One of the biggest shopping seasons in the United States of America, also known as the Black Friday, as it falls on the first Friday after the Thanksgiving has made two of the biggest shopping networks, Wal-Mart and Target come out with all guns blazing. Both the companies have announced bottom dollar prices for their products and incredible deals on commodities that have the consumers run to their nearby Wal-Mart and Target outlets.

The all new explosive deals are targeted at electronic items such as, high-definition TVs, laptops and Blu-ray players etc. and also envelops day to day entertainment items for both children and adults such as, toys, DVDs etc. This new Black Friday shopping campaign by both the stores has raised their expectations as far as sales are concerned and the retail chains strongly believe that, this year’s holiday season will be extremely gratifying for their revenues and profits.

Even though Wal-Mart hasn’t announced all its commodities deals till yet, still some of the hot bargains that have indeed been by announced by the retail giant are, 50 inch Sanyo plasma HDTV for $598, Magnavox Blu-Ray disc player for $78, TomTom GPS System for $59, 
Reversible Fleece jacket for $7, Childrens sleepwear for $3. Apart from these daily items of use, Wal-Mart has lowered down the prices of some of the most sought after gadgets such as, Wii Play Bundle for Nintendo Wii for $39, Xbox 360 120GB Elite System w/ Free for $50, Xbox 360 Black Controller for $39, Gift Card for $299.99
, 
Lexar 4GB microSDHC Memory Card for $10.00
, Lexar 4GB SDHC Memory Card for $10.00 and 
Electronic Gadget 3-Slot Charging Station for $14.99.

Along with the above mentioned items that have been designated for the sale, Wal-Mart has also heavily focused on the entertainment section as well with a long list of items that are sure to make the consumers go on a shopping spree. These items include, a 15.6-inch eMachines laptop with 2GB RAM, 160GB hard drive, AMD CPU, and Windows 7 for $198, a 42-inch Emerson 720p plasma TV for $448, a 50-inch Sanyo plasma for $598, 46-inch Sony 1080p LCD TV for $798, Rock Band Special Edition (with all the instruments) for $50, Sony PlayStation 3 Slim with two games and a Blu-ray disc for $299, 320GB Western Digital external hard drive for $49 and a 10.1-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot camera with 3x optical zoom for $79.

As far as Target is concerned, the retail store is selling the Westinghouse 32″ Widescreen LCD HD TV for only $246 and the Xbox 360 120GB Elite System for $299.99.

Via Tha Indian & Yahoo! Tech.

One of the most sought after gaming consoles in the world, Sony PlayStation 3 is all set to be equipped with the Netflix online instant streaming service. With the addition of this latest feature, PS3 has become the only gaming console in the world, that supports Blu-Ray discs and provides online streaming.

The users of the PlayStation 3 will be able to view movies and television episodes online, by ordering a Netflix free Blu-Ray disc, that will enable the PS3 to run online videos and movies. This  activation disc can be ordered via phone or online by potential subscribers and it will delivered to the members, absolutely free of cost and that too by first class mail. Meaning, that the members can receive these activation discs a day after they place their orders.

The Netflix Blu-Ray disc is based on the Blu-ray’s BD-Live technology, that enables this disc to gain access to the internet and activate the PS3 subscription. However, in order to make the activation process work via the Netflix disc, the PS3 should be connected to the internet, via Ethernet or Wifi. Those consumers who are already a subscriber to Netflix, just need to insert the Blu-Ray disc into the console and enjoy the movies and television shows up for grabs.

This latest deal between Sony PlayStation 3 and Netflix, has effectively put a stop to the exclusivity shared by Microsoft and Netflix for a very long time. However, the exclusive deal between Netflix and Microsoft, still couldn’t beat the PS3 deal, as the Xbox 360 requires an Xbox Live subscription,in addition to the Netflix subscription. Where as in the PlayStation 3, the users just need to insert the free Blu Ray disc and enjoy watching their favorite movies.

Via Cnet.

Perhaps the most cherished and immensely popular gaming console, Xbox 360, is the dream game machine for kids and adults alike. With high-end graphic, multiple widgets and many other spectacular features, Xbox 360 is virtually in every living room.

Now, Microsoft has decided to bring the world even closer to the users of Xbox 360, with the launch of multiple social networking applications, that are designed especially for Xbox and enables the users to stay connected, share information, status updates and do a whole lot of other activities online and that too on their Xbox 360.

Facebook:

Amongst the most prominent social networking applications, Facebook now sees itself as the primary application in Xbox 360. Microsoft has spared no efforts in ensuring that, the Facebook application is as vibrant and as feature packed as possible. One of the exciting features of this application is the compatibility of Xbox with Facebook connect, that allows the users to send status updates, for the games they play on Xbox and can also notify the world about the achievements they claim in a particular game.

Another really useful feature of the Facebook application enables the users to find the friends on Facebook, who are playing Xbox 360 and can also search for Xbox 360 friends, who might also be available on Facebook.

According to Ron Pessner (GM, Games Windows Live, Microsoft),

“We’re obviously interested in what folks have to say about the desirability of personal videos. We’re going to be evaluating that going forward.”

Via Cnet.

Hitherto umpteen medical studies and researches have proven that playing video games for long hours regularly is indeed injurious to health. Much to the contrary of this conclusion, Simon Scarle, a computer scientist at the Simon Scarle, has devised a way to use an Xbox 360 to detect heart defects and help prevent heart attacks.

Apparently, this device is cheaper and faster as compared to the computer systems that are currently used by scientists to perform heart research. Scarle initially detailed this system in “Journal of Computational Biology and Chemistry”, a journal published in August, 2007 while he was a software engineer at Microsoft’s Rare Studio. He further modified a console that delivers data tracking (as to how electrical signals in the heart move around damaged cardiac cells) instead of producing graphics for the game.

