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Nokia tweaks 5500 to make "Sport Music Edition"
At this point, it seems like Nokia has the procedure for relaunching aging S60 handsets down to a science: bundle them with some new goodies, maybe offer some new colors, and tack "______ Edition" onto the end of the model number. In this case, the lucky victim is the not-so-old, ruggedized 5500, which has undergone a magical metamorphosis of marketing to become the 5500 Sport Music Edition. Other than a bundled half gig of microSD (for, you know, music), a new carrying strap, and an "energetic new color," the Sport Music Edition looks to be a dead ringer for its predecessor -- and like the original, we don't expect to see it on these shores any time soon. Europeans, however, should be able to find these things on store shelves already for something in the neighborhood of €350 (about $450).[Via Camera Phones Plaza]
Sprint Power View brings sports to the small screen
Despite some evidence that mobile TV isn't the coolest thing since Elvis in consumers' eyes, carriers are pressing on with efforts to build out their made-for-mobile video offerings. Most recently, Sprint has announced its Power View network of sports programming, and the use of the term "network" is surprisingly appropriate here -- most, if not all of the content will be produced specifically for Power View, with a full 15 camera crews shooting on-location footage of sports events. A host of big-name anchors are filming weekly segments, too, and any handset compatible with Sprint TV will be able to rock the new service at no charge. Let us see the action full-screen (that goes for Sprint Movies, too) and you can count us in.[Via MobileTracker]
MLS pushing "The Beautiful Game" on HDNet
In case you didn't have your fill of high definition round-ball football action during the World Cup on ABC & ESPN, Major League Soccer wants you to remember we play some soccer in HD over here too. They've scheduled 10 of the remaining 15 HDNet broadcast games, 7 of which will be exclusive to the network. All are broadcast in 1080i and 5.1 surround, the list of games scheduled so far follows.
Breakfast Topic: Football and WoW
For me, venturing into Azeroth is a form of escapism. The real life intersects with WoW in many ways, from various in-game pop culture references to events like Noblegarden and Winter Veil. However, sometimes there are parts of the real life you don't want to see in your virtual world of choice.With the recent World Cup fever, England has gone football (or soccer, to some) crazy. I'm not a fan of the game; let's skip the anti-football rant for now. I foolishly thought WoW might remain a football-free zone, but logging on to the European servers these days gets a fair few /yells, spam in General ("Come on ENGLAAAAAAAAAAAAAND") and even talk in various other chat channels. It's impossible to ignore everyone talking about the game, and yet I wish I could. Not only does it break the immersion, it's tiresome.Are the American servers succumbing to World Cup fever? Or are they truly football-free? If the latter, I may have to dust off an alt or two. Or should I suffer the spam in order to conduct an extensive investigation into the declining number of PuGs when a match is on?
Get your run on - Apple taking preorders for the Nike+iPod Sport Kit
It looks as though Apple is officially taking pre-orders for the $30 Nike+iPod Sport Kit, a customized wireless transmitter and receiver set that helps you track your run by integrating with Apple's iPod nano. The tips started pouring in, and sure enough, it's up in the store in all its über-branding glory. Fortunately, more compatible shoes have also been added to the Nike Plus site, though I'm sure pioneering DIYers are scoffing at the thought of purchasing a pair, and are already hard at work at assembling specs and carving out their present running gear (I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd like to see a guide for this; send in those tips people!). On a related note, TUAW reader Aaron sent us a question that y'all might want to bat around: has anyone heard about the battery life of this kit? Aaron noticed that this kit's specs mention the battery in the shoe transmitter is not replaceable, so those who run 8 miles a day like Aaron (or who I'll refer to as: RoboRunner) might have to find out how much juice these things hold before they kick the bucket. On the other hand, I'm sure in a couple of months Apple will whip out a $40 charging dock for the $30 sensor kit and make all this worrying about battery life a moot point.
The M81: BenQ-Siemens gets in touch with its sporty side
Apparently, the folks at BenQ are looking to make a run on Nokia's "active lifestyle" category of phones, unleashing the shock / splash / dust-resistant M81 today in Munich. Besides the navigation (GPS module sold seperately) and weather clients, built-in flashlight, and relatively tough exterior clad in "high-quality synthetics and rubber," not much differentiates the device from your typical midrange candybar: 900 / 1800 / 1900 GSM with EDGE data, 176 x 132 display, 1.3 megapixel camera, music player, and MicroSD slot in your choice of Graphite Black or Steel Blue. The M81 starts shipping to joggers and snowboarders in August.[Via Slashphone]
High definition sports fans: It's PGR3 tourney time
Even though the NHL and NBA playoff games are over for today, you can still get some high-def tourney action in if you have an Xbox 360 and a copy of Project Gotham Racing 3. The regional finals for the North American region will be going on at 10 pm EST, the winners of this round travel to Italy and compete at the Lamborghini factory in June. Gamers have been playing Gotham since the launch of the Xbox 360 but this is the first official online tournament.Check out our breakdown on why PGR3 makes a good HDTV spectator sport with its live action, camera angles and competitive races and log on to check out the tournament later tonight.
Fifa Street 2 Screenshots
Been dying to play a great sports game that doesn't star a certain portly plumber and is at least somewhat grounded in reality? Well, judging by these new screens of Fifa Street 2, it seems that you'll just have to die a little bit longer. Look, we're sure the game will at least get the basics right. You'll run around, you'll herd a ball into a goal either by kicking it around or slamming your forehead into it and you'll do ridiculous somersaults to celebrate each goal. But I'm just not digging that giant analog stick on the bottom screen. Let's hope that's not the only form of control and that the developer has come to realize (just as we have) that one needs to use that touch screen in more creative ways than simply treating it as a big, flat analog stick.[Via GamersReports]
