Holland
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Blyk hooks up with Vodafone in Holland
Talks had apparently been going on for a while to start a Blyk-branded Dutch MVNO, but to better align with its revised business strategy, the company is switching up its strategy and working with Vodafone to use its existing infrastructure exclusively. With the new plan, Blyk will be responsible strictly for the ad delivery technology, but either way, the result is pretty much the same: young'uns in the Netherlands will be able to get some voice minutes and texts every month in exchange for being delivered targeted advertising on their phones. The company claims that an "overwhelming" number of carriers in Europe and Asia are asking Blyk to take over their mobile advertising businesses entirely, so it seems the start-up could have a very successful future despite the slow start it's gotten with its own-branded MVNO in UK. We're still not sure we'd be willing to get blasted with frighteningly well-targeted ads (robots, console emulators, pizza joints, you know the drill) in exchange for a pittance in minutes, but for teens just getting their start, it could still be a power play.
Runes of Magic expands with more EU coverage
In the continuing saga of Runes of Magic's world domination, we get word that Frogster is partnering up with games publisher UnitedGames Nederland BV to bring new features to the Dutch Runes of Magic players. This includes localization, brand new websites and community management for players in Holland and Belgium. Although the new Dutch-Belgian server launching July 22nd will still be in English, there are plans in the works to localize translations specifically for the Dutch fans."Holland and Belgium represent important milestones in our rollout strategy," says Rolf Klöppel, Head of PR and Marketing at Frogster. "With UnitedGames, we have found the right partner to take Runes of Magic right to the top in the Dutch-Flemish language territory as well."
Palm Pre in cahoots with Dutch provider Hi?
The GSM version of Palm's Pre looks all set for a UK announcement next week on O2. Now we get this, a Pre spotted on the support site for Dutch carrier Hi in The Netherlands. Fine, but what you may not know is that O2 and Hi (part of KPN) are also deeply intertwined with Telefonica -- O2 being owned by Telefonica and KPN being an "integrated carrier" with a long history of Telefonica courtship rumors. So, putting two and two together might equal a September launch if that previous Telefonica rumor was true.[Via Tweakers, thanks Harm H.]
The Netherlands takes baby steps towards HD
We've been awfully hard on Toshiba's super-resolution upscaling pitch, but it looks like the tech may be a good fit for the Netherlands, where HD subscriptions are having a hard time getting off the ground despite an explosion in the number of HDTVs taking up residence in Dutch homes. Estimates put the number of households receiving HD signal at a paltry 85,000 in a country where 1.2 million HD sets are supposed to sell through this year alone. Maybe those people are waiting for the free OTA HD stuff, but based on what's in the pipeline, there's no telling how long it will be before HD pixels become abundant.
Dutch public broadcasters hitting the HD switch in 2009
Now here's a trend we can really get behind. Just weeks after four French national channels decided that the grass was greener (or at least clearer) on the high-def side, a trio of Dutch broadcasters have announced their intentions to follow suit. Beginning in Q2 2009, Nederland 1, 2 and 3 will begin broadcasting in high-definition, and initially 15% of all primetime content will be shot in HD; the rest will "upscaled to HD," which frightens us just a wee bit. We're also told that carriage negotiations are already underway with "all major distributing platforms including cablers UPC and Ziggo," but only time will tell if anyone is willing to sacrifice the bandwidth for the sake of high quality.
Chronicles of Spellborn + Within Temptation = music video
Continuing the Chronicles of Spellborn love, reader Garold (who sent us the last CoS video) finds a new video for us to enjoy. Currently being seen on TenTonHammer, this is a music video of Holland-based group Within Temptation (who provided in-game music), featuring scenery, gameplay, and ... spaceships? Apparently there's more to Spellborn than previously revealed.This video makes us think of I'm So Sick, though nothing can touch that video's quality. Still, it's definitely worth watching for a continued look at what we can expect when this MMO makes it to market.[Thanks, Garold!]
Dutch government abandons e-voting for red pencil
About a year after the Dutch government began seriously worrying about the integrity of e-voting machines, they've literally pulled the plug on the venture. The biggest flaw was the lack of a paper trail according to a special committee which reported its finding this morning. As such, Nederlanders will return to the "red pencil method" in upcoming elections until an automated paper-counting solution can be deployed... and then hacked.Update: To be perfectly clear, the regulation allowing e-voting machines has been withdrawn -- i.e., effective immediately, there is no more e-voting in the Netherlands. However, the Dutch government will make an overarching decision in the next two months "to regain the trust of the public in our voting system." Given that the government commissioned this study themselves, the decision is expected to be a simple rubber stamp approval.[Thanks, Wol]
Uncut Manhunt to be released ... in Holland
Although Manhunt 2 will be censored in the US, an uncut, unedited version of the controversial Rockstar game will appear in Holland. In a letter to Parliament, Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch Ballin said: "The current law is based on the principle that every adult is considered capable of deciding for himself which games he wants to play, unless it contains illegal material." He added that keeping a watchful eye on the content in games is "the joint responsibility of parents, the audiovisual industry and the government."While we'd love for other nations to take an equally liberal approach to games, it appears that Holland is reconsidering its laws. According to MCV, the ministry was now examining whether new laws or policies were needed "to better protect the youth."The game will be released in Holland uncensored, but there's no word on the fate of Manhunt 2 in the UK, where the game is still banned, according to Next-Gen.
