The phenomenon that is known as auto-tune has clearly been a game changer where music is concerned in the last decade or so, and something which intended to perfect the pitch of one’s voice has resulted in vocals that are really far off from the original. Of course, some might even refer this as the T-Pain effect, since the artist has been one of the more popular proponents of this technique.

Well, here is the I Am T-Pain Mic that goes one up on the I Am T-Pain App for the iPhone, since you don’t even need to phone to get started in the first place. Jakks Pacific will be releasing this cool device for $40 when it arrives, where it is capable of recording your voice and playing it back tuned automatically.

This is the all NEW Lara Croft – star of a brand new Tomb Raider game for 2011 that the developers have decided to call “Tomb Raider”.

Fortunately, there’s no such lack of imagination where our heroine is concerned. This radical makeover portrays Lara as a much younger and inexperienced version of her former self. In the new Tomb Raider she’s just finding her feet as an up n’ coming action-adventurer and she’s doing whatever is necessary to survive – which perhaps explains her dirty mug and the bow she’s carrying. We can only wonder what dangers those stormy skies and that shipwreck hold.

Tomb Raider already sounds very promising, and we certainly like what we’re seeing of the new Lara Croft – fresher-faced, funkier of haircut and less overtly fetishised than the Lara of old. Moreover this is the most realistic Lara Croft yet. Squint and you’d swear you were looking at a photograph of a real person.

Both Blockbuster and Netflix have offered video games from their by-mail services, and focused only on movies. But recently, this trend has started to change: Games are rapidly becoming the next frontier of non-bricks & mortar businesses.

This week, Coinstar subsidiary and kiosk powerhouse Redbox announced they will be offering video games right alongside movies. After testing the system for well over a year, the company, which rents DVDs to customers from vending machines for $1 per night, said it will begin rolling out games to many of its 24,000 kiosks across the U.S. Game rentals will cost just $2 per night.

The question now becomes: Will Netflix follow suit?

Nintendo has revealed sales for the current king of video game consoles, the Wii has crossed the 30 million mark in the U.S.

“This milestone is another reminder that people want fun games they can play with others — all at a value-minded price,” says Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s marketing VP, in a statement.

More than 73 million Wiis have been scooped up worldwide, which puts the console on pace to becoming the best-selling video game device ever. That title is held by Sony’s PlayStation 2, which has notched about 140 million in sales.

Here’s a cool green suit that you can use with any Chroma Key video effect to disappear on camera. The idea is that you can use it while standing in front of a green screen to manipulate objects while remaining completely invisible.

The Video Green Full Cover Suit is also available in blue and in two sizes for $225.

TubeTape

Microsoft Corp. today announced an all-in-one opportunity to jump into the controller-free fun of Kinect this holiday: the all-new Xbox 360 4GB console, the revolutionary Kinect sensor and “Kinect Adventures” packaged together for$299.99 (U.S. ERP). With “Kinect Adventures,” players will make their way through 20 adventures, navigating roaring rapids and ducking and dodging through mountaintop obstacle courses and other exotic locations — no controller, wand or balance board required. In addition, existing Xbox 360 console owners can purchase the Kinect sensor with “Kinect Adventures” for $149.99(U.S. ERP). The sensor, which will work with each of the 40 million Xbox 360 consoles currently in households worldwide,(1) is uniquely able to track your full body movements, respond to your voice and deliver a multiplayer experience right out of the box.

In addition, the new Xbox 360 4GB console, which begins shipping on Aug. 3 in the U.S., will be available for $199.99 (U.S. ERP). With a sleek new design, the Xbox 360 4GB console looks great and includes built-in Wi-Fi N, 4GB of internal flash memory, touch-sensitive buttons and a black matte finish.(2)

“Kinect for Xbox 360 offers tremendous entertainment value for the whole family,” said Dennis Durkin, Xbox 360 chief operating officer. “With full body, voice and the ability to play games with your friends right out of the box, Kinect is the most unique, complete and affordable way for everyone to enjoy controller-free fun and entertainment.”