In the video battler we put the Kindle Fire into battle with the iPod Touch. Now at first when you look at both of these devices you wouldn’t think there is any real way to compare them since they are designed different and meant for two totally different markets. But at the their respective price points of $200 its cause many to compare them to see which is best for them money. The iPod Touch is well-known and proven and the Kindle Fire is the new guy in the market looking make waves.

The Kindle Fire is aimed at being a more consumer friendly media consumption tablet. There isn’t much you can do for content creation. Its goal is to make it easy and simple to read books, play games, watch moves and TV shows and buy them from the Amazon store along with other products. It comes with a 7 inch screen to make sure you can experience this content well in a portable but not pocketable device.  Its using Android with a heavily customized user experience on top of it which is design for anyone to pick up and use.

The iPod Touch is for the MP3 Player and PMP (Portable Media Player) market. It’s all about taking your content on the go from music, movies, TV shows and games.  This portable and pocketable device gives you the ability to enjoy your content anywhere. Similar to the Kindle fire is all about consuming content and not so much creating and the screen can become small when trying to read books, watch movies and TV shows.

As you can see the both come with similar functions in a different hardware body for the same price. In our video you will see us comparing these similarities and breaking down the differences between both of them to give you all the information you need to make the best decision on which one to get.

Hulu Plus is finally here on the Xbox 360 (Better late that never) and here his my review.

Hulu Plus is available in the Video Marketplace section of your Xbox 360. Once you have it downloaded you will need to sign in with your account. You will need a Hulu Plus subscription which will cost you $7.99 per month and be an Xbox Live Gold Member as well which runs about $60 per year.

Once you since in with your account your taken to the main screen which is very like Netflix and other apps on the Xbox 360.  You have pre defined sections with Popular movies, TV Shows, clips and Recently added movies, TV shows and clips. There is also group search by TV, Movies, Clips etc. in alphabetical order. There is search functionality as well which is pretty fast.  Each show allows you go get deeper details, choose available episodes,, seasons and similar shows.

You have a Queue linked to you Hulu.com account. Anything in your queue will show up on both the app and the website. However this is where you may run into a problem because some content is not available t0 watched on your TV. Content that you see a “Web Only” banner on won’t be allowed  to watch on your TV though the Xbox 360 which is lame. You can add it to your queue to watch on the web though.

Watching content is a very good experience. If you have the internet connection speed and its available you will get it in nice, clear and smooth HD. Video controls are exactly the same as other video players in Xbox 360. One cool thing about the app is that it is full Kinect enabled. When you pull up the Kinect Hub you get the tiled menu. You can used both hand gestures and voice commands to choose content and control video playback.

Hulu Plus on the Xbox 360 is a solid experience and is making your cable bill look a lot worse because if you think about it you must have Xbox Live Gold which is $60 per year and averages out to $5 per month. You will need a Hulu Plus subscription which is $8 per month and if you get a Netflix account that’s another $8 you can spend around $21 a month and have real close to full entertainment experience. Think about that?!

Looks like it came just a little bit early but  LG has announced the LG  G2X also known as the LG Optimus 2X. The phone will come with a stock android 2.2 froyo with 4G, dual core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, 8 Megapixel rear facing camera with 1080p video recording, 1.3 megapixel front facing camera,  DTS ultra mobile, T-Mobile TV and more. Read on in the press release and check our earlier video on it.

