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Axel free to all in Twisted Metal tomorrow, Sweet Tooth skin for Starhawk previewed
For those of you still firing missiles in Twisted Metal (but didn't think of pre-ordering it ahead of time), good news! Axel was formerly only available as a pre-order bonus, but as of tomorrow, April 18, his vehicle will be available to all. You too can run around on two wheels, pushing smaller vehicles around with your special moves. The PSBlog has also posted a video, embedded below, of the Sweet Tooth skin going to Starhawk when it launches early next month. Every (new) copy of Twisted Metal has a code for the Outcast skin, so you'll just have to punch that in when the Starhawk comes out.
Twisted Metal pre-order to include Axel 'early access'
If you just can't wait to cram your Twisted Metal guy between two gigantic tires and send him barreling into the streets like it was 1996, well, you've probably already pre-ordered the upcoming sequel. Good news, then, as producer Chad Cox has announced on PlayStation Blog that pre-orders for the new Twisted Metal -- from "any participating retailer" -- will include "early access" to the iconic Axel character and, more specifically, his two-wheeled contraption, which are ordinarily locked at the start of the game. During a recent preview event for the game, we learned that characters and vehicles will be interchangeable (as seen in the screenshot above, featuring Sweet Tooth in place of Axel). It's a brave new Twisted Metal, people! Don't be shy, now -- check it out in the extended cut of the new trailer after the break.
NASA unveils rock-climbing Axel Rover, slashes dirt without getting dizzy
NASA's latest toy is an oversized robotic yo-yo dubbed the Axel Rover. Developed in collaboration with Caltech, it's designed to raise and lower itself over any environment with a motorized lever that can be used for tethering as well as scooping up materials for scientific research and maneuvering its two cameras. Two more motors run each of its wheels, which should ensure it's more than equipped to traverse anything from the Garden of Eden to otherworldly terrain right next door to Hell. Check out the rover doing its thing in the video after the break [Via Network World]
Axel Springer AG moves to Mac
Axel Springer AG, Germany's largest newspaper publisher, is moving its entire organization -- 12,000 computers -- to the Mac platform. Axel Springer will become Apple's largest corporate customer in Europe, and second largest customer worldwide. (Google is number one.) The article is only available in German so far. Axel Springer owns Bild and Bild am Sonntag, tabloid-style dailies (not unlike The Sun in the UK or the New York Post in the U.S.) and several magazines sold under the Bild brand. The company currently uses large-scale publishing solutions from WoodWing Software and CCI, both of which support Mac clients. In a video message to employees, CEO Matthias Döpfner cited ease-of-use, appearance, and total cost of ownership in the reason to switch. Employees can start buying and using Macs and iPhones this month, though the entire organization will be migrated over the course of a year or two five years. (Hey, I took French in high school.) Thanks Alex, Rouven, and bimbum for the tip (and the help with the German)!
