According to the official playstation blog update 3.40 for the playstation 3 should be available from now.

This new update got many new features. A changelog can be seen below:

• PlayStation Plus: PlayStation Network users will be able to purchase membership toPlayStation Plus; a new subscription service on the PlayStation Network that provides you with new options to expand and enhance your gaming experience and enable you to gain an exclusive set of features and content. Friendly reminder, all of you PlayStation Network users will continue to have free access to PlayStation Network’s unmatched and expanding suite of new and exclusive features while PlayStation Plus subscribers will gain access to an exclusive and expanding set of gaming features, content and functionality.
• Photo Gallery: A new network based photo sharing feature is now available on the Photo Gallery. The enhancement allows you to upload, browse and comment on photos on Facebookand Picasa Web Album. You can also opt to share your photos between your PlayStation Network friends as well as print photos from Photo Gallery.
• Video Editor & Uploader: Video Editor and Uploader is a new function found on the XrossMediaBar (XMB), which enables you to edit, save and upload video files stored on the PS3 system to sites such as Facebook or YouTube.
• Five Star Rating Support: Users can rate the PlayStation Store content they have purchased with one to five star ratings.
• Power Save Settings: The default setting for PS3 System Auto-Off will be set at 2 hours, providing you with additional power save options and further improving power save features on the PS3 system.

A video walkthrough of the new firmware can be found by clicking on the read more button

Nintendo released a new system menu for the wii with version number 4.3

This system menu version will delete your homebrew channel and any IOS that has been installed.

* Deletes the Homebrew Channel and DVDX, title IDs HAXX, DVDX, JODI, DISC, and DISK.
* Now uses IOS80.
* IOS254 stubbed BootMii is deleted.
* Fixed Bannerbomb less stupidly this time.
* Added IOS58.
* HackMii Installer Userland+Syscall IOS exploit removed
* NANDFS privilege escalation fixed
* ES_AddTitleFinish now checks the signature(Trucha Bug Restorer and similar won't work anymore) 

So if you are a homebrew user it is not recommended to update your wii with this update

And here's what Nintendo says about this new update:

June 21, 2010

Wii Menu 4.3

Unauthorized Modifications
Because unauthorized channels or firmware may impair game play or the Wii console, updating to Wii Menu version 4.3 will check for and automatically remove such unauthorized files. In addition, there are some behind the scenes enhancements that do not affect any prominently-used features or menus but will improve system performance.

If you are seeing "Error:004," please click here.

Here's the E3 gameplay footage from Killzone 3 for the Playstation 3

Sony also confirmed that killzone 3 will have support for Playstation move. The game will be released in February 2011

Video can be seen by clicking read more below.

Here's the new trailer for the upcoming Treyarch game: Call Of Duty Black Ops.

Release date of this new game is November 9th 2010

Click read more for the trailer

The trailer of the new upcoming call of duty: Black ops by gametrailers.com. Release date is: November 9th 2010

Treyarch has announced a new call of duty called Black Ops. No details are available at the moment but a website has been launched. The website can be found here.

Like you can see the games release date is 9 November 2010. Here's what the developer had to tell us:

We at Treyarch are excited to reveal our latest development – Call of Duty: Black Ops! Be sure to head over to CallOfDuty.com/blackops as more details begin to unfold! Follow @JD_2020 and @Treyarch on Twitter for the latest news & discussions regarding Black Ops.

A new system software update for the Playstation 3 has been released. Below you can see the official announcemt and the changelog

Hi everyone, in our continued effort to provide the best, most comprehensive entertainment experience possible, we’ll be adding a few new features to PlayStation 3 (PS3) via the latest system software update, which is a mandatory update and will be available shortly. Most notably, you’ll see some new sorting options within Trophies that make it easier to claim bragging rights among your friends on PlayStation Network.

• Trophy enhancements –- Now you can more easily sort trophies in the [Trophy Collection] and [Comparing Trophy] sections. Sorting can be done with [Trophy Collection] in the [Game Category] and also when comparing trophies with your friends in the [Friend Category]
  • Trophy Folder (Title List) can be sorted by game name/ by title according to the date in which you earned your last trophy (ascending/descending)
  • Add-on list (Group list) can be sorted by original/the date in which you earned your last trophy (ascending/descending)
  • Trophy list can be sorted by original/trophy name/grade/date of obtaining the trophy (ascending/descending)

In addition, this update preps the PS3 system for some upcoming new features, including 3D stereoscopic gaming, which is coming soon to PS3, in time for the launch of Sony’s 3D BRAVIA TVs.

