Earlier this week, both Microsoft and Intel chose to support HD-DVD. Today, the competing format, Blu-ray, struck back at those who had denounced it. Blu-ray will launch with discs that can hold 50GB, versus just 30GB for HD-DVD. The PS3 will also support Blu-ray discs, while Microsoft's XBox 360 will NOT use HD-DVD. So how exactly is Microsoft supporting HD-DVD? Well, I guess they could have built in support in Windows Vista, which is coming out next year. That really isn't as big a deal as many may think, however. Microsoft operating systems still do not support the DVD format out of the box, but that doesn't prevent most new computers from shipping with a DVD drive, and many come with DVD writers. How is this possible? The manufacturs make device drivers that come with the software that comes packaged with their products. You'll usually find this software on one of those discs that comes with your computer.

Let's recap:
Microsoft says it will support HD-DVD
Microsoft's XBox 360 will not use HD-DVD discs
In order to have a Blu-ray drive on Windows systems in the future, you will have to install device drivers, which will come packaged with the Blu-ray drive.

Conclusion: Microsoft and Intel support mean absolutely nothing. If you really want to support a format, use that format exclusively on the only physical system you produce yourself, in other words, on your video game console. Blu-ray has exclusive support of a future video game system, while HD-DVD does not. Despite the announcements this week, Blu-ray still wins out.
Blu-ray fires back at HD DVD camp, Microsoft responds

This cool device plugs into an electric socket, and you can connect your computer to it and get a broadband connection. We've been hearing about getting broadband across powerlines for many years, but this is the first time I've seen a device that can do that within a household network. Of course, you'll still need a broadband connection that will come from a cable line or a DSL line, but it's a start. The day they start sending data over powerlines is the day the internet experiences its second great boom.
Matsushita unveils chip for broadband link

The original Sony Playstation was awarded an Emmy award in the category "Outstanding Achievement in Technology and Advanced New Media" for pioneering 3D polygonal-based gaming. Apparently the Emmys are branching out to new categories in entertainment, desperately hoping someone will start caring. I'd still rather have an Emmy than a Grammy (did you both Bill and Hillary Clinton have won Grammy awards?), but it still isn't an award that anyone but soap opera stars care about.
PALGN 2005 :: PlayStation wins...

I just love the direction Sony Ericsson is going with their newest cell phones. I never did develop a good flipping motion, and with these sleek phones I don't need one. The screens are also big and there is lots of room for things I want like memory card slots. As much as I love the RAZR, I think the W850 fits my personality a little better. It's not all about looks, it's gotta have functional options.
Unofficial Club Sony Ericsson » Blog Archive » Black Sakura/”W850″ photos

Each year Extreme Tech builds an $800 gaming PC, and then compares its specs to other top end machines. The comparison is really telling of where the PC industry is heading. This year's gaming rig is quite the performance machine, while last year's seemed to fall flat on its face. The prices of high-end processors and video cards have been coming down a lot, and there hasn't been any "breakthrough" technology that costs hundreds of dollars more than it's nearest replacement. In summary, there are 2 forces in play here: downward pressure on prices, and very little upward pressure on advanced tech products.
Build an $800 Gaming PC

A laptop computer has been developed that will cost only $100. What will this mean for the developing world? Well, what would a $10,000 computer mean to you? Ok, so maybe this thing is still too expensive for much of the world, but it still should allow millions of people around the world to own their first computer. If charity programs could pay the bills, it could bring a computer to even more people. This could have a huge impact on the internet as we know it. Imagine adding half a billion people to the internet in a short time, and very few of them speak english. Will these people find ways to earn a better wage using the internet than they do making clothes for Wal-Mart in a factory? I think many of them will, and that's terrific. Many could also get a better education from their computers than from some over-crowded, run-down school. Imagine the possibilities.
Independent Online Edition > Science

