Gadget Venue

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 is launching in the summer of this year on the XBox 360, PlayStation 3 and the Nintendo Wii. We finally have some screenshots of what the game looks like in it’s back to basics 2D side-scrolling form.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4 was first revealed as project needlemouse back in September last year where we heard at the time that Sega were going back to the look and feel of the original Sonic game from the early 90s.

The new version (Sonic 4) is actually being made available as a downloadable game and is an episode in a line up of new titles. [Read more…]

When the Apple iPad launches next week, the launch will also see 30,000 free eBooks in the US. The free eBooks come from the Gutenberg Project that has a library of books whose copyright has now expired.

Steve Jobs made comment earlier this week that said iBookstore would offer free eBooks although the amount of books and where they came from were not said.

From this information revealed we find out that 30,000 eBooks will be made available. For those out of the US the book selection might differ even to the point of not getting free books at all as each country has different copyright terms which could mean a book free in the US is not classed as such in the UK. [Read more…]

Google [GOOG] are creating a Google TV as well as a set top box it is believed to bring the Android operating system to the TV.

We have heard previously that Google have teamed up with Intel and Sony to create the chips and TVs that will run the new Android OS. We also heard that a set top box was being created that would bring Android to older TVs. Rumours are now saying that the Google set top box won’t actually replace your current box, but instead, will daisy chain between your current box and your HDTV.

“In other words, the MVPD’s set-top’s HDMI output would be connected to the Google TV set-top’s HDMI input, and then its HDMI output would be connected to the TV. The authorized TV channels would still be delivered, but Google TV would collect data from the MVPD’s set-top and introduce an entirely new UI for users to control their TV experience, to include searching and browsing channels. It would also add a host of new interactive web-type capabilities around the content.”

[Read more…]

The US store Best Buy is gearing up for the April 3 Apple iPad launch date by training staff and providing details of events leading up to the launch date.

On April 3 the iPad will only be available to purchase either at an Apple Store or Best Buy (referring to physical locations and not ordering online via the Apple site). The process will see Best Buy set up a store-in-store where a section will be created for Apple products to be purchased. This will happen at 675 of the 1000 or so US locations. Bestbuy.com and the other 325 locations will not carry the iPad.

In preparation for the launch it is believed that Best Buy stores will start receiving display materials early next week which will also contain information that an iMac and a couple of notebooks will not be on display for the iPad launch to make extra space for the event. [Read more…]