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Wall Street Journal to offer free WiFi hotspots in NYC and San Francisco during September
Oh New Yorkers and their marvelous, no-cost WiFi access points. Only a few days after Google Offers and Boingo happily announced they'd brought gratis wireless connectivity to additional underground locations within the city, The Wall Street Journal is now let it be known it too will be kind enough to gift the NYC crowd with some WiFi hotspots of its own. The nice gesture will bring around 1,300 network units to areas such as SoHo, Greenwich Village, Union Square, Chelsea and, naturally, the renowned Times Square during the month of September -- all in hopes of giving "people the opportunity to sample The Wall Street Journal." Meanwhile, folks in San Francisco can also grab the internet-friendly freebies in a couple of different places, including Nob Hill and Fisherman's Wharf. And don't worry, there won't be any donkeys involved here.
Sony Cambridge concept artist shows work from failed pitches
Artist Jason Wilson was a concept artist at Sony's Cambridge studio (before it was folded into Guerilla Games earlier this year). Over on his personal portfolio blog, he's shared a few concept pieces for various pitches put together by the studio on projects that never got made. Simian is the first title he describes: It was an early iteration of what would become Sony's EyePet, with a more alien and mature "adventure game set on a strange alien jungle planet."Wilson also talks about a first-person shooter named Revolution 4 that portrayed a War of the Worlds-style alien invasion in the middle of modern London (but which later was canceled in favor of Resistance: Fall of Man), as well as a first-person survival horror game named Manhattan, featuring frenzied zombies as opponents, and some strategy elements in terms of clearing checkpoints and saving survivors.Finally, Wilson posts art from a third-person assassin action game called Zodiac Assassin, which featured a world-traveling female protagonist and some exotic settings. Again, Heavenly Sword was also in progress at Sony at the time, and the company decided in favor of that game rather than the one Wilson was pitching at Cambridge. It's quite a menu Wilson lays out here, and for dishes we'll never get to eat.
Sprint LTE spreads its wings to four more areas by Labor Day
Sprint may have played slightly fast and loose with its definition of a 15-city LTE launch this month -- some of those areas were mighty close to each other -- but it's taking that expansion a little further down the road with its next stage. Hand-in-hand with its second quarter results, the pin-drop network has outlined plans to revisit its 4G hometown in Baltimore as well Gainesville in Georgia, the Junction City-Manhattan area in Kansas and the Denison-Sherman region in Texas, giving them all LTE by Labor Day. The expansion will certainly please Georgian Galaxy S III owners; unfortunately, it still leaves many major cities fending with EV-DO 3G until later in the year, if not 2013. Maybe Sprint's Hitchcock-inspired nightmares are to blame.
Breakfast's super-speed reactive electromagnetic display is 44,000 dots of promotional awesome (video)
TNT wanted to launch its new crime show Perception, in style, and we have to give it to 'em, this is pretty cool. Working with professional technological tinkerers, Breakfast, they created a 23 x 12 foot display made up of 44,000 electromagnetic dots. Imagine those ticker boards you see at train stations, jazzed up with a little modern flavor. The dots are white on one side, black on the other, and move at 15 times the speed of their typical rail-station counterparts -- giving a real-time effect. The installation is set up in Manhattan's Herald Square until July 29th, and is fully interactive. When pedestrians walk past, the board updates to reflect their movement, and this "silhouette" interacts with words and images on the screen. Extra sensory stimulation also comes from the noise the board makes, literally letting you hear your movements. If a picture paints a thousand words, then 44,000 dots in a video paints even more. Head past the break to see the beast in action, plus more details on how it was done.
Boingo, Google Offers bring free WiFi to select Manhattan subway stations, let you tweet the heat
Boingo has surely overestimated New York City's desire to "soa[k] up the warm weather" this summer, but when it comes to complaining about the heat, no one does it like the Big Apple. And now, thanks to the hotspot provider (with some promotional help from the folks at Google Offers), Manhattanites will be able to do just that all over Twitter from the convenience of a handful of subway stations on 14th and 23rd street. The promotion begins today and runs through September 7th. Including the hashtag #FreeNYCWiFi puts you in the running for Boingo rewards. We also recommend #wheresthatdamnEtrain, which will surely be trending for the next few months. For a full list of stations, check out the source link below.
