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Mississippi police could access security camera feeds if residents opt in
A pilot project in Jackson is limited to live streams from a few city and private cameras.
The only video game developer in Mississippi
Mathew Weymouth lives one hour away from the birthplace of the blues, that humid, fertile swampland known as the Mississippi Delta. He grew up along the state's southern coastline, and over the years he absorbed tales of legendary local artists including "The Mad Potter," George E. Ohr, and the painter Walter Inglis Anderson. The Delta fertilizes creativity like it spawns towering cypress trees, and Weymouth is a product of his environment. He's an artist, but with a technical twist. Weymouth is a self-taught video game developer with big plans for his local community. He wants to build a "gaming incubator" in southern Mississippi, a creative haven for the area's youth, artists, musicians, filmmakers and programmers. It's basically a high-tech neighborhood center where people can work together to create video games and other works of art. But there's one major problem with this idea: He might be the only serious video game developer in the state. "Here, it's literally just this dead zone in the middle of the United States for technology," Weymouth says.
C Spire prepping gigabit 'Fiber to the Home' service, asks where to put it
Gigabit internet access is all the rage these days, and C Spire is entirely willing to give in to peer pressure. It just announced an upcoming C Spire Fiber to the Home service that will supply 1Gbps internet access and IPTV to Mississippi residents sometime in 2014. Exactly where it arrives will depend on feedback, however. Much like Google, C Spire wants both municipal governments and residents to plead their case; the more vocal regions will get service first. Only local leaders can solicit C Spire at this stage, but everyone else will get their chance starting on September 30th.
SquareTrade study shows why iPhones and iPads dislike Mississippi
If you're an iPhone or an iPad making your way from a factory in China to the United States, just hope that you're not going to end up in the clumsy hands of someone from the state of Mississippi. A new SquareTrade study shows that some the highest levels of accident damage to both iPhones and iPads occur in the Magnolia State. The two graphics you see here show that an iPad or iPhone in Mississippi has a projected accidental damage rate of 30 to 35 percent over two years. Simply stated, that Apple product has a one in three chance of being damaged in 24 months. Ouch. Where are iPhones and iPads relatively safe from accidental damage? If you're an iPhone, you want to live in Iowa, where there's only a 5 to 9 percent chance of being hurt by your clumsy owner. For iPads, the safest places to live are Hawaii, Montana, and West Virginia, which also have a 5 to 9 percent two-year accidental damage rate. SquareTrade offers independent warranties to purchasers of consumer electronics, and the statistics on clumsiness were based on customer claims.
C Spire restarts LTE rollout, aims for September launch in Mississippi
After missing its year-end 2011 target date, C Spire is once again set to get its LTE network up and running -- this time with a more realistic fall launch. The regional carrier announced plans for that initial rollout today, aiming to blanket 20 markets in Mississippi this September. Bear in mind, this particular flavor of 4G is more akin to the brisk, though not blistering performance achieved by HSPA+, given average downlink speeds should range between 4Mbps to 12Mbps and uplink at 1Mbps to 5Mbps. Considering this may be the first taste of non-3G for some denizens of the Magnolia State, it's not a bad start. For the sake of our southern brethren, we just hope the carrier can actually fulfill on its grandiose, next-gen promises this time 'round. Check out the official presser after the break.
