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Blizzard Wouldn’t Mind Seeing James Cameron Direct StarCraft Movie

Posted: 31 Aug 2010 05:00 AM PDT

Is there any other RTS out there that could as easily be made into a movie as StarCraft? Probably not, no. What’s slightly more pie-in-the-sky? Getting James Cameron to direct it. It’s a nice idea, certainly, and especially considering that the man only directs smash-hits, but do you really see James Cameron taking time out of his post-Avatar world to direct a video game movie? I mean, isn’t he busy planning an Avatar sequel?

That’s the dream, though.

Blizzard told MTV, in a sorta, "wouldn’t it be nice if…"

I think if Jim Cameron came to us tomorrow and said, ‘You want to make a StarCraft movie?’ we’d probably sign that.

More relevant for the integrity of any possible film (or even TV series), Blizzard says that it’s "really important to us that we find creative people that are really talented but also really excited about our properties."

You don’t want some hotshot director barging in, stamping his sill vision on a film that has nothing to do with the "soul" of the series, so to speak.

Australian PS3 Jailbreak Courtroon Showdown Delayed Till Friday

Posted: 31 Aug 2010 04:15 AM PDT

Not the biggest story in the world today—it is transfer deadline day, after all—but it looks like the big Sony PS3 modchip courtroom smackdown has been delayed by a few days. So says the mighty Kotaku, at least. The judge who was supposed to preside over the case didn’t show up today (it’ 9pm in Sydney as of this writing), thus the hearing has been moved back to Friday, September 3.

What does this mean? Eh, in the grand scheme of things not too much. The temporary ban on the sale and importation of that PS3 jailbreak dongle has been extended to Friday. That’s when Sony and its army of lawyers will try to convince the courts down there that these jailbreak devices have been created for the express purposes of piracy (don’t expect Sony to mention homebrew at all) and should thus be banned forever.

Funny how a multi-billion dollar company like Sony can be shaken in its boots over a tiny piece of plastic. What a wacky world.


Canon’s New CMOS Sensor Is 40 Times Bigger Than Others

Posted: 31 Aug 2010 03:00 AM PDT

Exactly one week ago, Canon unveiled a pretty impressive 120 megapixel sensor, and today the company followed up with the announcement of “the world’s largest” CMOS sensor. Sized at 202 x 205 mm, the new sensor is 40 times bigger than the Canon CMOS sensors out there now.

The company says the sensor can capture images “in one one-hundredth the amount of light required by a professional-model digital SLR camera” (those with a 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor). In other words, shooting high-quality pictures and video during the night will become much easier (think shooting video at 60fps in just 0.3 lux of illumination).

The only problem is that Canon doesn’t reveal when the CMOS sensor will actually become available. But at least you can see the new device on the picture above (on the left; the one on the right is a 35 mm full-frame CMOS sensor).

Retro City Rampage Will Have The Sweetest Swag At PAX

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 06:35 PM PDT

This is sheer speculation, but I’m thinking that having a complete retro-style box, rental-style plastic case, and old-school-mom-and-pop-style fabricated receipt is going to pretty much make Retro City Rampage the must-have swag stop at PAX.

The game looks pretty awesome, too.

Power Laces Beats Nike To The Future

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 06:04 PM PDT


Watch out, Nike. Power Laces has your number. Of course you have the patent, but let’s not get hung on up on the ‘deets. Power Lace’s enterprising creator is already on the second generation of his self-tightening shoes and it looks surprising similar to Nike’s just-granted patent — complete with heel sensor. This guy is going for broke, though, and is currently seeking funding via KickerStarter. I’m not sure I would would drain the trust fund to allow the guy to quickly hit his $25,000 goal after seeing the Nike patent, but a few dollar bet at least makes this guys day. Plus it could net you a t-shirt or some rad 80′s-themed stickers. A $250 donation will get you the first generation if the target goal is reached.

Anyway, enough, you must click through to see the demo video. It’s surprisingly nice. Marty would approve. (You knew I had to throw in at least one Back To The Future joke)

LG Shows Off Prototype 3D OLED TV, More At IFA

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 04:00 PM PDT

LG seems to be planning on dominating the 3D OLED market this coming year, and will be showing a few examples of their technology off at IFA this week. The jewel in their crown is a 31-inch, 2.9mm thin OLED display. This will earn LG the title of “world’s thinnest OLED TV”. At least until someone else comes out with something thinner.

