Archive for July 18th, 2008

Microsoft E3 2008 press conference wrap-up

Friday, July 18th, 2008

The new Xbox 360 dashboard

(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET News)

The E3 conference opened Monday in Los Angeles with a press conference from Microsoft. Here are some highlights.

Microsoft showed off first-ever game play footage from the post-apocalyptic title Fallout 3 and announced that there will be downloadable content exclusive to Xbox Live. We saw real-time action from Resident Evil 5, shipping on March 13. We got a peek at the new co-op feature in the game, where players will be able to team up and make their way through together. Developer Square Enix also made announcements that included the release of four titles for Xbox 360 including Final Fantasy XIII.

roundup
Complete E3 coverage
Expo is no longer a huge free-for-all,
but that doesn’t mean Microsoft
and others aren’t making noise.

As for console exclusives, we saw in-game action from Fable 2, shipping in October. Players will be able to seamlessly invite other friends who are also playing the game. Finally, we were blown away by the impressive game demo of Gears of War 2 shipping November 7. The game actually looks better than the original and will feature a five-player online co-op mode.

Microsoft will be releasing a new dashboard interface this fall that incorporates an avatar system–the Xbox answer to Nintendo Mii characters. The new feature allows you to join up with other friends to form a “party,” a group of up to eight people where you can share multimedia items or start a game. A new mode called Primetime will actually incorporate real-life TV shows like 1 vs. 100 and allow Xbox Live members to play and watch these game shows and possibly even win real prizes.

Microsoft also announced …

Warner to offer cheaper Blu-ray movies later this year

Friday, July 18th, 2008
<i>300</i> is one of the movies that will feature a lower price tag in the fall.

300 is one of the movies that will feature a lower price tag in the fall.

(Credit: Amazon)

As much as we complain about the high prices of standalone Blu-ray players, in some ways the high prices of Blu-ray movies are even more frustrating. Today, Warner Home Video has taken …

Nvidia targets graphics technology at Intel Nehalem

Friday, July 18th, 2008

Update at July 15, 3:00 a.m. PDT with additional information and corrections concerning the Intel-Nvidia dispute.

Nvidia said Monday that its multichip technology will be architected to work on Intel’s upcoming Nehalem chip platform.

Nvidia SLI technology supports multiple graphics boards

Nvidia SLI technology supports multiple graphics boards.

(Credit: Nvidia)

This announcement may help Nvidia to work around a standoff with Intel

Nvidia cuts prices on GTX 260, 280 graphics boards

Friday, July 18th, 2008

Nvidia has slashed the price of products with its newest GTX 260 and 280 graphics processors only a few weeks after it launched the chips, in response to stiffer competition from Advanced Micro Devices’ ATI unit.

Nvidia said Sunday night that the GeForce GTX 280 is now available for $499 …

Sun, Fujitsu unveil quad-core Sparc64 chip, servers

Friday, July 18th, 2008

Sun Microsystems and Fujitsu have announced a quad-core version of the Sparc64 processor and servers to that will use the chip.

Fujitsu–which manufactures and designs the Sparc64 processor–along with Sun unveiled the M4000, M5000, M8000, and M9000 enterprise servers that use the new quad-core Sparc64 VII chip. The two companies …

Microsoft cuts price of Xbox 360

Friday, July 18th, 2008

Microsoft on Sunday cut the price of its best-selling Xbox 360 Pro model game console with a 20GB hard drive from $349 to $299.

Microsoft on Sunday unveiled an Xbox 360 with a 60GB hard drive. It’s expected to go on sale in August.

(Credit: Microsoft)

The company also

Microsoft E3 2008 press conference wrap-up

Friday, July 18th, 2008

The new Xbox 360 dashboard

(Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET News)

The E3 conference opened Monday in Los Angeles with a press conference from Microsoft. Here are some highlights.

Microsoft showed off first-ever game play footage from the post-apocalyptic title Fallout 3 and announced that there will be downloadable content exclusive to Xbox Live. We saw real-time action from Resident Evil 5, shipping on March 13. We got a peek at the new co-op feature in the game, where players will be able to team up and make their way through together. Developer Square Enix also made announcements that included the release of four titles for Xbox 360 including Final Fantasy XIII.

roundup
Complete E3 coverage
Expo is no longer a huge free-for-all,
but that doesn’t mean Microsoft
and others aren’t making noise.

As for console exclusives, we saw in-game action from Fable 2, shipping in October. Players will be able to seamlessly invite other friends who are also playing the game. Finally, we were blown away by the impressive game demo of Gears of War 2 shipping November 7. The game actually looks better than the original and will feature a five-player online co-op mode.

Microsoft will be releasing a new dashboard interface this fall that incorporates an avatar system–the Xbox answer to Nintendo Mii characters. The new feature allows you to join up with other friends to form a “party,” a group of up to eight people where you can share multimedia items or start a game. A new mode called Primetime will actually incorporate real-life TV shows like 1 vs. 100 and allow Xbox Live members to play and watch these game shows and possibly even win real prizes.

Microsoft also announced …

Warner to offer cheaper Blu-ray movies later this year

Friday, July 18th, 2008
<i>300</i> is one of the movies that will feature a lower price tag in the fall.

300 is one of the movies that will feature a lower price tag in the fall.

(Credit: Amazon)

As much as we complain about the high prices of standalone Blu-ray players, in some ways the high prices of Blu-ray movies are even more frustrating. Today, Warner Home Video has taken …

Nvidia targets graphics technology at Intel Nehalem

Friday, July 18th, 2008

Update at July 15, 3:00 a.m. PDT with additional information and corrections concerning the Intel-Nvidia dispute.

Nvidia said Monday that its multichip technology will be architected to work on Intel’s upcoming Nehalem chip platform.

Nvidia SLI technology supports multiple graphics boards

Nvidia SLI technology supports multiple graphics boards.

(Credit: Nvidia)

This announcement may help Nvidia to work around a standoff with Intel

Nvidia cuts prices on GTX 260, 280 graphics boards

Friday, July 18th, 2008

Nvidia has slashed the price of products with its newest GTX 260 and 280 graphics processors only a few weeks after it launched the chips, in response to stiffer competition from Advanced Micro Devices’ ATI unit.

Nvidia said Sunday night that the GeForce GTX 280 is now available for $499 …