It’s good news for penny-pinching game lovers. Both Sony and Microsoft, developers of the Play Station and Xbox, respectively, are likely planning price cuts that will heighten competition and liven up the sagging gaming market. Ars Technica’s “inside source” claims that, in addition to the systems being available at a lower price, they will also be more powerful.

Don’t expect to go to Best Buy today and find a cheap Xbox. The price drops are not expected until this fall at the earliest. The cost-cut comes just in time for the holidays and just in time for some serious hardware upgrades for both Sony’s and Microsoft’s systems.

From the Microsoft corner, the Xbox 360 is going to receive the much-awaited standard upgrade to the ‘Elite’ model—a 120GB gaming machine that offers a few more perks than the less-powerful Xbox 360 Pro. Presently, the Xbox 360 Pro offers a 60 GB hard drive and retails for $299. The beefier Xbox 350 Elite comes with a $399 price tag, plus the roomier storage capability. If the rumors are correct, gamers can expect to purchase the sweeter Xbox at the lower price. The Pro may be phased out, giving way to the Elite as the standard Xbox.

Sony’s trick is, perhaps, a bit more exciting. Gamers have been salivating for months over the rumors of a PS3 Slim. The price cut plus the holiday season, plus a shrinking stock of PS3s (80GB version) may equal a drop in price of the 160GB PS3 and the release of PS3 Slim.

Although it’s all mere speculation at the time, the story goes something like this. If Sony keeps selling the 60GB PS3s at the rate they are currently, they will run out of them by early September. To replace them, the 160GB versions will be much more readily available. Thus, like the Xbox 360 maneuver, 160GB versions of the PS3 may become the garden variety PS3 by this fall—with a welcome price cut (maybe). To replace the phased-out 60GB model and up the ante for holiday-hungry consumers, the PS3 Slim just may make its debut (maybe).

Ars Technica’s conclusion is pretty confirmatory: “These moves all make sense: the systems are becoming less expensive to build, and hard drive space doesn’t cost much to add… although it does make a good story when you have more storage to offer consumers. With Microsoft selling entire games through Xbox Live, the Elite has become far more important.” Yet rumors are rumors, so you’ll have to keep tracking this one as real details are released.

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With the world going greener every day, Microsoft has joined the blossoming of verdurous growth by preparing a new website, Hohm. The website, slated to be launched next week during an energy conference, essentially monitors a home’s energy consumption. According to the website, “with Microsoft Hohm you can better understand your home energy usage, get recommendations to conserve energy and start saving.” By teaming with four of the major energy suppliers on the West coast, Hohm will calibrate a home’s total consumption of energy. Hohm can also accurately estimate a home’s energy usage even for those who are not on the grid of the four energy providers listed above. A sophisticated series of esoteric mathematical formulas is the engine that powers Hohm’s calculations, determining how much energy your refrigerator is using and how much it costs to keep your home at 69 degrees all day long.

Beyond the mere monitoring of energy usage, which alone is an eye-opening energy-saver, Hohm will also make recommendations on how to cut back on energy costs. As energy costs rise, environmental concerns heighten, and legislation on conservation are discussed, consumers would do well to curb their energy appetites where they can. Hohm will show them how to do it. Beyond merelty turning off unnecessary lights, Hohm can suggest the cost-saving alternative of buying an energy-efficient washing machine or changing out an old central air unit. Perhaps some consumers may go even greener by purchasing a solar water heating system or an electricity-generating windmill.

How much money will it save? Troy Batterberry who is managing the development and launch of the new program, estimates that consumers will save as much as 10%. A 10% nationwide energy reduction is an impressive statistic, all things considered. But, as Batterberry explains, the website is about more than just consumers saving pennies. In a Reuters interview, Batterberry spoke of Hohm being a tool that will prevent the building of new power plants, saving money for individuals, industries, and the government.

Although it already sounds very impressive, Hohm is only in its infantile stages, claim Microsoft representatives. They have big plans for the future. Soon water consumption will be monitored, along with natural gas, propane, and heating oil. Microsoft’s Hohm may also begin to roll out its own line of smart thermostats, energy-efficient plugs, and other energy-saving hardware devices. Hohm may be home to a whole new industry niche for Microsoft as they develop advanced information, real-time statistics, and a host of other services.

