PhysX technology coming to PS3

Gaming geeks and so forth have something to keep their spirits up as Nvidia has made known their licensing agreement with Sony that will enable their PhysX technology to make its way to the PS3.  What does PhysX tech do?  Well, it is claimed to make games more realistic.  Does it?  I’ll let you decide.  Just know that it’s coming.  Registered PS3 developers can get in on the action by downloading the SDK via the SCEI Developer Network.

Source: Engadget, Nvidia

iPhone OS 3.0 Preview Event Highlights!

Apple’s iPhone OS 3.0 Preview just finished wrapping up and here is the rundown of the new goods both developer wise and consumer wise that are coming to the worlds first Jesus phone via the 3.0 software update:

• In-app purchasing (paid apps only)
• Peer-to-peer (limited to Bonjour)
• 3rd party hardware accessories “communicate” with iPhone and apps!
• Google Maps now an API meaning developers can include it within their app! (No more having to close one app and open maps for directions!)
• Core location now “freed”.  Real turn-by-turn coming.
• Push Notifications servers/system “rearchitected”…(Good they fixed the problems before releasing it…now release in a more timely manner…please)
• Still no background processes.  ”Performance on test models dropped by more than 80%…!  (Seems as if they need to work a little harder seeing as how RIM, Nokia, Palm, etc have managed to make it work and still have battery life at the end of the day.)
• Audio/Video streaming API included in new SDK (should be interesting)
• In-app email/iPod library access/battery API
• Native OS 3.0 version of Meebo demo’d showing the push notification service in action
• CUT, COPY AND FRICKEN PASTE!!! Features “shake to undo”  Literally shake to undo selections quickly.  Also works on third party apps as well!  Apparently it took forever becasue of “security issues”…?
• Now can send multiple pictures in a single email.  Works much like bulk delete.  Select the pictures you want to send, copy them, and paste them into an email.  (Yay for old school)
• Landscape keyboard now in SMS, Email, and Notes! (again…finally…do you regret paying for that landscape app now…?
• Forwarding ability of SMS/text messages (lets hear it again for old school)
• MMS!
• Voice memos
• Stocks.app update: News stories now featured at the bottom.  Landscape mode also now supported.
• Search now goes beyond contacts.  Seach system wide through mail, calendars, etc.  If it’s not on your iPhone, you can also search the server!  (Sweet)
• NEW HOMESCREEN!!! “Spotlight”  extension of search mentioned above as well as quick launcher!
• Notes syncing
• auto-fill
• YouTube accounts
• Stereo Bluetooth (Bluetooth chip in iPod Touch 2G “unlocked”..let your minds wonder…
• Auto WiFi login
• Anti-phishing
• Tethering…”they’re working on it”
• Lagginess and slowness will be even further reduced in 3.0
• OS 3.0 available this summer for free on iPhones and $9.95 for iPod Touch
• Beta testing via SKD for 3.0 available today…(devs start testing now!)
• many more features included in 3.0 but not revealed today

And now for the bad news:

• 1st gen iPhone’s will not have support for stereo bluetooth OR MMS…..major bummer!  Looks like with your 1st gen contract coming to an end an upgrade will indeed be in store for you.
• Still now background apps
• no flash support
• no video recording
• NO promises on Push Notification server(s) uptime…
• First they apparently don’t know what bluetooth file transfers are…second…doesn’t look like it’s going to be included in 3.0.  (I hold out hope…)

Come inside for a gallery of all the slideshow goodness from the event!

ShortcutBerry allows multiple apps assigned to each convenience key!

Blackberry users have the distinct characteristic of wanting everything at their fingertips and readily available.  The two side convenience keys on Blackberries of long have allowed users to assign an application to each, making launching apps easy.  However for many, two is simply not enough.  That is where ShortcutBerry comes in.  ShortcutBerry for example, allows you to assign the camera to the left convenience key when clicked once, address book when clicked twice, calendar when clicked 3 times, etc.  You can see that added functionality is something that should have been there from the beginning.  However, some of the greatest advancements and developments come from outside the normal developer loop.  Head on over to Fonware for more info.  Those of you who are interested in purchasing this truly revolutionary and helpful program can get the OTA right here.  There is a 45-day free trial if you just aren’t quite sure about dropping the dough quite yet.  Step inside for a couple more pictures!

No underground coverage for UK subway system…*sad face*

Inhabitants of the UK, particularly London, have a reason to weep in their tea this morning as it has been announced that the plans to bring wireless coverage to London subway tunnels are effectively canceled as the cost to be able to transmit all of those signals has become extremely expensive.  Not even a test network will be set up for the time being.  Ouch.  Sorry guys, it was great to dream about for a little while anyway.  Even though Londoners have lost out for now, there is hope as other cities such as Moscow and Beijing have somehow managed to figure out how to fund such an expensive venture.  Hopefully those ideas will work their way westward.  Guess you’ll just have to do something else with all of that down time like count the dots on the floor tiles or whatever else it is that you do when disconnected from the grid.

Source: Into Mobile, Cellular News

Blackberry 8325 (Gemini) spied!

Blackberry users who could care less about 3G technology have a new love to lust after…it goes by the  name Gemini.  RIM’s latest lower end Blackberry while not packing 3G does have some other nifty feature bundled within that I’m sure will make you smile just a tad.  The Gemini pictured above definitely has some styling cues that set it apart from the rest of the pack.  Enough with the mumbo jumbo.  The specs so far as follows:

• 320 × 240 resolution screen
• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
• OS 5.0 (That doesn’t really look like 5.0 in the picture above…?)
• 2.0 megapixel camera
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (“n” is still a rumor…but if it’s true…wow!)

So there ya have it.  A picture to strain your eyes and info to strain your brain this fine and early morning.  Eat your heart out!

Source: Engadget, Boy Genius

Plazmic Content Developers Kit 4.7 now *officially* available!

Blackberry theme makers rejoice as those of you who haven’t already grabbed a leaked copy of Plazmic CDK 4.7 can now officially get your hands on it.  What are you waiting for?!  Start the downloadin‘.

Source: Crack Berry

Palm Pre browser 4x faster than iPhone…Apple fanboys cry out in horror

I would consider myself borderline fanboy so my eyes and ears were perked when I saw this.  According to a video posted on JKon the Ron, the Palm Pre is shown on video loading Big12Sports.com in 7 seconds.  What’s the big deal you ask.  Only that an iPhone running over WiFi took over 30 seconds to load the same javascript and graphics heavy site!  Uh-oh.  I hope Apple has some big Safari update to announce at tomorrows event.  Because if they don’t, the mobile internet that Apple claims to own, will quickly become Palms!  If this video turns out to be the real deal, then this will surely be a blow to Apple.

Source: Mac Daily News, Cnet