Source: Official PS Blog

Microsoft has announced that it will be renaming its Windows Phone 7 Series to a much more manageable, Windows Phone 7.  The announcement was made over the company's official Twitter page and is a marked improvement over the old naming convention.
 
While no official reason is given, it's likely to say that the old name was far too long for an OS.  The 'Series' at the end was ambiguous and didn't clearly state if it was an umbrella name for several platforms or if it only stood for one version of the OS. 
 
The platform is expected to launch by the 2010 holiday season which will give Microsoft more time to evaluate consumer feedback.  Dropping 'Series' from the name is a welcomed changed that will help define the platform going forward. 

Source: Neowin

The PS3 is hacked, at least according to George Hotz on his latest blog entry (linked below)!!!

This news comes just under a month after he resumed PlayStation 3 hacking!

To quote: "Hello hypervisor, I'm geohot

I have full read/write access to the entire system memory, and HV level access to the processor.

In other words, I have hacked the PS3. The rest is just software. And reversing. I have a lot of reversing ahead of me.

Took 5 weeks, 3 in Boston, 2 here, very simple hardware cleverly applied, and some not so simple software.

Shout out to George Kharrat from iPhoneMod Brasil for giving me this PS3 a year and a half ago to hack. Sorry it took me so long :)

As far as the exploit goes, I'm not revealing it yet. The theory isn't really patchable, but they can make implementations much harder. Also, for obvious reasons I can't post dumps. I'm hoping to find the decryption keys and post them, but they may be embedded in hardware. Hopefully keys are setup like the iPhone's KBAG.

A lot more to come..."

Link: http://geohotps3.blogspot.com

Source: Ps3News

In a press release that never actually uses the word delay, Sony announced that they've delayed the launch of their PlayStation 3 Motion Controller from its original spring release to fall of this year.

Although a specific reason for the delay wasn't explicitly given, it looks like it probably amounted to Sony needing more time to launch the device with a strong line-up of compatible games. "We have decided to release the Motion Controller in fall 2010 when we will be able to offer an exciting and varied line-up of software titles that will deliver the new entertainment experience to PS3 users," explained SCE president and group CEO Kaz Hirai. "We will continue to work to have a comprehensive portfolio of attractive and innovative games for the Motion Controller, not only from SCE Worldwide Studios but also from the third party developers and publishers, whom we have been working closely with."

And in a separate but related PS3 motion controller rumor floating around the net, VG247 reports that an official name for the device has been chosen: According to an anonymous but "concrete source," the name is Arc. Yes, Arc. No explanation for this supposed name was given (all weird controller names need an equally weird and strained explanation, don't they?), but Sony gave VG247 a standard "we don't comment on rumor or speculation" response.

But the delay to fall is definitely not a rumor, and sets up an interesting battle later this year -- with Microsoft's Project Natal also previously announced for a fall release, both Natal and the PS3 Motion Controller will now launch just about side-by-side.

Source: 1UP

By: Team-Xecuter:

We have supported C4E and Team Jungle for some time now and it is so ridiculous to us when we see so much garbage and drama being posted around on different forums. First we see some sites trying to sell iXtreme LT for stupid amounts of money, then the price goes in half then it doubles then it shows as out of stock? Then of course everyone *****es about C4E even though this wasn’t his idea and these guys also forget that the iXtreme firmwares are his work and no one else’s – he owes nothing to no one. He should be lauded with credits and support not with *****ing and whining, I’m surprised he even bothers any more but we also know how much he loves to do this work. It really is pathetic to see some fools post crap like that,  but i guess the console scene never changes does it.

Now we see attempts at “cracking” a pre-release demo version of the LT firmware and people trying to gain credits and “pats on the back” for this work. All we can say is – we’ve looked at both firmwares – the real Lt and the leaked one. Take our advice – don’t use the leaked incomplete version and connect to Xbox Live.

We developed bios’ for many years and know how much time and effort it takes to do this kind of work – we fully support C4E in all the work he does and as members of the scene we thank him for it.

Anyway the guys at Team Jungle have updated their Twitter page with this info:

iXtreme LT will release shortly as promised for free. Unofficial files are incomplete and unsafe. Protection was to prevent unofficial use!

