Playstation 3 : Entertainment like you’ve never seen before

Sony Computer Entertainment UK (SCEUK) today announced details of two new PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) packs that will be launched on 10th October 2007. The existing PS3 Starter Pack will be replaced by a 60GB value pack at a price of £349. Additionally, a new 40GB entry level PS3 model will be introduced at £299.

Providing a highly attractive entry point to the world of High Definition gaming and movies, the new PS3 is designed to bring the next generation of interactive home entertainment to households all across Europe. Along with an expanding line-up of PS3 titles (a total of 65 titles tracking across all genres by Christmas), the new PS3 is equipped with a 40GB HDD and includes all the features central to the High Definition entertainment experience; true next generation gameplay, stunning High Definition Blu-ray Disc movies, SIXAXIS wireless controller, USB, Wi-Fi and HDMI connectivity, all powered by the Cell Broadband Engine, the digital heart of PS3.

As with the 60GB PS3, the new PS3 features upgradeable system software allowing new features and functionality to be added to the system as time progresses. A recent system software update, for example, enabled PS3 to upscale DVD discs played on the system to full 1080P High Definition.

The introduction of the new PS3 has been determined following user feedback from thousands of existing PS3 owners as well as research into future potential PS3 owners. The new model features two USB 2.0 ports rather than four and no longer includes the multi memory card port – both features that, for those who wish, can be enhanced or provided through the addition of readily available aftermarket accessories.

The new model is also no longer backwards compatible with PlayStation 2 titles, reflecting both the reduced emphasis placed on this feature amongst later purchasers of PS3, as well as the availability of a more extensive line-up of PS3 specific titles (a total of 65 titles across all genres by Christmas).

The existing Starter Pack will be replaced by a new Value Pack featuring a fully functioning 60GB PS3 with extensive backwards compatibility, a SIXAXIS wireless controller and two first party titles which will be offered at a price of £349. The 60GB model represents outstanding value for the keen gamer wishing to upgrade to the High Definition capabilities of PS3.

“As we approach our very first PlayStation Christmas, it is satisfying to be able to offer UK consumers the choice of two PlayStation 3 packages both now representing remarkable value,” commented Ray Maguire, managing director of SCEUK, “We have a brand new 40GB machine that represents an excellent entry point into the world of High Definition games and movies, and we have the fully featured 60GB machine being offered with two next generation gaming experiences at a highly competitive price.”

“The introduction of the new PS3 has been the result of extensive research into the entertainment needs and preferences of the next generation of PS3 owners,” said David Reeves, President of SCEE. “It has allowed us to deliver an extremely advanced, yet highly affordable High Definition entertainment system, configured to the needs of the next generation of European PS3 owners. PS3 has always been the device of choice for the discerning gamer and entertainment seeker, and the new PS3 is more than ever the perfect High Definition entertainment system.