Sony may sell its fancy New York City skyscraper
Sony's got a pretty swanky skyscraper in Manhattan. That skyscraper, however, may not feature Sony's logo much longer – not to mention the employees it houses – as the private-equity firm Blackstone Group for the potential sale of the 55th and Madison-based, 37-story building.Said talks apparently didn't conclude with a plan. A variety of potential outcomes are up in the air: renting out part of the building, selling the whole thing and leasing back part of it, and outright sale are all proposed in the piece."Sources familiar with the structure" valued the building at somewhere between $700 million and $1 billion, and Sony outright owns the structure – that kind of capital infusion would significantly impact the ailing hardware manufacturer's bottom line. The company's fiscal 2012 results depict a grim reality for Sony, with even its Consumer Products & Services division (read: PlayStation) suffering losses.Update: The commercial real estate group Newmark Grubb Knight Frank was originally named by the NY Post as party to these talks. The group has since refuted those claims.[Image credit: Rafael Chamorro]
'5th Avenue Frogger' is exactly what it sounds like (incredible, that is)
Tyler DeAngelo is a problem solver. He sees Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, what with its rampant traffic and potential life-ending danger, and he turns peril into a game. Well ... not quite. He's taken a virtual approach to crossing said road, revamping the classic gameplay of Frogger with real-time data from cars traveling down Fifth Avenue. And then he – and two cohorts assisting the process – took things a step further.Like George Costanza before him, DeAngelo grabbed a Frogger arcade machine with his hands and pulled it down to the streets of New York City. Unlike Costanza, however, DeAngelo invited passersby to play it. Many frogs died in the process – naturally – but, you know, they're virtual.The whole process is run by rigging a camera with a clear view of the street up to a computer which translates the positional data of cars into in-game cars that your frog must avoid. It's all quite amazing, honestly, and we're inclined to believe it's actually dark magic rather than math. We've dropped a video of the game straight from the streets just below the break, should you be interested in having your mind partially blown this morning.
Windows Phone Free-Time Machine draws curious New Yorkers, one Kourtney Kardashian (video)
Oh the thrill of seeing a familiar face. No, not the Nokia Lumia 900, which made an appearance in several forms at the Windows Phone event in New York City's Bryant Park today, but Kourtney Kardashian, who drew crowds to the Free-Time Machine -- that fled just as quickly as they arrived. The reality TV star far overshadowed the Windows Phone experience, which is on display in several cities across the US today. New Yorkers can visit Bryant or Madison Square Parks for a chance to flick through some Metro tiles on a Lumia 900, and play to win gift certificates and other prizes -- and in the case of one ecstatic youngster, a day with the above-mentioned celebrity and a $5,000 gift certificate. There were also a few smartphone giveaways on order, along with some "free time" prizes, like a dog walker gift certificate or a chance to skip the line (saving "60 minutes") at the city's Shake Shack burger joint. This isn't the first time we've seen an oversized Windows Phone drop by Manhattan, and it's probably not the last. Jump past the break for a peek at the phone, and the Kardashian.%Gallery-152680%
Bloomberg signs NYC 'Open Data Policy' into law, plans web portal for 2018
Live in Manhattan and wish that your local government would be more transparent about its data and make it more easily accessible? Well, consider the request granted by a little bill dubbed as Introductory Number 29-A, which Mayor Bloomberg signed into law this past week. Apparently following in the steps of the White House's Data.Gov initiative, the legislation lays out three ways the city will be "jumpstarting a comprehensive citywide open data policy." The Department of Information Technology Telecommunications will be in charge of of creating a technical standards manual and posting it online to begin, serving as guide for the city's agencies on how to handle and list any data that's considered public domain. Bloomberg also has his eyes on developers, as part two involves getting any info stored online in "locked formats" released over the next year so that it can be used for creating applications. As InformationWeek points out, this is something the city has been fond of, as showcased by its ongoing BigApps program. The third task will require the DoITT to make compliance plans with all of the city's agencies to help them list all of their public data, with the end goal of listing it to "a single web portal by 2018." Want to hear it from the man himself? Make your way to the press release just past the break. [Photo credit: NYC.Gov]
AT&T brings free WiFi to four more NYC parks, will occupy your downtime
AT&T's public WiFi rollout seems to be moving along rather splendidly, now that four additional New York City parks have been bathed in the golden rays of the internet. The carrier confirmed the expansion yesterday, announcing that its free WiFi service is now available at Mineral Springs and Tavern on the Green in Central Park, as well as Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park and Devoe Park, up in the Bronx. That brings AT&T closer to its goal of 26 WiFi-enabled city locations, and inches New Yorkers ever closer to networked nirvana. Full PR after the break.
