3
Latest
Forlorn Spidey has nowhere to sling his webs
No wonder Spider-Man 3 got such mixed reviews on the Wii version of the game -- someone forgot to finish the graphics. We can't think of any other possible explanation for something this atrocious. What's going on here? How can this be considered acceptable ... and how can anyone bestow even a middling-good score on such a sight? We love us some Spider-Man and all, but this game would have to be the best thing ever (moreso even than sliced bread) to wrangle an 83%. Maybe we're just pickier than most, but this looks like a sign that not only is there something wrong with how some third-party Wii games are being handled, but maybe the review system isn't all it's cracked up to be, either.[Via Digg]
Motorola Q9h to christen 3's X-Series on Windows Mobile?
Hutchison 3's flagship "X-Series" platform of data-enabled goodies is missing a pretty critical piece of the puzzle -- Windows Mobile support -- but it now looks like the carrier plans to add it with a bang. Despite seeing a Vodafone-branded unit some time ago, MoDaCo reports that 3 is positioning itself to pick up a period of exclusivity on the upcoming Motorola Q9h (exclusivity which we assume will be limited to the UK, or perhaps Europe) to launch Windows Mobile support for X-Series. Of course, once 3 has bothered to gather all the apps necessary to take X-Series to the Microsoft camp, it only stands to reason that the Q9h will become just the first in a line of Windows Mobile phones to rock it, so if you're on 3 and the Q9h isn't quite your cup of tea (we can't blame you), sit tight.
BBC shows to hit Vodafone, Orange, and 3
This certainly isn't the first time that shows from the BBC have been delivered in a non-traditional method, but now fans of the programming will have the option of viewing select episodes on their handset. Vodafone, Orange, and 3 customers will all be able to take advantage of the one-year trial, which will include BBC One, BBC News 24, BBC Three, and radio broadcasts, but unfortunately, "premiership football, some films and cartoons, and some overseas programs like Neighbours" won't be available on the mobile service. BBC is hoping that the trial will test both the "effectiveness of the 3G network and the demand for BBC channels," and if you're lucky enough to take advantage of said offerings, you can expect things to start rolling sometime this month.
Italy to get first DVB-H PMP courtesy of 3
Italians have been getting a taste of that sweet over-the-air digital TV since last year, with tiny phone screens being their primary and possibly sole method of content intake. Well that won't be the case for too much longer, as mobile carrier 3 has announced a partnership with manufacturer Quantum that will bring a dedicated, 4.3-inch portable DVB-H device to the TV-mad public. Called the QTM 1000, this PMP will be able to pull down 12 live stations including Sky, RIA, and Mediaset, and is said to function as a navigation unit as well (details on that aspect of its functionality are slim to none, however). Also no word so far on pricing, but perhaps we'll learn more as the scheduled release window of "this spring" gets closer.[Via PMP Today]
Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI Wii-ward
Must ... resist ... urge to use "Thwii" pun ...Now that we've sufficiently girded, here's the news: the PS2 Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI is getting an enhanced port on the Wii, to be released in Japan on March 21st with the enhanced title Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI with Power-Up Kit. Along with the obvious Wiimote functionality, the game will be getting some new gameplay modes and scenarios.After trying to figure out the first NES Romance, we swore the series off forever. Kudos to those of you who managed to play these things.[Via GAME Watch]
Nokia 6280 overheats, erupts in smoke on video
We've seen dozens and dozens of aftermath photos from laptops and other random batteries suddenly possessing violently explosive tendencies, but we all know full motion video is more satisfying than simple stills. In this particular case, we're thrilled that the smoking, fizzing Nokia 6280 was filmed while in a location where humans couldn't be harmed, and initial reports are (unsurprisingly) tagging the battery or charger as the culprit. The 3 customer reported that his new handset "began fizzing white smoke" just hours after switching it on for the first time, and Nokia is reportedly investigating the issue. Of course, this isn't the first time a Nokia battery has been blamed for a fire, but unlike the previous case, we kind of doubt the firm will get off as easy here. So if you've actually hung around to read this far, we'll let you get to the fun stuff now, so go on and hit the read link for the final moments of the mobile's smoky death.[Via Inquirer]
Omnifone to be the first with 3G subscription music downloads?
Apparently a London firm that goes by the name of Omnifone is working with Vodafone and 3 to support what could be among the first 3G-based over-the-air subscription music download services. Apparently the biggest of all record labels, Universal, is on board (we wonder how much cash they had to bribe, er, subsidy them with) for Omnifone's sub-£10 per month service, but we've still got questions that need be answered, like: is this PlaysForSure? Can you move tracks to your PC? Can you move PC tracks to your phone? Hopefully we'll find out at 3GSM this week, so watch out.[Thanks, John]
European mobile carriers plot against Google and Yahoo!
