CrunchGear

CrunchGear

Link to CrunchGear

Buffalo Busts Out Four USB 3.0 Memory Sticks

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 03:22 AM PST

USB 3.0 is slowly but surely making its way into the mainstream. Buffalo in Japan today announced [JP] a total of four memory sticks with USB 3.0, with 8, 16, 32 and 64GB on board. The new devices only support Windows XP/Vista/7 machines though (you’ll get just USB 2.0 speed for Macs).

Buffalo promises transfer speeds of up to 71MB/s for the sticks (when plugged into compatible computers), as opposed to the about 23MB/s you get with USB 2.0.

The sticks are not the first of their kind, but they will be relatively affordable, at least when they drop into Japanese stores on December 1 (prices: 8GB: $33, 16GB: $59, 32GB: $113, and 64GB: $213). Buffalo is also selling products in the US and elsewhere, so chances are these USB 3.0 drives will make their way outside Japan soon.

Daily Crunch: Nuked Edition

Posted: 25 Nov 2010 12:00 AM PST

4th Amendment Wear: So The TSA Has Something To Read While Groping You

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 06:46 PM PST


Just the other day, we saw the boxer-briefs with built-in radiation-blocking fig leaf. If that was a little too Biblical for you (or you just didn’t like the style), check out these sweet 4th Amendment shirts, printed with a metallic dye that will show up on scans.

Of course, the backscatter and millimeter wave machines they’re using are apparently barely high-resolution enough to detect a knife, to say nothing of make out individual letters, but it’s the thought that counts. Plus, the kids’ version is awesome.

They sell via Etsy for somewhat more than you’d normally pay for a t-shirt. Hey, who said patriotism would be cheap? Of course, if they’re reading the shirt, it means you’ve already given in. Shame!

[via Reddit, also thanks anonymous tipster!]

PSP Go Bundle For $150 On Black Friday

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 05:41 PM PST


It seems like just last month that Sony dropped the price of the PSP Go from $250 to $200. Wait, it was last month. And now they’re dropping it to $150, with three games included? Who’s in charge over there?!

Yes, “most retailers” will have this deal, limited to stock on hand, of course, and a PSP 3000 bundle as well. The latter includes LittleBigPlanet, but the PSP Go bundle comes with fully three games: LBP, SOCOM Fireteam Bravo 3, and Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters.

For one hundred and fifty American dollars, my friend! If you’ve been waiting on picking up a PSP (or maybe waiting for the PSP Phone), you’re not going to see a lower price than this until the PSP 2 comes out and knocks these suckers down a bit.

Beijing Mystery Man Pays Thousands To Play RPG On 800-Foot Screen For 10 Minutes

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 04:10 PM PST


This is a crazy story right here. In Beijing there is an enormous display called the “Sky Screen” over the downtown shopping district that hangs over shoppers, presumably showing them ads and so on. And earlier this week, a guy walked over, leaned back on a couch that was waiting there, and played ten minutes of a popular MMORPG on the 800-foot-long screen. What does it mean?!

The player was known only as “Fire,” and afterwards, he just got up and left. It’s not clear whether this was just a dedicated and very rich player or viral marketing for the game. I’d go with the latter, though the estimated price tag of around $5000 isn’t that much when you get down to it.

Either way, that’d be fun as hell. What would you play with that screen?

[via Tom's Hardware]

Review: 2011 Audi A8 4.2 Quattro

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 03:30 PM PST

One of the greatest things about the tech industry is that it's dynamic, mainly because it follows Moore's law.  The auto industry on the other hand is relatively static and in more recent years have taken a back seat to in-car electronics. Why? Well first, it's quite an investment—more than you might think. The electronics must pass certain regulations and try to keep the driver's eyes on the road.

When the 2011 Audi A8 came ashore earlier this year, it brought with it not only a well needed update for the next decade, but also established a less distracting interaction between man and his machine. Coming from a tech standpoint, we think Audi does tech right. The A8 isn't just another car with a laundry list full of standard and optional features, it's a car that outfits the tech in a way so elegantly that the driving experience stays top priority.

Driving like a German

Driving an A8 is something that everyone can enjoy; the balance between sport and luxury is perfect. A younger person such as myself can easily enjoy the 372 hp 4.2-liter V8, and the 328 lb-ft of torque in the back roads. And those with a greater annum can enjoy the ride provided by the iron clouds and deadly silent chassis. No matter who you are, you can't help but appreciate all the small things that make this an Audi.

