Don’t go knockin’ Sony for resting on its laurels. The company that has spearheaded the 3D gaming push ( NVIDIA notwithstanding ) is apparently not even close to finished, with SCEE studio director Mick Hocking taking the time to get our juices flowing in an interview with Develop . The full spill is quite lengthy, and definitely a solid read for those interested, but a few key nuggets jumped out at us. For starters, Mike confessed that Sony has “techniques like holographics for the PS3 that [he thinks] will be very interesting for the future 3D games,” and continued with this: “In regards to that we have some new technology that we’ve shown to developers that uses 3D techniques, it allows two players to play full screen multi-player games but without each being able to see the others view, and they have been massively keen on them.” Of course, such a technique isn’t exactly new — we saw prototypes of the sort in use back at GDC — but bringing them to a market as vast as the PS3 owner pool would definitely be a monumental step. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got a Gran Turismo 5 disc laying here that needs our undivided attention for the time being.. . Sony working on same-screen 3D multiplayer, holographics for PS3? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 13:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Back when we first locked eyes with the Smartfish ErgoMotion Mouse at CES we knew there was something totally unique about it. No, it didn’t have a touch strip or 18 buttons , but thanks to its “pivot system,” it did tilt in every which-way. Created by a former chiropractor, the laser mouse tilts in all directions, but not with the aim of moving the cursor or controlling anything on screen as one would think. It wobbles for one reason and one reason only: to relieve arm tension and reduce the risk of Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI). Today the company’s releasing a smaller, more mobile version of ErgoMotion, now called the Whirl Mini, for $49.95. So, is it what the doctor ordered? Or is it just another odd looking peripheral to add to the collection? We’ve been using it as our primary mouse for the last week, so you’ll want to hit the break to find out. Gallery: Smartfish Whirl Mini review Gallery: Smartfish Whirl Mini press shots Continue reading Smartfish Whirl Mini Notebook Laser Mouse review, now on sale for $50 Smartfish Whirl Mini Notebook Laser Mouse review, now on sale for $50 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 13:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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SlingPlayer Mobile for iPad was looking pretty slick when we saw a preview a couple weeks ago, and now, just like that, it’s arrived at the App Store. Folks who already invested in the iPhone app might be a bit disappointed to find they need to fork out another $30 for the iPad version — although they can keep using the iPhone app in “Compatibility Mode” if they’d like — but Sling is touting new video quality levels for the iPad, that your iPhone can only dream of, to sweeten the deal. There’s also a new program guide UI and other iPad-friendly tweaks. Check out that video preview after the break to learn more, or just hit up your local App Store and start downloading (it’s rolling out in typical App Store fashion, which means it might take a few minutes to pop up in your particular iTunes). Continue reading SlingPlayer Mobile app hits the iPad SlingPlayer Mobile app hits the iPad originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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Sony said it was coming , and come it has. Just in time for expatriated Americans basking in the glory of being paid in pounds to enjoy over “Thanksgiving,” Sony has flipped the switch on its Qriocity on-demand movie service. The UK launch marks the European debut of the service (we’re also hearing that it’s like ‘across Europe’), offering “hundreds” of pay-per-view streaming flicks to those with a network-enabled BRAVIA TV, Blu-ray player or Blu-ray home theater system. We’re told that the library consists of material from Fox Home Entertainment, Lionsgate, MGM, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Starz Digital Media, The Walt Disney Company, NBC Universal and Warner Bros., with both new releases and heralded classics up for grabs. Rental prices for SD content start from
Continue reading …Black Friday 2010 deals roundup: ultimate mega edition (updated regularly)
November 24, 2010 No Comment
Hey guys, did you hear that the day after Thanksgiving everybody gets up at the crack of dawn to go stand in line at big box retailers so they can get the cheapest deals in town? Yes, it’s called Black Friday , and like it or not, it’s one of the greatest things about living in the United States of America, where making a competitive sport out of purchasing Christmas gifts for your loved ones is only better in reality than it would be on reality television (producers, you know where to find us). Anyway, we’re rounding up some of the best deals we can find, and we’re going to put them all, right here, in this one, glorious post. We’ll keep updating this bad boy as long as you’re here to read about the delicious deals. Because, as you know, we love you. Feel free to suggest other sales in the comments, and join us after the break for the all deals. Continue reading Black Friday 2010 deals roundup: ultimate mega edition (updated regularly) Black Friday 2010 deals roundup: ultimate mega edition (updated regularly) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Windows Home Server ‘Vail’ drops drive extender support, MS suggests you buy bigger HDDs
November 24, 2010 No Comment
