Product Reviews Net |
- Ball Busters: New Pong-Style Game for iOS
- Duke Nukem Forever: Game Receives Official Website
- Beauty Academy on Nintendo DSi, out on DSiWare
- Tesco Mobile stopping personal hotspot feature of iOS 4.3
- Peppermint Tea Recall: Teavana Product Info and Details
- Might & Magic: Heroes VI – Ubisoft Announces Collector’s Edition
- Mortal Kombat: New Characters Unveiled in Demo Video
- iOS 4.3 in app purchase, password protection for parents
- Apple iPad 2 Lines: Will you Queue Up or Buy Online?
- Dragon Age 2: Bad Review From Edge – Justified or not?
- HTC Thunderbolt Vs iPhone 5: Which Release are you Waiting For?
- Metal Gear Solid Rising: PS3 Vs Xbox 360 – Konami say Sony wins
- Pwn2Own 2011: Safari and IE8 Hacked Easily, Chrome Survives
- Samsung Nexus S: Price Cut, Limited Time Only
- PS3 Update 3.60: Firmware Unhackable – Sony back in Control?
- New Release Date for HTC Thunderbolt – Believable or Not?
- New Headphones Design Promises No More Tangles Using Zipper
- Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Packing Tegra-Powered Multi-Function Display – Video
- Dragon Age 2, Review Highlights Problems and Powerful Story
- Sony Win Round in Ongoing Battle, LG Must Pay Fine and Return Seized PS3s
| Ball Busters: New Pong-Style Game for iOS Posted: 11 Mar 2011 03:54 AM PST If you enjoy playing pong-style games and you own an Apple iOS device, we have a bit of news that could be of interest to you. A brand new pong-style game called Ball Busters – developed by Next Gen Games – has recently been released onto the Apple App Store. However, the Ball Busters game is not like ordinary pong-style games, as it promises to deliver a bit of a twist. Rather than destroying regular balls, players will instead be faced with live, animated balls that change their facial expressions whenever they get hit. The game features six different worlds and a total of 120 different levels, so there's no chance of you getting bored too easily. Once you've had enough of playing the game through the standard "Arcade Mode," you can move on and test out the "Survival" and "Survival Extreme" modes. It even enables players to share their top scores via Game Center or OpenFeint. Is this the type of game you enjoy playing? You can read more about the game in a recent intomobile.com article by Dusan. For more coverage:
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| Duke Nukem Forever: Game Receives Official Website Posted: 11 Mar 2011 03:49 AM PST It may have been a long time coming, but the long-awaited Duke Nukem Forever game – which as we previously mentioned (here) is due to be released at the beginning of May – has finally been given an official website. I don't think fans will be disappointed either. Not only does the website feature an information section, which provides fans with an overview of the Duke Nukem Forever game and some of its features, but it also features a news section, a media section, downloads and forums for both 2K Games and Gearbox Software. The media section features both screenshots and trailers for the upcoming game, while the news section is great for those that want to keep up to date with all the latest information. The website, which you can view for yourself here, also includes a couple of sections called "The Duke Cave" and "Halls of Humility." Are you looking forward to playing the Duke Nukem Forever game? For more coverage:
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| Beauty Academy on Nintendo DSi, out on DSiWare Posted: 11 Mar 2011 03:04 AM PST Do you have a need for turning your Nintendo DSi into a personal beauty case? This need can be filled with a new game from Tivola, which is called 'Beauty Academy' and can be found on DSiWare. You may remember Tivola's "Model Academy", and now the developer wants to expand their range with another game to help users with beauty and style. Players get to shape the style of their clients with nail designs, manicures, make-up, and haircuts in their own beauty salon. Using the Touchpen you start to accumulate points that are used to improve your salon, this includes furniture, high-tech massage tables, a new photo studio, and other cool items. The DSi simulation game is aimed at players 8 years and up, and costs 500 points via the Nintendo DSi shop. You can read more via the German website here, which includes screenshots and a video. What do you think of Beauty Academy? For more coverage:
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| Tesco Mobile stopping personal hotspot feature of iOS 4.3 Posted: 11 Mar 2011 03:03 AM PST The latest software update from Apple has only been available for a couple of days, after the company released it ahead of schedule. One of the new features of iOS 4.3 is the personal hotspot feature for the iPhone. But not everyone is able to use the service. Gareth Beavis over at TechRadar is reporting that Tesco Mobile users with an iPhone 4 have been complaining the new feature was not on their device, despite updating to iOS 4.3. The feature will allow users to send their data allowance to another device via Wi-Fi. Tesco Mobile have since confirmed it doesn't currently support tethering or the portable Wi-Fi hotspot feature. A spokesperson did confirm they will introduce it sometime soon for its customers, but didn't mention if it would cost any extra. The company offers the iPhone 4 on short twelve month contracts, but for those customers not having this feature must be really frustrating. Do you have an iPhone 4 with Tesco Mobile? For more coverage:
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| Peppermint Tea Recall: Teavana Product Info and Details Posted: 11 Mar 2011 02:15 AM PST We have some important news for those of you who like to enjoy a cup of Peppermint Tea, as it has been confirmed that a recall has been issued in the US and Canada, due to a risk of salmonella contamination to those who have recently used the tea. The product name is called Peppermint Organic Herbal Tea and is produced by Teavana. It is sold in both the US and Canada and customers who have purchased this tea between November. 30, 2010, and February 16, 2011 should stop using it immediately and contact Teavana for a full refund. If you have been recently ill after drinking the tea, you are advised to visit your doctor and get checked out as soon as possible. The good news, is that no illnesses have been reported yet – but you should still remain cautious obviously. What are your thoughts on this? Are you a regular drinker of Peppermint tea? You can find more details over at Examiner here. For more coverage:
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| Might & Magic: Heroes VI – Ubisoft Announces Collector’s Edition Posted: 11 Mar 2011 02:07 AM PST Back in August last year we announced the upcoming Might & Magic: Heroes VI game, which as we mentioned is due to release at some stage this year. Although we still haven't got a confirmed launch date yet, we do have news of a special Collector's Edition of the game. If you decide to opt for the Collector's Edition of the much-anticipated Might & Magic: Heroes VI game, you will receive a poster, a T-shirt, a 164-page art book, a CD soundtrack, a special commemorative ring, two exclusive in-game items and four exclusive in-game heroes. On top of all those great sounding goodies, you will also receive one month's free subscription to the browser-based MMO, Might & Magic: Heroes Kingdom. Unfortunately we don't have any information on pricing yet. You can read more over at eurogamer.net (written by Fred Dutton). Do you like the sound of the Might & Magic: Heroes VI Collector's Edition? For more coverage:
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| Mortal Kombat: New Characters Unveiled in Demo Video Posted: 11 Mar 2011 01:53 AM PST We have a treat for Mortal Kombat fans now, as we have a high quality new gameplay trailer to show you, one which is only unlocked after completion of the arcade mode featured in the demo for Mortal Kombat, you won’t want to miss this. This video is rather special, as not only does it show off some unseen gameplay footage, but it also reveals the inclusion of some brand new fighters that haven’t been announced by NetherRealm studios yet. We’re talking about Shang Tsung, Stryker, Kano and some brand new footage of Ermac, Kitana, Sindel and Jade. We take our hats off to the developers, as it really is a special prize which is hidden away inside the demo mode. Take a look at the video below and let us know your thoughts on it. Put it this way guys – Who isn’t going to get Mortal Kombat next month? For more coverage:
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| iOS 4.3 in app purchase, password protection for parents Posted: 11 Mar 2011 12:45 AM PST There have been many stories in the media where iOS users have seen their children running up big bills by making in-app purchases, this normally happens after acquiring a new game. But now in a welcomed move, Apple have changed its app policy. Daniel Eran Dilger over at AppleInsider is reporting that in-app purchases now require a password by Apple. Before this, once a password was entered there was a fifteen minute period of time where additional purchases could be made without reentering the password. Many parents soon discovered after purchasing a new game, their children had run up bills into hundreds of dollars. There are many iOS games which are built around in-app purchases with the game play reliant on buying more items. Without these controls games which start off cheap or even free, end up being very expensive. The Washington State Attorney General's office started to look into the situation last December, and then the US Federal Trade Commission started to get involved soon after. Trudy Muller an