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Audi handing out free Xbox 360 Elites and copies of Forza 3
Yeah, you read that headline correctly: Audi is giving away Xbox 360 Elites and copies of Forza Motorsport 3 to anyone who walks in off the street*. All you have to do is walk in to an Audi retailer**, and then receive your game and console***. Unfortunately, this amazing offer seems to only be in effect with Polish Audi retailers, so unless you've got the cash for what would likely be a pricey plane ticket****, you might just have to go without. * - and purchases a Audi TT Forza Motorsport 3 vehicle, prices starting at $37,800. ** - and give them $37,800 *** - and car. **** - and a fairly expensive, Forza-branded coupe [Via VG247, Image]
Report: CD Projekt going public through share deal with Optimus S.A. [update]
Update: We spoke with Paweł Dembowski at Polygamia, who helped shed some more light on the matter. The original report stated the two companies would flip-flop shares, when in reality it's more of a merger. "The major inaccuracy in the early report was that the owners of CD Projekt will become the majority shareholders of Optimus - this is not the case - they will own a half of shares, the other half being owned by the current owners of Optimus," Dembowski said. "So it's more of a merger on equal terms than a takeover on either side." Well, we're glad that mess is sorted out! You can find the original post below.Original post: The developers behind The Witcher and its upcoming sequel are looking to take their company public on the Warsaw Stock Market, Polish site Polygamia reports. It's a bit of an awkward deal, as defunct PC company Optimus S.A. will purchase CD Projekt, though the majority of Optimus S.A.'s shares will be owned by CD Projekt's CEOs -- effectively swapping shares in each other's companies. GI.biz got in touch with Karol Zajaczkowski, marketing director at CDP Red (the studio behind The Witcher, owned by CD Projekt Investment, the company that owns CD Projekt, GoG.com, etc.) and reports the move is in part to help fuel future development, obviously something the company needs to do if it wants to finish the already impressive looking The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. Karol said "this means money for future development of the whole company" and that it's "very good" for CDP. Source - Polygamia report [Via Big Download] Source - GI.biz confirms with CD Projekt's marketing head
Video: Polish students take building light shows to the next level
Our friends at Engadget Polska caught this video of a giant lightshow -- a nerdworks, if you will -- put on by a group of students at Wrocław University of Technology. This is not the first time we've seen such a display, nor is it a first for this particular group, who call themselves Projekt P.I.W.O. -- but it is one of the best (and longest). The ten minute show includes much classic geekery -- Pong, Tetris, Dr. Mario, and Michael Jackson. Yes, that's right: Michael Jackson. Check the video after the break.[Via Engadget Polska]
T-Mobile schedules the G1's European tour
So far the G1 has only been available in the US and UK, but it looks like T-Mo's about to take Android international -- we're told the HTC-made handset will hit the Netherlands, Austria, and the Czech Republic on January 30, Germany on February 2, and Poland a bit later. No detailed pricing information, but it's confirmed that Germans will be able to score a G1 for just €1 ($1.33) with a two-year contract. Hopefully we'll see that pricing make its way Stateside soon -- although the G1 is currently doing quite well at $179, $1 sounds even better.[Via TalkAndroid]
EchoStar's DBS-7100HD HD DVR comes to Cyfrowy Polsat
Poland's largest satellite provider, Cyfrowy Polsat, has just hammered out a deal that will make EchoStar Europe's DBS-7100HD HD DVR available to some 2.4 million subscribers. The box features an HDMI port, Ethernet jack and plenty of silicon to process those delightful high-def feeds. Speaking of -- when can Polish customers expect more than a handful of HD options? No need for a new box if there's no material to take advantage, right?[Via Multichannel News]
Orange denies planting iPhone customers
Last week, there was a story stating that Orange had hired actors to pad iPhone lineups for the Polish debut. This week, they're denying it.According to Orange, some of their employees were joining customers in line to share in the excitement and talk about the product, not pose as potential customers. "Their aim is to welcome people to the Orange shop, share in their excitement and give information about Orange tariffs," a spokeswoman told Ad Age.Of course, if these people were on the clock, then technically they were paid to stand in line. But now we're just splitting hairs. The original story identified fear of slow sales as Orange's motivation, but they're reporting that sales have been good in Poland.In the end, Orange employees were in line, but not to pose as customers. Ah, good. I can sleep tonight.[Via MacDailyNews]
Orange says Polish iPhone 3G customers weren't paid actors
Folks, be honest with us here -- did you really expect Orange and / or Apple to say anything other than this? Amidst reports that iPhone 3G line sitters at Polish Orange stores were actually paid to be there, the carrier has shot back in order to defend its dignity. In an e-mail reply to an Ad Age inquiry on the matter, a spokeswoman proclaimed that as "part of the excitement around the launch of the iPhone, some of [Orange's] team has been joining customers outside [of the] shops." She also noted that "sales were strong" and that Orange "was happy," though actual numbers were not revealed. So there you have it, now make of it what you will.[Image courtesy of AppleBlog]
Orange pays Polish actors to line up for iPhone
Here's an odd story. When the iPhone launches in Poland today (8/22), there will be long lines at Orange retail stores. In fact, it's guaranteed.Reuters is reporting that Orange has hired actors to queue up at "...twenty stores" on Friday to spark in interest. Before you say, "That's crazy," consider that many Americans were willing to sit in line for a week. For free. Perhaps Orange is trying to pad a potentially lukewarm reception to high-priced plans. For example, the base iPhone plan will cost 195PLN ($45) per month and will offer users 150 minutes of talk time plus 500MB of data.Clever marketing or dirty pool? And what happens when the next actor in line reaches the counter and doesn't buy anything?
