Steve Jobs Running Apple Tablet Development from Home?

I might just hold off on getting that Macbook.

A recent report by the Wall Street Journal indicates that Steve isn't completely out of the picture since he stepped down from running Apple due to health issues back in December. If the WSJ's sources are good Steve is actively working from home on the mythical Apple Tablet (or netbook).

Apple co-founder Mr. Jobs, who is considered the company's creative leader, is also involved in the development of future projects, they say. People privy to the company's strategy say Apple is working on new iPhone models and a portable device that is smaller than its current laptop computers but bigger than the iPhone or iPod Touch.

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Sony Comments On PSP2 Rumors, Not True.

Meh, I guess we can always dream.

Sony’s head of PSP marketing in North America would only confirm that part of what longtime developer Dave Perry recently said about the PSP’s future is true.

***

The following is an excerpt from an interview I conducted today with Sony Computer Entertainment of America’s John Koller, the director of PSP marketing in North America. I originally booked the phone interview with Koller to discuss the stunning line-up of PSP games Sony announced earlier this week, but by the time we talked, there was the PSP2 rumor to discuss that had been churning through the Internet ever since veteran game designer Dave Perry Twittered that a disc-free PSP2 was in the works for a possible fall release.

I’ll have a lot more from Koller about the new games and the future of the PSP on Friday, but let’s start here by dealing with the Dave Perry rumor. This is how I broached the topic:

Check out the rest of the interview by click here.

Rumor: PSP 2 Won't Have UMD Drive?

Is sony going the DSi approch and take away the umd drive?

The new Playstation Portable won't feature a UMD disc drive, according to Acclaim developer David Perry.

"I hear Sony FINALLY has the PSP 2. And thank goodness, they've removed the stupid battery-sucking UMD disc drive. I'm excited!" Perry wrote on both his Twitter and Facebook accounts.

It is unclear if he has seen the rumored new Playstation Portable himself or is just hearing rumors through the development community.

This rumor is the latest in a series of rumors to hit the net in the past month or so, including one from IGN and another from VG247.

If it's true that the Playstation Portable 2 won't feature a UMD disc drive, than I'd say it's likely it will instead rely on Memory Sticks and downloads through the Playstation Network Store. The bigger question is whether such a device could be backwards compatible, and if so how it would work.

There has been an awful lot of news about the PSP coming out lately, so I think it's a safe bet to say that we can expect something from Sony about the next iteration of the Playstation Portable at E3.


[via kotaku ]

Rumor Limit: Microsoft’s next “box”?

Check out this article. Next box in rumored to have virtual mapping, better games, and come out in the next 2 years. I really hope not. i have spent thousands of dollars on the 360, accessories, and games.

In the video game industry rumors are always flying. Four years into this generation of consoles rumors are starting to spread throughout the industry about Microsoft’s new console that is in the works. Rumors that Microsoft is looking to integrate a interface similar to that we saw in the 2002 Thriller Minority Report have been tearing through the industry since Microsoft announced its purchase of Caligari, a developer of 3-D Modeling Software.


Imagine the possibilities if this technology would make it way into consoles. The hands on strategy could be integrated into games in many different ways and in a sense reinvent gaming. Could this be the end of the controller? If so could this technology be the final blow to Sony in this Console war. Microsoft as you may have remembered strategically launched the 360 early to get a quick lead on Sony. If Microsoft were to launch this supposed new technology within the next 2 years before Sony’s Playstation 3 has reached it’s full potential Microsoft’s strategy could win them yet another lead in the next-generation race.

All Press releases show Microsoft’s move to buy the Company geared toward the improvement of their Virtual Earth mapping system. Could this be a cover up? All bets are that Microsoft has something huge planned for this years E3 could this be it? Are we ready to give up the controller we have had in our hands for decades? Although this is just speculation its very exciting hype as we gear up to enter the next generation.

[via gamerlimit.com]

New Psp to have Sliding Screen?

Check this out, The new psp may have a sliding out screen. Im still on my fat launch psp so if this is true I might just go buy it.

VG247 has learned that PSP-4000 does have a sliding front-screen, with a highly-trusted source confirming fresh details on the unannounced machine this morning.

PSP-4000 is not PSP2, but rather a “complete aesthetic overhaul” based on existing PSP tech.

Much is now known by some parties of the console, which will be announced at either GDC or E3 this year, but cards are currently being clutched very tightly to chests.

The revamp does have a sliding front-screen, and we’re assured the design being currently touted isn’t a million miles away from this now-infamous image.

Eurogamer rumoured PSP-4000 for a 2009 release in December last year, and our source
confirmed this to be the case today.

Sony has constantly denied PSP2 is in the works: now you know why.
Rumour? This is not a test, Ringo. Comprendez vous?

[via vg247.com]

Rumor: Firmware 2.7 Details Leaked

A member of the GameTrailers Forums said the following:

“Okay, GT, i lurk these boards a lot so i’m going to throw you a bone. Take it or leave it. Anyway, A friend of mine works in an R&D department at Sony and recently let me in on the firmware details for 2.7. If you were disappointed with 2.6, you’ll probably like what you’re about to hear, but it’s still missing some very crucial (and heavily requested) features. Here’s a list of the things he told me will be changed:


Friends List:
- Voice Messaging is now available as an alternative to text after selecting a user on the friends list. Voice message recordings are capped at 30 seconds.
- Home Integration: Saved Playstation Home avatar photos can be selected as photo ID for Gamer Card/Friends List.
- Trophy number and Gamer Level are listed under Friend names for quick reference.

Gamer Card & Trophies:
- Gamer Card layout has been changed to more closely resemble the Playstation Store aesthetic.
- Past Trophy information can be viewed in detail by selecting “Recent Trophy History” option.
- Newly aquired trophies auto-sync in the background
- Server infrastructure for Trophies has been optimized. Resulting in faster retrieval time for Gamer Card and Trophy information.

In-Game XMB:
- Loading time for In-Game XMB has been drastically reduced, resulting in a more seemless in-game experience.
- “Theme settings” options while in-game is now available, allowing custom themes to be applied to the In-Game XMB.
- Internet Browser can now be accessed while in-game.
- Voice messaging and voice chat options can be used while in-game.
- Options that cannot be used in the XMB during game sessions are grayed out (but still selectable) to eliminate user accessibility confusion.

Misc:
- Other slight UI tweaks and enhancements.

Seems like there is still no word on cross-game invites, but i think the integration of Home (as small as it is) into the rest of the Playstation experience is still a step in the right direction. The update is pretty big but he said it would hit sometime in Q2 of ‘09″.

Consider this jsut a rumor, but it would be awesome if this is true, In-Game Internet Browser, In-Game voice chat and voice messaging look really awesome. I hope that this is true

[via ps3trophiesguides]

Halo 3 has gone gold

Halo 3 is now 100% complete. Bungie employee Frank O'Connor was spotted playing the final retail build of Halo 3 today suggesting the game has now gone gold exactly one month before release.

Halo 3 will be available in the USA on September 25th and September 26th for Europe.

look at frankie's gamertag below