The very first iPad commercial aired last night during the Oscars. Per usual, Apple found a very catchy song to pair with it. It’s called “There Goes My Love” by Danish band The Blue Van. And if you were wondering, Steve Jobs did attend the Oscars, likely cheering on Pixar’s Up.
Category Archives: Technology
Microsoft Courier details surface
Remember when Gizmodo first picked up this story back in September about a Microsoft hardware-and-software-designed booklet of sorts? Since then I’ve been keeping my ear to the ground, picking up on anything concerning the secret device. Today new details emerged about what’s being called the Microsoft Courier. According to the latest sources (as relayed by Engadget) the device will be smaller than expected, not much bigger than a 5×7 photo when closed and will be under one inch thick and weigh a slightly over a pound. The operating system will be powered by NVIDIA Tegra 2 hardware and based on the same OS as Windows Phone 7 Series and Zune HD. The device will also include a built-in camera, headphone jack for media playback, and a stylus for writing and drawing. The source pegs a release date of “Q3 / Q4” of this year.
The Courier is being dubbed a “digital journal” whose sleek user interface will revolve around pen-based interaction with the help of handwriting recognition software. If you take a look at the latest videos (look after the break for another) and images (see below) you can tell the developers behind this device have really come a long way in the design process. The overall UI experience looks tighter, more defined, and user friendly. The demos feature many touch-based actions like dragging, flicking, copy & pasting, and “pocket”-ing. At its core, Courier is an “infinite,” highly customizable journal; it’s a place to discover and collect things of interest locally and over the Internet and use them to create. Or as Microsoft says, it’s about “bringing ideas to life.” I smell a worthy iPad contender. Tickle me highly intrigued.
[Via Engadget]
Apple iPad to launch April 3rd, pre-order on March 12th
The Apple iPad took one step closer to the brink of reality today when Apple announced a ship date. iPads will be available for purchase Saturday, April 3 at Apple Retail stores, online at Apple.com, and “select Apple Authorized Resellers.” (Could that mean we’ll see iPads sold at Best Buys? Time will tell.) On March 12 (one week from today) you can pre-order the iPad (Wi-Fi + 3G models) at Apple.com or you can reserve the iPad (Wi-Fi model only) at an Apple Retail store and pick it up on that date. The 3G model will be released in “late April.” Speaking of late April, peoples of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK will get their paws on the device at this time. Need to be reminded the prices of the models and how much poorer you will be come next month?
Fun fact: Apple’s stock hit a record high Friday afternoon, jumping to $219.70 before it slightly fell to $218.95 at closing time, up around 4%.
First-gen gamers losing Xbox Live will receive consolation prizes
You all knew it was coming: On April 15 access to Xbox Live on all original Xbox consoles and games will shut down. That’s right, means no more Halo 2 online multiplayer. Instead of just pulling the plug and sitting there idly, Microsoft has decided to reward all gamers who will lose their Live service. They will get a free three month Xbox Live Gold membership card, 400 MS points, and an invite to the Halo: Reach beta. Not too shabby if you ask me. Those of you who stand by your original Xbox console and Live-enabled games listen here: Take the three month membership and the MS points and the beta invitation, buy yourself an Xbox 360 Arcade ($199), and bask in the world of next-gen gaming. Halo: Reach will surely fill in the hole its extremely aged predecessor once ruled.
[Via Xbox]
Penguin shows off its vision for the iPad
John Makinson, CEO of book publisher Penguin, unveiled to a crowd this week his vision for the iPad and how be plans on pushing “books” and other content to it. I say “books” because these demos look more like applications to me. In fact, Makinson says, “for the time being at least we’ll be creating a lot of our digital content as applications for sales in app stores in HTML, rather than as ebooks. The definition of a book itself, as you can see, is up for grabs.” As demonstrated in the video above, Penguin plans on bringing children’s books with support for embeddable sound, touch interactivity, and accelerometer (shaking/tilting) implementation; interactive textbooks (human anatomy, shown here); an “online community for vampire lovers” (OK?); a travel companion with an itinerary and maps; and lastly a far-out “intergalactic GPS system” that uses the GPS chip and augmented reality to reveal star constellations when you point the device to the sky. That last one will likely remain a concept for a while. It’s good to see a company really looking ahead into the future of print/digital media. The iPad has the power to do these things; it’s up to the developers (here, book publishers) to make it happen. ‘Nother video of Makinson speaking to the crowd about his ideas after the break.
Watching these demos makes me wish I had a kid so I could buy him an iPad and watch him interact and learn in ways I never imagined were possible when I was a toddler.
