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Raph Koster speaks on Metaplace's new functionality and the state of virtual worlds pt. 2
Metaplace is quite large now, with well over 30,000 worlds created. How does Metaplace avoid spreading the population out too thinly, as, after all, these are social worlds? Is that a challenge for you guys? It is. It is a challenge. Many of our worlds are empty at any given time. Many of them are people's "apartments" or "personal spaces." Everyone gets a world when they start out in Metaplace, and a large majority of them are unimproved. What we've found out is that people really congregate in the well done worlds. Because of that, we've spent a lot of time on searching algorithms to find the worlds that people consider to be the best and the worlds that are the most populated at that point in time and then bring them up top to the user. We're also working on expanding our support for events, so when something interesting is going on in Metaplace all users will get a notification. This way they can click the link and go and check it out quickly. Yet, sometimes great worlds get lost for a time, but then they get rediscovered as people re-find them. "Virtual worlds need to make that jump to become "ordinary," in a way" We've also included a new feature, called the golden egg. This allows veteran users to market their worlds to others by purchasing this new item. The egg, which is 25,000 coins, can be placed in your virtual world for others to find. Once they find it and click on it, they get 500 coins as a present and are also given the location of another world that has a golden egg. Every world that has a golden egg in it is also listed in the golden egg world list. There's also a golden egg in Metaplace Central that "kicks off" the quest, so to speak. Where do you see virtual worlds going in the future? One of the big questions at the last convention I attended was, "What's next?" In some ways, we've already accomplished a lot of the dream. A lot of the things that people expected out of virtual worlds have come true. We have mass marketed virtual worlds that aren't extremely popular, but, you know, popular enough. We've reached a level of penetration in entertainment that's quite high. But they haven't jumped to total mainstream acceptance yet. I think that's the next step. Virtual worlds need to make that jump to become "ordinary," in a way. Having them become a key part of the web would be a key part of that. It's always been a mistake for us to think that virtual worlds will swallow the web. I don't think that's the way things are going. But I do think we'll be seeing a much tighter integration between virtual worlds and the rest of the Internet. I really think Metaplace is kicking the ball forward, in regards to that. So what's the future for Metaplace, specifically? We're always focusing on making it easier for users, in addition to hosting building classes so people can learn how to build new worlds. We also have a roadmap on our forums that contains a list of proposed features that anyone can check out, all of which is scheduled to come out in the next few months. We're still in the early days -- second month of open beta with a very soft launch -- and we're gonna keep building on what we got and make it easier for everyone to have a virtual world of their own!Thanks for your time, Raph!
Intel snaps up Wind River, looks for that embedded systems edge
Wind River Systems has been doing Android up right for quite some time, and evidently Intel is sick and tired of sitting on the outside looking in. Disregarding that massive EU fine for a moment, the company somehow managed to find time to pen a check in the amount of $884 million in order to fully acquire the aforesaid embedded systems company. The reason? Intel knows the CPU business is morphing into something entirely more elaborate, and it reckons a solid presence in the embedded devices segment (MIDs, UMPCs, etc.) is necessary to keep those profits up in the future. Honestly, such a pickup isn't really a shock; Intel has shown great interest in being a serious player in the handheld computing market, and its fledgling CE 3100 media processor could also benefit from a respectable layer of software behind it. Meanwhile, something tells us those Wind River guys are gearing up for the weekend of their lives.
Is TiVo planning a Flash upgrade?
Put this on our watchlist for the 2010 CES (or earlier, we're not picky) TiVoBlog.com recently pointed out a twitter indicating TiVo is looking for a Flash expert to work on embedded applications -- like the ones that could bring Adobe's widgets to its DVR hardware. Assuming the Series4 (or whatever it ends up being called) uses processors from Broadcom or Sigma, Flash platform support should come included, let's just hope this is a part of an overall UI refresh and not a resource hogging add-on slapped over the same old SD interface.
T-Mobile announces tiny new "embedded SIM" for connected devices
Sure, SIM cards are small, but they're not tiny, and fitting the entire assembly into an embedded device requires a lot of space -- so T-Mobile's new embedded SIM system should make it possible to build even smaller connected devices like hospital monitors and smart energy meters that can report back to a server. The new SIMs are the size of a pinhead and made of silicon instead of plastic, which allows them to be coded at the factory and hard-mounted directly to a device, skipping the provisioning and installation steps that would come with regular SIMs. Devices with the new SIMs are expected to be out and sending data over T-Mo's network in as little as six months -- the first is an energy meter from Echelon that should hit soon.
