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VC/WiiWare Tuesday: Contra and more
Today's Virtual Console and WiiWare offerings in Japan are shockingly good. So good that if a release week like this happened outside of Japan even once every six months or so, nobody would complain about Nintendo's downloads. Even if we ignore the three WiiWare games that are already out in North America, it's wall-to-wall quality. Well, we're kind of assuming that Contra Rebirth is quality. Even if it's terrible, we know we're in for a $10 download of an original Contra game when it shows up here. We know that the WiiWare Art Style games are fantastic, because we've been playing them since last year. On Virtual Console, the PC Engine CD-ROM version of SimEarth and the arcade release of the brutal Tower of Druaga pale before Downtown Special, a Japan-only sequel to River City Ransom starring Kunio and friends as samurai. Virtual Console: Downtown Special: Kunio-kun no Jidaigeki Dayo Zenin Shuugo (Famicom, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points) SimEarth (PC Engine, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) The Tower of Druaga (Arcade, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) WiiWare: Art Style: CUBELEO (1 player, 600 Wii Points) Art Style: DIALHEX (1-2 players, 600 Wii Points) Art Style: ORBITAL (1 player, 600 Wii Points) Contra Rebirth (1-2 players, 1,000 Wii Points)
Konami kind of announces Contra ReBirth for WiiWare
We'd love to be excited about the newly announced WiiWare release, Contra ReBirth, but it's a little tough when considering how Konami revealed its existence. The game recently appeared with little (read: no) fanfare on a Konami product page. Heck, we're not even sure if the thing is all original or a remix of an old game! It's like having your first-born child and letting your friends and family know by mentioning it under your breath as you drive past the hospital. What are you hiding, Konami? Is it ... a ginger?
Forthcoming UMID M2 already dancing on M1's spotlight
In today's world, it's a pretty safe bet that revision two is already on the drawing board by the time revision one hits the market. That said, it's still somewhat embarrassing for UMID that we already have leaked proof that the M2 is on the way to replace the just-barely-official M1. Judging by a purported roadmap, the MID M2 will be smaller than 3-inches and will boast calling capabilities. Furthermore, it'll support HSPA, WiMAX and a slew of other wireless protocols (or at least some of 'em), but we wouldn't expect to see more of it until late 2009. Unless UMID wants to completely cannibalize sales of that M1, of course.
SanDisk shipping Mobile Ultra 16GB microSDHC / M2 cards
SanDisk got official (after some fighting) with its 16GB microSDHC and M2 cards way back in September, but now we're being formally introduced to the Mobile Ultra line. Both cards remain topped out at 16GB, and it's also bundling a MobileMate Micro Reader along with each. They ought to be hitting shelves this month for $119.99 (microSDHC) / $129.99 (M2), and you can catch the full release just after the break.
SanDisk fesses up to 16GB microSDHC and M2 memory cards
What's been keepin' ya, SanDisk? We knew these little buggers were legit late last week, but for whatever reason, the outfit chose to keep its trap shut until today. Finally, SanDisk has confessed in painful detail that its 16GB microSDHC and M2 cards are for real, marking the largest capacity available in both formats. Of note, even Sony doesn't have a 16GB M2 card on the market, though it's possible the firm is too busy dealing with all those other proprietary formats to mess with this one. At any rate, Best Buy Mobile and Verizon Wireless stores will be your go-to place for either one, though we'd be prepared to shell out $99.99 (16GB microSDHC) or $129.99 (16GB M2) when they land in November.
Lexar kicks out Eye-Fi powered Shoot-n-Sync WiFi SD card, other less interesting flash cards
We'd heard Lexar and Eye-Fi were getting snuggly back in January, and look at that -- nine months later the Lexar Shoot-n-Sync WiFi SD card has arrived on our doorstep. The 2GB card is basically just a Lexar-branded Eye-Fi Share, so you pretty much already know how it works -- you shoot, it uploads -- and it's even the same $99 price, so yeah, yawn. Hopefully these two will do something a little more interesting now that they've gotten used to working together. Lexar also kicked out a number of other cards, including a new 4GB Memory Stick Micro M2 card, a 16GB Platinum II 60x SDHC card, and a 16GB Platinum II 80x CompactFlash card -- no pricing or availability on any of those yet, but we'd expect them soon. [Via Gearlog]Read - Shoot-n-Sync Read - Platinum II cardsRead - M2 card
Sony Ericsson pops out MD400 / MD400g HSPA USB modems
In case you couldn't tell, Sony's getting down at CommunicAsia. Next up from Singapore is a fresh pair of HSPA USB modems, the MD400 and GPS-packin' MD400g. Both sticks pull double duty as a M2 / microSD card reader, but it's not like we haven't seen that functionality tossed into similar units already. Nevertheless, these buggers support 7.2Mb/s download and 2.0M/bs upload speeds and feature a swiveling antenna to complement the built-in one, a retractable USB connector and compatibility with Windows and OS X-based machines. SE tells us that the currently unpriced duo will be available worldwide in Q4, with the biggest decision to come when choosing between Exquisite Ebony and Lustrous White. %Gallery-25347%
SanDisk announces tiny SSD, 8GB M2, and bigger Ultra IIs
Sandisk just kicked out a quartet of announcements for IFA. First up, an 8GB Memory Stick Micro (M2) card for use (primarily) in Sony Ericsson's cellphones expected sometime in Q4. Yeah, that's the world's highest capacity M2 card in case you're wondering. Also of significance is their new 2GB to 8GB uSSD 5000 Solid State Disks which measure just one-fourth the size of a 1.8-inch SSD. The new uSSD is meant for sub $250 PCs with SanDisk specifically calling out Intel's Classmate PC. We bet you'll find it bunged inside the Eee PC as well. Also announced are a $30 Multi Card ExpressCard adapter and new high-performance $80 4GB SDHC Plus and $160 8GB Memory Stick Pro Duo cards from their Ultra II lineup. Read -- 8GB M2 Read -- uSSD 5000Read -- Ultra II lineupRead -- Multi Card Expresscard adapter
NEC develops M2 LSI chip to conserve energy in cellphones
Hot on the heels of a snazzy new CMOS sensor and newfangled plastics, NEC's engineers are cranking out yet another innovation to make our next phone a lot more useful (for a whole lot longer). The M2 system LSI chip can purportedly "drastically cut the energy used by a cellular phone" by halving the energy needed by each element on the chip. Notably, the firm has suggested that a cellphone battery currently lasting seven hours would be able to maintain that life even if "twice the power is required for high-speed telecommunications." A host of sophisticated technologies and software regulations are behind all the energy conserving magic, but the news you care about is that NEC plans to start shipping samples of the ¥5,000 ($41) device in the very near future, and it should hit a variety of 3G handsets by the year's end. [Warning: Read link requires subscription]
SanDisk intros 6, 8GB microSDHC cards, 4GB M2 card
SanDisk has busted out a couple of advances on two memory card fronts today, introducing some 6 and 8GB microSDHC cards, along with a 4GB Memory Stick Micro card (otherwise known as M2). Not one to miss an opportunity to seize the moment, SanDisk's Jeff Kost says that with the new microSDHC cards, "any mobile phone with a compatible microSDHC slot will have just as much storage as the largest-capacity iPhone." Unfortunately, there's no word one what they'll cost just yet, although there's less uncertainty about the 4GB M2 card, which should soon be available for $100.Read - SanDisk 6 and 8GB microSDHC cardsRead - SanDisk 4GB M2 card
Orange UK rolls out the Sony Ericsson W880i
Exactly 22 days after the W880i was announced by Sony Ericsson, good ol' (and apparently really fast) Orange UK gets this wee device out the door for "pay monthly" customers. True to form, our distant friends in Europe get mobile toys first -- if this handset were to ever grace our shores and store shelves, you can bet it would be months after announcement. Orange seems a wee bit confused about the specs on the device though; battery life is listed as 2.5 hours talk time and 1 day standby. With power specs like that, we doubt these nano-sized cells will be flying off the shelves -- talk time should be listed as 6 hours with 452 hours standby time. Sounding a little more attractive now?[Thanks, Orange Man]
SanDisk kicks out M2 flash cards for Sony Ericsson handsets
We'll never understand Sony's perpetual obsession with proprietary formats, especially in regard to flash memory, but nonetheless, SanDisk is filling in the void for a large format Memory Stick Micro (M2) card by pumping out its GB1 / MB2 offerings. The MB2 comes in 512MB and 1GB sizes, while the GB1 ups the ante to 2GB of capacity. If you've discovered just how worthless those SD cards are to your new Sony Ericsson handset, we feel your pain, but if you need extra room for your K610, K800, K790, M600/608, V630, W300, W710, W712, Z530, Z550, Z710, or Z712, here's your answer. Additionally, owners of the D750, K750, P910, P990, V800, W700, W800/810, W850, W900, or Z800 will be able to utilize SanDisk's latest courtesy of the included Memory Stick Pro Duo adapter that comes bundled in. The trio of cards are slated to start shipping later this month, and while the big fellow will run you a steep $119.99, the 1GB flavor only demands $54.99, while you can snag 512MB for $44.99.[Via MobileTechReview]
Sony unveils black P!nk-branded MS-A512A M2 memory card
Topping off a month full of pink gadgetry – with most items proudly supporting breast cancer research -- is Sony's own P!nk Memory Stick Micro. Contrary to popular assumption, this 512MB M2 card is actually black, but similar to its P!nk-branded PSP, is stuffed in pink colored packaging fit for a pop star, and also touts compatibility with the K790i / K800i, M600i, K610i, Z530i, Z550i and W300i Sony Ericsson mobiles. It comes bundled with a MS PRO adapter for use in one of your many flash card readers, and also sports a pre-loaded MPEG4 video interview of the artist as well as a DRM-free (albeit shortened) MP3 of "Stupid Girls." Should you just so happen to be a rabid P!nk fan, or just need a clever excuse to purchase an M2 card, the "special edition" MS-A512A should hit stores in November for an undisclosed price. [Via ShinyShiny]
