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Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit gets its own specifications breakdown
Generally speaking, we don't much care about the nuts and bolts behind a thrill ride. If it thrills, it's a winner; if not, it's a failure. But the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is a horse of a different color, and being that it's described as the planet's most technologically advanced coaster, we figured it prudent to pass along the details that only true nerds could appreciate. For starters, each rider will have access to a touchpad in order to select their own ride soundtrack from a 30 song library. There's also a half dozen cameras in the ride vehicle alongside eight others along the track, all of which combine to assemble a take-home video of the experience if you'd like. Speaking of, check out the demo vid just past the break, and look for this to open to the public later this summer.
Thumbprint required to trade in games in Florida
Most of us are probably used to giving away a large amount of personal information to trade in video games. Many stores ask for all kinds of info. Phone numbers, zip codes, possibly even your home address will be locked away in some GameStop data vault. But what about your thumbprint?According to Florida's Broward / Palm Beach News, local game retailers are now required to collect the thumbprint of anyone selling their used games. The practice has been enforced by the Broward County Sheriff's Office since October of last year, thanks to a new law enacted by the Florida legislature. The law essentially elevated used games to the same status as items sold to pawn shops, meaning that anyone that trades in a used game will have to provide a thumbprint "along with a bunch of other personal info."Our hearts go out to all the game traders whose controllers are now blackened by the ink of oppression.[Via GamePolitics]
HD channel expansion roundup
Once upon a time, a smattering of new HD channels in one major metropolitan area was a huge deal. Nowadays, it's almost expected that one area or another will experience some HD expansion each week. In order to keep things nice and tidy around here, we deliver high-def expansions, market expansions and anything else dealing with HD channel growth right here. If we missed an area that you're familiar with, drop us a line in comments so everyone can catch up. The more the merrier, we say! Read - DIRECTV Delivers Local HD Programming to Customers in Harrisonburg, Va. Read - Telemundo 47 Now Available In HD On Time Warner Cable New York Read - Bright House Connects With YES 'National' In Orlando Read - Time Warner adds HD movie channel, expands HD tier 33% Read - Some Oceanic Time Warner customers can soon watch Smithsonian Networks (Hawaii)
75-megawatt solar plant to power "first solar city" in Florida
Given that Florida has accurately been coined The Sunshine State, it's not at all shocking to hear that America's first "solar city" will be built in the state's southwest corner. Or, at least that's the plan. According to a new report, West Palm Beach-based Kitson & Partners is currently developing a new city near Charlotte County, which will get juiced by a massive 75-megawatt solar plant. Said plant will cost around $300 million to build and will be installed by Florida Power & Light; if all goes well, homes will begin construction on a sizable plot of land dubbed Babcock Ranch by 2011. If things don't go so well, we're told that the actual power plant will still be erected and fed into the larger grid. In other words, Florida's gettin' some solar power, with or without this newfangled concrete jungle.[Via Fark]
Light-activated lock could revolutionize drug delivery
The Gators may not be in the Final Four this year, but the brainiacs on campus are still toiling away, regardless. Researchers at the institution (that'd be the University of Florida) have just stumbled onto a remarkable discovery that could eventually "starve cancer tumors and prevent side effects from a wide range of drugs." The magic find? A "lock-like molecule" that clasps or unclasps based on exposure to light. Sure, we've seen our fair share of newfangled drug delivery tools, but none that have been this noninvasive or simple to activate. In tests, gurus found that they could use visible or ultraviolet light to open or close a clasp, letting blood flow or creating a clot; in theory, this could one day be used to "prevent the formation of tiny blood vessels that feed tumors." Everything about this sounds just fantastic on the surface, but seriously, can you imagine how dead we'd be if the robots ever got ahold of this?[Via Physorg, image courtesy of NanotechNow]
