Microsoft Corp is slashing the price of its high-end Xbox 360 model by $100, ratcheting up the stakes in the game console fight this holiday season.
Microsoft said yesterday it would drop the price of the Xbox 360 Elite to $299.99,just days after Sony cut the rival PlayStation 3 to $299.
The price on the entry-level Xbox Arcade model will stay at $199.99, and Microsoft will phase out its mid-range Pro console, leaving it with two models.The Pro will sell for $249.99 until supplies run out. The global price cut is effective today.
The Xbox is the No.2 console in the US, behind Nintendo's Wii, which sells for $249. But Xbox sales have showed strength this year, up 17% in the US, the only console in positive territory.
Microsoft spokesman David Dennis said the price cut has been in the works for some time, and was not a response to Sony's move, which was announced last week at the Gamescom video game trade show in Cologne, Germany.
Rather, he said the company hoped the price reduction would attract new buyers and help simplify its product mix for manufacturers and retailers as well as customers.
"It really makes the decision for consumers a lot easier," Dennis said."They're either price conscious and they gravitate towards the Arcade or they the want the full Xbox 360 experience."
Game publishers such as Activision Blizzard have been clamouring for console price cuts, which help boost sales of software by increasing the installed based.
They are now getting their wish, even as the industry remains mired in a months-long slump brought on by a lack of big-name releases and a recession that has pinched consumer spending.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Nintendo updates DSi software
Nintendo said recently that it is updating DSi software to allow users to upload pictures from the camera-equipped handheld videogame devices to hot socialnetworking website Facebook.
The Facebook photo-sharing feature is now usable with a free system update to be available online.
"Facebook and Nintendo DSi build on the trend of personalisation that is so important to consumers," Nintendo of America executive vice president of sales and marketing Cammie Dunaway said in a statement.
"We're giving people the tools to express themselves in creative new ways and show off the results to their friends and family on Facebook."
DSi users will be able to tap an onscreen icon to send photos from DSi camera albums to Facebook profile pages by means of wireless broadband Internet connections, according to Nintendo.
The Japanese videogame titan has sold more than 1.7 million DSi devices in the United States since the thirdgeneration of the game system was launched here in April, according to figures from industry-tracker NPD Group.
Nintendo reported last week that sales of its Wii consoles have plunged, triggering a sharp drop in recent-quarter profits after years of spectacular growth.
The company had been riding high in recent years after trumping rivals Sony and Microsoft in the battle for dominance of the multi-billion dollar home videogame industry with its familyfriendly Wii. series.
The Facebook photo-sharing feature is now usable with a free system update to be available online.
"Facebook and Nintendo DSi build on the trend of personalisation that is so important to consumers," Nintendo of America executive vice president of sales and marketing Cammie Dunaway said in a statement.
"We're giving people the tools to express themselves in creative new ways and show off the results to their friends and family on Facebook."
DSi users will be able to tap an onscreen icon to send photos from DSi camera albums to Facebook profile pages by means of wireless broadband Internet connections, according to Nintendo.
The Japanese videogame titan has sold more than 1.7 million DSi devices in the United States since the thirdgeneration of the game system was launched here in April, according to figures from industry-tracker NPD Group.
Nintendo reported last week that sales of its Wii consoles have plunged, triggering a sharp drop in recent-quarter profits after years of spectacular growth.
The company had been riding high in recent years after trumping rivals Sony and Microsoft in the battle for dominance of the multi-billion dollar home videogame industry with its familyfriendly Wii. series.
BSA to launch online campaign
In an attempt to reach the younger generation and IT savvy users, the Business Software Alliance will launch Super Hero online video campaign via YouTube throughout the Asia Pacific region including Thailand next month.
The video campaign aims to motivate the people to inform the authorities about illegal usage of software, according to Roland Chan, Business Software Alliance (BSA) Senior Director of Marketing, AsiaPacific.
Meanwhile the BSA will raise awareness through online and offline channels to attract more users calls to the BSA hotline (02-714-1010) for legal action against copyright violators to receive an award of up to 250,000 baht.
"Clearly, the recession has led some people to call the hotline as a way to make up for lost income and to ease economic pressures and cash rewards for anonymous tips about software piracy are gaining favour among corporate managers and employees," said Chan.
