We’d always suspected that the JooJoo tablet was hiding something extra to run HD video and Flash, and it’s just hit the FCC with full documentation and a teardown confirming that there’s an NVIDIA Ion GPU paired with an Atom N270 packed inside. We’re also seeing a 3G card in there, although it’s unclear whether it’ll be active or installed at launch.

There’s also some pictures showing it running Windows 7, but we’re assuming that’s just for testing purpose. But back to Ion for a second: our experience with first-gen Ion netbooks has been one of decreased performance and drastically reduced battery life, so we’re very curious to see how the JooJoo holds up compared to modern netbooks running Intel’s Pine Trail chips and NVIDIA’s Optimus-based Ion 2.

Barnes & Noble on Thursday said it was developing a version of its eReader app just for the iPad. Unlike the split approach to the regular iPhone feature, which breaks up the reader and storefront, the iPad version should provide both the store and the reader in the same software. As books are tied to an account rather than a device, the feature will even let those who own a Nook migrate all their downloads to Apple’s tablet.

The download should become available roughly around the iPad’s April 3rd launch and should be accompanied by updated versions of the BlackBerry, computer and iPhone apps, although what these will gain if anything wasn’t mentioned by Barnes & Noble.

Extending content to the iPad at first appears an unusual move for the bookseller, which is in fierce competition with Apple, Amazon, Sony and others for control of e-book readers. In the past, however, the company has said it sees the Nook and other devices as vehicles for getting its books to as many outlets as possible. Amazon has taken a similar approach with its Kindle apps, but neither it nor Barnes & Noble are likely to be reciprocated by a similar effort from Apple.

Screen captures of Sony’s EVIL (electronic viewfinder, interchangeable lens) digital camera concept shown off at the PMA show last month reveal some more functionalities of the device. It was already known that the new Alpha will sport an APS-C sized sensor despite its size, but the screen captures reveal that most control will come through a touchscreen.

At the same time, the menu shots reveal users will be capable of shooting and saving images in both JPEG and RAW modes, like full DSLR cameras from competitors, and would give both a web-friendly version as well as the pure original.

The camera also seems to have a built-in tutorial mode that will guide users on how to set it to get the desired effects in their photos, much like the D3000 or other entry DSLRs. One of these, “Background Defocus,” will let users add depth of field and other effects without having to understand f-stop numbers.

Other specs of the EVIL camera, including ship dates or prices, remain unknown.

[via GeekyGadgets]

Intel is currently previewing its upcoming Core i7 980X Extreme Edition CPU this week at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco. The company is demonstrating several applications optimized for the new platform, including Sega’s Napoleon Total War, Ubisoft’s RUSE, Geomerics’ Enlighten, and Cakewalk’s Sonar.

Earlier reports indicate the six-core chip will run at 3.33GHz, the same speed as the current quad-core offerings, with support for Hyperthreading. Intel claims the 980X represents the first 32nm, six-core processor with 12 computing threads. Level 3 cache has been upped from 8MB to 12MB, while consuming 130W of power at its thermal peak.

Intel is expected to ship the 980X sometime soon, although an exact date has yet to be announced. Pricing information also remains unconfirmed, although the component is believed to carry a $999 bulk price.

Sony has just officially announced its new motion controller at GDC 2010, and it’s dubbed the Playstation Move (for rather obvious reasons).  You’ll be able to acquire a Move in three packaged ways: bundled with a PS3, by itself, or in a starter kit targeted at “under $100? with the Playstation Eye, a controller, and a game, all slated for a Fall 2010 launch.

Gizmodo has a hands-on, and Editor Jason Chen takes a few looks (or rather, grips) on the Move:

“I just got hands on with two of the games, one is Socom, a shooter that has been adapted to use the Move and the sub-controller, the second is the Sports Champions swordfighting.

Socom, compared to point-and-shoot shooters on the Wii, was much smoother, much less jittery and more accurate. The combination of Move and PlayStation Eye seems to work well in this aspect, but it’s not exactly better to use this when you compare it to a standard controller or a Mouse + Keyboard. I can see this as better for novices to shooters, being able to aim where you want to shoot.

The other game, the Sports Champions sword + shield fighting, is about what you’d expect. It’s more or less 1:1 motion, like the Wii MotionPlus, but it’s not so much more accurate than the Wii that you’d call it a dramatic improvement. An improvement, yes, but not dramatic. The left hand also holds a controller in order to wave the shield around, and that was a bit awkward in my experience. Right hand was fine, left hand a bit awkward to control simultaneously.

Swinging the hammer to your left, or right, or over your head actually moves it on screen, but again, it’s not SO much better than Wii MotionPlus. The graphics, of course, are one generation higher, but the controls, ehhh.”

