Louisiana resident John Kiel Patterson claims Apple iPod causes hearing damage if played too loudly, and he wants to be compensated for it. But in filing a lawsuit against Apple on the matter--a case he hopes to get certified as a class-action lawsuit--Patterson does not claim to have sustained any hearing damage as a result of his iPod use. The iPod players are inherently defective in design and are not sufficiently adorned with adequate warnings regarding the likelihood of hearing loss, according to the complaint filed Tuesday in US District Court in San Jose. Patterson, who bought his iPod last year, seeks compensation for unspecified damages and upgrades that will make iPods safer. But Apple does indeed ship a warning with each iPod that cautions permanent hearing loss may occur if earphones or headphones are used at high volume. The lawsuit says that is not enough, and that Apple should advise listeners as to what a safe volume level is and include a meter to alert users of the decibel level at which they are listening. The lawsuit comes just a week after a Wisconsin hearing specialist warned users of the in-ear headphones so prevalent on the ubiquitous iPods and a slew of other MP3 players to restrict their use to two hours a day and to keep the volume at a reasonable level. Apple has sold more than 42 million iPods since they went on sale in 2001, including 14 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. The complaint contends that Apple was forced to pull the iPod from store shelves in France and upgrade software on the device to limit sound to 100 decibels, but that it has not done the same in the US. The players can produce sounds of more than 115 decibels, about the sound level of an air-raid siren and a volume that can damage the hearing of a person exposed to the sound for more than 28 seconds per day, according to the complaint. "Millions of consumers have had their hearing put at risk by Apple's conduct," states the suit, filed by the Seattle-based firm of Hagens, Berman, Sobol, Shapiro. Apple declined to comment on the case. Apple has faced other suits over the iPod, including one over complaints that the iPod nano scratches too easily. That case was also brought by Hagens, Berman, Sobol, Shapiro, and has resulted in Apple including protective cases with all new nanos it sells.

Louisiana resident John Kiel Patterson claims Apple iPod causes hearing damage if played too loudly, and he wants to be compensated for it. But in filing a lawsuit against Apple on the matter--a case he hopes to get certified as a class-action lawsuit--Patterson does not claim to have sustained any hearing damage as a result of his iPod use. The iPod players are inherently defective in design and are not sufficiently adorned with adequate warnings regarding the likelihood of hearing loss, according to the complaint filed Tuesday in US District Court in San Jose. Patterson, who bought his iPod last year, seeks compensation for unspecified damages and upgrades that will make iPods safer. But Apple does indeed ship a warning with each iPod that cautions permanent hearing loss may occur if earphones or headphones are used at high volume. The lawsuit says that is not enough, and that Apple should advise listeners as to what a safe volume level is and include a meter to alert users of the decibel level at which they are listening. The lawsuit comes just a week after a Wisconsin hearing specialist warned users of the in-ear headphones so prevalent on the ubiquitous iPods and a slew of other MP3 players to restrict their use to two hours a day and to keep the volume at a reasonable level. Apple has sold more than 42 million iPods since they went on sale in 2001, including 14 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. The complaint contends that Apple was forced to pull the iPod from store shelves in France and upgrade software on the device to limit sound to 100 decibels, but that it has not done the same in the US. The players can produce sounds of more than 115 decibels, about the sound level of an air-raid siren and a volume that can damage the hearing of a person exposed to the sound for more than 28 seconds per day, according to the complaint. "Millions of consumers have had their hearing put at risk by Apple's conduct," states the suit, filed by the Seattle-based firm of Hagens, Berman, Sobol, Shapiro. Apple declined to comment on the case. Apple has faced other suits over the iPod, including one over complaints that the iPod nano scratches too easily. That case was also brought by Hagens, Berman, Sobol, Shapiro, and has resulted in Apple including protective cases with all new nanos it sells.

