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Samsung Omnia 7 brings 4-inch Super AMOLED screen to Windows Phone 7... a little early
Boy, there's hardly been enough time to catch our breath and analyze the first unintentionally official Windows Phone 7 handset in the form of LG's Optimus 7, yet Samsung is already joining the fray with its own Omnia 7. Currently populating its very own landing page on Samsung's Russian site, the Omnia 7 is a 4-inch Super AMOLED beastie with a rather aged 1GHz Qualcomm QSD8250 at its core, 8GB of storage, and a 5 megapixel cam that can do 720p video. Hit up the source link before somebody over in Moscow wakes up and realizes that Windows Phone 7 isn't meant to be launching for another few hours.
iPads arriving a day early in UK
People, calm yourselves! Our inbox has been overflowing with excited Brits telling us their iPads are either en route or already delivered, a whole Earthly day ahead of the promised May 28 launch. We're sure the UK is not alone, as we've already witnessed an unboxing video from Italy claiming to be the first to take delivery in Europe, so consider this a friendly reminder if you're expecting to receive a magical device in the near future: objects in your Apple shopping basket may be closer than they appear. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Nintendo's black Wii console arrives early at Best Buy and Sam's Club
Typical, isn't it? A full four days before these things are supposed to go on sale to the North American masses, an image of Nintendo's black Wii console has leaked from none other than Best Buy. This here shipment was actually received in the Great White North, but we're more than confident that similar packages are hitting the shipping docks of Best Buy stores everywhere here in the US, too. You'll notice that giant "Do Not Sell Before 05/09/2010" sticker there in the lower-right, but as we've seen in the past, all it takes is a pinch of airheadedness, a touch of charm and false sense of urgency to snag one early. Godspeed, Earthlings. P.S. - The "old" Wii bundle is now on sale at Best Buy for $179.99 ($20 less than yesterday), and we suspect this will be a trend that continues to other retailers as the new packages roll out. Thanks, David! Update: Seems these are arriving at Sam's Club locations as well, though they aren't to be sold until May 9th. %Gallery-92381%
Droid Incredible arrives early for a few lucky, smug pre-orderers
While the new Verizon Droid Incredible isn't supposed to arrive until April 29th, a few blessed pre-orderers are getting their units early. From the sound of it, there was a glitch in Verizon's system that was allowing some phone orders to be shipped right away -- sadly, that apparently has since been plugged. Interestingly, the boxes these are being shipped in so far just say "HTC Incredible," not that it's any surprise that the Droid Incredible moniker was a late-in-game addition. Of course, cries of "fake!" rang out in the forums, so one of the recipients (appropriately self-dubbed "SoSmarmy") posted a video of the phone booting up for all to see. Check it out after the break. Not seething with envy yet? Perhaps you should re-read our review of the new flagship Android handset. [Thanks, Aaron]
Palm Pixi arrives early for the people of Walmart
Brush back that mullet and adjust your ill-fitting halter tops folks 'cause Palm's newest webOS device has been spotted at Walmart. This pair of Pixi lovelies was ogled overnight inside one of Sam Walton's finest Tennessee locations reportedly sporting a $400 price tag and little else -- it wasn't in Walmart's system so it wasn't yet available for purchase. Something that should be rectified in time for Sunday's official launch with Sprint ($100 on contract) if not sooner.
Verizon announces early store openings for DROID launch
We'd already heard through the grapevine that select Verizon Wireless stores would be cracking their doors open early to deal with the presumed flood of consumers "Humans" eager to snap up the first-ever Android 2.0 device, and now the carrier has come right out with the official details. We're told that "many" of its over 2,000 retail locations will open at either 7AM or 8AM local time to field orders for the DROID, though VZW mall stores will all open at their regular time. You should check with your local store to see exactly when they'll open, and while we can't guarantee it, we'd guess that having an Android-related tattoo on your person is a good way to get VIP treatment once you arrive on scene. Or, you know, you could just get your Best Buy pre-order in now and save $100 up front by dodging the mail-in rebate.
Intel is clandestinely selling Core i5 and new i7 chips in Taiwan (video)
Well, clandestinely is perhaps too strong -- and long -- a word for it, but the fact is that Intel's thoroughly roadmapped and unnecessarily delayed desktop refresh has already happened for folks in Taiwan. Our buddies at TweakTown even went to the trouble of putting together a video of Taipei's computer market, which didn't seem to suffer any shortages of Lynnfield parts. In US currency, the prices above are $204 for the Core i5-750, $296 for the i7-860 and $593 for the i7-870, which at least confirm earlier indications on the matter, but come on Intel, if you're not going to announce these things, at least start selling them on the sly over here too.
