Microsoft today rolled out Exchange ActiveSync (EAS), which lets users get push notifications on phones and other mobile devices, as part of the Wave 4 release of Windows Live Hotmail. Some users reported EAS working for them two months ago, but only now has Microsoft made it official: e-mail, calendar, and contacts can be pushed automatically to your phone from Hotmail. To enable EAS, use the following settings:

Many phones already support ActiveSync for connecting to an Exchange server, but the feature will be particularly useful on phones that support dual ActiveSync accounts, including devices running Microsoft's upcoming Windows Phone 7 OS. Users who don't connect to an Exchange Server, but still have a device with ActiveSync support can also use the new Hotmail feature. Microsoft says over 300 million mobile devices currently support EAS; a full list is available on the Windows Live Solution Center.

Hotmail users have been begging for IMAP and other enhanced syncing capabilities for ages. Microsoft still won't budge on IMAP, but the company did rollout POP3 last year, and now with EAS support this year, it's clear the software giant is finally listening.

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Xbox Live is a powerful weapon in Microsoft's Xbox 360 arsenal, but gamers aren't likely to be happy with an unexpected and unexplained increase in the price of the service. "I wanted to let you know that as of November 1, 2010 we are increasing the price of an Xbox LIVE [membership] for some members," Major Nelson announced on his blog. "This price increase only affects Xbox LIVE Members in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom or the United States."

Here's how it breaks down in the US:

In the UK the price will go up £1 per month, Canada will see a $1 CAD per-month increase, and Mexican gamers will pay 100 pesos extra for a year of service. Remember that finding game cards on sale for less than the going rate is common now, and that shouldn't change after the price increase. Heck, you can even buy a bunch of cards now and lock in the current price.

Xbox Live is constantly being updated, and the service is much more robust now than it was at launch, but everyone is going to have to make the judgment call for themselves: either cancel your service to send a message, or continue paying. Companies are less sensitive to angry comments than they are to changes to their bottom line.

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Apple is holding its annual that many believe will come with new iPods, new music announcements, and possibly other goodies. The event begins at 10AM PDT, on September 1 ().

Bookmark this page or enter an e-mail address below to get a notification when we start covering the event live on Wednesday.

The PlayStation Move hits store shelves on September 17, and Sony is hard at work convincing gamers that it's something they need. The company has been aggressively touring the different trade and community events, showing the press and gamers a series of tech demos in order to highlight what the hardware can do. A new video with some of these demos has been posted to the PlayStation Blog. (We had a chance to test-drive some of this content at E3, and it's an impressive use of the technology.)

Sales of Nintendo's portable hardware have been slipping in the US; in July the Xbox 360 outsold the DS hardware for the first time in... ever? Nintendo is feeling the squeeze, and has a brand-new 3D portable coming in the near future, which means good news for gamers: price drops!

From the press release: "Effective Sept. 12, the new suggested retail price of the Nintendo DSi system will be $149.99, while the new suggested retail price for the Nintendo DSi XL system will be $169.99." The DS Lite will continue to be sold for $129.99.