President Bush concentrated on broad themes Tuesday night in his fifth State of the Union address, offering few new initiatives and instead reiterating many of his administration's recurring themes on domestic and security issues. In the 51-minute speech before an audience that included newly seated Supreme Court associate justice Samuel Alito, Bush argued against isolationism, stated his oft-repeated determination to stay the course in Iraq, defended his ordering of secret wiretaps and raised the specter of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks in arguing for the spread of democracy across the Middle East. "Every step toward freedom in the world makes our country safer, and so we will act boldly in freedom's cause," Bush said. The speech touched on education and the need to better equip America's children to compete in a global economy as well as the importance of breaking the country's "addiction" to foreign oil while seeking new sources of fuel. But more than half of the evening's comments were focused on foreign policy and the war on terror, with no new initiatives to help the victims of hurricanes in the Gulf Coast and only passing mentions of the looming crisis in the Social Security system. Recognizing the divisiveness that has split the Congress, and the country, over issues such as Alito's nomination and the wiretapping scandal (see "Alito Confirmed For Supreme Court"), Bush opened with a call for Americans to unite in advancing the country's interests at home and abroad in the year ahead. "We will choose to act confidently in pursuing the enemies of freedom, or retreat from our duties in the hope of an easier life," he said. "We will choose to build our prosperity by leading the world economy, or shut ourselves off from trade and opportunity. In a complex and challenging time, the road of isolationism and protectionism may seem broad and inviting, yet it ends in danger and decline. The only way to protect our people ... the only way to secure the peace ... the only way to control our destiny is by our leadership. So the United States of America will continue to lead." Saying that here is "no peace ... no honor in retreat," Bush vowed to continue fighting against radical Islam — calling out Osama bin Laden by name two times — and using the liberation of Nazi death camps in World War II as an example of why the U.S. should avoid isolationism. As in the past, the president declined to set a timetable for the withdrawal of troops in Iraq (see "Bush Lays Out 'Plan For Victory' In Iraq, Again Rejects Timetable For Withdrawal"). Despite the rising death toll of U.S. forces and polls showing that the majority of Americans believe the war in Iraq was a mistake, said he is "confident in our plan for victory" declaring, "Fellow citizens, we are in this fight to win and we are winning." And while praising the recent democratic elections in Egypt and by the Palestinian people (see "Anti-Israeli Group Hamas Wins Palestinian Elections"), Bush urged each to reject radicalism and asked the world to be steadfast in denying Iran's nuclear ambitions. With the political capital he boasted of in the previous State of the Union address greatly diminished, Bush offered broad thoughts instead of bold, specific plans elsewhere in the speech. Pundits described it as a recognition that the enormous costs of the war in Iraq and Gulf Coast rebuilding have limited the funds available for new initiatives. He spoke of fighting HIV/AIDS, malaria, child prostitution and drug trafficking in the developing world, positing their defeat as a win for American security. He also defended his controversial ordering of secret wiretaps by the National Security Administration, saying that if they'd been in place earlier, the September 11 attacks might have been avoided. "It is said that prior to the attacks of September 11th, our government failed to connect the dots of the conspiracy," Bush said. "We now know that two of the hijackers in the United States placed telephone calls to al Qaeda operatives overseas. But we did not know about their plans until it was too late. So to prevent another attack, based on authority given to me by the Constitution and by statute, I have authorized a terrorist surveillance program to aggressively pursue the international communications of suspected al Qaeda operatives and affiliates to and from America." According to an NPR report, the CIA did know that two of the hijackers, Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Midhar, attended an al Qaeda meeting in Malaysia in 2000, and then traveled to the U.S. But they were not put on terrorist watch lists until they were already in the U.S., and the FBI was not told to look for them until August of 2001. NPR reported that critics of the administration's surveillance programs say that shows that basic incompetence prevented detection of the plot, not inadequate surveillance powers. In announcing one of the few new plans in the speech, Bush said, "America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world," and called for his Advanced Energy Initiative. The former Texas oilman said the plan will see a 22-percent increase in