Widescreen Gizmondo official

News - Tiger Telematics reveal...

Having mooted the possibility of a new model of the Gizmondo next year, Tiger Telematics have made it official, announcing that a widescreen version of the daring wee handheld will be going head-to-head with the formidable PSP come 2006. Gizmondo's European division confirmed the new device, currently in development, and revealed that the gizmo is excitingly called the 'Gizmondo Widescreen'. The original Gizmondo has been out in Europe for some months, but is not out in North America for a while yet. The widescreen version will be released in the second-quarter of 2006, and is reportedly part of Gizmondo's wider plans to release a number of devices melding technologies such as gaming, GPS, text-messaging, WiFi, media playback et al.

The new widescreen model of the Gizmondo will include a 4-inch wide screen, 500mhz CPU, WiFi support, Bluetooth 2, and tri-band GSM technology. "The convergence technology category is similar to that of cell phones where a one-size-fits all approach does not work. Our long-term objective is to provide a range of entertainment and messaging devices that cater to different entertainment desires. Widescreen will favorably compare to Sony PSP but with even more power and features. Also, ensuring backwards compatibility and a clear upgrade path for future models is an integral part of our multi-product roadmap. A personal favorite feature is the TV/video out connection which will enable you to play your favorite games on your TV, using the Gizmondo Widescreen like a console joypad," commented company co-founder Carl Freer.

Despite Tiger's ongoing buoyance, the firm's debutant Gizmondo machine has hardly set Europe alight when faced with the DS and the PSP, presumably Tiger think that future iterations of the hardware can generate greater consumer interest. We'll keep our noses to the ground.