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i-mate working on a Foleo-like "shell" for the Ultimate line?
The last we heard about i-mate's Ultimate line, the company was allegedly planning on "staggering" the release of the WM 6 Pro handsets, but it's been over two months without any news to report -- and now suddenly the tubes are alive with i-mate news: not only did the company announce the Ultimate 9502 and 8502 handsets today, UberGizmo is reporting that i-mate is working on a Foleo-esque "shell" for the line, with 1024 x 768 display, larger keyboard, and 80-hour battery. Unlike Palm's charming folly, however, the i-mate shell won't contain any processing power of its own, instead serving more as an extended dock for the Ultimate devices themselves. It's a pretty sketchy rumor, to be sure, but given the i-mate's topsy-turvy handling of the Ultimates, it's as likely as anything else.[Thanks, webon]
i-mate Ultimate 8150 sees FCC approval, and just in time
We're not sure why it took so long for the i-mate Ultimate 8150 to follow its almost identical sib (the keypadless 6150) through FCC labs, but whatevs, it's here now. The Arima-sourced handset rocks the usual array of high-end specs touted by i-mate's entire Ultimate line: HSDPA, Windows Mobile 6 Professional, WiFi, VGA display resolution, 2 megapixel camera, and the list goes on. Seeing how these bad boys are already supposed to be finding their way into retail channels, the FCC certification comes just in the nick of time. Let's hope the units customers receive are black, because we're still not any closer to digging the sickly gold than we were six months ago.
Microsoft releases DreamScene for Vista Ultimate users
Hot on the heels of the SP1 limited release, Microsoft has now announced the availability of Windows DreamScene for Vista Ultimate users. If you'll recall, we caught a glimpse of what an in-motion desktop looked like earlier this year, and while we're sure some will get more fired up (ahem) over this than others, it makes for good eye candy if you've nothing better to do with system resources. Additionally, it was noted that users will have access to a number of animated desktops in conjunction with Stardock, and those itching for even more Ultimate Extras can apparently look for more details to come their way later this year.[Thanks, Daniel O.]
i-mate's Ultimate 8150 out and about
Okay, we've gotta admit, it looks way better in black than it did in the sickly champagne hue we'd originally seen. ce4arab's had a chance to play with the production version of i-mate's 8150, one of the first members of its flagship Ultimate line to see the light of day. We'll save the review itself for the Arabic speakers among us, but the extensive visuals (right down to a test of its TV out capability) here are enough to justify taking a peep. In particular, we're feeling the blue backlighting on the keypad -- and as we said, the black theme is a huge improvement. The specs are less notable now than they were back when these things were announced at CeBIT, but hey, if you can score one at the right price, at least it's not gonna look like you're pulling a brick of fool's gold out of your pocket.
Three of i-mate's five Ultimate devices canceled?
We wish we could say we were surprised about this, we really do. It seems that i-mate has canceled arguably the three most interesting versions of its Ultimate line: the 5150 slider, 7150 QWERTY flip, and 9150 numeric flip. Remaining and now apparently scheduled for October production are the 8150 numeric candybar and keypadless 6150, devices that could be considered pretty uninteresting by the time they enter a market rife with 3G capable Windows Mobile 6 hardware. So far, this is all unconfirmed -- it's being reported by a UK retail firm, Clove Technology -- but it seems plausible considering that the 7150 and 9150 have taken on a certain air of vaporeware-ness that the FCC approved 6150 has not. We have to admit, we're a little surprised that the 5150 bit the dust since it's nothing more than a slider grafted to a 6150, but considering the strength of its competition, it's probably for the best.[Via All About Symbian]Update: Crave Asia is reporting that i-mate says all five devices are still on track, but will be released on a "staggered" schedule starting with the 6150 and 8150. We'll keep you updated as we hear more.
Nyko hides the DS in plain sight
Nyko knows that playing the DS these days is a matter of survival. If you're hanging out in the jungle, as happens on occasion, then this accessory kit may save your DS's life. Are you willing to take your chances?Furthermore, if you're charging your DS in the car, and there's a jungle inside your car, the included charger may be the difference between a stealthy escape and capture. By enemies, inside the jungle, inside your car.All joking (briefly) aside, the Ultimate Kit Lite somehow looks pretty stylish in camo, and it holds 8 games. It might be a good choice for people looking for a new case and a car charger!
i-mate Ultimate 6150 catches FCC on a good day
Well well well, look what the FCC dragged in! We're still not sold on the sickly champagne color shared by members of the Ultimate line, but there's very little to not love about the i-mate 6150 Ultimate's internals: tri-band HSDPA, WiFi, Bluetooth, Windows Mobile 6, integrated FM radio, and a glorious VGA display -- internals that look to be assembled by ODM Arima, according to the FCC documentation. Of the five Ultimates promised, this particular one might be more of a... shall we say, "acquired taste" than the four others, owing mainly to its lack of a physical keypad. Otherwise, though, we're down. Can we still expect this in September, i-mate?
All five i-mate Ultimate devices to land in September?
It seems i-mate is making good on its promise from earlier this year by delivering its Ultimate line handsets in one 5-round salvo. While i-mate has chosen Singapore as the base of operations for its spring into new Asian markets, we do hope some of these will still trickle over here -- though we doubt they will carry any North American-carrier branding. i-mate CEO Jim Morrison commented on i-mate's ability to customize the new handsets to individual user's needs, and while we're loving the idea of customizing something, we're worried about the process. Another tasty tidbit is i-mate's newfound focus on the bundled software; its new suite will apparently offer tools for remote wipe, the ability to push updates (corporate users rejoice) and even the ability to remotely lock the handset down. We were a bit down on its last announcement, but this news has certainly renewed the shine we all once held in our hearts for Dubai's best, now let's get those shipped.[Via the::unwired]
Translate! Ultimate Stars
Jump Ultimate Stars is one of the most popular DS games with importers. Since it's a fighting game, it's not a huge deal to play Jump without knowing Japanese, but there are a lot of missions that may be difficult to figure out. Also, the game actually tries to tell a story, which is rare for a fighting game. Abel Tamayo wrote in to tell us about a wonderful wiki project he's managing, called, appropriately enough, the Jump Ultimate Stars Translation Project. We've seen amazing fan translation projects from single translators, but never a project done in a collaborative wiki format. It's a great idea, one that will allow tragically busy people to help out. If you know Japanese, why not sign up? Translating a fighting game-- that's another rarity. SNK never bothered to do it.
How Ultimate is Ultimate Duck Hunting?
We aren't sure if Ultimate Duck Hunting is truly the last duck hunting game we'll need. Our requirements for duck hunting games are stringent, you see, and it would take a truly robust and deep duck hunting game to fill the spot of the decisive duck hunting game in our collection. We wonder if the game will really be the authoritative work the title claims it will be.We're actually kidding about the stringent requirements, and like most people, we consider the duck hunting genre well and truly filled since 1985. Have a look at some screens and decide for yourself if you should update your library of duck hunting video games.
i-mate's bumper crop for '07
i-mate has wisely decided to keep its release tempo on the up-and-up following its disassociation from Windows Mobile megagiant HTC -- at least that's what we're believing following a strong showing at 3GSM this year and now this, a leaked roadmap document detailing what we can expect out of the Middle Eastern outfit for the next few months. Notable models include the "Odyssey," a Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Phone Edition device with UMTS 1900 / 2100 (what, no 850?), 2 megapixel cam, and WiFi; a four-pack of so-called "X Series" devices in a variety of form factors, blacked out and chock full of dual-band HSDPA, Windows Mobile 6, Bluetooth 2.0, and WiFi; and a Fastap-equipped handset in the Ultimate line -- codenamed "Acorn" -- with triband HSDPA and the video out that is a signature of the series. Healthy competition for HTC? Bring it on, folks. [Warning: PDF link][Via Boy Genius Report]
Jetpac lands on XBLA, shoots floating brains
Sure, it's not as exciting as, say, the Xbox 360 Elite, but there is a new Live Arcade game out this week. That game, as previously announced, is Jetpac Refuelled. Does it break the 50MB limit? No, quite the opposite in fact. Jetpac Refuelled clocks in at a dainty 21MB. So, go download the trial and see what you think. Should you desire to, ahem, go all the way, the full version can be had for 400 points. Anyone enjoying the game so far?
i-mate goes deep with Ultimate line, five models promised
i-mate is taking a pretty interesting approach with its newest range of Windows Mobile devices -- the WM6-equipped "Ultimate" range -- by shoving a full five models out the door, all differing only in form factor. Clockwise from the upper left, we have all five in purely theoretical, rendered form: the 5150, 6150, 7150, 9150, and 8150. The strategy makes sense, really; everyone wants a solid spec sheet, but getting everyone to agree on a single shape is an exercise in futility. With 256MB of ROM, VGA displays across the board, tri-band 3G radios, Bluetooth 2.0, and FM radios, the Ultimates definitely hold their own in the spec department -- the only question, then, is whether they've nailed the industrial design. The first model being shown all public-like, the 5150 slider, is admittedly an acquired taste, but some of the others really caught our eyes (7150 and 9150, we're looking at you). Gallery: i-mate's Ultimate line
i-mate Ultimate 5150 in the wild
That gold sheen just oozes tri-band HSDPA in its natural environment, does it not? This here is one of i-mate's new Ultimate devices, the 5150, packing pretty much every specification we could hope for in a Windows Mobile 6 package: quad-band GSM / EDGE plus the aforementioned tri-band UMTS / HSDPA, 802.11b / g, 256MB of onboard ROM and 128MB RAM, microSD expansion, Bluetooth 2.0, FM radio, 2 megapixel camera, and VGA (yes, we said it, VGA) display atop a 533MHz XScale core. The unusual layout and style of the navigational controls could throw users a curveball, but, uh... did we mention it does tri-band HSDPA? Check out the gallery for some more champagne-hued hotness.%Gallery-1574%
Microsoft unveils "Ultimate Extras" for Vista Ultimate
At his keynote at CES, Bill Gates has revealed two features which are part of the "Ultimate Extras" bundle designed to tempt potential buyers to choose Ultimate Vista rather than any of the less featured -- but cheaper -- Vista packages. DreamScene, the first ultimate extras feature that Bill revealed, probably won't impress anyone familiar with Unix-based operating systems which are already capable of DreamScene's specific function: allowing you to play a video file on your desktop. Is this a nice piece of eye candy? Yes, but it's also probably going to be totally distracting and a waste of system resources. The second feature which will appeal specifically to one demographic -- namely sports fans -- is the Windows Media Center SportsLounge, which brings an IPTV feed of sports related media to Vista Ultimate desktops thanks to a content partnership with Fox Sports. Unfortunately for Microsoft, we have a feeling that these two features won't be enough for the majority of users to justify spending an extra $100-200 over any of the other Vista packs.
Jump Ultimate Stars imported, reviewed
Jump Ultimate Stars, the sequel to a title we wanted localized (and we weren't the only ones) because it's the best fighting game on the handheld, has recently been imported and reviewed by the folks over at Siliconera. Their verdict? It's pretty much the cat's pajamas.Citing the new character evolution system allows for a more import-friendly game overall, as well as incredibly large cast of characters, the game has a ton of depth. Also, let us not forget the Wi-Fi Connect-compatible multiplayer. We curse our inability to read and speak Japanese as this game truly is something that needs to be localized for territories outside of Japan. See also: Jump Superstars 2 announced Jump Ultimate Stars website launch
Jump Ultimate Stars website launch
The Japanese website for Jump Ultimate Stars, the sequel to the greatest fighting game on the DS Jump Superstars, has launched. The website features character bios on all of the fighters, as well as screens showing the in-game mayhem the title promises. The site also shows screens of utilizing Nintendo's Wi-Fi Connect service to battle opponents over the internet, which is one of the most appealing aspects of the first game and sure to be just as appealing in the sequel.
Target hooks us up yet again
One of our readers was visiting his local Seattle, WA area Target store recently and stumbled upon a DVD for sale at the low cost of only a penny. This DVD, which features game trailers for both Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam for the Wii, is titled Living the Game with the Wii and Activision. With the combination of the Wii gift card, it seems like Target has caught the fever the rest of us are suffering from.Anyone else see this in their local Target? Can anyone confirm how many trailers are on this disc?[Thanks mykie!]
Sneak peek at Microsoft's Windows Vista MCE remote
Joining the celebratory Windows Vista soft drink as accessories that have hit the streets long before a finalized copy of the operating system itself, the Vista MCE remote was out and on display at this year's Digital Life expo. A curious fellow over at Neowin got a brief glimpse of the remote in action, and even got some hands-on time with the yet-to-be-released media liaison. The remote appears oddly rectangular -- an unusual deviation from the curvaceous trends we've seen in remotes -- yet was said to "fit in your hand beautifully despite the squared edges." While the obvious Vista logo dominates the face, the remote is otherwise subtle when it comes to labeling, striking a surprisingly clean look compared to the sticker-ridden devices we've become accustomed to. Moreover, the kiosk was supposed to demonstrate how Vista (and presumably the remote) interacted with the Xbox 360, but a "number of technical difficulties" prevented that anticipated show from commencing. As of now, there's been no word concerning price, expected delays, or eventual availability, but we're sure this is just the first of many media remotes we'll see coming down the pike for Microsoft's forthcoming OS.[Via PVRWire]
Behind the scenes: Wii game testers
With the new, innovative control scheme presented by the Wii, no doubt game testers and QA folks are getting a work out. Not only are they now charged with pushing buttons, but must also add in the spectrum of movement with the Wiimote. How does a fast swipe react in-game compared to that of a slow, long swipe? How about thrusting? Clearly, it's a tough job that even rocket scientists request no part of.In the behind the scenes article, associate designer Mike Chrzanowski commented that initially his game, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, had around 20 different gestures translating into in-game actions. This caused a lot more harm than help, however, which then dropped the 20 down to a more modest and manageable 5. Obviously, including more gesture-based gameplay leaves a larger possibility for error, so in cutting it down to 5 the player need not worry that when Spidey is supposed to do a web swing, he instead does another signature, albeit less-popular, maneuver in the patented getting beaten to death by multiple thugs move. [Via Joystiq]