PlayTV - Use your PS3 as a TiVo/DVR

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The PS3 will be able to record TV in 1080p and stream it to the PSP, TiVo beware At Games Convention in Leipzig Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) unveiled PlayTV, a combined TV tuner and Digital Video Recorder (DVR) for the PS3. PlayTV will be available in UK, France, Italy, Germany and Spain early in 2008, with other PAL territories to follow in due course. No word yet as to a North American release date. The PS3 is being pushed not only as a game device, but also a personal media center. The dual channel TV tuner peripheral and DVR software turns the PS3 into an advanced TV recorder, allowing you to watch, pause and record live TV. Much like TiVo and other DVR systems, PlayTV will record individual programs or whole seasons of shows to the PS3's hard drive. The European system will use the Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVB-T) format. PlayTV will be able to show a 7-day Electronic Program Guide, the EPG2, for use in planning which shows to record or watch. PlayTV provides quite a few features not seen on most DVRs. First, the PS3 PlayTV’s dual TV tuners are High Definition ready and are able to view, record and play back High Definition signals in full HD1080P. Most DVRs currently on the market record in standard def. In contrast to the electronic program guides found on consumer satellite and cable services, PlayTV’s guide is surprisingly fast, and can be controlled with either the Sixaxis or the Blu-ray remote. Perhaps the biggest single advantage that PlayTV seems to have over TiVo and other DVR systems is its connectivity with the PSP. You can not only view live TV, but recorded TV. PErhaps the biggest surprise is the ability to control the PS3's PlayTV remotely using the PSP to select shows to record, as well as all other major PlayTV functions. Essentially you will be able to use your PlayTV DVR from anywhere in the world with a WiFi connection. Being able to watch Grey's Anatomy or Hotel Babylon from anywhere on the planet is a major step for the PlayStation platform. For quicker download, you can transfer shows from your PS3 to PSP via USB cable. Allowing you to watch recorded TV on the PSP with or without WiFi. Long flights just got a whole lot easier. Sony claims that PlayTV will evolve with time. The functionality of PlayTV will be updated via the PlayStation Network. Sony has gone so far as to state that, "PlayTV will never be out of date." David Reeves, President of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, was enthusiastic about PlayTV, stating, "the introduction of PlayTV really will extend the already broad entertainment credentials of PS3, and makes it an exceptionally attractive proposition for the whole family. [The] PS3 already provides High Definition gaming, Blu-ray Disc movies, music, video, photo album, web browsing and PlayStation Network support. With the introduction of PlayTV’s state of the art TV tuner and PVR [Personal Video Recorder] functionality, [the] PS3 is now the best choice of home entertainment hub for the whole family." One can only hope that PlayTV's European release is a sign of things to come for the rest of us. While there has yet to be a discussion of cost, PlayTV looks to be the first step in unlocking the full potential of the PS3.

Advantages of an Online Mortgage Quote

There are several advantages when getting an online mortgage quote. First fast, easy, and quick response. Second you have ability to shop around with more than 1 mortgage prospect, and some services shop around for you! Unlike traditional mortgage quote you will not get bombarded with phone calls from 30 different lenders, only the 1 you choose to contact you. There are several things to look for when shopping online for a mortgage quote. The mortgage field is cut throat competition. Mortgage companies are falling over each other to give consumers the lowest quote to get the deal. They only get paid if you go with them, so their best interest it to get you the lowest rate possible, and that means they have to shop around for lenders that you're deal is suited for. Behind the scenes if they are not a direct lender they bargain with direct lenders to see what rate they can get, and then turn around and sell you. The downside of this is that you are dealing with a middle man approach. There are websites like A2zLoanQuotes.com for example, that are the direct lenders. There is no middle man with their service, and that means less middleman fees, and not only do you get the best rate available, you pay overall less than the person who is shopping with a middleman company. A friendly service is always the greatest asset a company can have. Once you decided to go with a specific company, their initial response to your needs should be a great factor when you want to close the deal. If they are kind, and give you detailed explanations of the whole process you know you've got yourself a winner. The best way to help the mortgage process move faster is by always having the paper work to the broker onto usually the same day if not with 24 hours of the mortgage company asking for it. This is the best way to get the fast and quick service you want. Most companies can close with 2 weeks. Some rare companies such as A2Zloanquotes can close within 1 week if all documents are made available. It is up to you on how fast you want the mortgage process to go. Another things to look for and is one of the most important is a great rating with a 3rd party. The Better Business Bureau is the choice for most. If a company has a B+ or better, this is signs of a reputable company. The less complaints the better. A company for example like A2ZLoanquotes, which has an A rating, and Zero complaints, is probably worth looking at. Check out the background of the company, make sure you know who you are dealing with, and have a brick and mortar location. This is a sure sign of a great standing company. Once you fill out a mini-form on the mortgage quote company's website, you should get an immediate response, usually between 5 minutes to 24 hours. This lets you know that you are being taken seriously. If you feel out information and a company gets back to you in over 48 hours that usually means it is not organized. The best part about shopping online is being able to shop around without obligation. You can get several quotes from different companies and choose the best one that fits your needs. You even have the possibility of staying anonymous.

