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This new Storm trailer is quite calming
No loud thunderstorms, no torrential downpours -- this latest trailer for Storm, Eko Software's puzzler headed to XBLA and PSN this summer, is quite serene. In fact, you may not even want to watch the trailer and instead just lay back, close your eyes and enjoy a nice nap.
NASA's Cassini can hear it when lightning crashes on Saturn
Some folks can fall asleep to the calming pitter patter of gentle rain. Yeah, we're not those people. But we could be swayed into a somnolent stupor if those sounds came from epic storms -- on Saturn. Captured by NASA's Cassini probe last March, this 11-second clip of AM radio-like electrostatic is actually the agency's first glimpse into storm activity on the planet's Northern Hemisphere. Alright, so we admit the recording's more of a weak 'snap, crackle and fizzy pop' than outright terror-inducing awe, but still these are the noises of another world. Would it help if we told you this storm's been raging since December 2010 and hasn't shown any signs of stopping? Shocking, we know. It's not all doom and gloom, though as the folks behind Cassini think this is simply a sign of impending summer. So basically, it's spring break at the saturnine Señor Frogs. Check the source for a sample of otherworldly rumbles.
Physics puzzler Storm headed to PSN, XBLA, PC this summer
IndiePub has announced plans to bring physics-based puzzle game Storm to PSN, XBLA and PC later this year. Developed by Eko Software, Storm tasks players with guiding seeds to "fertile ground" using the "weather elements" of wind, rain and lightning. The game is scheduled to be released this summer for $10. Check out screens in the gallery below and find a trailer after the break. %Gallery-124052%
RIM's BlackBerry Torch 9860 makes blurry video debut
Storm 3? Torch 9860? Touch 9860? Monza? Monaco? The latest all-touchscreen BlackBerry has more names than RIM has leaks, as evidenced by this hands-on video out of Thailand. We're not sure what the handler's impressions are of the, as yet, unannounced device (but if you speak Thai, please, feel free to enlighten us in the comments). It seems that 1.2GHz Snapdragon delivers some snappy performance, at least. It's tough to tell, thanks to predictably out of focus camera work, but it also appears that the Torch 9860 (we're sticking with that for now) is using Comic Sans. We hope that's not by default. Vid's after the break, per usual. Update: A reader pointed us to another video (after the break) of the Torch 9860 in action. Nothing new to reveal, but the quality is much better -- and not a trace of Comic Sans in sight! [Thanks, Khalifa]
Verizon dropped 10,000 emergency calls during January snowstorm in Maryland, FCC finds it 'alarming'
Uh oh, Verizon's got itself into a bit of hot water with the old FCC. An outage during a snowstorm last month has reportedly resulted in a whopping 10,000 calls to 911 not being connected by the big red carrier. That would be bad enough in itself, but the less-than-pleased Communications Commission also notes that the emergency services that missed out on these calls were not alerted to the connectivity failure -- in fact, Maryland's Montgomery County officers were the ones to inform Verizon of the fault it was having, which was then promptly repaired within 15 minutes. The FCC is now curtly asking the network to check its entire footprint for similar vulnerabilities -- as the January events were apparently "not unique" -- and to propose remedial actions and monitoring systems to prevent it happening again.
See C. Viper and Storm in Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Do you know what happens to a Viper when it's struck by lightning? You'll find out in Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. GameSpot got the exclusive on two new characters Capcom is letting loose on the crossover fighter: X-Men's Storm and Crimson Viper from Street Fighter IV. Check out video introductions for both characters after the break, along with some fight footage. This is exciting in itself, but it also provides further evidence that the unverified roster we received is on the right track, since both of these new characters are on it. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Rumor: Marvel vs. Capcom 3 roster to include Mega Man, Frank West, and more
A source shared what they claim to be the full roster for Marvel vs. Capcom 3, containing no fewer than 18 characters who have yet to be announced by Capcom, in addition to a new "War Machine" look for Iron Man. The list includes characters like the Red Arremer, Mega Man (in Battle Network and classic styles), and Frank West/Chuck Greene (probably as alternate versions of the same character) on the Capcom end, and Ultron, Squirrel Girl, and Thanos from Marvel. The most random character on the list is probably Victor Delacroix from 2003's Chaos Legion. Though, of course, all of this new information is unconfirmed, it's worth noting that She-Hulk and Zero, both appearing in the list from our source, were announced after we received it. In addition, some of the characters, like Frank West and Soki, are believable because they were featured in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom (like Zero) and thus are probably relatively easy to update for MvC3. The Mega Man character is likely also similar to the Mega Man Legends-style version found in Tatsunoko. It's possible some of the new characters are even based on Tatsunoko movesets -- Delacroix makes more sense if he's taking the place of the sword-wielding Karas or Tekkaman Blade, for example. [Image: Frank West in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom]
BlackBerry 9570 is definitely a refreshed Storm2, but is it called the Storm3?
