Hasta La Gadget!

So, let’s recap. We’ve got Microsoft’s own Steve Ballmer on record saying that the company’s Project Natal is on track for a 2010 release, a redaction of said statement, and a slimy report from overseas noting that the motion-sensing accessory is slated for a 2H 2010 launch. Just in case you needed one more modicum of evidence that Natal is headed for Christmas trees far and wide next year, THQ CEO Brian Farrell has said as much on the company’s Q1 earnings call. To quote:

“With respect to the cycle itself, if you look at what’s happening in the industry, the fact that we have for example, Natal from Microsoft, a platform addition coming late next year.”

Of course, Mr. Farrell here may just be regurgitating news that he heard through the grapevine rather than inadvertently slipping the world a piece of insider knowledge, but hey, are you seriously going to question the insight of the guy who green-lit Bratz: Super Babyz? Exactly.

Filed under: Gaming

THQ’s CEO joins the fun, says Natal is coming “late next year” originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looks like even Acer and ASUS are getting bored with the Atom N270 — Digitimes says the two companies are suspending development of new netbooks until the first quarter of 2010 when Intel’s next-gen Pine Trail platform with the Atom N450 is set to arrive. What’s more, Acer’s also apparently postponing that dual-boot Android / XP machine since it’s found demand to be low — we could have told you that months ago, but whatever. Still, turning off the netbook spigot will be a big step for the two companies most responsible for the segment’s overheated product cycle, but don’t you worry about them — they’ll have plenty of CULV thin-and-light machines to obsessively iterate in the meantime.

[Via SlashGear]

Filed under: Laptops

Acer and ASUS reportedly freeze netbook releases until 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Let’s face it, folks — the CD insert is no longer “the new hotness.” And besides, those wacky PDFs included with iTunes album purchases never did much more than take up valuable hard drive space anyway, right?. In an effort to get consumers to stop buying single tracks and start buying more filler entire albums, Apple has reportedly joined forces with EMI, Sony Music, Warner Music and Universal Music Group in a project that’s being codenamed “Cocktail.” Financial Times is reporting that said initiative is considering adding “interactive booklets, sleeve notes and other interactive features with music downloads,” with one executive familiar with the situation saying that “it’s not just a bunch of PDFs; there’s real engagement with the ancillary stuff.” Of course, all of this should still be taken with a pinch of salt for now, as even the music companies mentioned above refused to comment. And given the tremendous indifference consumers have shown with that other interactive tech that’s being pushed so hard right now, we’re not even sure it’ll have the desired effect.

In related news, another sect of folks “briefed on the project” have stated that these new content deals could be launched alongside a new, full-featured “tablet-sized computer in time for the Christmas shopping season, in what the entertainment industry hopes will be a new revolution.” Adding fuel to the already raging fire, the report asserts that the “touch-sensitive device… will have a screen that may be up to ten inches diagonally,” and while it will “connect to the internet like the iPod touch, it’ll probably [do so] without phone capabilities.” You do know that Apple has been good for a music / iPod-related event right around September the past few years, right?

[Via AppleInsider]

Filed under: Portable Audio, Software

Apple, record labels working to spur album sales with interactive goodies, tablet due this September? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Jul 2009 01:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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So we already knew Verizon was looking to push LTE out the door and to about 20 to 30 markets in the second half of 2010, but Tech Crunch’s got it on good word that the company’s doing everything in its power to get the service ready to go in a number of areas in time for Q1 2010. That’s interesting in and of itself, but together with this morning’s whispers of Apple’s tablet coming early next year and past talk of an Apple / VZW partnership, and the tale gets exponentially more intriguing. As TC suggests, a tablet lacking voice service on the LTE network wouldn’t violate AT&T’s not-at-all permanent exclusivity. Its source said there was one LTE device, not a wireless card, that this early launch was being “specifically geared towards,” but even if so, that could apply to any number of other non-Apple gadgets (from Nokia, perhaps?). Of course, much of this is rumor built on rumor, so no matter how well these pieces might seem to fall in place — or how potentially awesome the idea might seem — there’s a large grain of salt you should be taking with you.

Filed under: Cellphones, Laptops

Verizon rumored to be pushing up LTE plans to Q1 2010, new Apple device the catalyst? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After what AppleInsider claims has been four years of development “riddled with setbacks,” Apple is purportedly finalizing its long-rumored tablet for an early 2010 launch. AppleInsider claims to have been tracking the device get bounced back to the drawing board repeatedly over the past few years, but says that Steve Jobs is finally happy with the product and there’s an internal go-ahead to get this thing ready for next year, barring any other setbacks. Purported specs include a 10-inch screen, 3G data and a custom ARM processor courtesy of its P.A. Semi purchase — after previously considering Intel’s Atom, as the story goes. Rumors elsewhere point to Verizon data instead of AT&T, but that might just be wishful thinking. While AppleInsider still claims the device is positioned somewhere between an iPhone and a laptop, its inside sources apparently didn’t give the thumbs up to early artist renditions of the handheld, and so AI‘s new and “improved” render is above — striking fear in the heart of aesthetes everywhere.

Sure, we’ve heard so many iterations of Apple tablet rumors over the years, with varying degrees of confidence behind them, that it’s really hard to latch onto yet another promise of this supposedly inevitable device. Still, this is what it is: a decent rumor with some reasonable excuses for “delays” and a glorious promise of tablet nirvana right around the corner. What more could an Apple rumorphile want?

Filed under: Handhelds, Tablet PCs

Apple tablet rumored for launch early next year, for serious this time: seriously originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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