scattered technology news

PlayStation Store Gets Revamped - Monday, March 31, 2008

There have been numerous rumors and mockups that have hit the web over the past few weeks regarding a whole new look that is coming to the PlayStation Network Store. We can set all those aside since SCEA has now officially put out a statement along with a few neat screen shots.

“The new design will deliver a hugely improved navigation system, much greater scope for categorization and a dynamic new user interface.”

According to PlayStation, the update will be released by mid-April, which is just two weeks away. A software update to the console will also accompany the new PSN Store. The bad news in all of this might be the fact that no new content will be available until this upgrade is pushed out. Fortunately this shouldn’t affect PlayStation Network game play, accounts, or virtual wallets.

Update: According to the PlayStation Blog, no new content will be added to the PlayStation Store for the next two weeks. (North America) However with the re-launch, plenty of new content will become available including a demo of the highly regarded Gran Turismo 5 Prologue!

Links: us.PlayStation.com

Pre-Order The DualShock 3 Controller - $49 - Tuesday, March 11, 2008

When the PlayStation 3 was originally launched Sony ran into a patent infringement with the rumble feature in their new controller. So instead of naming it the Dual Shock 3, which would be logical since it would have been a wireless version of the Dual Shock 2 for the PlayStation 2, they ended up naming the non-vibrating controller the SIXAXIS. When the patent issues were all settled by mid-2007, however the first Dual Shock 3 controller didn’t hit the market in Japan until November 2007. North America and Europe have an official launch date of April 15, 2008 at a MSRP of $54.99.

As always retailers are already taking in pre-orders for the controllers and Amazon seems to have a pretty darn good deal. Amazon is charging $49.99 for the Dual Shock 3 with free (super saver) shipping and no tax. In addition if you are worried the the price might drop, Amazon guarantees to offer you the lowest price it reaches between the time you place your order and the launch date. It’s a fairly good deal considering that the SIXAXIS Wireless Controller still runs at around $40-45. In addition you won’t have to wait for most games to become rumble-compatible. Over a hundred titles including best sellers such as Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots already fully support it, while other titles should get patches.

Pre-Order: Dual Shock 3 Controller - $49
Links: More DualShock 3 Info

foneGEAR Mini Blu Headset (Review) - Saturday, November 10, 2007

Every bluetooth headset hitting the market today seems to be getting new wild features, for example an LCD display for Caller ID. All the average consumer honestly needs is the ability to talk. foneGear has taken this approach with their Mini Blue (fG876) lightweight headset with no unnecessary extras. The Mini Blue isn’t exactly the most innovative feature-packed unit, but it’s simple and it works!

foneGear Mini Blu (fG976) Specs:

• Battery: 4 hrs talk | 75 hrs idle
• Range: 30 foot wireless range
• Wireless: Bluetooth 2.0 EDR+
• Weight: 0.4 oz (11g)
• Charger: AC Adapter

The layout of the Mini Blu is as simple as it can get. It’s got a multi-function button on the front which acts as the talk/end button as well as turns on/off the unit. On the side, you’ll find a plus and minus button to control the volume level. The volume down key doubles as the redial button as well as the mute control. Even after testing the headset with multiple phones, we still had issues getting the redial and mute functions to work properly. An LED indicator can be found on the front, which lights up red while charging and flashes blue while it’s on. The audio quality was decent, but not too great. The audio would crackle and the listener would also have a hard time hearing us if we turned up the volume too high. Despite this, the quality of voice calls on the Mini Blu is more than enough for most consumers.

The headset can be worn on either ear and was quite comfortable. The actual speaker portion is surrounded by a soft rubber, therefore will be easy on the ear even after hours of use. The headset is fastened to your ear with a thin plastic around-the-ear hook. With this hook, it is close to impossible for the headset to fall off even if you are actively moving. This can not be said for other headsets we’ve reviewed such as the Samsung WEP200, which is quite hard to keep in place. Read More

Free Ninendo Wii Jacket Accessory - Friday, October 5, 2007

Nintendo announced silicone “jacket” cover sleeves for the Wii remote control to protect the unit and offer a better grip. Starting today, all purchased consoles, additional remotes, or packages will include these jackets for safety purposes. In addition Nintendo is also offering FREE silicone jackets for current Wii owners. If you have a Wii, you’ll be able to order them by simply visiting Nintendo’s website, entering their console’s serial, and submitting the request. (100% free, no shipping costs, or hidden fees.)