RIM, come on, guys, you're killing us here! We don't know exactly what the story is yet, but there's a BlackBerry in the wild now with model number 9570 -- and it looks exactly like the existing Storm2, which lines up nicely with BGR's insistence earlier this week that the Storm3 is very much a warmed-over Storm2 with BlackBerry 6 and some minor spec bumps. In terms of strategy, we guess this would line up with the Bold 9780 we've been seeing around the block, which looks almost exactly like a Bold 9700 -- but in terms of customers understanding that this is a new product, it looks like a recipe for disaster. Of course, this might not be known as the Storm3 when (and if) it's released -- they might stick with the Storm2 or call it something like Storm2 Plus or Storm2.5 -- which might make more sense since we still don't know what that other spy shot of a completely different device is. Sure, we have no doubt that a few people would be interested in a refreshed Storm2, but would it be enough to justify the R&D and marketing costs?
BlackBerry Storm3 is actually a warmed-over Storm2?
The plot thickens! You might recall that alleged Storm3 shot from a few hours back -- didn't look half bad, right? Well, remember how we also postulated that it could be a Photoshop job? It's still too early to call it one way or the other, but BGR is reporting that the real Storm3 is more of a Storm2 clone that's slimmed down a bit, lost a tad of weight, and matches up with specs we'd seen in the past, even daring to carry on with the clicky SurePress display that the Torch ditched. Why Verizon would release a phone at the end of 2010 so close in design to an existing device that has accumulated virtually zero buzz is unclear; furthermore, we're more confused than ever whether the shot we saw earlier was a fake or yet another RIM device unrelated to the Storm line. For now, we're going to chalk it all up to SurfBook mania until we get it sorted out, so hang tight.
BlackBerry Storm3 caught on camera?
Theoretically, we think this could just be a really well-executed Photoshop mashup, but considering how good RIM is at keeping industrial design elements consistent from device to device, we tend to believe this alleged shot of a BlackBerry Storm3 in the wild. Specs are said to include a 3.7-inch display -- up significantly from the Storm2's 3.2-inch example and better suited to take on 2010's top-tier touchphones -- along with 8GB of onboard storage. We'd also heard in the past that the Storm3 would be slated for BlackBerry 6, a 5 megapixel cam, and a late-2010 launch on Verizon, and the new rumor of integrated mobile hotspot functionality would corroborate that a bit since Big Red's really pushing that feature as a plan add-on these days. Torch owners, feeling any tinge of envy, or are you at peace with your decision?
BlackBerry Storm 3 detailed in training slide: same look, more RAM?
For those of you hoping that RIM could pull off a handset capable of challenging the incredibly slim and futuristic tree-borne Android handsets in the touchphone hardware arena, you'll have to dream past the Storm 3. From the looks of it, we'll be getting a fairly minor "refresh" of the Storm 2, according to our tipster, with upgrades more designed to accommodate BlackBerry 6 than anything. As seen on the slide, the phone will double the Storm 2's RAM with 512MB, the camera will be bumped up to 5 megapixels, and the WiFi is being shifted to 802.11n -- a spec RIM is already rocking on the Pearl 3G, so not unprecedented. Outside of BlackBerry 6 and that (supposedly) blazing new WebKit browser, we're probably most enthused about the "coming soon" 3G mobile hotspot functionality, something that's made our Android handsets invaluable as of late. We were already hearing the Storm 3 and Curve 3 (another refresh, says our tipster) were holiday possibles for Verizon, and the bottom of this slide points to an "___ember" month.
