Nova
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Cox Northern Virginia gets 5 new HD nets: SciFi HD included
No double-takes necessary, Cox has just delivered five new HD channels in the Northern Virginia (Fairfax) area. According to a local familiar with the situation (read: watching the tube), subscribers up that way can now tune into USA HD, Bravo HD, SciFi HD, CNBC HD and Lifetime HD. Per usual, it's anybody's guess as to when (or if) these stations will find their way onto other systems, but don't ever give up hope, alright?[Thanks, Eric]
Ed Colligan speaks about Palm OS 2.0
While Palm's CFO Andy Brown wasn't exactly forthcoming with details about its elusive next-gen OS, a recent interview with top dog Ed Colligan revealed quite a bit about codename Nova. As if it wasn't official enough already, we're told that Palm OS 2.0 (which is also not the final moniker) will indeed be Linux-based, and Ed continued to say that it would be "driven around the internet and web-based applications." Of course, a Palm interview wouldn't be a Palm interview without at least some mention of the now-defunct Foleo, and the bigwig left a crack in the rumor drawer by stating that he "still believed the idea would be vindicated some day." Trust us, there's way more where this came from, so head on down to the read link if your interest is piqued.
Palm CFO keeps cards, products, anything interesting close to the vest
We're not certain why Palm CFO Andy Brown was being so cagey about the company's next-gen Linux-based platform during a "fireside chat" at a recent JPMorgan tech conference, but his devotion to secrecy is almost as interesting as if he had dished out some details on upcoming devices. Wait, no, it's not. Of course, Palm's new OS is being developed by Jon Rubenstein, former Apple hardware and iPod veep, so maybe the paranoia is contagious -- but Brown probably didn't convince anyone when he openly compared Palm to Apple because both companies make both the hardware and the software. That's a pretty hard head-to-head to be in when you're talking about the Centro running Garnet -- maybe some actual products might help that pill go down easier, you know? Brown did say that we'd been seeing the fruits of all this labor sometime "this summer," but didn't mention what it might actually be -- let's hope it's got more design behind it than that nasty Zeppelin prototype.
NOVA 3D LED light display runs at 25fps
You know we love the crazy light fixtures, and it doesn't get much crazier than the NOVA, a 3D LED display developed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology for its 150th birthday. Each of the 25,000 suspended lights contains 12 LEDs, and it's capable of pumping out 16M colors at 25fps. It's on display in Zurich until September 2009 (and we hear it might make an appearance at Wired's NEXTFEST), but if you're thinking about nabbing it for yourself, you'd better bring a crew -- it weighs in at over three tons. Hit the read link for way more info.[Via Digg and Today and Tomorrow]
ASUS keeps things tiny with NOVA LITE Mini 2L PC
Granted, the Nova P22 is probably small enough for the vast majority of folks, but if you weren't feeling the aforementioned machine for whatever reason, here's another option. The NOVA LITE Mini 2L measures in at 9.09- x 7.24- x 2.00-inches and weighs just a few raisins more than the X300 (3.3-pounds for those taking notes). Apparently, this box was designed to simply "meet everyday computing needs" while keeping noise to a minimum, and ASUS has three lovely flavors for you to choose from. Packed within, you'll find up to 2GB of DDR2 RAM, an 80GB / 160GB hard drive, a DVD burner, Ethernet, WiFi (on select models), built-in speakers, four USB 2.0 ports, DVI / VGA and audio in / out connectors. No word on a price, release date or any of that pertinent information, unfortunately.
First Palm OS II devices to hit early 2009, is it already too late?
We wish we were kidding. Palm is sticking with its early-2009 projection for the upcoming Linux-based relaunch of the Palm OS -- possibly codenamed Nova. That means this date isn't exactly a surprise, but we've really been hoping that this 2009 business was some sort of bad dream, since it's abundantly clear that Palm needs a new OS yesterday. To clarify further, Palm's Stephane Mass stated that Palm expects to wrap the OS late in 2008, and get tool to developers in time for devices early in the next year. Palm plans to keep offering Windows Mobile and Palm OS devices, and to make Centro the heart of its 2008 lineup.
Palm's new OS codenamed "Nova"?
Palm Infocenter is reporting that the codename being thrown around internally in reference to its Linux based next-gen operating system is "Nova." The phrase "no va" in Spanish literally translates to "not going," but wait -- it gets better: we're also hearing that Nova is being tested on the Zeppelin device, a type of airship with a reputation for crashing and burning back in the day. Now look, we'd love to see Palm pull out of its tailspin just as much as the next guy and wow us with some hot, new software on top of hot, new hardware, but this naming convention isn't doing it any favors, now is it?