[Via PaidContent; Gizmodo]
Trailer: Halo: Reach multiplayer
Check out this trailer for Halo: Reach multiplayer. It reveals a bunch of the new multiplayer modes. And don’t forget–if you purchased Halo 3: ODST you have an invite to participate in the Reach multiplayer beta which starts on May 3.
[Via IGN]
Zipper Interactive is back with SOCOM 4
One of the most beloved video game franchises is making its way back onto the PlayStation 3 this year. After creating MAG, a PS3 exclusive multiplayer-only shooter, Zipper Interactive is going back to its roots and bringing the masses the next installment of SOCOM. SOCOM: Confrontation, the first game in the series to hit the PS3, was developed by SlantSix and did not fare well with SOCOM players coming from the PS2 due to lag issues, among other problems. Original developer Zipper Interactive plans to bring a solid single player experience to SOCOM 4, in addition to the obligatory multiplayer game it’s well known for. Though not a ton of details were let loose by the devs, they made it clear that this go around the SOCOM experience will be inviting and very much accessible to newcomers of the franchise. IGN sat down with Zipper and got the scoop on the single player campaign. Besides revealing basics like support for up to 32 players and a promise for “an all new experience,” nothing else was spilled about the SOCOM 4 multiplayer aspect. Although I personally feel SOCOM never felt the same after SOCOM II on the PS2 (that online experience was incredible!), with the promise of a hardcore single player feature and the multiplayer experience we’ve come to know and love, I still have faith in Zipper Interactive to create a handsome, solid SOCOM game for its allegient fanbase. Initial screenshots in the gallery below.
[Via IGN]
Happy 10th Anniversary, PlayStation 2
Can you believe it’s been a whole ten years since PlayStation 2 reinvented the video game console on March 4, 2000? For many it was their first DVD players, for others it brought sheer pleasure with games like God of War, Guitar Hero, SOCOM, Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal, Gran Turismo 4, Devil May Cry 3, and Grand Theft Auto III. It was the PS2 that officially knocked Nintendo off his high horse, introducing video playback and the desire for better, high-end graphics for immersive games. The legacy of PS2 will live on in our nostolgic hearts and minds. Check out this timeline (if you haven’t already) that Sony put together in celebration of 15 years of PlayStation.
TiVo Premiere hardware & software is sleek and shiny
On Tuesday TiVo announced their latest set-top box. The TiVo Premiere intros a brand new, very sleek hardware box and even more exciting, a Flash-based (but you couldn’t tell) HD-ready user interface. The UI redesign focuses on upgraded search capabilities and relies on the power of the Internet for updating informational content. It features an IMDB-like database, giving you access to a wide range of movie and actor info. Besides controlling your cable TV lineup, the box hooks you up to Blockbuster On Demand, Amazon Video on Demand, and Netflix for additional viewing choices. TiVo also unveiled a redesigned Bluetooth remote that features a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, making the new search options all the more welcome.
TiVo Premiere (320GB HDD) and TiVo Premiere XL (1TB HDD) go on sale this April for $299 and $499, respectively. The QWERTY remote (price undisclosed) and a Wi-Fi adapter ($99) will be sold separately at a later date. For more information about TiVo Premiere, look after the break for the official press release. UI images and a closer look at the remote in the gallery below. Welcome to the modern age of HD and information overload, TiVo!
[Via Engadget]
Continue reading TiVo Premiere hardware & software is sleek and shiny
RoboThespian deserves an Oscar (or two)
Meet RoboThespian, a robot that, according to Wired, “shows more acting range than some Hollywood stars.” This is the third and obviously most advanced version of his kind created by Engineered Arts. He’s powered by compressed air and air valves that aid in movement. Lifelike detail can be found in his facial expressions and body movement. The coolest part about him is that he can be programmed to perform a script at anyone’s whim and translate text to speech in English, Spanish, Germany, French, and Mandarin Chinese! If you like what you see here, look after the break for additional videos showing off RoboThespian’s acting chops.
[Via Wired; Gizmodo; RoboThespian]
Compass Table
500 tiny compasses + rare earth magnets + a glass tabletop = coaster magic.
Instructables shows you step-by-step how it’s made, if you’re so inclined.
[Via Instructables; Gizmodo]
Cool Leaf design does away with buttons, says hello to the future
From Japanese company Minebea comes Cool Leaf, a mirrored, highly reflective, and button-less design made for various input devices. Following in the footsteps of the Cleankeys keyboard, the Cool Leaf keyboard features a completely flat surface, making the process of cleaning and dusting it too easy. A special film is incorporated on top of the input surface and recognizes your fingers when you go to press its “non-physical”buttons. Back lights are also there to help guide the touch experience. Minebea plans on bring the technology to market sometime in future, when these designs belong! Check out the gallery below to see Cool Leaf resting atop a remote control and a calculator.
[Via CrunchGear; Engadget]
