Business, Nintendo DS, PSP, iPhone
And the Winner Is…? Apple vs. Nintendo vs. Sony
The Nintendo DS Lite and PlayStation Portable have been fighting the secondary console wars in the handheld market. Nintendo has a substantial lead, with a massive user base and large variety of games. The PSP is more for the hardcore gamer who wants to both game and use the video and music playback capabilities of the PSP. But now, with Apple slyly entering the gaming market via the iPhone, who will be the handheld leader?
PC gamers know, if you wanna game on a PC, you have to do it on Windows OS. Yes, there are notable exceptions. The different Linux flavors have a number of games that really aren’t half bad, and Apple is starting to come around to some serious games. But there are always exceptions to the rule. Because of the iPhone, Apple is rewriting those rules.
While Nintendo has been in the business of making video game consoles for years, others console developers have come and gone. Although Sony and Microsoft make-up the other 2/3 of the console market today, there’s no guarantee that future systems will always be made by either of them. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t other companies out there that could, and probably would, make consoles in their stead.
Now, I’m not one to say I told you so… until after I’m proven right. Has that time come yet? Nope. Not quite. “What on earth are you talking about,” you ask?! Oh, just this little concept called the “DS Mobile” I dreamed up over a month ago that our friends over at GoNintendo soundly rejected after pangs of nausea. No, no announcements as of yet, but this little known publication *cough*Forbes*cough* happens to agree with me.
Once cell phone technology developed to the point that simply making phone calls was not enough, people began to wonder how many different devices could be integrated into one mammoth handheld machine. As Palm Pilots and the ever-expensive Blackberry began integrating gaming, organization software, and mobile capabilities, people began demanding that a more inclusive phone be introduced to the practical consumer market. And then Apple gave us the iPhone.
If you’ve got an iPhone sporting the new 2.0 firmware, chances are you have Super Monkey Ball. (And if you haven’t, what are you waiting for?) But there’s more goodness to be culled from the iTunes app store besides playing games. There are plenty of cool apps out there, and some of the best ones don’t cost a penny. After all, when you spend a big chunk of your disposable income on limited-edition video games, free and useful stuff is a godsend.
The MacBook Air is truly a piece of technology to marvel at. Boasting specs such as a 3-pound weight and a .7-inch height, the MacBook Air really puts a lot into a small package; but just like any new piece of fancy technology, this bugger is expensive ($1,600-$3,000).