Comcast beefs up HD lineup in DC Metro area
We could certainly get used to hearing all these HD expansion stories, but the ones most excited about Comcast's latest additions are housed all around our nation's capital. According to tipster Casey, customers in and around Baltimore, Maryland and Northern Virginia are just now receiving six new high-definition channels: Discovery Channel HD, CNN HD, TLC HD, USA HD, Animal Planet HD, and yes, Sci-Fi HD, too. Interestingly, it's said that subscribers in Washington, D.C. have yet to see the newcomers, but feel free to toss a comment in below if that status changes.[Thanks, Casey B.]
HTC Touch getting upgraded on some carriers
Time flies, doesn't it? Seems like it was just a few months ago that HTC announced the HTC Touch. Ah, that's right, it was just a few months ago. Anyway, time stops for no phone in the wireless industry, and HTC's been hard at work re-upping the Touch with twice the RAM and ROM -- now up to 128MB and 256MB, respectively -- and O2 Germany, T-Mobile Germany, and T-Mobile UK have all snapped the new model right up into their inventories. Get 'em now, if you're lucky enough to be within range of such a carrier.[Via the::unwired]Read - T-Mobile UKRead - T-Mobile GermanyRead - O2 Germany
Rest in peace, Starcraft: Ghost
Caiden of Dalvengyr was exploring in Netherstorm the other day when he came upon something unusual: a futuristic blue monument that lit up with different symbols, including a V and a horseshoe. A couple people tossed out guesses as to the purpose of the monument -- the Ashbringer, the iHearthstone, the key to defeating warlocks -- before Blizzard rep Drysc chimed in: "Rest in peace Nova... I close my eyes Only for a moment, then the moment's gone All my dreams Pass before my eyes, a curiosity Dust in the wind All they are is dust in the wind... /tear" Nova, of course, is the heroine of Starcraft: Ghost. The flashing symbols spell out an approximation of her name. Apparently Blizzard has set up a memorial for one of their own games in Netherstorm. I guess this is as good as sign as any, along with the announcement of Starcraft 2, that Ghost has joined Duke Nukem Forever in the eternal vaporware bin.
Starcraft: Ghost may be revisited by Blizzard 'one day'
It has been ever so long since we talked about the scar we have from the deep wound Blizzard gave us when they canceled postponed StarCraft: Ghost. At yesterday's Hollywood and Games Summit, Blizzard's Rob Pardo said, "I still believe in that game and the characters but we were not able to execute at the level we wanted to ... Rather than work on that we had to focus on our other games. We're hoping one day to return to it." Yay, there's hope!Although, it's probably hope for our children. With StarCraft II, a World of Warcraft expansion, and that other thing coming, it's going to be a long time before we ever see the resurrection of Starcraft: Ghost. Plus, they'd have to start the programming from scratch again, it's not like they're just going to gussy up the game we already played -- and we all know how long that process takes with Blizzard.
Globesurfer ICON USB HSDPA modem adds support for US networks
Following up on its previous Globesurfer ICON, which was Europe- and Asia-only, Nova Media's new Globesurfer ICON 7.2 Ready kit updates the included Option modem to the now-standard USB key form factor and, more importantly, adds a dash of that sweet 850 and 1900MHz UMTS action -- making it usable on AT&T's HSDPA network and T-Mobile EDGE in the States. Other than the hardware change, though, the package is basically the same: OS X and Windows software (OS X users get Nova's launch2net utility with 300 preloaded network configurations), HSDPA / UMTS 3G / EDGE / GPRS support with download speeds up to 7.2Mbps on HSDPA (384Kbps up) and 220Kbps on EDGE (80Kbps up). Sadly, Nova says that speeds will be slower when connected to 850 and 1900MHz networks. Of course. Look to drop about €299 ($406) for the ICON Ready at the end of May.
Rumor: FFXIII chapter coming to the DS?
Final Fantasy XIII will be an odd beast, containing a primary entry (currently an exclusive for the PS3) and several spin-off titles, a la Final Fantasy VII; the collection as a whole will be entitled Fabula Nova Crystallis. However, only two spin-offs had been announced: Final Fantasy XIII Versus, also for the PS3, and Final Fantasy XIII Agito, available for mobile phones. These were apparently the only planned titles until the above (beside?) picture surfaced, clearly showing at least three more unknown entries in the series.Square-Enix knows how unbelievably profitable the DS is, and recently released review scores of FFXII: Revenant Wings will ensure solid sales in Japan. Personally, we find it hard to believe that one of these titles won't be coming to the DS, and heck, who knows ... there might even be a Wii title in there too.
PBS shows available on iTunes Store
'This program made possible by iTunes users like you.'PBS is classing up the iTunes Store with a selection [iTS link] of children's and primetime programming. Available for purchase are episodes of Arthur, Cyberchase, FETCH! With Ruff Ruffman, Antiques Roadshow, Nova, Now, and Scientific American Frontiers (which is my favorite of the lot, however, Alan Alda is no Woodie Flowers).The standard iTunes Store pricing of $1.99 per episodes applies to all the PBS programming.[via iLounge]Update: As Russ points out, Nova episodes cost $7.99. I didn't notice that earlier. That seems a little high to me, but Nova is a fine show.
