LG have today unleashed their portfolio of 3D tech to the masses. From May, home cinema enthusiasts will be able to pick up the LG LX9900 Full LED 3D Ready TV and BX580 3D Blu-ray player.

The LX9900 is as feature packed as any 3D TV we've yet seen. Incorporating active shutter glasses for a 1080p image per eye, the 47 and 55 inch models feature LG 's signature super-slim Infinia design for a seamless move from bezel to screen.

Also thrown into the LX9900 is silky image processing in the shape of the 400Hz TruMotion engine. Built in Freeview HD, DLNA networking, Netcast internet widgets and a healthy 4 HDMI ports round out the package.

LG have also promised full compatibility with Sky's incoming 3D service, set to launch latter this year.

Those looking for the full package might want to have a look at the LG BX580 3D Blu-ray player. Playing 3D Blu-rays as well as regular Blu-ray and DVD discs, there's a whole range of DLNA and internet widget features, as well as external HDD playback.

No news on pricing yet, but we'll keep you posted.

Sony have unleashed two brand new Blu-ray players, both of which will be fully 3D compatible. The Sony BDP-S570 model will be 3D ready straight out of the box, while those opting for the cheaper BDP-S470 player will get 3D visuals through a software update.

With a "Monolithic" design style, both players will send 1080p 3D images to your eyes, providing you have a compatible 3D TV and Active Shutter glasses set up.

Hooking up to the internet via either built-in Wi-Fi on the BDP-S570 model or over an Ethernet cable with the BDP-S470 unit (an additional Sony Wi-Fi dongle can be bought for the S470), owners will be able to access Sony's new Bravia Internet Video Service. This new on demand platform will let you stream content from YouTube, LOVEFiLM and BBC's iPlayer without the need for any additional media boxes.

DLNA networking is also available across both Blu-ray players, which have also the nifty feature of being able to be controlled by an iPod Touch or iPhone.

Though prices are still to be confirmed, you'll be able to pick both 3D Blu-ray players up from shops by the end of the month.

Mitsubishi have been working away at a new piece of upscaling technology. The recently demoed kit can take a 1080p image and catapult it right up into the 4k x 2k stratosphere.

But, there's a rather weighty catch to all this. Mitsubishi have yet to make the technology compatible with Blu-ray content, which for the time being makes it more than a little worthless.

Still, the average Joe is miles away from being able to afford a 4k TV or projector anyway, so at least we can sit back smugly as the rich kids are left waiting to get their rocks off.

Via: Akihabara News

Just as it seemed that the Blu-ray format had finally turned the corner onto Mainstream St., the high-def format has been dealt another blow. It looks like Blu-ray disc prices are about to rise as the cost of polycarbonate is set to increase.

Polycarbonate is a major material in the production of not only Blu-ray discs, but everything from water bottles to CDs too. Any price increase would certainly have an adverse affect on Blu-ray disc prices, just as they were seemingly becoming more affordable.

Measures are in place to address the balance here however. Taiwanese manufacturers have begun stockpiling discs in an attempt to bolster resources before what seems to be an imminent rise. If all goes well, consumers may not have to face the extra costs for a little while yet.

Via: DigiTimes

Onkyo are never ones to shy away from high specs (and high prices) when it comes to their home cinema kit. Their latest range of THX-certified gear looks sure to please even the most choosy of cinephiles.

First up is the BD-SP807 Blu-ray player. Featuring 287Mhz/12-bit video DAC from Analog Devices and Noise Shaped Video, the player can render incredible, detailed high-def images. Older DVD's will also scrub up nicely thanks to 10-bit processing from the onboard Anchor Bay ABT1030 chip. Sound is equally well looked after, with all audio channels benefiting from 182kHz/24-bit DACs, with bit stream output of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio Essential Soundtracks.

Next up is the PA-MC5500 THX Ultra 2-certified 9-channel amplifier. Designed with a focus on minimising interference, the 26 kg flagship model will deliver a massive 220w (into 6 ohms) and an SACD-friendly frequency response that hits 100kHz.

