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Professor Layton is in Boston today ... somewhere
It appears that Professor Layton is in Boston today, working the streets to promote his latest adventure, The Diabolical Box. Those who track down the professor will receive a "fun Nintendo gift," as well as entry into a draw for five Nintendo DSi systems. Check out the official rules for all the details.The latest clue at 11AM EST states: "Professor Layton is wandering on a cobblestone promenade similar to the one in Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box and watching a street performer." That means the professor is very likely right outside of Quincy Market. If you get a lock on Layton, holla back. Also, send us pics! The professor will hop on a flight and be in Seattle tomorrow.
Boston prep school nixes all the books in its library, replaces them with 18 e-readers
We love looking to the future here at Engadget. And while real, paper books hold a special place in our heart, we're fairly certain no one will accuse us of being Luddites for scoffing at a recent development at a Boston prep school. James Tracy, the headmaster of Cushing Academy, says that he sees books as an "outdated technology," and to that end, he's taken the drastic and expensive step of ridding the school's library of every single one of its books. Replacing the books will be a high tech "learning center," housing three flat screen televisions, laptops, 18 e-readers, and a coffee bar. The project -- which is costing somewhere in the neighborhood of $500,000 -- is one of the first of its kind. So, excuse us for our cynicism, but unless there are only 18 students at Cushing Academy, we're pretty sure the e-reader supply is going to come up short.
Win a trip to dine with Turbine
If you're a European fan of Lord of the Rings Online, Play.com has a special new promotion just for you to help celebrate the second anniversary of the game. From now until May 17th, you can enter to win a free trip from London to Boston to visit the birthplace of LotRO. A lucky winner and a friend will enjoy three nights in Boston and dinner with the Turbine developers. The competition involves answering one simple question on their registry page and meeting their terms and conditions that apply. So this is your chance, EU players! Show the rest of the world how much of a LotRO fan you really are, and let them be jealous as you dine with the devs. Besides Boston being a beautiful city, you'll have three whole days and nights to enjoy America. We'll try to hold off any pending gang wars until you're gone.
Comcast extending all digital push in Boston and Atlanta
Not to be confused with the OTA switch to digital, Comcast is apparently ready to resume shoving customers off the analog coil and making room for more HD, DOCSIS 3.0 high speed Internet and other things we like, starting with Boston and Atlanta. Termed "Project Cavalry" it's not removing every channel from analog, but about 40 of them, and as the FCC directed giving customers two digital terminal adapters (pictured) and one digital box for free as long as they remain with Comcast. According to Cable Digital News, Chattanooga picked up 22 new high definition networks and 50Mb Internet service after the digital migration, so it really can't happen fast enough.
PAX East registration is open ... only 356 days to go until show
With a little under a year to go, PAX East registration is now open. Taking place March 26-28 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, a three-day pass will cost $50, while individual day passes are $30 -- add $5 if you're planning on picking up your tickets the day of the show. So far, no exhibitors, participating hotels or schedule of events are posted. Take it from a Bostonian, you can stay in any hotel near a T stop (we should probably do a post detailing this) and make it to the convention center in under an hour. If you're planning on going to GDC, don't worry, that show takes place March 9-13 in San Francisco. It'll certainly be interesting to see how game marketing and PR treat this new high-profile East Coast gaming convention. Team Joystiq will be there in full force ... considering a third of our staff is within driving range.[Via Kotaku]
Boston mayor forms game development expansion committee
Thomas Menino, who has served as mayor of Boston for nearly 16 years, is one of the most intriguing political figures in the gaming realm. He first antagonized the gaming industry in 2007 by endorsing a Jack Thompson-authored bill that would treat the retail practices of mature games (as deemed by the state) like the retail practices of pornography. It failed miserably, and we doubt any of the many Boston-based game studios sent him any fruit baskets to console him.In the midst of this political blunder, Mayor Menino announced he was interested bringing more game developers to work in the city. We thought it was solely a political soundbite -- but the city recently formed an advisory "Steering Committee," composed of local industry figures, to inform the mayor on how to bring further game development to Boston. In addition, the city launched PoweringUpBoston.com, which provides info and resources to Boston's game studios and potential new developers. Wicked Ahhhsome!
RCN's Analog Crush nears completion, 100 HD channels coming soon
RCN's Analog Crush initiative has been steamrolling for a few months now, and according to the cable carrier, the elimination of old school analog is all but complete in its major markets. By the end of January, RCN anticipates 100% digital penetration in the Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Chicago markets, which will free up spectrum in order to get more HD (and SD, and international) programming onto the EPG. In fact, the company is hoping to surpass 100 high-definition channels by March, which makes us wonder why every other cable company out there isn't on this very same warpath.[Image courtesy of TJooning]
TV One HD coming to several TWC / Comcast markets
There doesn't appear to be a set time line in place, but TV One is expected to launch an HD simulcast of its SD network soon on several Comcast / Time Warner Cable systems. The channel, which is a self-proclaimed "entertainment television network for African Americans," will first hit TWC's NYC region and Comcast systems in Boston, Chicago, Portland, OR and Seattle. We're told that more regions should find the HD iteration of the channel beginning in early January 2009, and at least initially, some 20% of the content will be shot and aired in high-def; if all goes well, that figure should rise to 40% by 2010.
Comcast adds a bunch of HD nets in Boston, Massachusetts
Check it, Beantown. Comcast has just upped the HD ante in your city, delivering a badly needed new helping of high-def stations to its lineup. Starting now, users in the Boston region can find a bunch of new HD premium movie channels along with HDNet, Travel Channel HD and CBS College Sports Network HD. For the full rundown of newcomers, give the read link some love (or just a look).[Thanks, cypherstream]
Scallop Imaging wide-angle security cams look to the sea for inspiration
We're not too sure what's up with New England-based institutions and inspiration from the depths, but the two seem to have some kind of intrinsic connection. The latest company to prove such a wacky assertion true is Boston's own Scallop Imaging, a Tenebraex subsidiary that has developed a "low-cost" security camera that sees 180 degrees of view without fisheye distortion or the lag present in pan-and-tilt alternatives. Additionally, the multi-eyed cam automatically stitches and downsamples images, and can capture a new 7-megapixel still to transmit over Ethernet "every second or two." It's small enough to be placed into a light socket-sized hole, and it's powered by the same Ethernet cable that links it into a building's surveillance system. Of course, the fun won't stop there, as the outfit is already looking at automotive applications of the Digital Window, including "distortion-free backup cameras for the rear ends" of vehicles.
Boston's WBZ-TV fires up HD newscasts
Check it, Beantown. Your local CBS affiliate (WBZ-TV) has decided to follow WHDH-TV into the 21st century, as it finally fired up HD news this week. With this network going high-def, that makes three of the big four in Boston that have successfully made the switch. News in 1080i -- equally depressing, a lot more beautiful.[Thanks, Will]
Boston TV stations team up for educational 'DTV Day'
As the US analog shutoff draws inevitably closer, we have all ideas that we'll be seeing quite a few other major markets making major pushes to get the word out. The next in line is Boston, where all of the local television stations and cable providers have teamed up to "help viewers prepare for the federally mandated shutdown of full-power television analog signals and the transition to digital television (DTV) on February 17, 2009." The so-called 'DTV Day' will take place a week from today from 5:00AM to 7:30PM ET, and during that window, locals will see intermittent daylong crawls on all outlets promoting DTV information, daylong, uninterrupted DTV information on a single, destination station (WGBH-TV analog) and a trio of two-minute "Virtual Shutdown" readiness tests. Talk about serious -- we didn't even prepare for Y2K like this.[Image courtesy of Brandeis]
DirecTV lights up 24/7 HD for CSN New England
Even DirecTV didn't have too much to say on this one, but as of today, its subscribers can catch the 24/7 high-definition version of CSN New England (also known as Comcast SportsNet New England) on channel number 630. The highlight of the add? More of those defending NBA champions in glorious HD.
Apple among "10 most overrated brands"
Boston.com has produced a list of the 10 Most Overrated Brands. Apple is at number nine. How so? According to Boston.com, it's the hype that sustains us."...while Apple has made its name combining sharp design with great technology, the brand's true appeal comes from the fact that consumers are hooked on the hype."Us? Succumb to the hype? It's not like we post pictures of empty boxes, sleep on the street or buy Steve Jobs Lego figures. I agree that the fanatical devotion of what Boston.com calls "the iCult" gets way out hand. Is any phone worth three nights on a New York City street? Of course not. But ask those folks why they're there, and they'll tell you it's the fun of hanging out with like-minded Mac geeks. While Apple hypes their products, it's often the fanboys who push it over the edge. For me, that doesn't detract from the fact that they deliver great products.
Two LIN TV stations to trial Backchannelmedia's TV-to-Internet ad platform
While LIN TV and Time Warner Cable remain embroiled in all sorts of disagreements, two of the company's stations in the Hartford-New Haven, Connecticut area are gearing up to trial Backchannelmedia's TV-to-Internet click through technology. If you'll recall, we first heard of this worrisome interactive advertising platform back in May when MGM Grand at Foxwoods signed on. Now, WTNH (ABC) and WCTX (MyNetworkTV) have also agreed to participate in the company's market trial, which is set to start next month. In essence, it will give viewers the ability to click on "non-intrusive icons at the bottom of the their TV screen" in order to bookmark offers for online viewing; obviously, all of the response data is forwarded on for use in soliciting more cash from advertisers. Why does the idea of having to engage with ads sound so dreadful from here?
Guitar Hero World Tour launch DLC now on XBLM
Preparing for Sunday's official launch of Guitar Hero World Tour, the franchise's foray into multi-instrument virtual rocking, Neversoft has released the first three track packs to Xbox Live. Best of all, they're competitively priced with Rock Band's DLC. Although we take issue with "Jessie's Girl" being in a "classic rock" pack, we jump at any opportunity to put Ricky's glamor shot on Joystiq.Classic Rock Track Pack (440 / $5.50) "Rock and Roll Band" - Boston (160 / $2) "Jessie's Girl" - Rick Springfield (160 / $2) "Hot Blooded" - Foreigner (160 / $2) Neversoft Track Pack (Free) "Anything" - Endless Sporadic "Electrorock" - Sworn Guitar Duel Track Pack (Free) Zakk Wylde guitar duel Ted Nugent guitar duel The verdict is still out on how consistent Guitar Hero World Tour's release schedule will be. No word yet on the tracks' availability for Wii or PlayStation 3.
RCN pipes HD programming into Boston's Mandarin Oriental luxury hotel
This isn't the first hotel deal RCN has managed to land, and we have every reason to believe it's far from the last. The cable carrier's lastest grab is the Mandarin Oriental luxury hotel in Boston, Massachusetts, where it will deliver HDTV programming, all-digital cable and a dedicated data network connection to serve as the hotel's failsafe for internet connectivity. The multi-year deal will bring the services to 136 guestrooms, 12 luxury suites and the condominiums, apartments and retail stores located within the hotel. Now, if only we could afford a room to check it all out, we'd be set.
CarTel uses wardriving for science, better driving directions
If you're not satisfied with the driving directions you get on Google Maps, a few smart guys at MIT have created an elaborate new toy called CarTel just for you. They've equipped a fleet of Boston-area cars with computers that automatically connect to any 802.11 access points detected in transit, then send home data recorded by their on board diagnostic systems, all in just a few hundred milliseconds. The result: a website that gives you directions based on information gathered in real-time so you can avoid high-traffic areas or say, if it's raining, roads which have historically been congested in adverse weather conditions -- no GPS required. The project also keeps a record of all access points detected, so think of it as wardriving for the good of humanity -- and you (probably) wouldn't even get arrested for participating![Via PhysOrg]
Sprint XOHM WiMAX networks reportedly active in other cities
Flying out of BWI to Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. or Northern Virginia? Make sure you pack in that SWC-E100, because we're hearing that Sprint's XOHM WiMAX networks are already live in each of those locales. According to a XOHM representative at a booth in Baltimore, the networks in each of those cities are already up, though they aren't officially supported as they're still "being tested." If any of you XOHM early adopters happen to head to any of the previously mentioned regions, bust out your ExpressCard and see if you get lucky (and then let us know how it goes).
Comcast unloads a bunch of HD nets in Boston, MA
Looks like Chattanooga isn't the only Comcast market waking up to news of fresh HD channels bulging from the DVR, as word from Bean Town has it that Boston will also be blessed with a new heap. Without further ado, here's what you folks can expect: Encore HD (785), Fox Business HD (789), Hallmark Movie HD (790), Toon Disney HD (792), Fuse HD (793), Bravo HD (794), CNBC HD (795), ESPNews HD (796), Biography Channel HD (797), Independent Film HD (798), Women's Entertainment HD (799), MGM HD (819), FX HD (830), FOX News HD (841), Starz Edge HD (873), Starz Kids HD (874), Starz Comedy HD (876), and Big Ten Network HD (885). Phew.[Thanks, Mike]
