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Philips wants to get you in the movies -- or at least into a goofy vibrating jacket
Philips has definitely done more for sensory immersion than most with its amBX line of... things, but a general shortage of people willing to mount fans or rumbling wrist rests on their keyboards hasn't kept the company from developing what it thinks is next: a vibrating jacket. The unnamed and triangle-patterned coat features 64 little rumblers distributed throughout, all powered by a pair of AA batteries. The intent is to better immerse you into movies by, say, replicating a light touch running up either arm or simulating an actor's beating heartbeat -- "emotional immersion" they call it. We're not so sure this will be any more compelling than the vibrating vests companies have been trying to sell gamers (and the military) for years, but we do know that Philips had better watch out for lawyers from Immersion.[Via Slashdot]
amBX signs agreement to light up the PS3
PlayStation 3 owners need no longer be jealous of their PC-owning brethren. The amBX "ambient experience" technology is coming to the PS3, with amBX and Sony having reached an agreement today. amBX is a series of surround-sound systems that also provides custom lighting, rumble and air-flow, coded on a game-by-game basis. This new middleware license agreement allows amBX to produce custom effects for developers in-house.We're not sure when the first amBX supporting PS3 titles will be released or whether the current range of amBX hardware will be supported on the console, but we hope to hear more details soon.
Guitar Hero III + amBX = party machine
Well, any rhythm game really, but this example uses Guitar Hero III. Honestly, we'd never heard of amBX before, but Phillips would have you believe it's the next step in interactive technology. Nope, it's not touch screens or big ass tables, it's ... colors? Desperate marketing aside, when combined with Guitar Hero III, amBX does make for an impressive light show. Whether or not it gives the $99 Rock Band stage kit a run for its money remains to be seen. At twice the price, you'd think it would (or hope so anyway). Unfortunately, it looks like we'll have to wait for the 360 version of amBX hardware -- this video utilized the PC version -- as it's still in development. We're waiting with sarcastically bated breath.
Philips touts amBX gaming peripherals at IFA
Although amBX was launched some two years ago, not a whole lot has come of it. Earlier this year, Philips briefly mentioned the technology during its CES press conference, and now we're finally getting more details on its range of amBX-enabled peripherals. Reportedly, the lineup will be clad in graphite and silver and include "a pair of left and right satellite lights, a pair of left and right satellite 2.1 speaker lights and subwoofer, a pair of desk fans, a wrist rumbler, and a directional wall washer light that doubles as controller unit." The lights, of course, are meant to "change color and intensity in the context of what's happening onscreen," and the 160-watts of power should provide plenty of juice to rock your room of choice. Philips will be offering up four different kits depending on just how immersed you'd like to be, and while the starter kit will run you €199 ($272), the Premium Kit is likely to cost you quite a bit more when it lands in "select European markets" later this year. Check out another shot after the break.
Philips' CES booth tour
Post-sale of the one millionth Ambilight, the mood at the Philips booth was understandably upbeat. How did they celebrate? By shipping in dozens of Ambilight equipped displays, and creating one -- which you've already seen -- that has a whole lot of diamonds on it. Philips' CES booth tour