Wrapping up the set (with each device optimised to work in tandem) is the PR-SC5507 THX Ultra 2-certified 9.2-channel A/V Network Controller. With seven HDMI, three component and six S-Video/composite inputs, it's a thorough networking solution, delivering studio-quality upscaled video streams and decoding and processing all major home cinema audio formats.

The PR-SC5507 A/V Network Controller is available now, priced £1800. The BD-SP807 and PA-MC5500 will be available in February and March respectively, with no pricing details yet confirmed.

The Consumer Electronics show, the behemoth of tech, the Valhalla of gadgetry, has come and gone for yet another year. But this time, rather than arriving with a bang, it slinked into sight with something more like a whimper.

CES 2010 had really had the wind knocked out of it before it had even got into the ring this year. All eyes were already on Apple and their rumoured Tablet in the run up to the event, despite the fact that Apple are traditionally a no-show at CES, instead planning their own top-secret unveiling at the end of January. Likewise, Google delivered a sucker-punch in the shape of the Nexus One, their flagship handset revealed at their own event on the eve of CES 2010's opening.

To make matter's worse, Microsoft's opening keynote speech (delivered by walking personality drain Steve Ballmer) was pretty darn dull. First a power cut, then a load of waffle on the 2 month old Windows 7, Ballmer hardly seemed to be trying to keep our attention. Though the Christmas release date for Project Natal was welcome news, it revealed nothing new about the device, whilst the partnership with Hewlett Packard for the new Slate device seemed merely like a case of keeping-up with the Joneses. Or should that be the Jobs-es?

But the Las Vegas event wasn't without its highlights. Far from it in fact. Maybe it's the recession, or the generally pocket-pinching mood in the air these days, but for once the most sought after tech wasn't in the realms of dreamy aspiration, but was actually fairly affordable.

Take for instance the brand new 3D TVs on show, of which the Sony BRAVIA XBR-52HX900 (video above, courtesy of Ashley) was the pick of the litter. Finally shaping up to the standards set by its cinema siblings, company reps promised that the average 3D TV will cost little more than a top-end Full HD set. Skype and video calling in many TV sets too will help turn your living room into somewhere the Jetsons could only dream of.

E-readers are also looking to be both big and affordable in 2010. As a comic book fanatic I'd have liked to have seen more attempts at a colour screened e-reader (I'm not including the MSI offering, which is really just a dual-touch screened PC, super-cool as it is). Plastic Logic's Que Pro e-reader looked great though, with a massive, durable screen, and was far lighter than the hundreds of books you'd be able to store on the tabloid-sized device.

There were, of course, tablets aplenty. The dual-booting Viliv P3 may be an underdog in the category, but seemed way more exciting than Microsoft's offering. The offer of both Windows and Android on the same device showed a respect for user choice not often seen in the back-slapping world of consumer tech.

There was still time for fun too. The Parrot AR Drone Quadricopter was fun and fresh, combining real-world toys with augmented reality controls. A little less high-tech but full of retro-chic was the Lasonic i931 iPhone dock/ghetto blaster mash-up. Odd's on its at the top of Flava Flav's Christmas list. And there was still some time for the weird and the plain old dumb, too.

Though less prevalent than other years, there were some great examples of brand new tech on show that were genuinely exciting. A real head-turner and my favourite item of the show was the Light Blue Optic Light Touch. Using a pico projection engine and a touch sensitive sensor, it'll turn any flat surface into a touchscreen. It works ridiculously well despite still being in the development stages, and has almost unlimited potential.

Some detractors say that, recession or not, CES looks to be on its last legs. It's sad, but not unlikely, when you consider the audiences that companies like Apple and Google can command for just a single product launch. However, for emerging companies like Light Blue Optics CES is still vital to gain some exposure, not to mention the fact that such a prominent date in the calendar forces the tech giants to have made some significant, competitive advances in their gear, year-on-year.

So here's hoping the old dog's got a bit of life left in it yet. Hopefully next year will kick off the recessionary cobwebs and kick the show back into high-tech gear. It wouldn't take much to tempt us back to the City of Sin once more.