Apple just arrived at Grand Central Terminal, we hop aboard (video)
For many New Yorkers, Grand Central Station Terminal is where you go to escape the island -- not to leisurely browse aisles of iPhone accessories, or pop in for a Genius Bar appointment. But apparently Apple has a slightly different vision for the city's transportation hub, opening its fifth NYC store along the main hall's 23,000 square foot east balcony. We dropped by for the grand opening this morning, which came complete with the standard Apple Store t-shirt giveaway and what seemed like hundreds of red shirt-clad retail employees. As NYC's gateway to Connecticut, Grand Central is typically incredibly crowded during rush hour, but the enormous sunlight-filled main hall was packed to the brim today with spectators -- eager customers queued up in a hallway out of view, beginning early this morning. The store itself is huge, occupying the entire east balcony and several side rooms, with a large genius bar, training area and accessory alcove at either side. Eager to pop in for a visit? Thumb through the gallery below to step inside, and jump past the break to experience the cacophonous chaos at Grand Central.%Gallery-141464%
Grand Central Terminal Apple Store previewed for media, opens Friday
Apple previewed its latest retail development for the press today. The Grand Central Terminal store in New York City, opening Friday, will be among the largest Apple stores in the world; it overlooks the Main Concourse from the East and North East balconies of Grand Central Terminal. %Gallery-141279% Check out the gallery of inside shots above, courtesy of NPD's Ross Rubin. He reports that the store includes an "express checkout" area ("like an Apple Store inside the Apple Store") and dual Genius Bars. Business Insider posted some nice shots of what the store looks like on the inside and Fortune has a video walkthrough, embedded below. As an extra bonus to commuters, Apple is providing free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal. Also, the store will be the first to offer 15-minute Express Workshops of "tips and tricks in a streamlined format to serve customers on a tight schedule," according to a press release issued by Apple this morning. The Grand Central Terminal store opens to the public this Friday, December 9, at 10 AM. Over three hundred Apple employees will be on hand to help the expected rush of holiday shoppers. Normal business hours will be from 7 AM to 9 PM, Monday through Friday; Saturday 10 AM to 7 PM, and Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM. Our own Mike Rose will be scoping out the opening; if you see him on Friday, say hello (he'll be the guy in the TUAW t-shirt).
AT&T brings free WiFi to eleven NYC parks, untold pigeon ladies
There was once a time, believe it or not, when New Yorkers would go to public parks to engage in long strolls, unfettered cigarette smoking, and neurotic conversations with Diane Keaton. Recent years, however, have seen a sudden change in this behavior due to a variety of factors -- including AT&T. Yesterday, the provider announced an expansion of its ongoing New York City WiFi initiative, bringing free connectivity to eleven new sites across the five boroughs, including Prospect Park, Tompkins Square Park and Marcus Garvey Park, among others. With these new additions, AT&T inches closer to its stated goal of bathing 26 park locations in WiFi, though the Grand Poobah, Central Park, remains in the dark. As with its earlier rollout, visitors won't need an AT&T account to get online. In fact, they won't need any contract at all -- just a WiFi-enabled device, a cozy bench and bountiful downtime. Full PR after the break.
Amazon lockers come to NYC, no more getting caught by UPS in your PJs
First Seattle, then London, now the Big Apple -- Amazon's delivery lockers are starting to pop up all over. As we've explained before, the lockers are basically giant, automated PO boxes, designated exclusively for Amazon purchases. If you choose to add a locker location to your address book (go check your account settings to see if the option is available to you yet), your package will be crammed into one of these kiosks and you'll be given a code to unlock a particular slot at the location of your choice. So far there are eight scattered around Manhattan in Rite Aides, D'Agostinos and Gristedes. We haven't wandered out of our secret lair to get photographic evidence of the drop off locations yet (we prefer to have our Amazon purchases left at the gate under the watchful eye of a turret), but we think the screen shot we took is proof enough that we're not pulling your leg. Still, if you're afraid the UPS guy might swing by while you're still in your jammies this seems like a pretty nice solution.
Live from the Engadget reader meetup in NYC
Are you in New York City? We sure are, and we want you to join us! Right now! We'll be at Guastavino's, located just under the Queensboro Bridge at 59th Street in Manhattan, until 10:30pm. Plenty of Engadget editors are on hand, along with our friends from Joystiq and TUAW, so be sure to swing on by if you're in the neighborhood. We're walking around with the latest gadgets, and may even have some for you to take home. Can't make it to the party? We have our cameras and laptops in tow, and we'll be adding photos and text throughout the night. Jump past the break to join in on the fun!
Heatmap shows Fifth Avenue Apple Store is hot place for photos
The image above is a heatmap of photo locations on popular pic sharing site Flickr, put together by developer Eric Fischer. Each dot on the map indicates where a photo was taken in New York's Manhattan borough, with each circled area representing a hot spot of location photography. As ifoAppleStore points out, the locations marked 2, 3 and 4 on the map are pretty obvious photo spots, as they represent tourist standbys Rockefeller Center, Columbus Circle and Times Square, respectively. But the number one circle is interesting -- it's the location of Apple's Fifth Avenue Store in New York City, which is apparently competing for tourist eyeballs and photo snaps. We knew it was a popular location, but this heatmap shows just how popular. ifoAppleStore also has a heatmap of Chicago photos, and while they lament that the new Lincoln Park Apple Store isn't very well photographed, the much more iconic Michigan Avenue store does have its own red blots (though, of course, the proximity to the famous Chicago Water Tower probably mixes that one up a bit). It's clear, nevertheless, that these famous Apple retail buildings are gaining a big following among photographers and travelers.
