AMD and Blizzard Entertainment announce strategic Partnership

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AMD today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Blizzard Entertainment that will allow AMD to bundle Blizzard’s best games across all ATI Radeon graphics products.
As the exclusive graphics sponsor for BlizzCon 2008 in Anaheim, Oct. 10-11, AMD will treat gamers to the new graphics capabilities of the ATI Radeon HD 4800 series in all PCs for game play at BlizzCon. Read more

Posted on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:26:39 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Alienware Hangar18 HD Entertainment Center Review

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ThinkComputers published a review of the Alienware Hangar18 HD Entertainment Center.

Quote from the review: "Home theater PC's have become very popular lately. It seems almost everyone I know has been taking their old computers and turning them into media machines. Well what if you want the best media machine money can buy? Read more

Posted on Mon, 19 May 2008 13:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Wii Too: Conspiracy Entertainment Announces Cocoto Kart Racer for Wii

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With the big expectations for the Mario Kart game on the Wii console it’s no surprise that other Kart racing games are coming to the Wii. Conspiracy Entertainment announced today that it would bring Cocoto Kart Racer to the Wii.

The premise of the game is that the holy cauldron of Cocoto has disappeared and the only way to get it back is to win a series of Kart races against other opponents with the winner getting the cauldron. Players can choose from 12 different characters, 12 different karts and play different modes including Championship, Time Challenge or Multiplayer. Read more

Posted on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:52:47 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Sony Online Entertainment to be part of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

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Sony does a bit of restructuring. Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today that Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) will report to Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, SCEI, effective April 1, 2008.

The new structure is designed to mutually benefit both companies by further accelerating the PlayStation business through SOE's strong online gaming expertise. Read more

Posted on Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:46:59 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

CEA Says Demand for Entertainment and Data will Drive Smartphone Sales

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According to CEA, the guys behind the annual CES show, consumer demand for entertainment and data services will continue to drive smartphone sales. CEA released a new study today called Wireless Phone Data and Entertainment Services, which found that 40% of American adults plan to purchase a new wireless handset in 2008.

The study shows that only 11% of adult owners say they own a smartphone, but CEA says that number will grow in the future. "While smartphones were once mostly for business use, they are becoming mainstream, as new wireless services like navigation and Internet access are included in more handsets," said Steve Koenig, CEA's Senior Manager of Industry Analysis. "These devices will slowly but surely supplant standard handsets." Read more

Posted on Thu, 6 Mar 2008 12:37:02 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Family Entertainment Game Sales Grew 110% in 2007

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The Entertainment Software Association announced today the results of data gathered by the NPD Group. The report shows that “Family Entertainment” game sales grew by 110% in 2007. The best selling game title of the year was Halo 3.

"The video game industry set the pace over all others in 2007, with record-breaking sales, off-the-charts consumer demand, and innovation reaching from galactic exploration to guitar simulation," said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the ESA, the U.S. association representing computer and video game software publishers. "On average, an astonishing 9 games were sold every second of every day of the year." Read more

Posted on Fri, 25 Jan 2008 09:11:50 CST | by Shane McGlaun

In-car Entertainment? Bring your own, Industry says

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By Georgina Prodhan, European Technology Correspondent

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Car travelers should get used to plugging in their own entertainment gear as all but luxury automakers give up a decades-long struggle to build in the latest audio and video equipment. Read more

Posted on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 02:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 Review

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Our review partner Digital Trends tested the Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 keyboard and mouse. Microsoft put a hefty price-tag of almost $300 on this keyboard and mouse. Check out the review to see if it is worth that much money.

Quote from the review: "Microsoft has introduced a “kitchen sink” keyboard and mouse combo that is one of the most feature-rich and high tech keyboard-mouse combos we’ve ever tested. Read more

Posted on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 05:10:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Nokia Predicts Future of Entertainment

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Nokia is predicting that by 2012 25% of entertainment will be created and consumed within peer communities. The phenomenon is dubbed circular entertainment and was identified because of a global study.

The study was carried out by The Future Laboratory and included interviews of supposed trend-setting consumers from 17 different countries. Mark Selby, Nokia vice President of Multimedia says, "We think it will work something like this; someone shares video footage they shot on their mobile device from a night out with a friend, that friend takes that footage and adds an MP3 file - the soundtrack of the evening - then passes it to another friend. That friend edits the footage by adding some photographs and passes it on to another friend and so on. The content keeps circulating between friends, who may or may not be geographically close, and becomes part of the group's entertainment." Read more

Posted on Mon, 3 Dec 2007 09:56:12 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Off Beat Black Friday Sale at Entertainment Earth

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Niche stores also have interesting Black Friday sales going on, not just the big guys like Wal-mart, Circuit City and Best Buy. If you're into anime, sci-fi, collectibles, or mint condition figurines you should not miss the Black Friday sales at Entertainment Earth.

You are starring right now at the "Please Teacher Mizuho Kazami Dessert Time" statue, which is on sale for $34.90 ($40.09 savings). Read more

Posted on Thu, 22 Nov 2007 22:52:47 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Sony Computer Entertainment America Announces Holiday Software List

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Today Sony Computer Entertainment America announced its 2007 holiday software lineup for PS3, PSP, and PS2. The list has over 100 first and third party games coming in time for holiday shopping.

"This holiday season we are offering our largest line up of quality software and hardware products to meet every taste, lifestyle and budget," said Scott A. Steinberg, vice president, product marketing, SCEA. "Triple-A masterpieces such as Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction and bundles such as the Daxter(TM) PSP(R) Entertainment Pack and the SingStar PlayStation(R)2 Pack, will demonstrate SCEA's commitment to providing consumers with the most diverse software and hardware on the market today." Read more

Posted on Thu, 8 Nov 2007 11:19:33 CST | by Shane McGlaun

Entertainment on Web could bloom with Strike

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By Steven Zeitchik

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - The last time the Writers Guild of America went on strike, restless viewers turned to cable, sending the category into a growth spurt that continues to this day. Read more

Posted on Fri, 2 Nov 2007 10:00:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Polk Audio I-Sonic Entertainment System 2 Announced

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Polk Audio recently announced an update to its I-Sonic Entertainment System called the I-Sonic Entertainment System 2. Polk says the new I-Sonic has audiophile grade sound and it is the first radio that allows listeners to buy the music they hear on HD Radio using the iTunes tagging technology.

The system uses four speakers to deliver room filling 360-degree sound and uses a patented PowerPort bass venting design for powerful bass. The second generation HD Radio tuner is joined by an iPod dock hidden on top of the device. Read more

Posted on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:31:21 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

SE2 Labs Announces the ITC One Home Entertainment Solution

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SE2 Labs announced a strange new product today called the ITC One. The ITC One is an integrated theater console (ITC, get it) that they bill as the world’s first personalized, fully integrated, one-box home theater solution.

SE2 Labs says this is the launch of an entirely new class for electronic devices. Custom installers or end users can design a personalized system from the SE2 website. The components can include: Microsoft X-Box 360, X-Box 360 HD DVD Player, Nintendo Wii, DirecTV, High-Def TiVo, Dish Network DVR, national cable providers DVR, including Comcast, Time Warner, Cox Cable and many more, AMX Netlinx Control System, High-End Digital Surround Processor, Bryston Pre-Amp Processor with full digital outputs, IcePower High-End D-Class Amplifiers, High-End Video Processor, Front Touchpanel Screen, Apple Video iPod with Dock, proprietary Remote Control, Power Conditioning, Transparent Cabling and Cable Harness and an Anti-Noise and Vibration System all in one box. Read more

Posted on Thu, 6 Sep 2007 12:53:37 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Nokia, Microsoft to boost Mobile Entertainment

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HELSINKI (Reuters) - Mobile-phone giant Nokia will start to use Microsoft's copy protection software to boost the use of wireless entertainment, like music and videos, the two companies said on Monday. Read more

Posted on Mon, 6 Aug 2007 02:28:56 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Paleo Entertainment Licenses Crytek's CryENGINE 2 for FPS title

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While you may have never heard of Paleo Entertainment before, any gamer worth his salt ahs heard of Crytek, the makers of Far Cry. Paleo Entertainment is announcing today that they have licensed Crytek’s CryENGINE 2 for a new and original FPS PC game called “Merchants of Brooklyn.”

The concept are pictured here has a cartoonish feel to it, but using one of the most visually impressive engines around will probably mean more realism in the finished game.

Paleo certainly cant be accused of copying anyone else’s game with “Merchants of Brooklyn” which is described in this way on the Paleo website: “The Merchants of Brooklyn (M.O.B.) is a First Person Shooter single player/multiplayer game that takes place during 3100 A.D. Play as Matteo Savio from a young boy named Matty in Brooklyn to Dr. Savio, PHD - Director of Genetics on Planet Paleo as he makes his way from day to day MOB life, Scientific Education and Galactic adventures.” Read more

Posted on Wed, 4 Jul 2007 12:00:00 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Sony Online Entertainment Announces Development of new EverQuest II Expansion

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Today Sony Online Entertainment is announcing that a new expansion is under development for Everquest II called rise of Kunark. Rise of Kunark is the fourth expansion pack for Everquest II and is expected to launch on or around Nov 13 of this year at both retail stores and via download for $39.99.

Buyers that get the game in the retail store will also receive the base EQII game as well as the new expansion and the three previous expansion packs as well as a cockatrice house pet. Your guess is as good as mine is on the house pet. Read more

Posted on Thu, 10 May 2007 12:22:49 CDT | by Shane McGlaun

Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000 Review

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BlueTomorrow reviews the Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000.

Quote from the review:
"The Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000 has a sleek design, unique features, impressive range, unheralded battery life and most importantly a competitive price (the product includes both the Bluetooth keyboard and mouse for less $ than the Logitech diNovo Edge). Read more

Posted on Tue, 8 May 2007 00:55:00 CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

BitTorrent Entertainment Network Launches Today

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BitTorrent evolves to a commercial media download service today.

The BitTorrent Entertainment Network will offer about 3,000 new and classic movies, thousands of TV shows, about 1,000 PC games and 1,000 music videos.
BitTorrent still continues to offers user uploaded video content as well. Movies are only sold as 30 day rental, which is similar to what Amazon Unbox is offering.
Bram Cohen, co-founder and inventor of BitTorrent says: "We are not happy with the user interface implications of digital rights management, or D.R.M. It’s an unfortunate thing. We would really like to strip it all away." This sounds a bit schizophrenic to me.

I am also not quite sure if the P2P advantage of the content distribution is going to fly for paid content. I can imagine that consumers do not see the point to share their bandwidth for something they have to pay money for. I think the motivation is more compatible with the community feeling of sharing illegally copied content. Read more

Posted on Mon, 26 Feb 2007 00:44:12 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

QM-Entertainment Stylish iPod nono Speaker Dock

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Dutch QM-Entertainment made some waves with their motion controlled alien looking PC speakers. They also will be introducing a stylish and compact iPod nano (new) speaker dock.

The iPod nano dock is powered by USB or Batteries (4xAAA) and also has a line-in to connect other audio devices. These QM-Entertainment dock are about 2 CD covers thick. Read more

Posted on Mon, 18 Dec 2006 13:15:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr

Motion Controlled Speakers by QM Entertainment

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Question Mark Entertainment offers the futuristic looking Motion Speaker.

With a wave of your hand you can adjust the volume or tune in to a different FM radio station. All under a soft ambient glow - how nice is that?
The Motion speaker can be powered via USB, 4 AA batteries of 6V Power adapter.

QM Entertainment is shipping the Motion speaker starting next week in some European countries for 79.95 Euro (~$100). Read more

Posted on Fri, 10 Nov 2006 10:00:00 CST | by Luigi Lugmayr