Windows Phone 7 hardware announcement
Posted Monday, October 11, 2010 at 11:10 pm by Jason Cartwright 
Image source Engadget.
While your head was firmly pressed against a pillow, CEO of Microsoft Steve Ballmer has been busy on stage in New York talking about their new Windows Phone 7 platform. Included in the announcement was the revealing confirmation of WP7 hardware devices from manufacturing partners.
Update: Steve Ballmer has confirmed there will be 9 WP7 devices available at launch in the US.
Update 2: Long Zheng of iStartedSomething.com has all the details on the Australian range of Windows Phone 7 devices.
The full list of partners and devices is quite length, so here’s a quick overview.
- HTC Mondrian
- HTC Surround
- HTC Mozart
- HTC Trophy
- LG Quantum
- LG Optimus 7Q
- Samsung Omnia 7
- Samsung Focus
- Dell
- A full list of worldwide devices is available from WMPowerUser
Australian network partners include Telstra, Singtel (Optus) and Vodafone.
Choice is the main game here from Microsoft. While Apple provide consumers with an easy single choice for a phone, WP7 (and Android) runs on a variety of handsets to suit practically any use case. Naturally due to the iPhone’s success, we’re seeing a lot of companies ditching the physical keyboard for a virtual one as consumers become more comfortable with that concept. Now where there’s choice, there’s also complexity, so you’ll need to resort to the old spec sheet to compare the devices to choose the best one for your needs.
Without a doubt the best thing to do is to wait till the dust settles a little bit, before making your decision on a handset. There’ll be plenty of comparison tables over the next couple of days crowning one device ‘THE’ one to have.
Microsoft have made a couple of important announcements during the keynote. It’s now confirmed that EA will be making titles for the WP7 platform. Also based on feedback from early reviewers and developers, copy and paste is coming in 2011.
Watch the replay of Microsoft’s WP7 announcement @ http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/windowsphone/
PIXELS: your world pixelated
Posted Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at 6:26 pm by Jason Cartwright
This post is more of a public services announcement, when an awesome video online emerges that’s worth sharing, it should be shared. So here it is. A great new video from One More Production turns not only a city, but the world into a pixelated goodness. There’s references to a lot of geek history – Donkey Kong, Frogger, Space invaders and more. Bottom line, a lot of work went into this awesome video, so check it out.
Avatar Extended Collector’s Edition coming Nov 24, 2010
Posted Wednesday, October 6, 2010 at 5:25 am by Jason Cartwright
Not content with making more than 2.7 billion (with a B) at the box office, Twentieth Century Fox have announced global release details for Avatar Extended Collectors Edition. It comes in two forms, Blu-ray and old school DVD, each containing 3 discs.
The new updated versions with 16 extra minutes and an alternate ending will be available on November 24th, 2010. As someone who already owns Avatar on Blu-ray I really don’t feel compelled to buy the new extended version, is your neck twitching while you wait ?
AVATAR Extended Collection’s Edition: 3-Disc Collector’s Edition Blu-ray:
- Original Theatrical Version
- Special Edition Re-Release
- Collector’s Extended Cuto
16 more minutes and exclusive alternate opening - “Capturing Avatar“ An in-depth feature length documentary with James Cameron, Jon Landau and
cast and crew - Deleted Scenes – including over 45 minutes of new never-before-seen deleted scenes
Production Materials - Open “Pandora’s Box” and go deeper into the filmmaker process
- Interactive Scene Deconstruction: Explore the various stages of production through 3 different viewing modes
- Production Shorts: 17 featurettes covering performance capture, Scoring the film, 3D Fusion Camera, Stunts and much more
- Avatar Archives including original scriptment, 300 page screenplay and the extensive Pandorapedia
- BD-live Portal with additional bonus materials (UK, France, Germany, Japan, Australia & US)
AVATAR Collector’s Edition: 3-Disc Special Edition DVD:
- Original Theatrical Version
- Special Edition Re-release
- Collector’s Extended Cut
16 more minutes and exclusive alternate opening - “Capturing Avatar“ An in-depth feature length documentary with James Cameron, Jon Landau and cast and crew
- Deleted Scenes – including over 45 minutes of new never-before-seen deleted scenes
Download caps hurting VOD, unmetered partnerships needed!
Posted Sunday, July 11, 2010 at 12:22 pm by Jason CartwrightIn today’s hyper-connected world, the idea of having to drive to a video store the rent a movie and back the next day to return it seems pretty ridiculous, but in reality it’s often still the best way.
