Because of the complexity of the new games and the longer development time needed, Mr. Tretton expects development costs to rise to more than $20 million for PlayStation 3 games, from the typical $10 million to $15 million today.

For those keeping score, Sony's estimate of per-game costs for next-generation systems is substantially higher than Microsoft's.

Sony Unveils Details About PlayStation 3

The rules are changing because home entertainment is about to embark on one of the last big switches for the foreseeable future. Like audio and video before it, broadcast television is finally going digital. The transition from analogue to digital broadcasting presents both an opportunity and a threat for all concerned—broadcasters, manufacturers and viewers alike. The switchover is now unstoppable. The only question is how long it will take.

Television's big switch

It is shaping up as one of the biggest philosophical changes in transportation policy since the toll-free interstate highway system was created under President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956.

Paying on the Highway to Get Out of First Gear

fMRI is the new polygraph. Have you hacked code for it?

The advance, reported today, shows that the scanners may be better able than previously supposed to probe the border between conscious and unconscious thought and even, in certain circumstances, to read people's state of mind.

Perhaps you've thought about hacking fMRI, even if you didn't realize it.

Improved Scanning Technique Uses Brain as Portal to Thought

Random Skyping appears likely to continue. The next phase may be more formalized Skype-enabled social networks like www.jyve.com, which connects people with similar interests and desire to practice a certain language, and www.someonenew.com, which connects people for romantic purposes. Only a few English-language social networking sites currently use Skype, but such sites in Asia have been very successful.

So when is MemeStreams adding Skype data to its profiles?

Internet Phone Service Creating Chatty Network

He and others in his line are not there yet, but they are getting better.

Material as Tough as Steel? The Abalone Fits the Bill

A special look at games and gaming as a newly pervasive element in society, not just as a form of entertainment, but also as a foundation for research and education, is included.

Intersection of Engineering and Entertainment

What if viruses, worms or other forms of malware penetrated the computers that control ever more crucial functions in the car?

Now, you might ask, how realistic is that? Come on! -- right?

Microsoft has entered this business, too, having recently signed a deal to provide software for a telematics and diagnostics system to be installed in all Fiats, starting this year.

Oh. (Uh-oh.)

The enterprising eighth grader now positions herself to earn the very first PhD in "secure automotive engineering", a multi-disciplinary degree program offered jointly by the departments of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. (Or is it coming sooner than that?)

Can a Virus Hitch a Ride in Your Car?

"A big part of Longhorn," Bill Gates said, "will be its peer-to-peer capability, and having Groove help us will be a big part of that."

Microsoft Acquires Groove Networks

Music, blogs, movies, whatever. Unpop is the future.

"The future of blogging is not about bloggers who want audiences of thousands. The majority will be those communicating with four others or so."

You are the Long Tail. Enjoy.

Blog Tool Writing Its Own Story of Success