Press Release:

T-Mobile and LG Mobile Phones Introduce T-Mobile G2x with Google, a Powerful Gaming and Entertainment 4G Smartphone
T-Mobile’s first smartphone to feature a dual core processor, the G2x is the latest smartphone to join T-Mobile’s G-series lineup on America’s Largest 4G Network
T-Mobile USA, Inc. and LG Mobile Phones (LG) today announced the upcoming availability of the T-Mobile® G2x™ with Google™ by LG. The latest 4G smartphone to join T-Mobile’s exclusive line of G-series devices, the G2x is made for speed and mobile entertainment, with built-in support for 4G speeds on America’s Largest 4G Network™, an NVIDIA Tegra 2 mobile processor with dual-core CPU, brilliant 4-inch capacitive touch screen display and preloaded content, such as Need For Speed™ SHIFT HD.
"More consumers than ever are turning to their smartphones to stay entertained wherever they are with access to their favorite video games, TV programs and more," said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president, marketing, T-Mobile USA. "By combining the latest innovative hardware and pre-loaded content with our 4G network and the power of the dual core processor, the G2x offers the mobile gaming and entertainment experience our customers crave."
"The move into dual core technology is the next big leap forward in mobile technology creating a new superphone segment," said Tim O’Brien, vice president of marketing, LG Mobile Phones. "These super-powered processors will allow both developers and users to utilize the unmatched speed and power in multitasking, multimedia and functionality never before realized in a mobile handset."
The G2x will keep customers entertained with access to preloaded games and applications, including the following:
* Need for Speed™ SHIFT HD, developed by Electronic Arts (EA), is an award-winning, authentic racing game that combines the true driver’s experience with real-world physics, pixel-perfect car models, and a wide range of authentic race tracks.
* DTS Ultra Mobile™, which includes two innovative audio technologies – DTS Envelo™ and DTS Boost™ – for a premium surround sound experience. When listening to music or playing games on the T-Mobile G2x, customers will enjoy rich, enhanced sound that adds depth, dimension and volume levels that are robust without distortion.
* A demo of Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance – N.O.V.A., developed by Gameloft, is a fast-paced sci-fi action game in which players operate as Kal Wardin, an elite soldier established to protect humanity from alien threats.
* T-Mobile TV, offering live and on-demand TV including news, sports and full-length entertainment, plus full episodes of your favorite shows.
* Zinio eReader, the largest online newsstand, enabling customers to shop for, search inside, read, share and save digital content in new ways with more than 75,000 digital magazines from 26 countries.
* T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik™, enabling video conversations with friends and family through T-Mobile’s network and Wi-Fi.
Developed by graphics powerhouse NVIDIA, each CPU in the Tegra 2 processor runs at a speed of 1GHz and boasts low power consumption and high performance for playing video and audio. Combined with T-Mobile’s lightning-fast 4G network, the G2x delivers a fast Web browsing experience, smooth game play, instantaneous touch response and seamless multitasking between applications for a compelling mobile entertainment experience.
In addition, the G2x will include NVIDIA’s Tegra Zone application, which provides quick access to games optimized for the Tegra 2′s dual-core architecture, which is built to handlethe performance requirements of mobile games that use PC and console quality graphics features.
The G2x comes equipped with an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and autofocus, and a front-facing 1.3-megapixel camera paired with the preloaded T-Mobile Video Chat application powered by Qik for staying in touch with family and friends. With the phone’s 1080p high-definition (HD) video recorder and DLNA compatibility, G2x customers can capture video and wirelessly connect to a compatible HD TV or other DLNA device for streaming full HD video content or enjoying a console-like gaming experience through HDMI mirroring, taking advantage of the phone’s accelerometer and gyro sensor.
Powered by a stock version of the Android™ 2.2 operating system, the G2x offers access to more than 150,000 applications available on Android Market™ and integration with Google services such as Google Voice™, Voice Actions™ from Google, Google Goggles™, Google Search™, Gmail™, Google Maps™ with Places and Navigation, YouTube™, Google Talk™, Google Earth™ and more.
The G2x features smartphone essentials such as easy access to personal and work e-mail, including support for Microsoft® Exchange e-mail, contacts and calendar, social networking, and instant messaging. The G2x also includes Swype® for easy text input, 8GB of internal memory with a microSD card slot with support for expandable memory up to 32GB, Stereo Bluetooth® 2.1, built-in 3.5mm headphone jack, Adobe® Flash® Player support and a music player.
The T-Mobile G2x with Google is expected to be available nationwide later this spring at T-Mobile retail stores and online at http://www.t-mobile.com.

