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Kindle Fire firmware update 6.2.2 brings full-screen browsing
The fine folks over at Amazon have further flushed out the firmware on its fiercely popular Fire tablet. Upgrading your Kindle Fire to version 6.2.2 will bring a handful of small performance tweaks, bugs fixes and, most notably, add a full-screen mode to the device's Silk browser. If you've gone ahead and rooted your Fire, applying the firmware bump will kill superuser access -- although a fresh build of BurritoRoot 2 should get you back on the straight and narrow. The new code is being pushed out over-the-air as we type, while those that enjoy the endorphin rush associated with instant gratification -- and know how to manually update a Kindle -- can find a link to the 6.2.2 firmware file below. Happy updating!
Judge won't dismiss Apple/AT&T suit
Northern California District Judge James Ware rejected arguments for dismissal in a class-action case surrounding Apple and AT&T's exclusivity deal for the iPhone. The lawsuit alleges Apple unfairly maintains exclusivity with AT&T, preventing owners from unlocking and jailbreaking their handsets. It also argues that both companies disguised some post-sale costs of ownership. Ware dismissed Apple's and AT&T's requests for dismissal -- a normal, routine part of the lawsuit process -- ruling they either weren't lawfully arguable or they didn't address the nature of the lawsuit. Apple said that since customers were still under the terms of their two-year contract, they couldn't legally argue the status of that contract: Ware said that wasn't true. The company also said that they have since added support for third-party applications, but Ware said that wasn't the whole story, since Apple knowingly limits access to certain areas where it has a "financial interest." All parties in the case will next meet November 17, where the court will try to find out more information about the nature of the deal between Apple and AT&T, including the exact duration of their exclusivity agreement. [Via Macsimum News and AppleInsider.]
WotLK: The rain is coming
While we've gotten tid bits of information here and there from Blizzard posts over the past few months, the news has been relatively dry with regards to any official announcements about Wrath of the Lich King. We know that it's in alpha testing, and we've had a bit of fun with some screenshots. But that's about it.Nethaera tells us that the development is coming along really well, which we've all heard before. However in her typical witty fashion she also gives us this gem of a line, in response to people calling WotLK vapor-ware:"The great thing about vapor is that at some point it condenses and becomes rain. The rain then falls and nourishes that which it falls on. It takes time for it to happen, but it does happen. Signs point to clouds forming in the sky, but you never can tell when they will let loose the rain..."Take that for what you will, but I read it pretty squarely as "Some major WotLK news is on its way." And that is news in and of itself.
EI introduces Life|point HD touch panel
Exceptional Innovation -- the same firm responsible for that quad-CableCARD media center -- is looking to give you a new weapon of choice to control your Life|ware home network. The new Life|point touch panel is available in 8.9- and 12.1-inch sizes, and both high-definition versions rock 16:9 formats, integrated stereo speakers / microphone and an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts screen brightness depending on room lighting. Additionally, the panels are available in black, silver, cream, white and field-finish ready, and each one gives you in-wall control of your home theater, multi-room audio, lighting, security system(s) and temperature. 'Course, it's up to you to decide whether such a convenience is worth $6,000 (and up).[Via Electronic House]
Exceptional Innovation intros new Life|ware hardware
Modestly-named Exceptional Innovation went all out at CEDIA last week, announcing a complete line of hardware to go along with its Life|ware Media Center-based home control solution. The beast of the bunch is the the Life|storage digital media server, packing an ample 1.5 terabytes of RAID 5 storage in a rack mounted unit, with a Pentium D processor and 2GB of RAM to power the Windows XP embedded OS. The Life|vision digital TV server should compliment that nicely, also based on Windows XP Embedded with a Pentinum D and 2GB of RAM but, naturally, adding some TV tuners to the mix (up to four analog or digital to suit your prefs), as well as some basic DVR functionality. But to really give your home that dated-in-two-years look, you'll need to trick it out with touchpanels in every room, and EI will gladly hook you up there with its Life|point 16:9 in-wall touchscreens (available in 8.9-inch and 12.1-inch models), which'll let you control every connected bit of your house and access your stored media. Also announced were the Life|controller home automation system controller and the Life|link Web Services for Devices (WSD) module, both of which will allow for various other systems (like lighting and security) to be integrated into your setup. No word on prices for any of this gear, but it's really more the sort of thing you get a quote on instead of checking the weekend flyers for the cheapest prices.
Smooth Moves through smooth video
OK, we enjoy the quick, pick-up-and-play style that the WarioWare games have presented in the past, but Smooth Moves might be taking things a little too far in terms of content. We've watched this video several times and are certain that a minigame does, in fact, ask you to spray down naked men with champagne.Yes, you read that right.While it isn't gratuitous and we assume the video is safe for work overall, just a word of warning to some of you who are incredibly scared at the prospect of shaking a bottle of champagne and letting it loose upon unsuspecting, naked men.