AT&T makes stronger push for U-verse in South Mississippi
AT&T isn't kidding around with its intentions to get U-verse into Mississippi as soon as humanly possible, and now we've got the provider making an even stronger push in Hancock County. More specifically, it recently asked the Hancock County Board of Supervisors to allow its fiber-based services to be "marketed in unincorporated areas of the county." Spokeswoman Kathleen Shaughnessy noted that AT&T would charge "whatever the market would bear, but that it would be very competitive." Of course, we've been hearing these type things for months now with no apparent forward progress, so we're beginning to wonder if AT&T's sentiments aren't falling on dear ears.[Thanks, Robby]
Swype could make typing easier on the iPhone
Still haven't caught on to typing on that little non-tactile keyboard on the iPhone's screen? This little tech, from the creator of the T9 system (dreaded by some, loved by others) being shown off at TC50, could be just the ticket. Swype is kind of like a gesture-based system, except that it uses the keyboard knowledge you already have -- just run a stylus (or your finger) around a qwerty-board, hitting all the letters in your word on the way, and the program will guess the word you were drawing. If you're looking for something similar that's already appeared on the iPhone, you might check out ShapeWriter's WritingPad, which we hope will be returning to the App Store soon (warning: loud video on page).It's pretty wild -- his drawing "Mississippi" set off my "awesometer." Unfortunately, while the iPhone is given just a slight mention (can you name another touchscreen device that's used as widely?), it'd probably need a little tweaking. He's using a stylus (which on the iPhone is a no), and it'd be tough to draw with accuracy on a keyboard as small as the iPhone, even on the bigger horizontal version. Still, I like it, and Apple could always consider something like this for the iTablet, whenever they decide to release that. It'd be an easy way to overlay another typing method onto an already-working nontactile keyboard.
MS and Vegas Apple Stores: Your reports
Apple opened two new Apple Stores last weekend -- one in Ridgeland, Mississippi (that state's first store) and another in sunny Las Vegas (Nevada's fourth and the third in Vegas). As usual, we asked any TUAW operatives who may have attended to share their reports and/or pictures. Reader Dave took some nice shots in Mississippi.So, did you go, and more importantly, what did you get? Let us know in the comments. Here's hoping you scored a T-shirt!In related news, there's an interesting map at ifoAppleStore that overlays Apple Store locations with population density in the US. Of course it makes sense to put stores where the most people are, and that's just what Apple has done.
Mississippi, Las Vegas Apple Stores set to open
Apple plans to open two new retail stores in the US this Saturday, August 30th. One in Ridgeland, Mississippi and another in Las Vegas, Nevada.Apple Store Renaissance at Colony Park (Ridgeland) will open at 10:00 AM. The store is located at 1000 Highland Colony Parkway, next to Williams Sonoma and J Crew. You can find full travel directions here. This will be Mississippi's first Apple Store.Apple Store The Forum Shops will also open at 10:00 AM in sunny Las Vegas, Nevada. You'll find it at The Forum Shops At Caesars, at 3500 Las Vegas Blvd., South. Full travel directions are here. This will be Nevada's fourth store, and the third in Sin City. If you visit either store over the weekend, please let us know! We'd love to see your pictures and stories.[Via ifoAppleStore]
AT&T may bring U-verse to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi
Although you may not have heard much about Bay St. Louis during Hurricane Katrina, it too was ravaged by the storm. As the city continues to pick up the pieces, AT&T has announced that it may be going head-to-head with Mediacom by offering up its U-verse TV service in the area. This isn't the first (nor second) time that we've noticed AT&T ambling for position in Mississippi, though a deal here seems much closer than in other areas. AT&T has already pitched its services to councilmen and it already agreed to pay the city the same rates as Mediacom. Still, the deal isn't quite nailed down just yet -- a number of bigwigs still have to sign off, and there's nothing to say that the two parties will eventually meet on terms. Fingers crossed, though.[Thanks, Robby]
Mississippi State plans biggest HD scoreboard in the SEC this fall
