Gizmondo to open flagship retail store
In London's Carnaby Street, would you believe?
The recently-launched Gizmondo handheld console is to get a flagship retail outlet dedicated entirely to it, based in London's trendy Carnaby Street, it was announced yesterday.
Rather like a small scale version of the Apple Stores that have popped up around the world, the Gizmondo store will open "in the run up to Christmas" and aims to "act as a showcase for the Gizmondo, software and accessories", allowing browsers to get a hands on with the device, as well as occasionally get involved with focus testing on work-in-progress products.
Gizmondo Europe MD Carl Freer said: "Having such a highly prized retail location to showcase the product will prove invaluable in many respects, but most of all, in providing an open line of communication to the consumer.
"We don't see this flagship store as competition to other retail. The store's primary function will be to promote the device and the brand as a whole, which in turn will drive more traffic to every retailer stocking Gizmondo."
The first units of the ambitious handheld began shipping to retailers last week, but faces tough competition in a sector that is readying itself for the launch of the PSP, Nintendo DS, as well as the Palm-based TapWave Zodiac - not to mention already-available products from the likes of Creative. Those attending the Best Of Stuff show in London between the 5th and 7th of November can see it for themselves. Let us know what you reckon.
In case you're wondering what on Earth the Gizmondo is, let us enlighten you: it's a CE-based handheld, with a 2.8-inch TFT colour screen, Samsung ARM9 400Mhz processor, GeForce 3D 4500 Nvidia GPU, which in real terms means gaming, multimedia messaging, music, movies, digital camera functionality, as well as wide area network gaming via GPRS, not to mention Bluetooth, toothbrush, sink and soft toilet paper dispenser. That last bit's probably not true.
When and if we get our hands on one of these (hint hint), we'll do a big handheld face-off with the TapWave Zodiac 2, which we do have, and is rather swish, we have to say.