San Diego
Latest
Shooting at Apple Store in San Diego leaves one robbery suspect dead
NBC's San Diego affiliate is reporting that an early-morning attempted theft at the Apple Store at Otay Ranch Town Center turned deadly when one of the alleged participants in the smash-and-grab attempt was shot and killed by a security guard. Police told the TV station that the incident occurred right before 7 AM Pacific Time this morning, before the store was open. The store manager was already working inside the store when three suspects smashed the glass doors at the front of the store; they were confronted by the guard. The guard told police that the exchange of fire began when one of the suspects produced a handgun. The three would-be robbers crashed their car nearby in an attempt to escape. One male suspect was shot and killed by the guard; the other two suspects, a man and a woman, were arrested shortly afterward in a nearby residential area. Store employees identified the surviving suspects as the same people who had attempted to break into the store. Apple stores that maintain storefronts on public-access streets, unlike those within enclosed malls, are frequently subject to glass-break theft. In 2009, an employee at the Clarendon store in the Washington, DC suburbs was shot and injured during a robbery attempt. Attempts to reach the Otay Ranch store by telephone were unsuccessful. Thanks to Lee for the heads-up.
Audi commissions four US universities to research urban mobility issues
We've seen what other companies have in store for our automotive future, and now Audi's given us a glimpse of what we can expect from its car of tomorrow. The company's Silicon Valley research lab has teamed up with four universities here in the US to develop technologies that will give city drivers the full KITT treatment -- vehicles that recognize the driver (and his or her preferences) and can detect and avoid dangers and traffic delays. Called the Audi Urban Intelligence Assist initiative, each participating university has a specific area of urban mobility research ranging from urban crash analysis to aggregating historical and real-time traffic, parking, and pedestrian data in cities. The schools will also study how best to deliver relevant information to drivers and get them from point A to point B as easily and efficiently as possible. Looks like the groundwork is being laid for a German counterpart to GM's EN-V we test drove in Vegas, and we look forward to the fruits of their labor. Ich bin ein Ingolstädter!
T-Mobile adds Boston, San Diego, Miami, others to HSPA+ live list
T-Mobile USA isn't backing down with its somewhat controversial "4G speeds" rhetoric for its rapidly-growing HSPA+ network -- and when you consider that real-world performance on it can meet or exceed what Clear and Sprint will get you in some markets on WiMAX, we can't say we blame them. Next to enjoy the 4G-esque experience from the nation's number four carrier are a few major markets -- Boston, San Diego, and Miami -- along with Erie, Pennsylvania, Fresno, Palm Springs, Richmond, Spokane, and Topeka. Though the G2 is lining up to be the carrier's first true HSPA+ smartphone, T-Mobile's quick to remind everyone that the upgrades also mean that over 15 current devices in its lineup will see some benefits as well; not "4G speeds," of course, but better than the HSPA they'd had before. See T-Mobile's full statement after the break.
UCSD researchers hope to track airborne toxins with sensor-equipped cellphones
If researchers the world over have their way, cellphones will one day be used to detect and track everything from nuclear radiation to pollution to cancer, and it looks like you can now add one more to the group -- some researchers from the University of California, San Diego have developed a tiny sensor that could eventually let cellphones track airborne toxins in real time. To do that, the researchers have proposed a rather novel system that would consist of a tiny silicon sensor that changes color when it interacts with various chemicals, and a equally tiny camera with a macro lens that would actually capture an image of the sensor and display it on the phone's screen. As you might have guessed, however, while the researchers are now showing off the sensor itself, they still have a ways to go on the cellphone part of the equation -- although they have apparently started work on a prototype.
ELAN Awards heading to San Diego next July
The traditionally Canada-based ELAN Awards today announced intentions to bring the show to San Diego next July 17–19, ending just before the San Diego Comic Con kicks off. Celebrating "video games, animation and visual effects," the fourth year's show makes it's US debut with two days of lavish events before culminating in the actual awards ceremony on the 19th. Though the event's promoters promise everything from a welcome pool party to a red carpet engagement, we're most excited about something called the "sexiest party ever thrown for video games." Aside from knowing that it's a "street party" taking place in the "historic gaslamp quarter" of San Diego, we're just as flummoxed as you are as to what a sexy party for game industry folks could possibly be. With all those nerds in one place, though, it's assured that iPhones will capture the whole thing in all its confusing, clumsy, awkward glory.