AnySource Internet-to-TV startup gets additional financial backing
It might not have the cachet of widgets just yet, but AnySource Media is promising its Internet Video Navigator solution will run on existing TV hardware, and allow an easy, TV remote controlled streaming Internet video experience and just secured $3.2 million in additional funding to make it happen. The company's software promises a more secure, reliable environment than on a PC with users deterred from hacking or copying content, which sounds a lot like the boring, restricted, pay alternative to our favorite Internet video options that are more typically open, unlimited and free. We'll have a better idea of which side of the line this package falls if it can make TV launches targeted for later this year.[Via Digital Media Wire]
Mitsubishi to launch wireless HDTV, utilize AMIMON's WHDI technology
Now that AMIMON is being taken seriously in the high-def arena, we're hoping to see a number of these releases in the not-too-distant future. Merely months after Sharp announced that its X-Series LCD HDTVs would arrive with wireless HD technology built right in, Mitsubishi has declared that it too will offer sets in Japan that can communicate with WHDI-enabled equipment sans cabling. The TV itself will have an AMIMON chip embedded within, though it will arrive with a separate HDTV receiver unit that connects to the LCD in wireless fashion. Model numbers, prices and all that jazz has yet to be divulged, though the Japanese will evidently be able to buy one of the elusive packages as early as "this fall." Full release after the jump.
VidaBox unveils TouchClient12 in-wall touch panel
While the vPad will certainly push the buttons of some home automation freaks, the in-wall TouchClient12 is likely to float the boat of just about everyone else. The unit is designed to be mounted flush within a wall, and aside from packing a predictable 12.1-inch color touchscreen (1,024 x 768 resolution), you'll also find Windows XP embedded within. Unlike most of the outfit's products, this one is available to the public right from its website, giving DIYers and headstrong homeowners the ability to bypass those pricey installers (and potentially mutilate their wall). As for connections, all that's needed is power and a CAT5 wire, after which you can program the panel to control anything controllable on your property. Sure sounds nice, but $2,499 nice? We'll leave that one to you.
ASUS bringing Splashtop instant-on OS to all its motherboards
We've seen the Splashtop instant-on OS demoed on ASUS gear in the past, and now it looks like the company is making the love official: it's going to start shipping it on all its motherboards. ASUS is calling the platform "Express Gate," but it's the same instant-on, ready-to-browse environment we've known about since October: an embedded Linux distro that runs Firefox and Skype off a memory chip linked directly to the BIOS. You might want to hit that link and check out the screenshots, actually -- with ASUS set to ship over a million mobos a month with the feature, chances are it'll be on a machine near you relatively soon.
GalleryPlayer's HD artwork coming to Mitsubishi flat-panels
Given the last time we heard that GalleryPlayer was sinking its teeth into a major television brand was nearly two years ago, we're a tad surprised to see it actually attempting to sashay back into the limelight. Nevertheless, the company that aims to deliver "rights-protected" imagery to your HDTV when not tuning into HD programming, HD gaming or HD movies (um, and this is when, exactly?) has inked a new deal with Mitsubishi. Reportedly, the partnership will enable GalleryPlayer to embed its proprietary technology in 2008 Mitsu HDTV models launching this Spring, giving owners the ability to purchase and display 1080p art galleries from its expansive library. Still, we'd rather snap up a DSLR of our own and toss up a slideshow to be really proud of, but to each his / her own.