Super Hero Squad Online: No more "nameless sidekicks"
These days, it takes a lot to impress me. Oh sure, I love MMOs. But sometimes I feel I'm in a rut, waiting for something new and different. Something that doesn't just have a "new" sticker, but actually has some new hook that will keep me happily playing -- not grinding -- more than a month. Something that will make me feel good about being a gamer again. Something cute and friendly that actually relieves stress rather than creating more. That's why I was so surprised by Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, the official premiere of which I was lucky enough to attend yesterday in downtown San Francisco. (The folks at Gazillion Entertainment and The Amazing Society put on a great show!) I certainly didn't walk into the event expecting SHSO to pique more than my passing fancy. Comic book-themed games are definitely something I love, and Marvel couldn't be hotter right now, but let's be honest -- SHSO's press release and early screenshots suggest an overtly family-friendly, even kid-oriented, cartoony romp. I figured the game would be Free Realms in capes, and that Massively's readers would probably be more interested in the other Marvel MMO (simultaneously in development by Gazillion with Gargantuan Studios). Well, I'm pleased to report that my preconceptions about Super Hero Squad Online were mostly wrong, and now I've got a new upcoming game to add to my "gotta buy" list. Join me on the flipside of the break and find out why SHSO seems poised to *POW* *ZAP* *BLAMMO* the casual MMO sweet spot!%Gallery-93313%
China Telecom launches BlackBerry... the BlackBerry Storm, that is
When a carrier announces that it's adding BlackBerry devices and BES support to its lineup, very rarely does that mean a touchscreen BlackBerry -- but hey, crazier things have happened. China's CDMA-based giant, China Telecom, has announced a partnership with RIM to bring the Storm (the original 9530, as far as we can tell) into the mix in the second half of this month, available in some sixteen provinces for a yet-to-be-announced price. At any rate, it's fair to assume your privacy will be compromised at no additional charge.
This day in Engadget: RIM CEO Mike Lazaridis talks about his first 'touch product'
Welcome to 'This day in Engadget', where we crack open the archives and take a whimsical look back at the memories and moments of our storied past. Please join us on this trip down random access memory lane. Earlier today, RIM CEO Mike Lazaridis laid down a doozy when he implied that full touchscreen phones aren't that popular -- but last year at this time (on April 16th!) he was scrambling to explain why the BlackBerry Storm failed to live up to high expectations. Speaking to Laptop, Mike explained that the Storm was RIM's first "touch product," explaining that "nobody gets it perfect out the door." RIM's head honchos are well known for their candor, so it's no surprise that he's now talking trash on tablets. Still, you have to admire any company that proclaims buggy software the new reality, right? Also on this date: April 16th, 2009: Apple hit back at Microsoft's Laptop Hunter ads, Nokia's profits were reported to have dropped 90 percent in the first quart of the year, a hellraising carrier pigeon was reported to have been caught red handed smuggling cellphone parts into a prison, and a new atomic clock claimed to be the most accurate in the world. April 16th, 2008: Microsoft hatched a Bruce Springsteen-laden promo vid for Vista, Republican lawmakers accused Google of gaming the 700Mhz auction, and a computer synthesizer gave voice to Neanderthal man. April 16th, 2007: A few screenshots of Leopard Beta 9a410 shocked the internet, Microsoft admitted it was possible the Xbox 360 was scratchin' discs, Vonage admitted it was pretty much screwed, and the RED ONE got a hands-on. April 16th, 2006: Noelle the Robot gave birth (sort of), a Darmouth professor was reported to have invented instant de-icing film, and the Toshiba HD-A1 HD DVD player got disassembled, possibly predicting its death. April 16th, 2005: Future-minded peeps started thinking past Tiger, the AirScooter II was shown off, and a disgusting Hello Kitty (seriously, this thing couldn't have been officially licensed) BE@RBRICK set was unleashed. April 16th, 2004 : Phil Torrone showed us how to read RSS feeds on an iPod, the man behind Nokia's N-Gage got interviewed, and mobile social networking seemed like something that could take off.
