Archive for September 6th, 2007
Filed under: Car Tech, Google
A GPS unit for your car is nothing new, but how about a GPS unit that connects to Google or Yahoo! Maps? Mercedes has just announced the launch of Search and Send, a system that allows you to send driving directions from a PC to your car using either Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps depending on personal preference. Friends and family can even be granted access to the system, allowing them to send you coordinates when you’re already out on the road. Once in your Benzo, you download the directions directly to the in-car navigation system where you can either chart a route immediately or save the destination for a later trip.
The Search and Send service is free with a subscription to Mercedes Tele Aid, a roadside assistance system similar to GM’s OnStar. The system is free for the first year with the purchase of select Mercedes cars. Initially it will only be available on the ‘07 S-Class, ‘07 CL-Class and ‘08 C-Class vehicles when outfitted with the Multimedia and Navigation package.
Though the Mercedes program is the first like it in the U.S., BMW offers German drivers a very similar experience with its Drive Assist program. Drive Assist, however, is limited only to business addresses, where Search and Send can plot any location.
From Engadget
[CORRECTION: It actually turns out that MapQuest and GM announced a similar service called OnStar Web Destination Entry in April which should come out sometime in 2008.]
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Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
We first caught sight of these new Halo 3-themed Xbox 360 accessories a few months back, but Microsoft is just now getting official with them, confirming all the details that made themselves known earlier. As we mentioned last time, the controllers are both of the wireless variety, and sport your choice of Covenant Brute or Master Chief themes designed by Spawn-creator Todd McFarlane. What’s more, each controller also comes with a “Limited Edition” Halo 3 Master Chief figurine also designed by McFarlane. Look for them to set you back $60 apiece when they’re released on September 4th. Also coming for the same price that day is a Halo 3-themed wireless headset, which doesn’t boast the McFarlane touch but looks like it should fit in better with your Halo 3 Special Edition Xbox 360. Finally, while it’s not Halo-themed, Microsoft has also taken the opportunity to reconfirm that its Xbox 360 Messenger Kit is indeed going to be released September 4th for $30, which includes the the Chatpad and an Xbox 360 headset. Click on through for a closer look at each accessory. Continue reading Microsoft gets official with new Halo 3-themed Xbox 360 accessories
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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Posted by: in Celebrity news
 Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
We already pondered whether or not going vampy was Mandy Moore’s best look — but just because something does or does not work on a star doesn’t mean that it can’t work for us. Deep red lips are a hot trend for fall, but would you wear a dark color like that? Tell us: Would you wear Mandy’s deep red lipstick? Or are you sticking to neutral and bright tones for fall?
Want your answer to appear in print? To have your comment considered for the next issue of PEOPLE’s StyleWatch, please INCLUDE your first name and last initial, your age and your hometown/state.
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Filed under: PlayStation Store, Demos, News
Sony set a dangerous precedent with last week’s PSN update (and also, a tragic mistake). We’ll be expecting similar amounts of content for the US PSN and a much greater amount for the EU PSN (alright, alright — enough moaning about the EU PSN, but honestly: we’re bitter). So far this week is shaping up quite nicely now that we have confirmation of Motorstorm’s Coyote Revenge update and, now, a Stranglehold demo. That’s right. A demo for a game that doesn’t involve balls or wheels. We’re excited!
The announcement was made on the official Midway forums by the moderator “Echo77.” Where do we recognise that name from? Oh yeah, he’s the same fellow that started the Stranglehold region free nonsense a couple of months ago. Regardless, we’re going to remain cautiously optimistic and hope for the best come Thursday.
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Posted by: in Hollywood news
Filed under: Action & Adventure, Deals, Paramount, Scripts & Screenwriting, Games and Game Movies
 OK, I get it. Eventually every single video game will be turned into a film, and I mean every video game. Game Daily: BIZ reports that the classic 1982 platform game Joust has been selected for the big-screen treatment. The film is being produced by CP Productions, which is comprised of Area 51 producer Christine Peters and Michael Cerenzie (Blackout). CP is dedicated to producing films for the “under-25 filmgoer”, and their slate is mainly horror and sci-fi, along with some other classic video game adaptations. Joust centered on an ostrich-riding knight who would do battle with waves of bad guys on a series of platforms suspended over a pit of lava. It might have been simplistic, but is still considered one of the best by fans of classic arcade games. Released in 1982 by Williams Electronics for Midway Games, Joust has made its way to most video game platforms even as recently as for the Xbox 360.
Since there isn’t all that much to work with in terms of story and character, Peters told Daily, “We took one element of the game and the brand itself and built a whole new world around it for the film”. Matt Gotleib has already finished a script for the film and it is being described as “Gladiator meets Mad Max“. The film would be set in a futuristic Las Vegas, but there is no word on whether our hero will still be astride an ostrich (or emu) this time around. CP is also planning on releasing a graphic novel by Steven Elliot Altman of DC Comics and Dark Horse Comics fame, that will be based on Gotleib’s script. There is also the possibility of a new series of games that would build off his story. Paramount Pictures has been reported to have a first look deal with CP Productions for the film, so stay tuned for any updates that come our way.
