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First broadband over power lines working spec released
It's been a long slow go for broadband over power lines, but it looks like things are finally picking up steam -- an IEEE working group has completed main development of the standard and released the first draft of technical specs. Of course, there's still the arduous finalization process to go through, but now that BPL is an actual functioning standard we're hoping to see a new class of 100Mbps internet providers pop up and bring some much-needed competition to cable and DSL.
2009 WNBA Draft will be the first in HD
With the women's NCAA basketball season concluded it's time for the WNBA Draft, and we might have found a reason for you to watch, since this is the first time it will be broadcast on high definition. Covered as usual on ESPN, things get started with the first round on ESPN2 HD at 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, followed by the second and third rounds on ESPNU HD and NBA TV. No word on any 720p regular season games, we'll tune in for the Atlanta Dream's #1 pick, but with very little dunking and HD on the schedule we make no promises after that.
Intel appeases haters, reveals USB 3.0 controller specification
What's with all the hate, guys? For months now, AMD, NVIDIA and a host of other caps-locked companies have been harshing on the chip maker for withholding critical information in relation to the USB 3.0 controller specification. At long last, Intel can finally throw up its left hand and ask those pundits to talk to it, as the outfit has finally unveiled the Extensible Host Controller Interface (xHCI) draft specification revision 0.9 in support of the USB 3.0 (SuperSpeed USB) architecture. The spec hopes to provide a "standardized method for USB 3.0 host controllers to communicate with the USB 3.0 software stack," and it's being made available under RAND-Z (royalty free) licensing terms "to all USB 3.0 Promoter Group and contributor companies that sign an xHCI contributor agreement." So, are we all happy now?
Madden NFL 09 to add 'Real Football Intelligence', online leagues, holodeck
Happy NFL Draft weekend, everyone! With one day of exciting athlete trafficking under our belts, we thought it would be appropriate to point out a recent GameTap interview with Madden NFL 09 designer Phil Frazier, which reveals a number of features in the next installment of the never-ending, pigskin-chuckin' franchise. With buzzwords like "Favre", "player weapons" and "holographic training center", could this be the year where we find our way back into EA Sports' monopolized fold?Some of the features highlighted include the Real Football Intelligence system, which tracks your skill as a player and provides helpful (and aggravating, we imagine) feedback, the induction of Tom Hammond and Cris Collinsworth as the new play-by-play and color commentators, and online, 32-man leagues (complete with trading, drafting, and flexible scheduling). We can only hope they'll include even more lunatic outbursts from the series ham-hearted, titular announcer.
Weekly Webcomic Wrapup: Draft edition
It's that one Saturday where we sit around the TV not to watch (American) football but to watch people talk about football for well over four hours. So far, the Razors have picked JaMario Rockman and the Lions took Koopa Johnso ... oh, sorry, we're mixing up interests in our head.Here are our picks for best game-related webcomics; be sure to vote for your favorite! Time to retire Generating adjectives Kill it with fire Safety guide Cool Winter breeze See the light Dynamism Animal Control What if ... [Bonus: name the image graphic.]
CGS boasts $5 mil payroll, Playboy Mansion pro-gamer draft
Hosting its inaugural player draft far from the storied sanctum of The Garden, with a paltry $5 million league-wide payroll, (an amount routinely squandered on a single signing bonus for a young athlete in another professional league,) the Championship Gaming Series continues to take baby steps toward becoming a marquee "sports entertainment" business. Still, come June 12, 60 prospects will split the riches, as they're contracted to join one of six city-based squads that will compete in a small variety of games leading up to the CGS Grand Slam and World Championships this October. Not a bad gig, eh? But what of this Playboy Mansion draft locale? If CGS is to be taken seriously, it's gotta avoid these WWEsque publicity stunts ... right? Maybe not. A lil' scantly-clad drama might be just the lure needed to hook viewers who might not otherwise tune into a glorified LAN party.
Intel's built-in 802.11n Mini PCI card gets official
We realize that Intel has probably waited about as long as it possibly can on this not-yet-ratified 802.11n deal, but on the very day we see some rare signs of life in the 802.11 task force, Intel is making its own draft-spec 802.11n Mini PCI card official. While we've known that Intel would be backing the protocol for some time now, the company has just announced that the 4965agn card (backwards compatible with a/b/g networks) will be replacing the existing 3945abg card and should be shipping on most Vista-equipped laptops. Intel claims that its new card will offer up "five times the performance, twice the range, and greater battery life" than its predecessor. Additionally, the firm launched the "Connect with Centrino" campaign, which will force vendors such as Asus, Belkin, Buffalo, D-Link, and Netgear to pass Intel's own line of testing in order to receive its coveted seal of approval, which is just begging to cause inoperability problems whenever 802.11n goes final. Users interested in getting the latest WiFi chip in their Centrino package can look for that (probably large) palm rest sticker signifying that it's certified starting this week, and if you're completely bored interested, you can click on through to see a demonstration video on how Intel tests its own Connect with Centrino program.
802.11n going up for approval once again
Sure, they say the third time's a charm, but at this point, all "charm" in the grueling 802.11n ratification process has evaporated. Moving ever-so-slightly ahead of schedule, the IEEE's 802.11 working group has "unanimously approved Draft 1.10 of the 802.11n WiFi spec," and has now passed it along to the entire membership of the IEEE for final approval. Of course, we've certainly been down the unfortunate road before, but hopefully the folks in charge will give it the thumbs-up we all need to sanely move on with our wireless lives. Notably, there's "no set timeline" for when it expects an approval / denial decision, but if the membership does give this draft the green light, "it will be the final 802.11n specification." Now, let's all cross our collective fingers for some positive (and hasty) decision making.
Buffalo intros USB-equipped AirStation Nfiniti Giga draft-N router
Aside from the fact that Buffalo has nearly worn its own AirStation moniker thin with all these router releases, the reviewers say it's got a good thing going, so we've no qualms with it busting out yet another offering in the Nfiniti lineup. The AirStation Nfiniti Giga sports the same basic design and feature set as the, um, non-Gigafied version, but boasts a USB port for retro machines (or stripped ultraportables) that lack at Ethernet port. Still, the unit reportedly supports the draft-spec of 802.11n as well as 802.11b/g, packs a built-in 4-port Ethernet "hub," and claims to offer "up to 80Mbps" through the air. So if you're digging the trio of antennas and need a USB port to boot, you can pick up this router later this month for a surprisingly high ¥34,800 ($295).[Via Akihabara News]
Qualcomm swallows Airgo, announces first 802.11n Draft 2.0 chipset
As we edge ever closer (right?) to finally seeing a finalized 802.11n protocol, companies are shoving (sometimes in secret) draft-spec 802.11n kit into their products to take advantage of the here and now. Taking yet another baby step towards the goal, Qualcomm is releasing a fourth-generation chipset, dubbed the AGN400, to take advantage of Draft 2.0 of the IEEE 802.11n standard. The chipset itself was crafted by Airgo, who just so happened to be acquired by dear Qualcomm in one fell swoop, and also features Airgo's True MIMO Gen-N technology. Although Airgo has had its quibbles with backwards compatibility in the past, this device will supposedly play nice with all previous 802.11s, including the earlier draft of 802.11n and the typical trio of 802.11a/b/g. Reportedly ready to fit a "full array" of interface buses for OEM products, this Draft 2.0-compliant chipset purportedly provides "significantly better performance, a greater feature set, and enhanced interoperability" over the previous rendition. While pricing details weren't discussed, it should be ready for the world to see by CES, while True MIMO Gen-N products should be available by "the first quarter of 2007."[Via PhoneMag]
NEC intros draft-spec 802.11n WARPSTAR router / PCMCIA card
If you're growing tired of one delay after another (and another), and just can't wait to get in on that uber-quick 802.11n goodness, NEC has unveiled a few pieces of draft-spec kit that should hold you over until the IEEE finally agrees on a winner. Its Aterm WR8200N router is based on the latest (albeit not yet finalized) next-gen wireless protocol, and claims to not interfere with 802.11b/g networks while offering theoretical speeds of "up to 130Mbps." Aside from sporting backwards compatibility with the slower WiFi standards, a trio of antennas are available for "maximum range," while four Ethernet ports are onboard for those who prefer to stay wired. The company is also offering up an 802.11n-compatible PCMCIA card (WL130NC) for those folks not lucky enough to discover an undercover edition already integrated in their machine. While NEC seems to be playing the ever-elusive "open price" card, both of these units should be available in early November.[Via Akihabara News]
