Hasta La Gadget!

It looks like the Xbox One won’t be as widely available at launch as originally planned. Citing a need to meet demand, Microsoft said today that its new console will be available in 13 countries at launch, instead of the 21 initially promised. Instead, the remaining eight markets will get it sometime in 2014. All told, those 13 lucky countries include: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States and New Zealand. The other eight — Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland — will still sell it eventually, but for now Microsoft isn’t committing to a firm launch date. For now, all we know is that it’s promised to arrive “as soon as possible next year.” As a “show of appreciation for your patience,” to use Microsoft’s words, people who placed pre-orders in those eight cut-off countries will receive a free game. Feeling consoled, guys?

Filed under: Gaming, HD, Microsoft

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Source: Microsoft

Samsung’s been so busy getting its flexible displays (aka “Youm”) consumer-ready, it’s now got no clue what to actually do with them. As such, it’s decided to pay others to be idea-men, launching the “Flexible Future Business Plan Competition” in the US. Starting August 29th and running to October 6th, the contest is calling for nifty gadget concepts that use one to 20 inches of flexible display at up to full HD resolution. They’ll be judged on how important a flexible display is to the device, as well as design, practicality of hardware and business plan. The winner will receive $10k, with second and third place taking $5k and $2.5k, respectively. Samsung hopes you’ll head to the source link for the full lowdown, because there are only so many bendy smartwatches one can sell before you need other gear to put wobbly panels in.

Filed under: Displays, HD, Samsung

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Via: Phone Arena, Sammy Hub

Source: Samsung (contest page)

PlayStation is expanding its streaming footprint one piledriver at a time with the new Live Events Viewer. Announced at E3 and available today, the app will let you buy and watch pay-per-view events — starting with this Sunday’s WWE SummerSlam — directly from your PS3 without the need for a cable subscription. Sony is promising that new programming will be available on a weekly basis and that there will be free content in addition to PPVs, too. All that’s available right now are UFC and WWE specials, but according to the US PlayStation Blog, concerts, races and “other entertainment events” are en route. You could also get your scripted and unscripted fisticuffs fix on the Xbox 360, but you need an active Xbox Live Gold subscription to use them.

Filed under: Gaming, HD, Sony

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Source: PlayStation Blog (US)

If you’d rather catch up on your favorite episodes of Catfish or Teen Wolf on the TV instead of your iPad, you can now do so via MTV’s new app for the Xbox 360. Like other content apps for Microsoft’s console, you need an Xbox Live Gold subscription to gain access to shows. As with Nickelodeon, only those who are subscribed to one of Viacom’s “TV Everywhere” partners like DirecTV and Time Warner Cable can get the last five episodes — the rest will have to make do with the most recent showing. Those without a subscription can still view other content like clips from MTV News, the Video Music Awards and certain web exclusives. Regardless of which provider you have however, you’ll still have to look elsewhere for your music video fix.

Filed under: HD

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Via: The Next Web

Source: Variety, Xbox Wire

Any way you look at it, nine thousand dollars is a heck of a lot to spend on a television. But in the case of Samsung’s 55-inch Curved OLED set, it’s a fair share less than the $15,000 we heard quoted just last month. Just like LG’s equivalent, the Samsung KN55S9C was designed with a curved profile in order to “envelope” viewers — your viewing experience is improved, in theory, because you’re more immersed in the display. The OLED set includes the company’s Multi-View feature, which lets two people watch different programming at the same time when using compatible active 3D glasses, and it’s compatible with the Evolution Kit Samsung introduced at CES. The 55-inch KN55S9C is on its way to select retailers, and can be yours for the considerable sum of $9,000.

Update: The set will be available tomorrow (August 14th) on Samsung.com. Additionally, Consumer Reports has already managed to review the TV, giving the Samsung KN55S9C high marks, despite its sky-high price.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung

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