Each year Thailand has 500-1,000 calls to hotline numbers and this year expects to get more from the new activities. In the first eight months of this year police raided more than 60 companies suspected of netting more than 150 million baht in unlicensed software.
"Among the hotline tips we receive are those about companies using unlicensed dictionaries without paying fees to the Thai Software Enterprise. Utilities software such as antivirus software is still the most popular for illegal use."
Moreover, there is a new viable option for copyright holders to sue illegal users though the Thai Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court to compensate their losses.
In a recent case, the court awarded the maker of design and engineering software 1.8 million baht in damages.The decision was based on evidence that the defendant infringed the software developer's copyright.
The court arrived at damages of 1.8 million in consideration of the value of the software, plus interest owed the plain-tiff starting from the date on which the defendant began using the unlicensed software.
The case began in late 2005 when a police investigation and subsequent police raid at the company's offices discovered unlicensed software being used by employees. Following a conviction in the criminal courts, lawyers for the plaintiff brought a civil case against the defendant, which culminated in victory last month.
The defendant, a 100 percent Thaiowned company, has registered capital of approximately 150 million baht and annual revenue of approximately 250 million baht.
Leonard Yeung, Autodesk's Asean Licence Compliance Manager, said that the court's opinion demonstrates once again that there are criminal and civil liabilities to be faced by companies in Thailand that use counterfeit or unlicensed copies of software in their business practices.
This case represents the second decision in favour of software developers.In January,2009, Autodesk won a milestone case as the first software development company to bring legal action against a company accused of using its software without licensing. In that case,Autodesk was awarded 3.5 million baht by the Thai Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court.
Chan continues that it is possible that these two cases will encourage more software developers to take action at a civil level. However, fighting to this has high legal is costly and takes long process,which is why more than 50 percent of cases are settled out of court.
There are several positive signs to make Thailand piracy rate in 2009 reduce from central government policy and strong police enforcement and compensation to copyright holders.
A BSA-IDC study revealed that Thailand's PC piracy rate in 2008 was around 76 percent with a value loss of US$609 million, dropping two points from 2007 and 80 percent in 2006. Thailand ranks eight out of 19 Asia Pacific economies.
The video campaign aims to motivate the people to inform the authorities about illegal usage of software, according to Roland Chan, Business Software Alliance (BSA) Senior Director of Marketing, AsiaPacific.
Meanwhile the BSA will raise awareness through online and offline channels to attract more users calls to the BSA hotline (02-714-1010) for legal action against copyright violators to receive an award of up to 250,000 baht.
"Clearly, the recession has led some people to call the hotline as a way to make up for lost income and to ease economic pressures and cash rewards for anonymous tips about software piracy are gaining favour among corporate managers and employees," said Chan.
Each year Thailand has 500-1,000 calls to hotline numbers and this year expects to get more from the new activities. In the first eight months of this year police raided more than 60 companies suspected of netting more than 150 million baht in unlicensed software.
"Among the hotline tips we receive are those about companies using unlicensed dictionaries without paying fees to the Thai Software Enterprise. Utilities software such as antivirus software is still the most popular for illegal use."
Moreover, there is a new viable option for copyright holders to sue illegal users though the Thai Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court to compensate their losses.
In a recent case, the court awarded the maker of design and engineering software 1.8 million baht in damages.The decision was based on evidence that the defendant infringed the software developer's copyright.
The court arrived at damages of 1.8 million in consideration of the value of the software, plus interest owed the plain-tiff starting from the date on which the defendant began using the unlicensed software.
The case began in late 2005 when a police investigation and subsequent police raid at the company's offices discovered unlicensed software being used by employees. Following a conviction in the criminal courts, lawyers for the plaintiff brought a civil case against the defendant, which culminated in victory last month.
The defendant, a 100 percent Thaiowned company, has registered capital of approximately 150 million baht and annual revenue of approximately 250 million baht.
Leonard Yeung, Autodesk's Asean Licence Compliance Manager, said that the court's opinion demonstrates once again that there are criminal and civil liabilities to be faced by companies in Thailand that use counterfeit or unlicensed copies of software in their business practices.
This case represents the second decision in favour of software developers.In January,2009, Autodesk won a milestone case as the first software development company to bring legal action against a company accused of using its software without licensing. In that case,Autodesk was awarded 3.5 million baht by the Thai Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court.