Orange paying actors to line up for the iPhone 3G in Poland
The iPhone 3G hits 20 more countries tomorrow, and while we doubt the hype will match the craziness of launch day, that's not stopping Orange from trying to re-create the madness in Poland -- it's hiring "dozens" of actors to line up at 20 stores around the country to "drum up interest." Yeah, that's just sad -- especially since there aren't any real customers in line at Polish T-Mobile stores, which is also carrying the phone. Good luck selling phones to your own actors, fools -- when will these companies ever learn?PS.- That's a pic from launch day in Chicago -- any Polish readers have a shot of the actors for us? Send 'em in! Update: Yep, there they are, from appleblog.pl -- and check a video after the break from Gazeta. [Thanks to GreenToad and Yorick_Rise]
SES ASTRA tardily trumpets 12 channels of HD Olympics across Europe
There's nothing here that wasn't apparent already, but SES ASTRA is just now getting around to boasting about a dozen HD channels that it's hosting to broadcast the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Ready for an exhaustive list? The channels broadcasting the Olympics in HD include for the UK, BBC HD, for France, France 2 HD and CANAL+ HD, for Germany, ANIXE HD, for Poland, TVP HD, for the Slovak Republic, STV3, for the Netherlands, 1 HD, for Belgium een HD, for Spain, TELEDEPORTE HD, for Sweden, Viasat HD and SVT HD and for Austria, ORF HD. So yeah, if you somehow missed this for the first week of the Games, at least you're clued in now.[Image courtesy of Beijing 2008]
TVP HD begins airing Olympics in HD
Heads up, international HD mavens. A kind tipster just alerted us to one TVP HD, a channel that just started broadcasting Olympics coverage and will continue to throughout the 2008 Games. After the spectacle has concluded, it will reportedly morph into a station much like BBC HD. Currently, the channel is available via digital cable in Poland on carriers like Multimedia Polska, Aster and a few other smaller companies that provide HD receivers. We're also told that it'll launch shortly on UPC Cable, ITI's digital satellite platform N and (in trial form) via DVB-T. In somewhat related news, the European version of MTV HD just starting testing yesterday on the Hot Bird satellite, with an expected go-live date sometime in September.[Thanks, Arsenal]
Poland's Telekomunikacja Polska S.A. testing HD IPTV
News flash: Poland has gone absolutely berserk here lately, with a slew of carriers introducing HD channels / services all within the last few weeks. Keeping the trend alive is Telekomunikacja Polska S.A., which we'll refer to from here on out as TP. Judging by local reports and the image above, said telco is currently testing out HD IPTV. As you can see, an HD set-top-box is connected to an ADSL router in order to beam Filmbox HD to the set. Unfortunately, a go-live date is still unknown, and the biggest hurdle yet to be overcome is the purported dearth of ADSL availability (or possibly just affordability) in the region. Baby steps, baby steps.[Thanks, Arsenal]
Poland's Inotel delivers high-def via IPTV
Would you look at that? Poland nets another. Amidst the flurry of high-def news (not to mention the launch of Engadget's Polish branch) originating in Poland comes word that yet another provider is vying for local business, and it's using HD as a primary selling point. IPTV carrier Inotel has just launched a tier that contains National Geographic HD and Polsat Sport HD to complement the 41 basic channels and host of other packages. Reportedly, the stations are now live in Poznan and other parts of the Wielkopolska region, though there's no word on future expansion.