Behind the wheel, everything feels tight and strong. Just press any of the multifunction steering wheel buttons and it returns a very strapping click. Why should you care about the sound the button makes? Let me put it this way, if someone can put that much thought into one single button, then think how the rest of the car is treated.

Like the new 8-speed transmission, it is the most amazing auto we have ever experienced. It is flawless. And it helps the A8 achieve an amazing 17/27 miles per gallon. Real world numbers—an aggressive real world—were about 22 mpg. It could also be that at 80 mph on the highway the RPMs are at a stalling 1500. It just is pure Bavarian cream.

LED-fest

Not only does the car stand out with it's huge cow catcher—and it does get noticed—but the LED headlights can be seen from miles away. The eyebrows are aggressive and mean, and make the car seem as it were about to pounce on its next victim. The A8 has, for the first time, fog lights that actually make a difference. They dim the upper level of light and project beams low and far to the side. The rear fog lights are just bright LEDs.

During a night drive on some back roads in Ann Arbor, Michigan, we learned that every single zone of interior light could be controlled from color to brightness. The lighting is normally ambient, but when you need total darkness, it's just a click away. We would like to see a few more color options here, the only choices were Ivory and bright white.

What's your mode?

There are different driving modes available on the A8. We've heard of them before, modes like comfort and dynamic. But usually there aren't noticeable. These modes are. Most would think that dynamic would be our favorite, with it's tight steering and firm ride, but it wasn't. Instead it was kept in comfort most of the time. The ride quality in comfort is so smooth you feel as if you were on a magic carpet. The engine is also more relaxed and contributes to a quiet ride.

The customizing that can be had in the A8 can certainly scare people away if done improperly. But, because Audi came up with such a clever interface, they were able to add tons of options to make the driving experience, truly your own.

What the Putt?

The putter shifter. Many have been critical of the new shifter that looks like a golf putter. It’s all electronic and gear selections can be weird until getting used to. There were times when I had to do a quick U-turn, reverse then go, all in traffic, and got the car stuck in park. The thought behind the shifter was to have drivers rest their wrist on it while controlling the MMI touch.

The new MMI touch is great. Audi was able to make the in car electronics less distracting than you would think. Main reasons: no lag, intuitive menus and accurate reading of driver input. Oh did I mention it’s fast.

Raised on Zie Autobahn

Growing up in Germany, a country very prideful of das autos, the A8 was built for fast comfort. Not only can it keep a high speed with a low RPM, but it also renders its electronics in high speed with low distractions. For many of you that think the A8 is just another coffin on wheels that will distract drivers even more, you’d be surprised in an A8. On unrestricted speed zones, the last think the Germans want is a 4400lb saloon colliding with others. The A8 has all the modern safety features to protect the passengers and other drivers. Safety is a non-issue in this car. In fact, I’ll bet that no executive would ever shed a drop of sweat arriving to a big meeting.

Cost to get in one

Our test vehicle didn’t come with all the options like rear seat entertainment or infrared night vision but it did come with all these.

  • Base price: $78,925
  • Leather Package 1: $750
  • Driver Assistance: $3,000
  • Convenience Pkg: $2,350
  • 20" 10-parallel wheels: $1,200
  • LED headlights: $1,400
  • Premium Pkg: $2,000
  • Vehicle price: $89,625

Video

Photos

More Details On Sony Ericsson’s “Playstation Phone”

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 03:28 PM PST

Upon seeing our last post about announcement invites for the tentatively-titled “Playstation Phone” supposedly going out, a much-trusted tipster just rang us up with the skinny on a recent private event, where they tell us they saw the rumored handset in all of its plasticky-flesh.

Here’s what they told us:
Read the rest at MobileCrunch >>

Virgin’s All-Digital Magazine To Debut Next Week

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 03:18 PM PST


We heard back in July that Virgin was working on a digital-only magazine, much like the upcoming iPad-only The Daily from News Corp. It was supposed to launch in October, according to the rumors then, but you know how things go, and it looks like the end of November (Tuesday the 30th, to be precise) is the new go time.

The new magazine will cover “entertainment, travel, business, design, and international culture.” No breaking news, I guess, and interestingly, not technology. It’s probably a good idea for them to pick their battles; Virgin’s media holdings might not put up much of a fight against News Corp’s when it comes to certain topics.

