“Sony's Playstation 2 Backwards Compatibility Patent: Don't Count On It - Technologizer (blog)” plus 1 more |
| Sony's Playstation 2 Backwards Compatibility Patent: Don't Count On It - Technologizer (blog) Posted: 15 Sep 2010 08:18 AM PDT
According to Eurogamer, the patent application calls for a device with its own DVD decoder and emulator, CPU, GPU, sound processor and memory. The adapter would read information from Playstation 2 discs, inserted into the PS3, and perform all the legwork, possibly sending compressed audio and video back to the PS3 via ethernet connection. This would allow PS2 support without the Emotion Engine, a processor Sony included in early PS3 models specifically for playing last-generation games. I wouldn't bet on this patent to become a real product for a few reasons. First, Sony has already dreamed up a better way. In 2009, Silicon Era spotted a patent for emulating the Emotion Engine on the Playstation 3′s main processor. Backwards compatibility wasn't explicitly mentioned, but it's hard to think of another purpose for this patent. I'm sure Sony would rather have a solution that doesn't require clunky additional hardware. More importantly, Sony has shown very little interest in reviving backwards compatibility. "It's not coming back," John Koller, Sony's director of hardware marketing, told Ars Technica in August 2009, after Sony introduced the PS3 Slim. He explained that most people are buying the console for Playstation 3 games and Blu-ray movies anyway. Finally, the other couple of interesting Sony patents to surface recently — a universal game controller that works with consoles from other manufacturers, and a use of 3D technology that shows different images to two players on the same screen — haven't become real products, either. As with all kinds of strange tech patents from big companies, few of them ever hit the big time. That said, if Sony were ever to sell one of these PS2 backwards compatibility adapters for the PS3, I'd probably buy one. 2 Comments Read more: This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| All Tom's Guide news of September 17, 2010 - Tom's Guide Posted: 18 Sep 2010 09:21 PM PDT Yesterday's features coming to a tomorrow near you.
Generally, console hardware gains new features over time, but that hasn't been the case with the PlayStation 3. When the PS3 first launched in late 2006, the flagship model had a 60GB hard drive, a memory card reader and hardware backwards compatibility with PlayStation 2 games. Cost cutting measures came in for the $599 console, and the features quickly axed were the memory card reader, and eventually all the dedicated hardware for PS2 games were stripped out. Now Sony could be looking at a way of reintroducing hardware backwards compatibility back to the PlayStation 3, as hinted in a recent Japanese patent filing. According to Siliconera, the proposed patent shows a diagram of hardware that has its own processor, a DVD decoder/emulator, sound processor, and graphic processor. Essentially, it sounds like a whole other console. Given that the original launch PS3 had PS2 processors inside, the need for dedicated hardware isn't surprising. Only time will tell if Sony moves forward with this backwards compatibility add-on for this generation. There's good news and bad news.
From the event, there's some good news and some bad news. The good news is that the Galaxy Tab will be available on all four major U.S. wireless carriers: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless. In Canada, Samsung announced that Rogers and Bell will be carrying the Galaxy Tab. The bad news is that there was no launch date, other than "in time for the holidays," or price attached to the device, and that's probably because that's now up to the carriers to decide on where it'll fit into their product lineups. The worst news of all is that the U.S. versions will not have the phone calling features of the Galaxy Tab that was first unveiled in Europe. This is a little strange considering that it'll be carried by the wireless carriers who would love nothing more than to charge you for more minutes; but on the flip side, those who have no interest in using this tablet as a phone can get this on a data-only contract. Now back to a piece of good news – those who have no interest in any sort of carrier subsidies or 3G data will be able to get a Wi-Fi only model eventually. Specs are the same as they were before: 7-inch 1024 x 600 WSVGA TFT, 1GHz Hummingbird Application processor with full support for Adobe Flash Player 10.1, rear 3 megapixel camera for taking pictures, front-facing 1.3 megapixel camera, weighs 13 ounces and is 12 millimeters thick. Even though Google said that Froyo isn't optimized for tablets, Samsung customized the email, calendar and contacts apps to rotate from portrait to landscape format through the tablet's accelerometer and then