Samsung announced this morning that starting this week Epic 4G and Galaxy Tab owners will receive an update to their devices. The Epic 4G update will include Android 2.2 (Froyo) finally and both the Epic 4G and the Galaxy Tab will include Sprint ID packs which were seen on the Samsung Transform which the Sprint ID packs we were not to fond of but hopefully they have gone back and improved on it since.

Full Press Release:

Samsung Epic 4G and Samsung Galaxy Tab Now Sprint ID-Enabled, Bringing Unique Mobile Experience to 4G and Tablets for First Time

Sprint ID quickly customizes device with apps, widgets, ringtones and more in a single download, based on customers’ interests or favorite brands; Most popular Sprint ID pack downloads include Yahoo!, MTV Music ID and ESPN ID

Software update delivering Sprint ID will also include Android 2.2 (Froyo)

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – March 21, 2011 – Sprint (NYSE: S) today announced that its award-winning Samsung Epic™ 4G* and Samsung Galaxy Tab™ will be Sprint ID-enabled, beginning March 21, allowing customers who own these devices to download a complete mobile experience, called an “ID pack” – including apps, widgets, ringtones, wallpapers, shortcuts and more – tailored to their specific interests, business needs or favorite brands in a single download.

All existing Samsung Epic 4G and Samsung Galaxy Tab owners will be prompted this week to accept the over-the-air software update in their device’s notification tab. Once the update is installed, the user can find the Sprint ID icon in their Applications Menu and begin experiencing Sprint ID. All users should have access to this new software update by March 24.

The software update for Samsung Epic 4G will also include the Android 2.2 (Froyo) operating system update.  This update will add numerous capabilities, including Adobe Flash Player 10.1, Bluetooth dialing and allows app installation to external storage.

Customers who purchase a new Samsung Epic 4G or Samsung Galaxy Tab can access Sprint ID from their Applications Menu when they turn it on for the first time. Customers can learn more about how to use Sprint ID on their device by visiting www.sprint.com/epicsupport or www.sprint.com/galaxytabsupport.

Sprint ID launched in October 2010 on three devices – LG Optimus S™, Sanyo Zio™ and Samsung Transform™ – with 16 consumer lifestyle ID packs targeting specific interests including Home Base, Health & Fitness, Fashion & Beauty, Socially Connected, Business Pro, Golf Enthusiast, Auto Enthusiast, The Big Apple and Entertainment, as well as branded ID packs from Yahoo!, WHERE and Lo2Yo by LatCel. Since launch, brands that have deployed Sprint ID packs include MTV, ESPN and HSN. Select ID packs will be available for download onto Samsung Galaxy Tab.

Customers with Sprint ID-capable devices can download up to five ID packs onto their phone and easily switch back and forth between them or swap them out for new ones. Sprint customers currently are downloading an average of two ID packs per device. Sprint ID packs are free to download with an Everything Data plan.

“We are very pleased with the success of Sprint ID and excited to expand this rich mobile experience to customers with these two popular devices – Samsung Epic 4G and Samsung Galaxy Tab,” said John Carney, senior vice president consumer marketing at Sprint. “Sprint ID handset sales have exceeded our expectations, which is proof that customers, especially those new to smartphones, want an easier way to get apps they’ll enjoy rather than searching through thousands of apps in Android Market™. As this data about ID pack downloads shows, customers are passionate about certain brands, such as MTV, Yahoo! and ESPN, and are eager to download a complete mobile experience developed by that brand. We expect to see the same excitement from our customers about recently launched ID packs as well as branded packs from other partners we have in the pipeline.”

Since Sprint ID launched, the most popular Sprint ID packs include:

· Entertainment: Features games, music, photo and celebrity news apps to keep users entertained no matter where they go. Apps include Shazam (identify any song), WikiMobile (mobile encyclopedia) and Poynt(local search app that lets users connect with businesses, restaurants and people near them).