The Yahoo! News report calls the project “Project,” but we heard it’s called “Maverick.” To be honest, I don’t like either one. I liked the idea of News Corp’s mag being called The Daily Planet, though that might be more suited to Virgin’s, since Richard Branson is an actual spaceman.

It’s not clear whether it would be iPad-only, tablet-only, or just online-only. We’ll know more come Tuesday.

Federal Prosecutors: Supply Line Leaks May Constitute Insider Trading

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 02:00 PM PST


A new federal investigation is focusing on the legality of supply line leaks and their consequences on Wall Street. The poster boy for this would have to be Apple, around which an entire manufacturing and distribution channels has grown, and which is now too big to plug every leak — especially now that memetically propagating news magnifies every murmur into a clamor, for better or for worse.

The subjects of the probe are some research firms that make it their business to know what’s going on in, say, Shenzhen or Taiwan, where friends and industry experts dispense information that may or may not be confidential about such things as big new orders, equipment changes, and meetings with other companies. The feds say that at some point, these things must constitute insider trading. I say good luck drawing that particular line.

Continue reading…

The 2011 Chevy Volt Finally Gets Its EPA Fuel Economy Numbers: 93 MPGe / 37 MPG

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 01:21 PM PST

Here it is, treehuggers and haters. The EPA’s rating of the Chevy Volt: 93 when on electric, 37 combined city/hwy on gasoline, which works out to a 60 MPG composite . Those combine to give the Volt an average range of 379 miles, although, just like with the Leaf, the total range for EV-only topped off slightly less than what the manufacturer advertises. Those keeping score will also note that the Leaf was rated at 99MPGe earlier this week with a total yearly cost of ownership at $561.  So yeah, let the arguing continue.

These numbers will no doubt reignite the vehicle’s pros and cons argument from offices to TV’s talking heads. They certainly aren’t the 230 mpg GM prematurity bragged about last year, but they’re still, in my opinion, totally respectable for a first of its kind vehicle. Clearly it’s not the Earth’s savior, but the constant development from GM, the Voltec powertrain will mature and improve with each generation.

Good or bad, these EPA numbers where the final stopping block preventing the Volt from entering production. Now that they’re out, the 2011 models can finally start rolling out of GM’s Michigan-based Hamtramck Assembly.

Bionic Legs For Paraplegics? Want To Try It Out Yourself?

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 12:51 PM PST

We see cool gadgets all the time here at TechCrunch. But not many of them can help paraplegics walk again. This one does. Berkeley Bionics has created an exoskeleton product called eLegs that literally gets these people up and walking. Arm swings on crutches control the legs and tell them when to walk. Time Magazine calls it one 50 best inventions of 2010, and they are clearly right. Technology like this may eliminate the concept of a wheelchair for millions of people with spinal cord injuries, stroke, MS, etc.. Here's it in action:


Gran Turismo 5 Review Round-up: Yeah It’s Good (But *How* Good?)

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 12:00 PM PST

You should be able to find Gran Turismo 5 in your local store today. That makes today a good day. (It also doesn't hurt that there's Champions League today, too.) (Allow me to say the word "today" for the 500th time in four sentences.) Some reviews have popped up online, and I'm going to take 45 seconds to distill some of them for you. Not that it really matters: if you have a PS3 you'll be getting this game. (Spoiler: it's generally OK.)

I'll try to balance it with one positive comment and one negative comment; you're free to read the full reviews (something I'd encourage, actually).

Let's start with old man IGN, the elder statesman of gaming news online. (Anyone else remember the days of N64.com?)

At times, Gran Turismo 5 is genuinely jaw-dropping – indeed, it can be the kind of game that makes you want to drop your controller and grab some random passer-by just to show them what marvels it’s capable of. Madrid and Rome’s street tracks are, like the returning London track introduced in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, uncanny recreations of their inspiration, and while Indianapolis and Daytona don’t have the same dazzle they’re told with a comparable authenticity.