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Remember Wolfenstein? Doom? Quake? The brains behind those award-winning, ground-breaking games, id Software, is now part of ZeniMax Media, Inc., and more specifically belongs to ZeniMax’s gaming-focused division, Bethesda Softworks. The acquisition was announced today, with the hope that the marriage “brings together two of world’s best game studios.”

The Texas-based id Software has carved out an impressive niche in the gaming market for pioneering efforts the first-person shooter field. For nearly twenty years, id has been building an empire of classic game series like Doom, Quake, Wolfenstein, and the not-yet-released Rage. The success and longevity of id Software is highly respected among gaming companies.

Few companies in the gaming industry remain independent, especially for as long as id Software has. And for financial backing, continued security, and long-term success, id Software is now part of the much-larger ZeniMax Media. In spite of the acquisition, id Software will function as it has all along—developing high-quality games. In fact, id is in the process of developing Rage, a futuristic car-racing game. Although Electronic Arts will still publish Rage, ZeniMax Media is entitled to all future publications.

In addition to being an all-systems go for game development, id hopes to grow, according to one of the founding fathers of id Software, John Carmack. “Now, id can expand,” he told reporters. “It is going to mean a lot for us.” What was the problem before? Carmack explains, “the sense of competing with your publishers…that definitely has an impact on a lot of the areas of our business.” The scene had become too complicated. Working with, or rather “competing with,” their own publishers became cumbersome and unprofitable. In the new arrangement, id Software will do what it’s truly good at—make awesome games.

The mind muscle behind those awesome games remains, since senior software developers are still working for id. Long-term contracts, signed by the principals, means that management, creative ideas, and a passion for high-quality gaming remain id’s core activity.

id is in good hands. After all, Bethesda Game Studios, the division of ZeniMax under which id falls, is a premier game developer in its own right. Just last year, they rallied dozens and dozens of Game of the Year Awards for games such as Fallout and The Elder Scrolls. With the merger finally complete, we can probably expect id studios, now under new ownership, to feed the appetites of hungry gamers who are more interested in cool games than they are in who owns who.

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With Satellite Navigation technology, we have managed to find so many ways to drive to our destination easily. Its great having our routes planned for us and avoiding becoming lost. GPS and wireless technologies are not stopping there due to a phone application that will warn you of any approaching speed traps with a phone application called Trapster.

The real-time data does rely on users being able to update the central database by calling in any traps. It’s a free service after all. From the Trapster web site at http://trapster.com, it takes just a few minutes to sign up and download the software for your phone. It’s like having a companion that watches out for you to ensure that you keep within speed limits.

What can Trapster regularly track for you?

· Speed cameras
· Police station locations
· Red light cameras

The advantage of allowing users to be responsible for the data updates is that so many people are willing to participate. So many people are easily caught by the cameras due to having no idea of their locations. Though, there are those whom deserve to be caught due to speeding to work, or rushing to get somewhere else so knowingly speeding to their destinations.

The service is great as it alerts you via your phone of any hot areas such as a waiting officer with a speed gun or a hidden roadside gun. The idea embraces social communities further by allowing people to help each other by sending data to the Trapster database. Once you know of police radar spots via your current speed gun detector or by simply spotting one, send the data to Trapster in seconds from your phone.

The database is growing every day. People are supporting the application by submitting new speed trap locations on a regular basis. Apparently, the number of people using Trapster has grown to over 100,000 users. It’s suggested if you are considering signing up to ensure you own a phone capable of GPS or WiFi so you can fully participate in reporting fresh speed trap spots.

Is there a bad side? It could be construed that the application can encourage further speeding. Maybe people may think they can now speed very easily on roads. Driving fast on a consistent basis will still result in you getting caught at some point. Trapster relies on responsible awareness on the driver’s part. If you are zooming down the highway, chances are you will still hit the speed trap before slowing down.

Remember, this is a warning device. Like all warnings, there needs to be some duration during which time you become proactive. You heed the warning signs and give yourself time to slow down responsibly.

Recently, Trapster released an update for the iphone (users with the 2.1 update). The iphone is probably a great choice for use with this application with its intuitive interface.

What does the market see here? Confirmation of speed traps is yet another move towards multi-tasking mobile devices.

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