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Nintendo 3DS costs just $100 to make teardown reveals
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Video Games,
Nintendo 3DS teardowns from two research firms show that the Japanese gaming giant spent roughly $100 on raw materials and basic manufacturing for its 3D hand held gaming system; consumers must spend $250.
UBM TechInsights took apart the 3DS and estimated $101 worth of materials and manufacturing labor inside. The single biggest change was in the type of memory Nintendo used, it said.
According to Allan Yogasingam, technical marketing manager at UBM TechInsights, Nintendo embedded a proprietary Fujitsu memory chip called FC (Fast Cycle) RAM with 120MB worth of storage. That's an upgrade from previous DS devices in many ways, but as the recent earthquake shows, it bears its own supply chain risks.
FC RAM boasts DDR 3-like speeds, but consumes less power. It is also cheaper, easier to manufacture, and has a smaller footprint resembling lower-powered DDR. But despite performance improvements, the recent earthquake shows that opting for one supplier could be a "potentially dangerous move," Yogasingam said. An unexpected incident at the plant could delay production, for starters. Most consumer electronic makers will source a single component from a pool of suppliers.
Click to continue reading Nintendo 3DS costs just $100 to make teardown reveals
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iOS 4.3.1 now available
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Smartphones, Handhelds, Software,
Apple just released iOS 4.3.1 to the world, aiming to fix things like iPod touch display issues, AV-out troubles, problems with enterprise apps, and a few other bugs that were hanging around. If you've been running iOS 4.3 and have been experiencing a few niggles, chances are this'll clear that up. Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to iTunes and grab the update.
Nintendo 3DS gets torn apart
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Hardware, Nintendo, Nintendo 3DS,
The peeps over at iFixIt decided to import a Nintendo 3DS from Japan in order to give us a look at what it looks like on the inside, well in advance of the March 27th US launch date. Head on over to get a look inside of Nintendo's most ambitious handheld device to date.
Read More 
| iFixIt
Apple has stopped production of the iPad, get ready for iPad 2
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Handhelds,
Apple has stopped production of its first-generation iPad in order to clear room on the shelves for the newest version of the device, which will likely be unveiled at a Wednesday press event, according to 9to5Mac.
Shipments of the original iPad have presumably stopped, the report said; once retailers sell out of the stock they already have, it won't be refreshed. 9to5Mac also cited some retailers that said they could sell out of iPads as early as today.
Click to continue reading Apple has stopped production of the iPad, get ready for iPad 2
Sony slashes price of PSP to $129.99
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Portable/Mobile, PSP, Sony,
Sony announced today that it will drop the price of its PlayStation Portable device by $40 to $129.99.
The price drop is effective February 27. PSP Entertainment Packs, meanwhile, will be sold for $159.99.
The company is also adding new games to its Greatest Hits and Favorites Collections. New additions to Greatest Hits, which sell for $19.99, include "Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines," "Dissidia Final Fantasy," "LittleBigPlanet PSP," "Metal Solid Gear: Peace Walker," "Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters," "Resistance: Retribution," and "Toy Story 3: The Video Game."
Click to continue reading Sony slashes price of PSP to $129.99
PSP2 to sport OLED display, 3G connectivity
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Hardware, Portable/Mobile, PSP, Rumors, Sony,
Japanese newspaper Nikkei revealed some major details concerning the PSP2, reporting that the portable system will include 3G connectivity to the NTT DoCoMo network. While this particular network is exclusive to the Far East, the included 3G connectivity means we can expect the same thing for the American launch of the PSP2. With 3G connection speeds, the PSP2 would be capable of downloading data over a phone network, instead of being limited to wi-fi connections.
Also, Nikkei broke news that the PSP2 sports an OLED touch-screen, and an all-new processor for delivering cutting edge handheld performance. All will be confirmed January 27th, when Sony officially unveils the PSP2 to the world.
Barnes & Noble phasing out Nook 3G
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Handhelds, Rumors,
According to an inside source, the Nook 3G is being discontinued by Barnes & Noble. The company cites lack of bulk demand for the device, and is now filling orders until the stock is depleted. The Nook is one of the strongest Kindle alternatives out there, but we think it's fairly obvious that there isn't really that much of a need to have your ebook reader perpetually connected to the Internet through 3G. Anyhow, if you've been thinking about getting a Nook with 3G built-in, now's the time.
Read More | Engadget
Kindle 3 best selling Amazon product of all time
Posted by Patrick Lambert Categories: Corporate News, Handhelds,
Amazon released some facts about their Christmas Holidays, and among them we find out that the Kindle 3 is their best selling product ever, eclipsing Harry Potter which held the spot with the Deathly Hallows. Other facts include Christmas day itself having seen more people download more Kindle Buy Once and Read Everywhere apps ever, and the most popular book on Kindle was The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Some other Holidays best sellers were The Confession: A Novel by John Grisham, Decision Points by George Bush and Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. On the site's peak day, November 29, 13.7 million items were ordered worldwide. Another interesting tidbit is the fact that Amazon is seeing many people who buy Kindles also have another tablet such as the iPad. It seems the e-ink display of the Kindle, and it's low price point, may be enough incentive for readers, even if they already own another device.
You can buy the Kindle 3 Wi-Fi and Kindle 3 Wi-Fi + 3G now.
Read More | Corporate-IR
2010 Holiday Gift Guide: Amazon Kindle
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Handhelds, Women, Men, Techies, Under $250,
The latest release of the Amazon Kindle, the company's ebook reader, seriously changed the game in the ereader world. It's thinner and lighter than any previous model, it packs in Wi-Fi for the first time, and it is much cheaper despite being the best Kindle they've made to date, and that's why we're adding it to our 2010 Holiday Gift Guide. You can get the Wi-Fi model for just $139, or if you need the Wi-Fi + 3G model, that one goes for $189. Thing is, we'd bet that most anyone would do just fine with the Wi-Fi only model, and for $139, you get a cool gadget that book lovers will...uh...love! They're available in white and graphite colors, and we'd recommend picking on up sooner rather than later, because these are gonna be a hot one this year.
Read More | Amazon Kindle
Mega Man Legends 3, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, Nintendo 3DS
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Nintendo, Nintendo 3DS, Portable/Mobile, Survival Horror,
During the Nintendo Conference 2010 in Japan just yesterday, Nintendo revealed a glimmer of hope for fans of the Mega Man Legends series. That is, Mega Man Legends 3 Project has been officially announced in development for the Nintendo 3DS platform. “We have wanted to create a new installment in this series for a number of years,” said the title’s Executive Producer, Keiji Inafune. “It is great that we now have the opportunity to bring this title to the Nintendo 3DS.”
Resident Evil fans will be delighted to know that Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D will also be a 3DS title, and will feature missions from Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5. Those familiar with the mercenary modes from these games know that it is a race against the clock to kill as many enemies as you can while racking up points. The Mercenaries 3D will add some new modes and characters from throughout the series into the mix as well. Aside from being a completely 3D experience, the 3DS’s WiFi connectivity will allow for online co-op play around the globe.
Check out the video and screens of Mega Man Legends 3 and Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D below.
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