Techmamas

Soon To Be Released Nintendo Dsi XL and Just Announced 3DS

Two exciting new announcements for mobile gamers are Nintendo's soon to be released Nintendo Dsi XL and the just announced Nintendo 3DS. I have not tried either of them, but the new features are sure to get little and big gamers very excited, especially for those that want bigger screens and input devices or  a 3D mobile gaming experience.

Nintendo DSi XL™ 

Nintendo DSi XL™ features listed from the press release:

• 4.2-inch screens - 93 percent larger then the Nintendo DS™ Lite system screens (improved wider viewing angle)
• Colors are Burgundy and Bronze, including a matt finish
• 2 cameras
• Photo-and sound-manipulation tools
• Larger pen-like stylus 
• Parental controls that let adults manage the digital content their children can access
• The press release states: "With a broadband Internet connection, you can also upload photos directly to Facebook to share with friends or access downloadable Nintendo DSiWare™ games via the Nintendo DSi Shop." Two free applications: the Nintendo DSi Browser and Flipnote Studio™ are also included.

The release date is set as March 28 and the suggested retail price is $189.99.

In honor of the celebration, Nintendo has a "What would you like 93% bigger?” application on Facebook® Platform at http://apps.facebook.com/ninetythree-percent and their Twitter profile: @NintendoAmerica .  I have a feeling gals may answer that question differently then guys...

Website: Nintendo DSi XL

Nintendo 3DS:

On Engadget today I saw an announcement that they caught in press release from Japan: "Nintendo has just slipped out a press release in Japan informing the world that all-new 3D-capable portable hardware is coming, with a full unveiling set for E3 2010 this June. Tentatively titled the 3DS, this glasses-free 3D wonder is pitched as the successor to both the DS and DSi, and will use a "compatible cart" that should ensure backwards compatibility with your vast library of favorites from the older consoles. Nintendo expects to launch the 3DS into retail "during the fiscal year ending March 2011." CLICK OVER to Engadget to see pictures and more details.

3D gaming without the glasses sounds like a good fit for on the go gaming.

Disclosure: This is not a paid post, it is information from press releases and other tech sites.

Press Release: Sony Cyber-shot® digital camera goes rugged with the new TX5

It was good timing that I received this press release in my inbox while watching the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. Sony announced updates to their Cyber-shot® line with the new DSC-TX5 - a camera that is waterproof, freeze proof, shockproof and dust proof.  Because being a mom is like living a non-stop Olympics, rugged features will help this gadget hold up to my family of little athletes.

 

Kelly Davis, Director of the Digital Imaging business at Sony Electronics, was quoted in the press release on the TX5:  “It is so versatile because it’s a great camera for both indoor and outdoor usage. You can easily take it from a day at the beach with the kids to a cocktail party with friends. This camera is also great for activities such as snorkeling, snowboarding or boating.”

Here are the key points of the Sony press release about the TX5:

• Waterproof "in up to 10 feet of water for an hour, the TX5 lets you take high-quality photos, including panoramic pictures, and 720p high definition videos of your friends, family or pets underwater."
• Freezeproof: "Camera is also freeze proof down to 14 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can take pictures of the kids sledding or snowboarding. Not only is it ready for cold weather, but the TX5 is durable enough to withstand an accidental drop from up to approximately 5 feet."
• Dustproof: "Additionally, it is dust proof, so you can take it with you on a camping trip or a mountain bike ride."
• Continuous burst shooting for capturing action: "The camera features an “Exmor R” sensor and offers 10fps continuous burst shooting for capturing action shots, so you can get great photos of the perfect moment such as when your kids are in mid air while jumping into the pool."
• Video: HD movie recording (1280 x 720 at 30p).
• Panoramic Photos: "In one easy press-and-sweep motion, take panoramic photos of the underwater landscape or breathtaking views from the top of the mountain using the Intelligent Sweep Panorama™ feature. Another benefit of the “Exmor R” sensor, this innovative feature combines separate captures, detects faces and subject motion and intelligently adjusts the width while stitching the images together, resulting in natural looking panoramic photos."
• Lowlight: "In addition to making it easy to capture entire landscapes or tall buildings, the TX5 camera also helps to manage difficult lighting situations. The “Exmor R” CMOS sensor lets you take high-quality photos in low light without a flash."
• Backlight: "With in-camera multi-shot Backlight Correction High Dynamic Range (HDR), the camera combines highlight and shadow detail of two separate captures into one remarkably natural looking image—even without a tripod. HDR offers a solution for strong backlight situations which typically result in either dark shadows in the foreground or a washed out background. Sony’s “Exmor R” sensor and BIONZ® processor help to correct these issues."
• Memory card compatibility: "A memory card slot compatible with both Memory Stick® (PRO Duo™) and class-four and above SD/SDHC formats."
• Other Features: "An inch thin. Equipped with a foldable, 25 mm equivalent wide-angle 4x optical zoom Carl Zeiss® Vario Tessor® lens.... The camera also has a three-inch (measured diagonally) Clear Photo LCD Plus™ (230,400 pixel) wide touch screen display that functions—even underwater. You can focus on your subject, operate the menu and share photos and videos with a touch of the screen—wet or dry...Self portrait timer that automatically takes the shot two seconds after one or two faces are detected."

