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Soap is ridin' dirty in Call of Duty: Ghosts with cannabis personalization pack
Still bitter about John "Soap" MacTavish's last outing in the Call of Duty series? We can't rewrite the past, but we can ignore Call of Duty canon and visit with an old friend in Call of Duty: Ghosts' multiplayer. Soap returns to the series as Ghosts' latest Legend Pack character and - what's that? Vladimir Makarov was the most recent Legend Pack? Talk about awkward reunions. You can buddy up with Soap for $3.99, which also grants a customization pack with a unique targeting reticle, weapon camo, patch, player card and background. You don't have to dig up the past to get fresh customization though, as Activision and Infinity Ward have also released new Personalization Packs, running $1.99 apiece. You can check out Heartlands, Hex, Molten, Eyeballs, 1987 and Blunt Force - which covers your weapon in cannabis leaves - on the Call of Duty Micro Items site to see if their styles interest you. The Soap and Personalization Packs are currently only on Xbox Live, but they won't remain exclusive forever - a press release reminds us that dates for the content to reach other platforms "will follow." [Image: Activision]
These WoW-themed soaps will keep your non-virtual body clean
Too often gamers get a bad rap for being unwashed masses, more concerned with getting to the next level than with hygiene. But we don't see why that has to be the case, especially not with these gaming-themed soaps from British soapmaker Soapasaurus. So far there are four game-centric soaps on offer: the lemon verbena For the Alliance! soap, the spicy For the Horde! soap, the tropical Health Bar soap, and the minty Mana Bar soap. Though some of these sound good enough to eat (especially this cupcake-scented My Little Pony themed soap), remember that soap is for getting clean, not eating. If you need a bit of extra gaming flair in your life, these soaps cost £5 a bar (that's about $7.50) and will deliver to UK addresses for £2 or internationally for £5 (again, about $7.50). And if you're a crafty sort who's interested in geeky soaps with a slightly lower price tag, we do have some DIY instructions for making your own healthstone or Halaa token in soap form.
Colloidal Display uses soap bubbles, ultrasonic waves to form a projection screen (hands-on video)
If you've ever been to an amusement park, you may have noticed ride designers using some non-traditional platforms as projection screens -- the most common example being a steady stream of artificial fog. Projecting onto transparent substances is a different story, however, which made this latest technique a bit baffling to say the least. Colloidal Display, developed by Yoichi Ochiai, Alexis Oyama and Keisuke Toyoshima, uses bubbles as an incredibly thin projection "screen," regulating the substance's properties, such as reflectance, using ultrasonic sound waves from a nearby speaker. The bubble liquid is made from a mixture of sugar, glycerin, soap, surfactant, water and milk, which the designers say is not easily popped. Still, during their SIGGRAPH demo, a motor dunked the wands in the solution and replaced the bubble every few seconds. A standard projector directed at the bubble creates an image, which appears to be floating in the air. And, because the bubbles are transparent, they can be stacked to simulate a 3D image. You can also use the same display to project completely different images that fade in and out of view depending on your angle relative to the bubble. There is a tremendous amount of distortion, however, because the screen used is a liquid that remains in a fluid state. Because of the requirement to constantly refresh the bubbles, and the unstable nature of the screen itself, the project, which is merely a proof of concept, wouldn't be implemented without significant modification. Ultimately, the designers hope to create a film that offers similar transparent properties but with a more solid, permanent composition. For now, you can sneak a peek of the first iteration in our hands-on video after the break.%Gallery-162176%
University of Tokyo builds a soap bubble 3D screen, guarantees your display stays squeaky clean (video)
There are waterfall screens, but what if you'd like your display to be a little more... pristine? Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a display that hits soap bubbles with ultrasonic sound to change the surface. At a minimum, it can change how light glances off the soap film to produce the image. It gets truly creative when taking advantage of the soap's properties: a single screen is enough to alter the texture of a 2D image, and multiple screens in tandem can create what amounts to a slightly sticky hologram. As the soap is made out of sturdy colloids rather than the easily-burst mixture we all knew as kids, users won't have to worry about an overly touch-happy colleague popping a business presentation. There's a video preview of the technology after the jump; we're promised a closer look at the technology during the SIGGRAPH expo in August, but we don't yet know how many years it will take to find sudsy screens in the wild.
Magnetic soap could make your next oil spill less oily
Instead of spending millions upon millions to clean up the next oil spill, why don't we just all pitch in and buy some soap? That's basically what researchers at the University of Bristol are proposing, with a new kind of soap that's apparently like no other. This soap, you see, is magnetic, which means it could be easily removed from water without leaving behind any hazardous chemicals -- a potentially major selling point for cleanup crews and environmentalists alike. To create it, the team collected water with chlorine and bromine ions, and used it to dissolve iron particles, creating a metallic core. They proceeded to test their creation by placing the soapy particles within a test tube, underneath layers of water and oil. Much to their delight, they were able to remove the particles with only a magnet, ostensibly providing a template upon which disaster response crews may build.
More iAds appearing on iPad
CNET reports that more iAds are starting to appear on the iPad platform. Apple released an iAd for the magical and revolutionary tablet last year featuring the Tron movie, but since then, we haven't seen a lot of traffic in iAd impressions on the platform. That's now changed; a new ad for Unilever features NCAA branding and offers video of basketball stars, daily March Madness schedules and even a trivia game to play. Apple has reportedly promised more iAds to come. It may seem silly to be so excited about an ad, but given the troubles that the iAd program has had lately, it's good to see Apple making some headway in providing its "premium mobile advertising platform." Looks like the recent changes to minimum buy, along with the rising popularity of the iPad and its second version, have seen business pick up a bit. [via MacStories]
Razer Orochi crafted from oil and glycerin, scrubs your bod between frag sessions
When we first got wind of Etsy seller Digitalsoaps in early 2009, she had but a humble NES gamepad and a couple of other controllers to her name -- fast forward to today, and you'll find the bubbly entrepreneur doing a brisk business in all sorts of wonderfully geeky soap shapes. This $10 Razer Orochi mouse is the latest, and as you can see it's close enough to the real thing to trick your buds at the next LAN party. Sadly, this particular soap is a limited-time offer -- and moving fast -- but the seller also deals in a painstakingly detailed Xbox 360 controller, caffeinated shampoo soda bottles, and sudsy replicas of any classic Nintendo cartridge you care to name.
iPhone-shaped soap smells like sausage
Sure, an iPhone-shaped soap bar is fun as it is, but surely there's something else that can be added to make it even more enjoyable, no? Etsy user twoeggplants decided to answer that question with a resounding yes, and is selling an iPhone-shaped bar of soap that just happens to smell like grilled meats while you use it. I kind of wish my actual iPhone smelled like grilled sausage -- I wouldn't want the grease on it, but the scent would be fine to have around. Apparently the scent can be customized, so if you'd rather have a more traditional soap smell (like, oh I don't know, something which smells like apples), you can go with that. It's also out of stock at the moment, which is usually what happens when something cool on Etsy gets discovered by a few blogs. But just the idea of a sausage-smelling iPhone soap is pretty fun anyway.
Brazilian laundry soap comes with a GPS surprise
The crackerjack marketing teams at Unilever Brazil have come up with a promotion for the ages -- they've implanted GPS tracking devices into fifty boxes of the popular Omo laundry soap, and plan to follow buyers all the way to their doorsteps. We're sure it's a harmless promotion -- the chosen get a free video camera -- but on paper it sounds hilariously bad. You see, the promotions agency (aptly named Bullet) may be knocking on doors in neighborhoods with high crime rates, where unwitting individuals may not open the door, but should that happen there's a backup plan -- they'll instruct the box to start beeping via remote. If the bomb scare doesn't smoke out prospective winners, we're not sure if Bullet will bash down the doors, but the disastrous recipe also includes plans to post the general vicinity where winners live (complete with photographs) at an experimental website. And you thought Walmart's new RFID tags were bad.
Rockstar store updated with Red Dead Redemption merch
If you're looking to recreate some of the parlor games played in Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar's store has been updated to include a wide variety of instruments you can use to do so with the utmost authenticity. Now available on the store are a handful of "Collector's Packs," which include Rockstar-branded playing cards, dice, TNT-shaped candles and "Eradicator Soap," which promises to be "Tough on Blood and Manure." We certainly hope those two aren't frequently a problem for you. There are also a few new shirts from Redemption and, of course, copies of the game itself available on the storefront. Sadly, there's no option to purchase Donkey-Lady action figures, but maybe we'll get those in a later batch of merchandise. [Thanks, Reinhart]
Palm Pre soap brings webOS to the tub
Okay, so we sort of understand molding soap into familiar gadget shapes, but this bar of Pre soap utterly baffles by being scented "bourbon and Coke," which seems a bit self-defeating. Smell like a hobo with webOS for just $13 -- and don't worry, there's BlackBerry, iPhone, and Playstation soap on offer as well, presumably scented with Boone's Farm and OE 800. [Via Pocket-Lint]
Reminder: "Dirty Jobs of Azeroth" contest ends tomorrow!
You've got just one day left to enter WoW.com's Geeky Clean "Dirty Jobs of Azeroth" contest! We're still waiting for some really fantastic submissions, so here's the rundown for those who missed it the first time around: We've got five (5) prize packs of five (5) different Geeky Clean soaps ready for the people who send us a screenshot of your character performing one of Azeroth's dirtiest jobs. To enter, take your screenshot and send it with a text caption or description to contests@wow.com before 2PM ET on June 18th, 2009. We'll choose our five favorites and post them soon after.Be creative, original, and funny to win this contest! You'll be judged 50% on originality/creativity and 50% on presentation. And be sure to use an email address to which you have regular access when submitting your entries, because that's how we'll get a hold of you! You may enter only once. The contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. Click here for the complete Official Rules.
WoW.com's Geeky Clean "Dirty Jobs of Azeroth" Contest
We know that questgivers have you do some pretty ridiculous stuff in exchange for paltry rewards. They have you sift through talbuk dung, swim through pools of muck, and even dress like a murloc (oh, the shame!). But what's the dirtiest job in Azeroth? In the spirit of cleanliness, Geeky Clean and WoW.com are teaming up, and we want you to find it! We've got five (5) prize packs of five (5) different Geeky Clean soaps ready for the people who send us a screenshot of your character performing one of Azeroth's dirtiest jobs. To enter, take your screenshot and send it with a text caption or description to contests@wow.com before 2PM ET on June 18th, 2009. We'll choose our five favorites and post them soon after.Be creative, original, and funny to win this contest! You'll be judged 50% on originality/creativity and 50% on presentation. And be sure to use an email address to which you have regular access when submitting your entries, because that's how we'll get a hold of you!You may enter only once. The contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. Click here for the complete Official Rules.
Ms. Pac-Man shoes, Space Invaders soap, not news
When video games collide with do-it-yourself know-how and just a little bit of magic, wonderful things happen. Case in point, just look at those Ms. Pac-Man shoes and Space Invaders soaps (which we have arranged in a single image for dramatic effect). With shoes like that, just walking becomes a game -- which it normally isn't, despite what Nintendo tells you -- as Pinky and Ms. Pac-Man engage in a cat-and-mouse chase all day long.And then, when the long day is done and it's time to get clean, you'll have to defend yourself from a squadron of soapy space invaders. What better way to stave off the glycerine-infused hordes than to slowly melt them away until you have to snuff them out in the shower drain? Such is the fate of all soaps, but especially invading soaps from space.Incidentally, if you want a pair of Ms. Pac-Man shoes of your own, the creators, Em & Sprout, have a few left in stock. There are a handful of Space Invaders soaps left too -- from the same company that brought us these -- so get a move on if you want some. Otherwise you'll have to hope they get restocked, or we suppose you could live without them.[Via Wonderland]Source: Em & Sprout - Ms Pac-Man Mary JanesSource: Digital Soaps - Space Invaders soap set
NES soap won't help you rescue the Princess, may help you get a date
Videogame controllers are typically rated on ergonomics, durability, and responsiveness -- though they sometimes get a few bonus points by looking especially cool. The original NES game pad really didn't have any of those attributes going for it, but that didn't stop it from becoming a cultural icon, one that has inspired reproductions of all shapes and sizes. The latest one varies not in dimensions but in composition: it's made of soap. Yes, this controller, which sells for just $8.25, is designed for bath time fun, and what it lacks in functionality it makes up for with natural ingredients and lovely (we presume) fragrances that surely smell a good bit better than those musty hunks of discolored plastic you probably have stuffed in a box somewhere.[Via Shiny Shiny]
MIT's 'bar of soap' knows just what you want when you hold it
It's no mind reader, but MIT researchers Brandon Taylor and Michael Bove's "bar of soap" device should be able to tell you what gadget you're pretending to use based on how you hold it. Loaded with 72 capacitive sensors and a three-axis accelerometer, the prototype has a small screen that says what it believes you're pantomiming -- camera, phone, PDA, gamepad, and remote control are demonstrated in the accompanying video. In a slightly more realistic / entertaining example, a baseball is stuffed with sensors and used to determine what kind of pitch you've. Bove speculates the idea could potentially be used for high-tech golf clubs that tell you how incorrectly you're holding it or power tools that don't work unless you're gripping it the right way, and while we're sure there's other, more beneficial uses, we're really looking forward to figuring out why we always seem to slice right.
Wash your hands with PlayStation soap
You know what isn't fun enough? Washing your hands. Thankfully, the folks at Digitalsoaps have come up with a solution: soap in the shape of a PlayStation controller. These custom-made soaps come in a variety of scents, like juicy watermelon, grapefruit jasmine, Hawaiian white ginger, bay rum, pear glaze and mocha cappuccino. Not only will you be clean, but you'll be hungry as well!Each bar of soap goes for $4.25. International shipping is offered, but it's quite pricey. With Valentine's Day coming up, this might be a good gift for that hygiene-deprived friend in your life.[Via Wonderland]
World of WarCrafts: Halaa Battle Token soap
Every Thursday, Shelbi Roach of The Bronze Kettle guides you in creating WoW-inspired crafts using real world mats with World of WarCrafts.Let's face it, PVP can definitely have an adverse affect on one's physical approachability. Have you ever had the unfortunate opportunity to smell a hardcore PVPer? Do yourself and your fellow raid members a favor and practice some good hygiene with this Halaa Battle Token soap. Here is what you will need: Opaque Glycerin Soap Bars Soap Dye Soap Fragrance Carving Tools Click on the images below to view a gallery of step-by-step instructions. %Gallery-28458%
World of WarCrafts: Healthstone
Every Wednesday World of WarCrafts features a recipe or craft that teaches you how to make own real life version of in-game recipes and items. Today in World of WarCrafts I thought I would show you how to make a more "crafty" project. So this time I am going to make a Healthstone. How you may ask can a mere mortal conjure a Healthstone? Ah, young ones I am more than just a mortal. I am a mighty Warlock with special powers. Okay, maybe not but I can make a soap that looks a bit like a Healthstone. To make your Healthstone you will need to gather a few supplies.
Forum Post of the Day: Lookin' good
If you've been reading our Shifting Perspectives druid column, then you'll probably remember our discussion of the way druids look as they level up and get newer gear. The druids over in Europe have found a new way to show Blizzard how they feel about it on their forums: in a post by Rawr, entitled "[Screenshot] Season 3 Set Looks So Awesome," they've not only highlighted how druids look in the latest arena gear (as pictured above), but they've shown compiled pics very much like all the the different gear they've had leveling up, from level 10 to level 70.My druid looked something like this at level 10, which as you can see, is pretty drab. But once I got to level 45 or so, I completed a set I thought looked pretty nice. Now at 70, I have three sets for Bear form, for Cat form, and for healing. I don't mean to brag or anything -- my gear isn't the best in the world -- but one day I hope my druid can look like Xgeno does in his armor!There are many players out there who may think druids' opinion on their looks is a petty issue that doesn't matter, but when you think about it, there are lots of people out there with very strong opinions on class-specific issues that other classes don't understand in the least. In an age when some players stage riots on their servers or spam forums to protest class problems, these druids have once again demonstrated that there are alternative ways to share your feelings on a particular issue. For anyone out there who feels extremely angry, happy, or whatever, about any particular class issue, it makes sense to stop and think how you want to look in the eyes of other players before posting on the forums about it. Do you want them to get really frustrated because you're disrupting their gaming in some way? Or do you want them to read your post, then grin and say, "I see what you did there?"[Thanks Lewi!]Edit: Apparently the European thread Lewi brought to our attention has its roots in the US. The level 20 druid Pando showed everyone what her animal form looked like, and invited everyone to show theirs. Classic. [Thanks Delkral!]
