While SA is always a bit behind the curve when it comes to local availability of iPods and other Apple goodies, the time between international release and local introduction is getting shorter with each product revision.
In this case, we only waited 29 days before the new range of iPods were introduced locally - click here for the news story detailing the new iPods.
On 30 September, Core Group held an event and introduced pricing for the new iPods, with some good news for those who thought they might be overpriced. Expect to pay R1 560 for the new touch-screen iPod nano 8GB or R1 999 in the 16GB flavour.
The popular iPod touch is available in 8, 32 or 64GB versions, going for R2 199, R2 999 and R3 999 respectively.
Finally, the revised iPod shuffle, now only available as a 2GB version, can be had for R499. Check out www.zastore.co.za or www.myistore.co.za.
Fans of high-end gaming rigs will rejoice now that Alienware is finally (officially) available in SA. Dell, which acquired the gaming PC builder in 2006, gave a rundown of the range available to South Africans, exclusively through Incredible Connection, at this past weekend's Rage expo.
Three gaming notebooks - Alienware M11X, M15X and M17X - are available right now, with prices starting at R15 000. Desktop PCs can be configured online and ordered at an Incredible Connection outlet. Delivery time is 21 days, and the price... as high as you want.
Ready to rumble
Those who attended Rage will also have seen Microsoft and Sony go head-to-head with their motion gaming platforms.
The PlayStation Move, reviewed here, has been on sale for nearly two weeks now and is a pretty solid motion gaming peripheral, but Microsoft has had few public outings for the Kinect sensor. It also suffers from a delayed release - while PS3 owners are kicking over vases in the living room, Xbox gamers will have to wait until November to get their move on.
The Kinect is also pricier, at R1 999. This is a good R1 300 dearer than Sony's device. Both are about even on the gaming front, for now. Expect the release titles to be joined by more 'serious' games come Christmas.
Microsoft also chose Rage to unveil its redesigned Xbox 360 S console. The entry-level 4GB version will retail for R2 399 and the 250GB-equipped variant is on shelves for R3 199. Both have 802.11n wireless, now, which finally puts it on par with the PlayStation 3's network capabilities.
Functional freebies
Keen on hogging the news, Microsoft also chose last week to introduce its Windows Live Essentials software package. The free software, available to users of Windows Vista SP2 or later, updates a few existing features and adds some great functions to commonly-used tools.
Windows Live Messenger, the most popular instant messaging platform in the world, according to Microsoft, now has the ability to link in to all aspects of one's social life. It can log in to Facebook and MySpace accounts, allowing for interaction from within the Messenger software, rather than visiting those sites.
It makes sense, since IM is just another form of social network, and tying it in with existing platforms makes it more accessible rather than alienating users.
Also included in the download is Photo Gallery, a photo management application, Movie Maker, Mail and Writer, a blogging application. Each application has some neat functionality, but the one that'll blow away most people is Photo Gallery's Photo Fuse feature.
Using a set of similar photos, users can fuse them together. Let's say you took a few family photos, but grandma is blinking in the one and one of the cousins is looking away in another picture. Photo Fuse lets users combine the best bits of each photo, seamlessly, without the need for Photoshop trickery.
It's great to see Microsoft still does innovate in ways people can directly access, rather than just boast about behind-the-scenes brilliance.
To download Windows Live Essentials, simply visit http://explore.live.com/windows-live-essentials.
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