Mississippi State can be proud of more than reigning SEC Coach of the Year Sylvester Croom, with a biggest-in-the-SEC (but not as big as Texas) $6.1 million HD video board under construction for its debut October 2008. Nestled in the south end zone of Scott Field the total board measures 152 feet wide x 135.5 feet tall, with a main high definition screen of 111 feet by 47 feet. Packing the usual LED technology, it can split up to show multiple displays and stats as we expect from our scoreboards, and has size that compares nicely with HDTV displays on the way in Minnesota and Arizona. Congratulations Bulldogs, you've got a team able to compete in a tough conference, and now some stadium amenities that are able to measure up as well.[Via Busted Coverage]
MetroCast tosses 6 new HD channels to Starkville, MS
While AT&T is mulling the idea of moving into Mississippi, MetroCast is busy boosting its relatively pathetic HD lineup. According to a flyer received by a subscriber in Starkville, the carrier is introducing six new HD channels effective immediately to bring the total to 16. Without further adieu, they are: Science HD (414), TLC HD (415), Animal Planet HD (416), Outdoor HD (417), Discovery HD (418) and HBO HD (506). The outfit is also tossing in a few analog and digital SD stations, but we can pretty much guess how much those will excite you. Oh, and we can't say for sure, but it sounds like customers in Kosciusko and Philadelphia may also see the newcomers.[Thanks, Reed]
AT&T eying 18 cities and counties in Mississippi for U-verse
We already knew that AT&T was potentially looking to make Mississippi a U-verse state, but now it seems things are getting all the more serious. A recent article on the subject noted that the "Jackson County Board of Supervisors on Monday welcomed the idea of competition for cable companies and said they'd support AT&T coming in," which means that it -- along with Harrison county -- would be along for the ride. According to Kathleen Shaughnessy (with AT&T), the carrier has its eye on 18 cities and counties in the region, but it needs a total of 8 agreements "before AT&T will start seriously considering it." A couple down, a few more to go.[Thanks, Robby]
AT&T hoping to make Mississippi a U-verse state
You didn't really think AT&T was going to string its U-verse network all the way down to Alabama and not hit up Mississippi for some business while it was around, did ya? According to an article in the Sun Herald, the aforesaid carrier has "introduced its new U-verse television network to the Biloxi City Council, which tabled a resolution to approve the service until the lawyers can agree on a contract." AT&T has already agreed to share 3-percent of its gross revenue with the city, and we're also told that the agreement has been "unanimously passed in Ocean Springs, Pascagoula, Harrison County and Moss Point and will be considered by Jackson County, Pass Christian, Long Beach and other Coast communities." We're no experts on wading through red tape, but it sure sounds like the fiber-based service isn't too far away.[Thanks, Robby]
Details emerge on future Apple Stores
Details are beginning to emerge on future Apple Stores. First of all, ClarionLedger is reporting that Mississippi's first Apple Store is in the works. They've begun advertising for retail positions in at the Renaissance at Colony Park, with rumors saying that the store could open in the next couple of weeks.Likewise, the first Apple Store in the southern hemisphere moved one step closer to opening day in Sydney, Australia. Similar to a tactic they used in Boston, the facade hiding the store from the public has been covered with a sign that reads, "Drop in soon. Apple Store, Sydney."TUAW readers in Mississippi and Sydney: Keep your eyes peeled for us and let us know if you see anything interesting![Via MacDailyNews]
Apple retail job postings for Jackson, MS
Eagle-eyed TUAW reader Gary spotted this job posting over at Yahoo! advertising for Apple Retail workers in Jackson, Mississippi. As of this posting, there are no Apple Stores in Mississippi.Thirty-seven out of our fifty United States have at least one Apple Store. Perhaps that's because California is hogging them all, topping the list with thirty-eight.If any TUAW readers in the Jackson, MS area spot some suspicious construction, snap a photo and let us know. Here's hoping your store opens soon.Thanks, Gary!
Marching band plays gaming hits
Sure, we could make jokes about how being in a marching band is lame and one's only choice should they be horrible at sports, but we aren't that kind of judgmental blog. Instead, we're the type of blog to pay homage and respect those who manage to convince their superiors that a videogame-inspired medley of tunes should be the focus of the half-time show. That's what this wonderful MSU marching band did, playing tunes from awesome Nintendo games such as Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.They also played something from a Microsoft game, we believe. Something having to do with angels?
