The Iron Man flick pressed my buttons from start to finish. Specifically, that little gadget nerd button over my heart, right where Tony Stark’s arc reactor plugs in. On one hand, Stark’s legendary womanising, alcoholism and vanity are way underdeveloped. (Disappointingly, Downy Jr. looks too sober.) But if you’re at all interested in the future of exoskeletons, holographic 3D CAD, advanced heads up displays and stuff blowing up under the recoil-free power of repulsor beams, you’re going to want to see this movie, well, just to see it. AU: I wouldn’t class anthing in here as a spoiler as such, but there are some aspects of the movie discussed that might upset some people wanting to see the film. If so, don’t read it.
When Microsoft launched Vista in January last year, one of the most “exciting” aspects was the collaboration between Microsoft and Sanity to provide an online music service that would be integrated into Windows Media Player. It would offer both pay-per-track downloads, plus an all-you-can-eat subscription buffet that allowed you to transfer unlimted tracks to a WMA DRM-compatible MP3 player.
It never happened.
Until now. Apparently. Smarthouse is reporting that the service is currently being tested in Melbourne, and is set to go live between the end of May or early June.
Whether you took Mozzy’s stance that Apple quietly slipping Safari into its Software Update for Windows users “bordered on malware” or just didn’t give a shit, looks like you’ll have to admit it worked like gangbusters: Net Applications reports that it tripled Safari’s marketshare in only a month.
Amazon has filed suit against the state of New York in response to the law passed last week that requires the company to collect sales tax on purchases made by New Yorkers. They say the law, which demands any web retailer with affiliates in the state to charge sales tax, is vague and unconstitutional. The company also says they’ve been unfairly targeted since lawmakers dubbed the bill the “Amazon Tax”. I hope they’re right and the law gets repealed; I’m not spending 8.375% more of my hard-earned money than I should until this is worked out. [NYT]
TomTom have long been at the forefront of satnav technology, but recently they seem to have lost some of their zing, some of their sparkle. Their latest batch of devices are essentially slight redesigns on their previous models, without any really compelling features.
So what’s the answer? Adding Google Maps functionality, of course. Not in the practical way – using them to replace the WhereIs mapping – but by letting you send business POIs to your satnav from Google maps via TomTom’s Home software.
It’s exactly like what we saw Garmin satnavs doing about a month ago, and the Dash GPS before that. So I guess they get full credit for adding a feature that’s pretty much standard these days. They get bonus points for that cheesy video above explaining how it works, too.
[TomTom]
Just when we thought we couldn’t love GTA IV more, they go and make this Apple parody. You can see it when you go into an internet cafe. We think it reflects quite truthfully on the Apple audience, don’t you? Now excuse me while I call up my publisher to line up a How to Do Everything with Your iFruit Phone. [TUAW]
Jetpacks are great, but never could they reach the levels of ridiculousness this strap-on helicopter provides with its rocket-powered rotor blades. The pack is powered by two hydrogen fuel canisters and the rockets at the end of the blades negate the need for a tail rotor. It’s entirely possible this is just a drawing that will never actually get made. But as DVICE points out, Tecnologia Aeroespacial Mexicana, the firm that designed this, made an actual prototype of their last jet pack. So I’m holding my breath for some trial videos to hit YouTube. [Tecnologia Aeroespacial Mexicana via DVICE]
We make fun of Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer all the time—we just did it again just now—but there’s no denying what an influential figure he is. Even Guy Kawasaki, a guy who used to be Apple’s chief evangelist, can’t deny that he gets stuff done. Guy puts it this way:
iLounge brings up this interesting, and true-sounding, story of iPhone peripheral manufacturers getting pre-briefed on specs for the 3G iPhone before the device is even announced. It makes sense since these companies need the specs to make cases that actually fit, but only need as little detail as possible to do so. Here’s what one of these manufacturer says the new one will have: slightly different tapering on the edges, a different speaker/mic hole setup, slightly different sensor arrangement (possibly even a front camera), and a red, white or black colour scheme.
If you live in NSW, you probably remember that back in 2006, the Iemma government made a big promise to deliver free, city-wide wireless internet access across Sydney and it’s surrounding suburbs. If it helps jog your memory, it was right before the election.
Well, yesterday, the NSW government pulled the plug on the project. After reviewing 15 different proposals from companies keen to provide the network, they decided it wasn’t economically or technically viable.
The NSW Minister for Commerce, Eric Roozendaal, had this to say:
