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Voom's Rush HD launches in UK on Sky
Sure, securing Voom Networks' Rush HD may not be quite as exhilarating as snagging NASN, but we're betting that those in the UK on Sky will take any additional high-def they can get. As of today, the extreme sports channels is now available on EPG slot 452 to Sky HD subscribers, which brings the grand total on the carrier to 17. The launch marks the international debut of the network, and while a company spokesperson noted that there were no current plans to bring any other Voom channels to the UK, users may see Rush content made available on the 1080i Sky Anytime video-on-demand portal.
ESPN content coming to SKY Italia
Open wide, Italian sports fans -- you're about to get a huge helping of ESPN content via SKY Italia. Announced today, ESPN's North American Sports Network (NASN) will soon be launching on the SKY Italia platform, and better still, the agreement marks ESPN's "largest-ever international high-definition programming syndication deal, with more than 800 hours" of annual HD material to be syndicated across SKY's platform. For those interested, it'll begin beaming out tomorrow (April 8th) and will be hosted on the SKY Italia sports tier.
Watch a Stargate Worlds artist's video dev diary
Cheyenne Mountain has released a developer profile of Stargate Worlds artist Jake Johnson, who works on all sorts of visual assets -- most prominently the attractive skies of the game's many planets. Johnson talks about how he landed the Stargate gig, the assets he had the most fun creating, and the process he employs to create sky domes. Oh, and his favorite season of SG-1 -- Season 2. Good choice, Jake! Every one knows Sokar was the coolest SG-1 villain!SGW's skies aren't just skybox textures, apparently; Johnson composes a geosphere to blanket the game world. Planets and other celestial objects can be placed inside it after the fact. The video includes a sneak peak at the sky of the planet Dakara, so that's pretty cool. Also, there's a gigantic Stargate replica in the studio lobby. Nice!The clip is worth a look, if only for snickering at all the miscellaneous gaming memorabilia littering the art department's desks, including a copy of Battlefield 2, Mario 1UP mushrooms, and an XBox 360 controller. But don't take the controller as a hint; Cheyenne's Joe Ybarra made it clear in an interview a few days ago that the team is focusing on the PC for now.
Sky HD service gets reviewed
Given that our place of residence is most certainly not in the UK, Sky wasn't included in our recent breakdown of HD carriers. Thankfully, the kind blokes / dames over at HDTV Lounge were able to sit down with the Sky HD service and write up a fairly thorough review. For those on the fence, Sky HD has become a fair bit more attractive here of late with the addition of three new HD channels and a price cut to boot. The long and short of it is that the Sky HD DVR is more than satisfactory, and as for the programming quality, reviewers were left with all sorts of positive vibes. Best of all, there's even a few comparison shots to give SD subscribers a look at what they're missing out on. Go on, check out the read link for the full spill.
Sky cuts setup price on HD package
One of those European HDTV owners that doesn't actually watch HD? That survey may hold some weight, as Sky is cutting prices on its Sky+ and Sky HD services. The Sky HD box now costs £249, or £199 bundled with internet and phone, although the monthly HD charge is still £10. With the entry costs lowered a bit and a few new channels, we'll see if that is enough to get people upgrading to HD.[Via HDTV UK]
SkyHD pushing HD remasters of classic British films
Sir Michael Caine finds HD quality "unforgiving", but we're sure more than a few movie buffs will appreciate a clearer look at classics like Zulu and The Italian Job (not the one with Marky Mark in it) prompted by Sky's need for movies to fill its new HD channels. Of course many films have already been remastered for HD, but as HD adoption grows worldwide, we can look forward to high quality transfers of more international flicks.
Sky HD adding three new HDTV channels for a total of 17
With its troubles in the past, Sky is ramping up its HD service, with plans to add three new stations soon for a total of 17 HD channels. Viewers can expect Sky Sports HD 3, Sky Movies Premiere HD and FX HD. Sky Sports HD 3 will kick off with Monday Night Raw in March and the PGA European Tour, while FX HD is a "bespoke" custom channel, Sky Movies Premiere is a simulcast of the SD channel. Sky says its signed up more than 400,000 subscribers since launch, and once these channels are added, they'll have access to 6,500 hours of HD programming per month. We know it was rough for a while, any Sky HD users out there got a report about the service these days?
Around Azeroth: Spectral howl
Reader Pelouze of Durotan likes to explore the far reaches of Nagrand. Often found on his Spectral Tiger, he couldn't help but take this snapshot of his trusty mount howling at one of the many moons to be found in the kaleidescope skies of the Outland.Do you have any unusual World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? Because we'd love to see it on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!%Gallery-1816%
Sky confirms HD boxes will soon receive new EPG
Rumors of a facelifted electronic programming guide to Sky's receivers / DVRs have been swirling for quite some time, and apparently, the satellite provider has finally come clean and doled out the skinny. According to Digital Spy, only Sky HD boxes will be receiving the upgrade, which will replace the current four top-level options with ten. Purportedly, "television, radio and interactive services will be listed separately," and it's also stated that a small box will be added to show content from channels as they are browsed through in the guide. As for when Brits can expect the new EPG? "Sometime during 2008" -- sadly, that'll have to do for now.
Around Azeroth: Guarding Nagrand
Reader Ravynn offers up this shot of the iconic Nagrand sky. (As I recall, back when The Burning Crusade initially launched, I got at least two Nagrand sky screenshots a day.) However, the inclusion of the statue makes the scene much more ominous. Says Ravynn, "I was flying around the Forge Camps and went to the backside of the mountain along the edge of the world. It was there that I found a bunch of islands with several of the Dark Guardian statues."Do you have any unusual World of Warcraft images that are just collecting dust in your screenshots folder? Because we'd love to see your idea of the best looking instance on Around Azeroth! Sharing your screenshot is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next!%Gallery-1816%
Pantech's curvy SKY IM-S300
In its domestic Korean market, the IM-S300 slider from Pantech's SKY division is apparently being touted as the "Romantic Wave," and we guess we're hard pressed to disagree. The wavy buttons front and center look really cool -- usability aside, of course -- though the 1.3 megapixel cam leads us to believe that physical design is where the high-endedness ends on this one. If you happen to be around Seoul, grab it for something in the range of 400,000 won (about $430) in black or white (with pink accents, no less).[Via Just Another Mobile Phone Blog]
Sky Movies receiving name tweak
Nothing too major here, but apparently, Sky Movies is getting all set to undergo an official name change. Starting next February, Sky Movies SD 1 will be dutifully renamed Sky Movies Screen 1, while its HD counterpart (you know, the one we watch) will become known as Sky Movies Screen 1 HD. Not surprisingly, the same nomenclature will be applied to Sky Movies SD 2 and HD 2, too. So yeah, don't be too shocked to see your favorite channel vacate its regular spot -- only the name's a-changin', programming (and channel slot) is set to stay the same.
