PlayStation 3 firmware 3.0 now available

Right on schedule , PlayStation 3 firmware 3.0 is now out and being fed directly into your console (should you opt to download it, at least), offering a number of changes to the user interface and Trophies section and animated themes with avatars. Be sure to come back and let us know what you think! Update: We’re running the update now and the changelog that shows up the PS3 has two new features we hadn’t heard about: simultaneous audio output across connectors and control of video playback (slow motion, fast forward and rewind) using the right stick. Nice! Filed under: Gaming PlayStation 3 firmware 3.0 now available originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:47:00 EST.

Video: Retractible wireless Rock Band / Guitar Hero controller perfect for the five-button shredder on the go

Guitar Hero and Rock Band ’s plastic axes aren’t exactly behemoths in their own right, but if you need something even tinier, little-known game accessories company NEXiLUX looks to have a more portable solution in the works. The video for its mini guitar isn’t the clearest, but from we can see, the body is about the same size as the retracted neck, which expands from behind the touch-sensitive pads to reveal the infamous quintet of colored buttons. D-pad, navigation buttons, whammy bar, and pickup selection have all survived the compression, and to make each unit as universal as possible, there’s a switch on the bottom for choosing between either Guitar Hero for Wii or Rock Band for Wii, PlayStation 2, and PS3.

Dell Inspiron 11z reviewed with high hopes, disappointing realities

Dell’s 11.6-inch Inspiron 11z sure looks promising, with a sub-$500 price tag and an Intel Celeron 723 / non-Atom processor, but if you ask the gang at Notebook Review to describe it, it’s unfortunately a pretty big letdown.

Nokia’s 32GB Alvin RM-559 hits FCC, Simon 561 and Theodore 563 nowhere to be found

Nokia’s latest mystery device to hit the FCC , the RM-550 “Alvin,” holds itself in some good company given the known specs. Its 32GB internal memory is matched only by Espoo’s other flagship devices N97 and N900 , and it’s also got the same BL-5J battery as the aforementioned pseudo-MID. Throw in quad-band GSM, tri-band WCDMA, Bluetooth, and WiFi, and you’ve got our interests piqued

Leica to announce new cameras on September 9th, absolute best day to stand out in the headlines

We know Leica’s target demographic is decidedly less consumer and more devoted professional photography, but even still, September 9th isn’t exactly the most apt timing to maximize press coverage on a next generation camera lineup when your competition of the day will be Apple’s annual iPod event and the release of Beatles Rock Band . Still, the urge to make announcements on 9-9-2009 at 9:00AM ET has gotta be too hard to pass up, and possibly not topped until 10:00AM on October 10th of next year.

Sony unveils waterproof universal remotes for deep-sea TV addicts

If you’re very clumsy (or you love watching TV in the bathtub) Sony Japan has just the thing for you.

Netbook sales growth doubles laptops in Q2 ‘09

While it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise given the fairly steady growth netbooks have seen since their inception as a product category, it’s still pretty notable that they’ve apparently now managed to nearly double traditional laptops in sales growth during the second quarter of this year. That word comes from market research firm DisplaySearch, which found that netbook shipments grew an impressive 40% compared to the same quarter last year, as opposed to 22% for plain old laptops

Don’t Save Your Passwords on a Public Computer

Robert Barcus asked: Recently, I took a look at my laptop computer to see how other people use the system when I’m not watching. It’s not really a “public computer” but my friends do tend to congregate around one system or another when the visit my home or when I visit theirs. After examining the [...]

BlackBerry Essex to bring WiFi on Tour?

We’re starting to get the feeling they just didn’t know about WiFi in Waterloo until now, because almost every BlackBerry hardware rumor we’re hearing lately is all about how RIM’s adding the wireless networking spec and everyone’s oh-so-happy. Case in point: today we’ve got word of a new BlackBerry Essex, which is essentially… the Tour with WiFi

Toyota develops breathalyzer ignition-interlock, BJ McKay promises to hack it

Shoving breathalyzers into MIDs and PNDs has been all the rage overseas for quite a while, and now it looks like Toyota itself is getting in on the act.

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