Click here for full CES 2010 pre-show, day one, day two and day three round-ups.

It may have gotten off to a dull start thanks to the lacklustre showing from Microsoft, but CES 2010 today threw up some really nice surprises. Keep an eye out for the Light Blue Optic's Light Touch here in today's round-up, and be prepared to be blown away.

HTC unveils the Smart, their first budget smartphone
You might recognise this one from last years leaked HTC product roadmap

Dell tease mini Android based tablet, the Streak
It's like an Archos internet tablet. But red.

Sony Z series laptops hands-on video
Ashley gets a quick demo of the new range of Sony laptops

EarVibe vibrating earphones on the way from Tehcnocell
Somehow improves sound quality. Yeah right....

Lady Gaga new creative director for Polaroid
No, it's not a wind-up, she's got herself a real job

Light Blue Optic's Light Touch turns any surface into a touchscreen
Amazing emergent tech, and the most exciting spot of the day so far in my opinion

Samsung's animated OLED identity card is equal parts cool and creepy
Your ID is about to go crazy cool, Bladerunner style

Microsoft's Ballmer announces the HP Slate
The iSlate...Oh? The HP Slate, right...

Project Natal Xbox 360 motion control coming Christmas
You hear that Santa!?

Microsoft's Steve Ballmer opens CES, but does anyone care anymore?
It's a pretty boring display from the PC giants

Sony's new products
In a quick, handy gallery!

Sony Dash personal internet viewer video
Sony do a Chumby

The five hottest e-readers
Another gallery rundown, this time of the best e-readers so far seen at CES 2010

Is this the hottest TV of the year? Samsung's 3D LED 9000
Real-time 2D to 3D conversion on its way

Five things to watch for
Ashley gives his run down on the best things to keep a look out for at this year's convention

Click here for more CES 2010 coverage from Tech Digest

Tech Digest at CES is sponsored by Best Buy. For more CES stories and
videos go here

With CES 2010 now well under way, it can be pretty tough keeping track of all the latest announcements. Here's Tech Digest's round-up of the of best Day 1 at CES 2010 so far, including all the news from the LG and Toshiba press conferences.

Toshiba Press Conference
Amazing new Cell Tvs promise to deliver real-time 2D to 3D conversion

Samsung ready N-range netbooks
Massive battery life makes this Samsung range stand out from the pack

LG Press Conference
3D tech is as big on LG's agenda as expected

Immerz KOR-FX acousto-haptic gear lets you "feel" your gaming experience
Slightly creepy, sort of cool new tech promises to fully immerse you in games and movies

Sony NW-A845 Walkman finally gets European release
Super-slim MP3 player hitting stores in February

Microsoft to unveil new HP built tablet?
Rumour has it Microsoft may be preparing to square up against the Apple iSlate

Brits get the Amazon Kindle DX from January 19th
Too little too late from Amazon?

PassivSystems heating control
Economise with this hot Brit-built energy management system

ZOMM Bluetooth leash for your mobile
Never lose your mobile again thanks to this Bluetooth alert system

Saygus VPHONE
New Android handset enters the smartphone fray

Parrot's AR Drone Quadricpoter
Augmented reality app controls this fun gadget copter

Iriver Story e-reader goes wireless and gets a proper launch
A long time coming, but finally the Story gets a happy ending

Six of this year's hottest products
Featuring such gadgetry delights as the Skiff e-reader

Why Apple is the real star of the show
Have Apple stolen the lime-light yet again, without even appearing in Vegas?

Will it be any good this year?
In a recessionary year, Ashley Norris gives his views on what to expect from this year's show.

Click here for more CES 2010 coverage from Tech Digest

Tech Digest at CES is sponsored by Best Buy. For more CES stories and
videos go here

Toshiba have been giving all the details for their 2010 plans today at their CES 2010 press conference. President and CEO Atsushi Murasawa admitted 2009 was a tough year for his company and the industry alike, but that didn't stop Toshiba showing off some impressive new home cinema kit.