Phoenix Technologies launches HyperSpace "instant on" embedded OS
It appears that DeviceVM won't be able to sit around and gloat over its "instant on" SplashTop Linux OS that's being integrated into ASUS motherboards, as they've got some competition on the horizon. A company called Phoenix Technologies is introducing a new mini-OS called HyperSpace (what's with all these compound names?) that features a four second boot time. Using a form of virtualization which sets aside memory and disk space for the small boot, the ROM-based environment lets you access Firefox, launch a DVD movie, or fire up other apps while your system loads Vista or XP in the background. Apparently, the BIOS-embedded platform will also allow manufacturers and developers to embed their own, customized applications, thus extending the range of uses for the system. Soon, you won't have to wait even a tenth of a minute to check your Facebook inbox.[Via Good Morning Silicon Valley]
LG announces YouTube-enabled handsets
First there was Verizon, and while The Network certainly enjoyed its limited time engagement with YouTube, it's all fair game now. Following Apple, Helio, Nokia, Vodafone, and a couple more for good measure, LG has just announced that some of its future handsets will also be "YouTube-ready." The company claims that customers picking up the aforementioned units will be able to "discover, watch, and share originally created videos" on YouTube, decreasing the wait time between shooting that blooper short and uploading it to the world. Interestingly, LG failed to mention model names when referring to its impending YouTube-enabled lineup, but the elusive devices are nevertheless slated to land worldwide at the end of this year.[Via mocoNews]
Smartphones to get mobile flavor of Ubuntu Linux
While having a flavor of Linux on one's smartphone isn't unheard of, it could become at least somewhat more popular now that a common variety is scheduled to make its mobile debut. After years of Linux-on-a-handset talk from just about every direction imaginable, the developers of Ubuntu are hoping to "extend its open-source software development to handheld internet-enabled devices." Reportedly dubbed the Ubuntu Mobile and Embedded project, the operating system could be headed to your mobile device thanks to a collaborative effort between Ubuntu programmers and Intel, which shouldn't come as any surprise considering its recent infatuation with the open-sourced OS. Of course, Ubuntu is a surefire candidate for OS of the month given all the press its meandered into of late, but developers did note that designing a mobile GUI and configuring the power management capabilities would be quite a challenge. The best part, however, is how quickly the mobile rendition will be rolled out, as we can all mark our calendars for a simultaneous release with Ubuntu 7.10 this October.
i-mate introduces X-Stream Digital Media Hub HDTV
It looks like i-mate isn't only expanding its ODM horizons with digital photo frames -- last week at 3GSM they were also slyly showing off their freshly rebadged X-Stream Digital Media Hub HDTV and X-Stream Dock. The unpriced LCD HDTV has an embedded wireless router and, of course, Vista Ultimate PC with 720p and 1080i output; the Dock wirelessly streams media from your i-mate Ultimate device (presumably to the TV), apparently, for about $200. Neither have release dates, but we're always wary when it comes to embedded-PC TVs anyway, so we're not gonna sweat this one. [Via MCPW]
NEC Electronics' Embedded DRAM in the Wii
NEC Electronics announced yesterday that Nintendo has chosen to go ahead with NEC Electronics' 90nm CMOS-compatible embedded DRAM for the Wii. This means that the new LSI chips will be manufactured using advanced technologies on NEC Yamagata's 300mm production lines. Viewed as an optimal solution to integrate high bandwidth data using minimal power, this collaboration between the two companies should equal great success in the launch of the Wii.
Flip4Mac begins beta testing Universal Binary WMV QuickTime components
For Intel Mac users who either love or hate WMV but have to deal with it one way or another, Flip4Mac has just begun beta testing the long-awaited Universal Binary version of their WMV QuickTime components. Announced in their forums today, it is more or less an invite-yourself program, as I had to contact them weeks ago to get on their email announcement list.After briefly testing on my MacBook Pro, it seems like everything is working just fine. I'm able to play embedded WMV files with no problem, but I unfortunately don't have any locally saved WMV's to try at the moment. So far, the beta seems like a success, and while I hate the WMV format just as much as the next Mac user, it's nice to no longer receive that 'plug-in not found' error.
Firefox extension: VideoDownloader does just what it says
VideoDownloader is a slick Firefox extension that allows you to save content from websites, including embedded videos at sites like YouTube. The extension adds a small icon to Firefox's status bar that, when clicked, offers a pop-up window with a download link of the actual file you want. Simple and painless. The one catch I've run into so far: the files from some Flash-embedded sites like YouTube are .FLV, and while I have the latest Flash player installed, I can't seem to find it, and not even Safari will open these with a File > Open command. Other than that, this extension has worked great for grabbing all sorts of media so far.The list of sites this extension works with is lengthy, but really it should allow you to grab embedded content from just about anywhere. Unless, of course, the site has already been turned on to haxies like this and they've already launched countermeasures. Until then, enjoy.
