Category: Platforms

Palm have released three new models, the Tungsten E, the very iPod-looking $99 Zire 21 and the one we find most interesting, the Tungsten T3.

The T3 is the first device from Palm that supports a high-resolution colour screen in landscape, which happens to be 50% larger than any of their previous products, making it, we feel, far more useful for reading document, managing calendars and watching video.

By adding the highly compact, wireless (bluetooth) keyboard it also becomes a much more realistic device for typing text into, whether that be email, documents or spreadsheets.

The only thing we are not quite sure about is what it is going to be like using the combination with the screen sitting on the left of the keyboard.

It is selling at Amazon in the US and is already the 16th bestselling item.

Tungsten T3 at Amazon.com

Tungsten T3

Microsoft launched Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 yesterday with Microsoft Group Vice President Jim Allchin announcing the products new feature and new manufacturing partners. This follows their first release of PC as TV, PVR, DVD, photo displaying, music playing media hub in October 2002, which had a lukewarm reception and was felt by many more as a show of intention to be involved rather than a fully considered product.

As the Media Center Edition (MCE) is expected to be used in the lounge from a couch, without keyboard and mouse, one of the big focuses of is giving the viewer the ability to control all of the media functions via the remote control. Many of the previous functions and some of the new features are available via a single key press, such as ability to control the newly included FM radio, by selection favourite stations and skipping back seven second if you misheard something. The selection, rotation and display of photos and the manipulation of music has also been made easy using the report control.

A full list of the MCE functions are described in detail at the dedicated Website as are details on how to obtain an upgrade for the previous version.

Online Spotlight – A new channel for content

Microsoft have recognised that just giving people the ability to record their own content, TV programmes or radio is only part of the story. The real excitement lies in the new universe of digitised media that will become available. To this end they have launch Online Spotlight, an online guide created specifically for Media Center Edition PC customers that offers a central location for them to find the latest third- party services and software, such as music, movie trailers, news updates and even Karaoke.

The initial content providers include CinemaNow, Movielink and Napster, but sadly these will only be available with the United States.

Hardware supply partners

There are more than 40 original equipment manufacturers (OEM) planning to ship Media Center Edition PCs to consumers in Asia, Canada, Europe and the United States and China on the list of later this fall. Product pricing will vary for each manufacturer and market, but will start at below $1,000.

Two of the biggest new names are Dell and Sony with Dell reporting that they’re taking order online today and Sony shipping two new models of VAIO Media Center PCs in the next few weeks. Sony, who have already developed and currently market their own equivalent product, appear to be covering their bases.

HP and Toshiba continue their strong support and are the only two companies offering product in three major Continents – Asia, Europe and America with many of the newly announced companies choosing to offer in individual countries.

Of the announced supplier, Japan will have the widest selection of suppliers, numbering five, although interestingly Sony has decided not to sell it there, choosing the United States and Canada instead. The US and Germany will have four suppliers and Korea, the United Kingdom and France having three a piece.

It sounds like Microsoft have listen to their previous customer and have adopted many of their ideas, time will tell whether they have been successful and we are looking forward to finding out.

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 site

Although Apple’s iPod is definitely the portable music player to have at the moment, there are plenty of other options out there to fit your criteria: cheaper, better battery life, lighter.

The Register has a round up of the current crop of MP3 players, link below. Devices like Sony’s ATRAC-based Memory Stick Walkman aren’t covered as they’re not proper MP3 players.

The Register on micro MP3 players

The snappily named (as all Sony products are) PEGA-VR100K uses a built-in tuner to record TV programmes using the Quick Time 6 codec to a Memory Stick. You can then pop the stick into your VAIO for editing or for watching on your Clié when it’s convenient. The VR100K can also be attached to a monitor for use as a TV tuner.

Included are utilities for scheduling recording, so you can record that episodes of Fame Academy to watch surreptitiously in meetings.

Sony report that a 1gb Memory Stick will hold more than 16 hours of video in Long Play mode – though we’ve yet to see what the quality is like. Resolutions are given as 320×240 and 160×120, at 15fps. Bear in mind a 1gb stick will set you back about £400.

Sony Style on the PEGA-VR100K

Sony’s new real-time strategy Lords of EverQuest further confirms the trend that television and film actors are increasingly appearing in video games, usually as voice talent. Lords of EverQuest features quite a roster of film and TV talent, including John Rhy-Davies, Dwight Shultz and Ron Perlman.

Other high profile actors have voiced or appeared in video games – including Ray Liotta, Dennis Hopper, Burt Reynolds, Michael Madsen and Kyle MacLachlan in the Grand Theft Auto series along.

The breakthrough was some years ago with Hamill in the Wing Comander series. He has since gone onto star in many more video games, including dark Cloud 2, Soldier of Fortune II, Grandia Xtreme, and Batman Vengeance. This is possibly more than any other actor, but perhaps you could prove us wrong.

This gradual blurring between more traditional media acting jobs and video games shows greater acceptance of games as a valid art form.

Cast list for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Bill Black on casting actors in video games

Sony’s Lords of EverQuest site

Tomorrow, Tuesday 23 September, 11pm – 11:45pm (BST), BBC Radio Four will be running an interactive drama piece called The Dark House.

Produced by theatre/radio director Izzy Mant and sound designer/composer Nick Ryan and written by Mike Walker, it thankfully does not follow the expected, first-generational thinking of interactive drama – the plot reached a junction point, and the story branches in one of a number of paths – but instead gives the listener a chance to influence, via text message or telephone call, which character the audience ‘inhabits’ – Lucy, Kelly or Jim.

The first five minutes set the scene, then every three minutes the SMS and phone votes are collated to determine which character’s point of view is heard next. An alarming sound will signal the switching of the audience from one character’s thoughts to another’s and to listening from the chosen character spacial perspective, as if through their ears.

It is recorded using a binaural recording technique, which the BBC explains as being :-

“Based on the principals of human hearing, binaural recordings are made by placing microphones near the actor’s ears. Those listening on stereo equipment will experience spatialised 3D sound, immersing the listener in the Dark House. The drama recording also involved some sections of improvisation to create a heightened realism in the dark”

Those who are familiar with Phonography will be aware of binaural recording and be aware just how impressive and immersive it can be.

If you aren’t able to hear it when it is broadcast, or you don’t like the audience chosen character perspectives, The Dark House will be available at the site as it was broadcast or for your own manipulation afterwards.

We feel this sounds like an interesting direction to experiment with interactive drama and plan to bring a review to you after the event.

Listen to the trailer

Watch to the trailer

Visit The Dark House site

The New York Times has a very quick Q&A with Michael Powell, who heads up the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

We know he got a TiVo for christmas 2002, but what is really encouraging is that he is still talking about it with enthusiasm and an understanding of the siginificance of PVR’s.

“I think there’s something going on in the world that’s very profound. We’re moving to a world of incredible intimacy in mass media. I’m my own programmer, not NBC.”

Q&A Link