The most glitzy gear on show was Toshiba's new line of Cell Tvs. Not only will the sets be 3D-ready, but Toshiba representatives also discussed real-time 2D to 3D conversion of video signals using the new Cell TV technology, though there was no demonstration on show.

Though it sounds incredibly exciting, if the Cowboy's Stadium demo was anything to go by Toshiba have their work cut out delivering on that promise.

Toshiba hope that the cell processor powered Tvs will become the ultimate solution for a unified home cinema kit, incorporating 3D tech with internet connectivity and upscaled web TV at 480Hz using the screen's 8 core processors.

A built in Blu-ray player, 1 TB HDD and colour and light sensitive local dimming round out what Toshiba are cringingly dubbing as "Cell-F realisation".

Toshiba also announced a new 3D Blu-ray player, winging its way to shops later in the year. BDX3000 Blu-ray player will be Toshiba's first player to dabble in the third dimension.

To round things up, Toshiba promised to deliver a screen with a 4k x 2x resolution by 2012. Tech Digest waits with baited breath!

Click here for more CES 2010 coverage from Tech Digest

Tech Digest at CES is sponsored by Best Buy. For more CES stories and
videos go here.

LG's CES 2010 press conference has revealed a whole host of new gear coming soon from the Korean electronic giants.

As expected, 3D tech is big on the LG agenda. The new Infinia TV range has been announced, including the LE7500, LE8500 and the "3D ready" LE9500 model, happy to play nice with Sky 3D as the broadcasting firm suggested earlier. The flagship Infinia LE9500 features an 8.5 millimeter-wide frame and a "TruMotion" refresh rate of 480Hz. The set also features broadband TV functionality, giving users access to Skype, VUDU, YouTube, Netflix and Google's Picasa service.

LG are also planning to release a 3D Blu-ray player too later on in the year, but you'd better start saving as it's likely to have a massive price tag. A more affordable Blu-ray player, the BD 590 was also announced, rocking a 250GB hard drive to store flicks on.

LG also showed off a stunning, as-yet-unnamed 3D projector, pushing out a blinding 2500 lumens of brightness.

The LG Magic Motion remote was also back on show, much the same as its first appearance in Berlin last year. Looking a lot like a Wii remote, it's a slick new home cinema controller.

Though only touched upon whilst showing a new Snapdragon powered projector phone, LG will be displaying a whole load of new smartphones tomorrow morning. Keep checking back to Tech Digest for more LG news from CES 2010.

Click here for more CES 2010 coverage from Tech Digest

TechDigest at CES is sponsored by Best Buy. For more CES stories and
videos go here.

The Blu-ray disc association have settled on the codec it's going to use to display 3D Blu-ray, and with it comes great news for PS3 owners.

The codec agreed upon will be Multiview Video Coding, which will only need 50% more storage space per film over 2D, despite offering dual 1080p frames. All new 3D discs are going to be backwards compatible too, meaning the 2D versions of each film will be viewable on older hardware with the new 3D discs.

PS3 owners rejoice! Your PS3 WILL be fully compatible with the new 3D format. You'll still need a new 3D-capable TV with IR emitters and a set of 3D shutter shades, but at least PS3 owners wont have to upgrade to a pricey new blu-ray player.

Via: Engadget HD

Philips are set to launch their brand new Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player, the BDP7500

For just £249, Philips have been pretty generous with the amount of high-end features they are packing in. Featuring 1080p 24fps Full HD images, with support for 7.1 lossless formats Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio as well as 1GB of internal storage for BD-Live content, the BDP7500 is a budget player that gives more expensive options a real run for their money.

Lots of different file formats are compatible with the player too. DivX Ultra, H.264, VC-1, JPEG and MP3 are all supported, and can be accessed easily via a USB stick thanks to the player's front mounted USB drive.

It's not a bad looking bit of kit either. An aluminium build, it gives off a blue glow whilst in use and has illuminated, touch sensitive buttons.

All in, it looks a very attractive player for the money.

You can pick up the BDP7500 right now, direct from www.philips.co.uk .

