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Apple event tomorrow at 10:00AM BST / 5:00AM EDT, set your alarms (really!)
Europeans have been waiting in constant anticipation since June 29th to hear when and in what form their version of the iPhone will take. The rumors pretty much revolve around which carriers in which regions will get the phone, with a hint of speculation about a 3G update in HSDPA and UMTS rife Europe. Will Apple give us what we all want, or are we looking at the same ol' locked EDGE phone, this time with three or more different equivalents of AT&T? Or will Apple throw a fast one on us all and announce one more thing? Tomorrow morning -- or evening, or afternoon -- we'll be there to find out.Go here and bookmark this page, it's where the action takes place in London tomorrow morning.11:00PM - Hawaii (September 17th)2:00AM - Pacific3:00AM - Mountain4:00AM - Central5:00AM - Eastern10:00AM - London11:00AM - Paris6:00PM - TokyoGot any more timezones / comments / predictions? Now's the time to let loose in the comments. Of course, you can still opt out of all this Apple news by checking this link.Update: Woops! We changed the URL slightly for the date -- we're working on an automatic forward, or you can re-bookmark above.
Interactive nightclub to thrill Londoners
Rest assured, there's no shortage of glamorous nightclubs, but a new spot is set to excite Londoners that have a thing for exaggerated lighting and all things interactive. Dubbed the "first interactive bar in the world," each wall will be lined in blank canvas so that projections can be beamed out and altered on a whim to really get you trippin'. Additionally, there will be "hundreds of LEDs" to treat your retinas to, and the bar itself will even be touch sensitive, allowing you to alert the bartender of your drink needs by simply laying your hand down. Sounds like a bloody good time for you blokes (and dames) in the area, but for the rest of us, we'll have to settle with a few more stills after the jump. [Warning: PDF read link][Via CNET]
Networked cameras to seek out parking violators
The folks in England just can't catch a break. As if hovering surveillance drones, camcorder-wielding traffic wardens and helmet cam-equipped officers aren't enough to keep you on the straight and narrow, London's city of Westminster is apparently looking to "install networked security cameras that can recognize parking permits and the plates of offending vehicles." Essentially, the system would enable parking violators to be ticketed without an actual human witnessing the offense, and it's being dubbed "the most significant application to be deployed on the Westminster's WiFi network." Eventually, the council plans to roll out about 250 of these sure-to-be-hated cameras, and it should ruin enough people's days to "pay for itself in two to three years."[Via CNET, image courtesy of BBC]
UK drivers caught texting could get 2 years behind bars
UK Drivers caught texting or operating a range of gadgets behind the wheel -- including MP3 players and GPS systems -- could face a new maximum of two years in prison. Currently the crime is punishable by £2,500 fines or community orders, although the most common offense is using a mobile phone whilst driving, which results in a £60 fine and three points on a license. Shifting to a higher category of dangerous driving from the previous category of careless driving might not solve the problem of people ignoring the current restrictions: if the current problem is poor enforcement, then it's hard to see extra deterrence making a difference. But hey, the cops over there seem to think that hovering drones and unbridled surveillance does the trick in other areas of criminality, so who are we to argue?[Via PocketPCThoughts]
Video Games Live goes to London with Halo 3
In an effort to bring the Video Games Live concert series to the worldwide masses, Microsoft and the Xbox 360 will be sponsoring a London VGL concert. The London concert will take place at the The Royal Festival Hall on October 22nd and feature the normal video game music lineup plus a special Halo 3 musical arrangement performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra. And since Xbox 360 will be sponsoring all the VGL fun, concert goers will be able to play some of this Fall's amazing 360 games, do a little cos-play and partake in gaming tournaments at the event. If you're in the London area and are interested in going you can purchase your tickets online at the Southbank Centre.
Kevlar-lined clothing a hot commodity in London
It's no secret that rashes of violent crime in London have been plaguing the city for some time now, but some parents are going to Kevlar-lined extremes in order to protect their offspring whilst away from home. Reportedly, orders for Kevlar-infused school uniforms and casual wear have skyrocketed of late, as school-aged stabbings seem to be on the rise. Notably, plenty of orders are coming in from the States as well, and while Deputy Asst. Commissioner Al Hitchcock claimed that merely "one-percent" of crimes around London involved a knife, mums and dads would seemingly rather be safe than sorry.[Via Wired]
London's MacLiveExpo scheduled
This year's MacLiveExpo schedule has been announced. The event will run October 25-27 at London's Olympia exhibition centre. New this year is the Hands on Theater, which will connect attendees with multimedia professionals, as well as the Seminar Theater, which will host enough seminars, debates and workshops to interest everyone.Here's the best part: admission is free for the first 5,000 pre-registered visitors! After that, you'll pay £15 each. It sounds like a great time. Let us know if you attend.[Via MacMinute]
London hit by malware-infected USB ruse
Joining the infamous Chip & PIN terminal hacks as yet another way to siphon banking details from unlucky Londoners, a group of "malware purveyors" reportedly dropped off tempting Trojan-infused USB drives in a UK parking lot in hopes that unsuspecting individuals would take the bait and subsequently hand over their banking credentials. Supposedly, Check Point regional director Nick Lowe mentioned the wile at the Infosec trade show, but couldn't elaborate due to the ongoing investigation. Another insight suggested that such chicanery was becoming "the new phishing email," but hey, where's the love for those oh-so-vulnerable ATMs? Take note, dear Brits, that the free storage you're eying on the park bench could end up costing you quite a bit in the long run.
Nokia installs clever touchscreen game to market N95
These days, it really takes something special to catch to eye of the desensitized market, and Nokia's shifting the focus back to the consumer with its lighthearted touchscreen game at a London bus stop. The interactive advertisement requests that the player flip the pockets in order to find matches, but it also insinuates that the sleek Nokia N95 smartphone is just too slim and inconspicuous to readily pick out. Of course, we highly doubt it's all that difficult to spot after a flip or two, but the idea here is novel nonetheless. If nothing else, it sure breaks up the boredom (or frustration) felt whilst waiting on the next bus, so be sure to click on through for a video of the thing so you'll know it when you cross it.[Via FreshCreation]
UK's CIS Solar Tower garners 390-kilowatts from the sun
We're not entirely sure if Manchester's CIS Solar Tower will be the world's grandest solar tower, but in terms of buildings have moved beyond the drawing board, it definitely packs a punch. Reportedly, the flaky construction led to dilapidating walls, which were then replaced by a much greener solution -- 7,244 Sharp 80W photovoltaic panels, to be precise. Curiously, only 4,898 of the modules are actually functional, but they still soak up enough sunlight to generate 390-kilowatts of energy, or in layman's terms, enough juice to "power 1,000 PCs for a year." Additionally, the roof is home to two dozen wind turbines that generate 10-percent of the total power used in the building. Of course, such an endeavor did ring up at a steep £5.675 million ($11.4 million), but we're pretty certain this solar panel makeover was concerned with matters other than dollars and cents. Click on through for a top-down shot.[Via MetaEfficient]
London to become Europe's largest WiFi hotspot
As if blanketing the rim of the River Thames with WiFi wasn't good enough to get us out of the office and into the park, the Evening Standard is reporting that the whole city of London will soon becomes "Europe's biggest wireless internet hotspot." As expected, some 130 base stations will be arranged in a sophisticated mesh networking setup, which will span "the entire Square Mile," subsequently giving about 350,000 employees in the area access to unadulterated wireless internet. Wireless gurus from The Cloud are working in conjunction with city officials to tie off the final steps, and while initial coverage areas will dwarf Soho and Barbican City, the map above shows just how broad the service could get. Unfortunately, this edition of citywide WiFi will not come gratis, as users who plan to take advantage will be kindly asked to fork over about £11 ($22) a month for access.[Via Inquirer]
Kingston unveils flash storage vending machine in UK
We wouldn't recommend hopping on the next non-stop flight to London Gatwick Airport's North Terminal or anything, but for those passing through in dire need of an extra SD / CF card or USB drive, Kingston's got your back. Joining SIM cards, iPods, digicams, shoes, and all sorts of other bizarre goods, Kingston's self-branded vending machine will doll out presumably overpriced flash memory to travelers in need. Reportedly, New Jersey-based MyMemory will be operating the machines, and of course, they will all be open 24/7 for your late night (and mid-day) flash storage requirements. Interestingly, the UK units will supposedly utilize the oft hacked Chip & PIN technology, which means the countdown to gobs of free memory (and a high-speed police chase) has officially begun.[Via EverythingUSB]
From Rock Journalist to WoW Addict
At the end of March, the Times issued an 8-page supplement along with a demo of World of Warcraft. Aside from getting me wondering how many Londoners are now trying out the game, it brought along a fantastic article by Caitlin Moran. You'll want to read the article to understand the image accompanying this posting. In "My life as a bearded dwarf", we're given a humorous and insightful view into what can drag a mild-mannered reporter and mother of two into the world's biggest online game. Okay, maybe mild-mannered is pushing it. This is the same Caitlin Moran who started off into the world of music journalism at 16, wished an entire band dead in an album review, and who's spent time hanging out with Robbie Williams and writing on how cocaine has been responsible for some great albums. Yes, I owe my knowledge of these facts to the mighty Wikipedia. While her choice of character names (Scottbaio) leaves much to be desired, I'm left wondering how long it'll be before I actually see a Thrusthammer Orcbash on a realm near me. How did you get into World of Warcraft? When was it that you realized that you had been entirely sucked in, and the 20 minutes you THOUGHT you were going to spend turned into 2 or 3 hours? Thanks a million to Dave for the submission!
