Yahoo! Photos to be Shut Down!

Yahoo! is planning on axing its online photo storage site, Yahoo! Photos, instead, asking users to shift to other options, more prominently, it's own Web 2.0 photo sharing site, Flickr, a Yahoo! official confirmed.

So, come June, and millions of registered Yahoo! Photos users will be presented multiple options, including upgrading to Yahoo!'s Flickr service or to outside photo storage sites, or even rival sites, said Stewart Butterfield, Director of Product Management at Yahoo!, and Co-founder of Flickr.
Butterfield said while users would be asked to upgrade to outside photo storage sites such as PhotoBucket, which is extremely popular with MySpace users, etc; or to the more conventional Kodak Gallery; or to Snapfish; top priority would be accorded to Flickr nevertheless.

Flickr was sold to Yahoo! in 2005 by Co-founders, Butterfield and wife, Caterina Flake.

Commenting on the development, Jeff Weiner, Executive Vice President of Network Division, Yahoo!, said the move is part of their ongoing efforts to align Yahoo!'s resources, and focus on core strategic priorities.

But yes, Yahoo!'s announcement comes pat after a huge surge in growth of California-based PhotoBucket. From just a quarter of the market about a year ago, PhotoBucket's share has grown to nearly 40 percent last month, according to Hitwise Data.

And in the same period, Yahoo! Photos' market share has gone down drastically to 5.8 percent, while the Flickr share has grown from 3.7 percent to 4.5 percent, says Hitwise Data.

For the last two years, Yahoo! has supported both Yahoo! Photos and Flickr. However Yahoo! Photos by nature is more conventional as compared to Flickr that has been attracting a steady flow of amateur and professional photographers interested only in sharing digital photos online.

Source:www.techtree.com
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Playstation 3: Now in India

India has seen a flurry of gaming lately. September 2006, saw the release of the Microsoft Xbox 360 gaming console. After which a series of big games were launched in the country too. Big gaming competitions such as WCG India, Reliance Gamebox have only added as an icing on the cake, encouraging the gamers further. And the gaming story in India just doesn’t end there.

Sony India has just launched the highly-anticipated PlayStation 3 next-gen console in India. Apart from the PS3 India launch, Sony India also announced the availability of the PS3 hardware, a software line up of over 12 first- and third-party titles will be available across the country. The event took place at the well-known ‘InterContinental The Grand’ hotel at Connaught Place, Delhi.

The heart of PS3 beats through the Cell Broadband Engine, one of the most-advanced computer processors in the world, that allows massive floating point calculation, and Blu-ray Disc (BD) drive, putting forth a true High Definition (1080p) next-generation gaming and movie experience in the home, along with up to 50 GB of data capacity for video game developers to store content -five times the capacity of a DVD. PS3 also features a 60-GB hard disk drive (HDD), built in Wi-Fi adapter and multiple memory card slots.

The PS3 boasts of a novel, new SIXAXIS wireless controller allows gamers to physically turn, twist, and bank their controllers to command the on-screen action. PS3 also comes equipped with an HDMI output for the best connection possible to high-definition displays, supporting Full-HD resolution up to 1080p for both games and movies. Integrated network capability means that all PS3 owners can enjoy online game play and services, such as Web browsing through the PlayStation Network.

With PS3 comes a wide array of game software titles from every genre. PS3 Games in India are priced at Rs 2,799/ per game, these PS3 titles are available from game publishers including Sony Computer Entertainment, Electronic Arts, Namco Bandai and Sony Online Entertainment and will be distributed by Milestone Interactive Software Limited. The awesome array includes over 12 game titles includes the critically acclaimed Resistance: Fall of ManT, to MotorStormT, GenjiT, Days of the Blade, FORMULA ONE CHAMPIONSHIP EDITION and Ridge RacerT7. Other game titles include Def Jam: Icon, Fight Night Round 3, NBA Street 4 Homecourt 2007, Need for Speed Carbon, The Godfather: The Don’s Edition, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2007, Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom.

The PlayStation 3 60 GB model is priced at Rs. 39,990/- in the Indian market and is available at authorized retail stores across the country. PS3 peripherals available include additional SIXAXIS wireless controllers available at Rs 2,990/- as well as a Blu-ray Remote Control and HDMI Cable both sold at Rs. 1.990/-. Only the 60 GB model of the PS3 console is available in India. PS3 has to compete with Microsoft’s Xbox 360 in India which is priced at almost half the price of the PS3 console at Rs. 23,000/- for Premium version and Rs. 19,000/- for the core version. Sony might have had a better chance going against the Xbox 360 in India if they would have released the 20 GB PS3 console as its price would have been on par with the Xbox 360.

Sony might be banking on its huge PS2 user base in India to upgrade to the PS3. PS2 presently costs around Rs.8,000/- in India and the price is expected to go further down with the launch of the PS3.

Only time will tell as to who will emerge victorious. But if Nintendo ever decides to launch it’s Wii console in India it will be a whole new ball game altogether.

Compiled by: Saurav Chakraborty
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EA, MTV, Harmonix in pact to level up music games

Video game publisher Electronic Arts Inc. on Monday said it is teaming with Viacom Inc.'s MTV and "Guitar Hero" developer Harmonix to deliver "Rock Band," a new music game, late this year.

"'Rock Band' is Harmonix's most ambitious project to date, and it will take music gameplay to an entirely new level," said Alex Rigopulos, co-founder and chief executive of Massachusetts-based Harmonix. The company developed rhythm games "Frequency" and "Amplitude" as well as the "Karaoke Revolution" series.

The "Guitar Hero" games have been Harmonix's biggest hit to date, appealing to a broad audience of music lovers.

Partners in the new project said "Rock Band" will leapfrog those titles with support from major record labels. For its part, Harmonix is expanding players' virtual roles beyond lead guitarist to drummer, bass guitarist and lead singer.

The new game could pose competition for Activision Inc., which bought "Guitar Hero" publisher and guitar controller maker RedOctane last year. Activision now publishes "Guitar Hero II" and a company spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

EMI Music Publishing and Warner/Chappell Music have pledged unprecedented access to their music catalogs for use in the game. Record labels EMI Music, Hollywood Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group's Universal Music Enterprises and Warner Music Group's Rhino Entertainment will supply master recordings by their artists.

Shares of Activision were down about 2 percent to $18.56 in midday trade. Shares in Viacom were roughly flat, down 5 cents, to $41.01, while EA's stock was up less than one percent to $50.80.

Source:Reuters

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Apple invades the living room

The long-awaited Apple TV home entertainment adapter has finally shipped, and for the first time reviewers and consumers can see for themselves whether Apple's iPod magic can extend into the living room.

The Apple TV is a wireless network adapter that lets users stream movies, music and photos from their computer through their home entertainment system. Unlike other similar products, the AppleTV is the only device that supports music or movies purchased from the iTunes store.

Overall, reviews have been moderately good. The device gets high marks for its simplicity, easy user interface and design. But it has been knocked for having only 40 GB of storage, limited file support (apparently even some iTunes files won't work with the device) and iTunes movie pricing. Additionally, it has no support for Internet radio, and users can't purchase files from the iTunes store directly (it simply streams what's stored on your home computer).

The AppleTV is available in all Apple retail locations for $300.

Source:www.reuters.com

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