Vectra gears up for HD battle in Poland
The high-definition war just gets crazier by the day over in Poland, with no fewer than four announcements from the nation within the last month. Just weeks / hours after Cyfra+ and Aster pledged to boost their respective HD lineups, along comes Vectra to make things even more interesting. The cable carrier has announced that it will be offering up seven high-def channels, including TVN HD, Eurosport HD, Polsat Sport HD, Nat Geo HD, Luxe TV HD, Canal+ Sport HD and Canal+ Film HD. It should be noted that the networks require a decoder to receive, but with all this newfound competition, we're hoping that those costly fees associated with such things begin to sink (or vanish completely).
Introducing Engadget Poland!
Whoa, hard to believe its been three years since the last internationalized version of Engadget launched, but we're back and have a number of new sites in the pipeline -- kicking off with Engadget in Polish!Why Polish, you ask? Well, besides the fact that we had some amazing talent waiting in the wings to blow it out, it's also a smaller (dare we say underserved?) market to soft-launch in that allows us to work out the kinks as we prepare to do even more international versions of Engadget in the coming weeks and months.So if Polish isn't your bag, just hang tight, you'll be seeing even more localized Engadgets soon enough. And if it is, head on over and welcome our Polish team to the fold!
Poland's Aster adds seven HD channels
There's been quite a bit of HD action in Poland of late, but all has been quiet on the Aster front -- until now. The nation's fourth largest operator has just announced a trio of packages that will deliver up to seven high-definition channels to those who cough up the requisite coin. For starters, we've got the HDPack (20 Polish z??oty; $9.38 per month), which contains TVN HD, Discovery HD, History HD, Eurosport HD and Luxe TV HD. Next up is Discovery HD all by its lonesome and the Canal+ HD tier, which includes Canal+ Sport HD and Canal+ Film HD. Each of those sets will demand 6 Polish z??oty ($2.82) per month. For anyone parked in Warsaw, chime in and let us know how the new offerings look.
ITI Neovision's N brings 1080i porn-on-demand to Poland
Hold onto your trousers folks, as ITI Neovision's quizzically named N is bringing HD porn to Polish subscribers anytime they want. The service, which is thought to be the first of its kind in Europe, enables customers to select, purchase and view 1080i XXX-rated titles on-demand. According to a local, the first two flicks to surface are Sensual Dolls and Born To Be Sexy, both of which sound like surefire winners if that's what you're into. No word on how pricey each selection will be, but feel free to test the service out and let us know how it shapes up if you're so bold.[Thanks, Arsenal]
Orange lands broad iPhone distro deal too
We'll make this brief. Orange spokesperson Therese Wenger told the SDA news agency that it has secured rights to release the iPhone (3G version, presumably) in Switzerland and more than 10 other countries -- take that Swisscom! Other countries include Austria, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, and Romania. And France of course where it's already on sale. See, that was quick and leaves room for a dozen or so other iPhone related announcements today.Update: Official Orange press release now out.[Via 20minuten, thanks Pascal M. and Pae]
iPhone news for Switzerland, Spain and Poland
Here's some good news for people in Switzerland, Spain, Poland who are awaiting iPhones. According to Fortune, all three countries may sell them soon.Earlier this week, Le Matin Online reported (linked page is in French) that Swisscom will be the official iPhone carrier for Switzerland. Coincidentally, Apple is rumored to be opening an Apple Store in Zürich in July of this year (we first heard rumors of a Zürich store in 2006). Likewise, France Telecom stated their intention to extend coverage to "...more than just two countries" via their CFO Gervais Pellissier. As the largest European countries that still lack a carrier, Poland and Spain are obviously attractive to France Telecom.In related news, French iPhone customers can expect no immediate changes, as France Telecom intends to remain the country's exclusive carrier for the next two years.To all the TUAW readers in Switzerland, Spain and Poland ... we've got our fingers crossed for you! Let us know if you hear anything from your local news outlets.
Poland's Cyfra+ to raise prices, add in HD offerings
Just weeks after hearing that Poland's Cyfra+ would be acquiring Eurosport HD in late May comes word that the satellite provider will likely be raising its rates in the near future. Based on a local report, customers will have to pay more (exact bumps were undisclosed) for the Basic, Komfort and Prestige packages starting in June, though the fee for National Geographic HD would simultaneously fall. Thankfully, the price hike isn't for naught, as it's planning to add in HBO HD (along with several others later in the year) and its very own VOD service to boot. Make that HD VOD and we're really on to something.
