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

Ok, so the recession might not officially be over, but even the most miserable of British papers are now noting not just green shoots but proper beanstalks too. And with people feeling a tad more confident about their financial future that means it is time once again to splurge on consumer electronics goods.

But what are we going to be spending our money on this Christmas? Futuresource Consulting, which conducts regular research into our gadget buying habits, is predicting a bonanza for flat screen TV manufacturers and good news for Netbook companies too.

Here is the company's findings

Flat Panel TVs

The UK is apparently the biggest market for flats screen TVs in Europe and Futuresource thinks it will stay that way with demand for the sets fuelled by the World cup next year, the Olympics in 2012 and the digital switch off. LCD will continue to outpunch Plasma and take up to 90% of the market, with many of the new sets now ending up in bedrooms and studies.

Blu-ray Players

The Blu-ray market is apparently maturing in the UK with sales of standalone players topping 250k last year. Futuresource anticipates the UK market will grow to around 700k units during this calendar year, with most consumers continuing to opt for a standalone player rather than invest in a Blu-ray Home-Theatre-in-a-Box system or a Blu-ray Disc recorder.

Pocket Video Cameras

Futuresource thinks that after several stagnant years the camcorder market will be back with a bang with younger, IT-savvy 'YouTube generation' types snapping up models like the Flip. However Future source warns that thee cameras 'are exploiting a window of opportunity while mobile phones still need to catch up in terms of offering improved video capture, 3 and 3.5G connectivity direct to websites such as YouTube and Flickr, improved battery life and embedded/bundled storage capacities exceeding 1GB.'

Netbooks

Futuresource is expecting a huge growth in sales of netbooks this year with 2.5 million units sold in the UK, which represents a year-on-year growth of more than 70%. According to Futuresource a 'large swathe of the market being attracted by newer, cheaper netbooks offering increased functionality.'

There has been awful lot written about 3DTV over the last year or so. You may remember that Sky has been hyping the new format promising that it will have the same kind of impact as HDTV and that the BBC has been experimenting with the format.

Well the 3D format received a major shot in the arm today with the news that the Blu-Ray Disc Association is backing the format.

"The BDA intends to take full advantage of the format's high bandwidth and capacity to achieve the very highest possible quality 3D experience," said Victor Matsuda, Blu-ray Disc Association Global Promotions Committee Chair. "Just as Blu-ray Disc has paved the way for next generation, high definition home entertainment, it will also set the standard for 3D home viewing in the future."

What today's announcement means is that the film studio, IT companies, disc manufacturers and all the other members of the BDA are now working to ensure consistent delivery of 3D content across the Blu-ray Disc Platform. So for example the 3D discs will have resolution of 1080p and will be backwards compatible with both 2D discs and players.

It is clear that there is appetite for 3D at the cinemas - but will this translate to the home? Bob Chapek, President, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment thinks so. "The 3D theatrical market has been very successful this year. We are just now seeing all of the true capabilities of 3D and with Blu-ray Disc's superior technical characteristics, as well as the broad industry support of the format, it makes it the ideal packaged media platform for 3D home entertainment."

A couple of questions though

Will the Blu-ray 3D TV system be the same as Sky and the BBC?

Will we need two sets of glasses for the two systems?

Definitely one to watch. Maybe we'll all be donning those glasses soon.

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JVC's 3D TV in action

It has been rumoured for a while, bit Toshiba finally confirmed this morning that it is joining the Blu-ray Disc Association. Applying for membership means that it can now take its place alongside Sony, Philips et al as makers of Blu-ray players and drives for PCs.

Toshiba said: "In light of recent growth in digital devices supporting the Blu-ray format, combined with market demand from consumers and retailers alike, Toshiba has decided to join the BDA."

For Tosh this involves in chomping on a rather large pile of humble pie. It invented and developed Blu-ray's competitor HD-DVD format which for a while actually outsold its rival.

Of course there is an argument that says this is too little too late and that discs of any variety are doomed.