Researcher finds electrical stimulation key to rehabilitating paralyzed limbs
We've seen the wonders of electrical stimulation before, so it's no real shock (ahem) to hear that a University of Florida engineer has figured out a method to combine that very tactic with sophisticated computer learning technology in order to assist Earthlings in regaining "more precise, more life-like control of paralyzed limbs." Reportedly, the research could help around 700,000 Americans who suffer from strokes and 11,000 from cord injuries each year. Says the university's Warren Dixon (pictured): "It's an adaptive scheme to do electrical stimulation more efficiently, with less fatigue and more accuracy." Eventually, the dream is to build a wearable, pacemaker-sized device that could output the precise amount of stimulation at the perfect time in order to encourage natural movement, and it would also be able to adapt to each individual as it learns their habits and techniques. Not mentioned in the report, however, was just how beneficial this discovery could be to the scads of preposterously lazy Americans, too.[Via DailyTech]
WJXT throws the HD lever in Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville residents looking for a new take on the evening news can finally see their dreams come true. As of now, WJXT -- an independent station serving the Florida city and its surrounding communities -- is broadcasting its newscasts in high-definition. At first, the noon broadcast will be the only one in HD, though other airings should follow suit in short order. Locals who rely on DISH Network and DirecTV will sadly be unable to enjoy the new look without an OTA antenna, though WJXT vice president and general manager John Rafferty has assured us that its high-def signal will be picked up by both "soon."[Thanks, Eric]
Man shot for his Wii in home invasion
During a recent home invasion at an apartment complex in Palm Beach County, Florida, a man was brutally beat and shot in the bicep by multiple assailants. They sought a variety of his valuables, demanding jewelry, money, and other items from the victim before attacking. In the end, the robbers made off with about $70 and his Nintendo Wii. The two individuals could not be identified by the victim, who was last listed as stable in St. Mary's Hospital. The two robbers made their way into the apartment through an unlocked door. It goes to show that if you live in an apartment, always lock your door. Also, don't let anyone see you throwing away a Wii box.[Via Go Nintendo]
South Florida's WSVN converts newscasts to high-definition
South Florida's NBC 6 became the first English-language network in the area to take its newscasts to high-def, but now those who refuse to watch news in SD finally have another choice. Starting this week, WSVN -- the FOX affiliate in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale market -- will be airing its local news broadcasts in greater clarity, and now that this station has hopped on board, we reckon the outcasts will be following suit in short order.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
AT&T's U-verse TV expands to more South Florida homes
AT&T vowed to make its U-verse TV service available to more homes on an ongoing basis when it first launched in South Florida, and expand it has. One tipster down in sunny Ft. Lauderdale just received a postcard in the mail informing him that the service was available for his domicile, and upon investigating, he found that it was actually available now for the majority of Broward County (including Ft. Lauderdale, Deerfield / Pompano Beach, Coconut Creek, Margate, Coral Springs, and Davie). Chances are, you're probably just kicking back enjoying the break anyway -- why not phone up the carrier and see if your address is in the lucky list?[Thanks, Sam]
Bright House Networks to host up MLB Network HD in Tampa Bay
We get the feeling that we'll see quite a few carriers proudly announcing carriage deals with MLB Network during the run-up to its launch (January 1, 2009), and Bright House Networks is getting us started by promising its Tampa Bay, Florida customers the channel come the new year. Starting in 2009, MLB Network will be available in SD on digital cable channel 159 and in HD on slot 744, and Joe Durkin, senior director corporate communications at the carrier, has confirmed that it will be added at no extra charge. For those unaware, the channel will carry "live games, original programming, highlights, classic games and coverage of baseball events," and its signature show -- MLB Tonight -- is obviously aiming to take viewers away from Karl Ravech, John Kruk and the rest of the gang at ESPN's 'Baseball Tonight.'