· Yahoo!: Gives users access to their favorite Yahoo! services in one simple download including Yahoo! Finance, Mail, News, Sports, Messenger, Fantasy Football and Flickr.

· MTV Music ID: MTV Music ID allows fans to quickly download a package of apps, widgets and other content, including MTV News, MTV Photos, MTV Twitter and streaming music apps. 

· Socially Connected: Delivers a customized experience for keeping users connected with friends while on the go. Features Facebook, TweetCaster and more, creating the ultimate starting point for their own multi-tasking, socially connected mobile package.

· ESPN ID: Instant access to scores right on the device’s home screen, as well as one-tap access to sports news, fantasy teams and the user’s favorite ESPN programs, including more than 900 live events per year on ESPN Mobile TV.

· WHERE: Enables people to discover the world around them by recommending local information, places and events; also helps people save money by providing location based coupons and cheapest gas stations. Allows users to find everything from weather, news and restaurant reviews to the closest coffee shop, traffic updates, movie show times and offers from local merchants.

· Fashion & Beauty: Delivers a customized experience for keeping users connected and up-to-date on the latest fashion trends, celebrity gossip, beauty and style. Apps include TrendTracker (keep track of the latest runway looks, fashion news, trend ideas); TMZ & E! Online (breaking celeb news); and ShopSavvy (scan the barcode of any product and it will search for all the best prices from local and online retailers).

· Health & Fitness: Healthy eating on the go is made easier with the Health & Fitness ID Pack. Apps include Fast Food Calorie Counter; Cardio Trainer (training partner for running, cycling, hiking, and other fitness activities); Yoga Trainer Lite; and iTriage (find closest health care providers and more).

· Home Base: A great solution for those running a modern household. Apps include Big Oven (featuring 170,000+ recipes); E! Online (get celebrity gossip fix); Pandora (listen to your favorite tunes wherever you are);Grocery Smart (create shopping lists); and Springpad (save notes, tasks or lists).

· Lo2yo Latino:  Lo2Yo Latino ID brings users the best of their Latino world from news and entertainment to sports, soap operas and much more, all in Spanish.

For more information about Sprint ID and to see all Sprint ID packs, visit www.sprint.com/sprintid.

T-Mobile and Samsung have announced the brand new Sidekick 4G. The rumored replacement to the Danger sidekick which is going offline come May is now real and android powered.

The Sidekick 4G will have the very familiar look from past sidekicks with a “pop-tilt” screen with a 3.5 inch display and a touch screen which is the first for the Sidekick family.  It will come with a 5 row full QWERTY keyboard, 4G data speeds, 1 Ghz processor and Android 2.2  Check the press release and pics below

Press Release:

T-Mobile Sidekick Is Reborn

New Sidekick 4G is a Lightning-Fast and Stylish Communication Hub, Delivering Evolved Messaging and Entertainment at 4G Speeds

BELLEVUE, Wash., and DALLAS — March 15, 2011 — T-Mobile USA, Inc. and Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile), the No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S.,¹ today unveiled the new T-Mobile Sidekick® 4G™ by Samsung. The new Android™-powered smartphone pays tribute to its heritage with its stylish good looks and a killer keyboard while redefining messaging and upgrading to 4G speeds. One of T-Mobile’s fastest smartphones running on America’s Largest 4G Network™, the new Sidekick 4G is capable of delivering theoretical peak download speeds of up to 21 Mbps.

The T-Mobile Sidekick has long been known for its innovative and distinctive design, and the Sidekick 4G does not disappoint. The 3.5-inch display marks the first Sidekick to feature a touch screen and its sturdy “pop-tilt” hinge reveals the previously acclaimed, five-row QWERTY keyboard that has long been a Sidekick hallmark and the reason behind its status as an exceptional messaging device.

