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Dan Snyder shows off Washington's new HD screens, says they're clearer than Jerry's & punter-proof
After seeing the HD scoreboards in the new Cowboys Stadium we didn't think it could get any better, but Dan Snyder would disagree. This season Washington fans can enjoy two new 100 foot long high definition scoreboards installed at either end of FedEx Field, which Snyder claims are sharper than anything you'll see down in Jerry Jones' palace despite being slightly smaller, with the added benefit of a "secure" (read: no blocked kicks) location visible to all in the stadium. We'll let the fans of these NFC East rivals duke it out over which one is better, but for more pictures, and a few from inside the control room check out the official team blog.
Motorola's 4.3-inch Droid Shadow found in a unicorn gym?
Color us highly skeptical of the backstory, but Gizmodo claims to have received a picture of Motorola's rumored 4.3-inch Droid Shadow. The device above was supposedly left behind at a Verizon corporate gym in Washington. As the story is told, a gym employee managed to snap the photo above and identify an HDMI jack, 8 megapixel camera, Snapdragon processor, and 16GB of storage before the handset was remotely locked and the owner returned to claim it. Suspiciously, there's only one photo of the device shown at precisely the same angle as the supposedly leaked "getting started" image seen three days ago -- right, just enough time to cobble together a Photoshop. The refined Motoblur UI seems to align though so who knows... really, who knows? [Thanks, Aaron]
Washington establishing timeline for sales of 'loud' EVs
Whenever we test drive an EV, we try to bring along a passenger who screams things out the window like "Beware! Silent car!" and "Electric vehicle! Don't get hit!" But we understand that for some of you this might not be an option. Luckily, it looks like initiatives to outfit electric vehicles with warning sounds have been picking up steam, from the Pedestrian Safety Act last year to a new bill that would have the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration establish a three year timeline for auto manufacturers. According to Autoblog, "there's no word as to how loud the noise would be or what it will sound like," although drivers would not be able to turn it off, and it would likely be variable, depending on your speed -- not unlike the system Brabus uses in its Smart High Voltage EV. As for your car-lovin' Engadget editors, we're already looking for one that emulates the growl of the '68 Ford Mustang that Steve McQueen drove in Bullitt.
Thought-control research brings mental channel changing ever closer
Pinky and the Brain don't get nearly the respect they deserve, but then again, neither do the lab coat-wearing boffins who make great strides behind sterilized doors to bring us one step closer to mass laziness. The latest development in the everlasting brain control saga takes us to the University of Washington, where a team of researchers are carefully studying the differences between doing an action and simply imagining the action. So far, they've discovered that interacting with brain-computer interfaces enables patients to create "super-active populations of brain cells." Naturally, this finding holds promise for rehabilitating patients after stroke or other neurological damage, but it also suggests that "a human brain could quickly become adept at manipulating an external device such as a computer interface or a prosthetic limb." Or a remote control, or a Segway, or a railgun. We can't speak for you, but we certainly dig where this is headed. Video of the findings is after the break.
Seattle eager for Google fiber, other cities apt to fall in line
Talk about rapid response. Just a day or so after Google blew a few minds by announcing its plans to serve 1Gbps internet to a select group of communities, Seattle mayor Mike McGinn has come forward and confessed that the Emerald City is ready to accept said offer. 'Course, we shouldn't be shocked to hear that one of the most educated and wealthy cities in North America -- as well as (almost) being home to Microsoft -- is up for a little fiber action, but it's certainly interesting to see just how willing the local government is to share its resources with Gmail's creator. We're guessing that other tech-savvy cities throughout the US will be jumping in line as well, so if you'd like to be one of the first, now might be a fantastic time to ping your own mayor and get him / her on the ball.
DigiPen expands, increasing graduating class size by a third
[Image credit: Wade Rockett] Being a premier college for game developers seeking out bachelor's and master's degrees in mind-bending, DigiPen recently announced plans to expand its campus to a larger location in Redmond, Washington. A 100,000 square-foot ex-Microsoft building will house the expanded facilities -- said to include "tiered-seating auditoriums, classrooms, art studios, electronic labs, a large work area for students to study and collaborate on projects, library, cafeteria with a professional kitchen, student recreation room and a general store" -- and the opening is set to take place as early as this Summer. Redmond Mayor John Marchione points to the school's financial and culture benefits to the region in the press release, saying, "DigiPen is a tremendous asset to the Redmond community, with considerable contributions to education, the arts and our local economy." The Seattle Times points out that this move brings with it an increase in the school's matriculated roster from 900 to 1,200, bringing DigiPen one small step closer to total global domination.
