GadgetReview

Here’s exciting news for Apple fanatics: Apple Insider reports that the Cupertino, CA-based company is prepping a 27-inch version of its LED Cinema Display for release this June. The display is purported to feature a 2560×1440 resolution, and keep with the same glass-bezel style of the popular 24-inch inch version released in October 2008.

Apple is also rumored to releasing an update to its Mac Pro line of desktops, also slated for next June. That desktop is rumored to be sporting a crazy 12 cores, likely sticking to its previous Xeon 5600 series chips. The update will include 2.666, 2.8., 2.93, and 3.33 Ghz versions of the processors, with a price range of $996 to $1663.

All these products are in the rumor stages, however, with an announcement expected soon.

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According to leaked screenshot, Microsoft is planning on providing a firmware update to the Xbox 360 that will enable gamers to utilize an external USB mass storage drive for gaming and not just movies/music/etc.  The update will support partitioned drives in addition to “DLC, XBLA titles, games on demand and general game updates”.  But is Microsoft stupid enough to negate their 120GB hard drive, such as the one found in the Pro (was Elite) system?  Nope.  It looks like you can only share up to 16GB of stored Xbox 360 date on an external drive.  The drive must also be at least 1GB in capacity, since the Xbox formatting/partitioning uses 512mb of space.  Also what is not clear, is if copying games to the hard drive will be supported, though a quote from the source (below) seems to indicate so.

USB storage devices may, however, have far greater memory capacity than MUs (at the date of writing, the largest MU is 512 MB), and may therefore support previously infeasible operations-such as installation of a full disc-based title.

But, before thoughts of wielding more than USB drive pop into your head, forget about it.  Apparently, the update will only support up to two external storage devices.  Very weak!  Why wouldn’t Xbox 360 make it unlimitless and use that as a marketing angle against the PS3?

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Rumors suggest that Dish and Google might be collaborating to create a set top box for your TV.  According to leaks from within Google’s staff, they have been trialing the concept and deciding upon whether to go ahead with the project or scrap it.

The main idea is that the Android powered platform would find channels on Dish, YouTube, Metacafe and other website media channels and allow you to easily view it via your tv, transmitted by a box that would sit on top of your television. You would also be able to create playlists and perform refined searches of your TV programs using a keyboard.

Google could possibly make money by selling advertising space on their channel, much like they sell targeted website advertising space on their search engine.

As of now Google and Dish have yet to comment, so there is no indication as to whether or not they’ll move ahead with the project.

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There’s no way to verify this, but according to AppAdvice, Apple will begin to offer the iPad for pre-order on February 25th.  Model options should be limited to the WiFi version, which is on point with Steve Jobs iPad presentation and puts the stated 60 day shipping window squarely at the end of March.

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There’s a rumor floating around that Apple might lower the price of TV shows to $1, which is a 50% discount over their current pricing structure for standard def shows.  The news comes on the heels of the recently announced iPad, which could possibly facilitate an influx of TV and movie purchases from the iTunes store.

But why the rumor?  Well, for one, many TV shows are now available for free online.  Most if not all of these won’t play on the iPad, so this could be seen as a significant hurdle for many to invest in the device. Lowering the price of the shows lowers the hurdle.  Also, there are numerous outlets that provide more media for less of a cost, such as Netflix.  For just $8.99/month you can score yourself a DVD to your home and unlimited streaming of more than 15,000 TV shows and movies, which mind you won’t be compatible with the iPad.

So is a $1 TV show enough to get me to buy an iPad?  Hells no.  But give me an ‘all you can eat monthly subcription’ and Apple might have one more person signed up.  Fortunately, another rumor emerged this week that Hulu is working on an iPad (hopefully this also means iPhone) compatible version of their website.  One can only hope this is the case, but then again this is a rumor, and it’s just about fact that Hulu will start charging for content as soon as this year.

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Remember that supposed Splinter Cell Conviction promo code that was to be included inside the box of Assassin’s Creed 2?  According to game site CVG, and an Ubisoft spokesperson “The leaflet included in the Assassin’s Creed 2 boxes in the US does not relate to a Splinter Cell Conviction demo download. The leaflet is a US initiative and will not be available in other territories.”  In other words, it’s a promo to get fans of the Splinter Cell series like you and me to download wallpapers to our computer’s desktop and what Ubisoft probably hopes is a conversation going with our best buds to help promote the game.

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According to MCV gaming site, Microsoft’s Project Natal will launch next November for as little as $80 (we heard $50 last month). The rumor also says that Microsoft will kick out a console bundle that includes the Natal camera and perhaps a few games to go along with it.  As of now 14 games are supposedly being readied from a variety of studios, while Microsoft is preparing 5 million unit for shipment during the initial launch.

Project Natal was announced at this year’s E3 and was received with mixed reactions from the gaming and gadget community.  The system uses a special camera to read your body gestures and objects, and then incorporates them into the game, providing a more engaging gaming experience, or that’s how the marketing material goes.  The Natal is Microsoft’s answer to the Wii, while Sony has their own version arriving early next year as well.

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Would you pay $30 a month for access to TV programming on your computer?  Apple hopes so, or that’s how the rumor goes.

According to an industry insider, Apple is in talks with many of the networks to deliver an all you can eat TV service via their iTunes software.  Users would pay $30 a month and be able to stream shows from an assortment of channels as long as they had Internet access.

While it would be difficult to supplant the cable companies over night due to their relationships and contracts with the networks, it is a feasible proposition since more and more channels are looking to take their content online.  Many news sources are pointing to Disney as the ginny pig since they already have close ties with Apple, but at this point it’s all just speculation.

Keep in mind that a rumor recently emerged stating that Hulu might be switching some of their content to a pay model, which actually throws this Apple rumor a curve ball because I doubt those two (Fox and NBC) would want to share revenue when they could be selling it direct.  Then again, since Apple’s iTunes has an install base of 65 million, it might just be feasible.

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Today rumors emerged that Google is in the process of developing their very own navigation app for smartphones running the Android OS.  It’s not clear if the application would be more robust than the iPhone’s current Google Map application and offer turn-by-turn directions, but given that they own the Android OS, and can essentially do whatever they want, it’s more likely than not.

Providing greater credence to the rumor is that Google just discontinued their relationship with Tele Atlas earlier this October, which charged Google for use of their map info – Google has a contract with them until 2013 to work on International maps.  The break away from the map service provider indicates that Google has amassed enough map data over the years to go at it alone and in all likelihood offer an ad supported free version.  …Continue reading: Gadget Rumor: Google Maps With Turn-By-Turn Navigation Might Be Heading To Android Devices

If the Xbox 360 is going to make it to 2015, Microsoft better have definite plans to get Blu-Ray compatibility on board on the ASAP.  In a recent interview with Gizmodo, Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer is quoted saying that we will “soon” be able to watch Blu-Ray movies on the Xbox 360.

The CEO had expressed that an external Blu-Ray drive would be the best way to get the format on the 360.  I bet it looks identical to ill fated HD DVD drive from a few years back.

At the moment however, Ballmer seems to think that there is enough HD content via streaming sources (NetFlix and the upcoming Zune Video) to keep the masses happy.  Are we happy?

How about that web browser?

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