Chan continues that it is possible that these two cases will encourage more software developers to take action at a civil level. However, fighting to this has high legal is costly and takes long process,which is why more than 50 percent of cases are settled out of court.
There are several positive signs to make Thailand piracy rate in 2009 reduce from central government policy and strong police enforcement and compensation to copyright holders.
A BSA-IDC study revealed that Thailand's PC piracy rate in 2008 was around 76 percent with a value loss of US$609 million, dropping two points from 2007 and 80 percent in 2006. Thailand ranks eight out of 19 Asia Pacific economies.
Teen answers online
A web site is now up and running with an ultimate goal of tackling teenagers' problems.
Developed by Assoc Prof Somthawin Thanasopon, www.woundwhy.com offers online games through which visitors will learn about the dangers of drugs, liquor, sexually transmitted diseases, etc, and also how to avoid them.
"We use the games to attract teenagers' attention. Learning from the games won't be boring," Somthawin said.
After playing the games, the visitors will also be asked to fill questionnaires.
"We will collect the information for researching purposes. The information will also be used to develop the web site's content," she added.
She said the web site targeted children aged between 12 and 15 years old.
However, she said the web site would also prove useful to children from different age groups or even parents.
"Our web site teaches about sex education and adolescent emotion as well," Somthawin added.
She believed the web site would be able to reach out to a large number of teenagers because Internet was now popular.
Her web site offers prizes like flash drives, pens and Tshirts for visitors who have played all the games and filled all the questionnaires.
www.woundwhy.com was launched yesterday.
Present at the launch event were Basic Education Commission secretary general Khunying Kasama Varawarn, National Research Council secretary general Dr Anond Bunyaratavej and Kasetsart University president Vudtechai Kapilakanchana.
Kasama hailed the web site as a good medium for youths.
Developed by Assoc Prof Somthawin Thanasopon, www.woundwhy.com offers online games through which visitors will learn about the dangers of drugs, liquor, sexually transmitted diseases, etc, and also how to avoid them.
"We use the games to attract teenagers' attention. Learning from the games won't be boring," Somthawin said.
After playing the games, the visitors will also be asked to fill questionnaires.
"We will collect the information for researching purposes. The information will also be used to develop the web site's content," she added.
She said the web site targeted children aged between 12 and 15 years old.
However, she said the web site would also prove useful to children from different age groups or even parents.
"Our web site teaches about sex education and adolescent emotion as well," Somthawin added.
She believed the web site would be able to reach out to a large number of teenagers because Internet was now popular.
Her web site offers prizes like flash drives, pens and Tshirts for visitors who have played all the games and filled all the questionnaires.
www.woundwhy.com was launched yesterday.
Present at the launch event were Basic Education Commission secretary general Khunying Kasama Varawarn, National Research Council secretary general Dr Anond Bunyaratavej and Kasetsart University president Vudtechai Kapilakanchana.
Kasama hailed the web site as a good medium for youths.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Sony slims PS3 console,trims prices
Sony on Tuesday unveiled a long-rumoured slim version of its PlayStation 3 videogame console and cut prices on existing models that have been struggling for momentum in the marketplace.
A PlayStation 3 console with "an extremely streamlined form factor" and a 120 gigabyte hard drive will be released in September, according to the Japanese electronics giant.
The consoles will be priced at $299 in the United States,299 in Europe, and 29,980 yen in Japan.
Sony lopped $100 off the prices of PS3 consoles currently on the market to $299 for models with 80 gigabyte hard drives and $399 for those with 160 gigabyte hard drives.
"By launching a vast library of exciting and attractive software titles for PS3 this holiday season and offering customers a line-up of hardware models and pricing to match their preference, SCE will build on the momentum and accelerate the expansion of the PS3 platform," Sony said in a release.
The slim PS3 is about two-thirds the size of existing models but has all the features of previous models, including Blu-ray high-definition disk players, according to Sony.
Since their launch with much fanfare in 2006, PS3 models have boasted power and rich graphics, but at premium prices when compared to Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's innovative Wii consoles.
Sony has since found the console wars to be bruising but is banking on its refreshed, lower-priced PS3 line and the release of blockbuster videogame titles to improve its fortunes in the crucial year-end holiday shopping season.
