New Line Cinema options rights for film adaptation of Heavy Rain
February 28, 2010
What if Heavy Rain, which is so often heralded by creator David Cage as “interactive fiction,” was just a bit less interactive Is the game’s story and cast of vaguely-French-sounding characters strong enough to carry a feature-length film We might just find out, some day — internet super-sleuth superannuation recently uncovered copyright documents which reveal that New Line Productions optioned the rights to turn Heavy Rain into a movie on May 15, 2006 — just a few days after “The Casting” trailer (NSFW) was revealed at E3.
This doesn’t ensure the development of a Heavy Rain motion picture, of course; it only means if any film studio makes the film, it’s going to be New Line Cinema. We think the rights are in good hands — New Line did some great work on the film adaptations of those Lord of the Rings games.
New Line Cinema options rights for film adaptation of Heavy Rain originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Yves Behar Shows Off Hackable Automobile, New XO Laptop at Greener Gadgets Keynote
February 28, 2010
Nonpareil designer Yves Behar kicked off the Greener Gadgets conference in New York on Thursday with a keynote in which he complained that green design is frequently “unsexy.” In an appeal to designers to consider both the form and the end-result of their creations, Behar spouted a personal credo that “it’s not beautiful if it’s not ethical; and if it’s not beautiful, it probably shouldn’t exist.”
Behar illustrated this belief with a few examples, including his work with eco-friendly PACT underwear and his delectable, 150-MPH electric motorcycle for Mission Motors. The bike in particular has become “an object of desire,” he claimed, which is something that designers must look toward if they want consumers to buy into sustainable, green technology.
Continue reading Yves Behar Shows Off Hackable Vehicle, New XO Laptop at Greener Gadgets Keynote
Filed under: Vehicle Tech, Personal
Yves Behar Shows Off Hackable Vehicle, New XO Laptop at Greener Gadgets Keynote originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Limited Edition Samsung Messager announced
February 28, 2010
Speak about tattooing your mobile phone, MetroPCS and Samsung unleashed the Samsung Messager r450 designed with SA Studios Global, a multicultural marketing bureau, and artist Mark Machado a.k.a. Mister Cartoon. The Mexican-American tattoo and graffitti artist, based in Los Angeles, has worked with numerous celebrities such as Justin Timberlake, Beyonce and Eminem. This time, he will have his artwork featured on both the case of the r450 as well as the handset’s preloaded content in the form of exclusive wallpapers, animations, ringtones and if those are not enough downloadable content from MetroPCS’ website. This is not merely putting art on a phone - the first ten units will be auctioned off for charity in August, and a portion of the series’ sales revenue will fund community art centers, outreach programmes for at-risk youth and also provide art supplies to local Los Angeles schools.
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YouTube’s Never Gonna Give Rick Up, Walmart Ready To Nix Racy Vudu Vids
February 28, 2010
Highlights from this morning’s other massive tech headlines….
- Yesterday was a terrifying and depressing day for juvenile on the internet pranksters. YouTube pulled the king of World wide web memes, Rick Astley’s ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ video, apparently ending the hilarious and tortuous Rick Roll phenomenon. Google, though, has now returned the video, and states its removal was a mistake because a few YouTube viewers marked it as spam. [From: Mashable]
- Walmart purchased the movie and Television download service Vudu this week, and it hasn’t taken long for the retail chain’s corporate morals and ethics to affect Vudu’s content. The Walton and Co. will reportedly be eliminating Vudu’s After Dark adult section within the next few days. The fine, upstanding people who frequent Walmart will certainly be excited to hear that they won’t be corrupted by nudity. [From: Tech Crunch]
- Ford has actively pioneered the movement to seamlessly integrate slicing edge technology with automotive engineering, and BMW now seems to be following the lead of Ford’s in-car Sync system. BMW’s Mini Countryman will be the first vehicle in the Mini Connected program, which will offer iPhone integration and streaming Internet radio. [From: Engadget]
- Nintendo’s new DSi XL will arrive in the States March 28th, and, as its name implies, will boast a larger screen than its predecessor. The slightly thicker model, with two expanded 4.2-inch LCD screens, will come preloaded with a few games and will retail for $190. [From: Engadget]
- Facebook’s current privacy updates included a move that would allow for Facebook pages to appear in Google search results, and the first pages are beginning to materialize. If you’re not sure if your Facebook settings grant for such profile sharing, check our tips on how to update and protect your account. [From: All Facebook]
- The iTunes store has officially sold its 10 billionth song, and Apple is celebrating the occasion. You can check the store for some iTunes history, but if you scan the list of the most downloaded songs, be prepared to lose all hope for the future of music. [From: The Next Web]
YouTube’s Never Gonna Give Rick Up, Walmart Ready To Nix Racy Vudu Vids originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Verizon’s Gender-Based Ads Fall Flat, Viewers Go ‘Gaga’ For Vevo
February 28, 2010
Highlights from this morning’s other large tech headlines….
