Right on schedule, PlayStation 3 firmware 3.0 is now out and being fed directly into your console (should you opt to download it, at least), offering a number of changes to the user interface and Trophies section and animated themes with avatars. Be certain to come back and let us know what you think!

Update: We’re running the update now and the changelog that shows up the PS3 has two new features we hadn’t heard about: simultaneous audio output across connectors and control of video playback (slow motion, fast forward and rewind) using the right stick. Nice!

Filed under: Gaming

PlayStation 3 firmware 3.0 now available originally presented on Engadget on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Ross Miller

Guitar Hero and Rock Band’s plastic axes aren’t precisely behemoths in their own right, but whether you need something even tinier, little-known game accessories company NEXiLUX looks to have a more portable solution in the works. The video for its mini guitar isn’t the clearest, but from we can see, the body is about the same size as the retracted neck, which expands from behind the touch-sensitive pads to reveal the infamous quintet of colored buttons. D-pad, navigation buttons, whammy bar, and pickup selection have all survived the compression, and to produce each unit as universal as possible, there’s a switch on the bottom for choosing within either Guitar Hero for Wii or Rock Band for Wii, PlayStation 2, and PS3. Both black and white models are seen here, but there’s no mention either in-video or on the company’s website of price or release date. See it for yourself after the break.

[Thanks, Floyd]

Continue reading Video: Retractible wireless Rock Band / Guitar Hero controller perfect for the five-button shredder on the go

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Video: Retractible wireless Rock Band / Guitar Hero controller perfect for the five-button shredder on the go originally presented on Engadget on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Ross Miller

Dell’s 11.6-inch Inspiron 11z certain looks promising, with a sub-$500 price tag and an Intel Celeron 723 / non-Atom processor, but whether you ask the gang at Notebook Review to describe it, it’s unfortunately a pretty big letdown. Some minor issues with the body from the get-go, it’s apparently got one of the worst touch pads the site’s ever seen, and the 1.2GHz processor ended up underperforming compared to its Atom-based competition (although we gotta wonder how using Windows 7 instead of Vista might help here). There is some good here, with the GS45 chipset and X4500 graphics allowing for decent 3D performance and smooth 720p playback. Still, we can’t help but have some hopes dashed here — better luck next instance, right? Hit up the read link for the full review, with video.

Filed under: Laptops

Dell Inspiron 11z reviewed with high hopes, disappointing realities originally presented on Engadget on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 20:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Ross Miller

Nokia’s latest mystery device to hit the FCC, the RM-550 “Alvin,” holds itself in some good company given the known specs. Its 32GB internal memory is matched only by Espoo’s other flagship devices N97 and N900, and it’s additionally got the same BL-5J battery as the aforementioned pseudo-MID. Throw in quad-band GSM, tri-band WCDMA, Bluetooth, and WiFi, and you’ve got our interests piqued. The confidentiality agreement of the filing gives no indication of when we might take in more details, but we’re gonna go ahead and start preparing ourselves mentally for yet another resistive touchscreen.

[Via Unwired View; thanks, Me]

Filed under: Cellphones

Nokia’s 32GB Alvin RM-559 hits FCC, Simon 561 and Theodore 563 nowhere to be found originally presented on Engadget on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Ross Miller

We know Leica’s target demographic is decidedly less consumer and more devoted professional photography, but even still, September 9th isn’t precisely the most apt timing to maximize press coverage on a next generation camera lineup when your competition of the day will be Apple’s annual iPod event and the release of Beatles Rock Band. Still, the urge to prepare announcements on 9-9-2009 at 9:00AM ET has gotta be too hard to pass up, and possibly not topped until 10:00AM on October 10th of next year. Video teaser after the break; no notion what we’re expecting to see from Leica (M8 successor, perhaps?), but we can all but guarantee it won’t be priced for mass consumption.

[Via Pocket-Lint]

Continue reading Leica to announce new cameras on September 9th, absolute best day to stand out in the headlines

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Leica to announce new cameras on September 9th, absolute best day to stand out in the headlines originally presented on Engadget on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 19:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Ross Miller

Continue reading Sony unveils waterproof universal remotes for deep-sea TV addicts

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Sony unveils waterproof universal remotes for deep-sea TV addicts originally presented on Engadget on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Joseph L. Flatley

Filed under: Laptops

Netbook sales growth doubles laptops in Q2 ‘09 originally presented on Engadget on Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Donald Melanson