clean-energy research at the Department of Energy in an attempt to boost zero-emission coal-fired plants to fuel our homes and offices and more research into hydrogen-fueled and hybrid cars. Bush set a goal of replacing 75 percent of U.S. oil imports from the Middle East by 2025 with new forms of corn-based ethanol fuel and other renewable sources. Critics noted, however, that the plan was less ambitious than it seems, as the U.S. gets less than 20 percent of its oil from the Persian Gulf, with the majority coming from Mexico, Canada and Venezuela. In one of his few comments on education, Bush said the way to deal with the threat of more competition for countries like China and India was to substantially increase financing for basic science research and train 70,000 new high school Advanced Placement teachers while recruiting 30,000 math and science professionals to work in classrooms. Citing statistics showing drops in the rates of violent crime, drug use by teens and teenage pregnancy, Bush called the numbers signs of a "revolution of conscience." He added, however, that others are concerned about the direction the country is going and "discouraged by activist courts that try to redefine marriage." He also urged the Congress to pass legislation banning all forms of human cloning, saying that "human life is a gift from our creator and that gift should never be discarded, devalued or put up for sale." While the speech was notable for the typical raucous applause from the ruling party with several reaction shots showing Democrats, most notably an incredulous-looking Hillary Clinton, sitting on their hands during much of the address — Bush ended by again appealing to both sides to unite. "Before history is written down in books, it is written in courage," he said. "Like Americans before us, we will show that courage and we will finish well. We will lead freedom's advance. We will compete and excel in the global economy. We will renew the defining moral commitments of this land. And so we move forward optimistic about our country, faithful to its cause and confident of victories to come." - MTV News

Ain't nothing like a naked woman gyrating around a pole to the strains of 50 Cent's "Candy Shop" and Mötley Crüe's "Girls, Girls, Girls" to inspire a man. After successful runs with Locked Up, Ghetto, and Lonely, Akon is releasing "Bananza (Belly Dancer)" as the fourth single from his debut album, Trouble. Bananza was one of the first records I wrote when I got out of prison." Akon said. "I went straight to the strip club and came back home to the studio and wrote about it. It's definitely one of my club records." While in Los Angeles for the BET Awards, Akon shot the video for "Bananza," which will also include a sneak preview of the clip for his next single, "Trouble Nobody. "Trouble was a big record for me," Akon explained. "When I got out of jail, I couldn't get a regular job. So it was pretty much me between a rock and a hard place, wanting to change, but society wouldn't allow me to do it." Akon is using the videos to practice in front of the cameras, as he plans to start shooting a feature film, also called "Trouble," in September. The character shouldn't be a big stretch for the artist. "Trouble is about an African kid that comes to the States," the Senegalese-born Akon said. "In the midst of trying to fit in he gets into all this trouble and gets locked up. [His] family behind him is a musical influence, and before you know it, he makes [music] a hobby and gets famous over it. It's pretty much based on me, my true life story."

Rap legend LL Cool J has been added to the 2006 Essence Music Festival, which takes place this July. Cedric The Entertainer and RnB group Maze featuring Frankie Beverly have also been added to the show, which already counts Mary J. Blige, as one of the headlining acts. The 2006 Essence Music Festival takes place July 1, 2 and 3 at its new interim home, state of the art Reliant Park in Houston, Texas. Tickets are on sale at ticketmaster.com with prices ranging from $45-$110. The popular "Beef" trilogy is slated to air on BET starting tonight (Jan. 25) and will air episodes 1-3 over the next three days. The "Beef" series of DVD's is produced by QD3 Entertainment and focuses on the histories of some of Hip-Hop's most celebrated rivalries. The series kicks off at 9:00 PM with the next installment broadcasting the following night at the same time. "Beef" part 2 airs Thursday Jan 26 at 9:00 PM and "Beef" part 3 airs Fri. Jan 27 at 9:00 PM. Marc Ecko and Atari have announced that their new video game, "Marc Ecko's Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure" will ship gold when it hits stores nationwide on Feb. 14 and on Feb. 17 in Europe. Gamers assume the role of "Trane" and must learn various graffiti skills, as well as fend off rivals crews and an oppressive mayor. Over 65 graffiti artists lent their tags and art to the game's back drop, while Sean "Diddy" Combs, Talib Kweli, Charlie Murphy, The RZA, MC Serch and others lent their voices to the game. The game's soundtrack also features a collaboration between Rakim and Talib Kweli titled "Getting Up Anthem: Part 1."