Here's a good article about the near-future of video game systems. Apparently, the PSP could be getting a hard drive as early as next year, in what may be an attempt to siphon money away from potential XBox 360 buyers. The XBox 360 will have a full year head start on the PS3 and Nintendo Revolution, but experts seem to think the PS3 will take the lead in market share by 2008. I've been following the console wars for over 8 years now, and I think that's a pretty fair assessment. Sony will have a tech advantage over the XBox 360, and it doesn't even matter if the Nintendo Revolution comes out with better specs on paper, because Nintendo has a business model that keeps game-makers away from them. Your 4-year-old may want to play the newest Nintendo game, but chances are the games you want to play are only on the XBox or Playstation.
Xbox 360 to Lead Market Through 2008; New PSP Coming in 2006?

Remember those sci-fi books and magazines from the 1950s, with their vision of the world 50 years from then, which is now. Well, the future is finally here. The Skycar, which just about every piece of sci-fi literature thought was just a few years away for the past 50 years, can now be purchased through the luxurious Neiman Marcus catalog. Now I'll be the first to admit the M400 Skycar prototype is not for everyone. At a cost of $3.5 million, it's just out of the price range of people who are looking to buy a new vehicle, but want better fuel economy during these difficult times. In addition, the rich b@st@rds who can afford this thing must meet "certain regulartory requirements", which seems to include a pilot's license, and international authorization to own military-grade aircraft. I'll complete the regulatory requirements if you'll come up with the money.
Neiman Marcus Online

Check out the new HDTV offerings from Toshiba. These puppies have 2 HDMI slots, which is good enough for my needs. Goodbye plasma, hello LCD. Oh, and I apologize for the link to a British site, with prices in the British pound and words like "tellies". It won't happen again... today.
Toshiba launches hot new HD tellies

Anyone who visits Slickdeals or Dealcatcher on a regular basis probably notices the huge discounts Dell offers on many of its PCs. Although the specs on these computers are often quite impressive, they can't compete with the likes of Falcon Northwest or Alienware. Until now. Dell has launched a new line of desktops and laptops, called the XPS series. They are the new flagship brand for Dell, and the series will not likely be included in their usual discounts. This could be very bad news for the upscale computer makers like Alienware, as they will have trouble competing on the same level as Dell. The XPS laptops start at $2700. I figure that with Dell buying components at deep discounts, these laptops will have similar specs to an Alienware laptop currently priced at $4000.
Dell launches upscale PCs for gamers, enthusiasts - Sep. 28, 2005

After complaints from several iPod Nano buyers, Apple has issued a recall for Nanos with broken screens. They claim this is not a design issue, but rather a problem with one vendor that affects a very small fraction of iPod Nano units.
Macworld: News: Apple responds to iPod nano screen concerns

Here are some alleged pictures of a RAZR2 prototype. The new RAZR cellphone will feature a 1.3 megapixel camera, iTunes, and expandable memory. I don't care what anyone says, I've always loved that RAZR look, I just wish I could get one that gets service out here in Middle of Nowhere, USA.
HowardChui.com

Light Scribe is the newest innovation in DVD writing technology. Now, not only can a DVD writer (or "burner", as those in the know like to call it) put that entire season of Aqua Teen on one disc, but it can also scribe some pictures of Frylock, Meatwad, and Master Shake on the other side of the disc, using a laser. This scribe technology will only work properly on blank DVD discs made for Lightscribe DVD burners. I'd like to see what these drives will do to a normal disc :).
LG 16X Multi DVD Writer with Light Scribe

Do we really need another technology blog? I think so. I monitor dozens of other popular technology-related websites, and it seems like each one is missing something, or they report too little or too much. I don't care about a new device that can pick scum off my toes, but I want to hear about the features of the newest mp3 player, or a DVD player that can play Divx files. I will have all the latest news on all the tech gadgets that you want to know about, and I'll ignore the ones that nobody cares about and even fewer will actually purchase. Check back often, you won't regret it.