If you’re a current Windows Home Server user there’s a very good chance you’ve taken advantage of the drive pooling features of the OS. Need more storage? Pop in a new HDD, watch some lights blink for a bit, and then you’re ready to get back to downloading… whatever it is you’re downloading. Granted things didn’t always work perfectly , but this tech, formally called Drive Extender, makes adding storage easy, makes it possible to replicate only the data that needs it, and is completely hardware independent. And now it’s going away. Microsoft has confirmed that the next release of Windows Home Server, Vail (due in the first half of 2011), will not feature Drive Extender, indicating you’ll need to simply buy bigger drives and manually handle data replication or rely on RAID to make this happen, solutions that are decidedly less intuitive for non-techie users. The reaction among WHS fans has been overwhelmingly negative, with 148 comments (and counting) on the announcement post, most telling MS where it can shove its RAID controller. Feel free to keep on venting here if you like. Update : Malcom dropped this link into comments, where Windows guru Paul Thurrott indicates the issue is related to MS trying to position this to the small business sector — that Drive Extender can’t keep up with more professional loads. Windows Home Server ‘Vail’ drops drive extender support, MS suggests you buy bigger HDDs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 10:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Racing Green Endurance team completes its 16,000 mile, electric Pan-American trip (video)
November 24, 2010 No Comment
Hey, remember the crazy Imperial College kids in the Racing Green Endurance team, the ones who took a perfectly wonderful Radical racer and stripped it of its internal-combustion assets, flew it to Alaska, and then pledged to drive it all the way down the Pan-American Highway? Well, they made it. 26,000km later (that’s 16,155 miles) the team has reached Ushuaia, Argentina, at the southern tip of South America and a long, long way from Anchorage. Traveling an average of 300km (186 miles) per day the team conquered desert, jungle, and torrential rain storms, conditions the purely electric and decidedly track-focused machine certainly wasn’t meant for, but proving that an EV can be driven way beyond its maximum range — if you don’t mind taking nearly six months to do it. [Thanks, Amanda ] Continue reading Racing Green Endurance team completes its 16,000 mile, electric Pan-American trip (video) Racing Green Endurance team completes its 16,000 mile, electric Pan-American trip (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 09:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Anti Sleep Pilot promises to keep drivers alert, warn them when to pull over
November 24, 2010 No Comment
Looking for an alternative to that extra large cup of coffee or energy drink to keep you awake on long haul drives? Then you’ll soon have another option in the form of the Anti Sleep Pilot, which promises to keep you from nodding off through the magic of technology. Already on sale in Denmark, the device is able to automatically turn itself on and off by monitoring the movement of your vehicle, and it attempts to keep you alert by regularly performing various tests that you can respond to just by tapping the device. That promises to not only prevent fatigue in the first place by keeping your mind active, but also warn you when it’s really time to take a break by monitoring your reaction times to each test. Still no word on an official price over here just yet, but we assume it’ll cost somewhere in the neighborhood of the 1,499 kr (or $270) the device currently runs in Denmark. Anti Sleep Pilot promises to keep drivers alert, warn them when to pull over originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 09:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Mercedes-Benz’s hydrogen-fueled B-Class F-Cell gets priced at $849 a month
November 24, 2010 No Comment
It’s unfortunately not the F800 Style “research vehicle” the company is working on, but those looking to avoid a hybrid or all-electric vehicle in favor of fuel cell technology can now place an order for Mercedes-Benz’s new B-Class F-Cell vehicle. Those orders actually first opened up in October, but the automaker has only just recently revealed the actual cost to customers. That will be $849 a month on a lease-only basis, which may seem a tad high but does include both fuel and insurance (alright, so it’s still high). As you might expect, however, the car won’t exactly be widely available — Mercedes-Benz says the first few will reach “selected” customers by the end of this year, with “at least 70 more” set to become available in the Los Angeles and San Francisco area by 2012. Full press release is after the break. Continue reading Mercedes-Benz’s hydrogen-fueled B-Class F-Cell gets priced at $849 a month Mercedes-Benz’s hydrogen-fueled B-Class F-Cell gets priced at $849 a month originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 08:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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A recent article from Brian Krebs highlights a new trend in ATM skimmers : by using parts from cut-rate audio players and spy cams, criminals are able to construct something called an audio skimmer that records the data from the magnetic strip for later playback. Also included in the device is a miniature spy cam, which captures the user’s PIN. The basic methodology behind the device is nothing new (for instance, it could be found in an issue of Phrack dating back to 1992) although the use of DAPs means that the whole thing is a lot more elegant than it was in the days of the portable cassette recorder. According to a recent report by the European ATM Security Team (EAST), devices of this type have been found in five countries, two of them “major ATM deployers” (with 40,000 active ATMs or more). Please guys, don’t get any ideas. PR from EAST after the break. Continue reading Criminals constructing ATM skimmers from DAPs Criminals constructing ATM skimmers from DAPs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 07:48:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
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