open as a split-screen. Samsung said that many Android Market applications will open in full screen. Non-scalable Android Market applications will be framed and centered on the Galaxy Tab screen. Shown off at the New York City event is the new Media Hub, Samsung's own content service that has signed deals with MTV Networks, NBC, Universal Studios and Paramount for new release films, next day TV episodes and even full TV show seasons. Also on demo were the peripherals that did have pricing attached: Keyboard Dock - $99.99 - Ergonomic, comfortable full-size keyboard with 7" Galaxy Tab replaceable inserts that doubles as a charger for power and synchronization of media and data - Dock contains convenient stereo audio output jack for connecting to speakers or home stereo Desktop Dock - $49.99 - Doubles as a Galaxy Tab charger using the Micro USB wall adapter that comes with the Tab; allows users to view movies, display as a digital picture frame and listen to music - HDMI output to view HD content on HDTV enabled with 1080p resolution and provides HDTV connection to play content from the Galaxy Tab to a television Car/GPS Dock - $99.99 - Conveniently positions 7" Galaxy Tab display screen inside car for turn-by-turn GPS navigation instructions and traffic updates - Attachable to either the windshield or car dashboard and rotates freely between landscape and portrait modes Disappointing news for Verizon and Sprint users waiting for Windows Phone 7 to launch before they upgrade: Neither will actually have the phones when the new OS launches this fall.
Verizon yesterday confirmed to Bloomberg that it wouldn't be offering Windows Phone 7 devices until 2011, despite the fact that Microsoft is expected to launch the OS in October. In an interview with Business Week, Verizon's Brenda Raney said the carrier does plan to support the new operating system and will probably release a phone in 2011. The news was surprising, considering Verizon was the first to offer Microsoft's Kin One and Kin Two. At first we figured this revelation about not supporting WP7 until 2011 had something to do with Verizon's lack of confidence in Redmond. After all, the Kin had to be pulled two weeks after it launched. However, it turns out that's not the case after all. Speaking to CNet, product manager Greg Sullivan said that Windows Phone 7 devices would be GSM only until 2011. "We had to make some trade-offs," Sullivan told CNET. "Even Microsoft doesn't have unlimited resources. We had to prioritize doing fewer things, really, really well." Microsoft decided to focus on GSM handsets because it's the dominant standard in the worldwide market. "For the worldwide market, the vast majority of phones are GSM phones, so we focused on GSM first and then plan to deliver an update that will have great CDMA support in the first half of 2011," Sullivan said. "That's device availability in the first half and we're very confident of that. That's probably a conservative estimate." Sullivan likened the decision to do GSM only for 2010 to the decision to omit copy/paste. "It's exactly the same decision dynamic," he said. "Look, we could do more things, or we could do fewer things really, really well. We chose intentionally to do fewer things really, really well." So no Windows Phone 7 devices for Sprint or Verizon until sometime next year. Are you willing to change to AT&T or T-Mobile just to get one? Let us know in the comments below! PSP Go not doing it for you? Well maybe you'll be tempted by the PSP2?
Shaun Himmerick of Netherrealm Studios yesterday surprised people by speaking about Sony's next iteration of the PSP, the PSP2. Though it's yet to be confirmed, Shaun said the PSP2 is real and that the Mortal Kombat developer has one in house. The comments were made during an interview with Industry Gamers. Himmerick was asked about the possibility that Mortal Kombat would hit the 3DS or PSP, and though he admitted that they didn't have access to a 3DS yet, he said they already had a PSP2. "We're not launching day one on all consoles like that," Shaun said. "We are looking at them; we have a PSP2 in the house and we're looking at the engine, like what can it support. Always a big thing for us is the performance. We're running at 60 fps, what can we do and do we have to build all the art assets over," he continued. Himmerick also confirmed previous reports that the handheld is very powerful. "PSP2 looks like it's a pretty powerful machine," he said, adding that they'll be lookin at the 3DS's power too, once they get one. "We don't have a 3DS system in house yet, but we're looking to get one, and we'll certainly look at what its power is." Sony has been very quiet when it comes to rumors about the PSP2 and this time is no different. When contacted by CVG, the company replied with a non-committal, "We haven't announced any news on PSP." Clean discs being called dirty.