Young Serial Killer - Mary Bell : The Trial Begins (Chapter 10)

"Well, that was a very naughty thing to do, wasn't it, to think of killing little boys and girls and talk about it?"

-- Prosecution's question to Norma Bell

Mary Bell and Norma Bell were brought to trial for the murder of Martin Brown and Brian Howe at the Newcastle Assizes Moothall on December 5th 1968. The trial would last nine days. The media attention, although mild by today's sensationalist standards, was generating increasing interest as the trial progressed -- by the final day the press was everywhere. Despite attempts to make the court proceedings less threatening to the children, both Norma and Mary were bewildered. Mary appeared to be attentive, but later admitted the whole thing was a "blur."

Prosecutor Rudolph Lyons opened the trial by suggesting that whoever murdered Brian Howe also killed Martin Brown. Lyons methodically recounted the suspicious behavior of both girls at the scene of Martin's death, how they plagued the mourning family with their morbid questions, and how they vandalized the Nursery the next day, leaving notes that amounted to a confession. For Norma, these notes were the most damaging to her innocence. Handwriting analysis had verified that Norma had written the "I murder so that I may come back" note. If Norma was truly innocent, why would she participate in these dreadful scribblings?

How did Mary know that Martin had been asphyxiated? asked Lyons. This was not public knowledge, yet she demonstrated to the Howes how Martin was strangled. Forensic evidence also implicated Mary -- gray fibers from one of her wool dresses were discovered on the bodies of both victims. Fibers from Norma's maroon skirt were found on Brian's shoes. Although there were doubts about Norma's guilt, Mary was considered guilty by most. According to Gitta Sereny, who was at the trial, the issue at stake was whether Mary was a sick little girl or a monster, a "bad seed."

Mary's family presence at the trial certainly didn't help her case. Her mother Betty Bell disrupted the proceedings with all her wailing and sobbing, her long blond wig slipping off her head. Like a poorly-played character in a lurid soap opera, she stormed out during the trial, only to dramatically reappear moments later. Her father Billy Bell sat quietly, ignoring his wife's spectacles. Mary, who Sereny described as very pretty and intelligent, with dark hair and sharp blue eyes, which "in anger looked emotionally blank." Observers in the courtroom, wrote Sereny, were "watching her with a horrified kind of curiosity." For such a "manipulative" and "cunning" little girl, Mary knew nothing about attracting sympathy. At one point Mary told a police officer how a "woman up in the gallery smiles at me, but I don't smile back. It isn't a smiling matter. The jury wouldn't like it if I smiled, would they?"

Norma, on the other hand, was surrounded by a much more sympathetic family. She was the third of eleven children, and reacted to evidence and testimony with a more childlike combination of fear and nervous tears (Mary disdained crying as a sign of weakness.)

Young Serial Killer - Mary Bell : Caught (Chapter 9)

"Murder isn't that bad, we all die sometime anyway."

-- Mary Bell to one of her guards



The first night in their small jail cells in Newcastle West End police station, the girls were restless. "They kept shouting to each other through the doors," said one of the police women who watched the children. The police station was not accustomed to housing child offenders, and they had to make provisions as best as they could. "We finally told them to shut up. At one moment I heard Mary shout out angrily about her mother." Mary, who had been a chronic bedwetter, was terrified of going to sleep, for fear that she might mess her bed. "I usually do," she confided. At home, Mary's mother severely humiliated her whenever she wet the bed, rubbing her daughter's face in the pool of urine, said Mary, years later. She then hung the mattress outside for the entire neighborhood to see.