…

Gran Turismo 5 is a 10/10 simulator wrapped up in a 5/10 game – driving is as exhilarating as anything that's gone before, and slavish obsession with the minutiae of many of its cars ensure it’s an encyclopaedia of automotive delights. Its brilliance on the track, however is matched by its sloppiness off of it, and there's a lack of polish that would at one time have seemed sacrilegious to the series. Ultimately its driving wins out to ensure that it's still a great game, but it leaves that nagging doubt; this could have been a masterpiece were it not for the fact that Polyphony was so absorbed with the detail that it took its eye off the ball.

Now let's look at Destructoid because they're newer and rowdier than IGN. They bring the ruckus [to the ladies].

The new physics engine in GT5 is everything I had hoped it would be. While the buttons and sticks that you’re moving with your fingers haven’t changed, their feel and response have improved greatly. Turning and braking feel incredibly natural. You get a real sense of how slamming on the brakes throws the car’s weight forward. Handling actually feels like car handling, and not some once-removed, through-a-game-controller attempt. In one rally race, I remember braking too late on a snowy track. I slid into a snowbank, turned sharply, and then came back down off the bank. The car seemed to plop back down onto the the road so realistically that it gave me flashbacks of driving in winter. Somehow this game manages to feel both accurate and exciting at the same time.

…

The level of care taken by the people at Polyphony Digital shines in every aspect of this title, and this makes for a racing game that truly has no parallel. Gran Turismo 5 is a massive love letter to those that love cars. This is their dream videogame.

[Destructoid pretty much just praises the game, not finding room to mention the faults that IGN brings up. This is why you read multiple reviews, to get a feel for different people's opinions. They are, after all, merely opinions.]

Lastly, let's go a little European. Europe, after all, is the home of motorsport. Eurogamer, what say you?

For me, this is the Holy Grail of driving games. And yet it’s one throwaway and all-too-brief event tucked away in a corner of Kazunori Yamauchi’s sprawling empire of digital motorsport. I could quite easily have played GT5 for dozens of hours and written this review without even knowing it existed.

…

This, as you might imagine, causes a few problems, such as archaic online multiplayer, an unwieldy interface, terrible optimisation and obtuse structure. But it has its compensations too, not least the fact that Gran Turismo 5 is unlike anything else out there – including Microsoft’s Forza Motorsport, a series that was made in its image.

…

Half-formed multiplayer is easily the most damaging symptom of Gran Turismo 5′s long gestation in Kazunori Yamauchi’s parallel universe, and thankfully it’s one that can be fixed. Dreamed up five years ago and served up yesterday, it’s an off-kilter vision of the future, a cumbersome game with odd priorities, certainly. But it’s equally a game that heads off in unexpected and exciting directions, makes a few notable improvements, and overflows with love – for cars, for games technology and for its own mad pursuit. It’s good that Gran Turismo’s been away so long, because it’s all the better to have it back.

I'm always suspicious of reviews that find zero things wrong, or at least, annoying, being a cynical jerk, but it certainly seems, at the very worst, that the game is probably worth the $60 asking price. (Mangled sentence alert~!) Then again, I get the feeling that more than one of you will see the name "Gran Turismo" and automatically reach for your wallet.


And Then There Was A Steam Sale!

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 11:45 AM PST

Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages: THERE'S A STEAM SALE~!

I, for one, just bought* Counter Strike: Source for $5.

I look forward to be embarrassed by people whose lives revolve around the game.

*Well, tried to buy the game. It would appear Valve's servers are being hammered right now. Oh dear…

The Black Friday Survival Guide

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 11:00 AM PST

It wasn’t easy accumulating the research data displayed in the following guide. I saw horrific sights working retail for seven long years in both a big box electronic store and a major shopping center. I saw things that will haunt me the rest of my days. I watched two kids get trampled by what I call Double-Wides because Circuit City clearanced-out Dreamcasts for $80 on Black Friday. I once hid behind a massive video display just for a few moments to myself during the chaos. I’ve seen people fight, bite, and trample other members of our human race just to save a few dollars.

What follows is perhaps the most comprehensive Black Friday guide ever assembled. There are shopping tactics, buying guides, survival tips, and a thorough rundown of the different types of Black Friday shoppers you will encounter. Please, if you’re considering shopping on Black Friday, think about your family, your dog, your livelihood and reconsider. If you’re still convinced that it’s the right thing to do, be sure to click through to The Black Friday Survival Guide. Your life literally depends on it.

