HTC EVO 4G Sets Sprint Sales Record

Sprint today announced that the release of the HTC EVO 4G marked the largest quantity of a single phone sold in one day ever for Sprint. To quantify, the device sold on its launch day three times what the Samsung Instinct and Palm Pre manged over three days, putting sales estimates between 300,000 and 600,000.

“HTC EVO 4G is a clear winner for customers with the powerful combination of an amazing multimedia experience in 3G coverage areas that becomes even better in our growing number of 4G markets,” said Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO. “It is terrific to see customers react so positively to this device and the innovative experience it brings to them.”

These sales have led to supply falling short at some of the 22,000 retail locations that the EVO 4G is available at. Sprint and HTC promise that more shipments are bound for stores around the country.

“HTC EVO 4G has more than lived up to our expectations that it would be one of the most anticipated technology products of the year,” said Kevin Packingham, senior vice president – Product Development for Sprint. “We are working closely with our partners at HTC to increase the supply and get EVO 4G into the hands of everyone who wants one as quickly as possible.”

3DS Close To PS3, Xbox 360 In Processor Capabilities, Says Report

With E3 2010 nearly upon us, speculation in the gaming industry is starting to ramp up. The 3DS is one of the more mysterious known quantities; Nintendo has announced the 3D portable device and it’s known it will be shown off at E3 2010, but very little else is confirmed about it. In that void has rushed a report that the 3DS is quite powerful indeed.

Nintendo has not revealed any specs for the 3DS system, but expect it to well surpass the Nintendo DS in visual and processor capabilities. To provide stereoscopic 3D effects the system must have the ability to render each game field twice, one for each of the player’s eyes, a technique that will require significant horsepower to produce,” writes Craig Harris. Several developers that have experienced 3DS in its current form have reported, off the record, that it has processing capabilities that far exceed the Nintendo Wii and bring the device with abilities that are close to HD consoles such as PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

We’ll see for ourselves how accurate this report is come Nintendo’s pre-E3 press conference.

Source: IGN

Google Preps Chrome OS Release

Google is expecting their Chrome OS to release Fall 2010. The alternative to Microsoft Windows will be designed initially to work on laptop PCs.

“We will be selective on how we come to market because we want to deliver a great user experience,” said Google’s head of the Chrome project Sundar Pichai at the Computex PC show. “We’re thinking on both the hardware and software levels.”

For its part, Microsoft was actively skeptical of the open source OS, saying that different versions of programs would have to be built for different brands. Pichai said that the similarity in the base core means software companies would not have to develop a new version for Chrome.

“Chrome OS is one of the few future operating systems for which there are already millions of applications that work,” Pichai said. “You don’t need to redesign Gmail for it to work on Chrome. Facebook does not need to write a new app for Chrome.”

Chrome will let computer companies like Acer and HP develop their own versions of the OS. Google’s open source OS will be deeply integrated with the web and cloud computing ideas.

Source: Reuters

Kojima, Square Enix Collaboration

According to reports, Hideo Kojima will be collaborating with Square Enix on a new project. The details of this partnership are unknown.

Kojima is currently working on a cross promotion with his game Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker and Front Mission Evolved. This will allow parts acquired from Peace Walker bosses to be applied to mecha in Front Mission Evolved.

Source: Kotaku

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Touched By The Divine

The Deus Ex series has always been highly regarded for giving players freedom to choose to play the game as they want to (with choices made in the story and gameplay) along with its mature cyberpunk themes. Square Enix has released a long trailer for the anticipated prequel Deus Ex: Human Revolution, and if it’s half as impressive as this CG wonder, it’ll be something to look out for.

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Video Games Live Come To PBS

Video Games Live has been going on for a few years now, combining orchestral sounds with images and scores from select video games. Its unique combination has caught the attention of PBS, which is running a show on it in August, which is a great sign for the mainstreaming of games.

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Infamous 2: Back In A Lightning Crack

Infamous 2 has been rumored for a while now since voice actor David Sullivan said he had recorded dialog for main character Cole in the sequel. Today, the game’s existence was confirmed by Game Informer, which will be detailing the game as their July cover story.