The new Sidekick 4G leverages its quality keyboard along with Sidekick Group Text™ and Cloud Text™ to redefine messaging. Sidekick’s Group Text feature lets customers create, name, manage and participate in reply-all group text conversations, enabling them to lead their network in conversation and social planning. Group Text breathes new life into one of the most popular forms of messaging allowing Sidekick 4G customers to initiate and share the benefit of the application with SMS-capable devices from flip phones to smartphones. In addition, Cloud Text provides the option to text with friends or groups across platforms, whether from the comfort of their PC’s large screen and keyboard, or from their new Sidekick 4G.

“Backed by the faster speeds on T-Mobile’s 4G network, the new Sidekick 4G offers customers both speed and style,” said Andrew Sherrard, senior vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA. “We’ve reinvented the messaging experience that made the Sidekick such an iconic device, and supercharged it with communication and entertainment experiences that take full advantage of our 4G network.”

Dale Sohn, president of Samsung Mobile, said, “We are proud that T-Mobile selected Samsung to help create the next-generation Sidekick and carry the iconic Sidekick brand and device to the next level. Samsung redesigned the new Sidekick 4G with our best-in-class hardware, combined with T-Mobile’s 4G network speeds, the Android operating system, and unique messaging and entertainment features, to make this a perfect match for both loyal Sidekick fans and new Sidekick owners.”

The new Sidekick 4G also comes preloaded with Facebook® and Twitter™ applications, and provides easy interaction with customers’ social networks by allowing them to update their status from the notification pane and browse their feeds from the home screen. They have the ability to sync their social network contacts to the phone’s address book, which lets them post to their friends’ walls or comment on their status. And multitasking is easier than ever with the Sidekick 4G’s jump key, an easy-to-access physical button that enables customers to quickly switch between active applications, even during a phone call, or assign keyboard shortcuts to their favorite functions or applications.

In addition to a communication hub, the new Sidekick 4G is now an entertainment hub. With speeds as fast as home broadband, enjoying a favorite TV show or surfing the Web on the go is a breeze. Sidekick’s Media Room features one place to enjoy music, videos, movies, YouTube®, T-Mobile TV® and Slacker Radio, and to search for content regardless of the source. The integrated media player, also accessible through the Media Room, spans across all media including music, video and Internet radio. Customers also have the option to rent or purchase their favorite movies and TV programs directly from the Samsung Media Hub, which offers a robust collection of movie and next-day TV show titles from CBS, Fox, MTV Networks, NBC Universal, Paramount and Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. Customers now have the option to place Media Hub charges directly to their monthly T-Mobile service bill.

Complementing the messaging communication features, the new Sidekick 4G is equipped with a VGA front-facing camera and pre-installed T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik™, to ensure you are always present with your social circle. Powered by Android 2.2 (Froyo) and a speedy 1 GHz Cortex A8 Hummingbird processor, so consumers can keep up with their favorite blogs while on the move, search for the must-try dinner spots and map the way to their next destination — all at blazing fast speeds. The new smartphone will also offer dynamic media features and integrated Google™ services, including Gmail™, Google Maps™ and access to thousands of applications on Android Market™.

The new Sidekick 4G also comes equipped with DriveSmart™ from T-Mobile, a first-of-its kind service from a U.S. carrier, that helps prevent distracted driving. When initiated, DriveSmart Basic provides automatic incoming call and message management, sending a customizable note to callers and senders, letting them know that the recipient is driving and will respond when it’s safe. DriveSmart Plus offers the same functionality, with the added capability to automatically activate when the handset is in a moving vehicle, as well as advanced parental controls for enhanced peace of mind when teen drivers are behind the wheel.

Offered exclusively to T‑Mobile customers, the new T-Mobile Sidekick 4G is expected to be available later this spring in two stylish colors — matte black or pearl magenta. Customers can visithttp://sidekick.t-mobile.com/ for more information.

# # #

¹ No. 1 mobile phone provider in the U.S claim for Samsung Mobile based upon reported shipment data, according to Strategy Analytics Q4 2010 U.S. Market Share Handset Shipments Report.

