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UK Shoppers Gadgety Change in Taste

by Jay Garrett on March 17, 2010

The Office for National Statistics has refreshed its hypothetical shopping basket again.

Alongside the addition of liquid soap, cereal bars and garlic bread (it’s the future!) comes the arrival of the more gadgety Blu-ray player!

If you’re not sure what all this is about the ONS updates this rather huge ‘basket’ to reflect the average urban consumer’s spending habits.

This is then used to calculate the consumer prices index (CPI), which the Bank of England is furiously trying to keep below 3 per cent according to The Guardian.

Now that Blu-ray players are pretty affordable, with even top notch gear falling in the sub-£200 zone the HD tech now sits in the country’s basket in order to “capture price changes in this new expanding technology”.

Also joining the gadgety invasion are video game accessories thanks to the extra cash being spent by gamers on the likes of Wii Fit, Guitar Hero, Rock Band and Singstar.

The ONS calls this a “relatively new market” – just wait til Xbox 360’s Project Natal and the PlayStation 3’s Move busts out!

Gone are disposable cameras thanks to “decreasing expenditure as digital compact cameras and mobile phone photography become increasingly popular”.

Do you think that this represents the average shopper?

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Nintendo Zii Trademarked – New Console, Handheld or What?

by Jay Garrett on December 15, 2009

wiiNintendo has just trademarked the title “Zii” in Japan which is to be used for computer games and electronic devices, according to the paperwork released today.

The company actually filed for the trademark on October 30, but this was only just released on the trademark database.

This means that Nintendo has protected the word “Zii” and intends to use it in both computer games’ titles and in naming gaming devices – I wonder what Creative and their Zii thinks about this ;)

So, what could the Nintendo bring?

Some are assuming that it will be the Hi-def packing successor to the Wii but it could also be a multitouch handheld as there has been some chat regarding an Nvidia graphics packing Nintendo DS2. I bet Sony’s PSPgo is feeling a tad nervous.

Most are agreed that it will probably include or even just be a Blue-ray addition, like the much-hyped Microsoft version, giving the Wii a much-needed movie based boost and convincing punters to jump on the HD bandwagon.

Endadget does mention that this filing may be a renewal of a trademark request from 2006. The company also trademarked “Cii,” “Bii,” “Oii,”and “Yii”; could we see a Pii to replace the Wii?

So what do you think?

Is the Zii a peripheral, new console, a new handheld or software – or is this just grabbing words ending in ii?

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Sony’s New PlayStation 3 Motion Controller Called ‘Gem’ – Perhaps Definitely / Maybe

December 12, 2009 Click to read more →
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EA’s CEO,John Riccitiello, accidentally let slip that Sony has been referring to the motion-sensing accessory as the “Gem” at a media conference in New York. Ooopsy!
During his speech Riccitiello said: “Natal [Microsoft's motion sensing game solution] and Gem, these are likely to bring new consumers into the marketplace”.
Sony Computer Entertainment of America director of [...]

Bought Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2? Activision says Thanks 310 Million Times! CoD

November 14, 2009 Click to read more →
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You can’t have gotten through this week without hearing about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
I’ve not bothered mentioning it as everyone seemed to be doing that.
But I can’t fail mentioning this.
The latest episode of the popular shooty-shooty-death-kill game has experienced the biggest launch of an entertainment product in history!
It has managed to haul a [...]

Nintendo DSi XL (or LL) Shown Off in Official Video – Come See!

November 12, 2009 Click to read more →
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Remember the super-sized Nintendo DSi with the large screen from a coupla weeks ago?
Well now there’s an official flick for it.
This is the first screening for the Nintendo DSi XL (or LL as it’s known in Japan) from the larger hand-held. The good thing is that it gives you a good idea of both [...]

Nintendo Wii 2 – HD, More Online-ness, Cheaper and Smaller than First Wii

October 22, 2009 Click to read more →
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Shigeru Miyamoto, the dude responsible for game greats Mario and Donkey Kong says that the Nintendo Wii 2 will be smaller and cheaper – who am I to argue with that?
He also says that the console will move into “other aspects of daily life” – so do we take it that Nintendo will be branching [...]

Nintendo of America Asks: Who is Sony’s PSP Go For?

October 12, 2009 Click to read more →
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The Christmas battle has commenced and Nintendo gaffer, Reggie Fils–Aime, has thrown of his gloves and slapped the Sony PSPgo firmly across the chops.
Reggie is known for telling it like he sees it – while he was having a go at the go he also took a quick swipe at the iPod Touch.
The PSPgo has [...]

Scott Pilgrim’s Life Put into Game as well as Movie

July 27, 2009 Click to read more →
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Cult comic book character, Scott Pilgrim, is to be made into the star of a videogame as well as a film!
This has been confirmed by creator Brian Lee O’Malley at the San Diego Comic Convention over the weekend.
If you’re not familiar with this cult comic (Subset’s singer, Rom, is a huge fan!) here’s a quick [...]