Realm Championships and a 2010 preview for the TCG
The WoW TCG has just finished up their year with the World Championships, but apparently they're not sitting back on their laurels -- they've just sent word that their Realm Championships will be going down November 14-15, 2009, in cities around the world like "San Diego, Philadelphia, Helsinki, Manchester (England), Singapore and Melbourne." These are invite-only tournaments, but they're always accompanied by events that are open to the public, including lots and lots of TCG playing, giveaways and door prizes, and sometimes even special realms of the online game set up for players to join. If you've never seen a TCG event and one is headed to your city, it's worth checking out. Additionally, the TCG folks have outlined their plans for 2010 over on their website, and it sounds like it'll be a busy year. They're kicking things off with the Scourgewar release, including the TCG loot of the mini-mounts (finally, a pony!), the Tuskarr Kite, and a Spectral Tiger Cub. And later in the year, you can look forward to a Naxxramas dungeon deck, another expansion called Wrathgate (with likely more in-game loot to go after), and finally, an Icecrown Citadel raid deck release. Should be an exciting 2010 for the trading card game -- we'll definitely be watching for that new expansion and the loot items due out with it.
Video: Cornell's autonomous robot sub wins competition, our hearts
Cornell sure seems to be doing its part to usher in a world where robots call the shots and humans spend most of their time cowering in the corners of bomb-out buildings. Researchers at the school have variously applied their brain matter (and we're guessing the occasional government check) to such sticky problems as robot consciousness, distance walking, and complications related to using robotics in zero gravity. And now we've heard that the school has just won something called the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Competition. The vehicles entered in the 12th annual AUVC (which was held at the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center in San Diego) ran an underwater obstacle course that involved bombing things, firing torpedoes, and eventually recovering a suitcase with "secret documents" (or old issues of 2600: The Hacker Quarterly, depending on who you believe). You can see the thing in action for yourself in the video after the break.[Via GoRobotics.net]
San Diego to declare March 16 'Sony Online Entertainment Day'
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of EverQuest and the "continued support and dedication" of Sony Online Entertainment, the city of San Diego will hold a ceremony March 10 to declare an official "Sony Online Entertainment Day" -- which will actually take place six days later. Carl DeMaio of the City Council will present SOE's John Smedley with an award at 10 AM. The SOE announcement suggests arriving at the council chambers early in order to have enough time to find parking and get through security. Of course, then you should get home early, because every minute spent away from the game means that the people still playing are getting ahead of you. We can't believe EverQuest has been online for 10 years. We remember finding the idea of a persistent multiplayer RPG populated by thousands of people terrifying at the time, and we have yet to get over that initial fear. [Via Massively]
San Diego declares day in honor of SOE
This tidbit of news - while pretty cool - is something you really don't hear every day in terms of MMO companies. It seems that the City of San Diego is commemorating the 10th anniversary of the original EverQuest and the "continued support and dedication SOE shows to the city and community" by dedicating a whole day to Sony Online Entertainment. What's better is that you're all invited to join the celebration!The dedication will be taking place on March 10th at 10 AM, and anyone interested in attending is advised to arrive early to get through security and snag a nice parking spot. John Smedley will be on hand to accept this very nifty award from San Diego City Councilmember Carl DeMaio. 10 years of being online is a hell of an achievement for any MMO. Now the burning question we want to know is if Councilman DeMaio ever had to corpse run too?