The automatic Bike Dispenser -- like PEZ but good for you
For those not familiar with portable-urban travel: that's a bicycle. In fact, it's one of several bicycles wedged inside this "Bike Dispenser" created by the Dutch-based (of course) design agency, Springtime. The concept has actually been floating around since 2005 in The Netherlands but it recently won the Spark Design & Architecture Award causing the world to take notice. The idea here is to offer these RFID-tagged bikes to riders in cities supporting bike rental or bike exchange programs. The garages then, would be conveniently scattered around places like train stations and tourist hot-spots to automagically dispense your new ride. This automated system has completed a pilot and is now being worked into the national OV-fiets (public transport bicycle) service in Holland which rents a bicycle for € 2.75 ($3.71) per 20 hours. Unfortunately, the Bike Dispenser relies upon a uniform bicycle design leaving it helpless to relieve the crushing mass of "parked" bicycles seen in Amsterdam and like-minded cities across Europe and Asia. Still, as a quick and dirty, eco-transport solution in-a-box, what's not to like? [Via Core77 Design Blog]
Segways banned in the Netherlands due to a "lack of brakes"
It looks like those serious about motoring around on their Segway might have to start crossing international boundaries in order to do so legally, as the Netherlands have now joined Japan and Britain in the growing list of countries which have outlawed the oft ridiculed (and potentially dangerous) personal vehicles. Dutch police have officially enjoined Segways "on all public roads, sidewalks, and bike paths," claiming that the lack of an onboard braking system prevents it from being categorized as a "vehicle" by the Royal Traffic Agency, which bars it from receiving a license plate and becoming a street-legal ride. Although a spokesman from the RTA actually commented that the Segway was "a nice vehicle," using the machines on public property is no longer permissible, but it was said that it could take some time before regulations are actually passed down and "enforced." Segway Netherlands director Piet Kruijt was (unsurprisingly) upset by the ruling, and claimed that he was "working on all fronts to get things resolved," and for nothing more than our sincere concern for the Amsterdam Segway Tours (saywha?) employees that are hoping to have work come March, we hope he's successful.[Via The Raw Feed]
Amaryllo launches Purity Bluetooth GPS receiver in Europe
Joining the fairly saturated Bluetooth GPS market -- but not exactly competing for that "world's smallest" crown -- is Amaryllo's Purity. Sporting a 3.39- x 1.73- x 0.52-inch enclosure and weighing 2.08 ounces, the sleek, matte-finished device sports internal Bluetooth for connecting with PDAs, smartphones, and other GPS-lovin' gizmos, and receives its intel via the SiRF Star III LP (low-power) chipset. Reportedly, the unit can muster 15 hours on a single charge, and should also ship with a car charger, AC adapter, rubber anti-slip stickers, and a silicon protections sleeve. While we doubt this €90 ($118) receiver will see US shores anytime soon, it's slated to land in Europe next month, but we American (and Taiwanese) lads have plenty of alternatives to choose from, anyway.[Via NaviGadget]
Nokia unveils four new handsets: the 2626, 6086, 6290, and 6300
Since Motorola and RIM already dished out news about their forthcoming mobiles, you knew Nokia would be joining the release party soon. Sure enough, the company has unveiled four new phones today at its annual Capital Market Days in Amsterdam, with one being aimed at the entry-level market and the remaining trio headed to mid-range consumers. The low-end 2626 rocks a few different color motifs, pack an FM tuner, color LCD, and all the bare essentials to keep you connected for €75 ($99). The 6086 houses quad-band GSM connectivity, UMA, a built-in camera, and an oversized keypad while costing €200 ($264). Stepping it a notch is the 6300, which comes in at 13.1-millimeters thin, touts a stainless steel frame (not to mention the "organic curves"), and demands €250 ($329). Last up is the 6290 (€325; $428) smartphone, which "combines the power of the S60 and 3G" in a new, sexy package, and boasts an interactive world travel application as well as "Quick Cover" access keys. While initial spec information is all but nil, we're sure to get plenty of juicy details while we wait for the foursome to launch in "Q1 2007."
Blue Eye rocks a scanner with a gesture-based interface
Sure, it's by no means the first gesture-based interface that we've seen, but the combination of a scanner with a Minority Report-esque setup comprise this invention, which its Dutch inventors are calling the "Blue Eye." From what we can tell based on the Eindhoven University of Technology's video, Blue Eye is a glass table and a camera mounted overhead all rolled into a slick touch-based UI. Once an object is placed on the table and you push a button, the camera takes a quick snapshot of that object, cropping out the background. Further, you can take pictures of an object in various orientations to create a simple animation right on the table -- ok, so it's not that crazy powerful even compared to the PS3 demo at E3, but go watch that hypnotic video of theirs already and groove to the hip background music.[Via NewScientist]
HDTV invades Holland
Holland's borders are getting ready to fall to the hands of high definition. The country is about to get their first taste of HDTV with a sports and a movie station appropriately named Sport1 and Film1. Crazy names eh?In case you've forgotten there is a large sporting event that is oh so popular world wide. The World Cup is the most watched event. (period) Most European countries are launching their own high-def stations as this year's World Cup matches are going to be HD for the first time. Sport1 is set to launch in early June; hopefully before the June 9th start of the games.