Nintendo Bringing Hollywood to Wii Worldwide

July 27, 2009 Click to read more →
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Nintendo is about to bring you another reason to buy their family friendly Wii.
The Nintendo Wii movie store is heading worldwide by the sounds of things and that will bring you the Hollywood greats right to your Wiimote!
Japan has the Wii movie service in place and the PS3 (via PlayStation Store) is already [...]

Evolution of Console Controllers Diagram

December 16, 2008 Click to read more →

I just had to share this ‘assent of the console controllers’ diagram! (Don’t forget that you can revel in its full glory by clicking the pic )
I think that it’s worth pointing out that apart from the Atari 5200’s controller it seems that controllers went from basic to more complicated – although (ignoring [...]

Dear Santa, I Want an XBox 360…….

December 14, 2008 Click to read more →

Virtual world Habbo polled 5,450 UK 11-18 year olds and discovered that the majority of them have placed a games console at the top of their Christmas list this year, with the Xbox 360 coming tops.
They also found that 39% had asked for a console or computer from Santa. This is quite a significant lead [...]

Swinxs Console – New Gaming Design Triumph!

September 29, 2008 Click to read more →

We have got used to any new gaming machine being released to a fan-fare and dancing girls and perhaps huge queues outside major stores – that is not the way Dutch company, Swinx, rolls.
On release now is ”a title rich gaming machine with a traditional twist” that happens to be made by a Nokia designer.
Swinx’s machine utilises RFID technology and is [...]

Arcade Machine That You Can Afford!

September 24, 2008 Click to read more →

If, like me, you can’t get your fill of Midway classics by mere emulations.
You need the full controller array and cabinet to get fully immersed!
Most are a little on the expensive side but this officially licensed tabletop cabinet is pretty tempting.
For $200 (and $5 shipping) you get a 14″ CRT, a duo of 6-button joysticks [...]

60GB Xbox 360 Replaces 20GB in UK

August 11, 2008 Click to read more →

Microsoft have announced the release of the 60GB Xbox trippling the Xbox’s usual 20GB drive while keeping the same £200 price tag!
The new model will be available from 15 August (Friday) and will replace all existing 20GB models.
Of course, there’s still the option of the Xbox Arcade, which lacks a hard drive, but packs a 256MB [...]

Wiimote Charging From Sanyo – Eneloop

July 24, 2008 Click to read more →

Given that the Wii is stoopidly addictive all you eco-friendly Wii-fans will probably feel a little guilty at the amount of AA batteries you’ve thrown out.
Fear no-longer as Sanyo has come up with the Eneloop charging station.
It comes complete with a battery pack replacement for your Wiimote and a charging base that can support as [...]

Sony Cut Price Of 80GB PS3

July 16, 2008 Click to read more →

Sony has announced at E3 that there’s going to be a price hack of the 80GB PS3 to $400 in September.
The new model will have the “current functionality” of the 40GB PS3.
I’m reading that as it’s more like the 40GB PS3 is getting a capacity hike.
I’m guessing that also means no backwards compatibility.
On the upside, the 80GB PS3 now costs [...]

Sony PS3 XMB – First Pic

June 30, 2008 Click to read more →

Here we go!
This is a pic of the in-game XMB (Cross Media Bar) demonstrated on a firmware 2.40 PS3 for the very first time!
Sony also reveals that the 2.40 firmware update will deliver the Google search bar (like the PSP update I reported on last week) and the ability to play and control your own music stored on the [...]

Wii on the Move – LCD Screen for Nintendo

April 18, 2008 Click to read more →

Fed up with having to leave your beloved Wii behind when you go out?
Dry your eyes because ChinaVision have the remedy – no longer will you have to look over your shoulder as you close the door and see your console give you the puppy-dog eyes.
This LCD monitor can attach to the back of the [...]

PSP Powered Arcade Console….

March 19, 2008 Click to read more →

….well……………..not really.
From the people who brought you the flatpacked ghetto blaster comes a housing that will transform your humble hand held into a miniature arcade machine through the power of cardboard.
Great if, like me, you own a PSP and also still dream of owning a classic coin-op – all for under £8 for a pair!!
Go [...]

Price Cut Works Magic for Xbox 360 – 40% Rise in Sales

March 19, 2008 Click to read more →

Sales of the XBox 360 have rocketed since the price cut.
Gamesindustry.biz are reporting that the sales hike was immediate. The cuts came into effect on Friday 14th March and by midnight on Saturday they’d gone crazy-bananas!
The cut, planned to stem the PS3’s post-format-war buoyancy, saw the basic 360 Arcade sliced from £199.99 to £159.99, [...]

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