Nvidia's PR manager for the UK and Northern Europe, Ben Berraondo, has announced that 3D Blu-ray movies may be availalbe from as early as summer 2010.

Berraondo confirmed that after months of heated talks, the Blu-ray Association had finally settled on "proper parameters [for] what constitutes a 3D Blu-ray" and said that movie fans would be able to purchase 3D films "towards the end of Summer 2010".

Nvidia's 3D Vision Technology will be capable of displaying the newly agreed upon standard, with Berraondo stating that bit rates of around 60Mbits will be used in the new flicks. HDMI 1.3 should be capable of smooth playback, with the MVC-AVC format used for encoding.

However, Berraonodo did suggest that most people may have to upgrade their existing hardware to be able to watch the new 3D flicks. Most HD TVs currently available run at a 60 Hz refresh rate, whilst a 120 Hz TV would be necessary to view the 3D films. A Blu-ray drive capable of reading at 2x speed will also be needed.

PS3 owners may be the best prepared for viewing 3D Blu-ray content. No costly add-ons here it seems; thanks to the console's discrete Nvidia GPU (based on the GeForce 7800), a mere firmware upgrade may be all that's necessary to go 3D with Sony's machine.

That said, everyone will still have to shell out for Nvidia's silly shutter glasses.

Via: PC Pro

Recent figures published by MyVoucherCodes.co.uk appear to reveal that this year's most sought after games console is the Xbox 360, outselling its nearest rival the PS3 by a ratio of 3:1.

But which machine really deserves to be crowned king of the console wars this Christmas; Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PS3 or Nintendo's Wii?

To decide which console is worthy of your cash, we'll be looking at seven key areas that need to be of the highest quality in order to warrant your attention: Games, Exclusive Titles, Media Options, Online Gaming, Extras, Future Features and of course Value For Money. We'll then tot up the results to see who comes out on top.

Games

A year ago this would have been an easy first point for the Xbox 360, with a massive range of quality titles. However it's been a superb year for games on the PS3, with its catalogue steadily growing. There is a fair bit of cross over between both gaming catalogues, with massive titles such as Assassins Creed 2, the Rock Band and Guitar Hero games, Modern Warfare 2, Left 4 Dead 2 and Batman: Arkham Asylum all available on both machines. It's a hard one to judge for now until you consider exclusive titles (which we'll be getting at next). The Xbox 360 and PS3 both boast HD gaming, becoming increasingly cinematic in scope and presentation. The Wii offers a far different experience; being a motion-gaming console, many titles such as Wii Sports Resort or Wii Fit offer pick-up-and-play fun that all the family can enjoy. However, other than first-party Nintendo titles, Wii games often lack the polish of those on the PS3 or 360.

Winner - Xbox 360 (for quantity alone over the PS3)

Exclusive Titles

If you're only going to be able to afford one console this Christmas, knowing which titles are exclusive to each is a massive consideration. Again, last year the Xbox 360 would have won this one hands down, but it's anyone's game this year. PS3 owners can pick up the excellent Uncharted 2, Killzone 2 and Little Big Planet, with God of War 3 and Gran Turismo 5 all on the horizon. Xbox 360 owners can enjoy Forza Motorsport 3, the Halo titles, Fable II, the Gears of War series and Mass Effect (also available on the PC), with its sequel not far off into the New Year. Wii owners can delight in the fact that they will be the only people with access to gaming legends such as Mario, Zelda and Samus Aran of Metroid, though ports of games available on other consoles are often of a poorer quality.

Winner - PS3 (because Uncharted 2 is ridiculously good, and for turning the AAA exclusive title drought around this year)

Media Options

Easy one this; the PS3, hands down. Not only does it throw in a top notch Blu-ray player, but compatibility with all sorts of media files is available. Both the PS3 and the Xbox 360 have media server capabilities, but the PS3's sleek Xross Media Bar UI and built in Wi-Fi make setting up these features very simple. The PS3 has also recently launched the Playstation Network Video Delivery service, allowing you to download or rent movies straight to your console. The Xbox 360 has DVD- playback and the option to download HD films too, but so far no Blu-ray option, despite constant rumours of an add-on in the pipeline. Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 have USB ports, and support many music files such as MP3's, which can then be integrated into the soundtracks of many games. The Wii is really weak here: no Blu-ray, DVD, no movie downloads, no nothing.