[ Thanks to RottenTomatoes.com for the tip. ]
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Filed under: Cellphones
Honestly, we’re getting a bit tired of all these so-called iPhone rival handsets, but Samsung’s elusive Croix doesn’t do a whole lot to shake the stereotype. The mobile, which happens to boast a very similar layout to Apple’s darling (and Samsung’s own F700), just won an iF Communication Design Award 2007, and while details are scant about the actual hardware, it sounds like Sammy is hoping to grab your attention with a sensationally sleek interface (seen in detail after the break). The name, which translates to “Cross” in French, supposedly symbolizes the phone’s “progressive continuum, as opposed to discrete transmission from one item to another,” and touts an “intuitive interface through on-screen touch input mapping which supports five different ways of interaction.” Of course, only time will tell if this thing actually goes commercial (or proves real, to be honest), but it certainly has the look.
[Via I4U News]
Update: Indeed, “Croix” may actually be the branding Samsung has assigned to its SGH-700; they certainly look close enough, right down to the F700’s trademark vertical stripes across its face. Then again, Croix may represent a different model or a touch-based platform for an entire range of models. We’ll keep y’all updated when we know more.
Continue reading Samsung’s Croix: yet another ‘iPhone rival’
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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
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Filed under: Rumors, Products and services, Insiders, Competitive strategy, Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT)
 The tech blogs are buzzing this week with heightened rumors of a Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) phone to be unveiled early next year. While these stories have percolated for months, more details that tend to give the rumor credence have emerged.
Our sister blog Engadget points to Google’s acquisition in 2005 of Android, a mobile software firm, and writes that this team has developed a Linux-based (as in, non-Windows) mobile device operating system that it is actively shopping to the industry. The OS would be a direct competitor to Symbian and the mobile version of Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) Windows.
Crunchgear claims to have inside info that Google is working with HTC, the mobile device manufacturer, to assemble the Google Phone for a 2008 release. It speculates the phone will come equipped with Google Maps, built-in GPS, Google Talk for VOIP, and perhaps WiFi capability. This is especially interesting in light of Google’s pursuit of bandwidth in the upcoming 700-MHz auction.
What I find interesting is this progression –
1. Google launches on-line application suite
2. Google expands application suite to off-line use
3. Google unveils its own mobile OS
4. Google launches its own PC operating system
Is that the sound of breaking Windows I hear over my Google phone?
via paidcontent.org
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Filed under: Computers
While it may not exactly induce the fanboyicide commonly observed in so many Apple owners, IBM’s ThinkPad has always had a good rep - they’re solid machines with innovative ideas. Remember the TrackPoint pointing device? How about the ThinkLight (that LED keyboard light at the top of the LCD screen). Both ThinkPad firsts, as the squishy grammar might imply. Oh, and they won’t break the bank. Until now.
Lenovo, which bought IBM’s PC division in 2005, is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the device with the ThinkPad Reserve Edition notebook, which launched today. The hand-stitched, saddle-grade, premium French leather-encased laptop just screams “I make money with my computer.”
Each ThinkPad is individually numbered and comes with live, round-the-clock executive-class service and support. We’d call it the first-class flight of laptops, but then they’d totally attribute that quote to us in their promo materials.
It’ll cost you $5,000, but when you’re handling many millions…aren’t you worth it?
Quick, answer before your manager/wife does.
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Filed under: News
 To quote the man, “What a strange long trip it’s been.” Brian Allgeier recently updated his blog over at IGN, swimming upstream in his river of memories about making Ratchet & Clank come to life, from the beginning to the latest PS3 version. While we’d love to recount his memory of Ratchet & Clank’s roots with you, that’s his story and we’d feel guilty if you didn’t check out his own words on the matter. Let’s just say that working on a dead-in-the-water project got everyone’s creative juices flowing, resulting in the crazy gizmos we know and cherish along with our favorite furry hero.
Brian Allgeier went on to answer a question that many gamers want to ask many developers: how can you keep working on that same franchise for so long? Luckily, every game takes different strides in different directions to keep things fresh — much like every Final Fantasy game is distinct, every Ratchet title has its own stylistic elements and added areas to keep the same characters fresh. The PS2 titles featured some RPG elements, but Allgeier says with the PS3 version “our goal has been to focus on a galactic adventure with expressive characters in lush and vivid worlds. We’re developing new gameplay, storytelling techniques, and a stylistic approach to give players an immersive experience.” We simply can’t wait to get our hands on the final version of Tools of Destruction, especially after sitting back and learning what goes through the Creative Director’s head.
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