poland
Latest
First official Jelly Bean OTA update for the Samsung Galaxy S III lands in Poland
The long-awaited roll-out appears to have commenced, with lucky GS III owners in Poland being among the first to get an early official taste of Android 4.1.1. If you hadn't heard, the update will bring a host of subtle yet powerful improvements, including Google Now for anticipating search queries, smooth UI improvements from Project Butter, as well as some Samsung extras already seen on the Galaxy Note II, such as a resizable Pop-up play screen. Hopefully this means the update will soon be sent on its merry way to GS IIIs in other parts of the Old World, and maybe at some point -- dare we suggest it -- those in the US too.
Capcom confirms Polish copies of Resident Evil 6 stolen
Capcom has stated the recent sale of Resident Evil 6 before its launch date in Poland is an "unfortunate incident" involving stolen goods. The publisher told Eurogamer that the situation is "limited to a small quantity of stolen copies of the German USK PlayStation 3 version of the game."The publisher is currently conducting a "thorough investigation" into the matter, which saw copies of the game go on sale in the Polish city of Poznan last week. The game isn't intended to be released at retail until October 2.Eurogamer also points out that one person is currently trying to sell a stolen copy on eBay. For anyone thinking of getting involved in that, let us just slide this article regarding knowingly possessing or trafficking in stolen goods right here.
MasterCard and T-Mobile to bring NFC payments to Europe in Q3 (video)
Poland and Germany could be the next two countries to get smartphone payments, powered by MasterCard and Deutsche Telekom. The SIM-based NFC solution will utilize the US bank's ClickandBuy service for processing and will be available to T-Mobile customers, rolling out to Poland in Q3 of this year and Germany in 2013. This latest partnership comes on the heels of Vodafone's pairing with Visa, which is also said to be making a push for the German market. What remains to be seen is whether or not there is in fact a demand for mobile payments -- the technology has yet to take off in the US, despite an influx of funding and infrastructure from MasterCard and Google. NFC is no doubt the future of cashless transactions, but it likely remains a few years away from hitting the mainstream, with compatible devices still limited, on both the customer and retail fronts. Hit up the links below for a closer look at DT's push to conquer the European market, one NFC-equipped SIM card at a time. Then jump past the break for a quick intro, compliments of Deutsche Telekom CEO Rene Obermann and MasterCard CEO Ajay Banga (the two seemingly random gentlemen that you may have noticed above as well).
Microsoft and Nokia bring enhanced traffic data to Windows Phone, announce international plans
Cross-pollination is a beautiful thing. In the natural world, it brings bountiful harvests and pretty flowers. In the mobile world, we benefit from the sharing of ideas and technologies. Case in point is Windows Phone, as Microsoft has just announced that it's adopted traffic information from Nokia into the Maps app of its mobile OS. In addition to providing Windows Phone users in the US with more detailed overviews of traffic flows and congestion, the functionality will soon become available for many cities across the globe. Perhaps the move shouldn't come as a total surprise, as just last month, Microsoft revealed the inclusion of Nokia's "Where" platform within Bing Maps. As for future availability, citizens of Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom will benefit from the sharing of technologies within the next few weeks. For the moment, however, just hop the break, where you can see the before / after traffic data that's now available to Los Angeles residents.
LG lines up Optimus 4X HD for launch in Germany, Sweden, Great Britain, Italy and Poland
While there's already plenty of excitement around other quad-core Android phones, LG will join the party soon when its Optimus 4X HD launches in a few European countries next month. Germany, Sweden, Great Britain, Italy and Poland are all on deck in June, where this latest Optimus variant will bring a 4.7-inch 720p HD IPS LCD, Tegra 3 CPU (benchmarked and seen in white here) and 2,150mAh battery coupled with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. On the software front, LG is touting its ability to take and share notes with "Quick Memo" (as seen in the Optimus Vu, now updated with the ability to include hyperlinks) as well as new "Media Plex" video playback controls. We got our hands all over this one during MWC 2012 a few months ago so until it drops in your neck of the woods, check out our gallery and video for a closer look or the press release after the break.
On using the iPad in Poland's Parliament
Polish parliamentary member, John Godson, is using an iPad to help him with his official duties as the deputy of Lodz. In an interview with Krystian "MacKozer" Kozerawski, Mr. Godson talks about his overwhelmingly positive experience with the iPad. He says the iPad is his "primary tool" and he uses it for correspondence, Skype, Pages, web browsing, reading and more. You can read the full interview at Kozerawski's website. [Via The Loop]
PSA: Get your new iPad today in Austria, Ireland, Mexico and many other places
If your homeland wasn't part of the initial iPad roll out we've got good news -- today is the day for iOS tabletry. Maybe. The latest slab of Retina display-equipped machinery out of Cupertino is landing in 25 additional countries today, including Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. So, if you haven't been waiting on line since the 16th in anticipation of this day, then go to your local Apple store to score one. Or don't. For the full list of countries check the PR after the break.