Square Enix reported its consolidated results for the nine-month period ended December 2005. The company's net sales were up 13.2 percent to 68.9 billion yen ($585 million) compared to the same period last year. However, its operating income fell 75.5 percent to 6.33 billion yen ($53.8 million), and its net profit declined by 67.7 percent to 4.29 billion yen ($36.5 million). Square Enix attributed most of its financial difficulties to its primary business--games. The company had a profitable nine months, releasing a number of hits: Kingdom Hearts II, which shipped 1.1 million units in Japan since its release in December; Romancing SaGa for the PS2, which shipped 500,000 units (Japan: 450,000; USA: 50,000); and Dragon Quest VIII, which shipped 430,000 units in North America. However, the numbers couldn't match those of the previous year, when Dragon Quest VIII shipped 3 million units in its first three days of release in Japan. The segment's sales fell 43.3 percent to 21.2 billion yen ($180 million), and its operating income plunged 95.1 percent to 974 million yen ($8.28 million). Square Enix's other operations also saw year-on-year declines. Sales in its online game division fell by 9.2 percent to 9.62 billion yen ($81.8 million), and operating income fell 15.7 percent to 3.75 billion yen ($3.19 million). Sales at its mobile content division rose by 17.5 percent to 3.66 billion yen ($31.1 million), but its operating income fell 26.4 percent to 736 million yen ($6.26 million). Square Enix's publishing division saw a small decline due to the lack of large strategy guidebook releases, but it continued to make a profit from comic books. The segment's sales fell 9.5 percent to 6.97 billion yen ($59.3 million), and its operation income fell 23.7 percent to 1.85 billion yen ($15.7 million). Square Enix's miscellaneous operations division was the only part of the company that saw a rise in operating income, due to the success of its DVD/UMD movie, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Sales from the division rose by 209.8 percent to 6.55 billion yen ($55.7 million), and operating income rose by 250.3 percent to 2.15 billion yen ($18.3 million). Square Enix's consolidated results for the nine months period include the fourth-quarter balance sheet from Taito, which became a subsidiary of Square Enix at the end of September. Taito's sales for the three-month period were 20.9 billion yen ($178 million), and it made an operating loss of 234 million yen ($1.99 million). Interestingly, Square Enix posts Taito's figures as its "Amusement Machine" division, which seems to be the role that Square Enix has planned for its new subsidiary. Square Enix has not changed the outlook for its full fiscal year ending March 31, 2005. The company expects net sales of 136 billion yen ($1.16 billion), operating income of 28.5 billion yen ($242 million), and net profit of 17.5 billion yen ($149 million).

So far Konami has covered just about every facet of the music world in its wildly successful series of musical arcade and console games. One of the less obvious choices for an interactive rhythm game is mixing records on a turntable. The Beatmania series manages to do just that, and it isn't as awkward as it may sound. We put our scratching skills to the test on the US version of the game at a recent Konami press event. In case you aren't familiar with the series, Beatmania is a rhythm game that's most similar to Konami's Guitar Freaks, but it also bears a resemblance to Amplitude and Guitar Hero. The game uses a special controller with a series of three black and three white buttons and a large scratch pad. As notes scroll down from the top of the screen, you have to hit the correct button or move the scratch pad at the right time. As you hit the notes, you get scored based on your timing and how many notes you've hit in a row. However, your score is only one way to measure your progress in the game. At the bottom of the screen you have a groove gauge that fills up as you hit notes. To beat a song, your groove gauge must be more than 80 percent full when the song ends. That's easy enough on the slower songs and the lowest difficulty, but the patterns can get completely frantic later on, requiring you to have some pretty fast fingers to finish a song on hyper difficulty. For an extra challenge, you can select various plug-ins that alter the flow of the notes coming down the screen. These plug-ins can speed up, hide, or completely randomize the notes, giving even seasoned players a run for their money. The US version of the game isn't just a simple port of the original game, which was released way back in 1997 in arcades. The US version has been reworked to maintain the look and feel of the series, while becoming a bit more accessible to the US audience. The US version of the game has two modes of play, one for experienced DJs that uses all seven keys on the controller, and another for beginners that uses only five of the keys. You'll also find a replay mode and a practice mode, both of which are exclusive to the US release of the game. Beatmania has more than 50 songs to choose from, including mixes from such artists as Moby and Jamiroquai. All of the songs used in the game are remixes of the covers used in the Karaoke Revolution games, so they might sound familiar. The controller itself feels nice and sturdy, and it's the right size to sit comfortably on your lap or on your coffee table. The plan is to sell Beatmania in a bundle with one controller, and there's no word yet on whether or not additional controllers will be available separately for people who want to battle in multiplayer mode. The visual style of Beatmania is functional, but it has very little in the way of flashy graphics. The notes themselves are tiny colored bars that can be somewhat hard to see at first, but not to the point that it interferes with the game. If you're playing single-player, the right side of the screen is reserved for some slightly dated psychedelic videos that play along with the song. It sounds simplistic to simply hammer on keys in time to music, and indeed it feels more like playing the piano than scratching records. It's still quite fun, though, and if you like techno music, you'll enjoy the game that much more. Beatmania is currently scheduled to ship in March, so be sure to check back soon for more updates.