Winner- PS3

Online Gaming

There's no denying the Xbox 360 has a thriving online community. 2 million users were clocked using the service simultaneously the week Modern Warfare 2 came out. There's no dearth of competitors to take on, but be prepared to get regularly battered by seven year-olds from the states. Subscription fees apply to become an Xbox Live Gold member (£40 for 12 months), and you'll also need an add-on to go wireless that costs around £45, but you do get regular content updates, lots of affordable and high quality downloadable games and a good service for the money. PS3 and Wii owners can enjoy the luxury of going online for free, which is obviously ace. There aren't a huge number of players online on the Wii, but they do have access to some real gems from the Nintendo gaming back catalogue. The PS3 has a growing userbase, all keen to get online and play for free. Downloadable games content is similar to the Xbox 360, though smaller in range, but does feature some classic PS1 titles such as Metal Gear Solid.

Winner - Tied (Xbox 360 offers the best online service but is costly, the PS3 and Wii offerings are free and have some good content but, for the moment at least, are on a smaller scale than Microsoft)

Extras

The Wii and its channel set-up is a simple and easy to use portal to lots of features such as a web browser and BBC iPlayer, but it just cant compete with the PS3 and Xbox 360's offerings. PS3 users also have a web browser and dedicated iPlayer app, but also have access to Facebook too, with a whole slew of other add-ons on the way. Though it doesn't have an iPlayer, the Xbox 360 has everything else; Facebook, Twitter, Last FM, Sky Digital. Lots to be getting on with for 360 owners.

Winner - Xbox 360

Future Features

Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 look set to throw new attempts at motion gaming into the console mix next year. In fact, the Xbox 360's Natal motion-controller is claimed to be so revolutionary as to be a console changing device. Rumours still abound for a Wii HD, but this would come in the form of a brand new console, not a feature, so should be viewed perhaps as a mark against buying a current-generation Wii.

Winner - Xbox 360

Value For Money

The Xbox 360 budget Arcade machine will set you back around £150, but to get the most out of the console the £200 Elite version with 120GB hard drive is the best option. A basic Wii package will cost £100, but keep in mind it's pretty slim on content straight out of the box. The PS3 offers the best value for money; the PS3 Slim with 120GB hard drive costs around £250, but for that you're not only getting a gaming platform, but also a top-notch Blu-ray player, free online gaming, Wi-Fi straight out of the box and immediate access to features such as BBC iPlayer.

Winner - PS3

Overall Winner - PS3

It's a close run race, but if I had to pick an overall winner, I'd side with the PS3. The Xbox 360 performs well, particularly in the breadth of its available content, but is let down by its costly albeit excellent online service. Finally affordable at £250, the PS3 has had an excellent year for exclusive titles and add-ons. The built in Blu-ray and free online gaming represent excellent value for money, and there are some hot titles lined-up for the New Year. I know which console I'd want Santa to leave under my tree.

MSI are ready to launch two new gaming notebook models, the GT740 and GT640.

Coming in 15.4 inch widescreen for the GT640 model and 17 inch widescreen for the GT740, the machines house Core i7 quad-core processors and nVIDA GeForce GTS 250M 3D graphics cards. In angry-looking red and black casing, both notebooks will also hold a 640GB SATA HDD.

Both will also feature Eco Engine power management tools to get the most out of battery life during a long gaming session, and dedicated movie playback Cinema Pro technology for enhanced video quality.

Sound fidelity looks to be a high priority with both notebooks, unsurprising considering they are both very capable Blu-ray packing movie players. The GT740 squeezes in five SRS premium sound speakers, one of which is a sub woofer, while the cheaper GT640 opts for two discrete high definition speakers.

They're a bit pricey at £1399 and £1349 for the GT740 and GT640 models respectively, but the notebooks appear to be cramming in a lot of gaming muscle for their size.