Know Thy Enemy

The Double-Wide

This type of Black Friday shopper is becoming more and more common, almost as if there’s an epidemic sweeping the nation causing more of these types. These shoppers are nearly impossible to avoid, so use their sheer size for your own gain. Think more NASCAR than football. You’re going to draft behind of them as they plow through Smokers and Big Papis (see below). Once the target is within sight, a quick bump should cause them to stumble just long enough for you to shoot ahead and snatch the last Kinect holiday bundle before they can get their sausage fingers on it — just watch out for a Big Papi if you perform this maneuver. A simple “Look, it’s cheaper on that endcap.” might be all it takes for a half-second distraction.

  • Strengths: Size, weight, and Medusa-like eyes
  • Weakness: Top heavy, simple minded
  • Primary Attack: A massive forearm
  • Secondary Attack: A series of racial and off-color slurs
  • Primary Targets: Kid’s toys, Lane Bryant sales, hunting equipment

The Smoker

Smokers are generally of the female orientation, but don’t be surprised to see some from the male gender either. This shopper generally spends 3AM to 4AM clam baking in their minivan, with the primary goal of creating a vile personal safety bubble that most will not dare enter. Be careful, these are wiry folks; hunched over from years of smoking three packs a day, they come prepped for Black Friday with at least one whole pot of Folgers Coffee in their gut. While they may be quick off the line, they also get winded quickly. It’s best to give them plenty of room to run with the goal of outlasting them.

  • Strengths: Small stature, initially quick, stinky
  • Weakness: Tires quickly
  • Primary Attack: The vile smell of loosies seeping from their pores
  • Secondary Attack: Fake fingernails
  • Primary Targets: Makeup, house-brand clothing, diamond chip jewelry

Big Papi

Big Papis generally sport either NFL jerseys or Real Tree hunting appeal. Both make them easy to spot. The best course of action is to simply avoid these beasts at all cost. They might seem mild-mannered from a distance, but they generally accompany a Double-Wide during her hunting spree and will protect their property at all costs. If you topple a Double-Wide, duck into the crowd immediately, because a Big Papi would like nothing more than to justify getting up at 3AM by making the local news after pounding your face.

These dudes might also be shopping by themselves; this is where the NFL jerseys and camo come into play. It’s their way of maintaining a bit of manhood while participating in a generally female ritual. If spotted alone, use the same tactics for the Double-Wides as they are generally in the same mental state.

  • Strengths: Height, longer arms, the natural ability to be a hunter
  • Weakness: Verbal emasculation
  • Primary Attack: Linebacker-size shoulders
  • Secondary Attack: A nearly impenetrable beer gut
  • Primary Targets: Cooking equipment, cheap electronics, ladies nightwear

The Mothership

This is by far the most deadly of all Black Friday shoppers. A Mothership’s primary goal is to hit multiple stores one after another by utilizing her teenage offspring and friends. These children will do anything to impress their mother and their small frame makes them perfect for ducking and diving through crowds while the Mothership waits outside the stores front door with the engine running. The teenagers are fine shoppers, it’s the Mothership that will kill wondering Old Timers when traveling between stores. She’ll peel out from a store with her eyes buried in her bags, inspecting each one to ensure the entire list was purchased. Scary stuff.

  • Strengths: Dispenses a pack of shoppers
  • Weakness: None
  • Primary Attack: 6,000lb SUV
  • Secondary Attack: A swarm of Red Bull-powered teenage girls
  • Primary Targets: Doorbusters

Old Timers

These folks are more cute than they are dangerous. Old Timers can be either male or female; it doesn’t matter. Their Members Only jackets or London Fog overcoats generally give them away. The male Old Timers are generally found with their hands in their pockets, waiting patiently by the front door for their female counterpart. Women Old Timers might put up an angry front, but most of the time they’ll unknowingly handover a doorbuster to a teary-eyed Mothership offspring. Do the right thing, and side with the Old Timer.

  • Strengths: Honesty and kindness
  • Weakness: Honesty and kindness
  • Primary Attack: The old lady look
  • Secondary Attack: None
  • Primary Targets: Kids toys, space heaters, and coffee makers

The Buddy System, Always

Black Friday is serious business; potential for danger is very real. Please, always travel in packs of two. You’ll have each others backs. Double-Wides tend to rush product displays like $7.99 food buffets, but remember, a nonchalant shove in their upper half will likely cause them to lose balance and could save the life of your partner — or at least net you the last half-priced Hannah Montana Dream Star Acoustic guitar.