Maybe you should start giving a few posts of appreciation – then maybe you will see Benq, Samsung & Hitachi versions too – because they won’t come from anyone else we can assure you of that much.

Source: Team-Xecuter

Infinity Ward is not creating Modern Warfare 3, according to a VG247 source, and is instead working on something “completely new”.

The details come from US insiders.

Infinity Ward has this far avoided the issue of its work after Modern Warfare 2, saying no decision had been made on further projects in the run up to the shooter’s launch last November.

“Right now we don’t have a clue what our next game is going to be, and we won’t know what it will be until we finish with Modern Warfare 2, which won’t be for a while,” studio frontman Rob Bowling told IGN UK last October.

MW2 DLC packs are scheduled to release this “spring” as a timed 360 exclusive.

It’s unclear where the third game will be made if IW really has gone AWOL from the series.

We were told by one dev source that a Canadian studio was handling it, but another pointed to newly-formed Sledgehammer Games, headed by ex-Visceral bosses Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey.

Sledgehammer, based in the Bay Area, is currently recruiting for a multiplayer designer with “five years experience working on current AAA multiplayer shooters for current consoles and PC.”

The identity of Sledgehammer’s first project is yet to be announced.

Activision’s only Canadian developer is Vancouver-based Radical Entertainment, the studio behind last year’s free-roaming adventure, Prototype.

Rumour surrounding the Call of Duty franchise in general is escalating. A report yesterday claimed that Treyarch is currently putting together a story-focused, Vietnam-based episode in the series for release later this year.

Activision had not returned calls at the time of writing.

Source: VG247

Do you like to use the party chat option on your Xbox 360? Well, if you do, you may soon find yourself being forced out of using that option. Microsoft appears to be offering developers the option to negate the private chat option the Xbox 360 offers. Currently, players have the option of forming a private chat with players, but that will soon change.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will force players to decide whether or not they’ll play the game and join the game chat, or choose to stay in a private chat and not play in the multiplayer game. With titles like Gears of War, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: World at War, and many other online based multiplayer titles, the private chat feature became a way of telling other players of enemy locations after being killed.

Such a feature shouldn’t detract from the overall online experience much, but there will surely be some gamers who won’t like the type of feature being implemented. With some gamers only using the private chat to talk to friends while playing different games, this will likely pose a problem for them.

Source: Examiner

Over at xda-developers, Da_g gave us some information about the upcoming Windows mobile 7. Really interesting.

Here are some quotes:

No, COM5 is not WM7. It is a continuation of the WM 6.5.x code.

WM7 is a completely different tree.

Do not expect any current device to run WM7. It is certainly possible, but the OEM will have to go out of their way to code drivers/kernel for it, and it is not a likely thing. Very few current devices will receive such an update.

Snapdragon/OMAP3+ devices are likely to get WM7 support.

Anything older than that is not likely to get WM7 support and will likely be end-of-life'd with WM 6.6.

Remember, with all current "cooking" we are using code based on CE 5.x kernel, so is relatively easy to port to newer builds.

Once we move up to a CE 6.x or 7.x kernel, the same principles no longer apply. The entire set-up of the OEM part of the kernel and the Microsoft part of the kernel is different (better now, after WM7 it will be much easier to update the microsoft bits while keeping the same OEM bits) So do not expect any current device to be running WM7 in the future (although a select few may, as they are/will be used for test devices.)

Initial alphas of WM7 were based on CE6, but have been CE7 for about a year now.

As far as MS upgrading the kernel of WM to CE6, I think you misunderstand what's required, it's already done as far as MS is concerned. There is a tree with the same UI/UX, features, etc. as WM 6.5.x but based on the CE 6 core instead of CE 5. But the OEM needs to come in and re-code their stuff against it. Which I don't believe any of them are doing at this point in time. Maybe in the future... It's not like an upgrade from XP SP1 to XP SP2 where you can just drop in the new bits and hit the ground running..

It's more like an upgrade from XP x86 to XP x64. Same GUI, same functionality, but running on a different core, and none of the drivers work. So the OEM has to re-code their drivers. When/If that happens we can surely have a CE6 based WM build on that device. But given the history of most OEM's issuing major OS updates, I wouldn't hold my breath for it on current devices (the most recent cores like snapdragon/OMAP3+ being a possible exception)

And no, WM 6.6 wasn't a typo...  But don't expect to start seeing builds of that until 6.5.x is polished up and we're into 2010 a bit.