Of course, details are sparse until the actual launch, but we do know that LG is going show off an 180-inch plasma display as well. We don’t have any information on pricing or even if either of these screens will ever make it to the consumer market. LG is also announcing a new LED TV, the LEX8. The LEX8 is currently claiming the title of the world’s thinnest, as well as having the narrowest bezel at 1.25cm. Again, no pricing, but we’ll let you know once LG releases more information. LG is definitely pushing 3D this year as well, with several different models of Blu-ray supporting the new technology.

Kindle Versus Kindle: Kindle 2 And 3 Screens Compared

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 03:30 PM PDT


If you doubt the efficacy of the new Pearl e-ink displays, take a look at these comparison photos. It looks like a pretty serious difference to me, although we’re still talking dark grey on light grey as opposed to black and white. I didn’t alter the pictures other than cropping them; take this comparison with a grain of salt, as it’s not exactly scientific.

I’d like to see these things under the microscope, too; I’d like to see what increased contrast looks like on a blob-by-blob level.

2-Kilovolt Washer Launcher Makes The Greatest Noise Ever

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 03:15 PM PDT


Skip ahead to 4:25 unless you want to know how the whole setup is achieved. I want to make that PWIIIIIIIIIIIING my ringtone. Make that my pwingtone.

I like the “honey is that you?” after the launch. Does anyone else have one of those things in their backyard?

[via Hacked Gadgets and Make]

Harman Kardon Is Making Land Rover Sound Better

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 03:00 PM PDT

Harman Kardon has teamed up with Land Rover to make the new Range Rover Autobiography rock out. The new Harmon Kardon Logic 7 HD will be standard equipment in the Autobiography model, and will be available as optional equipment on Land Rover’s other models. The Logic 7 is 5.1 surround sound setup with a total of 1200 watts, delivering sound to 15 channels and 19 speakers including a 200mm front door woofer, and a subwoofer built into the rear quarter deck. Nothing like a little stereo power to blare out the annoying sounds of nature. Read the full press release after the jump:

HARMAN, the premium global audio and infotainment group, prides itself on its principle of designing, developing, manufacturing and supplying branded audio systems. This authentic approach has been applied to its latest technology offering, the Harman Kardon® Logic7® HD system, exclusively available on Range Rover Autobiography and offered as an option throughout the model range. The new system continues 16 successful years of collaboration between Harman Kardon and Land Rover.

In celebration of this latest evolution in the Land Rover/Harman Kardon relationship, an exclusive launch event was held in June at the recording studios of music icon Mark Knopfler. British Grove Studios in London was selected as the perfect venue to demonstrate the capabilities of the Harman Kardon® Logic7® HD system in the Range Rover, reinforcing the depth of competency of HARMAN's heritage in the professional recording process, coupled with the authenticity of our approach in automotive audio systems.

British Grove Studios is a state of the art facility with the ability to record in 5.1 surround and was used to best effect with Grammy winning Producer and HARMAN aficionado Steve Levine producing two tracks performed by Ivor Novello nominee Patch William. The studio was a hive of activity for two days as this young band worked under the expert supervision of Steve, producing a number of 5.1 recordings for demonstration on the Harman Kardon® Logic7® HD system in the Range Rover Autobiography.

The latest Harman Kardon® Logic7® HD system offers the audio connoisseur a unique listening experience. Utilising the most up-to-date digital technology, an impressive 1200W D class amplifier is at the heart of this premium sound system, delivering high dynamic performance, authentically reproducing the recordings back to the listener with the same unparalleled quality achieved during the live performance.

Fifteen independent channels drive the audio system, offering levels of control previously unavailable in an automotive environment. With nineteen hi-powered speakers strategically located throughout the Range Rover cabin, this class leading system delivers smooth and controlled vocal performance from the most challenging of tracks. Complemented by the new 200mm front door woofers and subwoofer in the rear quarter deck, the control of the low end frequencies is truly remarkable. Coupled with Harman Kardon’s® proprietary Logic7® surround sound processing technology this creates an all encompassing, multi-layered experience releasing the subtle nuances of the original recording, irrespective of the seat location.

HARMAN is proud of its long standing iconic and visionary collaboration with Land Rover. With the new Harman Kardon® Logic7® HD system exclusively available on Range Rover, the bench mark has been set once again.