Sony Corp reported a net loss of 37.1 billion yen ($390 million) for the fiscal first quarter through June, blaming the global economic downturn.
The maker of Bravia televisions, PlayStation game consoles and Cyber-shot cameras maintained its forecast for its first back-to-back annual losses since it was listed on the stock market in 1958.
Sony, which announced in March its first annual loss in 14 years, expects to end the current business year 120 billion yen in the red.
A PlayStation 3 console with "an extremely streamlined form factor" and a 120 gigabyte hard drive will be released in September, according to the Japanese electronics giant.
The consoles will be priced at $299 in the United States,299 in Europe, and 29,980 yen in Japan.
Sony lopped $100 off the prices of PS3 consoles currently on the market to $299 for models with 80 gigabyte hard drives and $399 for those with 160 gigabyte hard drives.
"By launching a vast library of exciting and attractive software titles for PS3 this holiday season and offering customers a line-up of hardware models and pricing to match their preference, SCE will build on the momentum and accelerate the expansion of the PS3 platform," Sony said in a release.
The slim PS3 is about two-thirds the size of existing models but has all the features of previous models, including Blu-ray high-definition disk players, according to Sony.
Since their launch with much fanfare in 2006, PS3 models have boasted power and rich graphics, but at premium prices when compared to Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's innovative Wii consoles.
Sony has since found the console wars to be bruising but is banking on its refreshed, lower-priced PS3 line and the release of blockbuster videogame titles to improve its fortunes in the crucial year-end holiday shopping season.
Sony Corp reported a net loss of 37.1 billion yen ($390 million) for the fiscal first quarter through June, blaming the global economic downturn.
The maker of Bravia televisions, PlayStation game consoles and Cyber-shot cameras maintained its forecast for its first back-to-back annual losses since it was listed on the stock market in 1958.
Sony, which announced in March its first annual loss in 14 years, expects to end the current business year 120 billion yen in the red.
Sony slims game console, cuts prices
Sony yesterday unveiled a long-rumoured slim version of its PlayStation 3 videogame console and cut prices on existing models that have been struggling for momentum in the marketplace.
A PlayStation 3 console with "an extremely streamilined form factor" and a 120 gigabyte hard drive will be released next month, according to the Japanese electronics giant.
The consoles will be price at US$299 (Bt10,200) in the United States 299 Cent (Bt14,400) in Europe, and 29,980 yen(Bt10,850) in Japan.
Sony lopped $100 off the prices of PS3 consoles currently on the market to $299 for models with 80 gigabyte hard drives and $399 for those with 160 gigabyte hard drives.
The slim PS3 is about two-thirds the size of existing models but has all the features of previous models, including Blu-ray high-definition disk players, accroding to Sony.
Since their launch with much fanfare in 2006, PS3 models have boasted power and rich graphics, but at premium prices when compared to Microsoft's Xbox 360 Nintendo's innovative Wii consoles.
A PlayStation 3 console with "an extremely streamilined form factor" and a 120 gigabyte hard drive will be released next month, according to the Japanese electronics giant.
The consoles will be price at US$299 (Bt10,200) in the United States 299 Cent (Bt14,400) in Europe, and 29,980 yen(Bt10,850) in Japan.
Sony lopped $100 off the prices of PS3 consoles currently on the market to $299 for models with 80 gigabyte hard drives and $399 for those with 160 gigabyte hard drives.
The slim PS3 is about two-thirds the size of existing models but has all the features of previous models, including Blu-ray high-definition disk players, accroding to Sony.
Since their launch with much fanfare in 2006, PS3 models have boasted power and rich graphics, but at premium prices when compared to Microsoft's Xbox 360 Nintendo's innovative Wii consoles.
Exhibition promises to put fun into science
If you think you dislike science, a range of new games and 3D books designed to boost knowledge of and enjoyment of -maths and the sciences may change your mind.
In the National Science and Technology Fair 2009, held in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology and National Science Museum,which runs until August 23 at Impact Arena Hall 2-8, Muang Thong Thani,booths offering new experiences promise to turn difficult science into "fun knowledge".
For example, IBM Global has developed PowerUp , a new online 3D game that is both fun and filled with knowledge,according to IBM Thailand, Chief Technologist, Trirat Suwanprateeb.
The game encourages children to learn about science and engineering principles through interactive tasks.
