Sony just can’t seem to leave well enough alone, it turns out that they have managed to redesign the RSX GPU to make it even smaller and more efficient. A recent tear-down by Japanese fansite PocketNews showed off the fact that they Nvidia GPU used in all the PS3 Slim units has been reduced to an even smaller size since launch.

The new GPU is now on a 40nm form factor, reducing the weight, improving heat dissipation and reducing power consumption. While the PS3 still consumes 9w of energy in it’s standby state, the smaller GPU has reduced the amount of power it consumes by a whopping 15%. For the complete tear-down and all the details check out PocketNews, but be aware the translation has some issues.

[via Toms Hardware]

Childhood diabetes sucks, there’s no way around it. Testing is annoying and uncomfortable for adults, much lets kids, and the testing technology isn’t exactly what you’d call fun or interesting. Bayer is trying to make it better though, by creating a fun way to test blood glucose levels using a Nintendo DS.

In order to help involve kids in their testing, the device will come bundled with the new game Knock Em Downs: World Fair. The theme of the game is two characters are running their own fair, and trying to defeat the evil henchmen trying to stop them. There doesn’t appear to be anything in the game that relates specifically to diabetes, but there are unlock achievements that can only be accessed by testing regularly. One thing to note, the meter plugs into the GBA slot though, so it won’t be compatible with the DSi and DSi XL. The accessory, called a Didget, is currently available at Walgreens,CVS/pharmacy, and drugstore.com as well as the Bayer website. MSRP is $74.99, but the Didget also includes testing supplies and lancets.

[via TG Daily]

So the new Steam UI just went live today, and soon we may be seeing that Mac version everybody’s been chattering about. I’m looking forward to it, and hoping the 9400M in my MacBook Pro will be able to handle Portal 2. Other, more practical people are putting together comprehensive “all we know” lists about the program, widely anticipated (in vain) as savior of gaming on the Mac. I don’t know, I’m thinking that a couple years from now we’ll look on Steam for Mac saying “remember that time Valve released its games for Mac and then nothing else happened, ever?”

The news is mostly good:

• Steam and all games will run natively, in OpenGL
• If you bought it for PC and it’s available for Mac, you already own a Mac version
• It will be Leopard-compatible (which is good, because I’m still on 10.5.8… why, I ask myself?)
• Macs and PCs can play with each other, no problem my friend
• Coming “soon”

For a full list, including a couple chipsets that will not work, head over to the Steam forums.

[via MacRumors]

People love arcade games, and have since the 50’s. Some of the earliest games were based off of other recreations, like for example bowling. I remember playing one of these in the arcade in town during my youth, but it never held the attraction to me like Battle Zone or Asteroids did.

In fact, I had a Battle Zone in my living room for quite some time, it was great fun. Having a video game in your rec room has become more and more feasible in the recent history, but still expensive. It’s even possible to buy your own Bowl-o-Rama, for the low low price of $3495.00 from Brookstone.

[via Red Ferret]

Oh, soap. You are made in so many shapes and colors. Even, though I never would have guessed it, Super Nintendo cartridge shape and color. I can’t tell you how many of these soaps I want to have, though I’d be hard pressed to choose between Triforce and Pac-Man when washing my hands. Plus, I still haven’t used up my Han Solo.

[via GameSetWatch (nice headline) and GearFuse]

Sony, which just recently scrapped Linux as an alternate OS for the PS3 with firmware update v3.21., released v3.30 today. The mandatory update neither brings Linux back nor features anything substantial per se (it gives you new sorting options for trophies). But with it, Sony readies the console for future 3D games and other 3D content.

As reported multiple times over the past months, virtually every major electronics maker on the planet, including Sony, bets high on 3D as the next big money maker. And for Sony, which offers everything from 3D TVs to 3D-capable sound systems, the PS3 is one of the main pillars.

The company says:

(…) this update preps the PS3 system for some upcoming new features, including 3D stereoscopic gaming, which is coming soon to PS3, in time for the launch of Sony’s 3D BRAVIA TVs.

Needless to say, these are dreams of the future for most of us, but the update is probably great news for those who can go out and get one of these expensive 3D BRAVIAs sooner than us – provided Sony is actually able to offer compelling 3D content for their console.