[via Business Wire]

Roku Drops Prices Across The Board

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 02:20 PM PDT


Just a little something for those of you looking to pick up a DVR or set-top box to put in your pipe before you smoke it. Roku just dropped the prices of its SD, HD, and HD XR boxes to $59.99, $69.99 and $99.99 respectively. That’s $30 off; not bad.

Take a look at our recent comparison of set-top boxes if you’re unsure; the Roku is a nice deal if you’re a Netflix streaming user and don’t want to access a local video library. Of course, we’ve got that Apple event coming up on Wednesday — you might want to wait until then, just in case.

No Need For Arrows; This Bow Will Scare Your Quarry To Death

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 01:55 PM PDT


The last time I saw a tension-based projectile weapon this scary, it was when I posted this crossbow, attracting the ire of 2nd-amendment activists net-wide (my sarcasm apparently went undetected). This Hoyt bow, however, is perhaps even more impressive; it’s carbon fiber, tipping the scales at 3.8lb, and will launch an arrow at a buck-piercing 318 feet per second.

Mainly I’m just appreciative of the menacing yet compelling design. I’m not a big buck hunter, myself.

[via Gizmodo]

The EPA’s Proposed Vehicle Window Stickers Give Cars A Letter Grade

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 12:45 PM PDT

The EPA is revising the window stickers seen on new cars to more accurately reflect the capabilities of electric and hybrid vehicles. They’re also proposing, rather boldly, that a big fat letter grade head the sticker, ranging from A+ (for plug-in electric vehicles) to D (for Veyrons and R8s). The Alliance of Automotive Manufacturers has condemned the stickers, accusing them of evoking “school-yard memories of passing and failing.” Yes, well, that’s kind of the idea.

There are a number of new metrics on the proposed stickers, resulting from the fact that MPG, the only metric presented on the old sticker, is fast losing its relevance for consumers. That particular term has been replaced in part- or all-electric vehicles with MPGe, a measurement that compares mileage based on energy consumption, as opposed to liquid volume consumption. The energy yielded by a gallon of gas is converted into BTUs (not your sissy metric kilojoules, to which BTUs are almost exactly similar), which can be multiplied by various factors depending on energy source, eventually yielding a standard unit, the MPGe. You’ll get used to it.

Unsurprisingly, automakers are not amused by the letter grade, and to be honest it seems a bit arbitrary to me as well. They’ve essentially set the curve so that each grade represents a class of vehicles, and I’m sure you can guess where SUVs and luxury vehicles end up. Why not just let the numbers speak for themselves, or come up with a more relevant “headline”? It’s interesting how they seem to have chosen “non-judgmental” colors for, say, greenhouse gas emissions (they’re not red to green), but have no trouble writing an enormous C-. Why not judge a little more, though? The grade thing is a fixed game, but the EPA should feel free to display true information and comparisons that embarrass inefficient cars.

There are also several labels, as you can see, in addition to the vertical graded ones:

It’s like a muted rainbow of efficiency. This is to reflect the various fundamentally different vehicles out there right now. EVs, ER-EVs, plug-in hybrids, plain hybrids, frybrids, and what have you. While a single sticker might have been preferable, it would be impractical at the moment, and after all we can always do another revision later. At least they share a general layout.

One thing I think they should fix is the display of numbers that are clearly very rough estimates. The money saved, for instance, is simply not to be believed. The old stickers had estimates, and then estimates based on those estimates, and further estimates based on those. Let’s try to keep things grounded this time around. Let the label reflect the facts; manufacturers or dealerships can include “secondary” labels augmenting the facts — charge time, extra efficiency numbers, and so on.

Apart from that, I think they’re pretty nice. The design incorporates a lot more information yet stays relatively clean, and the inclusion of a QR code is thoughtful.

The new labels are just proposals at the moment, and the EPA will be accepting comments on them for the next two months. Want to do your part for green legislation? Give those guys a piece of your mind.

[via Jalopnik]

First Korean Android Tablet Released

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 12:30 PM PDT

Korea has their first Android tablet. Called the “Identity TAB”, the new device runs a 1GHz Snapdragon cpu, and sports 8GB of internal memory. The tablet has a 7-inch screen, a DMB TV tuner, gyro-sensor, a 3 megapixel camera, and an SD card reader. At this point, it appears that we probably won’t see the Identity TAB here in the US, but KT (the Korean reseller for the tablet) is recommending the device for people looking for a e-Book reader or web tablet. Sales start today a 300,000 Won (about $250.00 US).