Techland trademarks 'Dead World,' declines to comment on Dead Island sequel
Dead Island developer Techland filed for a trademark on something called "Dead World" recently, prompting speculation that plans for a sequel to the open-world zombie RPG were beginning to unfurl. Techland declined to comment on the matter, though the trademark is legit. Dead Island shambled up the charts when it was released in September, thanks to plenty of zombie buzz and that popular trailer (never mind the less-than-glowing critical response). A title like "Dead World" hints that the game will take on a slightly larger scale than just an island resort, but we'll have to wait and see until the company decides to make any official announcements.
iPhone 4S arriving in Hong Kong, South Korea and a number of other locales on November 11th
Apple is getting ready to add a whole slew of new locations to its iPhone 4S world domination plan. Starting November 11th, the company's latest smartphone will be available in Hong Kong, South Korea and 13 additional countries, including Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, El Salvador, Greece, Guatemala, Malta, Montenegro, New Zealand, Panama, Poland, Portugal, and Romania. Pre-orders for those locations (save for Albania, El Salvador, Guatemala, Malta, Montenegro and Panama) will begin on the 4th. The handset is currently available in 29 countries -- that number will increase to more than 70 by year's end. Press info can be found after the break.
Apple opens online stores for Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, UAE
Apple expanded its online reach by opening stores in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and the United Arab Emirates. Apple celebrated the event with a brightly colored confetti banner on each country's website that announced the grand opening. Customers in these above countries will be able to shop online directly with Apple, buy extended Apple Care plans, and receive online sales support just like we do here in the US. With these four new storefronts, Apple now has online stores in 37 countries. In many of these countries, it'll be interesting to see if Apple's online storefront has an impact on local retailers. In the UAE, many Apple products are sold by third-party retailers like Sharaf DG and Carrefour UAE and their prices tend to be more expensive than Apple. With the global economy struggling, we wonder how well these retailers will compete against Apple's strong online presence. [Via The National]
Polish dev Flying Wild Hog working on unnamed PC shooter
In a press release from developer Flying Wild Hog this morning, a still-untitled PC shooter from was revealed as the studio's first game (seen above). A couple of character drawings on the developer's main site also show a pair of haggard-looking cyborgs, though it's unclear what role they'll play in the game. The announcement says the game will be detailed (and named) formally "in the next couple of weeks," but for now we know it features cyborg characters, a futuristic setting with lots of advertising, and that it's a shooter. Considering that Flying Wild Hog was founded back in April of 2009, it stands to reason that the shooter is already well into development, though we'll have to wait for confirmation of more details in the aforementioned "coming weeks."
President Obama gifted The Witcher 2 from Polish Prime Minister
During his tour of Europe, President Obama visited Poland and received a somewhat unusual gift from that country's Prime Minister: A copy of Warsaw-based CD Projekt's latest title, the excellent Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. Sure, he also got an iPad loaded with Polish movies and some translated novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, the author of The Witcher, but knowing the President's fondness for interactive witchering, it seems clear to us what the most notable gift was. There's only one problem ... everyone knows President Obama uses a Mac. [Update: CD Projekt, fulfilling its role as proud papa, issued a press release dedicated to the gift. "This is an extraordinary acknowledgement of our hard work here at CD Projekt RED," game director Adam Badowski said. "The Witcher 2 is a game we created for players around the world by drawing from various sources including our national heritage. We are truly pleased to promote our culture in this manner. And we aren't resting on our laurels. We are continuing to improve the game post-release, and will reveal more during our conference on June 2nd." You can find the full press release after the break.]
President Obama gets an iPad 2 filled with Polish pride
President Obama is on a European tour, and one of his stops included Poland. Before parting, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk gave President Obama several gifts, a usual custom for visiting dignitaries. One of those gifts was an iPad 2. President Obama already has an iPad 2, but TUAW reader Darek points out this iPad 2 was just a "container" for other Polish goodies, including some masterful Polish movies. "One of them was 'Cathedral' by Tomasz Bagiński, which got Oscar nomination several years ago," Darek says. "There was also a masterpiece 'City of Ruins' -- a digitally recreated aerial panorama of post-war Warsaw, almost totally destroyed during WWII." Darek also told us President Obama received another gift, the hot video game "The Witcher 2," which is made in Poland.
BMW Designworks USA flexes its eco muscle with Siemens Inspiro subway concept
BMW Group's Designworks USA -- where have we heard about those folks before? Ah, yes, that's the crew that's responsible for Thermaltake's Level 10 PC case, and we're desperately hoping that this concept has an equal (or greater) level of success in the open market. The subway car you see above is purportedly 97.5 percent recyclable, with an aluminum chassis, vivacious hues and a ridiculously spacious interior. It's being labeled the Siemens Inspiro, and it's on track to show up in Warsaw's Metro Warszawskie just over a year from now. No word on where to sign up for conductor dutie, though.