• Pricing and Availability: "The TX5 camera will be available in silver, black, pink, green, and red this April for about $350. Pre-sales begin in February. The cameras and a range of accessories will be available online at Sonystyle.com."

Press Release: Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300 Mobile Scanner

On Feb. 10 I received an email with a press release on the new Fujitsu ScanSnap S1300 -  next generation mobile multi-page scanner that can be used with PC and Mac platforms.

This came at a good time for me as I just cleaned the house of papers I am not using now but need to keep for my records. I have a big stack of file boxes in my garage that also doubles as my boys playroom. I decided that scanning would be a good way to clear the space but keep the files in my records. I wanted to look at the different scanner options available and this email happen to pop into my mailbox. I have not tried the product, but will need to purchase a scanner in the near future.... Or else my kids will be using my boxes of papers to climb on, which may lead to papers being spread across my garage.

Yes, there is so safe space in a house with three young boys!

Just Announced: Sony VAIO® E Series, Cool Colors and Affordable Price

While I am still sorting through all the fun tech I saw at CES to create my CES coverage posts, I decided to keep a running tab of the new tech just out. On January 28 I posted with techie details about the Apple iPad. On Feb. 2nd Sony released news about the new VAIO^® E Series. This announcement is interesting to add to the ongoing debate about the iPad functionality in the tablet category versus netbooks and laptops. One of the choices being debated is purchasing an internet device such as a tablet, buying a netbook, or buying a full featured laptop that are all now becoming closer in price. While comparing a tablet to a laptop is different because tablets are handheld and laptops are mobile computing  - many consumers need to make a choice of getting the most functionality for the buck.

Here are details from the Sony News press release.  Click HERE to view the Sony Vaio EB series on the Sony Style website.

  

PRICE: The Sony Style website states the starting retail price for the Sony Vaio EB series as $799.

DESIGN: The SONY press release stated that the "E Series comes in five translucent, high-gloss colors— Caribbean Green, Iridescent Blue, Coconut White, Hibiscus Pink and Lava Black— and three matte colors—Maple Brown, Silver White and Gunmetal. Subtle patterns can be found on the lids, of the glossy models, with the palm rest mirroring the color of the PC.... With a 15.5-inch (measured diagonally) widescreen display with optional HD capability so movies....The edge-to-edge isolated keyboard has a numeric pad built-in, giving you the experience of using a larger computer in a much smaller footprint. A pleasing dimpled touch pad is seamlessly integrated into the palm rest."

STORAGE, BATTERY LIFE, USB PORTS/CONNECTORS: The SONY press release stated "transfer and store data to peripheral devices utilizing the notebook’s eSATA/ USB port and three convenient USB ports. Select models incorporate Bluetooth^® technology, enabling peripherals such as a wireless mouse to be utilized without tying up the unit’s ports..... For those who prefer to watch content on a big screen television, the PC has an HDMI™ output so it can be connected to a compatible HDTV set for a larger viewing experience (HDMI cable required, sold separately). Up to 500GB hard drives are available.. It also has the added convenience of DVD and CD read/write functionalities."

The current Sony Style website has the following other features listed: WiFi - IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, max of 3.5 hours battery time, 8GB max RAM, and a weight of 5.95 pounds.

