Hacking the PSP Blog

Off Topic: Microsoft Offers Free Fix for "Smoking" XBox 360 Racing Wheel

From PRNewswire:

    The action is being taken after Microsoft was informed of a very small number of incidents of a malfunction in the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel, in which a component in the wheel chassis may overheat and release smoke when the AC/DC power supply is used to energize the wheel. There have been no reported incidences of fire, personal injury or property damage resulting from the component failure in the wheel.

    Owners of the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel should stop using the AC/DC power supply until they have obtained their retrofit. They may continue to operate the wheel using battery power. 

    Owners of the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel should visit http://www.xbox.com/support or call Microsoft at (800) 4MY-XBOX (469-9269) to register for the free retrofit and protect against the potential hazard described above. Instructions, if necessary, will be provided with the retrofit. Microsoft is notifying and will be coordinating its response activities with the relevant regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. This may affect delivery dates.

Sony to launch PSP download service

From The Financial Times:

Published: August 23 2007 10:44 | Last updated: August 23 2007 10:44

 In a move that finally gives users a glimpse of the full capability of Sony's games hardware, the Japanese electronics conglomerate is set to start a video download service on its PlayStation Portable handheld device via a joint venture with British Sky Broadcasting.

The Go! video download service will be launched early next year, enabling the more than 2.3 million PSP users in the UK and Ireland to watch Sky content while on the move.

In addition, Sony unveiled a new external device for the PlayStation 3 game console, that allows it to act as a digital TV tuner and recorder. "PlayTV" will let users watch high-definition TV broadcasts and record them to the game unit's hard drive. It will also allow transfer of recorded content to Sony¹s handheld PSP for viewing.

Sony also linked up with BT Group, Britain¹s leading fixed-line carrier, and will unveil new software that will enable PSP users to make video and voice calls, as well as send instant messages. The commercial launch of Go!Messenger is slated for January. Both PlayTV and Go!Messenger will be sold in the UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain, with other European countries to follow. 

"Sony is beginning to show that these are more than just games machines, and instead machines for the future," said David Gibson, analyst at Macquarie.