Oi, talking CCTV cameras coming to London
Despite growing concerns over the UK sleep-walking into a surveillance society, 20 more English towns (including London) have signed on for talking CCTV cameras. Already, an estimated 4.2 million CCTV cameras already installed across Britain. The new talkies are expected to cost about £500,000 (nearly $1 million) and target those who "litter our streets, vandalise our communities and damage our properties," according to Home Secretary John Reid. He goes on to state that the original trials in Middlesbrough were "hugely popular" where the local councillor says they've prevented fights, criminal damage, and cut litter levels. Is that enough? Cue the Orwellian dystopia chatter... now.[Thanks Paul, Image courtesy of Peter Marshall]
River Thames' banks now WiFi-enabled via mesh networking
This one is most definitely for the kid in all of us. C'mon, at age seven, visiting the River Thames in central London is probably on the top ten most unexciting ways to spend a crucial week of summer vacation, but if you could snag a WiFi signal whilst the 'rents oohed and ahhed at all the lovely sights, now we're talking. Thanks to the Thames Online mesh networking system, bored children and internet addicts alike can disregard the beauty around them and focus more on things that truly matter, as the service stretches 22-kilometers (about 12.5-miles) along the banks from Millbank near the Houses of Parliament to the Millennium Dome in Greenwich. The system utilizes equipment from Proxim Wireless -- namely the company's 100 ORiNOCO AP-4000MR mesh access points -- and adding CCTV video surveillance cams, VoIP channels, and GPS capabilities are all in the cards. Sadly, this turnkey service is far from gratis, as users will be forced to hand over £2.95 ($5.79) for one hour, £5.95 ($11.68) for a day, £7.95 ($15.61) for a week, or £9.95 ($19.53) for a month of quasi-unlimited service.[Via WiFi-Planet]
S.PORT brings replays to PSP
London's Arsenal fans better pack their PSP systems with them when traveling to their next game. Sony is introducing a prototype streaming program called S.PORT which will allow PSP owners to see replays, stats and other game scores via a wireless feed within the Arsenal Football Club."It will allow you to check to see whether or not a player really was off side", said Eric Siereveld, Director of Retail Transport Venues at Sony. There's a lot that Sony will have to address before the program goes live, such as whether or not it can work on other devices. If the services proves popular enough, there's no reason not to expand it: "It could be used at any stadium around the UK, or even a golf match where it is sometimes hard to see the ball flying through the air."According to Pocket-lint, a trial is expected to begin shortly.[Via CNET]
Sony gives free HDTVs to devoted PS3 launch fans
One million PLAYSTATION 3 systems are hitting Europe right now. Of those million, the first hundred gamers at Sony's launch event in London, were treated to a huge surprise: a free 46" HDTV, and a free taxi ride home. (Having these blokes murdered at launch for the free swag would undeniably be a PR nightmare!) BBC reports that the televisions were worth an impressive total of £250,000. 17-year-old Ritatsu Thomas was at the front of the line, and he was unsurprisingly grateful: "I feel fantastic. I'm delighted that everyone here also gets a television."While not every person to pick up a PS3 at launch will be as lucky as these few, it's clear that PlayStation fever is sweeping Europe. Stay tuned for more launch mayhem.
Brits learn from U.S., some stores cancel PS3 midnight launch
In an effort to protect the citizens of London during the PlayStation 3 launch this Friday, police expressed security concerns and two major retailers on Oxford Street have canceled their midnight launches. Virgin Megastore will still proceed as scheduled, but Game and HMV are opening at their normal time the following morning.Great examples of the right and wrong way to hold a launch occurred in Boston last year during the PS3's U.S. launch. Best Buy at Landmark saw the writing on the wall and canceled their midnight launch, placing public safety above profit. On the other hand, the Sony Style Store at Copley Square took a very different approach. Although they didn't hold a midnight launch, they withheld information from customers about how many units were available and caused tensions to escalate over the evening. It all came to a head the following morning with screaming crowds and panic. The mayor ended up billing Sony for the chaos, but at least nobody got shot. Best advice to our fellow gamers across the pond: Stay calm Europe, stay calm.
London Underground to trial wireless availability
If you're ready for that precious uninterrupted cellular service while traveling under the ground on the London Underground mass transit service, your day may be coming. The Underground has announced a six-month trial starting in 2008 that will determine if it is economically and technically feasible to bring wireless service to all underground portions of the railway, which does not currently feature wireless service in the underground sections; first to get the treatment will be the trial in the Waterloo and City lines.[Via Slashgear]
Update on the London charity Meetup
Last week, we told you about the best positive use of the DS this month: the DS Meetup group in London and their upcoming charity tournament. Well, the group has finalized tournament details, so we thought it worth updating our readers in London who may be interested in the event, which is scheduled for this Saturday at the University of London Student Union. If any of our readers go, we'd love to hear about it![Thanks, Joe!]
