Chameleon
Latest
3.50 firmware already decrypted
Chameleon over on the DCEmu forums is reporting that he has already decrypted the just released 3.50 firmware. He notes that it probably won't be too long until an open edition custom firmware is released. Interestingly, Chameleon also notes that the files are nearly identical to the last firmware. This helps explain why the decryption has occurred so rapidly. As Chameleon asks: "Has Sony given up on trying to stop us from the homebrew world?" How many of our readers are waiting off for the inevitable custom firmware 3.50? Do you think Sony finally realizes the importance of the homebrew community?
Kid Chameleon, Zonk for Japanese Virtual Console this week
Warning sign of things to come: This week's Virtual Console update in Japan has got us buying up Wii Points and deleting the Everybody Votes Channel in anticipation. This Wednesday, Wii owners lucky enough to have access to the awesome Japanese Virtual Console will be able to download Hudson's Air Zonk, the future-Bonk cute 'em up for the Turbografx-16. Also from Hudson, Challenger for the Famicom, which we hadn't really heard of! And in a shocking turn of events, Japan is just now getting Bravoman. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The last item on the list is Sega's Kid Chameleon for the Genesis, which, in addition to being a fun platformer with a lot of mask-based personas and abilities, is a great argument for the Virtual Console's save system.
Sega confirms four more for NA Virtual Console
Sega has confirmed four more Genesis classics en route to the Virtual Console in the next ... well ... they'll be here eventually, anyway. The titles? Wellll .... Toe Jam & Earl 2: Panic on Funkotron Shining in the Darkness Kid Chameleon Streets of Rage 2 Sega seems absolutely committed to the Virtual Console, even moreso than Nintendo ... but aren't they going to run out of high-profile titles at some point? Alas. Streets of Rage 2 is an excellent addition, and we've heard great things about Shining in the Darkness. Do you guys have some expert opinions? We never were big Genesis gamers.Titles will cost the standard 800 points for Genesis games, of course. As our sister site Joystiq points out, the only two titles to break standard pricing were Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (NES, 600 points) and R-Type (TG-16, 800 points). May that list stay ever short!
Electrochromic sunglasses change color on demand
We'll admit, we didn't think MyDo's Bururu vibrating spectacles would be topped anytime soon, and while the University of Washington's smart sunglasses don't snatch the crown outright, they certainly make a solid case. The admittedly gaudy prototype certainly isn't the most attractive eyewear we've ever seen, but researchers are insisting that we focus on the electrochromic material that enables on demand color / tint changing rather than the bulky frames. The film can purportedly alter its transparency depending on the electric current that flows through it, essentially giving athletes and motorists an easy way to instantly adjust the level of reflection and tint depending on the ever-changing circumstances around them. Touted as "more active and more intelligent" that existing specs, this watch-battery-powered device allows the wearer to alter the shade by simply spinning a wee dial on the arm, and while we wish we could tell you that U-Dub's swank new specs would be arriving before the bright summer rays, it'll be quite "a few years" before these hit commercialization.[Via Primidi]
USB Chameleon will keep you company, chillin' on your monitor
We've seen a ton of USB gadgets out there (including some that you could start an intra-office war with), but fewstrike us as wackyzanycrazy as this USB Chameleon. Basically, all it does is hang out on your monitor, roll its eyes and distractingly flick its tongue at you. If that appeals to you, it can be yours for ¥2,940 ($25). Unfortunately though, it would appear that this mechanical facsimile cannot blend in with the bezel of your monitor or the contents of your screen; all the same, check the link below for a video of the chameleon in "action."[Via Everything USB]Read - PC UserWatch - Video of USB Chameleon
