Bolt
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Instagram quietly (and slowly) launches Snapchat rival, Bolt
We knew Instagram's effort to nab a bit of Snapchat's thunder was imminent thanks to leaked promo banners, and now, the app has officially arrived... for some. Bolt, the filter-driven photo app's own ephemeral messenger has hit iTunes and Google Play for folks in Singapore, South Africa and New Zealand. The software's claim to fame is speed: instead of having to fiddle through a series of options, tapping a contact's picture both captures and sends a photo -- no further swiping required (tap and hold records video). So long as they're in your favorites list, of course. There's also an undo feature that allows you to retrieve a message in the first few seconds by shaking your phone. While Bolt doesn't require a Facebook or Instagram account, you will have to sign up with your phone number for sorting through your contacts. For now though, most of us have to find solace in just reading about it, since a select few locales are privy to the initial rollout. Instagram's word on that particular strategy is situated after the break.
Instagram's Snapchat competitor Bolt leaks
Snapchat's meteoric rise made one thing abundantly clear -- the market would soon be flooded with copy cats. The next major player to try and drink Snapchat's milkshake might be Instagram. A banner introducing Bolt, a service for "one tap photo messaging," appeared at the top of the company's mobile app last night. The announcement was quickly pulled, but not before several people grabbed screenshots and started passing them around on Twitter. Unfortunately there's not much more detail to share at the moment, but the move will definitely raise a few eyebrows. For one, it would seem like a trivial feature to simply integrate into the existing Instagram app. Secondly, with Facebook's Slingshot already offering ephemeral photo and video messages, Bolt seems like a duplication of efforts. Of course, there's always the chance that Bolt will offer some truly unique twist on the format and shove pretenders to the media messaging crown aside.
Bolt offers free voice calls and replaces your Android dialer
When it comes to making free VoIP calls using your Android phone, you have a bunch of options. Services like Skype or Fring let you call other users for free, but you've got to remember to fire them up before you start dialing. Instead of using one app for regular calls and another for VoIP, newcomer Bolt replaces your phone's dialer with a one-stop solution for both. Unlike other services that require you to buy credits to make regular calls, the app connects to traditional phones the old-fashioned way -- over your wireless carrier's network. Calls made to other Bolt users are routed over the web for free, and sip a meager 60KB per minute. That means even with FreedomPop's free deal (which includes a paltry 500MB of data), you'd be able to chat with mom for more than 142 hours before getting hammered with overages. The company hopes to ultimately become a fully formed communication platform, and offer messaging services as well. Long-term that could mean users could pare down on mobile minutes and messaging packages, and instead spring for a slightly larger data package on their mobile bill. Android users can snag the app now from Google Play, and an iOS version is already in the works.
Digital Storm Bolt stuffs full-power graphics into a mini gaming desktop, stretches laws of physics
Attempts to create truly small gaming desktops usually involve at least some kind of performance hit. Even HP's category-bending Firebird, one of the few stand-out examples, had to use toned-down graphics to succeed in a tiny enclosure. Digital Storm might have broken the trend towards sacrifice with its new Bolt desktop: although it's just 3.6 inches wide and 14 inches tall, the Bolt can cram in as much as a GeForce GTX 680 and will even let gamers upgrade the graphics like they would in a full-size PC. The seemingly logic-defying (if also finger-defying) case still allows room for as much as an overclocked 4.6GHz Core i7, 16GB of RAM and storage options that meld a spinning hard drive with up to two SSDs and a DVD burner. Digital Storm isn't even setting an absurd base price, but it's in the cost that we finally see the catch to the miniaturization tricks. The $999 entry-level Bolt carries a modest 3.1GHz Core i3, 8GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive and GeForce GTX 650 Ti, while it takes a staggering $1,949 to get a fully decked-out Core i7 system with a GTX 680. Those prices might be worthwhile for anyone who has ever strained while lugging a traditional tower to a game tourney. %Gallery-169137%
DARPA BOLT initiative wants real-time spoken translation, Douglas Adams' ghost says it's about time
Thanks to online tools like Google Translate we're now able to communicate with people in nearly any language -- maybe not perfectly, but well enough to get the general idea across, and livened up by the occasional humorous mistranslation. Now DARPA wants that done wholesale and with military precision, launching the BOLT initiative. That stands for Boundless Operational Language Translation, and DARPA is giving interested parties until May 19th of this year to submit proposals for how they'll manage to achieve the department's lofty goals, which include written and spoken translation into English of "multiple languages." If you're thinking of competing you can find all the details at the source link, though curiously you won't find a single Vorgon dialect mentioned.