[via Akihabara News]

Clearwire launches 4G Pay As You Go Internet

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 11:35 AM PDT

Clearwire launched their Rover - pay as you go internet service today, offering unlimited usage for $5 a day, $20 a week, or $50 for a month of 4G service.


Make Your Own USB Typewriter For Fun And Profit

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 10:49 AM PDT


Wanna get some good lulz around the office? Convert your parent’s old typewriter into a USB keyboard. That and the ol’ stapler in a Jell-O mold prank.

This isn’t a late-night project. It takes a good amount of soldering and overall know-how. Plus, a few parts you probably don’t have laying around. But it really doesn’t look that hard as long as you’re the slow and steady type. The instructables guide takes you through step by step and the results speak for themselves. Really, the hardest part might be acquiring the old typewriter. [instructables via hack-a-day]

Microsoft Is Jacking Up The Cost Of Xbox Live November 1st

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 10:17 AM PDT

Hope you have some extra cash. Xbox Live is getting slightly more expensive starting November 1st in the US, Canada, and Mexico. The single month charge is increasing to $9.99 from $7.99, three months will cost $24.99 from $19.99 with the yearly plan increasing to $59.99 from $49.99. Why? Microsoft isn’t saying but we have some ideas.

Ever heard of Kinect? Microsoft’s motion tracking controller? Sure you have and it probably just hit you that the add-on is supposed to also launch in November. Microsoft might be trying to slip one past holiday shoppers as Xbox Live cards will likely be bought alongside the Kinect resulting in an easy revenue boost for the company.

Don’t forget about Windows Phone 7, though. The upcoming system integrates nicely with the gaming platform, which means Live will soon span multiple product lines. A simple, and honestly modest, price increase is an easy way to help the bottom line.

There is some silver lining here. To compensate current Live gamers, the One-Year Live subscription price is now only $40 until the November 1st price increase. That’s nice.

Make Your Own iPod Nano V6 Double Rainbow

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 09:53 AM PDT


Not much to see here besides cases for the unannounced and unreleased iPod nano — or shuffle.

NASA Now Featured On Flickr Commons

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 09:20 AM PDT


Ready to kill your lunch break? Head over to the brand new NASA section on Flickr Commons where you’ll find 180 historic photographs. These pics range from pre-NASA days, to Goddard’s works, to NASA prototypes, and enough liftoff pics to fill a History Channel special. The best part you’ve probably never seen most of these as they’re right from NASA’s collection and thankfully each pic has a detailed description and a bunch of relivant info. Man I love the Internet.

The one above is The Langely Aerodrome, “‘The Langley Aerodrome, brainchild of a group led by Samuel Langley. Shortly after this photo was taken, the December 8, 1903, manned tests of the Aerodrome ended abruptly in failure, as it fell into the Potomac River’. Photograph published in Winds of Change, 75th Anniversary NASA publication, page 6.”

No Joke: University of Florida Class Called ’21st Century Skills in Starcraft’

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 08:40 AM PDT

Reasonably torn about this next story. There's an honors class at the University of Florida this semester called "21st Century Skills in Starcraft." Basically, you play the game for a bunch of weeks, and somewhere along the way you pick up "valuable 21st Century Skills through a hands-on approach." Sure you do.

The course description goes on:

It does not teach about Starcraft, but rather aims to utilize the game and the complex situations that arise within it to present and develop the important skills professionals will undoubtedly need in the 21st Century workplace.
This course includes required weekly game play, viewing and analysis of recorded matches, written assignments which emphasize analysis and synthesis of real/game-world concepts, and collaboration with other students.

I mean, it sounds neat, but I'm not quite sure your ability to Zerg rush has much to do with doing well during a job interview. Perhaps the idea of resource management can apply to the "real world," but it seems a bit of a stretch.

Stay in school, kids. You might get to play StarCraft. (Try explaining that one to your parents!)

Update: They’re not the first. Cal began offering Advanced Starcraft Theory in 2009.

RIM Avoids Indian Ban Hammer, Cooperates With Security Authorities Over BlackBerry E-Mail

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 08:00 AM PDT

Looks like RIM has dodged a bullet in India, at least for the time being. The BlackBerry maker has provided the Indian government with "proposals for local security agencies to monitor BlackBerry service" so that, when necessary, the Indian government can tap into BlackBerry users' email. And while that may not sound too positive a development, it was either that or risk an outright ban.


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