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ACLU: Police must get warrants to obtain personal data from cars
You might not think of your car as a treasure trove of personal data, but it frequently is -- performance data, phone contacts and location info may be sitting under the hood. And the American Civil Liberties Union wants to be sure police can't just take it. The organization is appearing as a friend of the court in Georgia's Supreme Court on June 19th to argue that personal data on cars is protected by the US Constitution's Fourth Amendment and thus requires a warrant. The appearance is tied to a case, Mobley vs. State, where police used a car's "black box" to level more serious charges.
Peek behind SOE's EverQuest Next development curtain
Remember that meany-pants teaser vid for EverQuest Next a couple of weeks back? Of course you do. Who could forget the sight of senior producer Terry Michaels about to open the door to the SOE inner sanctum only to be thwarted by a quick cut to black? Well, SOE has finally aired the rest of that video, and it's basically a quick five-minute tour through the offices where EQN is currently taking shape. Along the way there are interviews with key team members, including creative director Jeff Butler just before he dons an Oculus Rift device, as well as some glimpses of art and in-game vistas. See for yourself after the break. [Thanks Paul!]
Senate black box bill could see 2015 car models ship with data recorders
Black boxes aren't just for airplanes anymore, it seems. Though car companies have been installing the devices at their discretion since the early aughts, a new bill, ominously entitled Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, has just passed Senate approval containing a provision that would mandate the inclusion of these Event Data Recorders in all automobiles produced from 2015 and on. Privacy fans may already be reaching for those protesting pitchforks, but keep in mind this legislation still needs to pass the House of Representatives on its way to becoming law. And given its other, more controversial elements (i.e. revoking passports for unpaid back taxes), it could still head back to the recycle bin. If it does pass Congressional muster, you'll still have ownership of any collected data, so long as the court doesn't require you to hand it over. Regardless of the outcome, we wouldn't breathe a sigh of relief just yet -- your car might be snooping on you as we speak. Just check your owner's manual.
PSA: Modern Warfare 3 fires off 'Content Collection #1' on PSN today
Patient PS3 players can now purchase the first DLC dump for Modern Warfare 3. Non-premium Call of Duty Elite members and stock Modern Warfare 3 players can now download Content Collection #1, which includes a smattering of multiplayer maps and a pair of Spec Ops missions.Content Collection #1 can be downloaded on PSN right now for $14.99. Within it you'll find multiplayer maps Overwatch, Liberation, Piazza and Black Box – plus Spec Ops missions Black Ice and Negotiator.
Overwatch drops on Modern Warfare 3 PS3 March 29; Black Ice, Black Box and Negotiator 'on or around April 12'
PS3 players, you've got some new maps coming your way over the next 30 days. One of Swords reports that Overwatch is set to drop on Modern Warfare 3 PS3 on March 29. It'll be available to premium subscribers of the Call of Duty Elite service on PS3.Then, the multiplayer map Black Box, and two Spec Ops maps, Black Ice and Negotiator, will come to PS3 "on or around April 12." We recently got our hands on those maps, which we wrote about here.If you're wondering about the vague date, it's because the time for posting the DLC on the PlayStation Network is up to Sony -- it could go live in the morning, or it could go live late at night.
Nevada is getting serious about driverless cars
We were admittedly cynical last summer, when Nevada's state legislature passed a law regulating the safety of driverless cars. But maybe we shouldn't have been, because it looks like they're actually serious about it. The state has now begun fleshing out its campaign with new regulations for testing these robocars, which, of course, are still very much in their infancy. According to the Associated Press, drivers looking to test a driverless vehicle will have to first purchase a bond worth between $1 million and $3 million, depending on the specifics of their project. The data from each test, moreover, will have to be shared with state officials, and all automated vehicles must have some sort of black box-like device to securely store this information, in the event of a crash. Most interesting, however, is how humans fit into all of this. Under the state's regulations, a passenger is still considered an "operator" of the vehicle, even if he or she isn't driving. They'll be exempt from Nevada's ban on driving while texting, but they won't be able to rely on their robocar as a designated driver -- which is fine, because it's not like anyone drinks in Vegas anyway.
EA in Vancouver sees 'small number' of layoffs
EA's studio in Vancouver, home to EA Canada and Black Box, was hit with layoffs while the studio goes through a "transformation." Apparently it's a lot of transforming, since variants of "transform" show up a lot in the following statement about the transformational studio."EA in Vancouver is transforming its studio to align with EA's transformation to high-growth digital formats, including online, social gaming and free-to-play," an EA spokesperson told IndustryGamers. "The Need for Speed World team in Burnaby is leading the digital transformation with 11 million registered players. As the BC studio makes this transformation, a small number of employees are being impacted while most others are being retrained, redeployed and rolling-on to new projects."EA recently reported a net loss of $205 million in the third quarter, but is seeing significant positive transformation in increased digital product sales.
Need for Speed: The Run, now with cold-blooded murder
We always kinda knew that someone was gonna go careening off a cliff in a high-end sports car at some point during Need for Speed: The Run, we just didn't expect to see their surprised face going over said cliff. But hey, here we are.
Need for Speed: The Run - A People Chase
Ever gone on a spontaneous road trip with your friends? You all suddenly decide that you should absolutely take a trip to Vegas for the evening, and you can totally come back the next day. You all put on suits, pile into the car ... and three hours later, with everyone sleeping in the car, you remember it's actually a five hour drive. The moment's been lost. That's the problem Brian Lindley and his team are facing with EA's race across the country in Need for Speed: The Run. "If you think about actually trying to drive across the country," says Lindley, "it might get a little monotonous, even when you're racing." To combat that issue, Lindley and the Black Box folks have created a new "Battle" race mode, one of a few different ways the team is hoping to vary the pace as protagonist Jack makes The Run. %Gallery-135165%
Need for Speed: The Run trailer demolishes the road
As Split/Second fans, we're keeping an eye on Need for Speed: The Run because of its racetrack cataclysms. EA's made another slick trailer for it, though this one's a bit more interested in the perilous life of, uh ... the brother of Sean Faris?
Need For Speed: The Run trailer shows off the Limited Edition's Porche 911 Carrera S
Previous news about Need For Speed: The Run has made a big deal about the fact you can get out of the car, but let's face it, being in the car will get you across the country much faster, and heck, it's just plain more fun. And when you're in a car, you could do a lot worse than a Porsche 911 Carrera S, which you can see in action in the video above. The car is unfortunately only available in the Limited Edition of the game, which is available for preorder right now, and arrives with the title on November 15. That said, even when you're in one of these babies, driving it through the snow and curvy roads of the mountains might be plenty of fun, but can't really be recommended in terms of safety. If you're going to drive up there, it's probably much better to go in something much more practical. Something with four-wheel drive, perhaps. %Gallery-132978%
Need for Speed: The Run limited edition comes with trio of extra supercars
Like buying games brand new? EA sure wants you to, as its "Limited Edition" of Need for Speed: The Run incentivizes just such a purchase with the bonus inclusion of three fancy sports cars -- for the same price as the regular ol' "normal" edition, no less. Along with special access to a Porsche 911 Carrera S, a Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and a Lamborghini Aventador, picking up the "Limited Edition" nets you "five exclusive Challenges" to slay with your high-powered sports car of choice. The only version of the Limited Edition that we can spot thus far is on EA's own Origin PC download store for the totally-normal-edition price of $49.99, so it stands to reason that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions are similarly priced ($59.99 on consoles). Just to be sure, we've asked EA for a better idea of what to expect, price-wise, come November. Update: EA clarified that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions will cost the standard $59.99, and the "Limited Edition" will operate similarly to the "Limited Edition" version of Battlefield: Bad Company 2.%Gallery-129770%
Need for Speed: The Run preview: Getting back behind the wheel
"You're not trying to get first, you're trying to make up ground," Need for Speed: The Run producer Alex Grimbley explained to me during a demo session in midtown Manhattan last week. Rather than putting priority on being the absolute first during individual races, The Run focuses on an overall place in a cross-country race, amounting to roughly 200 miles of in-game track spread across the US. And yes, it'll allow you to go back to individual areas and work on improving track times. "Get to 101st by the time you make it here, get to 50th by the time you make it to Chicago, get to the top 10 by the time you make it to New York ... so this is a different take on a sprint race," Grimbley continued.%Gallery-129279%
Need for Speed: The Run E3 trailer gets 2 minute time extension
The beginning of this Need for Speed: The Run trailer is nearly identical to that of EA's E3 press conference presentation, except the middle section adds a few extra minutes of driving ... before the conclusion reminds us of all those quick-time events we'd nearly forgotten.
Need for Speed: The Run lets you get out of your car, take off running
As you can see above, Need for Speed: The Run is about more than just driving cars across the United States as fast as possible. Apparently, it's also about hopping out of your car and running like hell while all sorts of madness chases after you. During EA's E3 2011 presser, a controller-laden developer took the reins and, well, ran as fast as possible, eventually leaping from a building as a helicopter fired on him. He then snagged a cop car and took off as the helicopter continued after him, all the while dropping bullets by the boatload. We'll have the trailer up for you as soon as possible, but for now, know this: you'll totally be able to run around on two feet in Need for Speed: The Run, as well as spin out on four tires.
Transportation Department to propose mandatory black boxes in passenger vehicles?
A few years back, the Department of Transportation recommended that auto makers give car owners a heads up when they slip event data recorders -- also known as "black boxes" -- into new models. Now, it looks like the department is considering taking its policy a step (or several) further: a memo reveals that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plans to propose later this year that all new passenger vehicles have EDRs. So far, heavy-duty vehicles appear to be excluded, and either way, it's unclear how many years auto makers might have to work black boxes into their future models. Interestingly, when we asked a DoT staffer for clarification, he reminded us that the agency hasn't issued a press release and said he wasn't sure where Wired and other outlets were getting their information. Indeed, the Transportation Department hasn't proposed such a law yet, though it's pretty safe to say it's at least pondering it. Hit the source link to pore over the 197-page doc for yourselves (tip: we suggesting paying particular attention to page 54). [Warning: PDF source link]
Need for Speed: The Run detailed, racing to stores Nov. 15
Following yesterday's teaser reveal of Need for Speed: The Run, EA has today spelled out some details we didn't know and confirmed some that we inferred from the trailer. First and foremost, the game is indeed speeding toward a holiday release date of November 15, 2011 in North America (and Nov. 17 in Europe). EA Black Box is at the wheel (as rumored), with EA DICE's Frostbite 2 engine under the hood. Additionally, The Run will feature the much-loved Autolog feature (as loved in Hot Pursuit and Shift 2), as well as the "hot cars and crazy-fast chases" we've come to expect from the NFS series. As seen in the trailer, the game will follow racers cross-country (Cannonball Run-style) from San Francisco to New York, with plenty of stops in between. EA's announcement also notes that "entering the race is just the beginning," with races taking place in "dense urban traffic," on "icy mountain passes" and "narrow canyons." Presumably we'll find out more about The Run as E3 approaches, this June.%Gallery-122527%
Japanese spacecraft's 'black box' recorder survives flaming fall to earth
When we reported on Japan's plans to track the re-entry process of its Kounotori 2 spacecraft with a black-box-style recorder, there were still some unanswered questions: specifically, would the REBR (Re-entry Breakup Recorder) sink or swim. Well, according to an announcement from the device's creator, the thing not only survived the fiery plunge to Earth, but it also stayed afloat after plunking down in the South Pacific Ocean on Tuesday. During free fall, the REBR did as it was expected, automatically monitoring, recording, and eventually transmitting data about the re-entry process, and while the thing was admittedly "not designed to survive impact with the water," it continued relaying information even after landing. The next scheduled REBR mission is planned for June -- here's hoping the new guy's as buoyant as its buddy. Full PR after the break.
Japan sends Kounotori 2 spacecraft on suicide mission to study re-entry process
An unmanned cargo ship built by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) is set to go up in flames tomorrow in the name of interplanetary research. Along with a load of space station junk, the Kounotori 2 spacecraft is packing something akin to a black box, also known as a Re-entry Breakup Recorder (REBR), that will collect and transmit data about the ship's final moments. The space station's crew will activate the REBR before Kounotori 2 begins its final assignment. As soon as it starts showing signs of re-entry, the sensor will begin to collect data including temperature, acceleration, and rotation rate, and will then break away from the craft for a final free fall to Earth, at which point the REBR will dump its findings. Scientist hope the device will help answer questions about exactly what happens when things fall apart during re-entry. If all goes according to plan, the REBR will plunk down in the ocean sometime later, but its host will never be seen again... farewell, Kounotori 2.
Your car's data protected by 4th Amendment, 18th Amendment still valid while driving
Image via Ludovic Ferre of Privacy Canada Did you really try to stop for that big, red sign or did you miss it and plow right into a bus full of kids clutching their DSs? This is the sort of question that can be answered by some automotive event data recorders, EDRs or black boxes that manufacturers might read later to get more information about crash severity and causes. In one California case, State v. Xinos, that data was used to reconstruct a crash and achieve a vehicular manslaughter conviction, showing that George Constantine Xinos fled the scene of a crime. However, an appellate court later determined that data to be inadmissible: While a person's driving on public roads is observable, that highly precise, digital data is not being exposed to public view or being conveyed to anyone else... We conclude that a motorist's subjective and reasonable expectation of privacy with regard to her or his own vehicle encompasses the digital data held in the vehicle's SDM. So, the vehicular manslaughter conviction was overturned -- but he's still on the hook for failing to stop at the scene of an accident, DUI, and causing an injury while drunk.
