Yahoo! Go for Mobile 2.0 released, as Yahoo! and HTC sign mobile deal

Internet Search company Yahoo! kills two birds with one stone. First, is the release of the sleek, feature-rich Yahoo! Go 2.0 for mobile devices and two, a pioneering deal with smart phones outfit, HTC.
First and foremost, Go 2.0 service will enable users personalize their entire internet content such as news, email, photos, maps and search results on dozens of mobile devices from major manufacturers. Main features of Yahoo! Go 2.0 service include:
• Local & Map widget to access directory information.
• News, Sports, Entertainment, Weather and Finance widgets to receive and personalize content from countless sources and publish them via RSS.
• Flickr™ widget to enable photo-sharing, managing pictures from camera, as well as browsing and searching from millions of photos.
• Email Widget that synchronizes email messages from Yahoo! mail service. Users can compose or delete messages and view attachments through a single click.
Secondly, Yahoo! and HTC have signed a mobile deal where various Yahoo! services will run on the smart phone devices. HTC is a Taiwanese-based manufacturer of high-powered mobile devices. HTC is a development partner for the Windows Mobile operating system. It is on record as one of the world’s fastest rising tech companies, with an unparalleled product line. Furthermore, HTC boasts of manufacturing the world’s first 3G-enabled Windows Mobile smart phone.

Interactive PS3 Gaming to make you feel at ‘Home’ with Sony’s Game 3.0

Sony Computer Entertainment announces at the GDC that they will be venturing into the Social networking realm. Their chief gaming rivals, Microsoft and Nintendo have been running successful online communities for months. It may not really be a case of too little too late because Sony promises its users a one-of-a-kind gaming experience.
Exclusively for PS3 owners, Sony launches a networked, 3D avatar-based online community dubbed “Home”. This will enable gamers meet and interact at the “Central Lobby” via text, audio or video chatting. In addition to this, Home presents users with the ability to create personalized avatars and customizable scenic features including buildings, shopping areas, lobbies and large common areas. Participants can also view high-definition videos on the PS3 network. Moreover, the concept incorporates LittleBigPlanet, a community-based game that gives players the power to customize game levels, create their own game environment and share content.
From Sony’s keynote address at the GDC, Game 3.0 strives to improve social networking by combining creative game development, online collaboration and interactive entertainment. However, they have not said to what extent users may create their own content. It is believed that it won’t be as limitless as other virtual communities like Second Life, There.com among others.
It is clear that Sony is coming late in the 3D social scene, probably with a tinge of desperation. They still have a few problems to deal with such as the ominous PS3 shortage and their steep prices. In spite of these difficulties, Sony is upbeat that Game 3.0 is poised to take the market by storm. They are already the market leaders although PS3 lags behind PS2, Xbox 360 and Nintendo. The service will be available worldwide this fall as a free download.

New Line of JVC Everio Camcorders produce razor-sharp quality pictures

They are already the frontrunners in the world of camcorder hard drives, and hope to keep things that way. JVC has taken another giant leap with the release of the new and exciting line of four lightweight Everio camcorders. Loaded with a multitude of enhancements and built in camera functions, you may not require a PC to produce top quality DVD content.
The four camcorders include the GZ-MG130, GZ-MG155, GZ-MG255 and the pick of the line, the outstanding GZ-MG555. Common features for all camcorders is a 30GB hard drive, 2.7 inch widescreen LCD capable of real-time viewing on a 16:9 aspect ratio, SD Card slot, SDHC compatibility and docking station. Other magnificent innovations included are advanced imaging capabilities, one-touch DVD burning, inbuilt camera editing functions and PC backup facility. Of special mention is the revolutionary 5.37 MegaPixel CCD of the GZ-MG555. The following are some of the new features included in the Everio series:
• Gigabrid imaging engine that enhances picture quality.
• Wide-ranging CCD imaging sensors (680k pixels to 5.37 MegaPixels).
• Built-in editing camera functions that will let you easily organize your files as well as delete unwanted video portions using the Partial Delete function. Additionally is the Playlist function to sequence and organize files and Event Selection function that lets you tag files.
• Burn directly to DVD via the CU-VD20 SHARE STATION, DVD Burner and the PowerProducer™ 3 NE easy DVD burning software.
• Browse media content and enable DVD functionality using CyberLink’s PowerCinema™ NE.
Approximate prices:
• GZ-MG130: $499.95
• GZ-MG155: $599.95
• GZ-MG255: $699.95
• GZ-MG555: $899.95

Samsung set to ship Hybrid Hard Drives to the marketplace

From the look of things, the end is nigh for traditional power-hungry magnetic hard drives. Samsung is the undisputed global leader in Hybrid Hard Drive (HHD) technology. This new advancement is set for the consumer realm with the forthcoming shipment of the 2.5 inch MH80 range of hard drives. The HDD units have either 128 or 256 MB of flash memory and come in three capacities, which are 80GB, 120GB and 160GB.
An MH80 HDD is optimized for Windows Vista capable notebook PCs. The key benefits of HDDs include:
• OneNand flash cache and Microsoft’s ReadyDrive software, which translates to faster boot and resume times. Boot times are reduced to as much as 50%. This is made possible by Samsung’s innovative ReadyBoot technology.
• Increased battery life (upto 30 minutes) and better performance. HHDs consume between 70-90% less power than traditional hard drives.
• Unlike traditional hard drives, platter spin is eliminated. This effectively means that the hard drive remains idle most of the time. The ensuing effect is a significant drop in power consumption, and vastly improved reliability. Besides, the drive is less susceptible to shock damage and data loss.
*Price details not available

Rockstar Games unveils Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories for PlayStation®2

World-renowned games publisher Rockstar announces Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories for PlayStation®2. Vice City Stories has an “M” rating for mature and will retail for $19.99. There is no shortage of fun and excitement with over 15 hours of playtime in a metropolis rife with violence, drug barons, petty thugs, gangsters and all kinds of urban debauchery.
Compared to previous titles, Vice City Stories features impressive and much detailed character models, buildings, scenery and other visual elements. The city has a different feel this time round, with the public well aware of Vic’s past. Some will even recognize your character from previous missions and comment about your actions and achievements.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City stories is loaded with a new set of expanded gameplay features namely: New characters never seen before, new chapters, new vehicles, gameplay area that is twice the size of Liberty City, over 70 missions, remarkable soundtracks and the dazzling new Empire Mode to build your criminal empire.

A new enhanced TuneView remote for the Apple iPod

Keyspan updates its iPod accessories, with a powerful TuneView remote which has a color LCD screen and a wireless connection to manage your iPod. The TuneView remote sets itself apart from other iPod remotes, with the ability to add new functionality and updates by simply connecting to a PC (Windows XP) or Mac (OS X) using a USB connection. The new remote features faster scrolling, a much improved search facility from thousands of media files and an enhanced wake-from-sleep performance.
TuneView for iPod comes with a dock that connects an iPod to a TV or stereo output, and an RF remote to browse and manage your music and videos on iPod. Besides, it supports English, German, French and Spanish languages.
TuneView currently goes for $179 and is available at leading retail outlets. For more information visit TuneView for iPod.