RIM, Bank of America partnering up for Mobile Wallet NFC trial
We've known for some time that RIM is going all-in on NFC (isn't everyone?), but we didn't realize they were going retroactive, too. A NFC payment trial coming up involving RIM and Bank of America will allow selected testers to get an NFC-capable back for their Curve 8520 or 8530, Tour 9630, or Bold 9000, 9650, or 9700 -- in other words, most of the company's portrait QWERTY models from the last couple years. You'll also need an active Bank of America account, at which point you'll be able to tap your 'Berry on NFC terminals to get your pay on. The trial starts this spring; no word on when it might be open to everyone. [Thanks, Dylan]
Disney makes Alice in Wonderland, Bolt Blu-ray 3D discs Sony exclusives this winter
Another day, another exclusive Blu-ray 3D deal. This time it's Disney, opting to align its Alice in Wonderland and Bolt movies with Sony products over the holiday season as the two team up on "consumer and retail education, promotion and marketing support for in-home 3D devices and content." That means buyers of Sony 3D TVs and Blu-ray players may have one of the above as a pack-in, while everyone else waits 'til the unspecified time when they're released at retail. Hear that? That's the sound of 3D early adopters queueing up Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs for the umpteenth time, camping out in line for Monster House next week or wildly overpaying for pack in/ overseas only 3D releases on eBay. As it stands, the year's slate of unbundled releases is otherwise blank beyond A Christmas Carol and Resident Evil, here's hoping it doesn't stay that way long. More details are in the press release after the break.
Logic Wireless 150LGW projector phone reminds us of that Bolt we once saw
Remember the Bolt from CES 2009? Man, that was ages ago. If you'll recall, projector phones were actually all the rage for around 4.67 minutes at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, and ever since we've been dealt months of nothing alongside one lone ranger of something in the LG eXpo. Evidently Logic Wireless is hoping that we'll forget all about the Bolt that never shipped and instead focus on the next best thing: the 150LGW. Available for order now at Skymall (of all places), the projector phone looks significantly slimmer and more stylish than the company's first crack, and aside from the inbuilt PJ, there's also twin SIM card slots, dual cameras, an Office file viewer, quad-band GSM radio, Bluetooth and Symbian running the show. We aren't too sure we'd be willing to shell out $499 without any proof that this thing is worth its salt, but you can bet we'll be on the hunt for it once CES 2010 opens up next week.
Games on Demand adds Bolt & Trivial Pursuit
One of the more convenient (and pricey) methods for games acquisition -- Microsoft's Games on Demand service -- has just added a pair of new titles to its North American library: Disney's Bolt and EA's Trivial Pursuit. Each can be yours for $19.99, granted you have the respective 5GB and 2GB of space for each. Prices and availability vary by region, but the insatiable, shameless desire for Achievements that would drive you to actually purchase these games is universal. Shortcut: Add Bolt to your download queue [via Xbox.com] Shortcut: Add Trivial Pursuit to your download queue [via Xbox.com]
Paramount flicks to see Blu-ray purchase, DVD rental availability ahead of DVD sale date
We'll leave it to rabid commenters to debate how well Blu-ray is or isn't doing, but Paramount's latest weapon to boost sales and DVD rentals is a staggered release schedule. Variety reports Dance Flick (sure reference material) will debut on September 8 in unrated Blu-ray form for purchase, plus rental DVD & blu-ray, while a version for purchase on DVD should arrive four to eight weeks later. Disney already tried something similar with its Bolt rollout, but retailers botched it and put both versions on shelves at the same time in many cases, though that hasn't stopped the studio from planning to try again with Snow White. At least in this case, we figure it's probably more about boosting rentals and testing the waters, but with VP of Paramount Ken Williams saying "that releasing a Blu-ray exclusively for sell-through will help drive adoption of the format" we figure the day a new blockbuster hits shelves on Blu only (for a limited time) isn't far off.
The early release of Bolt on Blu-ray caused more harm than good
We commend Disney on always trying new things to promote Blu-ray like the recent decision to release Bolt on Blu-ray two days before DVD. But just like in the comments of our weekly HD release post, it confused more people then it motivated to upgrade to Blu-ray. Evidently as a result of the confusion, employees at retailers all over the country were scratching their heads and ended up breaking the release date on the DVD version. Although we can totally understand the confusion, we figure the pain is over, so don't stop now Disney! We don't know about anyone else, but we really want to see this experiment run the course because we think the results will be fascinating.