CAMERA: The SONY press release stated: "A built-in webcam with face-tracking technology and microphone let you video chat with family, friends and colleagues. A third-party internet service provider is required."

APPLICATIONS: The SONY press release  states: "All E Series PCs come pre-installed with Microsoft^® Windows^® 7 Home Premium operating system.....The E Series notebook also comes with three unique hardware buttons-- WEB, VAIO and ASSIST to get you to where you want to go with a touch of a button. Quickly access the Internet, without full boot up into Windows®, by simply pressing the WEB button. Launch directly into Sony’s own Media Gallery software by pushing the designated VAIO button on the keyboard and create high-quality home movies. Finally troubleshoot any issues or facilitate simple do-it-yourself PC maintenance procedures by pressing the ASSIST button and launching the included VAIO Care™ software program..."

MULTI-TASKING and PROCESSOR INFO: Multi-tasking = YES. The SONY press release states "Select E Series models pack an Intel® Core™ i5 processor with Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost technologies, delivering the performance needed for multitasking". Sony Vaio EB series also available with the Intel® Core™ i3 processor. The Sony Style website also lists "dedicated graphics of ATI Mobility Radeon™ with up to 512MB of VRAM on select models" which helps support processing of video and photo related tasks.

MUSIC, MOVIES AND TV: As stated above, the HDMI output can be connected to a compatible HDTV set. The SONY press release  also stated:" The E Series notebook features an optional Blu-ray Disc™ ROM drive, making it ideal for viewing pristine HD content on-the-go".

EBOOKS: Sony's has a line of e-Readers and access to the Reader^™ Store. Along with Google Books, the Reader^™ Store has access to over 1 million eBooks.  With the Reader Library Software installed on the PC, ebooks can be purchased and stored. You do not need a device to use the service.

GREEN TECH: The SONY press release states: "E Series is ENERGY STAR^® 5.0 Qualified, EPEAT^® Silver registered and RoHS compliant. Its corrugated cardboard packaging is comprised of 95 percent recycled content. Sony will also help recycle your old PC (www.sony.com/green; recycling fees may apply)."

All the information for this post was taken from the Sony Electronics press release and Sony Style website. This post is an update related to the press release.

I saw additional posts on the updated Sony Vaio E series at Engadget and Electronista.

Apple iPad - Only $499 and Runs iPhone Apps!

Just as my son ran into my room this afternoon complaining that he tried to download a music video onto his iPod but it was hard to watch on such a small screen AND that he has ran out of Hardy boys books to read so he needs to go to the bookstore to find some new mysteries, I had my eyes on one gadget that I could not even tell him about. Or maybe I should, it would be incentive for him to do homework and chores without complaing for years to come..The big announcement was made today - the Apple Tablet is called the "Apple iPad", which will be available in March. The Apple press release describes the uses as "web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and much more".

Important features of the iPad from the Apple iPad Press Release are listed below:

PRICE: $499

DESIGN: "High-resolution Multi-Touch™ display, 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds".

WIFI:"iPad comes in two versions—one with Wi-Fi and the other with both Wi-Fi and 3G. iPad includes the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi, and the 3G versions support speeds up to 7.2 Mbps on HSDPA networks."

The Gizmodo post added: "3G data plans through AT&T, one of which is just $30 per month with no contract. You can cancel at any time with no penalty, and use AT&T Wi-Fi hotspots for free. The other plan offered is $15 for 250MB of data, also through AT&T."

The Wall Street Journal posted with additional information about the iPad WIFI: "The iPads with a chip allowing cellular connections will cost $130 more than standard versions, which start at $499 and up. Units with the wireless chip will go on sale 30 days after the other version ships in March. The iPad won't be exclusive to AT&T, so it could potentially work abroad on networks that share the carrier's GSM wireless technology. Verizon Wireless uses a competing technology called CDMA. Apple said it is pulling together international carriers in time for when the device ships."

APPLICATIONS: "12 new innovative apps designed especially for the iPad iPad runs almost all of the over 140,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone® or iPod touch®. Apple also introduced a new version of iWork® for iPad, the first desktop-class productivity suite designed specifically for Multi-Touch. With Pages®, Keynote® and Numbers® you can create beautifully formatted documents, stunning presentations with animations and transitions, and spreadsheets with charts, functions and formulas. The three apps will be available separately through the App Store for $9.99 each."

