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Logitech introduces spill resistant keyboards for the feds, prevents Bauer flip-out
Logitech might be in the midst of a corporate revolution, but it still has time to produce peripherals just for the G-men (and women). The Swiss company has produced a keyboard and mouse that satisfy all TAA guidelines and, most importantly, answered "no" when asked if they are, or were ever a member of the communist party. The pairing can be picked up by federal IT buyers for $35 and are fully "spill resistant," so we can't blame the forthcoming robopocalypse on a wayward cup of coffee.
Hulu's new original series The Confession fills the 24-sized hole in our hearts
Hulu has been pushing original programming for some time and even though Netflix has gotten recent pub for far off plans, it just released the first three episodes of a new series, The Confession, starring 24's Kiefer Sutherland. For the 10-episode run he's playing an assassin in each of these 5- to 7-minute episodes and while Chloe, Morris and the gang aren't anywhere to be found, it's close enough to be the Jack Bauer bump we've been missing all these long months. We're not sure any of these original series will potentially fill holes left if content providers pull their movies and shows from either service, but it can't hurt. The video's embedded above, and available in HD via Hulu Plus, Chapters 4 and 5 are due to arrive next week.
Splinter Cell Conviction designer on delay, exclusivity, Natal ... and bowel control?
After teasing us with the carefully scripted Splinter Cell Conviction E3 demo -- for the umpteenth time -- lead designer Steve Masters commented on the game's current status as a "March quarter" release today at Ubisoft's "Holiday Preview" event (we'll be celebrating well into 2010, you know). Masters echoed CEO Yves Guillemot in saying, "really [the delay] was just a decision to allow us to polish up and really deliver the experience that the fans are looking for.""Right now we're about to hit alpha -- literally this week," Masters confirmed. "So that means the levels are largely complete, and now it's just time to polish them up and get them looking really great, and playing really well." The current (and what better be final) iteration of the fifth Splinter Cell game has been in development for roughly eighteen months, according to Masters.On the topic of platform exclusivity, the designer continued to tiptoe along Ubisoft's party line when it came to discussing the apparent arrangement with Microsoft. "I can't really go into the details there. All I can say is that we're really exploiting the full power of the Microsoft console here, and Microsoft has been tremendous in giving us a lot of support and really helping us to utilize the full power of the 360," Masters offered. "I don't think that we're ever gonna go to the PS3. But I can't confirm or deny it."As for Project Natal and the future of the Splinter Cell franchise? "I would love to use Natal. I think there are a lot of very cool possibilities with that -- everything from doing outrageously interesting educational stuff to really-involving video games." Did he say, educational? Ah, so that's what exploring Milo is all about ... and here we thought it was just outrageous. "I've only had a very quick demo with [Natal]. I haven't had any serious, in-depth hands-on, but I know Ubisoft has been working with it."Finally, Masters fielded our most pressing question ... Who would win in a fight: Sam Fisher or Jack Bauer? Masters emphatically declared Fisher the clear favorite given his superior sneaking abilities. But if the match-up was limited to a 24-hour time frame? "Bauer does have tremendous bowel control," Masters conceded. "I think that might be the tipping point in this battle."
First Look: 24: Special Ops for iPhone
Digital Chocolate has nabbed the 24 license (along with a few sounds and music bits) from Fox, and they've released an iPhone game based on my favorite TV show ever. Unfortunately, things don't get quite as good as they probably should, but the run-and-gun gameplay mixes it up with a nice variety of minigames, so if you're a 24 completist (and have an iPhone -- apparently this doesn't work for iPod touch at the moment), it might be worth spending the $5.If not, there's a "lite" version on the App Store which will take you through the game's first few "hours" (in reality, just a few minutes per segment) of stages. The game itself features Jack Bauer backed up by Chloe doing what else but saving Los Angeles from various terrorist threats. The grid-based action gameplay is simple but fun, and the shooter stages are broken up with encryption and driving minigames. None of it is brilliant, but just like the show, watching Jack Bauer kill bad guys is usually good enough.It's too bad they didn't do more -- 24's strengths have always been in its breakneck story pace and twists and turns, and just from playing the first few hours in the lite version, this seems like a Jack-and-Chloe story only (Bill appears in a suit on the menu screen, so apparently he shows up later, in some role at old CTU). If there are any cool story twists or turns, they take place more than four hours in -- it would be great to see Michelle or even Nina (if this is before Day 3) again, but I doubt we get that. Still, it's got Jack killing and blowing stuff up, and that's never a bad thing.
Garona's return to Azeroth
Apparently DC first announced this last October, but it's the first I've heard of it: Garona Halforcen is coming back to World of Warcraft. Garona has been a fan favorite character ever since the early RTS games -- she's a half-orc Rogue who originally assassinated King Llane of the Alliance (under one of Medivh's spells and working unintentionally for the Shadow Council). But she's been MIA for a while -- until now. DC's next World of Warcraft comic, number 18, has Garona reappearing in Azeroth, supposedly working with the Twilight's Hammer, and possibly even secretly aligned with the Scourge.Not necessarily an auspicious re-entrance, but with Garona, just like Jack Bauer, you never know who she's really working for or why. Blizzard has always made it clear that they were going to have her appear in World of Warcraft -- early in the beta, she was actually the leader of the Rogue Ravenholdt faction, though she was later removed from the manor there. The DC comic drops on April 15, and it wouldn't be a surprise to finally see everyone's favorite half-orc rogue in the game sometime after that.
CTU ringtone for iPhone
Just last night we were chatting about ringtones on the Talkcast, and I mentioned that I was so happy with my iPhone that I hadn't taken steps to change either the ringtone or the wallpaper yet-- that Xylophone ringtone is probably the best ringtone I've ever heard.Until now, anyway. Matt Devost used that GarageBand tip posted by Apple to turn none other than the CTU ringtone from tv series 24 into an easy-to-install, completely (mostly-- who owns this ringtone? did Fox make it up?) legit iPhone ringtone. Yes, you too can have your iPhone sound just like the phones at Jack Bauer's place of employment.And this also illustrates just how easy it is to make these things now. Matt says he just put this together in GarageBand, and then followed Apple's doc, and all I did was drag it from my Desktop into my iTunes ringtones folder. Super simple. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I hear my phone ringing. Must be the President wanting to know how the hostage situation is going.
Today's franchise face-offiest game video: Bauer versus Riker
It's Riker versus Bauer in tonight's video pick. (What, you thought we'd post about that other video again?) Through the magic of editing -- and a rocking soundtrack -- these two leaders face off in a game of Street Fighter. Bauer uses his ability to multitask to get Gamefaqs tips, while beardless Riker has only his grimace and guile. This YTMND mash-up loops soon after it starts, but the quick editing is dense with detail; we laughed through several repetitions.The video isn't embedable, so you'll have to venture into the dangerous tubes beyond Joystiq. But be sure to come back to tell us what you think.
HDTV Listings for January 14, 2007
What we're watching: The Jack Bauer Power Hour is BACK. 24 on Fox is the only option for HDTV viewing pleasure tonight. Not that we wouldn't like to check out the season premiere of Rome on HBO, or the first live high definition game from Hawaii, the Hula Bowl on ESPN-HD. We'd tell you more but we don't have enough time. You're just going to have to trust us.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
HDTV Listings for April 10, 2006
What we're watching: At 9 p.m. you have a choice to make of great spiritual significance. You can either watch an epic tale of a man on a mission from God, or you can watch The Ten Commandments on ABC. Pending any instructions given to us by a burning plasma TV, we'll probably go with Jack Bauer. Besides, didn't somebody already make a movie based on the 10 heavily-emphasized suggestions?Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
HDTV Listings for March 27, 2006
What we're watching: You know we're getting a little tired of terrorist stomping w/ Jack Baue.....waitaminnit, we never get tired of that.From JackBauerFacts.com:"Nostradamus once predicted in his journal: "In the century 21st, the one known as Jacques will be the savior of the world... five seasons in a row." Moments later, Jack Bauer knocked down the door, shot Nostradamus in the kneecaps, and yelled "WHO ARE YOU WORKING FOR?!""Nuff said.However, since we actually like to DVR 24 and watch it starting 20 minutes later sans commercials, we'll be checking out some womens NCAA Elite 8 tourney action on ESPN. The action is pretty good and the quality is better than CBS' broadcast.Our traditional high-def listings continue below.
No emergency center is complete without HDTV
It seems like everybody is getting a video wall. Now Chicago has invested $4 million in their new City Incident Center, to coordinate traffic, towing, firefighting and snow removal. The best feature is an 18 foot tall high definition video wall. Considering some of the issues they've had with towing recently, hopefully this will help them out.My only question is why doesn't Jack Bauer and CTU have one of these?