Another potentially risky maneuver: the “Blind Checkout”. This calls for sending one shopper into the fray while another immediately gets in line upon entering a store. It’s best performed if you’re getting to a store shortly after the doors open. Rude Smokers will generally cause a stink if this is noticed, but a person waiting in line can counter this by grabbing a random product to hold while waiting. Simply give this unwanted item to the clerk while checking out. Your timing needs to be spot-on though. If the line waiter gets in line too early, they’ll be left awkwardly empty-handed if the shopper doesn’t return with the items quickly. (Pro-tip: if you’re next in line and product-less, pretend to answer an important phone call, step out of line, and just jump right back to the end 30 seconds later.)

Communication Is Vital

Watches need to be synced and there should always be an open line of communication. Get Bluetooth headsets, learn how to use the conference call on your cell phones, even using two-way radios are worth the cost of your pride to ensure team members can communicate — for both safety and efficiency reasons.

People die on Black Friday. If a team gets split up (intentionally or not), being able to locate other members dramatically reduces the chance of death by Double-Wides or Motherships. It instills a sense of security and clears a shoppers mind if they’re not frantically racing through the aisles. Those attempting the Blind Checkout can generally achieve success with a constant open line.

Know Your Route

The best doorbusters are at the largest stores. It’s best to scout out these locations the day before Thanksgiving as most of the time the stores are already prepped. Doorbusters are generally piled up on endcaps or in the middle of the aisles. Make a mental note of these locations and the best way to circumvent the hoard of Double-Wides and Smokers.

If abiding by the Buddy System rules, take your partner with you. The worst thing that could happen is to scout the locations by yourself on Wednesday, only to suffer an early injury on Black Friday pushing you to the role of Line Waiting. If both members of the shopping party know the layout, each member becomes virtually identical and able to perform multiple roles.

Bring Extra Supplies

If shopping in the ‘burbs, pack your car with extra solid and liquid foods. It’s best to stay away from fiber-rich energy bars or greasy fast food breakfast sandwiches. Instead, pack lunch-type foods: ham roll-ups, peanut butter sandwiches, even your kid’s Lunchables will work. You need good protein from a substance that your body is more likely to hold on to rather than want to evacuate quickly.

Don’t fall into the trap of coffee either. That is, of course, unless you’re well away of its effects on your bladder and can work a potty break into the shopping schedule. The same applies for large energy drinks. Don’t fuel up on an unknown drink as it may cause unknown consonances. Instead, drink plenty of water and let your bodies natural adrenaline provide the extra rush of energy. Plan for a nap the day before by ensuring your home is in the proper state post-Thanksgiving to allow such an activity.

Plan, Plan, Plan

There’s no reason to get taken advantage of on Black Friday. Utilize online Black Friday sites now to make sure the deals are really worth it. Is saving $10 on a $100 item really worth getting plowed over by a Mothership? No. But saving $300 on a $1000 HDTV probably is.

The most important thing to remember about Black Friday is that stores are out to make money, not save you money. Only buy doorbusters items. Retailers capitalize on the notion of a perceived sale and gently inflate the prices of other items in the weeks preceding the biggest shopping day of the year. Don’t wander into Best Buy on Black Friday’s afternoon with the goal of buying any ol’ HDTV. That’s playing into their hands. Wait until the following weeks when the entire selection goes on sale for real. If the Doorbusters aren’t your thing, save some stress and stay in on Black Friday with your Turkey Day leftovers. Then you can prepare for Cyber Monday.

images from The Zombie Survival Guide

Video: This Is How Good The Unreal Engine Can Be

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 10:30 AM PST

So many video games have used the Unreal Engine over the years, including, of course, Unreal, as well as Epic Games' other big series, Gears of War. Then there's the BioShock games, Mass Effect. Even Namco's new Enslaved: Odyssey to the West uses it. So, presenting a new trailer showing off just what Unreal Engine 3 can do.

One thing Unreal Engine 3 doesn't use: DX 11. Come on, my Radeon needs something interesting thrown at it (and by that I don't mean halved framerates as a result of the F1 2010 patch).

In any event, one year ago Epic Games released the UDK, the free version of the engine for your tinkering. Today it goes into full-fledged beta, so huzzah!