Video-on-demand movies rental services are everywhere these days, but how many people actually use them ? While the promise of having movies streamed instantly, no late fees and no car trips to deal with minimum wage video-store clerks sounds great, it’s often hamstrung by internet download usage caps.
Microsoft has the Zune Video Marketplace on Xbox 360, the Sony have Playstation Movie Store and TiVo has CASPA. Whilst there’s differences of price, resolutions, catalogue and instant-start vs download first, ultimately the only one that’s actually practical to use is CAPSA. Despite being a much smaller company, Hybrid Television Services, licencees of TiVo in Australia, have been able to successfully negotiate deals with key Australian ISPs to allow video downloads to go unmetered.
Sure CASPA only offer SD quality movies (at the moment), but wether its 2-3GB or 6-7GB your downloading, if it counts towards your monthly download cap, it will restrict your ability to use the service. By having an unmetered solution, the real cost of renting a movie is the rental price.
I’m a big fan of the 1080p instant-on streaming (when it works) that Zune offers, but realistically it means I have to then spend $5-$10 for additional data blocks. This means the real price for renting a movie wasn’t $5 or $6 but rather closer to $15. So the inconvenience of going to the video store may be a pain, but its still more economical that paying the real cost of convenience, plus you can rent the highest quality blu-ray version.
Given broadband data caps are a fact of live for most consumers, the real question here is how two of the largest tech companies, Microsoft and Sony, have been unable to achieve the same unmetered deals for all customers. Even ISPs like Westnet that have been able to negotiate unmetered Xbox demo’s, trailers, arcade games and updates have an exception that excludes Zune video.
If your hoping this madness will end with the introduction of the NBN, you’ll be sadly mistaken. The deals announced for the first rollout areas like Tasmania still maintain data caps. So the dream of instant on high definition video from the the comfort of your couch is still about as close as that magical unicorn with a money tree strapped to its back.
Leave a comment and let us know about your experience with VOD services and if you use them or still visit the video store.
Hands On: PS3 Movie Store (updated w/video)
Posted Thursday, May 20, 2010 at 2:51 pm by Jason Cartwright
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| Service | PS3 Movie Downloads | Xbox Zune Video Marketplace |
| Catalogue | Extensive | Growing, but limited. |
| Image/Sound quality | Excellent | Excellent |
| HD/SD | Both | Both |
| Rent / Buy | Both | Rent only |
| Pricing (A$) | $6.99 (HD) / $5.99 (SD) Older titles are $1 cheaper. |
$6.93 (HD) / $5.94 (SD) Older titles are A$4.95 (SD) |
| Time to watch after initiating playback | 48 hours | 24 hours |
| FAQ | PS3 FAQ | Zune FAQ |
While both services are similar in specs, the PS3 version is more expensive, however that’s counteracted by the extra time you have to watch the movie. Both options look and sound great and both can run into the occasional buffering even on ADSL2.
Personally I’m lucky enough to have both consoles, so it’s great to now have another option for on-demand digitally distributed movies. The choice of where to rent will likely come down to the library for me, given the experience is very similar. I do like that PS3 uses real dollar amounts rather than the Microsoft Points system on the Xbox 360.
For those who who have either an Xbox 360 or PS3, then your obviously stuck with what you’ve got, but those considering a console purchase, the good news is you now have a viable option regardless of whether you land in the Microsoft or Sony camps.
I don’t think many people will be buying movies on the PS3 Movie Store, cost wise you’d be much better off buying in a retail store – to buy HD movies cost A$32.99, while the SD version costs A$24.99.
One last thing you should be aware of is the data used when downloading / streaming a movie from the PS3 Movie Store. Whilst Microsoft has partnerships with a number of Australian ISPs to deliver the content unmetered, there’s no information about Sony doing the same. So make sure you check with your ISP, before burning through your data cap in an afternoon.
PS3 Movie Downloads are available now from the PlayStation store item on your XMB.
Video Walkthrough
iTunes Australia Day Sale
Posted Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 6:23 pm by Jason Cartwright 
January 26th is approaching fast. Australia Day is the day where we celebrate everything that makes this great country awesome. Apple and more specifically iTunes is having a sale to commemorate the occasion.
“We all know “our land abounds in nature’s gifts but this year it also abounds in music, movies, TV, audiobooks, apps and podcasts. At fair dinkum prices, iTunes has pulled together the best Australia homegrown entertainment to help you celebrate the national holiday and commemorate our local legends. Browse through and make your Australia Day one to remember.”
The reality is your not gunna save much, but hey, if its a couple of dollars that can go towards some drinks or meat for the BBQ, then that’s gotta be a winner.
