-specific ringers, so you can know who's calling without having to look at the handset. More ringtones are available from T-Mobile's t-zones mobile Web service. A new feature, speaker independent voice dialing, allows you to call contacts with the sound of your voice. No prior voice training is required; you can just say a contact's name to call them.

Messaging, Internet, and Tools

While the BlackBerry 8100 Pearl is a different kind of BlackBerry device, it still delivers the legendary BlackBerry e-mail experience. With BlackBerry service plans from T-Mobile, you can receive e-mails instantaneously from up to 10 e-mail accounts (personal and enterprise). With BlackBerry push technology, you don't need to retrieve your e-mail. BlackBerry devices are designed to remain on and continuously connected to the wireless network, allowing you to be discreetly notified as new e-mail arrives. Support is also built-in for viewing e-mail attachments (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, WordPerfect, and PDF formats).

If your company has a BlackBerry Enterprise Server installed, you can take advantage of the power of wireless calendar synchronization. Your calendar events are exchanged wirelessly and automatically so that your desktop calendar and BlackBerry handheld calendar are synchronized. All your Outlook meeting requests, changes, and updates are instantaneously synchronized instantaneously with your desktop. Make meeting requests, invite new attendees, and more, all on your BlackBerry 8100 Pearl. Users without BlackBerry Enterprise Server support can manually sync with their desktop calendars and contacts via Bluetooth or USB using the included BlackBerry Desktop Software.

Use the BlackBerry 8100 handset's Web browser to access the Internet from the palm of your hand. Browse Web sites, get up-to-date stock quotes, read the latest news, check weather reports, and more--all at fast speeds, thanks to support for T-Mobile's EDGE high speed data network. Instant messaging and wireless messaging are also built into the BlackBerry 8100 Pearl. The handheld supports AOL, Yahoo, and ICQ instant messaging, as well as SMS text messaging. MMS messages can be received and forwarded.

The BlackBerry 8100 Pearl ships with a number of tools, including a calculator, a calendar, an alarm, and a to-do list.

Imaging and Entertainment

The BlackBerry 8100 Pearl really kicks the fun up a notch with the inclusion of a 1.3-megapixel camera that features an LED flash and white balance controls. How about some music? The handheld's music player supports playback of your tunes in MP3, AAC, AAC+, and eAAC+ formats. The handheld is also compatible with Java application and game downloads (available via the t-zones service).

Vital Statistics

The BlackBerry 8100 Pearl weighs 3.16 ounces and measures 4.2 by 2.00 by 0.57 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3.5 hours of digital talk time and up to 360 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies. The phone comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Product Description

You'll be amazed at the small, sleek form factor of the BlackBerry Pearl. It's like no other BlackBerry. But it's more than just a new look. This BlackBerry delivers everything its predecessors delivered and a whole lot more. The BlackBerry Pearl offers new features never before seen in a BlackBerry like, a 1.3 mega pixel camera, voice recognition, and an MP3 player to name a few. Try it for a few hours and you are hooked!

BlackBerry 8100 Pearl myFaves Phone by amazon


Tuesday, July 3, 2007

Universal 'to revise iTunes deal'

Universal Music Group is reported not to be renewing its annual contract to sell its music through Apple's iTunes.

The New York Times quoted unnamed executives as saying that Universal had decided to have monthly deals instead.

That would allow Universal to remove songs by some or all of its artists quickly if there are disagreements on terms and pricing in the future.

But the San Francisco Chronicle carried a denial from Apple, which said that talks were still continuing.

"We are still negotiating with Universal," the newspaper quoted an Apple spokesman as saying.

"Their music is still on iTunes and their not re-signing is just not true," he added.

Flat charges

There have been disagreements between Apple and record labels in the past about the pricing and protection of the songs on iTunes.

Apple has stuck to a flat charge of 99 cents per song in the US since iTunes was launched four years ago.

But many of the labels are understood to want to be able to charge more for popular songs and less for songs that they are trying to promote.

There have also been objections to the copy-protection that iTunes uses, which means that iTunes downloads cannot be played on MP3 players other than Apple's iPod.

In February, Apple boss Steve Jobs called on labels to allow iTunes to remove the copy-protection. EMI has since begun to sell "premium" versions of its tracks through iTunes without copy protection.

But some labels have refused to have the protection removed and say that Apple should instead license its technology so that its copy-protected songs can be played on other devices.

Shares fall

Both Apple and Universal have much at stake if their relationship deteriorates.

If Universal pulls its catalogue from iTunes then the store would lose access to record labels that account for one out of every three new releases sold in the US, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

On the other hand, iTunes is by far the most popular download store, with a 70% market share, according to the NPD Group.

Reports of a dispute hit Apple shares on Monday - they closed down 78 cents at $121.26 on Nasdaq, although that was also linked to some disappointment about the first weekend's sales of its new iPhone.

iTunes Technology New by BBC News