Channel 4 launches HD simulcast on Sky
Good news for those with Sky: Channel 4 is now available to you in glorious high-definition. The channel has officially launched an HD simulcast on the sat provider, with crisper versions of Holloaks and Ugly Betty being highlighted. Apparently, the former show will be committed to HD as of next Spring, and Channel 4 HD will also air "a number of live music specials" including ones that feature The Scissor Sisters and Keane. At first, the channel will be a mixture of HD and SD programming, and it will purportedly air "around 10 films and series episodes in HD per week." This addition brings the total of dedicated HD channels on Sky to 14, and it should be available right now to anyone with a Sky HD box and an active Sky viewing card.[Via Digital Spy]
Around Azeroth: Star-gazing
While I imagine most of us run around our little parts of the world (of Warcraft) without paying much attention to the details of our environment, this shot from reader Mikhall reminds us that sometimes all we have to do is look up to appreciate the beauty of Azeroth. The night sky over Auberdine (above) is black and vast, but the sky in Arathi Highlands is a brilliant blue, the sky in the Draenei starting zones around the Exodar turn pale purple in the evening, and the sky over Shattrath City is grey (or grey-green), In fact, every sky across Azeroth is a bit different -- but have you ever bothered looking?Taken a screenshot that highlights the ordinary in an extraordinary way? We'd like to see it on Around Azeroth! All you have to do is e-mail aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your screenshot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could find your pictures and story featured next!%Gallery-1816%
Around Azeroth: Your favorite Nagrand shot
Keturakk of Twisting Nether sends in this shot taken of that incredible Nagand sky -- and though we've seen it before, I don't think I'll ever get tired of it. The Blizzard design crew really outdid themselves in Nagrand. In this particular shot we see something else we've seen before: the skeleton of a large beast, trapped forever in a flying island. However, I have to say that this shot's particular composition catches everything that's fascinating about Nagrand in one quick glance -- what do you think? Do you have a preferred Nagrand image?Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing a copy to aroundazeroth@wow.com, with as much or as little detail as you'd like to share with the world! %Gallery-1816%
Around Azeroth: Improved sun
Redbeard of Hellscream (EU) sends this shot our way, noting that Blizzard seems to have made some heavy improvements to the sun. And I have to admit, that brilliant glow does look quite impressive -- but has Blizzard changed things, or have we just caught the Theramore sky at the right angle and the right time of day?Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing a copy to aroundazeroth@wow.com, with as much or as little detail as you'd like to share with the world! %Gallery-1816%
The skies of Northrend
One of the latest screenshots of Wrath of the Lich King shows a pink-colored sky over Northrend, with some possible cloud-moving effect I haven't seen in WoW before. When I look at this screenshot I imagine all those clouds roiling in the sky and I wonder if Northrend couldn't possibly beat Outland in most interesting skies after all. It's a tough comparison -- Outland planets floating above the horizon are hard to beat, whereas Northrend will be limited to a more terrestrial skyscape. When The Burning Crusade first came out, I remember being impressed that the skies had any animation at all, whereas now, of course, the bar has been raised much much higher. Still, there's a lot that the skies of Northrend could offer us, especially if Blizzard were to go crazy with clouds and colors inspired by the Aurora Borealis. What do you expect of future WoW skies? Do you hope for ever-increasing complexity, or do you think simple and realistic is always best?
Sky intos HD boxes for the artsy type
We doubt anyone has every looked at their cable box and thought, "You know what this set-top box needs - finger painting." What do we know though; they say Brits have a higher sense of style than we do here in the States. These set-top boxes from Sky are designed by Christopher Brooke and Bruno Basso and will be available in five styles for £199 to £299 with a Sky HD subscription. We have to ask though, are you suppose to sit these boxes on your A/V rack or do they come with a wall mount?
Pantech SKY IM-U210 / U210K has long name, global WCDMA roaming
Pantech's SKY line of mobile handsets gets a boost with this winsome 7.2Mbps HSDPA-capable phone. While looking a wee bit bulky in the middle, we'll forgive as it comes packing T-DMB, a 2 megapixel camera, "Global WCDMA roaming" -- we've no idea what geography that really covers -- a chromium plated "u-shaped key," plus a pile of software goodies to boot. Pricing is set at roughly $500 but unfortunately there are no clues as to when it'll actually rush out the door -- though we're honestly not holding our breath on this one arriving, or even working over here.[Via Slashphone]
Around Azeroth: A Hinterlands skyscape
Reader Tyrianus of Bronzebeard sends in this interesting shot, snapped while flying into the Hinterlands from the Undercity. The sky is of particular interest -- what's up with that red line on the horizon, fading through purple into dark blue? You may think it's a sunset, but when Tyrianus landed, the sun and sky looked more like mid-day. Do you have a unique shot of Azeroth or Outland that you'd like to show off to the rest of the world? Tell us about it by e-mailing aroundazeroth@gmail.com! Or perhaps you'd just like to see more of your pics from Around Azeroth. %Gallery-1816%
