Rockband 2? Bah. I already gave a more damning "not news" example: Excite Truck is a LAUNCH TITLE that supported custom MP3 soundtracks directly from SD card. It's just like all the news about MS "finally" allowing games to require the HDD when they have had an exception for MMOs all along (including FF XI).

"So when are we gonna see this trick in other Wii titles, eh Nintendo?"

See "ExciteTruck;" released November 19th, 2006 (launch title).

Am I the only one OUTRAGED that they actually put the Bluetooth logo on the remote and include "Bluetooth" in the NAME and yet they refuse to use a recognized and adequate Bluetooth profile? It is supposed to be a badge of interoperability! AVRCP (Audio Video Remote Control Profile) even includes extentions for proprietary manufacturer-specific functions, like the PS button, so there is no excuse for it not supporting AVRCP remotes or cheap IR-to-AVRCP adapters. The Bluetooth SIG should make it MANDATORY that any device that wants to use the Bluetooth logo MUST use a standard Bluetooth profile if one exists... otherwise it is just using BT hardware (ala the Wii remote that does NOT have a logo).

My thoughts exactly, but you should check out the Sony TMR-BT8iP. Like most iPhone A2DP transmitters, you just dismiss the "not made for iPhone" nag screen and it works fine... well, after you put music on your phone (glitches by repeatedly sending the "Play" signal otherwise). It's small and less likely to break.

This needs two things: an A2DP/AVRCP transmitter and an FM transmitter. Otherwise, I'm going to get the charge-through A2DP/AVRCP transmitter from 8bananas.com to rig up on my motorcycle.

Does this allow you to connect an accessory device to the port or is it just for charging through? The other charge-through iPhone batteries I've seen have the full connector but do not support accessories and can only charge through it. In other words, an A2DP adapter won't work. Removing the battery to connect an A2DP adapter only means draining your phone even faster.

This chart is useless. It doesn't clear up the cross-region differences*, it doesn't even MENTION the MGS4 versions and, worst of all, it doesn't even get the software packages right. Note that every 40GB PS3 sold in the US that included Spiderman 3 said "Special Edition" on the box. They ran out of those AGES ago and they have included NOTHING. The only place I know of that even still has them is the Sony Style store. That's akin to claiming that all 60GB and 20GB units included "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" - they didn't. I had to force Best Buy to give me a copy of the full, retail, "Unrated" version because their ad claimed that it still included it when I purchased mine on Jan 5th, 2007. The only reason they showed back up in stores after that was because of the scores of potential eBay scalpers returning them thanks to the lenient/extended holiday return policies. It's the same deal with the XBOX 360 mini media remote in 2005... later shipments didn't have it even though the ads continued claiming it.

If this chart is supposed to clear things up, it better be more thorough.

*60GB PAL is more akin to the first 80GB US

I forgot to mention that Nintendo DOES make an official battery charger, but it has a GBA model number. The original GBA had special springs to enable quick insertion and removal of a battery pack that fits under the battey cover. The included gang charger had storage for extras. The Wavebird Wireless Controller for Gamecube also had these springs as did the Wii Remote. It's was clearly for these packs because the plastic to prevent improper orientation is still there. They were only ever available in Japan.

Actually, I've been demanding an inductance charger since day one because I knew that it would be flexible enough for stuff like that. I would make tv charging element slide up in the dock, so it very well might work. That is, if their engineers aren't stupid like the ones I talked to... I contacted OEMs about it back in 2006/2007 and most of them had no idea what I was talking about, even after describing that it was the same technology as an electric rechargeable toothbrush.

It tells me that my Apple Store likely has it in stock as soon as I click the availability link. It must remember my location from a previous visit, because I didn't have to put one in.

I don't know if Rock Band has this, but I've been suggesting it since the original Guitar Hero. I would add a mode that gets easier the worse you do and harder the better you do without knocking you out of the song. Talk about "difficulty curve!" Practice mode is a poor substitute. This would actually draw you into the higher difficulties.

Lack of an EE makes it cooler? No, the EE was already gone in the 80GB model and all European models. It's the GS that this one takes away.

Removing the EE also removed a lot more, like the RAMBUS chips. The GS won't do so much, though collectively with the enhancements like 65nm, it certainly adds up.