Nearly a year after the innovative (albeit not-entirely-practical) Nintendo Fan Network went live at Safeco Field in Seattle, the powers that be have decided to nix those pesky access fees and give every DS-toting guest access gratis. That's right, folks who show up to catch a Mariners game can now check out other MLB scores, dig deep within player stats, order up grossly overpriced grub and even watch a terribly pixelated version of the game they're currently at without handing over one red cent. The nosebleed section never had so much potential.

[Via Joystiq]

Oh sure, we've most certainly seen window-based advertising used to lure the untrained eye to any manner of wares, but Scion's latest iteration certainly takes interactive promoting to new heights. In order to market its limited edition tC Release Series 4.0, it partnered up with InWindow to cover a series of street-side windows with bubbles which reacted to movements made by captivated individuals walking by. Granted, the installation isn't nearly as addictive as say, trying to wrangle up every single Pokémon, but it definitely managed to hold the attention of a few geeked-out civilians. Check it out for yourself, the video's right after the jump.

[Via Digg, thanks Andres]

We'll be straight with you -- Wizkid would be a lot easier to take seriously if it looked even remotely like a fellow Earthling, or at least an animal. Instead, we're left with a curiously designed, but totally brilliant robot that can hone in on human faces, remember your preferences and understand hand motions. Essentially, the creature is set to improve our lives by cranking up the stereo when we wave a CD in its grill, playing games with lonely souls and keeping us occupied with other on-screen interactive applications. No word on whether this kiddo is destined for the commercial realm, but folks incredibly curious can go say hello at The Museum of Modern Art in New York.

[Via Primidi]

Tucked away in the HD DVD booth, Imagion AG -- creators of the first HD DVD with internet connectivity, the first European HD DVD and the first Blu-ray Profile 1.1 release -- was showing off its end to end tools for creating next gen interactive features. Despite being a Blu-ray exclusive movie in the U.S., Imagion is working on the Terminator 2: Ultimate HD Edition release for Europe, which will let fans view the script and/or storyboard during playback, share special edits of the movie via the internet, and track their interactive Blu-ray and HD DVDs via tuneHD.net, powered by their dynamicHD tech. With simplified access for publishers to update online features through a web interface and community features connect fans, Imagion is continuing to push the edges of next gen disc formats. Check out the gallery for a look at what tomorrow's HDi and BD Live discs can do.

If you've got a thing for cutting-edge LCD HDTVs, you've come to the right place. Starting with the big boy, we've got the 65-inch LN52A750 (also available in 40-, 46- and 52-inches), which sports a 1080p resolution with 120Hz Auto Motion Plus technology. Additionally, you'll find an Ethernet connection for accessing customizable RSS feeds, 1GB of internal flash memory that "includes interactive content such as cooking recipes, children's entertainment, HD artwork and more," a four-millisecond response time, four HDMI 1.3 sockets with CEC and a USB 2.0 port for connecting PMPs and the like. Also on the way is a slightly downgraded 6 series sans flash memory and side mounted USB port, due in March in the same sizes.

Hard to believe that CES 2007 was the venue at which Samsung launched its second-generation Blu-ray player, as just 12 months later we're staring the fourth-gen unit right in the face. Coming this May, the BD-P1500 will support 1080p playback (not to mention 720p / 1080i / 1080p DVD upconversion), 7.1 PCM, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD HR and MA, Bitstream audio output via HDMI, HDMI 1.3 with CEC and the obligatory Profile 1.1. Meanwhile, the firm is also announcing its forthcoming combo player, and for those out there who have yet to successfully hunt one down or are just too frightened by the reports of lackluster audio performance, you may want to hit the pause button 'til May. The BD-UP5500 (pictured after the break) handles Blu-ray / HD DVD discs and supports 1080p24, but otherwise remains functionality identical to the P1500. The pain? $399 for the BD-P1500, $599 for the BD-UP5500.

Rest assured, we've seen some pretty fancy mirrors in our day, but Daniel Rozin's Weave Mirror ranks pretty high up there. This zany installation relies on "768 motorized and laminated C-shaped prints along the surface of a picture plane that texturally mimics a homespun basket," and as curious mortals approach it, it "paints a picture of them using a gradual rotation in greyscale value on each C-ring." We know, you're probably still confounded at how this thing actually wows anyone, but give the video (posted after the jump) a peek and clarity will be yours.