PLAYSTATION®MOVE MOTION CONTROLLER DELIVERS A WHOLE NEW ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE TO PLAYSTATION®3

New PlayStation®Move Sub-Controller, Enabling Intuitive Navigation, to Accompany the Release of the Motion Controller This Fall and 36 Developers and Publishers to Support PlayStation®Move Platform

Tokyo, March 10, 2010 – Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) today announced that PlayStation®Move motion controller for PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system launches worldwide this fall, offering a motion-based, high-definition gaming experience unlike anything on the market. Concurrently with its launch, SCE will also release PlayStation®Move sub-controller to be used along with the motion controller for intuitive navigation of in-game characters and objects. The PlayStation Move platform, including the motion controller, sub-controller, and PlayStation®Eye camera*1, together with a strong lineup of software titles, will deliver an innovative and highly immersive experience on the PS3 system.

The combination of the PS3 system and PlayStation Eye camera detects the precise movement, angle, and absolute position in 3D space of PlayStation Move motion controller, allowing users to intuitively play the game as if they themselves are within the game. PlayStation Move motion controller delivers unmatched accuracy through its advanced motion sensors, including a three-axis gyroscope, a three-axis accelerometer, and a terrestrial magnetic field sensor, as well as a color-changing sphere that is tracked by PlayStation Eye camera. Through PlayStation Move system, both fast and subtle motion can be detected, whether the user is swinging a tennis racket, or painting with a brush. With PlayStation Move motion controller, users can provide direct input through action buttons and an analog trigger, while receiving physical feedback from rumble functionality and visual feedback from the sphere’s ability to display a variety of different colors. Furthermore, PlayStation Eye camera can capture the player’s voice or image, enabling augmented reality experiences.

The newly announced PlayStation Move sub-controller is a one-handed controller, developed to further expand the game play options that PlayStation Move games can offer*2. PlayStation Move sub-controller features a sleek curved design that pairs with the motion controller and comes with an analog stick and directional buttons that allow users to easily control the game when moving characters or choosing a direction. Like all other Wireless Controllers for the PS3 system, it comes with a built in lithium-ion rechargeable battery as well as Bluetooth® technology, enabling the controller to transfer the input information wirelessly to the PS3 system without a cable. PlayStation Move motion controller and sub-controller will further broaden the gaming experience on the PS3 system for all genres, from games that use one motion controller to games that use both controllers.

The introduction of PlayStation Move controllers has been well received within the industry and now 36 third party developers and publishers*3 have decided to support PlayStation Move platform. In fiscal year 2010, SCE Worldwide Studios will also release more than 20 games that are either dedicated to or supported with the PlayStation Move platform.

SCE, with strong support from software developers and publishers, will deploy various measures to enhance the PlayStation Move software title line-up and vigorously promote the PS3 platform.

Western Digital has expanded its line of storage products with the My Passport AV. The portable drive is geared for video storage and playback, with support for a variety of game consoles, TVs, Blu-ray players, or other devices that can directly connect to a USB drive.

The new AV drive can be used alongside Sony Handycam video recorders, taking advantage of the Direct Copy feature to offload HD video without requiring a computer. The stored videos can then be played on Sony’s latest Blu-ray players or any of WD’s TV media players. Televisions from Samsung, Philips, and JVC are also supported, along with the Xbox 360 and PS3.

The My Passport AV, carrying a 320GB drive, is currently available with an MSRP of $110.

“Can I jailbreak my iPhone?” This question is being asked several times a day and the only correct answer is: “well that depends.” It’s a discussion about the software and base band running on the person’s phone, the different methods used to jailbreak and so forth. Someone over at GearDiary found this pretty neat web site which should assist anyone wondering if they can jailbreak their iPhone.

Jailbreakmatrix contains a chart with all of the hardware and software versions of the iPhone and what’s required to do so. It even links each software and hardware version to the instructions and downloads needed to begin the jalbreaking process. The chart is neatly organized and easy to navigate.

The site is sort of a work in progress and its creator promises to make changes as needed but for now it’s a nice resource for those confused as to what their phone can do. Check it out here.

A very tentative rumor today claims that Apple will launch a new Mac Pro next week using Intel’s new Core i7-980X. The chip would be the first six-core model in a Mac and would give the same 3.33GHz clock speed as the custom-order Xeon but at a lower price. The system would be available Tuesday the 16th, but pricing and other details weren’t mentioned in the ZDNet slip.

The supposed tip corroborates a similar rumor from a month earlier but carries significant doubt given the Mac Pro’s history. Apple has always positioned the Mac Pro as a high-end workstation and since launching it in 2006 has always used Intel’s costlier but often faster Xeons. Using a Core i7 would shed support for a second processor and error-correcting memory; it would also require that Apple use two distinct system chipsets for the Mac Pro line.

However, the tower Mac was last updated over a year ago and before Apple had orchestrated a new pricing strategy aimed at introducing systems that are significantly faster for the price. It also switched more overtly to using different chipsets as the Core i5/i7 and Core 2 Duo iMacs use separate Intel platforms.

Apple hasn’t changed its shipping times or otherwise provided clues of its own, but Intel is known to be readying 32nm Xeons for this month in addition to the likely imminent i7-980X release.