T-Mobile’s HSPA+ 4G network not available everywhere; see coverage details at T‑Mobile.com. 4G used in connection with the T-Mobile Sidekick 4G product name refers to the fact that the new Sidekick 4G is designed with HSPA+ 4G technology (“4G”).

About T-Mobile USA

Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG. By the end of the fourth quarter of 2010, approximately 130 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group — 33.7 million by T-Mobile USA — all via GSM and UMTS, the world’s most widely-used digital wireless standards. Today, T-Mobile operates America’s largest 4G network, and is delivering a compelling 4G experience across a broad line up of leading devices in more places than competing 4G services. T-Mobile USA’s innovative wireless products and services empower and enable people to stay connected and productive while mobile. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA as a leader in customer care and customer satisfaction. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visitwww.telekom.de/investor-relations.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of Deutsche Telekom management with respect to future events. These forward-looking statements may include statements with regard to the expected development of revenue, earnings, profits from operations, depreciation and amortization, cash flows and personnel-related measures. You should consider them with caution. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond Deutsche Telekom’s control. Among the factors that might influence our ability to achieve our objectives are the progress of our workforce reduction initiative and other cost-saving measures, and the impact of other significant strategic, labour or business initiatives, including acquisitions, dispositions and business combinations, and our network upgrade and expansion initiatives. In addition, stronger than expected competition, technological change, legal proceedings and regulatory developments, among other factors, may have a material adverse effect on our costs and revenue development. Further, the economic downturn in our markets, and changes in interest and currency exchange rates, may also have an impact on our business development and the availability of financing on favourable conditions. Changes to our expectations concerning future cash flows may lead to impairment write downs of assets carried at historical cost, which may materially affect our results at the group and operating segment levels. If these or other risks and uncertainties materialize, or if the assumptions underlying any of these statements prove incorrect, our actual performance may materially differ from the performance expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. We can offer no assurance that our estimates or expectations will be achieved. Without prejudice to existing obligations under capital market law, we do not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements to take new information or future events into account or otherwise.

In addition to figures prepared in accordance with IFRS, Deutsche Telekom also presents non-GAAP financial performance measures, including, among others, EBITDA, EBITDA margin, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted EBIT, adjusted net income, free cash flow, gross debt and net debt. These non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the information prepared in accordance with IFRS. Non-GAAP financial performance measures are not subject to IFRS or any other generally accepted accounting principles. Other companies may define these terms in different ways.

About Samsung Telecommunications America

Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC, a Dallas-based subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., researches, develops and markets wireless handsets and telecommunications products throughout North America. For more information, please visit www.samsungwireless.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2009 consolidated sales of US$116.8 billion. Employing approximately 188,000 people in 185 offices across 65 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, memory chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

PDP announces a new fighting stick for the new Mortal Kombat game coming soon. The stick will have custom artwork design and be available in the limited released Mortal Kombat Tournament Edition game.  Tournament gamers will get the change to use the fight stick  in an upcoming tournament between May 14 – 15 in Las Vegas where players will battle for $21,000 in prizes. See the full press release and pictures below.

Press Release:

PERFORMANCE DESIGNED PRODUCTS ANNOUNCES THE MORTAL KOMBAT FIGHT STICK AND THE FIRST NORTH AMERICAN MORTAL KOMBAT TOURNAMENT

PDP Issues The Ultimate Tournament Challenge To Gamers in Las Vegas This May With $21,000 in Prizes At Stake

LOS ANGELES – March 9, 2011 – Performance Designed Products LLC (“PDP”), a worldwide leader in the video game accessory market, today announced that PDP is producing the Mortal Kombat Fight Stick, as well as sponsoring the first ever North American Mortal Kombat tournament. The Mortal Kombat Fight Stick is the ultimate arcade-style joystick controller for the upcoming Mortal Kombat video game, published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and developed by NetherRealm Studios. The Mortal Kombat Fight Stick will also be used at the tournament happening in Las Vegas, NV, on May 14 and 15, where the top contestants will battle for $21,000 in prizes.

