Sony PlayStation Portable

Sony Computer Entertainment's soon-to-be released PlayStation Portable Value Pack contains a package of accessories and entertainment content, including the PlayStation Portable system with a pouch, 32MB Memory Stick Duo, battery pack, headphones with remote control, AC adaptor, wrist strap, cloth and a video/music/game sampler Universal Media Disc (UMD) including several non-interactive game demos.

PlayStation Portable features a 4.3-inch, 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD that displays full colour (16.77 million colours) on a 480 x 272 pixel high-resolution screen. The system also comes with built-in stereo speakers, exterior headphone connector and a range of input/output connectors such as USB 2.0 and 802.11b wireless LAN, enabling users to connect to the Internet and play online via a wireless Network. Up to 16 PSP systems in the vicinity can also be connected to each other directly in Ad Hoc Mode, allowing for wireless head-to-head competition. In addition, wireless capabilities will allow software and data to be downloaded to PlayStation Portable and saved onto a Memory Stick Duo. PlayStation Portable uses a newly-developed proprietary storage medium named Universal Media Disc (UMD). The optical disc can store up to 1.8GB of digital data. The product will be distributed to the channel by Ingram Micro, All Interactive Distribution (AID), AFA and Jerdon. RRP: $429.95

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 lets users watch DVDs, save music to the hard drive, share digital pictures and stream digital media stored on MP3 players, digital cameras, the Media Center PC or any Microsoft Windows XP-based PC. Every Xbox 360 game is optimised for 720p high definition widescreen output and has built-in progressive scan DVD movie, CD music and photo playback support. The integration of Xbox Live into the system lets players receive game invites from friends while they're watching movies or listening to music. Every MP3 player, digital camera, and Windows XP PC plugs right into the Xbox 360 USB 2.0 ports to stream music and photos through any home-entertainment system. With Windows Media Center Extender functionality, Xbox 360 players can also access recorded TV and digital movies, music, video and photos stored on Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005-based PCs through any Xbox 360 in the house. Ingram Micro has been named the official distributor of Xbox in Australia. RRP: To be announced

TViX

Dvico is offering a standalone, digital media player and portable storage appliance. The TViX is a multimedia jukebox that stores digital movies, digital still images and digital music files and plays it onto the TV, home entertainment system or hi-fi. It also doubles as a portable mass storage device for transporting large files and transferring via its inbuilt USB 2.0 port, and is PC compatible only. The TViX is a video and audio appliance that connects to the TV and/or home entertainment system and plays back videos, slideshows of digital still images and music from a built-in hard drive. The contemporary design case that holds a standard 80GB IDE hard disk drive for media storage, has operation controls, audio and video outputs, a USB 2.0 port for file transfers, an internal power supply and cooling system, remote control and software for navigating and playing back multimedia files stored on its hard drive. When connected to a PC, it is recognized as an external USB hard drive that is ready for file transfer. The TViX allows you to playback DiVX, AVI, MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and XVid movie files as well as DVDs that have been backed up to disk, allowing you to play them the way you normally would with DVD movies, with full menus and features. The TViX is distributed in Australia by Lako Pacific. RRP: $349

Plantronics

The Plantronics GameCom Halo 2 Edition, an officially licensed headset for Xbox Live, features an optimised speaker that maximises the audio directly to your inner ear. The headset also features a noise-cancelling microphone which amplifies your voice relative to other game sounds; offers an adjustable microphone boom, and features selectable ear buds for a custom fit. Other specifications include: a D22dBPa/V speaker; speaker frequency response of 100Hz - 8kHz (Voice Band); a microphone sensitivity of -40dBPa/V - 5dB; and an unidirectional, noise-cancelling microphone. The product is distributed in Australia by Anyware Computer Accessories. RRP: $99

Nintendo DS

Nintendo DS, a portable personal entertainment and communications unit, provides owners with new perspectives on dual screens, new control using both touch and voice, and new connections with two kinds of wireless game play. The console offers dual screen functionality (two LCD screens) and a touch screen (which offers PDA-like touch capabilities). The DS technology also provides for a wireless LAN connection, which could allow an infinite number of players to connect at a hot spot and compete at a central game hub on the Internet. DS can reproduce 3D renderings that can surpass images displayed on the Nintendo 64. Games will run at 60 frames per second, and allow details like fog effects and cel shading. The 16-channel sound allows for expanded use of voices and music. A plug for headphones transmits stereo sound. The product is distributed in Australia by AFA, AID and Network Interactive. RRP: $199.95

Altera FX-55

The Altera FX-55 system delivers performance with an AMD. Athlon 64 FX-55 processor, 2 x 300GB Maxtor Serial ATA hard drives, BFG 6800 Ultra PCI Express Graphics and enhanced memory. The system is housed in a Thermaltake armour case, and includes peripherals such as coordinated Logitech Cordless Desktop and a 19-inch TFT monitor. Other features include the Asus A8N-SLI deluxe motherboard; Twinx professional 1GB memory (2 x 512MB) XMS3200C2, LED 10 Digit Display; and Sony DWD26A Internal Dual Layer OEM 16x DVD+/-RW Drive. It is distributed in Australia by Plus Corp. RRP: $5199