Disney to release Bolt on Blu-ray two days before DVD
Although Blu-ray has been out for a few years, it is still pretty new and thus the studios are still testing the waters to see what works. The latest test by Disney is one that Blu-ray fans have been recommending for some time; release new titles on Blu-ray before DVD -- but we suspect that many had more than a two day lead time in mind. Although this will be interesting, we still think Disney's previous test of including a DVD with the Sleeping Beauty Blu-ray Disc was more interesting. Also, like the more recent titles from Disney Bolt will feature some BD Live content as well as a digital copy.
Bolt 3D crossing over to China this month
Looks like the Chinese authorities have gotten wind of rave reviews for Bolt in 3D, cutting Disney a ton of slack to make sure the movie hits theaters this month. Variety puts China at #2 in the world for 3D capable theaters with about 150 and more on the way. For now Bolt is exempt from their quota on foreign films and it had to pass the censors twice (due to 3D's lack of subtitle support), but for the theater organization focused on beating Singapore to the 3D punch and enjoying high ticket revenues the effort seems to be worth it.
Reviewers rave over Bolt in 3D: did you see it?
It's not that movie critics were bowled over by the storyline of Bolt, it's that most everyone who saw it in 3D came away at least reasonably impressed by the visuals. The film is far from being the first to see a widespread 3D release, but it is one of the first to be marketed as such. Unlike any time that we can remember before, Walt Disney pushed the third-dimension version of this flick hard, and we're interested to see if you felt it was worth sitting through with 3D glasses (and in some cases, paying more for). Like it or not, 3D is here to stay (at least for awhile) -- can you see yourself catching another film in 3D after seeing Bolt?Read - BigPictureBigSoundRead - Eclipse MagazineRead - Financial TimesRead - Independent MallRead - The Detroit News
Shipping this week: Braaaains edition
You've read the headline and you're probably thinking, "Oh, great. Just what we need. Another article effusing praise for Left 4 Dead. Thanks. Thank you so much." In truth, yes, we're excited that Left 4 Dead is coming out this week, but the reality of the headline is best understood by glancing at the list below. There are twelve, twelve new games being released this week. If that's not enough to metamorphose every respectable gamer into a gibbering, cash-starved zombie, we're not sure what is. Now, if you'll excuse us, we have suddenly developed an irresistible craving for braaains gaaames. Left 4 Dead The Last Remnant Shaun White Snowboarding Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe You're in the Movies with Camera Tomb Raider Underworld NPPL Championship Paintball 2009 LIPS Karaoke Revolution: American Idol 2 Disney's Bolt Sonic Unleashed Need For Speed: Undercover
Bolt demo lights up the Live Marketplace
Ready for download off the Xbox Live Marketplace is a new 818MB Disney's Bolt game demo. Feel the excitement?For the uninformed, Bolt is yet another video game based on a movie by the same name that features a dog named Bolt (voiced by one John Travolta) who truly believes he's a super hero dog. But no matter how good the movie may sound, the game will probably be trash thanks to long held tradition of movie based games turning out to be utter crud. That said, we love the movie's hamster character named Rhino. Just watch the embedded video and you'll see why.
Disney announces Bolt licensed games, our minds wander
Disney Interactive Studios announced yesterday it will release a video game based on its upcoming movie Bolt for pretty much every system currently available -- except Mac, natch. Bolt is the latest Disney CGI film -- no, that's not the same as a Pixar CGI film -- and stars John Travolta as a TV-star dog with an identity crisis ... blah, blah, blah.Why are we even bringing up this totally random licensed game that reviewers will automatically give a 7 to? Well, it's only a few more weeks until E3 2008 and we wanted to remind everyone of last year's Disney press conference. Let your imaginations run free gentle readers, what horrible thing tied into this game could Disney make journalists experience this year?
Frostbite's shared diminishing returns are a bug
There's been a lot of hemming and hawing on the mage forums about the upcoming changes to Frostbite-- the latest test notes revealed that the talent, which gives a chance to freeze anyone hit by a "chill effect" (that's Frostbolt, Cone of Cold, Ice and Frost Armor, and Improved Blizzard), will now be subject to diminishing returns in PvP.Which even mages agree is doable-- but their problem is that those diminishing returns are shared by other, controllable, freezing effects-- Frost Nova and the Water Elemental's Freeze. Basically, an accidental Frostbite proc, which can't be controlled by the player, could make the opponent immune to controlled freezes. And considering that Frostbite, when talented out, procs a lot, that puts a damper on regular frost mage abilities.The good news, however, for mages is that the problem is being addressed. Tseric says that Frostbite's diminishing returns are meant to only affect itself, not other Freezing spells. They're working, he says, on fixing it.Which is great (well, not so much for people fighting mages, but for mages it is). But this is the second big mage "change" we've seen on the PTR that turned out to be a bug. What's going on over there at Blizzard in the mage department?