Dumbest kids in the universe rob gas station for money to buy 360
According to a report from a Bellevue, WA news station, four boys, ages 11 through 15, were recently charged with armed robbery after allegedly holding up a local Chevron Food Stop using an airsoft pistol. The goal of their crime of the century was to yoink enough money to purchase an Xbox 360. According to the police report, the boys got away with around $200 -- just enough to purchase a 360 Arcade and no games -- before being caught by an officer shortly thereafter. The amount of thought that went into this thing is just staggering. By a stroke of coincidence, four men across town were apprehended after robbing a local GameStop to garner money with which to purchase Slurpees and Taco Dogs at a nearby Speedway. More at eleven.
Report: Seattle one of the top three game-developing cities in U.S.
[Image] Ahh, Seattle. It's already home to grunge rock, the Penny Arcade Expo and the highbrow, dry comedy of Frasier; arguably our three favorite things on this planet. Oh, we're pretty big fans of video games as well -- and according to a report recently published by the Washington Interactive Network, it's one of the three best cities in the country for making those, as well. The firm's Interactive Media Competiveness Study compared a number of factors (such as the number of studios and educational institutions nearby) of twelve of the country's most prolific game-developing cities. While it doesn't name a definitive leader, the report found that San Jose, San Francisco and Seattle were the top three -- the latter of which made the cut after expanding its gaming industry 8 percent between 2003 and 2006. Sure, the Washington Interactive Network might have just been playing favorites -- but still, we'd be willing to award Seattle the crown based on Frasier alone. [Via GamePolitics]
AT&T sued by Washington DC for unused balances on calling cards
Here's a superficially curious, but fundamentally quite important, bit of legal wrangling for you. Reuters is reporting that the District of Columbia has filed suit against AT&T Corp for the recovery of unused balances on calling cards purchased from the telecom giant. Estimated at somewhere between 5 and 20 percent of the overall value of the cards, the so-called breakage -- leftover credit that customers neglect to use -- has typically remained with the carrier as a sort of predictable bonus. The DC Attorney General, however, is seeking to have breakages treated as unclaimed property, which under district law means that after three years they must be returned to the state. Whichever side of the fence you sit on, the decision on this case will set a significant precedent for the future of such prepaid services.
Clearwire's WiMAX rollout rolls on: NC, WA, TX, IL and HI get lit
Think LTE is the future? How's about the present? Clearwire is expanding its national footprint in a big, big way today by announcing WiMAX services in a slew of regions in a smattering of states. Starting today, 4G access can be found in both Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii, which effectively removes the last sane reason to not visit and / or relocate there. In fact, CLEAR is now available to 800,000 citizens of America's finest state, with service extending 1,759 square miles over Oahu, Maui, and Lanai. Moving on, residents of Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina can also buy in, right along with those folks in Dallas/Ft. Worth, San Antonio and Austin, Texas who mistakenly think their BBQ is superior. Closing things out, we've got new access throughout the Puget Sound area (including Seattle and King County, Pierce County, Kitsap County, and Snohomish County), not to mention a green light to hop on the 4G superhighway in the Chicago region. If you're anxious to ditch 3G, you'll find plans starting at just $30 per month.
Clearwire goes live with WiMAX service in ten new markets
Just as we expected, Clearwire has lit up its CLEAR WiMAX services in ten new markets. Beginning today, those with a thirst for ultra-speedy mobile broadband can sink their teeth into those delicious 4G airwaves so long as you call one of the following locales home: Abilene, Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Killeen/Temple, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, Waco and Wichita Falls, Texas; Bellingham, Wash; or Boise, Idaho. We fully expect a smattering of other markets to see similar launches as the Fall progresses, but if you just can't wait, well -- there's always vacation.
Unsolicited laptops sent to state governments never get used, now under investigation
Tempting though it may be, shipments of HP and Compaq (another HP brand) laptops sent to various US state governments have been sent either back to the manufacturer or to local investigators with nary even a game of Spider Solitaire in its account logs. As it turns out, the packages of three to five machines sent to each state -- West Virginia, Vermont, Wyoming, and Washington -- were never ordered, and in at least three of the cases were purchased with fraudulent credit cards of unknown origin. Even with the shipments apparently coming from HP directly, officials are playing it safe and working under the guise of the machines possibly having malicious code running through its circuitry. You know who the biggest victim in all this is? That guy in Human Resources who legitimately bought a Mini 1000 and had it shipped to the state's office for pickup. Worst. Timing. Ever.
Leaked Sprint WiMAX roadmap names new cities for 2009 rollout
Well, what do we have here? One of our readers sent us a screenshot from Sprint's Sales Portal that included the above roadmap for its WiMAX rollout this year. A number of the yet-to-be-launched cities we've already heard about -- Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Charlotte -- but to the best of our knowledge, the rest of them are brand new entries. Additionally, Baltimore residents can look forward to some sort of coverage update in the fourth quarter. We'd be lying if we said we weren't jealous that Salem (population 3,000) and Milledgeville (population 19,000) are getting the wireless network before most of us on staff, but the service has to start somewhere, right? No indication here of 2010 plans, but last we heard that included Boston, Houston, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Update: As tipster Carlos points out, Clearwire's website already has some coverage maps for some of the cities listed in the third quarter, as well as some markets not listed here.