Screen Grabs: Blackberry Storm saves the world in new Doctor Who
Screen Grabs chronicles the uses (and misuses) of real-world gadgets in today's movies and TV. Send in your sightings (with screen grab!) to screengrabs at engadget dt com. While the US was busy delivering a certain tablet product yesterday, British sci-fi fans sat comfortably at home for a brand new Doctor Who series. We won't go into too much detail here, but the eleventh Doctor -- played by the charming Matt Smith -- was spotted writing a computer virus and sending pictures on a BBC-debranded Blackberry Storm, minutes before the aliens were to incinerate Planet Earth. Perhaps the freshly-regenerated Time Lord's a fan of the virtual keyboard? As a bonus, the Doctor also borrowed a disguised 15-inch Acer Aspire laptop for some virtual face time with chief brainiacs around the world, and then promptly reminded the owner to "delete your internet history" in reference to, well, something more disturbing that he found on the computer. And who are we to question the orders of a time traveler? Update: Turns out the new Lead Writer Steven Moffat learned of his job offer on a Blackberry back in June 2008. Too bad the Storm wasn't due out for another five months, but a quick trip through the time vortex could turn this into an amusing coincidence.%Gallery-89694%
Verizon's V Cast Apps store is a go, first on BlackBerry Storm2
Right on cue (sort of), Verizon Wireless' branded V Cast Apps market has finally seen the light of day. We've actually heard about the store since last summer, but it wasn't until the carrier's LTE forum at CTIA that we had a confirmed date. As noted then, the first device to get the portal is the BlackBerry Storm2, with other RIM devices (and hopefully other mobile platforms) in the coming months. It's not taking the place of BlackBerry App World, so now that we've got two coexisting markets on one device, it's time to see just how strong that V Cast branding is... [Thanks, Cameron]
Skype mobile heading to Verizon smartphones on March 25th
We knew it was coming, and now we have a concrete date. Starting this Thursday, March 25th, Verizon Wireless customers with one of nine select smartphones (Motorola Droid and Devour, HTC Droid Eris, various BlackBerrys) and data plan will be able to use Skype over the 3G network. As we heard before, Skype-to-Skype calls will not affect your VZW minutes, and now you've got the option to use the app for cheaper international dialing using the mobile app. Full list of compatible devices after the break, a list we're hoping gets expanded in the not-so-distant future.
XBLM listing reveals 5 maps, 2 CoD4 remakes in MW2 'Stimulus Package' DLC
We may have to wait until March 30 for Modern Warfare 2's first DLC, the "Stimulus Package," but thanks to an Xbox Live Marketplace listing for the map pack, we aren't in the dark anymore as to its contents. The blurb reveals the pack will contain "5 additional action-packed maps," including three all new ones ("Bailout, Storm, and Salvage"), as well as two remakes from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare ("Crash" and "Overgrown"). "Bailout" is said to be "a multi-layered apartment complex," while "Storm" is described as "an open industrial park littered with heavy machinery," and "Salvage" is "a snowy junkyard fortified by stacked debris and crushed cars." Presumably, if you're reading about the details of unreleased a MW2 map pack, you already knew that "Crash" is a "war-torn urban environment" and "Overgrown" is set in a large dry creek. No pricing is set, unfortunately, though you can ogle the XBLM listing for now if it makes you feel any better (though we wouldn't suggest it). [Update: Clarified Stimulus Package DLC date of release.] [Thanks CL4P-TP!]
How would you change RIM's BlackBerry Storm2?
It's sort of stunning how many stellar smartphone options Verizon Wireless customers suddenly have, but lest we forget that RIM's hotly-anticipated Storm2 was rockin' the suburbs late last year. For those who sprung, we're curious to know if you're happy with your decision. Do you think RIM adequately addressed the gripes from round one? Is the display responsive enough? Was the addition of WiFi what sealed the deal? Are you annoyed that you didn't hold out for the new Palm lineup? Feel free to get really real in comments below -- we get the impression that Waterloo needs all the feedback it can get when it comes to QWERTY-less mobiles.
First Storm 2 ad huffs and puffs for attention (video)
Given the timing of Storm 2's launch and the Motorola DROID's unveiling, you'd think Verizon had all but abandoned its touchscreen BlackBerry. But lo and behold, we do have a new television spot. "Who says lightning never strikes twice" -- who said it ever struck the first time? Video after the break. [Via Gear Diary]