The Dark Knight Blu-ray Disc sneaks onto store shelves early
Looks like Meijer's is a little antsy to help The Dark Knight Blu-ray become the best selling BD of all time. At one particular store near Urbana, Illinois, the disc has already been spotted -- and we're not just talking about one or two, but a whole gaggle. Can't wait 'til Tuesday? No harm in taking a leisurely stroll to your nearby retailers in hopes of getting lucky. A live shot of the back is after the break.
Wrath comes early to Europe
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/Wrath_of_the_Lich_King_is_live_early_in_Europe'; Although the rest of us have to wait until midnight Eastern/9 PM PST, it looks like some lucky European subscribers have gained entry to Northrend and access to Death Knight creation! We've been getting multiple tips about it from different tipsters over the past half hour; at first it was easy to call it a fake, but at this point there are enough independent claims out there that I'll just have to accept the fact: North America is slow. Seriously though, how does it feel to be among the first non-beta Death Knights and Northrend questers in the world? Presumably, these are people who managed to get their copies of the game early, and upgraded their accounts already; who would have thought that would actually work? On second thought, maybe it's a good thing we don't have Wrath early. I would be seriously tempted to stay home and skip my own midnight event. I guess this means the race to 80 is on, and it's a pretty good bet the winner will be on a European realm. They always seem to get the firsts anyway. Update: this is apparently official: "Remember, there are different time zones, even in Europe." Wrath is live!
Get your 2.0 firmware on ... early!
Just as the MobileMe software was found early, so has the iPhone 2.0 firmware! Yes, you heard me correctly, you can now download the long-awaited, much-anticipated, 2.0 firmware. MacRumors reports that you can download the 2.0 firmware by clicking this link (iPhone1,2_2.0_5A347_Restore.ipsw). Before you just up and download this random file from Apple's website, note this knowledge base article in which Apple notes that your iPhone/iPod touch will be erased in order to perform the 2.0 install. "Normally if you choose to update, the iPhone or iPod touch software is updated but your settings and media are not affected. If your device currently has a software version prior to 2.0 (1.x) and you are updating to software version 2.0 or later, all data on your device will be erased in order to perform install the new software. In this case, iTunes will offer to create a one-time media backup of your device depending on what content is on your device and what content is stored in the iTunes Library you are connected to. You should ensure that you have enough free space on your Mac or PC to accommodate a backup that matches the capacity of your iPhone or iPod touch (4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB, or 32 GB) if you proceed with the this backup," explains Apple.To install this update, you must download the ipsw file and iTunes 7.7. Open iTunes and clicking the option + clicking the check for update button will prompt iTunes to ask for the ipsw location; once you've done that, iTunes will begin the firmware update. Auntie TUAW's note: we would recommend you wait for the "official release" of the 2.0 firmware; it's not a good idea to go poking around on Apple's servers and download random files for installs. [via MacRumors]
ESRB trying to curtail early game reveals
It's the end of an era. For a long time now the Entertainment Software Ratings Board has been a great source for spotting games that had not yet been announced. This was entirely due to the open system that was used by the ERSB's site, which allowed anyone to check a game's rating as soon as it had received one. While this was in keeping with the purpose of the ESRB (to have an easy to access resource for those who needed it; parents mostly), it was not in keeping with the goals of game publishers.In response to requests from publishers, who were likely getting rather miffed at having their game's revealed outside of their plans for such, the ESRB is now offering the ability for games to appear on their site at specified dates. Now, when a publisher submits a game for rating they can fill in a box for the date it will see upload to the main ESRB page. While it was noted that "the ESRB system will not work for consumers if publishers arbitrarily select dates bearing no reasonable relationship to consumer interest in the product," we doubt if there is going to any publisher who doesn't take advantage of the new system and hold back ratings till the latest date possible.Oh well. Thankfully, we still have other countries ratings boards to leak our video game info for us.
Lucky shopper gets Rock Band early, shops it on eBay
Update 2: As many commenters have figured out, and the seller has now confirmed, the box that was sold includes a demo version of the game that has a limited song list. The demo unit has been relisted with the corrected information.Update: Seems the auctioneer has since halted bidding on the item. We're trying to find out what's going on.It seems that not every Best Buy manager knows exactly what to do with those demo units that are beginning to seep into the stores. A shopper at a Marina, CA Best Buy was shocked to see a boxed copy of the Xbox 360 edition of the game sitting among the Guitar Hero III boxes. He was even more surprised when the game rang up for $180 at the register. He's put the spoils of his trip on eBay (relisted here) complete with multiple confirmation pictures that include the receipt and the seller's eBay username (plus one, above, with his cat).We're not sure this eBay auction will stay up, what with street dates and eBay's sometimes liberal cancellation policy being what they are. Still, if you have some extra cash lying around and just can't wait until Nov. 20 to start rocking, it's worth a try.[Thanks Thomas]
Leopard... shipping 10/18?
What the? Reader Dean O. sent us this shipment notice from the Apple Store in Canada, and says that he ordered Leopard as part of Apple's up-to-date program (he bought an MBP last week), and yet was surprised to see that even though it doesn't come out until the 26th, his delivery date is October 18th-- tomorrow.Interesting. I was under the impression that even though Apple had announced a formal release next week, they still hadn't finished the OS-- they were working on the last bugs, or QA-ing the last beta copies, or even printing the gold masters, or whatever else you do when you're about to make a gigantic software release. But according to this (as long as it's not just a typo-- Dean says he lives by a Canadian warehouse, so it's probably a shipping mistake), Leopard is currently boxed up and ready to sell. Very interesting. I guess Dean will know by tomorrow whether he receives his package on time or not.
iPhone accessories are growth industry
Wired tells us that iPhone accessory launches are starting even before the iPhone's release. Leander Kahney writes that Japanese case makers are rolling out protective iPhone cases like the one shown here. The iPhone isn't due until June and iPod's $1 billion accessory market makes the iPhone a hot prospect for similar entrepreneurship. keep in mind that the iPhone will sport the same Dock connector that has made the iPod accessory market thrive. We certainly live in interesting times.
Italy breaks Euro PS3 street date
You'd think that after waiting for roughly five months longer than the rest of the world, European retailers would be able to wait a couple more days to start selling their one million stockpiled PS3s. Apparently not, though, as an Italian retailer has broken Sony's carefully planned street date, causing a domino effect in other other stores across the country.GamesIndustry.biz reports that small specialist chain Darty took out ads for a 7 p.m. Wednesday PS3 sale in advance of the official Friday launch. Competitor Media World responded by canceling midnight sales plans and letting its stock loose at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning (or roughly seven and a half hours ago, Italy time, as of this posting). Italy's GameStop stores are currently planning to stick to the street date, but said they might be forced to break it to stay competitive.Sony, for its part, is "deeply disappointed by the unilateral decision" to launch early and is "carefully consider[ing] all available options in relation to retailers who have commenced sale of PlayStation 3 prior to 23rd March 2007." Unilateral decisions? Retaliation? Is this the console war or the Iraq war?
Samsung BD-P1000 players available early
No it's not June 25th, and yes that is a brand new Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray player you see sitting on some lucky shmucks kitchen table. Through the magic of early shipments and clueless retail employees, at least two guys were able to walk home with their high definition DVD players (after making the mandatory $999 charitable donation), and one of them was able to get several Blu-ray movies to boot. Not much to report yet, although both have noted a couple glitches already, but it remains to be seen if that is a consistent problem. The one individual who was able to get hold of Blu-ray movies reported excellent PQ, loading time around half that of the Toshiba HD-XA1, although he preferred the Toshiba unit's much-maligned remote. If Blu-ray is your choice or you just feel like taking one for the team, you may want to stop by Best Buy on your lunch break. Those guys at Samsung really know how to debunk rumors of a delay, imagine that sitting next to your HDTV right now. [Via Engadget] Read - Just got Samsung Blu-ray player and 4 movies Read - Blu-rays at BB - Just picked up mine @ AVS Forum
Hands-on with God of War II
IGN got an early hands-on preview of God of War II, and they're lovin' what Sony's Santa Monica studio has come up with so far.Without revealing too much of the sequel's plot, our hairless hero now sports some new magical attacks and context-sensitive finishing moves. Needless to say, prominent Greek mythological figures will also be showing up to keep Kratos company, and there will certainly be a lot of flashy slashing-first-ask-questions-later kind of action to fill the hours.For more spoilers on "an early section of the sequel," simply follow the image link above or Read link below, where you can find a few more details on the new power-up system and annoying enemy combatants (otherwise known as smarter fodder for your sharper blades). A practical explanation goes into the reasons for keeping things on the PS2 rather than the PS3, and hopefully less frustrating puzzles are revealed as well. More will likely be revealed at Sony's big E3 press conference today.See also: New God of War 2 director speaks God of War's Jaffe inspired by Britney vs. Christina God of War 2 GDC video leaked online
