playstation3

The 404 671: Where wait, Canada didn't have Netflix? (podcast)

Despite being an excellent location for bachelor parties, Canada is apparently a laggard when it comes to country-wide tech proficiency. Case in point: it just got Netflix. Our northern neighbors can now sign up for Netflix's streaming service for as little as $7.99 per month, which includes feature films from major film studios like MGM, Paramount, Universal, Sony, and more.

We applaud Canada for joining the streaming game, but the news has a catch: although they can access the content online through a computer, a Blu-ray player, and the Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii, Canadians still can't sign up for Netflix movie deliveries--it's just streaming, for now. However, they can get the first month free if they sign up now.

Two strange announcements from the world of video games: first, Christopher Nolan revealed that a video game based on "Inception" is in the works. That's all we know for now, but we're looking forward to zero gravity fight sequences...as long as game play isn't as difficult to follow as the film!

Next, the King of Pop is getting his own online game called Planet Michael. The game will be a massively multiplayer online role-playing game like WAR or Guild Wars 2 and will take players through multiple realms, each based on one of Jackson's famous albums.

Even better, Los Angeles-based SEE Virtual Worlds is offering the 3D game for free when it comes out in late 2011.

You still have time to win a pair of tickets to see "The Social Network" with The 404 next Tuesday, September 28. To enter, simply follow us @The404 and RETWEET THIS.

Yes, all you have to do is hit that "Retweet" button OR become a fan of The 404 Facebook Fan Page and you'll be automatically entered to twin. If you're a fan of us on Facebook already, you're already grandfathered in, so good luck!

Episode 671 Subscribe in iTunes audio | Suscribe to iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Hands on with PS3's 3D Blu-ray update

We got a chance to test the 3D portion of the Sony PlayStation 3's latest firmware update, version 3.5, and the short story is that it works fine, aside from one minor issue that may be a deal breaker for audiophiles, and some compatibility gaffes with older PS3s.

For our test we hooked up our PS3 Slim to a number of 3D TVs in our TV test lab: the LG 47LX9500, Panasonic TC-P50VT25, the Samsung UN55C8000, and the Sony KDL-46NX810--representing all of the current flat-panel 3D TV makers. In each case the PS3 delivered what was, as … Read more

IE9 beta takes a bow

  Links from Thursday's episode of Loaded: Microsoft releases beta version of Internet Explorer 9 Craigslists rules out reopening adult services Facebook competitor Diaspora releases source code Apple iOS 4.2 brings the iPad up to par Playstation 3 firmware update includes 3D Blu-ray support

Sony: PS3 3D Blu-ray playback coming in October

After some delays, 3D Blu-ray playback is making its way to the PlayStation 3 in October, Sony CEO Howard Stringer announced at IFA in Berlin on Wednesday.

Gamers have been waiting for PlayStation 3 3D Blu-ray playback for quite awhile. The functionality was first announced at CES in January. Although some hoped it would be available to the console over the summer, Sony said in July that it planned to make 3D Blu-ray playback available as a free firmware update in September.

Now PS3 owners need to wait until October, though in an IFA keynote address Stringer stopped short of … Read more

Microsoft responds to Mass Effect 2 coming to PS3

When BioWare announced Tuesday at the Gamescom conference in Germany that its Mass Effect 2--arguably the best game to hit store shelves so far in 2010--was coming to the PlayStation 3 in January, many wondered how Microsoft would respond.

Prior to the announcement, the Mass Effect franchise was available exclusively to Xbox 360 and PC gamers.

Microsoft won't say whether it's disappointed to lose Mass Effect 2's exclusivity, but the company was quick to point out in an interview with IGN, that it believes its console is still the best place to play the venerable title.

"… Read more

iPhone 4: What now?

When Apple holds its press conference regarding iPhone 4 on Friday, we will either get a lesson in publicity or a lesson in humility. The company is known for being great at one and not so great at the other. I'll let you guess which is which.

Consumer Reports dealt Apple a painful blow this week when the publication decided it could not recommend the iPhone 4 due to antenna and reception issues. We came up with the same results in our tests. This is not something Apple can be flippant about, but the company is in uncharted territory … Read more

Why Hulu Plus is a nifty addition

I am excited about Hulu Plus. I have already requested my invite in earnest!

I've heard some belly-aching about the fact that the service costs $9.99 per month, yet there will still be ads. My take on this: get over it!

We pay a lot of money for cable TV and cable TV does not filter out ads. Why would we expect that $9.99 should buy us commercial-free content? This is expensive premium content that we will be getting with Hulu Plus, and a lot of it. Also consider that you have to pay an extra $9.… Read more

Packed E3 a sign of a healthy game industry

LOS ANGELES--If the huge crowds and crowds at E3 this week are any indication, the video game industry is in a lot better shape than a lot of people thought.

All throughout the two main halls at the Los Angeles Convention Center where E3 has been going strong since Tuesday morning, throngs of people make it hard to move, and at booth after booth, if you don't have an appointment, there's little chance you're going to get your hands on any of the hot games and hardware being shown here this year.

For more than a year, there's been a hint of doom and gloom surrounding the industry as its leading analyst, The NPD Group, has reported month after month of year-over-year sales declines. In April, for example, the firm bore the bad tidings that the industry as a whole saw 26 percent year-over-year declines, and that hardware revenues were down 37 percent year-over-year.

But on Wednesday, in a confession clearly timed to hit during the industry's premiere event, NPD admitted that its longstanding methodology for measuring industry sales has ignored some significant streams of revenue. … Read more

PlayStation Move: The games

Sony invested a generous chunk of time in laying out the fine details for the PlayStation 3's motion control system, PlayStation Move, today. We were also treated to list of compatible Move titles, as well as the debut of some new games built specifically for the platform. PlayStation Move exclusive titles will be priced at $40 and Sony expects to have 15 to 20 games ready for launch.

Here are some of the PlayStation Move exclusive and compatible titles shown today:

Sorcery: Hands-down the most impressive PlayStation Move title on display, Sorcery puts the player in the role of an apprentice wizard who has a laundry list of spells at his disposal. A live demo of the game was shown, displaying the various hand gestures and combat using the PlayStation Move controller. Sorcery is set for launch in spring 2011.… Read more