“We’re always looking for ways to improve our products and make sure everyone has a safe and fun experience,” says George Harrison (NA senior vice president of marketing & communications)

This is the second free giveaway Nintendo has thrown to Wii owners, they previously provided replacement straps since many were snapping. Hopefully with a silicone jacket for additional grip and a stronger wrist strap, Wii remotes will remain in people’s hands and not end up sticking out of expensive HDTV sets. Wii owners should at least be glad that Nintendo is considerate enough to provide these extras for free. To order a jacket hit the link below to call 1-866-431-8367.

Update: Apparently this is going to cost Nintendo over $18 million! (But hey, it costs everyone else nothing!)

Links: Order Wii Remote Jacket

Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007 - $60 - Saturday, September 15, 2007

About three days ago, Microsoft announced a very unusual deal for students on Office 2007. Starting on September 20th, Any student with a valid “.edu” e-mail address will have the opportunity to purchase Office Ultimate 2007 for just $60. Offer ends in April 2008. For those of you thinking this is probably just another cut down version such as Home & Student Edition ($100), which has only the basic for processing, spreadsheet, and presentation applications, WRONG! The downloadable Office Ulitmate 2007 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Publisher, OneNote, Groove, and InfoPath! Although you probably won’t be using half those applications, we recommend going with this offer.

If you wish to grab this offer it’s available on TheUlimateSteal.com. As for those of you who wish to use an alternative to avoid even the $60, we would recommend OpenOffice which includes just about all the programs you would ever need and is completely open source, therefore free.

P.S. Don’t try lying to get this offer since Microsoft will charge the full $679 price if your student enrollment fails to validate!

Links: TheUtlimateSteal | Compare Office 2007 Editions

Tendon Cables (Review) - Thursday, August 30, 2007

Having stared at all of the displays for what seems like an eternity, trying to determine which one has the best image quality, you think you’ve finally make up your mind and walk over to a store representative. You tell him you came in looking for a new Hi-Def TV, and that you’ve made up your mind; you want that brand new 55″ Plasma from Samsung next to the Sony. Upon hearing this, the representative musters the most horribly insincere smile you’ve ever seen, as he tries to decide how gullible you are. A second later, he turns, walks a few feet and stares at the rack in front of him.

“Sir, if you want the best out of your expensive new TV, I recommend that get these cables,” he says, holding up a $150 HDMI cable from Monster.

“And of course, you’ll also need a few of those if you want to get the best image quality out of your DVD player, sir” he continues, pointing at a set of $90 component cables, also from Monster.

At this point, the representative should be talking to himself, while you’re a few aisles down looking at the far better value. A quality alternative which gives the same bang for less bucks is Tendon cables.

Tendon Cables
Tendon offers practically every cable imaginable: everything from computer cables to home theater cables. Every cable is made from high-grade materials and is manufactured in full compliance with the latest standards. On top of that, each cable is individually tested, and comes with a life-time warranty to assure customers that they are paying for a quality product that the company stands behind. Now, if you’d only read this paragraphs, you might be tempted to think that these cables come from the same price league as Monster’s cables. Fortunately, they’re not, and that’s what makes these appealing. Read More

Pre-Order Sony PSP 2000 - Saturday, August 18, 2007

This September, about two and a half years after the launch of the PlayStation Portable in the United States, Sony will finally release an improved model. The new model, PSP-2000, is not the second generation of the PSP, but is rather an enhanced version of the current unit. One of the most useful features in the new model is the ability to output photos, movies, and games onto a television screen at standard definition resolution (480p) with a set of AV cables. Next, to solve the unit’s bulkiness, Sony slimmed down the PSP-2000 by about 20% and made it 30% lighter. Although the unit is still way bigger than a iPod Video or iPhone, it’s a good improvement.

On the technical side, the internal RAM has doubled from 32 to 64MB requiring less loading cycles. Although the new CPU requires less power and UMD reading time has been reduced, the battery life remains the same since a smaller battery had to be used to fit into the slimmer unit. Some rumors indicate a possible brighter LED backlit screen, which could drastically improve battery life, however no official statement has been issued. Also as a bonus the new PSP can now be charged using a USB cable, though it will take 5 hours instead of 2.5 with a AC adapter. The WiFi switch and speakers have been repositioned for easier access and the IR has been removed because it was never used. One thing we didn’t like was that the UMD now literally “falls” into a slanted tray instead of using the loading mechanism which used to take in and pop out the disk.

The PSP 2000 “core package” will retail at $169 and will include only the console (black), a battery, and an AC charger. (Original PSP cost at $250 at launch.) In addition a Ice Silver PSP bundled with Daxter, a 1GB card, and a UMD movie will be available for $199 on the same day (September 10th). Retailers such as Amazon are already taking pre-orders for the PSP-2000 at no extra cost. Also in the situation that Sony drops the price before or within 30 days after launch, Amazon will refund the price difference!

Pre-Order: PSP Slim for $169 (NO TAX + FREE Shipping)
More: Ice Silver Bundle | Ceramic White StarWars Bundle

Proporta - Screen Overlay - Saturday, August 4, 2007

While LCD displays are getting larger and larger on portable devices, it is only getting easier and easier to scratch and damage them. We recently picked up a Sony DSC-T100 Digital Camera, which had one of the largest displays we had seen. While we were on the search for a screen protector, Proporta just happened to launch their new “Universal Screen Overlay” and they were kind enough to provide us a few samples.

Applying the screen protector was quite easy. We just took a few measurements and cut the screen overlay to the right size. We then cleaned up the dust and fingerprints on the LCD display using the included cloth. The screen overlay stuck right on and luckily there were no air bubbles. It has been about a month since we first applied the screen overlay and we’ve been quite impressed. The protector never fell off, slid, or even budget for that matter. The only problem we had was that the display was harder to see especially in sunlight. And despite the fact that the camera was handled roughly, being thrown in different backpacks, and placed in pockets it managed to protect the display a 100%! Read More

iPod Shuffle Giveaway - Friday, March 16, 2007

Since Skatter Tech is approaching our 300 post, we are offering all our readers a chance of wining a brand new Apple iPod Shuffle. The Shuffle can hold 1GB of storage (~240 songs), has 12hrs of battery life, is available in 5 colors, and costs $79. To enter our FREE giveaway contest you must meet all the requirements stated below and perform the following steps:

How To Sign Up:
1) Add Skatter Tech to your Technorati Favs
2) Leave a comment with the following info:

• a) Your Name (in the name field)
• b) Your Email (in the email field)
• c) Technorati User Name in the comments
• d) Color you want: Silver/Blue/Pink/Green/Orange

3) You are done!

Restrictions:
1) Must live within in the United States, Canada, or U.K.
2) Attempting to sign up more than once will result in disqualification.
3) You still may enter other future contests if you don’t win.

Other Info:
Contestants will be picked randomly until one is found that meets the requirements and has successfully completed instructions. We will not accept any entries made after 03/31/07. The winner of the contest will be announced on April 2, 2007. The winner will be announced here and contacted by the email address he/she has provided. Read More

Nintendo Wii Play - $50 - Sunday, February 11, 2007

For those planning on purchasing another remote to accompany your Wii, the “Wii Play” package might be right for you. The package will include a disc with nine mini games (similar to Wii Sports) and a Wii Remote (Wii Nunchuck not included). The regular retail cost for a Wii Remote is $40 and for an additional $10, Nintendo will throw in the mini games listed below.

Wii Play Games:

• Billiards - a realistic virtual wiirtual game of pool
• Find Mii - pick the right Mii in time (where’s waldo?)
• Shooting Range - aim and shoot targets on the screen
• Pose Mii - change your Mii’s shape to match a shadow
• Table Tennis - pretty much Wii Tennis, but on a table
• Laser Hockey - twist remote & shoot a puck for points
• Tanks - drive and destroy enemy tanks to win
• Fishing - catch the most fish or the largest to earn pts.
• Charge - ride a cow and knock down scarecrows (no joke)

In my opinion its always good to have some mini-games such as these around since it is an easy way to entertain guests. (it’s kind of hard to teach someone to play Zelda) All the games have single player and two player modes. Finally, as mentioned in the title, the Wii Play package will cost $50 and will be available online and in retail stores starting this week!

Links: Buy Wii Play | More Info
Related: FREE Wii Replacement Straps