 
MUSIC, MOVIES AND TV: "The iTunes® Store will provides access to the iPad to online music, TV and movie store  that has a catalog of over 11 million songs, over 50,000 TV episodes and over 8,000 films including over 2,000 in stunning high definition video."

EBOOKS: "Apple also announced the new iBooks app for iPad, which includes Apple’s new iBookstore, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device. The iBookstore will feature books from major and independent publishers."

GREEN TECH: "Continuing Apple’s dedication to designing and creating environmentally responsible products, each iPad enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy-efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. iPad contains no brominated flame retardants and is completely PVC-free."

STORAGE, BATTERY LIFE, CHIP and CONNECTORS:

Apple Tablet Mania: Where To Find Live Coverage of Apple Media Event Jan. 27

While I am in the middle of posting about the Tablets (small hand held computing devices) I saw at CES, it seems a little meeting tomorrow (Jan. 27) is producing a huge amount of buzz: Apple is having a meeting for media Jan. 27 10am pst. The rumors are rampad - but it seems that many believe Apple will be announcing specifics on the Apple Tablet. Rumors are also being spread on the Internet about the specific name of the Apple Tablet; two of them are iPad, iSlate or just Apple Tablet. PC World posted that the Apple Gadget will have a 10 inch touch screen. MacRumors discussed that the Apple Tablet will have a front facing webcam and optional 3G connectivity.

I am also keeping my eye on the Apple PR web page. Currently their most recent announcement is the First Quarter results; The Apple press release states "revenue of $15.68 billion and a net quarterly profit of $3.38 billion, or $3.67 per diluted share....Apple sold 3.36 million Macintosh® computers during the quarter, representing a 33 percent unit increase over the year-ago quarter. The Company sold 8.7 million iPhones in the quarter, representing 100 percent unit growth over the year-ago quarter. Apple sold 21 million iPods during the quarter, representing an eight percent unit decline from the year-ago quarter."

While the Apple Media meeting is in Cupertino, I will be doing some work with my Silicon Valley Moms Group buddies in Silicon Valley. So I will be amoungst the ranks glued to their computers tomorrow to find out details. Luckily I am in touch with some of my amazing tech bloggers buddies and saw details on other tech sites of  who will not only be there, but will be covering the Apple Jan. 27 press conference live. I also saw many posts and interesting discussions about the Apple Tablet on Techmeme.

1.  PaidContent.org has a post titled "Three Things Apple Needs To Do To Make Its Tablet A Breakthrough Device" (TechMeme post). I agree that a new media device with a user friendly graphical user interface would be very successful.

2. New York Times post "With Apple Tablet, Print Media Hope for a Payday" (Techmeme post) that the Apple Tablet may be a good way for publishers to charge for content. I have said on numerous posts that I am happy to pay for electronic book content, I want to support book authors and publishers getting paid so we keep the flow of books coming. 

3. In the "it's all about the apps baby" category I saw an interesting post by Robert Scoble titled "Developers: the Apple tablet press announcements start"  that discusses application development for the Apple Tablet, including the news that developer tool/platform Appcelerator will be announcing support for the Apple Tablet.

Here are good sites to follow Jan. 27 for live updates on the Apple media event and a mock-up PICTURE of the Apple Tablet that I have seen multiple sites post via Gizmodo.

SITES TO WATCH WITH COVERAGE OF APPLE TABLET MEDIA EVENT:

FTC Guidelines Are Out: FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials

Following CNN has helped me stay on top of news, and this morning it was from KuhnCNN - Eric Kuhn's tweet about FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials  that let me know they came out this morning.

Update 3pm pst: Eric Kuhn also posted on the CNN Political Ticker website about the FTC guidelines. There are numerous other articles popping up including on the New York Times (which mentions fellow blogger Linsey Krolik). 

Here is a link to the press release on the FTC website: FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials . Here is a link to the PDF Text of the Federal Register Notice for FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials.