WSJ: Apple still eyeing Grand Central terminal for new retail store
Last week, The New York Observer claimed an anonymous source within the Metropolitan Transit Authority confirmed that Apple has killed plans to lease space within New York's Grand Central terminal. Today, the Wall Street Journal refutes that report with its own sources that suggest Apple is still considering the lucrative retail space. According to the WSJ, the MTA has spoken with Apple and is hopeful the retail giant will bid on a balcony space, which will be available this summer. The site is the current home of the Métrazur restaurant, which is closing July 1st. Owned by celebrity chef Charlie Palmer, the restaurant has a lease on the spot until 2019, and any prospective bidder would have to pay Palmer a lump sum to vacate his lease. It's a small location with a mere 15,000 square feet of retail space. Apple may also find it difficult to customize the site to its liking as Grand Central Station is a historic landmark, and all renovations require approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission. Despite these limitations, the retail space is a high-profile location with tens of thousands of visitors each day.
Apple's rumored store plans for Grand Central not happening?
The New York dream of shopping for an iPad 2 on the commute to work appears to have come to an end, according to a report by The New York Observer. An anonymous source within New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) says Apple ended plans to open a 16,000 square foot high-profile store in the balconies of Manhattan's historic Grand Central Terminal last week. Rumors of an Apple retail store coming to New York City's Grand Central Terminal, often referred to as Grand Central Station, began in early February with a report by Laura Kusisto in The New York Observer. Grand Central Terminal appeared to be an ideal candidate for Apple's fifth Manhattan location. It's the largest terminal in the United States, with up to 700,000 visitors a day, and it already hosts 68 retail shops and 35 restaurants. At Park Avenue and East 42nd Street, the landmark terminal is less than one mile away from Apple's Fifth Avenue store, which draws the most traffic among Apple's four shops in Manhattan and sells more product than its three sister stores combined, according to ifoAppleStore. Presumably, the originally planned Grand Central location would have shared the incredibly heavy traffic of the crowded Fifth Avenue store. However, the complex and controversial process for applying for retail space in Grand Central may be responsible for undoing the deal, which never passed preliminary negotiations. Grand Central Terminal is classified as a historic landmark and tenants must sacrifice quite a bit of control to the MTA, including decisions about menu items, store design, architecture, lighting and store hours. Despite the excellent location and high foot traffic in Grand Central Terminal and Apple's proven ability to adapt its store designs to be more historically sensitive, it isn't in Apple's nature to give up so much control to another party. The New York MTA, Apple and Landmarks Preservation were not available to comment about the deal, but Executive Vice President and Principal of Newmark Knight Frank Retail, Jeffrey Roseman, appeared to confirm Apple's abandonment of the Grand Central project via Twitter on Thursday. "Lets see if Apple NOT coming to Grand Central, gets as much press as it got, when the rumor started," said Roseman. [via BetaBeat]
PlayStation Lounge opening tomorrow in Manhattan
We know you probably shut your brain off after reading the words "PlayStation Lounge," assuming it was just a newly opened Home Space -- fortunately, that's not the case. Sony announced that tomorrow afternoon, it will turn the ground floor of its HQ in New York into the aforementioned Lounge, where shoppers can play demos of upcoming PS3 and PSP games, or test out currently available products like PlayStation Move. Tomorrow's opening day festivities will see attendees shmoozing with a man-sized Sackboy, taking part in raffles for PlayStation Move bundles and drinking expensive martinis while enjoying a live performance from Robert Goulet. Actually, we made that last thing up, but what kind of a "Lounge" would it be if that option wasn't made available?
The Jimmy Fallon Test: is the iPhone 4 dropping fewer calls?
If you watched the most recent episode of The Engadget Show, then you know that Jimmy Fallon had a lot to say about the iPhone -- particularly the fact that he's been fed up with his 3GS' dropped calls, and was planning a jump to an Android device on Verizon if the iPhone 4 didn't improve things. You see, he takes a path through Midtown Manhattan where his calls are dropped in two specific locations on a daily basis. In his words: "It cuts out at 27th st. and cuts out again around 47th st., and it's awful, I can't take it." Jimmy told us that he'd test the path with the iPhone 4 and see if things improved, and he's recounted what happened yesterday in an email: I did the experiment. I tried to stay on the phone from downtown Manhattan to Midtown with no dropped calls. (usually I get 2 drops) I got..... (drum roll) No dropped calls!!! Not one. I'm a believer. iPhone 4. So like us, he's getting better reception on the new phone (despite the antenna issues). What about you guys? We know that there are definitely noticeable, real signal issues, but how has your connection been? More dropped calls or less? Let us know in the poll below! %Poll-48600%