“In 2009, Sucker Punch Productions released Infamous, a super-powered sandbox game that was a drastic departure from the studio’s well-known Sly Cooper franchise,” writes Joe Juba. “Venturing into new territory paid off for Sucker Punch; the PS3-exclusive Infamous has sold nearly 2 million copies, providing a combination of mobility and electrical powers that makes gamers feel like a true superhero. For Infamous 2, the team hopes to raise the bar even higher. A new look for hero Cole MacGrath is just the first step; a new city, new powers, and a powerful new foe await you in Infamous 2, and you can read all about it our exclusive 10-page story.”

Looking sharp, Cole.

 

Apple WWDC Speculation

Apple’s World Wide Developers Conference is right around the corner and there’s a lot of anticipation as to what will be revealed. A new iPhone, with a front facing camera, with a new design and processor seems destined, but some are wondering if a new response to AT&T’s new data plan is in the mix as well.

“As Macworld’s Dan Frakes points out, AT&T has pulled a’switcheroo’ on iPad buyers who, drawn by the promise of unlimited data, were willing to pay an extra $130 for the 3G model,” writes Jeff Bertolucci. “Should Apple make amends? There is some precedent here. When Apple lowered the cost of the original iPhone by $200 about two months after its June 2007 debut, it offered a $100 store credit to early buyers who’d paid the introductory price. Even if AT&T is to blame for the data-plan mess, Apple would earn brownie points by tossing 3G iPad buyers a bone.”

There could be an additional surprise for iPhone OS 4.0 as well, like perhaps a version of iChat for the mobile phone. WWDC would also be a great opportunity for a more formal response from Apple about the unfortunate Foxconn suicides.

“The company that manufactures a lot of Apple hardware, as well as devices for other tech giants including Dell and HP, has been hit by a wave of suicides at its factories in China. While Foxconn’s suicide rate may not exceed China’s national average (and in fact may be below it), the grim news furthers the perception that those shiny iPhones, iPods, and iPads loved by Westerns are produced in sweatshops by exploited, underpaid workers,” notes Bertolucci. “Apple has publicly announced that it’s ‘saddened’ by the Foxconn deaths, but the WWDC would be a good opportunity for Jobs to announce more aggressive steps by Apple–and, to be fair, by the rest of the tech industry–to address the ongoing criticism of workplace conditions in Asian factories.”

“Then there’s the matter of Lala. Apple has shuttered the online Lala music service that it bought last year,” says Bertolucci. “There’s speculation the company will turn Lala in a Web-based iTunes storefront, but Apple, in characteristic tight-lipped fashion, isn’t talking. Why not spill the beans at WWDC?”

Source: PC World

Lord Of The Rings Online Goes Free-To-Play

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced that The Lord of the Rings Online will be free-to-play starting this Fall. This will allow players to download and play the game for free, though expansions, quest packs and items can bought through the The Lord of the Rings Online store.

“Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is bringing quality games based on The Lord of the Rings to multiple platforms, and the franchise s expansive adventure story lends itself perfectly for LOTRO free-to-play, giving a wide range of players the opportunity to experience the game,” said Jeff Junge, Senior Vice President Online Games and Digital Games Platforms, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “We are focused on expanding our game franchises onto new digital platforms to maximize quality experiences for gamers worldwide and LOTRO s new model is a great leading example of this.”

The new The Lord of the Rings Online has free content for players up to level 50. There will also be a VIP subscription program that gives players unlimited access to all premium content, priority server access, 5 character slots, a shared bank slot, and a monthly allotment of points to spend in the The Lord of the Rings Online Store.

“Turbine’s Dungeons and Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited was the world s first truly premium free-to-play online game that ushered in a new era of choice for online gamers seeking quality entertainment,” said Jim Crowley, President and CEO of Turbine. “The popularity of DDO validated the extraordinary demand by gamers for quality entertainment they can experience at their own pace and within their budget. Extending free-to-play to LOTRO will offer another premium game to a broad spectrum of fans.”