They reckon that, with the rumoured machine due to launch late next year, it’s going to be powered by the second iteration of nVidia’s Tegra chipset, not the original as was first suggested. For reference, the Zune HD – capable of stuff like this – runs on the Tegra, while Nintendo’s new handheld would be running on the Tegra 2.

nVidia reckon the Tegra 2 has four times the power of the Tegra. So look at what the Zune HD can do then imagine something… better.

Course, we still have no idea what Nintendo have planned for their next handheld; it could be another two-screen device, it could be a return to the single-screen days of the Game Boy, it could be something else entirely. But hey, whatever it is, it’s nice to know (if this info checks out) that we’re looking at a substantial upgrade from the current DS tech.

Oh, and if you’re interested, the Digital Foundry piece also has some less concrete stuff on Sony’s supposed PSP2 as well.

In Theory: Nintendo DS2 vs. Sony PSP2 [Digital Foundry]

Insiders tell IT news outlet BSN that a single chip Tegra will supposedly power the new DS; the Tegra was developed for use in mobile devices like Microsoft’s Zune HD as well as smartphones.

If true, this could explain why Nvidia CEO Jen-Hsun Huang declared that the Tegra will account for half of Nvidia’s revenues in the next couple of years. It would also be the first time Nintendo and Nvidia have partnered.

We are following up with Nintendo and will update if the company comments.

Nvidia Tegra Wins Contract [BSN via Develop]

First off the starting blocks will be ATi’s Radeon HD 5800 series of cards (starting with the HD 5850 and 5870), which should be hitting stores as early as next month. Nvidia’s first line of DX11 cards—the GT300 range—will follow in December.

Suddenly, my 8800 GT doesn’t look so trusty anymore.

Nvidia and AMD readying for DirectX 11 [Digitimes, via Gizmodo]

Now that many of us have experienced Batman: Arkham Asylum on the console, let’s see if it was worth delaying the PC version to add support for NVIDIA’s PhysX technology.

The verdict? While it certainly doesn’t seem to effect the gameplay, little touches like the flowing of his cape, the swirling of debris, and the way those banners flutter when you toss a batarang through them should help make the experience just a bit more immersive. Is it worth a three week delay? I’ve a feeling that once PC gamers have the game in their hands the delay will be completely forgotten.

I thought the catch was that you had to wait until September 15 to claim your free game, but of course, that is the release date for the PC version of this game (which hits consoles on Tuesday) so, nuts to me.

The cards are the GeForce GTX 260, 275 and 285. The retailers are Amazon, NCIX, Newegg, TigerDirect and ZipZoomfly.

But, the disclaimer: “Valid between Sept. 15 and Dec. 31, 2009 or while supplies last” means someone expects they might run out of (virtual) copies. So maybe there is a catch here after all, who knows.

All of the details are at the link.

Free Batman: Arkham Asylum [NVIDIA]

New costumes, an improved Mercenaries mode, and support for NVIDIA’s new GeForce 3D Vision tech will have PC gamers lording their superior versions of Resident Evil 5 over console players come September 15th, as long as their rigs are packing the juice needed to get the job done. To that end, NVIDIA is offering up a benchmark tool at its Resident Evil 5 downloads area, along with a 3D Vision technology demo for those interested in seeing the game’s cut scenes in full 3D.

Capcom will be showing off the PC version of the game to the public for the first time at the San Diego Comic-Con next week, so if you’re planning on attending, drop by the Capcom booth to check it out in the flesh.

Fed up with all the Xs and numbers and mindless claims on the back of the box, Gizmodo have a handy little guide up showing you how to find what you’re looking for in a crowded, confusing market. Where to look for information, who to trust, that sort of thing.

Useful! I mean, I’m an avid PC gamer and even I struggle to stay on top of the graphics card market. Last I checked, the word eXtreme didn’t really mean anything.

Giz Explains: How to Choose the Right Graphics Card [Gizmodo]

A report over on VentureBeat says that the debut of this “next gen” tech will be so important to both companies that “it’s bound to drive the stock prices of the rivals involved either up or down through the rest of the year”.

At the moment, AMD are tipped to have their new hardware on the market first, timed for release alongside Microsoft’s new Windows 7. Nvidia, meanwhile, are keeping quiet on the release of their new chips, leading some to speculate that they’ve fallen behind a little with their design.

Both companies will be making extensive use of 40nm chips on their new cards, and both are expected to have support for DirectX 11 across their range within a year or so.

Graphics chip rivals race to deliver next-generation chips [VentureBeat]

The Georgia Tech Augmented Environments Lab has come up with a game that combines the joy of shooting zombies with the deliciousness of Skittles.

The cleverly-titled ARhrrrr is a concept demonstration for an augmented reality mobile phone game that pits players armed with guns and Skittles bombs against an invading army of zombies, all superimposed over a real-world map. Through the magic of the NVIDIA Tegra GPU, the map springs to full 3D life when viewed through the phone’s camera, allowing the player to circle the map in his helicopter, shooting zombies, saving humans, and using different coloured Skittles as explosives.

It’s yet another intriguing example of augmented reality gaming at work, though we must ask… who wants to play a game associated with Skittles?

ARhrrrr! [Georgia Tech's Augmented Reality Lab - Thanks Tiago!]

At the forefront of their four press release rampage is the announcement that Sega has licensed both the PhysX technology and NVIDIA’s APEX technology to serve as a development platform across all Sega studios.

“Sega has been using PhysX technology for several years, but this new agreement enables our studios to take advantage of the full portfolio of cross-platform PhysX engines,” said Takashi Shoji, Department Manager, Consumer Software R&D Support Dept., Consumer R&D Division, SEGA Corporation. “APEX was an important factor in our decision because it enables us to create high quality physics content in an easier and more productive manner.”

Basically taking away a great deal of the workload so Sega’s programmers can concentrate on slowly killing Sonic.

Along with the Sega announcement, NVIDIA also revealed that Capcom’s Dark Void uses PhysX to render weapons, smoke, and debris; GRIN used it in Terminator Salvation for weapon effects and destructible environments; and 8monkey Labs has an amazing name.

Oh, and 8monkey used PhysX in Darkest of Days to help create interactive, expressive, and natural environments.

In short, NVIDIA’s PhysX technology is slowly taking over the world, and the company’s public relations team has far too much time on their hands.