This in turn creates a model of the heart that allows doctors to identify heart defects such as arrhythmia. Scarle believes that this computing hardware will be very useful for students who aspire to be scientists. No doubts, science is ever progressing but only time will speak if Scarle’s study will be accepted widely.

Via: Time

After disappointing the fans once again in E3 Expo of this year, it seems that Sony decided to make a move and it showed good innovations in Gamescon, the largest games fair of Europe that happened in the last passed in Cologne, Germany. And the innovations were good enough to perhaps finish a stagnation which the Japanese company is suffering in the last years. Sonny announced a new PlayStation 3.

The console, that has a third of its predecessor’s size, will cost three forth of the price of the first version of PS3. Starting from that week in the USA, PS3 starts to be worth US$ 300 (today cost US$ 400). And that will be the price of the new console when it arrives to the stores.

That puts Sony in condition of competing with Microsoft that sells Xbox 360 for an equivalent price. The difference: the new console of Sony offers the double of space in HD (120 GB against 60 GB of Xbox), besides the Blu-ray reader.

However, specialists point some problems. The console from Sony had three considerable changes that can leave some players bothered. The first of them is a resource that many users of the console use – the use of an operating system in the apparel. With that, it won’t be more possible for the user the use of the Linux system.

The second is the fact that the new console doesn’t have compatibility with its predecessor, Playstation 2.

The third and last bad news is the fact of PS3 Slim console won’t count more with the key to turn off the stand-by.

Another subject that is generating more controversy in the last days is a rumor that the new PlayStation 3 would be slower in relation to the traditional model.

Via: Consumerist.

If you are an Xbox fan then you can definitely not miss this giant Xbox 360 controller pillow. Crafty Heidi decided to go a tad unique way by presenting her boyfriend, Joe an Xbox 360 controller pillow on his birthday. She literally handmade this unique pillow especially to provide lumbar support to Joe when he sits on the couch and gets busy crashing cars. Heidi’s love and affection for Joe is indeed very sweet.

You can see Joe in the above picture enjoying his new 360 pillow. In case you are single and not lucky enough to receive Xbox 360 pillow from your girlfriend on your birthday, you can still buy a similar pillow from eBay. However, they may not be as comfortable and big as Heidi’s design.

Well, you cannot compare Heidi’s pillow with the ones that guys over at GameSniped offer. Hers is carefully customized and made only for her Joe. I wonder which Xbox product Heidi will design for Joe’s next birthday. It’s quite an interesting thought to do something like this but at the same time, it’s also crazy and time consuming.

Via: TechnaBob

Xbox has been criticized a lot, and that too unfairly and perhaps the reason is that it is associated with the boring Microsoft. Nevertheless, Xbox 360 is one of the best consoles and the one of the top 3. Though Wii and PSP have a more hip image, partly due to the association with Sony and Nintendo, Xbox 360 is a commendable console.

However, the console has known to be quite discriminatory against minorities and the queer folks. However, this time around, Xbox gets back some zest and zeal as Max has worked hard enough to create a cool Halo-themed Xbox 360 diorama.

This diorama of sorts was just built with matching case and it took him just two months to build and that too in his spare time. The diorama looks almost fairy-tale like and it must be seen as a gift to the entire gaming community. I would say, this is worth paying for and keeping as a gaming art souvenir.

Via: TechEBlog

If you are an Xbox fan, and you happen to enter your sexual orientation which Microsoft thinks is not ‘ok’ then you must just get yourself banned! In what appears to be one of the most blatant cases of corporate homophobia, Microsoft banned a gamer for she mentioned in her profile that she is a lesbian.

The explanation given by Microsoft was that it offended many other players and it also wouldn’t be age appropriate as many children would play games. If one has to talk about hypocrisy, one has to talk about Microsoft. With such gruesome games doing rounds, it is no surprise many gamers are influenced by these violent games and take to crime.

Maybe Microsoft must clean its yard before commenting and banning others for no reason. Also, it is nowhere mentioned that children shouldn’t be taught there are different kinds of people in the world. This is a great disgrace for the whole gaming community and it is perhaps why Wii and PS3 are more popular.

Via: ShinyShiny

At the CES 2009, a number of gaming titles were also unveiled. The titles have been unveiled for PS3, Xbox 360 and even PC. Prototype has been unveiled for PS3, Xbox 360 and for the PC. Cazafantasmas: El Juego has been announced and may be released in June. The Dark Void has been announced for PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation and would be available in June 2009.

Halo Wars is another game that was doing the rounds in CES 2009 and may be available in March 2009. Red Alert 3 has been in news lately and more was made available at the CES 2009 and maybe available commercially in sometime.

Streetfighter IV and Godfather II were two other games announced and they would be available on PC, Xbox 360 and also on the PlayStation. More information will be available later, we hope.

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Via: Neoteo

If you wanted a more interesting controller for your Guitar Hero, Rock Band and Rock Revolution titles, you must perhaps check out DreamGear’s WarBeast for PS3. It comes with a Quad Dock charging station and will also be compatible with Xbox 360 and Wii. The controller is a full size guitar replica and comes with a removable neck and headstock.

The controller’s whammy bar is not only aesthetically pleasing but is also adjustable and the Quad Dock allows four controllers to be charged simultaneously. It needs 4 AA batteries and is available in black. The WarBeast costs $130 and the Quad Dock charging stations need to be bought separately and cost up to $40.

Looks like this particular controller is packed with awesome features and would make playing your favourite music game more fun than ever. I would say, all you gaming fans must immediately purchase this cool controller so that you can have a gala time doing what you want to. The black guitar controller looks sinful and chic at the same time to say the least. I would definitely buy this.

Via: Electronista