It seems with any high profile game launch on the Xbox 360 comes some reports of hardware issues. Halo: Reach is one such major title, and now reports are flooding in of users unable to play the game due to getting dirty disc errors. Users reporting the error tend to be running the older 20GB Xbox 360, though other models of the original console, including the Elites, don't seem to be immune. Microsoft responded to the problem with no clear solution, but directed anyone experiencing the issue to contact customer support. We are aware of a very small number of customers reporting that their copy of Halo: Reach is causing a "disc read" error. Those affected should contact Microsoft customer support at 1-800-4MY-XBOX for troubleshooting assistance. (Source: Kotaku.) An ingenious way of incorporating the very-old with the not-so-old has resulted into something new and potentially wonderful for the world of aerogels. Aerogels, first invented in 1931, currently have a glaring limitation—they're too brittle. Researchers have tapped one of the oldest building materials known to man as a possible solution to this: cellulose, the substance that helps make plants solid. They first soaked cellulose in a solution containing iron sulfate and cobalt chloride nanoparticles, with the chemical sticking to the cellulose fibers. They then removed all the moisture by freeze-drying it, leaving behind a lightweight, porous matrix of solid fibers that can twist and bend easily—while retaining its strength.
The researchers have identified two applications for these new and improved aerogels. Removing most of the air inside a block by crushing it would result in a thin, magnetic 'nanopaper' that can support up to four hundred thousand pounds per square inch. The aerogel can also be used as a very efficient sponge. Since by volume the aerogel is 99 percent air, a 60-milligram piece of the aerogel can hold about a gram of water. Since the materials used are common and cheap, we may start seeing this new aerogel on the market soon. via Popular Science Motorola's tablet has been pushed back to "early 2011."
The news isn't surprising given that Google recently admitted that Android 2.2 (Froyo) wasn't optimized for tablets. Android 3.0 (Gingerbread) is also reportedly designed to build upon Froyo but still not quite tablet friendly. Android 3.5--dubbed as Honeycomb--is slated to not only be more geared for tablets, but may be ready for devices in the same timeframe as Motorola's tablet--early 2011. But despite that, Motorola's tablet will supposedly use Android 3.0. "I see the tablet market as an opportunity; no cannibalization with smartphones," Jha said. "iPad is more an extension of iPhone than a migration of a Macintosh. I think that is a natural expansion for us." Previous reports said that the Motorola tablet will feature Nvidia's Tegra chipset, a 10-inch touchscreen, front and back cameras, 3G, support for TV viewing, and an unspecified link to Verizon's FiOS fiber optic IPTV. Originally the tablet was slated to launch on Verizon this fall, however that's apparently changed. Verizon's 4G network is launching soon, but don't expect immediate access.
According to Verizon's roadmap, the 4G network uses a large chunk of 700 MHz spectrum Verizon previously acquired from the FCC. It will also use a flat IP addressing model--a method of identifying a device using symbolic names rather than the previous old-school telephone numbering scheme. The 4G network standard would also be IPv6 to support the vast number of new devices. Currently Verizon is beefing up the network's backbone by upgrading company cell sites to Gigabit Ethernet where possible. McMonagle said that the first phase of the 4G roll-out will support download speeds of 5 Mbps to 12 Mbps, and upload speeds of 2 Mbps to 5 Mbps. The company would also provide latency of 30 to 150 milliseconds. The first devices expected to initially take advantage of the new 4G network will be wireless cards for laptops. McMonagle said that monitoring devices--those that regulate equipment ranging from refrigerators to traffic sensors--would also be the first on the network, adding that the prices for such devices would drop quickly after hitting the market. Naturally the drawback to the Q4 2010 launch is that Verizon's 4G network won't be immediately available to smartphones. Current models do not access the 700 MHz frequency range--LTE phones are also in extremely short supply. With that said, compatible smartphones may not enter the market until 2012. Component suppliers say the next iPad will launch in Q1 2011.