VA Apple store closed due to shooting, armed robbery attempt
The Clarendon Apple Store in Arlington, VA is closed today as police investigate a shooting that took place there this morning. The Washington Post reports that a woman was injured via a gunshot to the shoulder during an armed robbery attempt. TV station WJLA adds the detail that the victim was an employee who went to answer a knock at the store's rear service door.I've shopped at the Clarendon store, and the staff has always been unfailingly helpful and courteous. I hope that the victim of the shooting enjoys a complete and prompt recovery, and that the Clarendon team can also recover quickly from what must be a very traumatic experience.Via jdonels tweet, thanks Chris Anderson.
Kid brings gun to school ... to trade for a PSP
At Mason Middle School in Tacoma, WA, a 13-year-old boy stole one of the guns from his father's collection and brought it in with the intent of trading it for a PSP, kirotv reports. Whatever happened to kids trading pogs? The student who brought in the gun has been placed in juvenile detention, however a second gun is still missing from the father's collection. It was believed to also be in the school, but the report doesn't confirm if the police have discovered the missing firearm.[Thanks, Dan D!]
Penny Arcade creators honored by Washington State senate
Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, founders of Penny Arcade, are legendary folk heroes to much of the gaming community. For ten years, they've served as unparalleled industry commentators, strong vocabulary enthusiasts, and proponents of citrus-assaulting robots. However, these virtues recently took a backseat to their more charitable contributions to society when Penny Arcade was discussed on the floor of the Washington State senate, where legislators adopted a resolution honoring the two men for their philanthropic exploits.Senate Resoultion 8640 ennumerates the achievements of Holkins and Krahulik, such as their successful webcomic reaching its 10th anniversary, the launching of the Penny Arcade Expo, and the $4.5 million raised for improving the lives of hospitalized kids with Child's Play. While we're sure they would have preferred a law being passed in their name which mandates the death penalty for people who drop out of online games when they start losing, it's still a pretty cool gesture.[Via NeoGAF]
ECA leading 'action campaign' against proposed digital distribution tax
If you've ever wondered what the Entertainment Consumers Association actually does, here's your answer -- in an attempt to combat a proposed tax on digitally distributed content and games in a number of states, the ECA is mobilizing its troops in an "action campaign" against these taxes. Specifically, the group will be rallying its members in Washington, Mississippi and New York to protest DLC tax bills that are currently working their way through their respective state legislatures.In an email to ECA members residing in Washington state, the organization's redundantly named president, Hal Halpin, pointed out the unconsidered negative effects of such a tax, saying it will "suppress consumption, which will cause layoffs at effected businesses, including the video game industry, which employs many Washington residents." We can't wait to see what protest tactics the ECA employs in Microsoft's home state -- folk music? Cosplay? We're betting on rampant property destruction -- after all, it's not a Washington protest until you bust up a few Starbucks.
Seattle crowned most wired city in America: where's your town?
Check it, Pacific Northwest -- Seattle, Washington was just named Forbes' most wired city for 2009, followed closely by Atlanta, Washington, D.C., Orlando and Boston. Of course, having Amazon and Microsoft within spitting distance probably didn't hurt matters, and the eleventy billion Starbucks WiFi hotspots likely pushed it over the edge. There are 25 other locales in the top 30 that we've yet to mention here, so head on down to the read link to see if your hometown made the cut. Oh, and way to represent, Raleigh -- numero fifteen ain't too shabby.[Via cnmoody]
Washington, D.C. mayor signs bill approving FiOS TV implementation
Go 'head, Adrian -- brush your shoulders off. In a day where politicians are allowed to make and break promises with no real repercussions, the Washington, D.C. mayor deserves a hearty round of applause. After suggesting last May that FiOS would be landing in the District by early 2009, we're now informed that he has signed a bill authorizing the carrier to implement its fiber-based services in the region. Adrian M. Fenty has signed legislation into law that will give Verizon the ability to make FiOS TV available throughout DC over the next nine years, with the first residents able to order service within the next dozen months. Sure, there's a hoop or two more to jump through before this is all set in stone, but it's probably close enough to done to start celebrating.
Comcast delivers 29 HD channels in Seattle / Tacoma, Washington
It's officially the holiday season, and Comcast is officially in the giving mood. Hard though it may be to fathom, the carrier has just unloaded no fewer than 29 new high-definition channels in the Seattle / Tacoma, Washington area. We won't even bother boggling your mind by listing all 29 here, but those ready for an HD overload can hit the read link and prepare to be wowed. 29 new high-def stations in a single day -- that's almost too many to digest at once. Almost.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