Apparently the Brits and other European wireless telco carriers want to drop the bomb on Yank mobile search engines like Yahoo! and Google -- so much that Vodafone, France Telecom, Telefonica, Deutsche Telekom, Hutchison Whampoa, Telecom Italia and, gasp, America's Cingular are plotting to try and supplant the mobile search services of Google and Yahoo! from their customer's handsets. You know you're performing more Google searches from your wireless 10-key than from your ultra-fast PC, right? Those Europeans are a tad more mobile-focused compared to us here across the pond, so it comes as no surprise really that the big European wireless carriers want to capture all those mobile searches using...their own search service. We're not quite sure how they'll index the mobile (and real) web for all those customers to compete with the years-ahead services from Google and Yahoo!, but we wish them well at 3GSM next week when they pitch this to, well, whoever will listen.
3 nixes foreign roaming charges
Although providers around the globe have been doing away with those pesky roaming charges for some time now, not everyone has the luxury of yapping anywhere without a care in the world, but at least those loyal 3 customers out there can now. The newly-unveiled "3 Like Home" plan allows 3 customers to travel abroad and not face roaming charges when dialing out or receiving a call in a nation that 3 covers, which includes Hong Kong, Australia, Ireland, Sweden, the UK, Austria, Denmark, and Italy. Furthermore, SMS, video calling, and data services will be filed under the same principle, meaning no roaming fees altogether when using your mobile in a coverage area. Notably, the company states that users will still "face higher charges if they roam onto a non-3 network," but hopes that "the European Commission will be successful in reducing these wholesale charges, which will allow price reductions for customers roaming between different operators within Europe." We wonder if they can take a hint?[Via MobileBurn]
3's X-Series platform reviewed on Nokia N73
With cellular providers upping fees left and right, it's refreshing to finally see a provider offer up a valuable package to its users with a halfway decent pricetag. UK's 3 has struck a nerve with 3G gurus and multi-taskers alike, and its flagship X-Series platform has received a thorough critiquing from the folks at Digital Lifestyles. Currently running on Nokia's N73 (with Sony Ericsson's W950i to follow in January), the all-you-can-download approach to utilizing 3G applications apparently did fairly well in testing. Garnering praise in the diversity and usability departments, reviewers were pleased with the inclusion of Skype, Yahoo Go!, Mobile Mail, 3's web browser, and Windows Live Messenger -- all of which performed at least up to expectations for the low £5 ($9.85) per month fee. The only major digs came from the lack of SkypeOut support (which is promised for the future), no caller ID data on incoming Skype calls, and the inability to control / watch recorded shows via SlingPlayer. Of course, the latter headache will only bother those who spring for the £10 ($19.70) monthly package, which includes the ability to purchase the Sling software for a discounted £99 ($194.95) and use OrbPC to boot. Overall, the crew was generally pleased with the service and its performance on the N73, and while it called the SlingPlayer "a pig to set up," it dubbed the X-Series platform "the future" of cellphones.
LG Chocolate U830 brings the HSDPA love
LG's Chocolate just got a little sweeter, with the recent addition of HSDPA to that fantastic flip phone. The U830, its new designation, is loaded up with all sorts of other tasty treats, including 185MB of storage, a 2 megapixel shooter, stereo Bluetooth, three hours of talk time, 300 hours of standby time, and a music player (with 3.5mm headphones included!) -- all of this is pretty much what we'd seen rumored a few months ago. It'll first exclusively hit Hutchinson's 3 network in the UK, but we've got no further information as to when (or if) it'll be crossing the pond.[Via AVING]
LG Chocolate U830 brings the HDSPA love
LG's Chocolate just got a little sweeter, with the recent addition of HSDPA to that fantastic flip phone. The U830, its new designation, is loaded up with all sorts of other tasty treats, including 185MB of storage, a 2 megapixel shooter, stereo Bluetooth, three hours of talk time, 300 hours of standby time, and a music player (with 3.5mm headphones included!) -- all of this is pretty much what we'd seen rumored a few months ago. It'll first exclusively hit Hutchinson's 3 network in the UK, but we've got no further information as to when (or if) it'll be crossing the pond.[Via AVING]
Symbian SlingPlayer makes UK amp leechers criminal
It's always a bit dodgy pulling amps off the mains in the local, now it can land you in jail. Let's say you're out and about in the UK watching TV on your new, Mobile network 3 provided N73 or W960 cellphone mobile with SlingPlayer client. As soon as you jack into the wall to top up the battery -- you're breaking the law if you're watching TV. By plugging in, you invoke the wrath of TV licensing laws since your home license only covers your device outside of the home as long as the battery -- not the mains -- is providing the juice. But wait, it gets worse. You also risk violating the terms and conditions of broadcasters such as BSkyB's Sky satellite television service which forbid the viewing of their content outside the registered address. Of course, this applies to any system that allows you to watch broadcast, streamed, or recorded television outside the home so why is this now, suddenly an issue? Whatevs, with the service set to go hot next week in the UK, you can expect to hear a few "oi, unplug that cellphone mate!" warnings from up on high.
Bidder ends up with 3 PS1s, not 1 PS3
This proves that you need to read everything on every eBay auction before you hit that bid button, to the tune of $900. Obviously the buyer has only himself to blame, but check out how the seller tried to slant this, "HOT ITEM! Not PRE-ORDERED..HAVE IN HAND...All are American Systems. THERE IS NOWHERE TO FIND EVEN THE 20GB SYSTEMS THIS CHEAP....BUY THESE INSTEAD!" Why even mention the 20GB systems in the ad? He clearly wanted some PlayStation 3 attention, and got it in a big way. Imagine how the bidder felt when he realized he punked himself for three original PlayStations, probably not even the PSone consoles. These can easily be picked up for around $100 or less, so bye-bye PS3 money. He could've bought three PSones and a PS3 for that dough.Of course, seeing as how the winning bidder has zero feedback and is a new account, we're pretty sure he was the punkee and not the punker. As long as someone got punked here, we're good.[Via Digg]
Controls get a new look in Halo 3
Bungie's Frankie reports in their latest weekly update about a few new things players will see in Halo 3, including: a graphically enhanced Warthog (pimp it!); dumbed-down AI (wha?); and a new control scheme (oh boy). Anyone who has spent the last five years playing either of the Halo games has the control setup permanently welded into their heads. In fact, scads of other games have specifically tried to emulate the Halo setup, so a change in controls is practically sacrilege, and sure to result in a fair number of fanboy seizures. While it is highly doubtful that the scheme will have players pulling the right trigger to crouch, and pushing the left thumbstick to jump, doesn't Bungie know that we fear change?Thankfully, they include the option to go back to the "classic" control scheme. Although at this point, they could release the game only in Chinese, require the massive Steel Battalion controller, and light it on fire -- and it would still sell a trillion copies.[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
MP3 vids: Samus blasting, ships blowing up
A delicious, full-course meal of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption videos has been served up by IGN. As one of our most anticipated launch titles games coming in 2007, we soak all things up Metroid Prime 3 related and absorb it into our bodies, using it to sustain our life force.These videos showcase not only some mouth-watering gameplay, but also a dazzling attention to detail in the graphics. The particle effects look better, textures look more crisp, and a cutscene of Samus floating out in space causes us to convulse in excitement. We really can't wait to get our hands on this game at launch in 2007.
Series 3 TiVo product page appears; more beta testing pr0n
The Series 3 TiVo must be close to launching. They are already beta testing the units and now there is a product page up on TiVo.com. Well, it really isn't a full product page as there isn't much info on here. If you take away all the marketing talk, there really is just a picture of the unit and that isn't anything new. TiVo has left an area for you to put your email address for more information as soon as it becomes available.This could mean a few things though as TiVo could be targeting all those Dish Network DVR users that might lose their DVRs or they really are prepping for launch. We really hope it is the later of the two though. Keep keep for more TiVo Series 3 beta testing pr0n.
Mario Hoops site updated
The pre-launch extravaganza for Mario Hoops: 3 on 3 continues with the latest video update centering around another simian slam-dunker in Dixie. The video, which shows Dixie's Barrel Drop maneuver, allows us to enjoy the carnage resulting from the massive alley-oop as Dixie sits atop the giant wooden barrel, blasting the ball to Peach, who then rocks the rim with the kind of authority that could put Shaq to shame. See also: Get schooled at Dunk U
Mario Hoops special shots videos
The Japanese web site for Mario Hoops: 3 on 3 has put up some videos depicting various characters laying the smack down with their specialized shots. The available videos of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Wario, and Diddy Kong getting nasty on the court may take a bit to load, but they are very much worth the wait. The Nintendo sports titles may not be the most grounded-in-reality interpretation of whichever sport they're based on, but they have consistently been fun throughout each iteration. As such, we're dying to get our hands on this game and have our own DS Fanboy playoffs.
Screenshot roundup: Mario Hoops 3 on 3 [Update]
A French gaming site recently posted some new screens which show off some of the game's courts, along with other "hoopers" in action. One screen shows Luigi rocking the rim, while taking time to bathe in the shower of coins that follow such a vicious dunk. Courts present are the mansion from Luigi's solo effort Luigi's Mansion, the Boo house from Mario 64, and an icey rink. How many of you are looking forward to its September release?[Update: Corrected a questionable typo (we dropped a "y"). Thanks Jason C.]
