This morning , I came across USA Today’slist of TV shows that may not generate next year . With such a void opening up in the fall agenda , allow me to meekly suggest three discussion to any internet execs that may be reading : Gadgetbox : The Series . Eh ? Eh ? I expect we could get four or five seasons out of it , no problem . Just attach some more endowment : Aaron Sorkin , say — he ’s not doing anything flop now . clamant collision . Call me .
In which we bid adieu to the LameStation and welcome its successor
So long , 20 GB PS3 . News fare this past calendar week that Sony wasdiscontinuing the $ 499 20 GB modeling of the PlayStation 3 in the US ; that model had been objurgate in this very web log and elsewhere as an underpriced , underpowered LameStation that lack not only thecapacioushard drive outer space of its sr. sibling , but also wireless networking and flash card reader .
Seems the 20 GB ’s prominent comrade , the $ 599 60 GB model , was outsell the little feller by a charge per unit of 10 to 1 , so Sony ’s decided to put all their eggs in that basket … for now . Almost simultaneously came news thatSony was investigating the feasibility of producing a new , even big , 80 GB role model , no doubt spur on by Microsoft ’s leap to 120 GB of storage with the Xbox Elite . The news leant credence toan before leaked FCC filing(this , my supporter , is why Steve Jobs announced the iPhone six months early on ) reporting that Sony had sought favorable reception for an 80 GB reading .
Now if there ’s a central rule for store , it ’s this : like Jello chocolate pud , you’re able to never have too much . There ’s nothing surprising at Sony upping the capability ; the interrogation on everyone ’s psyche , though , will be the Leontyne Price point . Will we see the 60 GB drop to $ 499 and the 80 GB move into at the 60 GB ’s old $ 599 fleck ? Or will the 80 GB issue forth in at a yet gamey price ? The PS3 has had an upward fight since its launch , but more bang for your sawbuck could be just the shot in the arm it needs .
See , if I had the 80 GB exemplar , I could have probably match a few more cliches in that last contrast .
Format War: HD-DVD’s first birthday is a mixed bag
If you ’ve found yourself largely forgetful to the Format Warragingsomewhere far , far overhead , do n’t trouble yourself . or else of worry about the blow - by - blow accounts , countenance me just pass away along the highlight from the last week or so .
Yesterday , for example , mark HD - DVD ’s first natal day . Naturally , they celebrate with a cake in the form of Toshiba ’s raw HD - A2 player , an sticky carte du jour from Blu - Ray , andannouncing that they had deal 100,000 base - alone players(that issue does n’t include either the HD - DVD MBD - on for the Xbox 360 or PC HD - DVD driveway ) . Blu - Ray is behind in this department , having move only 25,000 resist - alone musician as of January , not include the PlayStation 3 ( which has trade over a million unit — shhhhh ) . HD - DVD has also been gaining in Europe , outselling Blu - Ray discs there by a rate of 3.5 to 1 .
For those that are still hoping to see some sorting of reconciliation , I would n’t hold your breather . But if you ’re looking to consolidate your loge , Samsungannounced that it would transport its Duo HD intercrossed playerthis holiday time of year . Sammy ’s player would be the second cross to ship , after LG ’s BH100 was announced in the beginning this year . No cost point has yet been revealed , but anticipate it to cost you at least a cool grand to make everybody ( register : Sony and Toshiba ) happy .
Meanwhile , let me suggest to you my ownpersonalapproach for deal with the Format War : follow standard videodisc on a 27 ” standard definition CRT television . Trust me , it lookssweet .
Nobody puts baby around the corner
RIDGID ’s SeeSnake microisn’tjustfor determine around corners . Which is good , since I object in principle to spending more than $ 200 on something I could do with a $ 10 periscope from Toys ‘ universal gas constant ’ Us . This matter , however , is a periscopeon focal ratio .
At first , I was satisfied imagining the time of day my buddies and I could while aside play SWAT with this chump , but then , apropos of nothing , I concocted the following scenario . countenance ’s say — completely hypothetically , of course — that you ’ve handle to yet again knock your roommate ’s keys underneath the refrigerator . And let ’s say that saidhypotheticalroommate is a tad confused . No trouble with the SeeSnake : just feed its 3 foot cable under the fridge and show him on the 2.5 ” color LCD video display that his key are just o.k. , albeit still adhere under the fridge ( that ’s where the optional hook attachment come in handy ) . I also might advocate not telling your roommate that you keep throw his keys under the fridge just so you’re able to justify your $ 200 super - periscope .
Anyway , if you ’re the eccentric of person who feels better offnotknowing what precisely is hang around in all those corner and crannies scatter about your dwelling , you may be skilful off avoiding the SeeSnake — look , it ’s waterproofed up to 10 feet ? You involve thisnow . [ viaOhGizmo ! ]
Then , at the conclusion of theGadgetboxepisode , we ’d have a pull - back shot of our lonely poor boy standing atop his volcano resort , staring meaningfully up at the hoi polloi of genius above . And … credit . See you next week .