For background here are some posts written when it was first announced the guidelines would be coming. I wrote a post on TechMamas.com about blogger relations to marketers: It's Not About The Review, It's About The Relationship & Relevance . Eric Kuhn wrote a post on the CNN blog titled "'Mommy bloggers' vow to avoid ethical conflicts". Susan Getgood from Marketing Roadmaps posted before the guidelines came out, with good points on what bloggers should do and Linsey Krolik shared her thoughts on social media law and mommy bloggers liability on the Silicon Valley Moms Blog. There have also been multiple other articles, including this one in the New York Times.

The hot question of today is: What do the FTC Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials  mean for bloggers? As I read the legal jargon of the guidelines the first people I turned to are the gals from BlogWithIntegrity.com. We are all still reading the guidelines and am sure there will be many posts. Here are some of what I think are the key items in the PDF Text of the Federal Register Notice for FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials (understanding that I am still reading through them myself).

I am going to insert parts of the guidelines to help identify key points (assuming that I can publish those parts under the fair use guidelines - but if not - happy to take it down). It is important to read the full PDF Text of the Federal Register Notice for FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials to understand the "whole" picture:

The clips below are excerpts from the PDF Text of the Federal Register Notice for FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials

Overall:

"the other commenter noted that the Guides should not “inadvertently regulate everyday word-of-mouth communications among actual consumers regardless of whether such communications take place in person, via e-mail or in new mediums such as blogs or social networking Web sites.”

"This commenter stated that even if consumers participate in advertising sampling programs, their online comments about a particular product should not be considered commercial speech and these consumers should not be deemed “endorsers” when they are free to say whatever they want about the product (or not say anything at all) without the advertiser having any control over their statements."

Whether a speaker is considered "sponsored"?

..."if the speaker was essentially “sponsored” by the advertiser....circumstances that will determine the answer to this question are extremely varied and cannot be fully enumerated here, but would include: whether the speaker is compensated by the advertiser or its agent; whether the product or service in question was provided for free by the advertiser; the terms of any agreement; the length of the relationship; the previous receipt of products or services from the same or similar advertisers, or the likelihood of future receipt of such products or services; and the value of the items or services received. An advertiser’s lack of control over the specific statement made via these new forms of consumer-generated media would not automatically disqualify that statement from being deemed an “endorsement” within the meaning of the Guides. Again, the issue is whether the consumer-generated statement can be considered “sponsored."

Whether the speaker is considered to be providing an "endorsement"?

"The comments correctly point out that the recent development of a variety of consumer generated media poses new questions about how to distinguish between communications that are considered “endorsements” within the meaning of the Guides and those that are not."

"The Commission does not believe that all uses of new consumer-generated media to discuss product attributes or consumer experiences should be deemed “endorsements” within the meaning of the Guides. Rather, in analyzing statements made via these new media, the fundamental question is whether, viewed objectively, the relationship between the advertiser and the speaker is such that the speaker’s statement can be considered “sponsored” by the advertiser and therefore an “advertising message.” In other words, in disseminating positive statements about a product or service, is the speaker: (1) acting solely independently, in which case there is no endorsement, or (2) acting on behalf of the advertiser or its agent, such that the speaker’s statement is an “endorsement” that is part of an overall marketing campaign?"

”Thus, a consumer who purchases a product with his or her own money and praises it on a
personal blog or on an electronic message board will not be deemed to be providing an
endorsement..."

"In contrast, postings by a blogger who is paid to speak about an advertiser’s product will be covered by the Guides, regardless of whether the blogger is paid directly by the marketer itself or by a third party on behalf of the marketer."

"For example, a blogger could receive merchandise from a marketer with a request to review it, but with no compensation paid other than the value of the product itself. In

this situation, whether or not any positive statement the blogger posts would be deemed an “endorsement” within the meaning of the Guides would depend on, among other things, the value of that product, and on whether the blogger routinely receives such requests. If that blogger frequently receives products from manufacturers because he or she is known to have wide readership within a particular demographic group that is the manufacturers’ target market, the blogger’s statements are likely to be deemed to be “endorsements,” as are postings by participants in network marketing programs. Similarly, consumers who join word of mouth marketing programs that periodically provide them products to review publicly (as opposed to simply giving feedback to the advertiser) will also likely be viewed as giving sponsored messages."