Polish operator Mobyland jumps straight from 2G to LTE
If you're still running a GPRS or EDGE network anywhere in the world, we've just about reached a breaking point now where you're probably better off moving straight to LTE rather than investing billions of dollars and years of work bringing HSPA or HSPA+ online. Indeed, that seems to be the call that Polish operator Mobyland (our proposed logo pictured left) has made, deploying and flipping the switch on a new LTE network -- the first in the world to go live in the 1800MHz band. Of course, the many proposed LTE frequencies around the globe are going to make it more of a nightmare than ever to release roaming-capable 4G devices in the future, but for now, we imagine the data card or two that these guys have on store shelves should be enough to get the job done -- and we'd love to see the look on customers' faces the first time they give it a shot after upgrading from their ancient 2G modem.
Tesla Roadster goes continent-hopping, expands markets to include Canada and Japan
Seems like reports of the Roadster's demise were indeed exaggerated. Tesla has announced it's bringing its iconic electric automobile to five new nations. Canada and Japan are accompanied by Hong Kong, Poland and Turkey in being able to now take deliveries of freshly charged Roadsters. Of course, sufficiently motivated buyers could have imported theirs by now, but it's always good to have local support on an official basis and this does seem to signal a more ambitious outlook on the part of Tesla. Also included in the press release -- yours to peruse after the break -- is word that the company has shifted 1,200 Roadsters since inception. That might not be a lot but you have to start somewhere, let's hope the next 1,200 don't take nearly as long to hit the road.
Coulomb begins worldwide EV domination with ChargePoint expansion to Australia and Poland
Look around you. Are you at an electric vehicle charging station? If so, good for you! If not, that's okay, because the things are still mighty rare. California-based Coulomb is helping to change that, expanding its operations with deals that will see its ChargePoint networked charging stations appear in Poland and in Australia. The Warsaw-based station is powered by juice from 365 Energy, while the Sydney one is being run by GoGet, a sort of Aussie Zipcar, if you catch our drift, mate. They join the 600 stations that Coulomb deployed in 2009 and are part of the thousands the company hopes to scatter about in this year. Both forward-reaching press releases are included for your enjoyment after the break, either of which make for great reading while your Tesla hungrily sucks down the electrons.
Lego arm moves slowly, rocks mightily (video)
If you've made a Lego skull you're ultimately going to need some appendages to go with it, and Polish Lego-mistrz Paul (who goes by the handle Sariel) is the man behind this fully-articulated right arm. It uses a combination of electric motors and pneumatic valves that enable it to move... slowly. In a video embedded below that's overflowing with Marilyn Manson angst (turn down those speakers, office-bound readers) you can see it shambling from side to side and rotating at the wrist as the pneumatic fingers are actuated. The range of movement is impressive, but this thing looks about as easy to operate as a dockside crane and seems slightly less precise. Still, it's an impressive feat of plastic engineering; that it was whipped up over a weekend makes it even more so.
Vertu taste on a Nokia budget: meet the N97 Mini Gold Edition
Phone manufacturers usually leave the gilding to jewelers and other specialty shops that are more willing to show complete disregard for taste and common sense than themselves, but once in a while, pure, unadulterated emotion gets the better of someone in a position to make product decisions -- yes, even at Nokia -- and something like this slips through the cracks. Meet the N97 Mini Gold Edition, which is pretty self-explanatory: it's an N97 Mini with 18-carat gold on the important bits. It's coming to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia at the beginning of next quarter; pricing in Poland will run 2,499 zloty (about $851) unlocked, which is a bit of a premium over the 1,999 zloty ($681) charged for the standard model.
The Witcher 2 being developed on multi-platform engine; CD Projekt seeking publisher
Bilingual Polish gaming news site Polygamia recently did us English-speakers a great kindness by attending a CD Projekt presentation on The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, translating its findings into our native tongue. According to Polygamia, CD Projekt's Michał Kiciński and Marcin Iwiński revealed that the RPG is being developed using an "internal, multi-platform engine," which they hope will become "the vanguard among game engines, and especially RPG engines." CD Projekt's goals for the title are as lofty as you might expect -- the team claimed the The Witcher 2 will handily net an "over 90% score at Metacritic." However, before that happens, the game has to get made. The two developers explained that the studio is currently in talks with publishers and hoped to finalize distribution plans by Q1 2010. Additionally, some footage managed to leak out of the closed presentation, which we've posted after the jump. However, unless you're a diehard fan of the first Witcher, we recommend skipping it, lest you be forced to suffer seven minutes of severe thoracic discomfort. You'll see what we mean.