Dell today are launching their brand new Inspiron Zino HD mini PC range.

The Zino HD can pack quite a punch for its diminutive size. Measuring up at just 197mm square and 89mm tall, the Zino HD can manage to fit in a Blu-ray player, up to 1TB of storage space and an AMD X2 6850E 1.8GHz 512k processor and ATI Radeon™ HD 4330 512MB graphics card on the high-end models. Its small size and customisable faceplates make it a nifty addition to any home cinema solution.

If you're looking for just a little PC to sit on your desktop without any HD bells and whistles, the Zino HD also ships with Windows 7 Home Premium to handle any word processing, emailing or internet browsing you may need to do.

"The Inspiron Zino HD proves again that great things can really come in small packages," said David Clifton, Director of Consumer Marketing, Dell Europe. "It is a fashionable and functional computer that is small enough to fit almost anywhere in the home and can be personalised for the style-minded."

Prices start from £299 for the most basic model. Click here to browse the Dell shop.

Here's a quick spec sheet:

• Ultra-small form factor designed to fit almost anywhere.
• Easy personalisation with 6 colour choices and 3 pattern choices for Inspiron Zino HD.
• Choice of AMD Athlon processors.
• Up to 8GB dual channel DDR 2 memory.
• Up to 1TB internal hard disk storage.
• Combo DVD/CD RW drive with optional Blu-ray Disc combo.
• Integrated 10/100/1000 networking with wireless option.
• Optional wireless keyboard and mouse.
• Built in 2.1 high-definition audio and 4-in-1 media card reader.
• Integrated ATI graphics adapter with standard HDMI and VGA video connections, and optional 512MB discrete graphics card.
• Four USB ports (2 front/2 rear); two eSATA ports (rear).
• Energy-Star 5.0 compliant.

French rumour mill Logic Sunrise have reportedly got their hands on a leaked Wii 2 specifications sheet.
The details are all a bit shaky, though according to a "very stable" Nintendo source, they are listing:

• Blu-ray support, with its primary function being to discourage piracy
• 720p and 1080p output, for both games and video content
• A simultaneous worldwide 2010 launch

With massive price drops on the Xbox 360, and Sony launching the affordable PS3 Slim, Nintendo has seen sales of its Wii console slide dramatically. The announcement of motion-sensing technology coming to both the Sony and Microsoft consoles also leaves the Wii's unique selling point on the back-foot.

The move to introduce high-definition would see Nintendo u-turning on its next-gen policy of accessibility over technical fireworks.

Yesterday we reported that Microsoft's Steve Ballmer let slip plans for a possible Xbox 360 Blu-Ray drive.

The comment by the HD-DVD backing company had 360 owners laughing in the faces of smug PS3 owners, who already have built in Blu-Ray support.

However, 360 owners' joy is to be short lived it would seem, with Microsoft "clarifying" and back-tracking on Ballmer's initial statement.

Here's the company line from Xbox 360 main-man Major Nelson:

"During an interview yesterday, Steve Ballmer was asked about Blu-Ray and the Xbox 360. I wanted to clear something up. Steve was referring to Blu-Ray accessories for the PC. As we have said in the past, we have no plans to introduce a Blu-Ray drive for the Xbox 360."

Microsoft instead seem to be pushing the benefits of downloadable HD content, with the Xbox 360 soon to offer 1080p streamed HD movies.

So, the rumours have been squashed again. We'd put money on this not being the last time they rear their heads though...

Microsoft didn't quite have their finger on the pulse when they added HD-DVD format support to the Xbox 360. But Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has let slip that a Blu-Ray drive could soon be heading to the console's growing list of accessories.

Speaking to Gizmodo, Ballmer mentioned that "you'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories" for the Xbox 360 in the future.

Microsoft's PR have since played down the comment, but if Ballmer has said it, Blu-Ray support for the 360 may not just be a pipe-dream after all.

UPDATE: Nope, Microsoft have changed their tune again it would seem http://www.techdigest.tv/2009/10/update_-_micros.html