The upgrade path for current devices has us staying on the CE 5.x kernel and the highest-tier devices (snapdragon and similar faster chips like tegra and omap3+) will be getting WM7. This is due to numerous features implemented in WM7 that require a higher end device than the current crop.

Nice isn't it? Only bad thing is that we now know that our devices(xperia, diamond, touch pro etc). Can't run this new windows mobile version until new drivers are made. And like you can read that will be never most likely. But from the other side when it's finally released I think everyone already got a new phone so should not be a big problem.

But this wasn't everything. He also told us something about a new cool feature from WM 7. Here's the quote:

Coolest feature to come with WM7/CE7 is the Location Framework, I think...

Now rather than guessing location from cell tower id, or gps (one or the other), Location Framework will take input from all radios on device (WiMax, WiFi, GPS, Cell, etc.) - aggregate information from all sources and use to constantly keep location awareness.

This will allow the device to constantly be aware of its location to some degree of accuracy, which opens up many possibilities for location aware applications that would otherwise require the GPS to be running constantly.

Also the compositing engine will be very nice, finally will have true compositing in WM, so can do nifty things like transparencies, blurring, etc (you can see some of this in the drop-down notification bar in WM 6.5.x - also in SIP input suggestions)

The new rendercore will make advanced vector based graphics engines like Flash and Silvercore a breeze, and XAML will make "porting" applications from one resolution to another a much more simple task than it is today

Though Microsoft has been a bit cagey with a solid release date for the upcoming Facebok/Twitter/Last.Fm update for Xbox Live, eagle-eyed UK readers have spotted the phrase "Service launches 17th November 2009" on the UK Xbox website.

When we recently got to give the services a spin at Microsoft's First Annual Open House, the company wouldn't give us a set-in-stone release date, though MTV Multiplayer were told a public beta for the services would arrive for XBL Gold Members in the "middle-towards-end of October." We've contacted Microsoft for word on when the services will be arriving on this side of the pond, though ... well ... it's the weekend. We'd suggest you don't go holding your breath for that info until Monday.


Source: Joystiq

Microsoft and Bungie's Halo 3: ODST has sold approximately 2.5 million units in the two weeks since release.

That's according to a report by USA Today, which notes that the game has generated USD 125 million in sales for the 27 million unit-selling franchise.

The report also points out that Microsoft's 343 Industries division, which handles all things Halo, is also working on new game Halo: Reach, a second Marvel comic book series set for release before the end of the year, the Halo Legends anime to be shown on the Halo Waypoint Xbox Live channel, and more books and figures from McFarlane Toys.

Source: GamesIndustry

Xbox 360 Top LIVE Titles (based on UU’s)
1 Halo 3
2 Call of Duty 4
3 Halo 3: ODST
4 Call of Duty: WaW
5 Gears of War 2
6 Madden NFL 10 (Download the demo) 
7 Forza 3 Demo (Download the demo)
8 GTA IV
9 Left 4 Dead
10 FIFA 10 (Download the demo)


Top Arcade Titles (Full Versions purchased)
1 Trials HD  
2 Zombie Apocalypse
3 BUST-A-MOVE Live!
4 Battlefield 1943
5 Shadow Complex
6 Castle Crashers 
7 Marvel vs. Capcom 2
8 Magic: The Gathering
9 NBA 2K10 Draft Combine
10 Defense Grid: The Awakening
The above arcade list is based on full versions purchased.


Original Xbox Top Live Titles (based on UU’s)
1 Halo 2
2 Star Wars: Battlfrnt 2
3 Counter-Strike
4 Fable
5 Splinter Cell Chaos
6 Conker: Live Reloaded
7 Star Wars: Battlefront
8 Doom 3
9 SW: Republic Commando
10 Call of Duty 3


Top Indie Games (Full Versions purchased)
1 I MAED A GAM3 W1TH Z0MB1ES!!!1
2 Avatar Drop 
3 Avatar Golf 
4 Headshot
5 The Fart Machine II
6 The Drinking Game 
7 Cassie's Corner
8 Junkyard Battle
9 Miner Dig Deep
10 Fishing Girl

These lists are based on global unique users connected to Xbox Live or in the case of Arcade and Community Games, full versions purchased during the week.

Source: Majornelson