- AdMob recently surveyed nearly 1,000 smartphone owners in order to glean information pertaining to age, gender and brand choice. Despite Verizon’s attempts to blatantly, and offensively, pander to women, the study’s data indicates that men still make up the majority of webOS owners. Apple’s gadgets successfully crossed the gender lines, though, as iPod and touch owners were pretty evenly distributed between male and female. [From: Engadget]
- Vevo is just a fledgling in the on the internet music scene, but, according to early usage statistics, the service made an nearly instant impact on the Web. More than 35 million very special visitors apparently checked out the site during its first month, but, for some ungodly reason, 25-percent of those people were there solely for the Lady Gaga vids. [From: Mashable]
- Since Verizon’s gender-based Droid and webOS advertising didn’t produce noticeable gains in male or female usage numbers, Palm is now saying that its overall sales numbers are also disappointing. The company’s third quarter numbers were remarkably similar to those of the second quarter, back before Verizon started carrying the Pre Plus and Pixi Plus. [From: Engadget]
- A Virginia federal judge has sided with Microsoft in its quest to deactivate a purported botnet army that is believed to be composed of thousands of compromised Computers. Microsoft will now be able to disable hundreds of World wide web addresses linked to the network of corrupted computers, which is reportedly operated by 27 unnamed defendants. [From: FOX News]
- While Verizon and AT&T are still waging their incessant 3G ad battle, Sprint is focusing on 4G and the future. The company states that beginning in 2010 its 4G WiMAX service will be available in “many” markets, including Boston, New York and San Francisco. [From: Engadget]
Verizon’s Gender-Based Ads Fall Flat, Viewers Go ‘Gaga’ For Vevo originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Clueless Teen Burglars Accidentally Call 9-1-1 Mid-Robbery
February 28, 2010
What’s more embarrassing than a burglar accidentally dialing 9-1-1 on herself Accidentally calling the police while she’s in the middle of giving a lecture on how to escape the police.
As 19-year-old Stefanie Vargas and her 13-year-old male accomplice were in the middle of robbing cars in Daytona Beach, Fla., the cell phone in Vargas’ pocket “accidentally” called 9-1-1, allowing dispatchers the rare opportunity to listen in on a crime in progress. As Orlando’s WESH reports, Daytona police were able to overhear the entire lesson in car burglary that Vargas gave to her protege, including her all-too ironic tips on how to steal phones and evade the police: “You got to break the SIM card. Take that SIM card out. They can trace it.” As Bonnie and Clyde debated which items had the most value (”Look in here, in the glove compartment. They have, like, GPSs or something”) and outlined their escape plan (”When I beep the horn it means the cops are on their way, you hear me”), police arrived on the scene, and caught the teenagers red-handed.
Continue reading Clueless Teen Burglars Accidentally Call 9-1-1 Mid-Robbery
Filed under: Car Tech, Cell Phones
Clueless Teen Burglars Accidentally Call 9-1-1 Mid-Robbery originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
What’s the Ideal Point-and-Shoot Camera Under $150
February 28, 2010
A reader writes: My wife treats digital cameras like they’re disposables, so once again I’m in charge of finding her next victim. Since I know I’ll be in this position again by the end of summer, what’s my ideal option for a camera that takes great photos, is easy as pie to use, and is cheap enough that it won’t make me cry when she inevitably busts it — state under $150 or so I’ve given up on winning this battle, so Just Tell Me What to Get!
