Sony has mentioned the PS3 will have a ten year life-span over and over again. The company is backing the console for the long haul. Sony has stated that's why the console uses new technology like Blu-ray. Shouldn't that mean Blu-ray will have a long shelf life? No, says a Samsung UK exec. (Samsung backed the format during the console war.) Says Andy Griffiths, director of consumer electronics at Samsung UK:

I think it [Blu-ray] has 5 years left, I certainly wouldn't give it 10.

That's not to say Samsung doesn't think the format will do well — but rather, that it won't have legs. Griffiths added that Blu-ray is "going to be huge... We are heavily back-ordered at the moment. Griffiths doesn't go into great depth into what he thinks will bring Blu-ray down.

Samsung: "Blu-ray has 5 years left" [Pocket-lint via Gizmodo]

Earlier today, a tipster who wished to remain anonymous sent us the above pic, something he claimed was the Samsung "X-Series" LCD TV. According to the tipster, the television would be the "first on market" to integrate Xbox 360 hardware when it shipped this November in the United States and Europe. The TV was purported to include four USB ports, 512 MB of hard drive space(?) and a "ring of light" style power button. It even came with a model number (XS40R360A) for maximum believability.

That would mesh nicely with that rumour from EGM that Microsoft was permitting third parties to manufacture their own Xbox 360 compatible hardware, wouldn't it? Unfortunately, it all sounds like total bunkum.

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Second place mobile manufacturer Samsung has revealed a Second Life client for their phones that will allow the relatively small horde of visitors to the virtual world and their legion of alts access to the grid and related services wherever and whenever the whole thing hasn't crashed. This is a monumentally bad idea. As a Second Life resident for nearly a year now, I know people who only leave the world in order to buy groceries, and some of them already carry their laptops around when they do that, just in case they catch a stray wireless signal. We don't need to be able to connect to SL from anywhere. Sure, you'll be able to have quickie unicorn cybersex in the bathroom at work, but at what cost?

Samsung Unveils Mobile Application for Second Life [koreatimes via Gizmodo AU]

So, you think you're good at Halo 3? The sort of "good" that would have Fatal1ty browning his trousers in utter despair, or players the globe-over crying into remains of their FPS pride and rage-shattered controllers?

Then Microsoft/Samsung's Asia Pacific tournament, to run from April 1 to 14, might just tickle your analogue stick. And by Asia Pacific, we mean Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Korea and Singapore. Each region will have its own national champion, so while you'll be up against quite a few people, it won't be half the world.

Oh yeah, the prizes! Here they are:

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Every now and again there comes a vacuum so appealing that we're almost tempted to clean. Samsung's SC9540 vacuum looks surprisingly like the makers of Spartan armor have been reselling their prototype molds to alternative industries. Dubbed "the strong, silent type" on Samsung's site, we're sure that the design and marketing are both coincidental...unless you start seeing vacuum cleaners popping up on Mt. Dew.

Samsung SC9540 Vacuum [via ohgizmo]

At CES, Samsung is showing off the "World's First 3D Ready Plasma TV" complete with three-dimensional versions of Madden NFL 08 and Need For Speed ProStreet. After watching another CES attendee take the Samsung—and its required 3D goggles—for a spin, seemingly walking away unimpressed, I decided to take the wheel. After picking my Volkswagen GT and hitting the track, the goggle shutters kicked in, going into full 3D mode.

Unfortunately, the experience of driving in 3D on a plasma television with oversized glasses fails to impress. Samsung claims that with the tech, "you can feel you are in the game" the only feeling I got was one of nausea. The constant flicker and ghosting of your ride doesn't do much for the sensation of depth. It's hard to imagine the product being anything more than a novelty or lending itself to long gaming sessions.. but it's perfect for a five minute distraction at CES!