“Mortal Kombat is one of the most recognizable video game franchises on the planet and has a huge audience of dedicated fans,” said Tom Roberts, Chief Technical Officer, Performance Designed Products. “We’ve created the ultimate joystick for these fans and now we’re bringing them all together to find the top Mortal Kombat player in North America.”

Once Mortal Kombat players have had the chance to practice and familiarize themselves with the absolute control of the PDP Mortal Kombat Fight Stick, they will be able to pit their fighting prowess against one another in the Mortal Kombat tournament. PDP will be bringing together thousands of serious combatants within Bally’s Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, NV where hundreds of matches will be played using the fight stick in front of members of the Mortal Kombat design team. (Participants must be 18 years or older.)

PDP and NetherRealm Studios have collaborated to produce the Mortal Kombat Fight Stick, which features exclusive custom artwork. The Mortal Kombat Fight Stick will only be available as part of the Mortal KombatTournament Edition or for sale in extremely limited numbers on PDP.com. The Mortal Kombat Fight Stick has been designed to reflect the look and feel of the classic Mortal Kombat arcade cabinet and its ergonomic button layout has been updated with additional design and technological touches to create the ideal joystick for serious console players.

The inner workings of the Mortal Kombat Fight Stick are composed of high quality arcade parts from Suzo Happ and are easily accessed without the need of any tools. Inside the joystick base, all parts and wires are protected by a unique plastic shield emblazoned with the Mortal Kombat logo, and there is room to store cables and a copy of the game. The underside of the Mortal Kombat Fight Stick is lined with velvet-wrapped memory foam for the comfort of players who hold the stick on their lap, while rubberized feet at the bottom corners will prevent the stick from sliding when placed on a table or similar surface.

Mortal Kombat, the newest chapter of the award-winning videogame franchise, will be on store shelves starting April 19^th, 2011 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. It marks a triumphant return to the series’ mature presentation and a reinvention of its classic 2D fighting mechanic. Mortal Kombat will introduce a number of new gameplay features including tag team, a deeper story mode, and nostalgic online and offline arcade battles. Players will be able to choose from an extensive lineup of iconic warriors and challenge their friends in traditional 1 vs. 1 matches as well as several new game modes.

In addition, Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation will make their Blu-ray debuts on April 19^th from Warner Home Video.  Mortal Kombat and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation are also available for download through Sony PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, iTunes, Amazon and other online retailers.  The films are also available On Demand from cable and satellite providers.

For more information log onto www.themortalkombat.com and www.facebook.com/mortalkombat.

To order a limited-edition Mortal Kombat Fight Stick, visit http://www.pdp.com

For more information about the game, Mortal Kombat, log onto www.themortalkombat.com and visit www.facebook.com/mortalkombat.

To review the rules and sign up to take part in PDP’s $21,000 Mortal Kombat national tournament in Las Vegas, NV on May 14 and 15, visit http://www.pdp.com/mortalkombat

###

About PDP
Performance Designed Products LLC, a Lynn Tilton company, is an industry leader in designing and manufacturing products for all major video game platforms including the Sony PS2, PS3, PSP, Nintendo DS and Wii, and Microsoft Xbox 360, as well as a line of accessories for the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch. The company has been supplying video game accessories to the U.S. market for more than a decade. PDP sells products under a variety of brands, with sales in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and throughout Europe and Australia & New Zealand. PDP is a trademark, of Performance Designed Products LLC.  © 2011 Performance Designed Products LLC.  For more information on PDP and its products, visit www.pdp.com.

About Patriarch

Patriarch is a vertically-integrated private equity firm with robust in-house operational turn-around expertise. Founded in 2000, Patriarch was built upon a patented financial model designed to manage and monetize the distressed portfolios of financial institutions. Patriarch has since evolved into a global investment firm that concentrates on direct investments in and the transformation of complex businesses, building integrated industry platforms. Patriarch manages funds with over $7 billion of equity and secured loan assets, with equity investments in more than 70 companies and controlling interests in approximately two-thirds of these. For more information, please visit www.patriarchpartners.com.