So far Konami has covered just about every facet of the music world in its wildly successful series of musical arcade and console games. One of the less obvious choices for an interactive rhythm game is mixing records on a turntable. The Beatmania series manages to do just that, and it isn't as awkward as it may sound. We put our scratching skills to the test on the US version of the game at a recent Konami press event. In case you aren't familiar with the series, Beatmania is a rhythm game that's most similar to Konami's Guitar Freaks, but it also bears a resemblance to Amplitude and Guitar Hero. The game uses a special controller with a series of three black and three white buttons and a large scratch pad. As notes scroll down from the top of the screen, you have to hit the correct button or move the scratch pad at the right time. As you hit the notes, you get scored based on your timing and how many notes you've hit in a row. However, your score is only one way to measure your progress in the game. At the bottom of the screen you have a groove gauge that fills up as you hit notes. To beat a song, your groove gauge must be more than 80 percent full when the song ends. That's easy enough on the slower songs and the lowest difficulty, but the patterns can get completely frantic later on, requiring you to have some pretty fast fingers to finish a song on hyper difficulty. For an extra challenge, you can select various plug-ins that alter the flow of the notes coming down the screen. These plug-ins can speed up, hide, or completely randomize the notes, giving even seasoned players a run for their money. The US version of the game isn't just a simple port of the original game, which was released way back in 1997 in arcades. The US version has been reworked to maintain the look and feel of the series, while becoming a bit more accessible to the US audience. The US version of the game has two modes of play, one for experienced DJs that uses all seven keys on the controller, and another for beginners that uses only five of the keys. You'll also find a replay mode and a practice mode, both of which are exclusive to the US release of the game. Beatmania has more than 50 songs to choose from, including mixes from such artists as Moby and Jamiroquai. All of the songs used in the game are remixes of the covers used in the Karaoke Revolution games, so they might sound familiar. The controller itself feels nice and sturdy, and it's the right size to sit comfortably on your lap or on your coffee table. The plan is to sell Beatmania in a bundle with one controller, and there's no word yet on whether or not additional controllers will be available separately for people who want to battle in multiplayer mode. The visual style of Beatmania is functional, but it has very little in the way of flashy graphics. The notes themselves are tiny colored bars that can be somewhat hard to see at first, but not to the point that it interferes with the game. If you're playing single-player, the right side of the screen is reserved for some slightly dated psychedelic videos that play along with the song. It sounds simplistic to simply hammer on keys in time to music, and indeed it feels more like playing the piano than scratching records. It's still quite fun, though, and if you like techno music, you'll enjoy the game that much more. Beatmania is currently scheduled to ship in March, so be sure to check back soon for more updates.

The Lyricist Lounge and Current TV have teamed to present an exclusive performance by legendary rapper Rakim. The legendary lyricist will hit the stage at BB Kings in Times Square, New York on Jan. 30. According to sources, the first show, which also features M-1 of dead prez and Ryan Perfect, is already sold out. A second Rakim date has been scheduled for Feb. 27. Tickets for the second show go on sale Sat. Jan. 28 at 12 pm and are available at bbkingblues.com or ticketmaster.com Cash Money Records has teamed with Virgin Mobile and Universal Music to offer five exclusive ringtones to Virgin Mobile customers. Lil Wayne's "Way of Life" and "Where You At," Mannie Fresh's "Conversation," Big Tymers "Beat It Up" and Hot Boyz "Respect My Mind" are being offered through Virgin Mobile's First Dibs program during the month of Feb. "Cash Money Records represents a group of highly talented hip-hop/rap artists that appeal to Virgin Mobile USA's core demographic." said Dominick Tolli, vice president of Product Management and Development for Virgin Mobile USA. "We're excited that our customers will have the exclusive opportunity to enjoy these ringtones from the Cash Money label." In addition to the five exclusive ringtones, 20 other Cash Money tracks are being offered as ringtones. Latin Hip-Hop mogul Chingo Bling, famed DJ Tony Touch and Jose Cuervo Tequila, the world's largest Tequila company, have announced a nationwide search for a new generation of Latino artists. "Cuervotón" is a talent search that will showcase new artists and promote Latinos in the music business. Machete Records and Wu-Tang Latino are also taking part in the event. “There are so many people who are hustling for the American Dream,” said Chingo Bling. “Someone coming from nothing and trying to get something. It’s a universal thing and that’s one thing I represent. Through the "Cuervotón" movement we will be able to give struggling Latino artists an opportunity to showcase their individual talents in this country.” The search for talent will take place in New York, Chicago, Houston and Phoenix. One winner from each city will be selected to perform at a star-studded concert in New York on May 18, 2006. "Cuervotón" will be promoted locally through radio promotions in each market. The Cartoon Network's Adult Swim ordered 20 new episodes of the controversial cartoon series, "The Boondocks." The new episodes of the show, which is nominated for an NAACP Image Award, are slated to run later this year. McGruder is executive producer of the show along with Reginald Hudlin."The Boondocks" follows the adventures of two boys, Riley and Huey Freeman, who experience a culture clash after moving from Chicago's Southside, to the suburbs with their grandfather. The cartoon, which airs during the Adult Swim block of programming, came under fire over a recent episode. Civil rights activist leader Al Sharpton is demanding an apology from The Cartoon Network, after a Jan. 15 episode aired featuring slain civil-rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. using the N-word - the day before the United States' national holiday honoring Dr. King. The episode, titled "The Return of the King," featured King waking from a coma and using the n-word in an angry speech about his issues with today's society. "We think Aaron McGruder came up with a thought-provoking way of not only showing Dr. King's bravery, but also of reminding us of what he stood and fought for and why, even today, it is important for all of us to remember that and to continue to take action," The Cartoon Network said in defense of the episode.