Researchers achieve new efficiency record of blue OLEDs
Ever since Sony's XEL-1 hit the market, pundits have pointed to the (comparatively) short-lived blue OLED material as its biggest hamstring. Researchers have been toiling around the clock in order to bring the blue lifepsan in line with its green and red siblings, and now it seems like a team of Gators are that much closer to the promise land. Reportedly, a gaggle of whiz-kids from the University of Florida have "achieved a new record in efficiency of blue organic light-emitting diodes, and because blue is essential to white light, the advance helps overcome a hurdle to lighting that is much more efficient than compact fluorescents." Franky So (pictured) and his diligent crew were able to reach a peak blue OLED efficiency of 50 lumens per watt, which is halfway to his goal of at least 100 lumens per watt. Hurry it up, folks -- CES is just around the corner.[Via Physorg]
Cox dumps 14 new high-def stations on Pensacola, Florida
We know it's the season for giving and all, but this is pretty extreme. Cox Communications has sent out a flier to its Pensacola, Florida customers informing them that a staggering 14 new high-definition channels are on the way. Seems about right, though, especially given that the last major HD update in the area came back in early June. We won't bother listing all 14 in this space; instead, we'll direct you to the read link to soak it all in. [Warning: PDF read link][Thanks, Scott]
Travel Channel HD follows the road to Comcast's Jacksonville, FL system
We assumed that the solo addition in Houston was an anomaly, but it seems that Comcast may be pushing these stragglers in more locales than that. Out of nowhere, the carrier has added Travel Channel HD in Jacksonville, Florida, a followup of sorts to the two it added just weeks ago. Moral of the story? If you're a Comcast user, be on the lookout for one or two here and there, you just might get lucky.[Thanks, Matthew]
BHN brings four new HD stations to Tampa Bay, Florida
Well, what do you know? Two of the four HD newcomers that landed in Indy earlier today have appeared down in Tampa Bay, Florida. According to an ecstatic local, Golf HD (739), USA HD (740), Bravo HD (742) and SciFi HD (741) have all appeared in the Tampa / St. Petersburg area, keeping it somewhat in line with its Orlando-area lineup. Happy surfing![Thanks, Kaylan]
AT&T lights up U-verse TV in Orlando, Florida
Back in July, AT&T's U-verse services went live in South Florida. Now, those in the central region (Orlando, more specifically) can finally shake the little brother syndrome and indulge as well. On the same day in which AT&T activated U-verse in the Triangle region of North Carolina, it has begun to sell service to select parts of Orlando. The launch will provide the "first serious threat to Bright House Networks' dominance as the main cable provider in Central Florida," much like it's infringing on TWC territory in NC. Sadly, we're still waiting on confirmation of service areas from AT&T, but you can phone your local retail store to see if any information has leaked out to those channels.
Tallahassee enjoys new DirecTV HD locals alone & lonely
Tallahassee, Florida DirecTV customers, we hope you're enjoying your WCTV/CBS, WTWC/NBC and WTLH/Fox high definition locals, because you're getting them alone. This solo market addition to the DirecTV offerings brings the total to 116 (five left for 121), although we're not sure that will make Panhandle residents feel more included. Unofficially, a commenter reports WTTV in Indianapolis is live now as well, maybe you can form a support group?
Bright House gives refunds for 8-hour service outage in Florida
With all the price hikes and complaints about quality, it's not often that you find a story tied to a cable company that's positive. And in fairness, it's totally not positive that Bright House Networks' subscribers in Florida had to deal with an eight hour TV outage starting at around 3:00PM Monday, but just bear with us. In an effort to express its "sincerest apologies," the carrier has decided to automatically issue credits to affected customers. Sure, the refund won't be huge, but it's a sentiment that's rare and much appreciated in today's cutthroat business world. The outage was unlike any other outside of times in which a hurricane had struck, and a corrupt database used to deliver programming to cable boxes was blamed for the incident. We know, you're still upset that you missed the series finale of Boston Legal and / or the trouncing of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but hopefully a few pennies back on your next bill will make things easier to get over.
Comcast adds a few to HD lineup in Naples, Florida
As is happening in many areas across North America, Comcast is shuffling the EPG in Naples, Florida as it looks to transition some analog stations to digital. But aside from the minor SD movers and shakers, we're interesting in the palm-full of new HD stations that'll be coming along for the ride. Beginning on December 8th, viewers in Collier and Lee Counties will see Versus HD and Golf HD emerge as their own separate channels, while AMC HD joins eight days later with the SD feed of MLB Network. Hopefully an HD variant of that last one isn't too far out of the picture.
Comcast gets Cartoon Network HD / E! HD to Jacksonville, Florida
So, what's it like being a Comcast subscriber in Jacksonville, Florida? You know -- to pay oodles of cash for a service and get high-def stations dropped on you in twos and threes rather than by the dozen? From the outside looking in, it's tough to say if the slow and steady approach is actually admired or loathed, but whatever your feelings on the matter, two more are headed to the Florida city. As of now, locals can find Cartoon Network HD and E! HD tucked away in the EPG, and if history is any judge, you will all be seeing a couple more in a month or two. Fingers crossed![Thanks, Matthew]
