Rock Band 2 is still launching for the Xbox 360 on September 14, but it won’t be packaged with any of that nifty hardware. Instead, gamers will have to wait until October 19th (the same time RB2 is coming to all of the other systems) to pick up the US$189 bundle packed with all of the new instruments. We’re guessing that hardware shortages are, once again, plaguing the game, or Microsoft just didn’t read the fine print on their one month exclusive. [Shacknews via Kotaku]
Robert Jacobsen wrote a nice piece of software for everyone with a Lionel set in their garage and released it under an open-source licence. Fine and dandy. But after a company jacked his code and released it as a commercial product, Jacobsen understandably got a little pissed and sued. After God knows how many hearings and evidence filings involving model trains, the whole thing has ended up in federal appeals court, where it’s unexpectedly turned into a potentially landmark ruling for open-source software licenses everywhere, keeping things like Linux and Wikipedia a bit more secure, for the moment.
While the TSA has started working with laptop bag manufacturers to create cases that can hold computers through X-ray machines, the requirements are quite strict and require some real innovation to meet. One company gave up on it all and released the LapStrap (sadly, without any hint of social critique). So what is the LapStrap? Not much.
This video, shown at SIGGRAPH, demos a re-invention of how to navigate collections of photos. It’s the work of a team from the University of Washington and Microsoft Research, using advanced processing to magically create 3D-like environments to explore photos of places and things. The amazing results will, inevitably, invoke a “that’s like Minority Report” sensation in you. Currently the team sees the system as useful for photo tourism, using “community photos” from a source like Flickr. But with each of us snapping photos all the time on our digital cams, I’d like to think it’s the way you may browse your photo collection in the future. [Phototourism via Crunchgear]
As we reported they would last year, Intel has published a draft specification for the next-gen connection system, USB 3.0. The v0.9 eXtensible Host Controller Interface specs are designed to allow hardware developers to steal a march on developing next-gen interfacing gizmos ahead of the final certification of the standard by the USB Promoters Group. The v0.9 specs are also royalty free, since Intel hopes this will speed-up uptake of the new system. Looks like super-speed USB is well on its way. [Reghardware]
The iPhone 3G’s network speed has been coming under fire recently, and Wired has decided to investigate with a global iPhone 3G network speed study. Head on over and add your data to their interactive map. [Wired]
Ipod-controlling clothes aren’t new, sure, but UK retailer Marks and Spencer is taking a teeny risk with its new line of smart clothing. It’s aimed at school kids, with controls and pockets integrated into standard school uniform blazers and coats. A five function keypad from Fibertronic is inside the lapels, and there’re loops for hiding the earphone wires under there too. Brilliant idea… until you wonder how many detentions this is going to land kids in, when they decide that listening to tunes on the journey into school isn’t enough, and Geography lessons are soooo boring anyway. The Back to School iPod gear is in boys and girls cuts, with the coat going for around US$70, depending on size, and the blazer for around US$50. [Talk2MyShirt]
“Now, you can always look beautiful when you are videoconferencing with your friend,” says Brando. A mirror with LED lights and a concealed camera behind the mirror face… it’s not really for that purpose, is it? Aha: it “can also be used as a spy web came” [sic]the sales pitch goes on, for peering at well-lit unsuspecting people at inappropriate moments. It’s got 24 white LEDs, an adjustable-focus lens on a 1.3-megapixel cam and stands 10-inches high. Yours, for narcissistic vid conferencing or peeping-Tom purposes, for US$79. [Brando]
As we reported back in mid July, Sony’s finally bid farewell to the 40GB PS3, leaving just the 80GB versions on sale at Sony Style, ending the on-again, off-again 80GB debate. The US$500 Metal Gear Solid 4 80GB bundle is available now, but the simple “core” edition is showing a September 1st availability. It’ll cost you US$400. [Sony Style. Thanks, Andy]
Samsung’s E200 candybar mobile phone is being relaunched in an environmentally-friendlier version at Samsung’s Olympic sales event. The external case of the phone, in appropriate green colour, is made of bioplastic (extracted from plant material like corn) instead of polycarbonate plastic, which reduces the CO2 burden of producing the phone. It’s also packaged in an uncoated recycled paper box. “We strive to make more products as green as possible and to proactively set up and expand a phone recycling system” said the president of Samsung telecoms division, and with eco versions of both the W510 and the F267 coming out too, it looks like the company’s trying to make a good first step. [Akihabaranews]
