Sony’s EyePet to be Released in US
Sony Computer Entertainment has revealed that its new virtual game EyePet will be available to buy in the US before the end of the year.
The new concept allows gamers to use the Playstation (PS) Eye camera to bring a digital pet to life.
Users can interact with the PS pet on their screens by making movements and sounds, which the PS Eye is able to detect.
The style of an EyePet can be changed by colouring the fur and providing new clothes, while challenges can be completed to help virtual pets’ intelligence and athletic ability increase.
Sony explained: “EyePet players will learn to care for their new pet, including teaching, feeding, and playing with them.”
Although a release date or price has not yet been set, it is expected that the manufacturer will launch the product in time for Christmas.
The game will be available as a stand alone product as well as part of a bundle with the PS Eye.
Mark Rodgers, Sony Computer Entertainment America’s senior producer, recently told Joystiq that the most popular online games for the PS3 is Confrontation.
Read More»US Consumers Want One Mobile Device, Research Shows
Nearly half of US gadget lovers are looking for a single device which can cater for all their needs, a new study has shown.
A survey by Data Development Worldwide (DDW) showed that 40 per cent of American consumers would prefer to access all of their digital requirements via one product.
DDW’s research, which questioned US consumers who were likely to purchase a mobile device during the next three months, showed that smartphones and ultra light laptops ranked highest in people’s wish lists.
Full-sized laptops, GPS devices and netbook computers made up the rest of the top five.
Although respondents said they wanted versatility from their next buy, satisfactory performance and an affordable price were other important factors in influencing their choice.
Chip Lister, managing director of DDW, said that the product which will dominate the market will have “the right mix of capabilities delivered at the right price”.
The study showed that Apple’s iPhone 3GS was the best example of a product offering these services.
Features include GPS navigation, a personal music player, mobile email and a touchscreen.
A study by market research firm Gartner predicts that the number of consumers using phones for location-based services across the world is expected to double during 2009.
Read More»Palm Pre Proving Popular in US
Palm Pre, a new smartphone which was launched in the US a month ago, is proving popular with consumers.
Michael Walkley, analyst at Piper Jaffray’s, said that wireless carriers are encouraging users to opt for the Palm Pre or iPhone over the BlackBerry.
He said that sales of the BlackBerry sales declined in June at the AT&T and Sprint outlets because of increasing competition in the smartphone sector with Research in Motion’s devices losing out to the Palm Pre.
Mobile-phones.co.uk said that Palm Pre should appeal to business clients and personal digital assistant users who want ‘a more robust typing solution for emails and messaging’ than offered by the iPhone or BlackBerry devices.
The camera flash is a feature which the other gadgets do not have, the website added.
According to Palm Pre, the phone is expected to be released in the UK and the rest of the world before Christmas.
Features on the new device include the slide out QWERTY keyboard, integrated GPS, a 3.1 inch touchscreen with a vibrant 24-bit color 320×480 resolution HVGA display.
The device also has a three-megapixel camera with LED flash and extended depth of field.
Read More»Man Wall launched in the US
A new home entertainment unit designed to fulfil the needs of American men has been launched.
The Man Wall has been created by Hybrid Space, a company from Florida specialising in futuristic furnishings.
Described by the firm as the “Taj Mahal of man room accessories”, the unit includes a full-size built-in beer keg complete with fridge and tap, four television sets, a microwave, cigar humidors, a five speaker stereo system, iPod dock and wine rack.
The designers claim that the product, which retails for nearly $15,000 plus shipping, is aimed at the consumer who does not have time to build his own man room and instead wants “instant gratification”.
Even though the unit crams in so many essentials, it is compact enough to fit in a room with limited space, the company explained.
For the man who wants that little bit more masculinity in his wall, a custom division is on hand to add any extras from a extra televisions and beer kegs to having a fireplace installed.
Other products from Hyprid Space include the Octodesk and Multimedia Fireplace.
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