Citing the start of the next-generation console transition and the lack of a Halo 2 or San Andreas-level blockbuster, many analysts predicted game sales would shrink in 2005. And while US retailers sold $10.5 billion of combined gaming hardware and software--6 percent higher than in 2004--taken alone, software revenue did slide 3 percent, from $6.25 billion to $6.06 billion. Now, more and more analysts are beginning to predict what 2006 has in store for the game market. The latest expert to join the chorus is Mike Wallace, the lead game analyst at the Wall Street investment firm UBS. "We expect US software sales to grow 3 percent in 2006 (up from a 3 percent sales decline in 2005)," he said in his most recent report. "This is up from our prior view of flat sales in 2006, with the year-over-year increase mainly due to 2005 being weaker than expected." Wallace believes the increase will be fueled by the debut of the second and third next-generation consoles. "The launch of Sony's PlayStation 3 console later this year, along with the launch of Nintendo's Revolution console, should represent the official start of the new cycle," he said. He also agreed that the PS3 will miss its previously announced spring launch window and will go on sale across the Pacific first. "We think a summer launch [in Japan] is more likely, with the US and Europe launches still expected in Q4," he said. As for which console will win the first round of the next-gen war, Wallace thinks that Microsoft's decision to launch first will pay off. "We are projecting meaningful sales of Microsoft's Xbox 360 (4 million units) in the U.S. this year," he said, going on to forecast that the PS3 and Revolution will sell around 1 million units each by the end of the year. By contrast, the Xbox 360 sold only 607,000 units by the end of December 2005, thanks to widespread shortages. That said, Wallace predicts that the current drought in supply of the console will end in the spring. "Xbox 360 hardware supply continues to be constrained, which will probably hurt industry sales over the next few months," he said. However, this situation should improve throughout the course of the year, as Microsoft works out its manufacturing issues with the console. Looking farther ahead to 2007, Wallace believes the 360 will maintain a sizable lead over its rivals. "We are projecting the Xbox 360 and PS3 console installed bases to exceed 10 million units and 7 million units in the US that year, respectively, while the Revolution installed base should surpass 3 million units." He also said that a slowdown in PlayStation 2 sales will be somewhat ameliorated by a price drop from $149 to $99, most likely around E3 in mid-May. As for other platforms, Wallace believes Sony will also cut the price of the PSP--a move that will lead it to pull ahead of the DS in overall sales. "The next-generation handheld installed base should also start to represent sizable numbers in 2007, as we expect the PSP and DS installed bases to reach 15 million units and 10 million units that year, respectively." However, Wallace stated that Nintendo's Game Boy Advance will give it an edge in the overall handheld market in 2006, saying "ongoing sales of GBA should be driven mainly by the continued popularity of the Game Boy Micro. Peering even deeper into his financial crystal ball, Wallace thinks that the game industry will continue to grow at a healthy pace. He predicts that in 2008, the combined installed base of all three next-gen consoles (PS3, Xbox 360, and Revolution) will exceed 38 million units and will climb to a whopping 52 million units in 2009. As for the portable market, he projects that there will be 34 million next-gen handhelds (that is, the PSP and DS) in gamers' hands by 2008, with the number rising to 43 million the following year. He did not give figures for the Game Boy Advance's installed base in those years.