Sony has introduced a DVR for the Playstation 3 costing about $140. It’s called the PlayTV and it hooks up between your PS3 and television and allows the console to record one channel while you watch another. You can even export videos to your PS3’s XMB menu in MPEG-2 video format, then watch it however you see fit.

Could it be that Sony released a DVR without DRM? I can’t believe my eyes.  No, it can’t be. I’m sure they’ll issue an update that’ll cripple the functionality with restrictions a month or two from now. There’s no word on U.S. availability and pricing at the moment, but no DRM? That’s just plain cool.

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Looks like the Apple fanboy community couldn’t wait one more day for the release of the iPhone/iPod Touch 2.0 software. Someone found the .ipsw file of the iPhone 2.0 firmware on Apple’s servers and posted the link on MacRumors. With iTunes 7.7 available (I just updated), you can now update your iPhone to the new software. Have an iPod Touch? No dice.

In order to install it after you’ve downloaded you will have to hold the Option key when pressing the “Check for Update” button in iTunes. You will then select the file you’ve downloaded manually. I just did it and it was very simple.

Clicking “Link” below will download the .ipsw file directly from Apple’s servers. Be sure to do this kind of stuff at your own risk.

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Web searches on your PSP just got a whole lot easier with the upcoming v4.00 firmware update. Now the Google Toolbar is available for any Wi-Fi connected PSP, bringing you loads of internet meme fun. Another feature coming to the PSP via v4.00 is the ability to change viewing speed during playback of videos stored on your memory.

While the PSP could already do practically anything, it was lacking the Google Toolbar it needed to make Googling anything on the go an ease. Vince is hoping they include the “I’m Feeling Lucky” feature; his personal favorite.
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Don’t know what’s the deal with the girl, but the phone is truly hot. Supposedly an updated RAZR (and KRZR) with extra large external screen, and a form factor thinner than KRZR. What’s more is that it supports reading out messages and emails in a computer voice. We don’t know how legit this is yet. More video and pictures after the jump.

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So for you few but growing number of Sony PSP owners, you are probably used to the flow up firmware upgrades. While constant firmware upgrades usually seem to signify a progression in usability, in this case it seems to be more about the fixing of hacks and workarounds.

Nothing new with version 3.1 of PSP firmware which has been released. There are two main feature upgrades/addons though. When you are viewing a webpage, the browser will now use up less memory than it previously did. And when you listen to your massive audio collection on your PSP, the volume will now be automatically adjusted to a constant volume. As stated before, this firmware is mainly about the ongoing battle against hacks to play “backup” games… — Nik Gomez

PSP Firmware 3.1 Hits [Kotaku]

SCEJ announces the PS3 firmware version 1.50 today adding an electronic money payment system, so you don’t always need a credit card to buy games online anymore. First, pick up the electronic money PaSoRi reader/writerfor your PS3, connect it via the USB port on the console, update the firmware to version 1.50, then you are all set to add money to your Network Wallet and buy games on Playstation Network with your Felica phone or Edy money card. Felica phones are phones with built-in a contactless electronic money chip, these phones are able to show on the screen the balance on your money chip, record of latest transactions, the stations you passed by, your flight boarding pass, movie tickets, Tokyo Disneyland queue reserve ticket and purchase coupons.

The Edy card only does the e-money storing but it’s a separate “touch-and-go” card like the Oyster Card in the UK or the Octopus in Hong Kong, but those started out as stored value tickets for trains. Apart from the new electronic money support, firmware version 1.50 also improves the AOSS W-LAN security with the choice of 128bit WEP, WPA-PSK(TKIP/AES) protocols. Minor updates such as the ability to save log-in password for PS Network login and the support for Korean Hangul keyboard are also introduced. The firmware 1.50 will be available on Jan24 and it is for PS3 in Japan only, there is no word on upcoming updates for the American consoles as we are writing. — Sam Chan

Press Release [SCEJ]

Are you tired of the RAZR design? Hope not, because Motorola is far from done rolling out these new phones that emphasize the RAZR aesthetic. In this case, it’s the motorizr z3 slider handset being updated to the z6. No real design makeovers, but motorola is pushing the media capabilities more than before. Even thought the z6 only has 64MB built in storage, it is upgradable to 2GB of removable storage via an MicroSD card slot. Back to the media aspects, the internet button has been redirected to the media player which can play MP3, AAC, AAC+, EAAC+, AMR NB, and XMF file formats. Probably most revolutionary of all is that the new Linux-based user interface makes its debut here. Anything that ditched the old Motorola UI is a welcome change. The specs on the z6 haven’t changed from the z3, it still has a 2.0 megapixel camera, Bluetooth v2.0 with A2DP, and 262k color TFT LCD screen. The MOTORIZR z6 is expected to be released in the first half of 2007. — Nik Gomez

Tweaked MOTORIZR Z6 launched at CES [Gadgets on the Go]

So the XBox 360 got their Gears of War, the Wii got its Zelda, and the PS3 got its Resistance: Fall of Man. These are the major three launch titles (excluding the 360) for the “next-gen” consoles that aren’t so next-gen anymore. Resistance:Fall of Man willreceive an update very soon and we have just been informed some of what that update will do. The update will fix some minor problems with the humongousmultiplayer mode that Resistance offers online player. Humongous=40 players. It will better balance the offerings of weapons and in turn make themultiplay gameplay more reliant on team strategy rather than n00b spraying (which we all hate). This information was received from Eric Ellis, lead multiplayer programmer from Insomniac.

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