Gift Guide For Writers And Those Who Support Them

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 10:00 AM PST

While I won’t claim that any of us on CrunchGear are writers – “hacks” is the more accurate term – we do know a thing or two about a thing or two. And one of those things is sitting for long hours writing stuff down. While many of us use “computers” and “keyboards,” we also occassionally like to feel like we are producing “art” and sometimes we need to get away from the desk chair. Here are some tools to make your writer friend a happier and more productive drain on society.


Scrivener – $45 – Scrivener is an app for writing books. It allows you to slice and dice text into sections, allows you to meld research and writing into one window, and even offers a full-screen mode that will blow out distractions. It is, by far, one of the best writing applications I’ve ever used. I wrote an entire book using it.

Introducing OmmWriter Dāna from herraizsoto&co on Vimeo.

Omm Writer – Omm Writer isn’t quite like Scrivener but I quite like it. It also creates a quiet place to write but it asks for more a a first thought best though situation in which you have an open window and no distraction. It’s like writing in a Zen monastery.


Plans for World Domination Moleskine – $22 – I was looking for a service that was able to laser etch moleskines and it looks like they’ve gone out of business. However, the folks on Etsy are ready to help you out and have a number of exciting styles from which to choose, including this one.


A Handmade Kindle Case – As a writer you need to read. But you can’t show the other folks at the coffeehouse that you’re reading on technology! This sufficiently hides your shame inside a handbound leather book casing.

A Handsome Pipe – $5 – Every writer needs a handsome pipe. You honestly don’t have to smoke it. Just have it on your desk. If you do smoke it, try a little a little of the Balkan.


Sailor Recruit Fountain Pen – $15 – Even if you’re writing on a computer, you’re eventually going to want a pen. Take a look at these handsome and useful Japanese models from Jetpens. I got a few inks and they write like a little miniature dream. Note: they’re a little small, so you may need a bigger size.


Black Blood Of The Earth – $45 – Every writer needs something to drink. Rather than hit the rocks, however, why not take in enough caffeine to kill a small horse. The bottle I’m showing here is only available in San Francisco available all over the country (!) but these guys sell other products as well. I tried some of this and I was buzzing for two straight hours. It is, in short, very potent.

Now, just to reiterate, while the caffeine content of BBotE is high, I do not know exactly how high. I strongly recommend keeping consumption below 100ml/day. By my rough calculation, you've got about the equivalent of a month's worth of caffeination by Starbuck's Ventis in that bottle.


Video Hands-On: Hexbug Spiders

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 10:00 AM PST


Hexbugs are all about fun. You’ve probably seen these things in stores for years. Radio Shack is the exclusive seller of the Spider model this holiday season and I must say, these things are fantastic. They should provide you with enough cubicle entertainment to more than justify the $24.99 price tag. Be warned though, there are only two discrete IR channels, which somewhat limits the size of your spider army to just a pair of marauding robots. The control schemes are simple enough that most 3-year-olds should be able to operate them if you wanna share. But you don’t have to share. This isn’t kindergarten.

Report: ATM Skimmer Attacks On The Rise

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 09:30 AM PST

There's nothing particularly "new" about the use of ATM skimmers, but a recent report from the European ATM Security Team (EAST) has reminded us all of the dangers. What evildoers do is construct a skimmer out of common materials, including a magnetic reader and somewhere to store the resulting data. Back in the day you'd use a tape recorder, but nowadays you can affix a cheap portable audio player and you're good to go. I'm almost certain I've read articles to this effect in issues of 2600 over the years.

What would happen is that you swipe your ATM card in a poisoned machine (I just made that term up, "poisoned machine"), the gadget reads the data, and BAM! Evildoers can now clone your ATM card.

What's worrying is that, as the technology in the skimmers improve, it's both easier to deploy (for the evildoers) and harder to recognize (for victims). In fact, in 11 of 16 countries EAST has found that there's been an increase in the number of ATM skimmer attacks.

It doesn't help that we've clung onto the magnetic stripe, as a technology, like grim death. Maybe we could use something like the tokens that Blizzard uses to authenticate World of Warcraft players? Every time you access an ATM you have to type in your generated passcode? (But then people would complain about having to carry around a token, but then you suggest it could be replicated on your phone as an App, but then they complain they don't have an iPhone/Android, then you say forget it let's go back to trading sea shells.)

What to do about this?

