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PopCap vets team up in Fixer Studios, fixing up Spellbinder spiritual successor
Three former PopCap developers formed a new mobile gaming studio "inspired by the game-jam spirit," Fixer Studios. At its core, the studio consists of its three founders: Avery Alix, Eric Olson and Christopher Langmuir. The developer's first game is Sinister Dexter for iOS and Android, a spiritual successor to the 1977 pen-and-paper game Spellbinder. While the studio is being formally announced now, both Alix and Olson's LinkedIn profiles indicate that it was first founded in June 2013. The "collaborative cloud" studio includes a rotating roster of 30 industry veterans. Fixer Studios opted for a "dynamic staffing system to manage production," according to its website. Team members will join up and drop out based on their "availability, interest and expertise," forcing team leads to delegate tasks and "mission critical activities" as needed to keep development on track. [Image: Fixer Studios]
David Pogue's iPhone lost, searched for, found, world safe for kittens
Are you sitting? You'd better be sitting down for this one. Go ahead, we'll wait -- safety first. Sitting now? Ok, here we go: David Pogue lost his iPhone. Don't worry, don't worry! It's ok -- he found it eventually. Pogue, author and personal tech columnist for the New York Times, lost track of his iPhone on an Amtrak train back from Philadelphia, and after searching for it on the train he discovered that it had been taken and powered down. Later, Pogue's phone reappeared online, so he was able to spot its location. After he tweeted out pictures of the location via Find my iPhone, Gizmodo tracked down the house corresponding to the GPS signal, and the local Prince George's County police stopped by to see what they could do. We hate to spoil the big reveal (which Pogue has posted to his NYT blog), but the happy ending is that David Pogue has been reunited with his iPhone, and all's right with the world once more.
Evidence of XML importer found within Final Cut Pro X
There's been a lot of hemming and hawing about Final Cut Pro X since its release. But now here's at least a little good news: a reference to XML importing has been spotted inside the software by Brazilian site MacMagazine. MacMagazine found the code reference as seen above, and they were able to run the function and get a bare-bones bit of placeholder code for an XML importer. It looks like Apple either planned to include an XML importer at some point or will be including one in the future. Apple's already promised an update to the XML workflow, so maybe this was implemented but then reserved for a future revamp. This shows that someone at Apple is thinking about these issues, both during the development of Final Cut Pro X and today. That's probably not a lot of solace to editors who still have issues with the new software, but hopefully Apple will justify all of the changes soon, either with updates to the app that restore functionality, or by introducing replacements for any workflow problems editors are having. [via MacRumors]
Lost iPhone investigation almost done
We could finally be nearing the end of the lost iPhone saga. Way back in April, police launched a probe into the alleged sale of the lost prototype iPhone 4 that was found in a bar near San Jose earlier this year, and CNET is now reporting that the investigation is almost over. Chief Deputy District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe of California's San Mateo County says that the final report on the probe could be sent to his office in the next few weeks, at which point he'll look at what evidence was collected and see if charges need to be brought. Wagstaffe also says that multiple Apple employees were interviewed in the case, including Steve Jobs himself. Police also searched Gizmodo editor Jason Chen's house at one point (the phone was reportedly sold to Gizmodo by a college student who found it in the bar), but that warrant was withdrawn a while back, and the seized items were returned. It's certainly possible that police could still bring criminal charges in the case, but given that the matter seems to have blown over (it's not like iPhone 4 sales were hurt by the leaks anyway), it seems unlikely that anyone will get arrested and charged. But we'll keep a lookout for the case closing anyway -- I'm sure there will be one or two documents coming to light that will provide a better look at exactly what happened. Stay tuned. [via Mac Rumors]
Dandella handheld GPS devices simplify navigation
The methods available to track your youngsters are growing by the week it seems, but for those looking to acquire a less voyeuristic (and likely more effective) way of tracking down your wandering kids, Dandella's for you. Taking home the gold at the International Design Competition Osaka, the dandelion-inspired GPS sticks come with a flower pot vase that syncs with your computer in order to select a "home" point in which the device continually seeks to be near. Designers Yong-kai Tan and Priscilla Lui's invention was spurned by the need to "simply find someone" if you get detached in a busy theme park or office building, and if each stick is programmed to find one another, even a child should be able to walk in the direction that the flexible, LED lit tip points. Additionally, it packs built-in Bluetooth in order to sync with mobile devices or other wireless computers, and gets powered by an integrated Li-ion battery. Now, how in the world do we choose just one location? Decisions, decisions.[Via PopGadget]
iPod's glow helps rescue lost mushroom picker
Talk about the iPod's halo effect: the Gazette-Times has a story about a 25-year-old "city boy" son of a mushroom picker who got lost in the back woods of Benton County, Oregon. Apparently picking went a little late, and after getting separated from her son, the mother sent a search and rescue team to find the boy. Surprisingly, the glow of his iPod nano was bright enough in the thick underbrush for the team to track him down at 1:12 am, offering the possibility of a new "life saver" marketing angle for Apple's darling little music player.All humor aside, however, Pini Nou was reunited with his mother.
iPod: media player, cultural icon, and rescue beacon?
Sure, we've heard the heartwarming stories of SMS savings a boy's life and TiVo preventing a man from heading to prison, but this round of "Gadgets Saving Lives" features none other than the token iPod as the center of attention. While Griffin has long since had the idea of using the iPod to power a flashlight-type device, a mushroom hunter (yes, they do exactly as the title describes) resorted to the backlit LCD in his Apple in order to lead rescuers to his location. While enjoying a presumably thrilling evening of picking 'shrooms from the wild brush in Vancouver, Washington with his mother, Pini Nou somehow found himself off the beaten path and lost under a cover of darkness (and wild grass, too). By phoning in authorities and faintly describing his surroundings, troops were able to get close enough to view the white glow emitted from his PMP, and 20 minutes later he was safe and sound, albeit "cold, tired, and aching." So, there you have it kids, the ultimate excuse to get an iPod for the holidays -- safety.[Thanks, Napo M.]