Dear Reader: While our first instinct is to dispatch Switched’s ‘Minority Report’-style Precrimes Division in order to prevent any more techie tragedies at the hands of your wife, you asked for an answer and not an intervention, so we’ll keep them at bay. For now.
Continue reading What’s the Best Point-and-Shoot Camera Under $150
Filed under: Cameras, Advice, Columns, Editor’s Picks
What’s the Ideal Point-and-Shoot Camera Under $150 originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Yves Behar Shows Off Hackable Vehicle, New XO Laptop at Greener Gadgets Keynote
February 27, 2010
Nonpareil designer Yves Behar kicked off the Greener Gadgets conference in New York on Thursday with a keynote in which he complained that green design is frequently “unsexy.” In an appeal to designers to consider both the form and the end-result of their creations, Behar spouted a personal credo that “it’s not beautiful if it’s not ethical; and if it’s not beautiful, it probably shouldn’t exist.”
Behar illustrated this belief with a few examples, including his work with eco-friendly PACT underwear and his delectable, 150-MPH electric motorcycle for Mission Motors. The bike in particular has become “an object of desire,” he claimed, which is something that designers must look toward if they want consumers to purchase into sustainable, green technology.
Continue reading Yves Behar Shows Off Hackable Automobile, New XO Laptop at Greener Gadgets Keynote
Filed under: Automobile Tech, Computers
Yves Behar Shows Off Hackable Automobile, New XO Laptop at Greener Gadgets Keynote originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, February 22 - February 26
February 27, 2010
Recommendation of the Week:
Clash of the Titans ($34.99 MSRP, much lower at most retailers)Kratos is coming back again soon for his final vengeance (and let’s hope an anger management course or two) in God of War III (look for new interviews and a hands-on with the complete opening on Monday), and with Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and a massive-budget remake of Clash of the Titans on the way, this is the Year of Olympus. To get that rolling, we’re completely recommending the original from back in 1981. Yes, it’s dated. Yes, it stars Harry Hamlin, and yes, it’s totally breathtaking. There’s an all-star cast with Sir Lawrence Olivier, Dame Maggie Smith, Burgess Meredith, and Ursula Andress, among others, and the extraordinary stop-motion effects of wizard Ray Harryhausen. The film looks impressive (for 1981) on Blu-ray, includes a conversation with Harryhausen and a trailer for the remake, and is packaged in Warner’s nifty Digibook format. We suggested this back on New Year’s as an XBL buy, but this disc just gets the whole Olmypus thing Kraken. (Get it)
on after the break for the rest of our recommendations, and let us know what you’re watching!
Continue reading JBO: Joystiq Box Office, February 22 - February 26
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, February 22 - February 26 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Yves Behar Shows Off Hackable Automobile, New XO Laptop at Greener Gadgets Keynote
February 27, 2010
Filed under: Car Tech, Personal
Nonpareil designer Yves Behar kicked off the Greener Gadgets conference in New York on Thursday with a keynote in which he complained that green design is frequently “unsexy.” In an appeal to designers to think about both the form and the end-result of their creations, Behar spouted a personal credo that “it’s not beautiful if it’s not ethical; and if it’s not beautiful, it probably shouldn’t exist.”
Behar illustrated this belief with a few examples, including his work with eco-friendly PACT underwear and his delectable, 150-MPH electric motorcycle for Mission Motors. The bike in particular has become “an object of desire,” he claimed, which is something that designers must look toward if they want consumers to buy into sustainable, green technology.
Continue reading Yves Behar Shows Off Hackable Vehicle, New XO Laptop at Greener Gadgets Keynote
Yves Behar Shows Off Hackable Vehicle, New XO Laptop at Greener Gadgets Keynote originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 26 Feb 2010 18:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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