Players can solve environmental issues on a virtual planet by generating "clean energy" such as solar energy, wind power and hydropower.
The game characters can interact with players to give science and engineering information which allows the players to gain knowledge about energy conser-vation and restoring the environment in a virtual world. This game is available to download for free from www.powerup thegame.org
Meanwhile, TryScience is the world's first global science and technology museum that promises to make science "fun" for students.
It will be developed in collaboration with more than 500 science institutions and science museums.
IBM has created a knowledge database at www.tryscience.org, taking the form of a multimedia game that allows students to run science experiments through a computer, and provides experimental instructions in many scientific fields for students and teachers to carry out in the classrooms.
"Advance technologies help children to access new experiences to explore science," Trirat said.
"Not every child can afford to visit real science museums around the world but these technologies can make it happen [virtually].
"In the near future, IBM will hold science camps for normal and disabled students as well as offer training for teachers."
The Office of Atoms for Peace booth also offers various animation stories that will teach students in an enjoyable manner about what is nuclear technology,atom theory and other difficult and hardto-imagine subjects.
New 3D textbook
The Technology Management Centre under National Science and Technology Development Agency, or NSTADA, will demonstrate the new technology of interactive books, which can help students to learn biology and chemistry more easily - and more enjoyably.
Larngear Technology, a software developer, turns ordinary textbooks into 3D books.
The system works by using a webcam to send pictures, while the software will process the object and show it 3D on the surface of the book page.
Every time the webcam moves, the object will move follow.
This gives the impression of the object appearing for real in front of the users.
The exhibition also has a 4D simulator displaying natural resources to try to teach visitors how to save the world from the effects of global warming.
The fair also has separate zones for robot and automatic technology.
There will be a parade of robotics including the impressive Scorpion and Spider robots, which recreate the animals from the movie Transformers 2 .It is hoped touching and examining the robots may inspire children to become the scientists of the future.
In the National Science and Technology Fair 2009, held in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology and National Science Museum,which runs until August 23 at Impact Arena Hall 2-8, Muang Thong Thani,booths offering new experiences promise to turn difficult science into "fun knowledge".
For example, IBM Global has developed PowerUp , a new online 3D game that is both fun and filled with knowledge,according to IBM Thailand, Chief Technologist, Trirat Suwanprateeb.
The game encourages children to learn about science and engineering principles through interactive tasks.
Players can solve environmental issues on a virtual planet by generating "clean energy" such as solar energy, wind power and hydropower.
The game characters can interact with players to give science and engineering information which allows the players to gain knowledge about energy conser-vation and restoring the environment in a virtual world. This game is available to download for free from www.powerup thegame.org
Meanwhile, TryScience is the world's first global science and technology museum that promises to make science "fun" for students.
It will be developed in collaboration with more than 500 science institutions and science museums.
IBM has created a knowledge database at www.tryscience.org, taking the form of a multimedia game that allows students to run science experiments through a computer, and provides experimental instructions in many scientific fields for students and teachers to carry out in the classrooms.
"Advance technologies help children to access new experiences to explore science," Trirat said.
"Not every child can afford to visit real science museums around the world but these technologies can make it happen [virtually].
"In the near future, IBM will hold science camps for normal and disabled students as well as offer training for teachers."
The Office of Atoms for Peace booth also offers various animation stories that will teach students in an enjoyable manner about what is nuclear technology,atom theory and other difficult and hardto-imagine subjects.
New 3D textbook
The Technology Management Centre under National Science and Technology Development Agency, or NSTADA, will demonstrate the new technology of interactive books, which can help students to learn biology and chemistry more easily - and more enjoyably.
Larngear Technology, a software developer, turns ordinary textbooks into 3D books.
The system works by using a webcam to send pictures, while the software will process the object and show it 3D on the surface of the book page.
Every time the webcam moves, the object will move follow.
This gives the impression of the object appearing for real in front of the users.
The exhibition also has a 4D simulator displaying natural resources to try to teach visitors how to save the world from the effects of global warming.
The fair also has separate zones for robot and automatic technology.
There will be a parade of robotics including the impressive Scorpion and Spider robots, which recreate the animals from the movie Transformers 2 .It is hoped touching and examining the robots may inspire children to become the scientists of the future.
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