Nintendo admits delay in supplying DVD Wii

The half dozen or so Wii owners who don't already have a DVD player at home may be disappointed to hear that Nintendo has just admitted it can't make good on its promise to enable DVD playback on the console this year. The rest of us, however, might be curious about what exactly is going on.

The announcement - if we can call it that - came on a low-key FAQ section of Nintendo's Japanese Wii site and simply said that the promised DVD Wii wouldn't be possible this year due to the need to ensure sufficient supplies of the original Wii.

"No DVD for you" says Nintendo to its favourite son, the Wii.

Playing catch up

Although there was no denial of a new Wii sometime next year, this doesn't mean that a redesigned console is on the cards. What is most likely is that Nintendo will add DVD playback firmware to new consoles once its factories have caught up with retailer orders they already have.

After all, if Nintendo doesn't add the DVD solution from US firm Sonic that it has already made public, then it might just look a little silly. As for an all-new Version 2 of the Wii, there's no reason at all to suppose that anything is imminent - sorry to disappoint.

Phones get smaller as camera modules shrink

Oki's new sensor module will give us smaller cameras in our phones.

The burgeoning feature list phone manufacturers need to pack into handsets just to compete these days means there are more than a few chunky models out there that could do with a trip to the gym, so we're pleased to hear of a breakthrough that should help them trim a few ounces.

Oki Electric of Japan has created a sensor module for mobile phones that will allow for cameras that are only half the size of those in current handsets. The W-CSP (Wafer level Chip Sized Package) relies on a new form of internal connection in the silicon substrate that leaves a smaller sensor with the same resolution.

Thinner and smaller

The company has also developed a more flush glass cover for the sensor, which results in a final camera module that is thinner as well as smaller in surface area.

On a slightly negative note, while we welcome more compact phones capable of doing what we all want, let's not forget that these smaller sensors are still dependent on the quality of the lens in front of them. As long as cameraphones rely on weak optics, there will always be a place for 'real' cameras, no matter how advanced phones become.

Sony updates PlayStation 3 firmware to 2.00

Since it was launched in Japan last November, the PlayStation 3 has received - believe it or not - a massive 18 firmware updates. The latest of these arrives today and takes the system software up to version 2.00.

Anyone hoping for something as useful as the ability to play back a few more video formats will be disappointed, but there are several smaller additions that must be of benefit to someone out there.

Make it personal

Most obvious is a new function that lets users pick their own themes - something already available for the PSP. Theme creator software that runs on a PC allows the artistically inclined to change icons, wallpapers and fonts for a more personalised look to the PS3 menu.

Remote Start is an odd addition that Sony clearly thinks appeals to hardcore fans who like to manage their consoles from afar. It requires a PSP, from which a paired PS3 can be switched on for downloading content, such as future updates game add-ons, wherever the handheld and user may be. Saving 15 minutes on downloads probably isn't a priority for most PS3 owners, however.

After that, firmware 2.00 brings Information Board, a sub-RSS news feed that serves up Sony-selected news headlines in the XMB menu system, DualShock 3 controller support, music and photo playlists and support for a few more printers. Take it or leave it, but rest assured that the next update isn't far away.

Firmware 2.00 adds a few pretty graphics to the background and menu, but not much else.

Blackberry boss: 'Phones need keyboards'

As nice as the Apple iPhone is, it poses a real challenge to its users. That's according to Research in Motion's Mike Lazaridis, who has said that real phones need real keyboards.

The RIM CEO told reporters: "Try typing a web key on a touchscreen on an Apple iPhone, that's a real challenge. You cannot see what you type".

He added that he's not too impressed with the Apple iPhone, and that it won't kill off the Blackberry, The Register reported. Blackberry has some 20 million users globally and is currently the eighth biggest phone maker in the world.

Severe limitations

"The Apple iPhone has severe limitations when it comes to effortless typing. Of course you have more screen space, with more artistic interactions, but that's not enough. We've seen this before when Palm tried virtual keyboards. When they launched the Treo they licensed our keyboard," Lazaridis said.

However, the launch of the Apple iPhone has meant increased sales for other smartphones too, something that Lazaridis is extremely grateful for.

"Apple undeniably accelerated the drive to smartphones. It educated the consumer to the benefits of these types of phones. We saw our sales go up with AT&T after the Apple iPhone came out."

Apple's archrival Microsoft isn't a great threat to the Blackberry either, according to RIM's co-CEO Jim Balsillie.

" Windows Mobile isn't that big a competitor," he said. "They are a modest force to RIM. Microsoft should be working at services, not at distributed PCs, which is what Windows Mobile actually still is."

iPhone: queue begins in London

Apple's iPhone isn't due to launch officially until 6:02pm on 9
November, but it looks like a queue has already started forming
outside the flagship London Apple store.

There are currently two guys sat outside the Apple store (see photo) -
they wouldn't give us their names. The first, who revealed he was from
Manchester, said he had been queuing since 8.30am.

Both are sat in camping chairs that look brand new - probably from the
camping shop Blacks, which is just around the corner.