Filed under: Gaming
Nikko Citigroup upgraded its rating on Sony this morning in anticipation of it breaking even on PS3 costs earlier than expected. At the moment, Sony sells the PS3 at a loss. The respected group of analysts is now earmarking August as the milestone month. Sony’s CFO recently suggested that the move would occur in the second half of year — a date analysts then pegged at November. No details behind the new upbeat expectations were provided by Nikko CG. However, it’s safe to assume that the PS3’s break-even event will be realized by a switch to a sub-65nm cell processor, sub-90nm RSX graphics chip, or both, since the smaller chips are less-costly to manufacturer.
Update: Reader Yaddam205 just reminded us about the “Slim PS3” redesign rumored for release in Autumn. No guarantees but smaller, less power-hungry, and cooler running chips would certainly be at the foundation of such a rig.
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Filed under: Gaming
Nikko Citigroup upgraded its rating on Sony this morning in anticipation of it breaking even on PS3 costs earlier than expected. At the moment, Sony sells the PS3 at a loss. The respected group of analysts is now earmarking August as the milestone month. Sony’s CFO recently suggested that the move would occur in the second half of year — a date analysts then pegged at November. No details behind the new upbeat expectations were provided by Nikko CG. However, it’s safe to assume that the PS3’s break-even event will be realized by a switch to a sub-65nm cell processor, sub-90nm RSX graphics chip, or both, since the smaller chips are less-costly to manufacturer.
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Filed under: Household
If you’re both a coffee- and gadget-freak, this project by DIY’er Tim Hirzel will probably be a notably inspiring hack. By combining a fancy-pants Rancilio Silvia espresso machine, the multi-purpose Arduino micro-controller, a Wii nunchuk, and some seriously high-level hacking, Tim has created a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. The typically straight-up espresso maker is now controlled electronically, allowing integration of a calendar, sleep timer, wake-up alarm, and temperature regulation. The system also allows a user to time its functions (to get that perfect cup of espresso), and the nunchuk can be used to alter settings on the unit. Be sure and take a look at the video after the break to see this mod in action.
[Thanks, Russ]
Continue reading Rancilio’s Silvia espresso machine gets hacked via the Arduino and Wii nunchuk
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Filed under: Home Entertainment
For those of you lucky, lucky folks in Europe (or the UK, more specifically), it looks like your wait for the PlayTV rollout is coming to a close. According to Amazon’s British wing, you can now pre-order the PlayStation 3 add-on for £59.99 ($120) with an expected release on July 31st. Over here we’ll just continue to twiddle our thumbs, watch paint dry, and check out our Blu-ray version of The Song Remains the Same… again
[Thanks, Mighty Zoltar]
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Filed under: Laptops
The OLPC XO — it’s all rainbows, hugging, and laser beams of learning, right? Maybe not, kind reader. Apparently, users of the the diminutive, educationally themed laptop are experiencing a rash of “stuck key” issues which are causing tons of headaches (and possibly some heartbreak as well). It seems that keys are becoming stuck in activated positions, and / or are being triggered by key presses nearby. The company is aware of the problem, but can’t pinpoint a single cause, as the components are made by a variety of manufacturers. For now OLPC is asking customers to RMA the laptops so they ca get the repairs they so desperately need, though we’re not sure how this is going to play out in the developing areas where the XOs are being rolled out. Well, they can probably just take them to the hospital.
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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
The Professor is a new micro-feature wherein we roundup a handful of interesting and informative gadget-related science stories from the week and present them to you, the reader, in an easily digestible liquid form.
Having trouble keeping your fingers, thumbs, or eyeballs on the pulse of modern science? Do you find yourself in the throes of panic due to misunderstandings in molecular goings-on? Did the latest aircar, split atom, or robotic insectoid go buzzing over your head before you had time to ready a response? Don’t worry friends, The Professor is here to help. Though not an actual scientist, professor, or even a college graduate, he can help guide you through the cascading, complicated, and spasmodic visionary vistas of human invention and achievement as smoothly as a hot knife descending into softened butter.
Continue reading The Professor: Victorian heat sinks, new spacecraft, alien-language translators
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Filed under: Gaming
Finally, Engadget editor Paul Miller’s prayers have been answered — in the form of a homebrew SNES emulator for the Wii. It’s no secret that Paul is eerily obsessed with the SNES, and now he can get access to all his favorites (import or otherwise) with another Wii tweak. The well known emulator SNES9X has been ported to Nintendo’s money maker, and it even includes support for the Wiimote (there are plans for future implementation of the Classic controller and two-player game modes). We’re assuming this is all part of the much-loved Twilight Princess exploit, though they’re a bit short on detail. Hit the read link and start breaking Nintendo’s heart ASAP!
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Filed under: Gaming
Finally, Engadget editor Paul Miller’s prayers have been answered — in the form of a homebrew SNES emulator for the Wii. It’s no secret that Paul is eerily obsessed with the SNES, and now he can get access to all his favorites (import or otherwise) with another Wii tweak. The well known emulator SNES9X has been ported to Nintendo’s money maker, and it even includes support for the Wiimote (there are plans for future implementation of the Classic controller and two-player game modes). We’re assuming this is all part of the much-loved Twilight Princess exploit, though they’re a bit short on detail. Hit the read link and start breaking Nintendo’s heart ASAP!
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Filed under: Cellphones
Apparently, HTC is having a little trouble keeping people with cameras out of its offices, as evidenced by this totally great spy shot of a what appears to be a bunch of (or two) new phones. We’re familiar with quite of few of these devices, like the TyTn II, Touch Cruise, and Touch you see in the upper row, but things get a little stickier down below. Save for that P3470 that’s second from left, we have no clue what those slick looking square numbers are. The far left model and the far right might be the same device, but its hard to tell. It also looks like all the devices in this picture are using Windows Mobile, but we’re holding out hope that maybe the model on the far right boots Android… and soon.
[Via IntoMobile]
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Filed under: Cellphones
Apparently, HTC is having a little trouble keeping people with cameras out of its offices, as evidenced by this totally great spy shot of a what appears to be a bunch of (or two) new phones. We’re familiar with quite of few of these devices, like the TyTn II, Touch Cruise, and Touch you see in the upper row, but things get a little stickier down below. Save for that P3470 that’s second from left, we have no clue what those slick looking square numbers are. The far left model and the far right might be the same device, but its hard to tell. It also looks like all the devices in this picture are using Windows Mobile, but we’re holding out hope that maybe the model on the far right boots Android… and soon.
[Via IntoMobile]
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