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Former NEC employees tell the ballad of the TurboGrafx-16
NEC was poised to capture a significant share of the emerging North American video game market with the release of the TurboGrafx-16, but corporate indifference doomed the console to obscurity, an interview feature posted at Gamasutra today reveals. Released alongside the Sega Genesis in 1989, the TurboGrafx-16 hosted a number of exceptional games during its short lifespan, and was the first home console to boast a CD-ROM add-on. While standout games like Bonk's Revenge, Blazing Lazers, and Ys Book 1 & 2 earned it a contingent of devoted fans, many of the console's greatest efforts -- including acclaimed Castlevania: Symphony of the Night predecessor Dracula X -- languished in Japan, leaving its North American branch to suffer a slow death.
Study suggests voice-to-text 'just as dangerous' as texting while driving
If you thought you were driving safe when activating your voice-to-text service or starting up Siri, a survey by the Texas Transportation Institute suggests it might dull your reactions just as much as finger-based typing. The study compared traditional text messaging with voice-to-text and found that drivers still took about twice as long to react compared to when they weren't trying to communicate. According to Christine Yager, who led the research, "eye contact to the roadway" also suffered, regardless of which texting method was used. In fact, voice-to-text often took longer than manual input, due to the need to correct typing discrepancies while using the software: "You're still using your mind to try to think of what you're trying to say, and that by proxy causes some driving impairment, and that decreases your response time." The bigger issue is that the drivers apparently felt safer when using voice-based entry, even though test results proved that response times were just as negatively affected. "It is important to educate the public that even these seemingly new distractions are still distractions, and it will help people be safer when they get into the vehicle," Yager added.
Numark's TTi turntable transfers vinyl to iPod sans a PC
Sure, there's a smorgasbord of products out there designed to transfer your precious vinyl recordings to a slightly more modern format, but few pack the cool factor that comes bundled in gratis with Numark's TTi. This newfangled turntable not only brings back not-so-fond memories of your second high school prom, but it also boasts an integrated iPod dock, USB interface, a metal platter and pitch control to boot. Besides ripping records directly to your 'Pod, the unit also features a line-level output and comes with versions of EZ Vinyl Converter software for the PC or Mac should you prefer vinyl-to-computer ripping. We know, it's tough to leave the 70s, but the TTi should make the transition somewhat less painstaking when it lands in Q2 for $449. One more angle's waiting after the break.