THQ mobile shake up leaves 100 staffers without jobs
True to its word, THQ downsized its wireless division. According to THQ's Brian Farrell, the realignment will see the company "focus only on games for high-end handheld devices," sending around a hundred of its mobile phone staff to the unemployment line.The company stated plans to "restructure" its European wireless subsidiary earlier this week, though Moconews reports that THQ has also shuttered is San Diego mobile studio in addition to its wireless offices in both the UK and Germany. For now, the company's Universomo studio in Finland will be the hub for THQ's wireless efforts, promising that iPhone users will have all the Worms they can handle for the foreseeable future.[Via VG247]
TWC drags another half dozen HD channels to San Diego, CA
San Diego, Time Warner Cable is lookin' out for you. Just days after three, then four HD channels dropped in, we've now received word that another half dozen have emerged in the lineup. As of now, locals should be seeing MLB Network HD (789), HBO East HD (610), Showtime East HD (651), TMC East HD (663), Versus HD (741) and Golf HD (767). At this rate, you folks should be well into the thousands by New Year's Eve 2009.[Thanks, Michael]
Time Warner Cable brings four more HD channels to San Diego, CA
TWC's been hooking San Diego, California up good fashion of late, and just in case you weren't satisfied with what the latest rounds of additions were packing, in comes four more just before Santa sashays down the chimney. As of today, locals will find USA HD (734), CNBC HD (749), SciFi HD (757) and Bravo HD (740) in the EPG, though we'll take the rare opportunity to suggest you hang with the fam for awhile and let these simmer until the in-laws depart. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family] [Thanks, Michael]
TWC brings ABC Family, FX, and SPEED HD to sunny San Diego
TWC may have struck early with two new ones for San Diego back in November, but Cox has been the one laying down the gauntlet of late. To that end, Time Warner Cable is shooting back with a new HD trio for the residents of the California city: ABC Family HD (735), FX HD (752), and SPEED HD (793). We could probably get used to this back-and-forth thing, don't you agree? [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Michael]
Cox bringing 5 new HD stations to San Diego, California
Cox may have upset some San Diego residents by acting all proud of those 19 new HD VOD slots, but it's backing things up with five linear stations that are sure to juice up that holiday spirit. Starting on December 29th (far off, we know), subscribers in the region will find FOX News HD (737), FX HD (743), SPEED HD (756), Cartoon Network HD (750) and E! HD (749) in the program guide. If, for whatever reason, you're simply unsatisfied with those additions, Cox is promising that "more HD channels will be added soon." Good luck deciphering its definition of "soon."[Thanks, Gary]
Cox brings 19 HD VOD channels to San Diego, California
Hate to get you all riled up for nothing, San Diego, but Cox is dropping a whopping 19 new high-def channels in your area. Too bad every last one of them is simply an HD On Demand channel. The carrier is now touting that locals have 67 HD channels to flip through, which is factual per se, but hardly indicative of the actual situation. Ah well, VOD is better than zilch, we suppose.
Cox provides HD programming, internet at US Naval Base in San Diego
The proud men and women of the United States Navy have to get their HD fix somehow, right? Being that the answer to that is undoubtedly "yes," we're happy to see that Cox Communications has signed on to provide HD programming, high-speed internet and digital phone services to the Pacific Beacon residences at the US Naval Base in San Diego, California. Currently, services are being installed in 512 units at Palmer Hall, while all of the buildings in the complex should be complete (and completely wired) by March 1st of next year.
Two more HD channels land on TWC in San Diego, CA
Slow and steady wins the race, or so they say, but we're pretty sure San Diego residents are ready for Time Warner Cable to hurry up with these HD rollouts. After dropping two in late October and promising to get 10 to 15 newcomers on the air over the next little while, TWC has just pushed out two more to keep locals appeased. Effective immediately, subscribers in San Diego can find Hallmark Movie Channel HD and Big Ten Network HD, but there's no indication of when the others will follow suit. Patience, friends.[Thanks, Michael]
California high-speed train system to link NorCal and SoCal at 220mph
Like it or not California, it's about time you folks ponied up for a serious rail system. With the recent passage of Proposition 1A, the wheels have started to churn on a sophisticated bullet train system that will eventually link San Diego in the south with Sacramento in the north, with stops at most every major city in between (LA and San Francisco included). The 800-mile network of trains would operate at upwards of 220mph and cost around $45 billion to construct, but it'll create 320,000 permanent jobs by 2030 and reduce the state's reliance on fossil fuel by 12.7 million barrels of oil per year. Unfortunately, there's no set time frame for completion just yet, but we wouldn't be surprised to see this one finished before that Anaheim - Las Vegas maglev project even gets off the ground.[Via BoingBoing]
Cox launches AMC HD in San Diego, California
There's really no telling why Cox didn't just lump AMC HD into its last San Diego expansion effort, but regardless, we're sure customers in the city will take what they can get. Starting this week, AMC HD will be available in the sunny California town on slot 757, and Cox also proclaims that Comedy HD and 20 more HD video-on-demand stations are just around the bend. Oh, and one last thing -- Palladia HD has relocated from slot 730 to slot 732, so don't freak out or anything.[Thanks, Jason]
TWC throws two more HD channels to San Diego residents
Time Warner Cable is doing its darnedest to beef up the HD lineup in San Diego to something respectable, but it's a slow, agonizing process to watch. After receiving two new ones in September, the firm has added in two others as it attempts to include 10 to 15 more over the next short while. As of now, residents of the city can catch Food Network HD on slot 751 and HGTV HD on slot 753, though there's no word as to when the rest will be coming. Sooner the better, yeah? [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Thanks, Michael]
