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Second server unlocked in Iris ARG
Indeed, the Halo 3 Iris ARG is still trucking along with new discoveries happening daily and the second server (episode) getting unlocked. So, how did the second server get cracked? Good thing you asked, because we have all the confusing details.Since our last update, players used the knowledge they gained from the flood containment control job listing recordings to find a website featuring a map of the United States. The map had a bunch of red dots on each state highlighting various electronic retailers and a string of mysterious text attached to each dot. Nobody knew exactly what was supposed to go down until someone noticed that the website page's title read "3463 5467k" which, if typed into a phone, reads "FIND KIOSK". So, players went to Xbox 360 kiosks at the dotted locations and discovered a hidden Halo 3 trailer that flashed text referring to the vigenere cipher. Using the vigenere cipher, player decoded the mysterious text on the map's red dots to lead them to another website where they received a code. And just like the other server, the first 100 players to enter the code helped unlock the second server spilling its transcripts, images and audio recordings. What's most exciting is that I was lucky enough to help unlock the second server by being the 99th player to enter the code (photographic proof above). The first server's lucky 100 unlockers received a thank you package with all kinds of goodies and I can only hope that they'll be doing the same with the second server. What can I say, I love free stuff.And so that's where everything stands with three more servers still needing to be unlocked. As always, you can head over to the unfiction forums to discuss the latest news and jump on over to the Iris Wiki to get the latest recap of all the events. Until next time ... ARG out.
Time for an update, Iris ARG is still kicking
It's time for another Halo 3 ARG update and we actually have news to discuss since our last downtime report. So, here we go. On July 4th args.bungie.org discovered a mysterious glyph symbol on a cardboard Halo 3 promo item further linking our Halo 3 to the ARG fun. July 5th brought news that the 100 lucky souls who "unlocked" the first server back on June 20th received packages from Microsoft. These packages included a sweet Halo 3 Iris tshirt (yeah, we're jealous), a gamer picture download code, and some Society of the Ancients materials. On July 6th a member on the args.bungie.org forums used the power of Google to find numerous job listings by a company called Flood Containment Control. The job listings referenced to the glyph and listed cell number (888) 778-5672 which is a voice recording of a conversation. And that's where everything sits right now. The conversation on the voice recording is being analyzed (transcribed here) as everyone is trying to put these confusing pieces together.This ARG has yet to kick into fourth gear and is still moving at a slow (but steady) pace. But we're watchful and hopeful that the goodness will come together soon and the missing pieces will be put into place. Until then, keep an eye on the Halo 3 Iris Wiki for up to date recapped info. And Iris, we love you too.
Halo 3 Iris ARG is experiencing some downtime
Our beloved Halo 3 ARG Iris is in a lull right now as no new info has been released, no new puzzles have surfaced, and no new contacts have been made for days. It's what ARG members refer to as an in-game lull. No, it doesn't mean Iris has been mysteriously canceled or that it sucks, because this is quite the normal occurrence in most ARGs. You see, these games go in cycles, sometimes there's a huge amount of info and work to be done while other times there's really nothing happening ... right now we're experiencing the latter. If you remember, Halo 2's ilovebees extravaganza started off rather slow with only an update once every week or so until things really got juicy and payphones started ringing. So, we just wanted to tell you that Iris is not dead, we just have to be patient, and hopefully more fun will be had when new servers are unlocked. But we agree with you, waiting stinks.
Penny ARGade digging Iris
Wednesday's Penny Arcade shows Tycho's heavy interest in the current Halo 3 ARG, Iris. His news post goes into detail about how he was an avid follower of I Love Bees back in 2004, and this time 'round appears to be no different. That being said, Gabe's little gem of wisdom does ring true when you look at the grand scheme of things, though we're not complaining. What are you thinking of this ARG so far? Is it up to I Love Bees high standard of depth, interactivity, and attention to detail? Or is it perhaps too early to make that assessment?
