Gamespot show us a new development in the Infinium Labs soap opera:

"After months of speculation and occasional derision, Infinium Labs has finally unveiled their Phantom PC game console at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Although the presenters never actually turned the machine on, they did display the first physical example of the console for the press to ogle."

By Tor Thorsen, Curt Feldman at GameSpot!

The sample Phantom looked much like its concept art, a sleek if not ideally stackable package, with the now-infamous Viking-helmet logo on the front and an impressive array of video, audio, and data connections in the back. Visible were: optical, coax, and RCA audio outputs; S-video, composite, and component video outputs; and 4 USB ports, a 10/100 LAN line, and a cable modem input.

Once rumored to be an elaborate hoax, the Phantom promises to be a "new way to deliver content," according to Infinium Labs. When it eventually becomes available, the console will support regular PC gaming on monitors or televisions, as well as a proposed online game rental service via an "always on" broadband device. The Phantom's proposed technical specs and more information on its capabilities are available on its official Web site, Phantom.net!

It's going to be difficult for me to forgive them for not clearing up the hoax prior to this.... and I still don't trust that it is not a hoax.