BLOGOSPHERE: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? WHAT DO YOU THINK THIS MEANS? WILL YOU BE DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY? Please comment with your thoughts.

I will just keep on disclosing. As I have more time to read through the document, I will add my own thoughts...

Disclosure: This is not a paid post, that is unless the FTC starts paying bloggers - which they would never of course. This is a reaction I had to turning on my computer this morning and seeing the chatter all over Twitter about the FTC guidelines and trying to understand them myself. Hope I disclosed that correctly.

Just Live: Control Your TIVO From Your BlackBerry

You can already schedule TIVO from the web or from the iPhone using the m.tivo.com site.

Now mobile scheduling has come to the BlackBerry. Parents at work, school or watching a soccer game can now be assured that they have their favorite shows scheduled.

Press Release:

"Beginning tomorrow consumers will be able to download a free application on their Blackberry Smartphone that gives them control of their TiVo wherever they are.

The TiVo for Blackberry smart phones application allows users to easily view the program details, as well as remotely schedule recordings on their TiVo box from the BlackBerry handheld. This application is available free of charge, to BlackBerry Smartphone users.  Users will be able to browse by category, view most popular shows or daily picks and see the programming details (Title, Description, Runtime, Air date & time and Photo). Advanced search makes finding favorite shows and show details easy and fast. They can search by title, actor/director or keyword."

Disney Extends Their Digital Offerings: Disney Digital Books Launched This Morning

Today I received this press release that announced Disney is going Digital in yet another away with Disney Digital Books. I will be finding out more details and will add them to this post:

"Disney Digital Books (www.disneydigitalbooks.com) officially launched this morning. This vast library is Disney’s first-ever collection of digital children’s books – and the browser-based service is PC- and Mac-compatible, and does not require a download.

The new portal is the brainchild of a team of young, tech-savvy, creative folks at Disney Publishing Worldwide (the world's largest publisher of children's books and magazines), which has been around since 1930.

If you’re interested in learning more, there’s a webcast today at 1:00PM EST (open to the public).  Join here: http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=62362

Over 500 Disney picture and storybooks will come to life with animated illustrations and authentic character voices.  Classics include more than 60 Winnie the Pooh books and such popular titles as Mickey Mouse, Toy Story, Disney Princess, Cars, and Hannah Montana.

Key features include:

    * An age-appropriate dictionary that lets children click on any word to hear it read aloud;
    * Reading certificates to encourage readers;
    * A “Story-Builder” feature so kids can create their own stories;
    * Books are separated into three reading levels:  (1) for beginner readers and a companion, (2) for independent readers, and (3) for readers ready for chapter books;

Monthly subscriptions are only $8.95 – and annual and gift subscriptions are available as well.  A free trial of the service is available today."

3 Big Nintendo Announcements: Wii Price Reduced to $199.99, World of Nintendo Sampling Tour and new Mario Bros. Game

I had to opportunity to speak with Denise Kaigler, the VP of Corp. Affairs for Nintendo of America on a press call to find out about 3 announcements Nintendo has just made. Here are some key items from the conversation:

1. Nintendo Wii price decrease: Just in time for holiday shopping, the price of the Nintendo Wii will drop $50 from $250 to $199.99 - effective Sep 27.
2.  NEW Wii Game out Nov. 15: New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a simultaneous multiplayer game that "offers a combination of cooperation and competition ".
3. World of Nintendo - Consumer Sampling Tour starting in Oct. and ending in January: Click HERE to see full schedule. The World of Nintendo Consumer Tours are firsthand sampling events that will showcase the diversity and breath of unique product experience. The tour will include Nintendo titles already launched (including the Wii Sports Resort that utilizes the Wii Motion Plus) and new Nintendo products (including the Wii Fit Plus )and is expected to reach 1 million consumers in 35 to 40 markets. The tour will be at different larger venues like Long Beach Comic Con, VGXPO in Philly and Big Apple Comic Con in NYC on Oct 2-Oct 18.

When I asked why Nintendo decided to do the sampling tours Denise Kaigler said "50 million consumers are sitting on sidelines, want to play, but have not been convinced. They are waiting for that reason. Reducing price of the Wii, continuing to come out with fun games and then showcasing these titles will help the consumers experience."

Click HERE to see Press Release included at the bottom of this post: