Apple iPod touch

Source: Hardwarezone.com.sg

Besides audio and video playback, the iPod touch has moved into the realm of the Internet. Web surfing on Safari through a WiFi connection was a sweet surprise. The 'pinching' move coined by Apple on the iPhone works best here allowing you to zoom in and out of any website, launch multiple windows and also double tapping to get an up-close look into a particular section.

Surfing YouTube was also a really cool experience as your daily dosage of video clips are available just by soft tapping on the YouTube icon.

Till now, you can get by with simple touch gestures, but surfing the Net would definitely require more, so the iPod touch gets an on-screen keyboard as well. The soft keyboard was simple enough to get used to and quite sensitive. Better yet, it even featured predictive text. One of those things thing that sets the iPod touch apart from the iPhone is that double tapping the spacebar will result in entering a period and a space after - a really good way to save time.

For a flash-based media player, touch screen aside, the price tag for the Apple iPod touch is way too expensive at US$299 (S$498) and US$399 (S$698) for the 8GB and 16GB models respectively, when compared with its other iPod brethren.

In terms of features alone, the iPhone (US$399, 8GB) looks like a better all-in-one product, which also includes a built-in camera. Of course, iPhones are currently carrier locked devices with hefty restrictions, but the iPod touch can be freely used anywhere. In any case, the main reason to go for the iPod touch (or iPhone) is for its looks, and the envious looks you will get in return (don't even try to deny it). Once again, fashion overrules function to dictate price.

On the bright side, iPhone and iPod touch owners can look forward to the promised SDK (Software Development Kit) coming in February 2008, which will mean improved functionality and added third-party application support for these devices.

Beowulf

Plot: 6th Century Denmark, and the domain of King Hrothgar (Hopkins) is under attack from a hideous demon named Grendel (Crispin Glover). The heroic Beowulf (Winstone), a Geat warrior, arrives and vows to defeat Grendel. But if he manages that, there’s Grendel’s angry and seductive mother (Jolie) to contend with ...

The CGI of this movie looks great ... wonder if they are bringing in the 3D version of this movie???

New Microsoft Zune Players

Monday, November 12, 2007 06:00 AM PST
Source: PCWorld

It took them a while, but the folks at Microsoft have finally built a pretty good portable media player. With wireless syncing, a new touch-pad control to rival Apple's Click Wheel, and some interesting new features built into the Zune player software, this latest generation of Zunes should finally provide some real competition.

We've reviewed both the $250 80GB Zune and the $200 8GB flash-based Zune that released today. Both offer very good sound quality and a nice set of features beyond standard audio and video playback, though the 80GB player is probably a better fit among its competition. But it's the Zune software--and the changes to the Zune Marketplace and online environment that come with it--that may eventually have the biggest impact on the Zune's success.

The Zune Social

Yes, they're still going with that name. No, there still does not appear to be any ice cream. There is, however, some interesting stuff going on with the Zune Social. Microsoft has taken a page from its Xbox Live service for this next iteration of the Social.

Plug in a Zune player with the new software installed, and you'll have a chance to create a Zune Tag. This part of the service wasn't available for testing during our evaluation of the new players, but it should be online today. Zune Tags, much like the gamer tags in Xbox Live, collect information about what music you're playing and share it with friends.

Click through a Zune Tag online, and you'll find a list of that person's favorite songs. Click on any artist or album that appears, and you'll see which Zune Social members have it as a favorite. Then you can start to discover new music by clicking through to other songs that person likes. If you have a Zune Pass subscription, you should be able to download files to your Zune right there.

Eventually, the Zune Social could become something a little like Last.fm, with apps that let you embed Zune Tag info on Web, Facebook, or MySpace pages, all likely future additions. ...

Young Xbox 360 Gamers Face Restrictions

Forthcoming Xbox 360 controls will let parents limit the number of hours played by young gamers.

Saturday, November 10, 2007 07:00 AM PST
Source: PC World

In addition to restricting the type of games played, Xbox 360 will soon be able to limit the total number of hours played by younger gamers.

"As the customer base broadens, the demand for these kinds of capabilities does increase," said Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division.

Not unlike a similar feature found in Microsoft's Windows Vista operation system, the new timer will grant care-takers the ability to restrict total hours played on either a daily or weekly basis. Once the time limit is reached, the console will automatically turn off.

According to Bach, a restriction timer was the number-one most desired feature by parents in a recent study conducted by Microsoft. News of an Xbox 360 timer was first rumored in early September.