ABOUT WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT:
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.

Mortal Kombat™ © 2011 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Developed by NetherRealm Studios. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. "PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Mortal Kombat and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.

Sony officially announces a new cloud storage option for PSN Plus subscribers.  The storage will will be available starting March 10th with firmware version 3.60. You will get up to a 150 MB of storage space for games saves which hopefully you’ll be able to just login to any PS3 and play your game as if you were home and save it back for later. Check the press release for full details.

Press Release:

PLAYSTATION®NETWORK BRINGS ONLINE STORAGE FOR GAME SAVES EXCLUSIVELY TO PLAYSTATION®PLUS SUBSCRIBERS
March 9, 2011 – Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) today announced that online storage for game saves will be available exclusively to PlayStation®Plus subscribers, allowing gamers to back up their save data to the cloud. Online storage for game saves will be available with system software update (v3.60) for the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system, coming on March 10, 2011 and will be automatically enabled for PlayStation Plus subscribers once users install the update.
With the new feature, PlayStation Plus subscribers can store up to 150MB of PS3 game save data and a maximum of 1000 data files per PlayStation®Network account. "Copy-prohibited save data" is also supported, and all previously backed-up save data may be restored once per 24-hour period. When the new feature launches, most PS3 titles will be compatible with online storage for game saves, and moving forward new titles will have the capability to offer the storage option.
Online storage for game saves ensures that data stored by PlayStation Plus subscribers is more secure than ever and is an integral feature for gamers who wish to access their data on other PS3 systems. Users can check their available/total space at any time via the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar). Users who wish to utilize the feature immediately following the system software update (v3.60), can do so with these instructions:
To back-up:
1. Select [Game] > [Save Data Utility].
2. Focus on the save data you wish to back up.
3. Open up the option menu using "triangle" and select [Copy].
4. Select [Online Storage] as the destination of back up.
To copy:
1. Select [Game] > [Save Data Utility] > [Online Storage].
2. Focus on the save data you wish to copy.
3. Open up an option menu using "triangle" and select [Copy].
PlayStation Plus is available for a yearly fee of $49.99, and for a limited time, gamers will also receive 3 free bonus months when signing up for a one-year subscription. Gamers can also subscribe to the 3-month option for $17.99.

Vizio showed us their new Cinema HD LEC LCD televisions. The TVs have a 21:9 aspect ratio for true cinema feel and experience They are also 3D ready, 240 Mhz refresh rate and have Bluetooth capabilities. They also support apps to enhance the entertainment experience and also stay connected while watching television.   They come in 50 inch, 58 inch and 71 inch.  Very nice TVs which we don’t have a price point on or release time just yet.

Vizio is bringing not only a tablet to the market but a phone as well.  The VIA phone is follow the same principles as the VIA tablet which is a focus on entertainment.  It will also connect with your TV though IR and will blend in with the VIA Ecosystem that Vizio is making. No hard specs as of yet.

At CES 2011 Vizio announced their Via Tablet which main focus is  to provide a great media and entertainment experience. Its set to be apart of Vizio’s Via ecosystem to provide a seamless and a rich entertainment experience across all platforms and devices in the ecosystem.

Currently there is not a lot to say about the tablet as specs were not released. We do know that is an android based operating system but no clue as to which version but lets hope its 3.0.  They did state that is a gigahertz class processor and it has an 8 inch display.  The tablet pushes home integration with be able to watch a movie on the tablet and then back on your TV and also have the IR codes needed to control your home theater system right on the tablet.  Its projected to be available around the summer so we should know more then. With the XOOM and iPad 2 coming out with a bang I have to think Vizio may take a little bit more time past the summer and make sure to come out at the same level as the others.