Apple spokesperson said in a statement that the company was "proud to have industry-leading parental controls with iOS". It was mentioned that users could already restrict in-app purchases to prevent accidental charges on their iTunes accounts. With the new settings parents can stop their children from purchasing new apps, deleting existing apps, downloading iTunes content by rating. Certain apps which download content or interact with strangers can be blocked. Users can also restrict the use of Location Services, blocking multiplayer games, changing account settings, and the ability to add strangers as friends using the Game Center platform. Once these settings are made they are protected by a PIN code. Users of Android have no control on app purchases or in-app purchases, and the Android Market has many apps with nudity and other adult content. Have your children ever made purchases without your knowledge? For more coverage:
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| Apple iPad 2 Lines: Will you Queue Up or Buy Online? Posted: 10 Mar 2011 11:03 PM PST You won’t need us to tell you that the moment has now arrived for Apple fans in the US. The iPad 2 will soon be available to buy in retail stores, and in order to have a chance of picking one up before supply runs out, you’ll have to prepare yourselves for a long queue adventure to get one. We’re interested to know just how many of you are prepared to wait for countless hours to pick one up from your nearest Apple seller, and how many of you are just going to buy one online when Apple start taking orders. Just to refresh, you’ll be able to pick up an iPad 2 from 1am PT or 4am ET from Apple’s store online, but if you want to get one in person on launch day, you can queue up ready to buy one starting from 5pm local time in your area today. We bet that there are even queues that have started right now for the crazy individuals who don’t mind camping outside all evening and daytime just to make sure you’re first in line for the iPad 2. If you’re one of these people who is preparing to queue through the night, we’d love for you to upload a photo and send it to us below. We’ll update this article with some photos if you send them in. For more coverage:
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| Dragon Age 2: Bad Review From Edge – Justified or not? Posted: 10 Mar 2011 10:43 PM PST We recently informed you about some of the positive reviews for the recently released Dragon Age 2 game from EA and Bioware, but now it’s only fair that we point you in the direction of a negative review for the game, and you’ll be surprised to hear it comes from a very respected publication. That publication is Edge magazine, who are notoriously known for being very strict on handing out top scores for games, and it appears that Dragon Age 2 is the latest game to fall under their hammer. They have scored the game a disappointing 6 out of 10, as reported from GamingBolt, preferring to save their top scores for the likes of Bulletstorm and Fight Night Champions, both received a 9/10 which you may find particularly surprising. We’ve been reading some user feedback from you guys based on the poor score for DA2 and it seems that you are pretty divided on the outcome. For those of you who already have a copy of the game, do you think the score is justified or not, or do you think it least deserved a better score like 7.5 for example. EA are unlikely to be best pleased with Edge’s review, but we say it’s pretty refreshing to see a negative review of the game, since all feedback so far has been largely positive, so it’s nice for gamers to hear conflicting reviews so ultimately it’s you that has the final say on a game. What are your thoughts on the poor score? Get in touch with us. For more coverage:
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| HTC Thunderbolt Vs iPhone 5: Which Release are you Waiting For? Posted: 10 Mar 2011 09:54 PM PST With the never ending release drama surrounding the HTC Thunderbolt, we wonder just how many of you have decided that HTC are taking too long to release, especially with the imminent arrival of the iPhone 5 this Summer after it’s inevitable announcement at WWDC 2011. We’re pretty sure that some of you are now in two minds whether to still go for the HTC Thunderbolt with Android 2.2, or the iPhone 5, likely to include Apple’s new dual-core A5 processor and maybe even iOS 5 too. If we were having this discussion a month or so ago when the HTC Thunderbolt was fresh from it’s announcement at CES 2011, we’re pretty sure most of you would choose the Thunderbolt, since it’s going to be the first device to run on Verizon’s 4G LTE network speeds. However, delays can put a considerable amount of doubt in smartphone lovers’ minds and we have a feeling HTC has shot themselves in the foot by failing to give a confirmed release date for consumers. Are you one that feels let down over the lack of release information surrounding the Thunderbolt? Last year, we recall the same thing happpening with the HTC Incredible as well, so it appears that HTC hasn’t learnt their lesson that disappointing consumers is not a smart move. How many of you are still willing to stick with the Thunderbolt, and how many of you are now focusing on the iPhone 5 on Verizon during the Summer. Give us your thoughts on this one. Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.For more coverage:
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| Metal Gear Solid Rising: PS3 Vs Xbox 360 – Konami say Sony wins Posted: 10 Mar 2011 09:16 PM PST In what is sure to be a kick in the teeth for Xbox 360 owners, the producer for the upcoming title Metal Gear Solid: Rising has publicly stated that the PS3 version of the game will be the best version out of the PS3 and Xbox 360 platforms. When speaking in a recent interview, Shigenobu Matsuyama had this to say, according to PSExtreme: ”But hardware constraints we are sometimes annoying. But the problem we have in the PS3 console and power top the console allows us to make our best game. So it is natural that the PS3 version is better than the other two versions.” Obviously, the translation isn’t perfect there but you can clearly pick out the quote at the end where he says ‘the PS3 version is better than the other two versions’. He explained that this conclusion was due to the hardware restrictions on the Xbox 360 console, but we’re pretty sure there may be other factors which decide what platform has the best version. For instance, don’t forget that this game will be handled by Kojima Productions, headed by lead man Hideo Kojima himself. It’s no secret that he’s a big fan of the PS3 console, as he and his team have been creating Metal Gear games for years with the only intention of delivering it using Sony’s PS3 hardware. While it’s obviously good news that Xbox 360 owners are getting a Metal Gear Solid game, how would you feel if you end up getting a below par version of the game? One thing we’ve noticed though, is that the translated site has quoted CVG for their information, but they failed to provide a source. We’ve taken a look at CVG’s site and there isn’t any Metal Gear Solid Rising article in sight. Just something to bear in mind, while you digest this information. Let us know your thoughts on this PS3 and Xbox 360 owners. For more coverage:
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| Pwn2Own 2011: Safari and IE8 Hacked Easily, Chrome Survives Posted: 10 Mar 2011 08:12 PM PST We have some very interesting news for those you who are familiar with the annual Pwn2Own hacking contest, in which individuals try to unlock tight securities on some of the most popular operating systems on the market today in exchange for cash prizes. The contest is ongoing as we speak, with the likes of the iPhone and Windows Phone 7 operating systems set to be put to the test by cunning hackers, but the headlines so far is all about Apple’s Safari browser, Microsoft’s IE8 browser and Google Chrome. In what’s sure to be an embarrassment to Apple, it has been confirmed that French security company Vupen managed to completely expose Safari 5 running on a MacBook Air notebook in a mere five seconds. To prove the hack had been successful, the team installed a calculator application and then wrote a file to demonstrate that Mac OS X had been opened up, according to Zdnet. Elsewhere, IE8 was also the victim of a planned attack, as researcher Stephen Fewer managed to use three vulnerabilities to take down IE8 completely, and even get out of protected mode successfully. But the victory went to Google it seems, as Chrome remains unhacked due to participants failing to show up at the event, likely due to Google issuing a patch update to the software, despite Google themselves offering a bounty of $20,000 USD – as reported from Computer World. As we mentioned earlier, iOS, Windows Phone 7 and BlackBerry OS is next on the agenda, so stay tuned to see if teams will be able to hack into those systems or not during the event. Let us know your thoughts on the results so far. Are you surprised that Safari was exposed in a matter of seconds? For more coverage:
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| Samsung Nexus S: Price Cut, Limited Time Only Posted: 10 Mar 2011 06:40 PM PST We have some good news for those of you who are on the lookout for a new handset and are still interested in picking up the Samsung Nexus S, as it has been reported that the device will be receiving a significant price cut, for a limited time only. To make use of the price drop, you’ll need to be willing to sign up to a new contract with T-Mobile. Best Buy are the retailer offering the discount, and you’ll be pleased to know that they are knocking a huge $100 off the price, meaning that you can pick one up for just $99 on a two year contract – not bad at all! This deal won’t last forever though, and it will run from today, all the way up to March 23rd, as reported from Engadget. There doesn’t appear to be any other catches in this deal so it’s definitely worth having a look at their website listing here. Don’t forget that the Nexus S is the first Android handset out at the moment which comes equipped with a stock version of Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Other notable features include NFC support, a 1 GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor and front-facing camera. The downside to the Nexus S though, is that it features no external memory support, so you’ll have to survive with 16GB of internal memory, there is USB storage though. What do you think about this deal? It’s pretty tempting from where we are standing. Let us know if you’re willing to take the plunge or not. For more coverage:
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| PS3 Update 3.60: Firmware Unhackable – Sony back in Control? Posted: 10 Mar 2011 06:19 PM PST It looks like Sony may be having the last laugh in terms of their ongoing struggle with PS3 hackers. It has been reported that Sony has made several changes to the core system files within the PS3, changes which may make the PS3 ‘unhackable’ for the foreseeable future. We have given you some background information on firmware update 3.60 already, in particular asking you for your thoughts on the new Cloud Storage option, which is only available to those with a PSN+ subscription. However, we didn’t mention at the time what security updates Sony issued for 3.60 and it appears that they have been hard at work, according to Youness Alaoui, also known as KakARoToKS who you’ll know if you have been keeping up to date with all this Sony Vs the Hackers shenanigans. Anyway, he has posted a couple of Twitter updates, which should raise an eyebrow or two, here is one of them below: ”Wow, in 3.60, Sony removed all the loaders, no more isoldr/lv1ldr/lv2ldr/appldr.. but they added lv0.2! Seems they found a way to secure ps3” Put in simpler terms, it means that Sony has found a way to secure the system without the need of using their metldr key, a key ingredient of the PS3 which was posted online by fellow hacker Geohot. It’s good news for those of you playing the likes of Killzone 3 and Call of Duty online, as the chances of you getting to play a ‘hack-free’ game have just multiplied considerably it seems. Then again, the hackers never seem to quit, so it will be interesting to see what happens next. Let us know your thoughts on this. Are you pleased that Sony are now back in control of their system? For more coverage:
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| New Release Date for HTC Thunderbolt – Believable or Not? Posted: 10 Mar 2011 05:56 PM PST Considering that the phone was announced back in January at CES 2011, you have to wonder what is going on at Verizon HQ with regards to the HTC Thunderbolt, Verizon’s first 4G LTE capable device which is still yet to see a retail release. You may remember us telling you about the Samsung Stealth, another 4G LTE device for Verizon which is meant to be the second device releasing for Verizon in April, but if we continue to see delays for the Thunderbolt, we may see a scenario where the Stealth releases first, which would be pretty disappointing given it’s average specs. However, the latest news is that the Thunderbolt could be released on March 21st, according to BGR’s ‘independant sources’, who back up their story by saying that this date was previously featured on HTC’s Facebook page, before getting swiftly removed. Obviously, we hope that this release date is legit, as another significant delay could be the nail in the coffin for the device, especially with plenty of other options available on the market, i.e the Samsung Galaxy S2, LG Optimus 2X and possibly even the iPhone 5. We’ll keep you updated if we hear any more details on the potential March 21st release date. Let us know what you think of it – will you believe it this time or not? For more coverage:
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| New Headphones Design Promises No More Tangles Using Zipper Posted: 10 Mar 2011 03:50 PM PST Music lovers out there rejoice as we bring you news that is sure to get you excited or at least relieve some stress issues. If you use headphones or earbuds you'll know what I mean when I mention tangles. Having spent hours myself untangling before I can relate, which is why this news is so exciting. A designer by the name of Hirotaka Matsui has come up with a design that will solve our tangling issues saving us stress and allowing us more time to enjoy our favorite tunes. The designs main feature is a zipper. Yep that's right that's all it takes to solve the issue apparently. Matsui has taken the wires of the headphones and seemingly woven them into the zipper's fabric. When you want to listen you just unzip a little and once you're done you can zip right back up no hassle of wires. The earbuds themselves are magnetic so as you zip up they come together to act like a clasp for your zipper. As the article by Rue Liu at Slashgear explains, this doesn't solve the problem of zipping up too quickly and catching something so be careful. Read the full article by clicking the link. What do you think of this design? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more coverage:
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| Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Packing Tegra-Powered Multi-Function Display – Video Posted: 10 Mar 2011 03:28 PM PST Probably one of the sexiest cars out there, the Lamborghini has always been known for its beauty and assets, and now with this latest news it seems the supercar now has the brains to match its brawn. The Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 will be packing Tegra-powered technology in its infotainment system. The newly announced car is reported to have more technology than any other Lamborghini before and this has been put down to its newly assigned Volkswagen Group band. The interior has a very much Audi style about it, which is a good thing and also features certain fighter-inspired aspects about it too. This from an article by Tim Stevens at Engadget which explains how the most interesting part of this vehicle is the MMI system that features the Tegra technology. All the displays are LCD including dials and heads up visuals, the menus can be navigated using a stalk on the steering wheel or by the MMI dial and 3D maps with customizable menus feature also. Of the motor will feature traditional expectations from a supercar like the Lamborghini packing a 612HP V-12 engine in the rear. More details about the Aventador including the price can be read via Engadget by clicking the link above. Check out the video we have below in the meantime. What do you think of the smart new supercar? Let us know below. For more coverage:
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| Dragon Age 2, Review Highlights Problems and Powerful Story Posted: 10 Mar 2011 03:06 PM PST Now that the much-awaited Dragon Age 2 game has been released in North America, the very first reviews are starting to trickle in. However, one such review has highlighted the fact that although the game does have a powerful story, it also suffers from a few problems. As Brett Molina over at usatoday.com recently noted, the Dragon Age II game differs from the original in the fact that the story focuses on just one person, Hawke. The hero/heroine's ascension to power begins when they (and their family) flee their homeland and end up in Kirkwall. Another big change between the original and the sequel are the visuals, which have been improved in Dragon Age 2. Not only do the characters look sharper and a bit more detailed, but the environments also look as though they are a bit more vibrant. Before they actually dive into the narrative, players have to choose one of six different versions of Hawke: a male or female rogue, a male or female warrior or a male or female mage. Each different class comes with its advantages and disadvantages. Brett does point out that although the combat is solid, it is very easy to get pulled away from the action in order to tweak tactics. You can read the full review via the usatoday.com website. Have you had a chance to play the game yet? If so, what are your first impressions? For more coverage:
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| Sony Win Round in Ongoing Battle, LG Must Pay Fine and Return Seized PS3s Posted: 10 Mar 2011 02:44 PM PST The dispute continues between two of the biggest manufacturers of consumer electronics products Japan's Sony and North Korean LG. We previously brought you news of the PS3 consoles being seized in Europe. It seems the battle has taken a couple more turns since then. Earlier today there were reports that LG had won a court order granting them the power to not only seize the consoles in the Netherlands but also confiscate the consoles that had already been purchased from customers' homes. Now according to an article by Sebastian Moss at PlayStationLifeStyle, Sony have fought the case successfully and won which means LG now face a fine and will no longer be able to hold the consoles it initially seized. The number of consoles is thought to be in the 300,000 region and the fine will be €130,000 to Sony. More details about the latest proceedings can be found in the article by clicking the link above where it is said that although Sony won this battle, LG will still continue on with the war. What do you think of the latest goings on? Share your thoughts in the comments below. For more coverage:
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