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AT&T USBConnect Momentum 4G and Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G scheduled for August 21st launch
With it having been in the works for so long, it's easy to forget that AT&T is ready to flip the switch on its sparkling-new LTE network virtually any second now. But Ma Bell is happy to remind us of its impending true 4G launch by announcing that its first two dedicated LTE devices, the USBConnect Momentum 4G and Mobile Hotspot Elevate 4G, are set to be sold in stores this upcoming Sunday. In addition, users of the USBConnect Adrenaline will be able to download a firmware update on August 26th that turns on its dormant LTE radio. The carrier also officially announced that its DataConnect plans will be offered for $50 per month for 5GB, with usage charges of $10 for each additional GB. Hold your horses, though -- the units will be available for purchase and can be used on HSPA+ for now, but it doesn't guarantee AT&T will activate the higher-speed 4G network next week. Nay, we may have to wait just a little longer before Ralph de la Vega pushes the big red button on his desk, but that day is not too distant.
GameString demos its streaming, custom World of Warcraft UI by raiding on an HTC Desire (video)
We're still not ready to apply the label "Gaming 3.0" here (or to anything, for that matter), but despite its boasts, GameString's making a compelling case for cloud-based play time. We've already seen the company bring World of Warcraft to Google TV, but now the company's showcasing its take on a challenge we've seen a few times before -- streaming a playable version of WoW to a mobile phone. (Gotta get 'em out of the house somehow.) The trick here is a streamlined UI overlay that makes for a every touch-friendly experience; there's translucent "thumbstick" spots and larger buttons for spells. The setup in question here is its Adrenalin Host Server from approximately 80 kilometers away (geographically) and an HTC Desire running over a home network that's 2Mbps down / 2Mbps up. And while there's some notable lag and parts of the interface that's still too tiny to really use, it's still an Alpha build that seems functional for all but the most intense of moments. See it for yourself after the break.
Tony Hawk's Adrenaline to be 'way more realistic'
Inside sources suggest that it'll be "quite a bit" more realistic than the above image. And who better to trust on the matter than the pro skater himself, Tony Hawk? In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the 40-year-old boarder dubbed the next game to feature his virtual likeness as "a real departure" from previous endeavors. "It's a whole new direction for us," said Hawk. "And it's going to be way more realistic and way more interactive. I'm really proud of it."The "it" refers to Tony Hawk's Adrenaline, which is due for release in Fall 2009. Though details on the Skate competitor remain scarce, we know that it will not be played "with a controller in your hands." This has lead outrageous internet theorists to conclude that Adrenaline will come bundled with -- get this -- some sort of motion-sensing skateboard peripheral. Never.