Open your eyes, Iris ARG continues
The Halo 3 ARG, Iris, is finally starting to get interesting. Yes, we've moved beyond mock websites and the requisite countdown clocks. Now we actually have something concrete ... sort of. The IP address revealed at Halo3.com/comic (206.16.223.65) now displays one of the "servers" pictured on Halo3.com. Incidentally, Halo3.com shows that the server is unlocked as well, though clicking it produces no results. On the IP address, the floating "server" (or whatever it is) rotates. Clicking on it allows you to rotate it manually and click on certain hidden symbols, which prompt you to download certain documents (including the image above). Additionally, a symbol on the front of the object causes it to unfold and display a movie which contains cryptic messages spliced with strange footage (and a few snippets from previous Halo games).Right now, we're not certain what it all means. Hopefully, Iris will develop into a more concrete experience in the coming weeks. Check out some of the various new documents after the break, including the video.
HTC preps a few more models (hint: CDMA Touch!)
HTC's model naming convention has always been just a little tricky to commit to memory, and with this latest batch, it certainly ain't getting any easier. A couple of these we've heard about before -- namely the Nike, Kaiser, and Shangri-La -- but the rest are brand new to us and very exciting. First up, the S640 "Iris" is a CDMA rendition of the Excalibur and Cavalier, tossing in EV-DO rev. A and WiFi atop Windows Mobile 6 Standard. The "Vogue" is essentially a Touch (TouchFLO UI and all) with the same EV-DO rev. A guts as the Iris -- good news for Verizon and Sprint customers, we'd imagine. GSM users have reason to celebrate here too, though, in the form of the "Volans" and "Polaris." These two are upgrades to the Vox and Artemis, respectively, adding in much-needed 3G radios and faster processors. Finally, the P6550 "Sedna" appears to be some sort of industrial device with support for a credit card reader -- though with a 3 megapixel cam and 3G data, we wouldn't mind having one ourselves. Release dates are up in the air on most of these, but our money is on late '07.[Via The Boy Genius Report]Update: Crikey, the Shangri-La's slide reveals that the device -- HTC's entry into the UMPC fray -- runs both Vista and Windows Mobile 6. Sound vaguely familiar? [Thanks, Kevin]
Halo 3 ARG "Iris" update and it's getting good
Our once nameless Halo 3 ARG has flowered into a beautiful "Iris". Yup, that's the official name attached to our ARG per a Microsoft spokesperson who spoke with Eurogamer."'Iris' is a spiral campaign designed to take gamers on an incredible journey through the Halo Universe. Led by an 'unknown' hand, users will discover bits of previously unknown information about the Halos, the Flood, the Forerunners, and the true origins behind the Halo trilogy."Sounds fun doesn't it? That description alone makes us want to play and learn more. So ... that's about it for ARG news. Wait, you want to know more? You want the dish on what has been happening with AdjuntantReflex and SOTA? Well, we're push-over bloggers and you sound sincere enough. Complete recap of what has happened in the Iris ARG (since our last update) is posted after the break. Enjoy.
Qritek intros iris-recognizing IRIBIO mouse
If a mouse with a built-in fingerprint reader isn't enough to calm your security concerns, you may want to give Qritek's latest peripheral some consideration, which ups the biometric game by packing its own iris scanner. Apparently, the company's IRIBIO mouse can not only be used to control acccess to a PC, but to specific files as well -- presumably, there's also some sort of software measures involved to prevent people from simply swapping out the mouse for less security-minded one. While it may have the biometric advantage over standard mice, it certainly doesn't stand out when it comes to other mouse features, boasting an unremarkable 600 dpi resolution along with the standard two buttons and a scroll wheel. Only the most cautious/paranoid need apply here through, as the cost for this particular extra piece of mind is a hefty ¥37,800, or $315.[Via Plastic Bamboo]
MIT researchers develop speedy retina scanner to diagnose ocular diseases
Although the mere mention of "retinal scanner" may get the blood boiling in privacy advocates, the latest such device out of MIT sports a much more innocent soul. Researchers at the school have reportedly developed a method to "scan the retina at record speeds of up to 236,000 lines per second, or ten-times faster than current technology." This process will allow doctors to snap "high detailed 3D images of the eye," which can be used to non-invasively spot ocular diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration much earlier and more accurately. The process itself is dubbed optical coherence tomography (OCT), and while things seem to moving along as scheduled, it will still be "five years or more" before we see this thing commercialized.[Via MedLaunches]
US military to launch WiFi router into space
The mysterious expanses of space have been seeing quite a lot of action lately, but rather than watching a couple of autonomous crafts tackle tasks for kicks, the US military is hoping to set their next router right beside a constellation. Partnering with Intelsat and Cisco Systems, the US Department of Defense is hoping "to test an internet router in space in hopes of benefiting civilian broadband satellite communications." Additionally, the Internet Routing In Space (IRIS) project aims to assist in all sorts of "military communications," as it routes IP traffic between space-bound sats and cuts down on the time required to divvy out information. As expected, voice, video, and data will all be supported, and once the three-year initiative is complete, "the technology will be available for commercial use" -- you know, in case you're looking to relocated your networking gear to the Black Hole.