Panic, I guess, or maybe divorce yourself from society. Or maybe just not use ATMs off the beaten path?

Napolitano: New Security Measures May Have To Be Introduced For Subways & Trains; Ron Paul Calls For Airline Boycott

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 08:30 AM PST

Janet Napolitano, the head of Homeland Security, says that increased security measures may have to expand beyond the nation’s airports if we’re ever to fully protect ourselves from evildoers. Napolitano, seen here, told Charlie Rose, of PBS, that the nation’s subways and train depots may be the next target of TSA‘s enhanced efforts. Think about it: every time you hop on the A train in New York City you’d need to pass through one of those full-body scanners or face an enhanced pat-down.

Needless to say, that would be highly impractical.

To her credit, though, Napolitano sorta has a point: nearest I can tell there is nearly no security on the New York City subway and the surrounding regional commuter rails. Think of how many people pass through Grand Central every day coming from Westchester and Connecticut. It’s not like major terrorist attacks haven’t targeted trains before.

But I’m not sure that asking every single person to pass through one of those machines, or going in for an enhanced pat-down, is the best way to go about doing things.

In other TSA news, Ron Paul, the Texas congressman, suggested that people boycott airlines in order to send the message that we, as Americans, aren’t necessarily cool with having some TSA fellow feel up our children in the name of security. These new rules, Paul added, "aren’t making us safer" but do "enhance the power of the state."

(That’s the problem with all this TSA talk: it can very easily, and very quickly, devolve into conspiratorial flame-outs.)

Incidentally, today is "National Opt-Out Day," a day in which people have been encouraged to "opt-out" of those full-body scanners. Since I’m within driving distance of my Thanksgiving destination I will not be "opting-out," but I’m interested in seeing how it plays out. My prediction: today will be just like any other day, and "Opt-Out Day" will be a bust.

Twitter is filed with people talking about "opting-out," so that’s a way to kill some time.

Microsoft Selling Games On Demand With Compatibility Issues

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 08:29 AM PST

I recently purchased Rainbow Six Vegas 2 on Xbox Live. My friend has it and we wanted to have a coop campaign marathon. It didn’t work and that’s not all of it.

Rainbow Six Vegas 2 was released two years ago by Ubisoft. I’ve always been a fan of Rainbow Six and I like the game. Buying it for 30€ was a bold thing to do but I thought playing with my friend will be worth it. I’m lazy and the comfort of not standing up from the sofa was also tempting. Anyway, I bought the game, fired it up and started a session for my friend to join. Then the following error message appeared on his screen: “Please insert the RB6V2 Disk”. Okay that’s odd since he has the disc in the tray. Next step was that my friend tried to host a game but this resulted in the same error message on my end.

Comparing our games revealed that his version is called TC’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 while my version is titled RB6V2. Something must be wrong here. We have the same game but it shows up as we have different games. What’s going on?

After having a lengthy chat with several Xbox Live support technicians and a series of escalations it turns out that my version has several incompatibility issues with earlier releases of the game. Ubisoft apparently sold a different game in 2008 than that’s on the Xbox Live Marketplace today. This means that just after two years the game is no longer supported by the developers. They don’t even try to have consistency. You buy the game and realize that you can only play with people who have the exact same version. This resulted in two (2!) games that I’ve found online on Live. When I buy a game I want to be able to play with someone from Kazakhstan. When I buy a game I want it to be supported for more than 24 months. Somehow this makes me think that video games are starting to hold less and less value for gamers. There is a new Call Of Duty title every year. To me this is bad because when I spend 60€ on a brand new game I want it to be worth it. I want to play it for a long time, I want to get the value back in entertainment. I played Modern Warfare 2 for 3 days. Rainbow Six Rogue Spear on the other hand, for three years. What’s even more disturbing is the technician said that they have this problem with various “older” titles. Beware, it very well may be that the game you buy from Xbox Live will not be compatible with the disc version. Of course there is no way to know. It’s kind of a game in the game you see.

This is all okay since making video games is a business. The more games you make (sell) the more money you make. What I can’t understand is how can Microsoft sell this game like this. At least they could have a note saying something like “this game is only compatible with the same versions and can not be played online with other versions of the game”. Of course refund is not possible. I feel cheated and I can’t play with my friend. Thank you, Ubisoft, thanks Microsoft.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)