During the course of her incarceration, the women guards got to know Mary better, describing her as confident, intelligent and "cheeky." Some of Mary's casual comments would shock the police women, but others saw her as a scared little girl who had no comprehension of the enormity of her actions. In the middle of the night Mary would "bolt upright." Mary's hostility had an almost naive quality: while tightly grabbing a stray cat by the neck, a guard told her not to hurt the cat. Mary allegedly replied, "Oh, she doesn't feel that, and anyway, I like hurting little things that can't fight back." In another incident, a police woman said that Mary said she'd like to be a nurse, "because then I can stick needles into people. I like hurting people."

If her parents were somehow responsible for young Mary's behavior, she would not talk about it. She had been taught to keep quiet, especially around authority figures. Her father, Billy Bell, had lived with the family, but the children (Mary and her younger brother and sister) were instructed to always call him "uncle," so that their mother could collect government assistance. Billy Bell was a thief, and the mother, Betty Bell, was a prostitute who was often away in Glasgow on "business." Because of the family's shady vocations, Newcastle Welfare authorities knew very little about Mary's family. One detective who visited Mary's home described it as having "no feeling of a home, just a shell. Very peculiar... the only life one felt was that of a big dog barking."

Was it because Mary was unresponsive that the psychiatrists found her "psychopathic"? If she had broken her silence and told them of her abusive home life, would she have earned a more sympathetic analysis? "I've seen a lot of psychopathic children," said Dr. Orton, the first to see her during her incarceration. "But I've never met one like Mary: as intelligent, as manipulative, or as dangerous." During the murder trial, Mary's behavior would do little to harvest sympathy.

Young Serial Killer - Mary Bell : Mary's Notebook (Chapter 8)

That same morning, Mary Bell drew a picture in her notebook of a child in the same pose as that in which Martin Brown had been found, with a bottle near him with the word "TABLET.." There was a man walking toward the child. It read, "On saturday I was in the house, and my mam sent Me to ask Norma if she Would come up the top with me? we went up and we came down at Magrets Road and there were crowds of people beside an old house. I asked what was the matter. there had been a boy who Just lay down and Died." Mary's notebook entry did not strike the teacher as odd, although she was the only student who wrote on Martin's death.

Notebook entry

On Friday of the same week, the newly-installed alarm sounded off at Nursery. Mary Bell and Norma Bell were caught red-handed, but denied breaking in before. Released to the custody of their parents, a date was set for them to appear at Juvenile Court.

A week later, Mary attacked Norma near the Nursery sandpit. A boy saw Mary scratch her friend and kick her in the eye, but only laughed when he heard Mary scream, "I am a murderer!" She pointed in the direction of house where Martin Brown was found. "That house over there, that's where I killed... " Since Mary was well known as a show-off, he didn't take her ominous bragging seriously.

Toward the end of July, before Brian Howe's murder, Mary visited the Howe household, and declared "I know something about Norma that will get her put away straight away." She told them her secret: "Norma put her hands on a boy's throat. It was Martin Brown -- she pressed and he just dropped." To make her point, she grabbed her own throat in a choking gesture, then left. It would be a few days later that Mary would strangle the Howe's own child. This insatiable need to "show and tell" her deadly crimes would be acted out upon another innocent babe.

Young Serial Killer - Mary Bell : Murderous Messages (Chapter 7)

"Look out THERE are Murders about"

-- note found in vandalized nursery

On Monday morning, May 27 the teachers at the Day Nursery, on Woodlands Crescent at the end of Whitehouse Road, arrived to find the school ransacked. School supplies were strewn about recklessly, and cleaning materials had been splattered on the floor. But the most disturbing discovery was the four scribbled notes left behind:

Note

"I murder so THAT I may come back"

"fuch of we murder watch out Fanny and Faggot"

"we did murder Martain brown Fuck of you Bastard"

"You are micey Becurse we murdered Martain Go Brown you Bete Look out THERE
are Murders about By FANNYAND and auld Faggot you Srcews"

Police took the notes back to the station and filed them away as a sick joke. Mary would later admit they wrote the notes "for a giggle." Because this wasn't the first break-in at the Nursery, the school installed an alarm system.