Hasta La Gadget!

While they’ve not reached final talks by any means whatsoever, it appears that Google (along with several other large-name groups in the market) have been speaking with Dish about creating a mobile carrier service of their own. This set of talks has been tipped by sources speaking with the Wall Street Journal where they almost immediately warn that the conversation was not “advanced” and that they “could amount to nothing.” Google has been tipped to be getting into the wireless data business for smartphones and tablets since Android was first acquired by the company known then as a Search Giant back in 2007.

An agreement between Dish and Google very well could put them in direct competition with the largest wireless carriers in the United States, with a bankroll that’s to be reckoned with and two brands that are already well established in their own right. Dish has been vocal for some time about its intention to partner with a company to build out a wireless network with wireless spectrum it already owns. Dish purchased an amount of wireless spectrum earlier this year and isn’t going to let anyone forget about it.

Google has meanwhile been making it clear that they will continue to expand into the services industry with projects such as Google Fiber which has citizens working with super-speed internet in their homes for undeniably low prices. With Google appearing to have some success in that respect, it could be time for them to move forward with connecting their Android empire as well. As the Google Fiber connection spreads across the USA, so too might Dish be pushing the big G into your smartphone more than ever.

Sources also speaking with the WSJ have made it clear that Dish does not intend to “flip” the spectrum they now own over to the highest bidder when they come knocking. Instead, they’re demonstrating commitment to building a wireless network with a partner and keeping themselves onboard as they do it. Have a peek at the timeline below to see more on the Dish saga as it unfolds – excitement afoot!

Google Mobile Carrier real possibility with tipped Dish agreement is written by Chris Burns & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Madfinger Games has launched a free-to-play standalone multiplayer game for Android and iOS devices. The game, called Shadowgun: DeadZone, is more like a sequel to Madfinger’s original Shadowgun game. The game lets players experience intense tactical multiplayer battles with up to 12 players online. Featuring two game modes, Deathmatch and Zone Control, players are basically divided into two opposing teams of mutants and bounty hunters.

Players can select maps and also choose from 10 characters. As the ranking of your character increases, new elements will be unlocked for you to enjoy. Players will also love the new sprint and roll control elements that have been added into the gameplay. Shadowgun: DeadZone supports game pads and it even has a new multiplayer voice chat service courtesy of Ericsson. Shadowgun: DeadZone is now available on Android and iOS for free. You can get it on Google Play and iTunes. Remember to watch the video game trailer above to get an overview of the gaming experience.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Shadowgun Gets Optimized for New iPad in Update;, Shadowgun: The Leftover now on Android Market,

No, the Big Blue Media Tower is not some sort of icon from IBM, but rather, it is a new device from Brookstone. Just what kind of role does the Big Blue Media Tower fulfill? For starters, it is an all-in-one music and TV sound system, and just in case you figured out that you have seen it somewhere before in the past, the Big Blue Media Tower is actually the third addition to the growing number of Big Blue Audio Bluetooth enabled speakers which were specially designed and developed by the Brookstone Design Center.

If one were to take a closer look at the Big Blue Media Tower, this puppy is actually a 38-inch high, sleek vertical sound-bar which can be positioned just about anywhere around the room, where it is capable of delivering a full, three-dimensional concert hall sound. Not only that, audio is able to be wirelessly thanks to the wonders of Bluetooth connectivity, meaning most of the decent smartphone, tablet or computing devices these days should be able to work with it just fine.

Just in case you still have some Flintstones era devices that do not come with Bluetooth connectivity, those can still be hooked up for an upgraded sound system thanks to the optical decoding jack as well as included six-foot optical cable. Apart from that, the Big Blue Media Tower will also offer RCA inputs as well as Aux out connections for additional devices.

Brookstone’s Big Blue Media Tower is also touted to be the most powerful Big Blue Audio speaker to date, where it features built-in, full range, 20 watt stereo speakers within that are capable of projecting audio at multiple offset angles in order to fill every corner of the room with sound. The 30-watt powered subwoofer has been ported for deep omnidirectional bass as well.

You can pick up the Big Blue Media Tower from December 5th onward at Brookstone stores for $399.99 a pop if you are interested.

[ Brookstone introduces Big Blue Media Tower copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Welcome to the Engadget holiday gift guide! Picking presents for friends and loved ones is never a simple task, and with thousands of options for each category, buying technology can be an especially frustrating experience. We’re here to help. Below you’ll find today’s bevy of curated picks, and you can head back to our hub to see the rest of the product guides as they’re added throughout the holiday season. We’ve also teamed up with AT&T to give away one hot smartphone with each and every guide, so scroll to the end for today’s prize, then leave a comment to submit your entry!

You have to admit — there’s something extra special about receiving tablets. Perhaps it’s their sleek and portable designs, or maybe it’s because they’re best for watching movies and playing games rather than pounding out important memos on a deadline. Their rep as entertainment devices is already changing, though: we’ve seen slates with pen input and bundled keyboard docks burst onto the market this year, and Windows 8 is only boosting that corporate-friendly image. Wherever you fall on the work / play spectrum, we’ve got some great slate choices for you. Hop past the break to dive in.

Continue reading Engadget’s holiday gift guide 2012: tablets

Filed under: Tablets, Apple, Samsung, Microsoft

Engadget’s holiday gift guide 2012: tablets originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Since its launch in November 2006, the PlayStation 3 gaming console has seen 70 million units sold worldwide, as of November 4. What’s perhaps more impressive is that Sony has sold 15 million Move motion controllers since its launch just a little over two years ago. Move now supports over 400 titles on PlayStation 3.

The 70 million figure also matches the number of consoles that Microsoft sold with its Xbox 360, which they reported in their Q1 2012 back in October. However, Sony notes that the figures are confirmed as being “sell-ins,” meaning the sales represent the amount of units sold to retailers rather than to customers.

Currently, Nintendo leads the race to all-time global sales for any one console, with the Wii reaching just over 97 million units sold as of September 30. Plus, the company’s newest console, the Wii U, is releasing in just a couple of days, meaning that Nintendo will see even more sales coming their way soon.

There are currently around 3,600 games published for the PlayStation 3, with over 595 million copies sold worldwide. The PlayStation Network has also seen some fascinating numbers. The service now operates in 59 territories, and offers over 170,000 pieces of downloadable content, of which just 57,000 are game-related.

PlayStation 3 global sales hit 70 million is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.