[Via WeMakeMoneyNotArt]

Rest assured, there's no shortage of glamorous nightclubs, but a new spot is set to excite Londoners that have a thing for exaggerated lighting and all things interactive. Dubbed the "first interactive bar in the world," each wall will be lined in blank canvas so that projections can be beamed out and altered on a whim to really get you trippin'. Additionally, there will be "hundreds of LEDs" to treat your retinas to, and the bar itself will even be touch sensitive, allowing you to alert the bartender of your drink needs by simply laying your hand down. Sounds like a bloody good time for you blokes (and dames) in the area, but for the rest of us, we'll have to settle with a few more stills after the jump. [Warning: PDF read link]

[Via CNET]

Sure, we've seen a plethora of interactive billboards before, but Mark Ecko's (credit to Benjamin Busse) latest eye-catcher could seriously make you miss your ride. This brilliantly designed ad sports an LCD that can be painted up by your Bluetooth cellphone, as it allows passers to use their mobile as a spray can to decorate the screen as they please. No word on whether this thing accepts multiple connections or not, but a tagging duel would be mighty fine entertainment whilst waiting on the next bus.

[Via AdGoodness, thanks John]

Those looking for a little more interaction at Safeco Field this season need only bring their DS Lite and a few extra bucks. This season, Nintendo is trialing the Nintendo Fan Network at the home of the Seattle Mariners, which enables onlookers to "order food and drinks, watch the live television feed of the game, access stats and scores, and play trivia from the comfort of their seat." The quietly introduced pilot program has brought several kiosks to the park, which uploads a program to the DS Lite and enables the WiFi-equipped handheld to take part in the bonus festivities. Eventually, the Big N hopes to expand the system into other stadiums, but for now, Mariners fans can get in on the action for $5 per game, or $30 for ten games.

[Image courtesy of Flickr]

Don't look now (for serious, we really mean it), but yet another health scare is taking those in England by storm, and this time whiteboard projectors are to blame for inducing panic in the hearts of mums and dads everywhere. The quarter-million academic projectors that have been installed all across the UK are now the focal point of an ongoing study, which suggests that a "viewer's peripheral retina could be overexposed even when they are not actually staring directly into the beam." Protesters are suggesting that the brightness be toned down to no more than 1,500 lumens, and a number of sensitive teachers and students alike have reported "dazzle effects" after looking at the board for an extended period of time. We could wonder if anyone actually expects the school systems to revert back to chalk in order to get things done, but more interestingly, who's up for swapping their PJ out for an RPTV (you know, before your retinas dissolve)?

[Via The Register]

Nothing like full-on tank warfare to release the pent up frustration from waiting in line all day to acquire an iPhone, right? The remote controlled VS Tanks kit consists of two infrared-enabled machines, two controllers (that eerily resemble those on the Atari Jaguar, to be honest), and a battlefield. Each tank sports a rotating turret, a sweet "super spin" move for times when only a spray 'n pray maneuver will do, a machine gun, and flashing LEDs to show when you've been hit. Each unit fires out AirSoft pellets and can be equipped with an "action cam" to record the carnage for future viewing, and while the £50 ($100) set may cater to the younger crowd, even the suits can't deny the rush experienced when gunning your opponent down on the field. Peep a demonstration video after the break.

[Via Coolest-Gadgets]

While Ermenegildo Zegna made the plunge into high-end, electronic savvy outerwear last Fall, its newest piece ups the ante by allowing gadgetry that you keep on your person to be charged up whilst out and about -- sans batteries. The Solar JKT is based around Interactive Wear AG's iSolarX technology, and sports a number of solar modules around the neoprene collar that can pass energy through conducting textile leads for storage in a buffer battery or to charge a connected device directly. The jacket can even be switched from 5V to 6V in order to handle a more diverse group of gizmos, and integrated LEDs enable you to quickly view the state of the charge. Sadly, there's no mention of an expected pricetag for this uber-useful garb, but it will likely cater specifically to the affluent set when it hits the market as part of the 2008 Spring / Summer collection.

If you've been eying one of those snazzy USB-enabled fish tanks of late, but are still a bit gun shy when it comes to taking care of a live animal, Brando's got you covered. The USB Interactive Aquarium looks to be the perfect device for the wannabe fish owner, as this completely USB-powered tank includes a pair of thoroughly fake fish that swim around using mechanical tails. The included software allows owners to feed, care for, and play with their robotic pets, and you can even get an underwater rave going by flipping the built-in LEDs off and on in rapid succession. Not a bad way to see if you're up to the real challenge, and for just $23, it's an inexpensive way to snag an office pet that's not needy on the weekends.

We've seen all sorts of unscientific testing with regard to digital cameras, and while getting your facts straight about megapixels and dust-sensor effectiveness is just dandy, how's about knowing how many clicks your trusty shooter has left? An online database has apparently been created to track this very statistic, and while manufacturers will typically give you an estimate, we all know it's the real-world results that count. The site lists a smorgasbord of cameras and allows users to chime in and inform the world how many clicks their snapper has survived, and while we wouldn't lay our money on your device necessarily living up to the standards set by others, it's a fair judge nonetheless. Go on, we know you're curious, give the read link a visit and toss your experience on up to keep the data flowin'.

[Via Core77]