The suppliers in question--TPK Touch Solutions, WinTek, Cando, and Cimei Innolux--are said to be validating "ultra-thin glass-based touch panels" with Apple, and are expected to start shipments at the beginning of the year. Given Apple's previous release history, it's likely that Steve Jobs will hold a press event to reveal the new model in January 2011. The next generation iPad device will then likely become available to consumers early April 2011--the current Q1 2011 release date may simply indicate that Apple and retail outlets will be stocked and ready for the official release. Currently the biggest rumor surrounding the iPad 2 is the inclusion of a front-facing and rear camera for FaceTime support. There's also indication that a 7-inch version will become available, however the new report stemming from overseas doesn't reflect such a device. That of course is subject to change. Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn talks about the company's shift to gadgets.
"People are willing to disproportionately spend for these devices because they are becoming so important to their lives," Dunn said in an interview. "We are really positioning the company to be the place where people can come and see the best of the connected world." Despite flat sales at stores open for at least 14 months, Best Buy reported a 61-percent jump in second quarter profit. The company is currently pulling back its offering of music and movie discs to reflect the general consumer's shift to digital mediums. The company is also shifting away from focusing on big-screen TVs and high-fidelity stereos, catering to the current desire for gadgets like Apple's iPad, Amazon's Kindle, Sony's PlayStation Move, Microsoft's Kinect, an a flood of tablets poised and ready for Q4 2010 and Q1 2011. But Best Buy isn't alone. Currently Target carries Amazon's Kindle, Sony's Digital Reader Touch Edition, and is expected to stock all six models of Apple's iPad sometime around October 2. A Walmart VP also stated that the popular chain would carry the iPad as well, possibly by the end of the year. If anything, Q4 2010 will be the season of new gadgets for young and old alike. Will the tablet sector eventually kill notebooks? Sorry, no boobs and gore on that sparkly new Windows Phone 7 device.
According to the guidelines, Microsoft will ban apps with images that are sexually suggestive or provocative (sexually provocative touching, bondage, masturbation, etc.), and with provocative images that reveal nipples, genitals, buttocks, or pubic hair. Apps also cannot depict or suggest prostitution, sexual fetishes, and more. As for violence, WP7 apps must not have realistic or gratuitous violence including decapitations, impaling, gore, blood splatters, blood spurting, and blood pooling. Guns and weapons cannot be pointed toward the user and/or audience (there goes FPS games). Additionally, apps cannot contain strangulation/choking, people or creatures on fire, cruelty to animals, audio of humans or animals suffering--the list goes on. Microsoft also wants to make sure developers understand that Windows Phone 7 isn't a clone of the iPhone. "If an application depicts any mobile or wired telephone, handheld PDA, or any other data and voice communicator, it must be either generic or a Windows Phone device," the company states. To read the entire list of rules, download the PDF here--a final version of the WP7 toolset can be downloaded here. The Marketplace is scheduled to go live in "early October." So that's how the other side games! We can't stand cheating, but we've got nothing against distracting your opponent to take his mind out of the game. That's not playing dirty, that's just good strategy. Still, we can't imagine how crazy things would get if we had flatbed trucks filled with bikini-clad women and marching bands at our disposal. The pizza delivery guy we could probably do, if we were really committed to the play, but our skills just can't match up to a man brave enough to use threaten a Snookie-strike. Video credit: Funny or Die (via Kotaku) Russia is said to be developing a smartphone with two screens. The device sports one concave display on the front and a second convex display on the back. Unless you speak Russian, this video of Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and state technology official Sergei Chemezov having a nice wee chat probably won't mean much to you. However, you don't have to speak Russian to know that the device they're manhandling towards the end of the clip is like no other cell phone we've seen before. Медведеву показали первый российский 4G телефон Gizmodo translators say the device the lads are discussing is Russia's first domestically developed 4G phone, and as you can see from the prototype, it will have two displays. Nothing about availability is mentioned but we do know the device is to be manufactured by Russian telecom firm Yota. It's also not clear if both the displays will be touch sensitive or if the forward-facing display will be the only input method. What would you like the second display to be used for? Let us know in the comments below! This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
From the wild world of Sony video game patents comes a little adapter box that can supposedly run Playstation 2 games when attached to a Playstation 3.
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