Sarnoff wants to scan your iris without your knowledge
Okay, so it's more like the US government wanting to snag shots of your eyeballs sans your knowledge, but still, Sarnoff Corporation (yet another New Jersey firm interested in ocular studies) has recently filed a patent application that spells out a snazzy method of quickly photographing a helpless individual's facial region multiple times in order to (hopefully) capture one solid look at the iris. This newfangled manner of jacking biometrics from clueless pedestrians is actually being requested by the American government, as it apparently hopes to use it to run constant background checks with the information on file in order to peg a threat as they're strolling through. The device is slated to beam a "powerful, infrared strobe light" onto the subjects' faces, which syncs up with the camera exposures and creates a bank of hopeful photos for each individual, presumably chewing through terabytes of hard drive space in the process. Regardless, even this tactical approach probably won't be effective for long -- you know, considering every potential baddie now knows to rock the welder's glasses from here on out.[Via ]
FCC reveals the Inventec "Iris"
What's that one killer feature missing from the HTC Apaches, Wizards, and Hermes of the world? Biometric security? Naw. DVB-H reception? Try again. It's an integrated barcode scanner, of course! ODM Inventec is about to correct that grave injustice, though, having pushed its "Iris" through the FCC for Opticon, which'll apparently sell it in two flavors as the H-16A and H-16B (not sure where the difference lies). The Windows Mobile Pocket PC looks fairly standard otherwise, featuring a slide-out QWERTY keyboard and support for both GSM 850 and 1900. Better watch your back, Symbol.
Maine Sheriff's Department building kids iris database
Looks like the Penobscot County Sheriff's Department in Maine is the latest to get in the biometrics game, investing in an iris scanner and setting out to scan and record the vitals of all the children in the area. The department's not just freelancing here though, with each kid's biometric information being contributed to the nationwide Children's Identification and Location Database (or CHILD) project, intended to aid in locating and identifying missing children. While it has already scanned some 500 kids' eyes, the Sheriff's Department is now looking to speed up the process by bringing the technology into schools to register 'em all in one fell swoop. Of course, similar programs haven't always been met well by privacy-conscious parents in the past, but the department looks to be trying to accommodate any concerns by first sending home a permission slip with the students that parents must sign off on. While this scan is strictly a one time deal, at the rate various biometric systems are moving into schools, we somehow suspect that it won't be the last encounter the students have with the technology in the course of their edification.
JVC throws out the iris but still achieves 10,000:1 contrast ratio
Most projectors claim to have a very high contrast ratio along the lines of 10,000:1 - 15,000:1 reach this number with an adjustable iris. The aperture changes size and allows for light to flood in and out, but JVC has taken the conventional design and kicked it to the curb. Their design doesn't utilize a dynamic iris but can still achieve the highly sought after contrast ratio of 10,000:1. We don't know how they did it and we really don't think they are going to tell us in detail as this is a feat of technology -- that's if it looks and works good. This model is currently just a prototype and there isn't any word of product just yet although we are sure if this system works like they say, we will see this guy sometime soon.[via HDBlog]
Atelier Iris DS website open
A few days ago, we so kindly let you know that the popular RPG Atelier Iris has decided to make an appearance on Nintendo DS. Now we are here to tell you that the site for Atelier Iris DS is up. There are plenty of images to gaze at if you are the type of person who should have taken Japanese instead of Latin in high school (like us). You guys really need to read blogger David Hinkle's personal summary of the game. It's classic and it makes us crave pancakes. You can find it here:
