cologne
Latest
Cologne and Leipzig, don't make us turn this car around
Or, given that it's Germany we're talking about, it's the fancy bullet train we'll be turning around. Regardless, we've had it with our rowdy passengers, Cologne and Leipzig. Jostling for the title of premier European games convention in 2009, Cologne's Gamescom organizers have been quick to proclaim victory over the Leipzig Games Convention, citing better (nay, existing) trade support and location. Speaking to MCV, Koch Media managing director Klemens Kundratitz declared that there "will not be another show of any relevance in Germany." He added, "[Leipzig] might try something, but the top 12 publishers are in the BIU and we are committed to take the show to the next level in Cologne." Even SCEE president David Reeves joined in, telling MCV, "Leipzig Games Convention has its limitations logistically in terms of getting there and the number of hotels available for visitors." Reeves also predicted that 400,000 attendees -- compared to Leipzig's 200,000 -- will stink up Cologne in September 2009.Leipzig isn't going down without a fuss, however, with Leipziger Messe CEO Wolfgang Marzin rubbishing reports of weak trade support. "We've already proved that GC works, and we have trade backing – nobody wants a show in September. Another copy of GC in Germany is ridiculous; what is the benefit of holding another show? I am confident that the big show will be GC next year." Big? Or biggest?
Leipzig's Games Convention challenged by Cologne's GamesCOM
In the wake of last year's severely scaled back E3, Leipzig's Games Convention emerged as a strong European alternative for game demos and announcements. That reputation might not lat long, though, as GamesIndustry.biz reports that a major German trade group is leaving Leipzig behind for a new show, Cologne's GamesCOM, in September 2009.While the move has been rumored for a while, German industry association Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware announced only this morning that the new show would effectively replace the Leipzig event. Games Convention owner Messe Leipzig, for their part, released a statement expressing regret and saying that it would be a "harsh blow" for the region. No word yet on whether Games Convention would still try to put on a competing show, but consensus seems to be that effort would be difficult without BIU support.
A few hundred Germans become Europe's first "official" iPhone owners
After handing out hot coffee, tea and pretzels for those waiting outside, T-Mobile's well lubricated and exceptionally tanned staff in Cologne threw its doors open to Europe's first "official" iPhone owners. Of course, people the world-over are already toting Apple's finest courtesy of those firmware hacks and unlocks. In fact, the 1.1.2 firmware found on the UK and German iPhones is already hacked. Judging by the buzz in the Hackint0sh forums, the new Jailbreak is seemingly just hours away from release. Fanatics of the hardcore persuasion can check the orderly mayhem in the video after the break. [Via Pocket-lint, image courtesy of iFun.de]
Rumor: Leipzig Games Convention may move in 2008
The German Games Convention, which is typically just referred to as "Leipzig," may need a different name. The event being held August 23 - 26, which grew 40% this year following the death of E3, is getting a little big for its east German britches and may go west. Wii Definitive Spec, run by a German journalist, says "several industry insiders" have said that the show may move in 2008.Leipzig is apparently too small for some large exhibitors (due to the airport and location) and they are looking for the show to move to someplace a little bit more accommodating. The two cities likely to inherit the event would be Frankfurt and Cologne -- two larger cities that are easily accessible and already host large events. Speaking of large events, we'd prefer to see Munich in the running, and ask the event be moved from August to late September or early October. Oktoberfest and a gaming convention ... it would be fantastic.
Leica M8 combines old-world charm with new-world tech
Camera fans worldwide no doubt appreciate Leica's attention to quality and detail when it comes to making high-end film-based rangefinder cameras. This month, the famous German company will introduce its first digital rangefinder camera at the Photokina trade show in Cologne -- the same location where the first Leica M3 was announced in 1954. The Leica M8 doesn't just have a pretty body, nor is it resting on the laurels of its predecessors: it's got a 10.3 megapixel resolution, with a low-noise CCD image sensor that starts at ISO 160 but that can also kick up to ISO 2500. The Leica M8 can take gorgeous shots with an exposure time that drops down to 1/8000 of a second, and to 1/250 of a second with a flash. The cam also has a focal length extension factor of 1.33, which helps to mitigate the problem of "vignetting," or a fall-off in brightness that would occur without the extension factor. Oh, and there's one more thing: did we mention that the M8 works with "virtually all" Leica M series lenses produced since 1954? We don't have any firm information from Leica about what the availability or price of the M8 will be, but estimates on the internets suggest that it will set you back about €4,500 ($5,708) -- and this totally amazing camera will probably be worth every euro cent.Read - Press releaseRead - DPR's hands-on preview
Carl Zeiss creates telephoto lens with 1700mm focal length
This new telephoto lens comes to us from the: "because we can" department. Lens manufacturer Carl Zeiss has just made one of the world's largest telephoto lenses -- it's so big in fact, that you nearly need a construction crane to lift it up. Weighing in at 256 kg (564 lb.), this monstrosity of a lens has a focal length of 1700mm (over 5.5 feet!), a speed of f/4, and has 21x magnification. You can't miss it if you attend this year's Photokina convention in Cologne, Germany starting September 29. Based on the company's press release, it sounds like it was custom-built for a client who wanted to shoot wildlife at a distance on the very high-end Hasselblad 203 FE using 6 x 6 medium format film -- in other words, she/he has some serious cash to spend. No word on if it will be ever made available to the public, but it sounds like Carl Zeiss is open to ideas if you've got a briefcase full of euros to pay for the project, not to mention the means to get it from wherever you are to wherever you actually want to use it without scaring every living thing in your path.
Mobiado captures essence of mobile in a bottle
"Why, Bill, your cologne -- I, I can only assume you're toting a luxury cellphone." Les hommes should supposedly expect such provocative complements when donning Mobiado's newest venture, Perfume No. 919, created in cooperation with fragrance guru Bissol. The target demographic for this pricey liquid ($300) is quite literally "luxury mobile phone users" of the male persuasion; what we don't understand, however, is what that smells like or why we'd want to duplicate it. At any rate, if this all makes sense to you but you're worried about spilling your precious eau du mobile in shipment, fear not; Perfume No. 919 comes bottled with "a double industrial o-ring seal system to prevent leaks."[Via T3]
