Iklangadget.com - Information about Gadget

Filed under: Storage

Today the otherwise preoccupied Senate quickly passed the Webcaster Settlement Act many of you petitioned for, granting Pandora and other net radio services the right to negotiate royalties with the record industry's SoundExchange coalition for the years 2006 to 2015. OK, that's a mouthful—what it means is, they will likely not be driven to bankruptcy due to unreasonable royalty rates. I say "likely" because they still need to dot i's and cross t's on the royalty deal itself, but here, Congress approved their ability to do that, and just in the nick of time. Anyway, the world itself may be collapsing, but at least you know our legislators listened to your pleas to keep your favorite web radio broadcasters in business. [Digital Media Association]

At probably like the worst time ever for your stock to plummet harder than a meteor on a collision course with Bruce Willis, a glitch knocked $200 off of Google's stock price—that's half—in the span of four minutes as the markets were closing today. $62 billion. Erased. In four minutes. The glitch has been fixed, bringing it back to the correct price of $407, but some trades actually did go through at the bargain basement price. While they'll be repealed, it shows you that it's so crazy out there even computers are going nuts right now. [TechCrunch]

Filed under: Gaming

As should be clear by now, any talk of a successor to a still relatively new game console should be taken with a hefty grain of salt but, if word from Japan's Impress is to be believed, it looks like we could possibly be getting a clearer indication of what might be under the PlayStation 4's non-existent hood. Apparently, unlike the massive shift from the PS2 to PS3, the eventually PS4 will be a decidedly smaller leap, with it relying on a slightly speedier (and, likely, 45nm) Cell processor but not a completely new architecture. That would let Sony keep the cost down considerably while also easing development for the console since, by then, developers should finally have a handle on the PS3's hardware. To further cut costs, Sony is also said to be considering a switch from the speedy Rambus XDR memory to more traditional DDR3 memory, which could apparently be tied directly to the processor to cut down on latency. Or the PS4 could be powered by a pink slime that feeds on negative energy, you never know.

[Via Electronista]

Holy crap. Parts of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen are being shot in IMAX, meaning you'll get to see literally five-story Transformers getting smashed, exploded and all of the usual Michael Bay craziness in the only screen size truly worthy of Michael Bay. Like The Dark Knight, non-IMAX scenes will be letterboxed, and it'll blow back up to full screen size for IMAX sequences. Man, if there was ever a movie that needed to be in IMAX, this is it.

LOS ANGELES, CA, September 30, 2008 – IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX; TSX: IMX), DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures today announced that director Michael Bay will shoot key sequences of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen with IMAX® cameras. Bay will integrate the IMAX footage with state of the art CGI to create an unprecedented look and feel for the highly anticipated sequel to last year’s box office hit, Transformers. As previously announced, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will be released to IMAX® theatres simultaneously with the movie’s wide release on June 26, 2009.

The movie sequences shot in traditional 35mm will be digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The IMAX DMR scenes will appear in the traditional “letterbox” shape, while scenes shot with IMAX’s cameras will expand vertically to fill the entire IMAX screen.

“The extraordinary level of detail and intensity captured by the IMAX camera creates many exciting possibilities for us with this film,” said Michael Bay, the film’s director. “IMAX’s all-encompassing format will take this story to a new level, and I am once again very excited to share The IMAX Experience with Transformers fans around the world.”

“The addition of another amazing title from DreamWorks and Paramount, combined with more groundbreaking use of IMAX technology by Hollywood’s top filmmakers, are examples of how far we have come as a company and a distribution platform over the past several years,” said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. “The growth of the IMAX theatre network, fueled by the economical benefits of the new IMAX digital system, is driving interest from virtually all of the top studios, which is resulting in more IMAX movies for audiences to enjoy.”

“Michael Bay’s innovative use of IMAX cameras will create a spectacular cinematic adventure for moviegoers next summer,” added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “We’re very excited to be integrated as a core part of the Transformers production, and with the skilled marketing and distribution teams at DreamWorks and Paramount, the timing is ideal given our expanding global audience and network footprint.”

[Aintitcool]

While I understand why people would want their GPS navigators to give them directions in the voice of KITT or Mr. T, I have no idea who in their right mind would want Kim Cattrall (the old one) from Sex in the City telling them where to go whenever they drive. Not only will her voice remind you of that horrible show every time you need to make a turn, but it'll throw in annoying non sequiturs like "This is the city, darling. Anything goes" or "Don't touch my Manolos" at random times for added irritation. Why, oh god can anyone tell me why? Hit the jump for the full release, if you must.

Sex and the City's Kim Cattrall is Latest Celeb Voice Available For Download on TomTom Portable Navigation Devices

Candid, sassy and always fashionable, Kim Cattrall makes ordinary navigation even sexier

Concord, Mass. – September 30, 2008 – Sex and the City's Kim Cattrall knows how to navigate the streets of New York City, and now she'll help you navigate around your favorite North American or European city.

In global partnership with Navtones®, Kim Cattrall is the latest celebrity to join the growing line up of celebrity and character voices available for use on devices made by TomTom, the world's leading navigation solutions provider. Cattrall, known widely for her role as the ever-spontaneous and uninhibited Samantha Jones on the HBO hit series Sex and the City, adds some spice to the ride, allowing drivers a fun and unforgettable journey.

"Putting my voice on GPS systems is such a unique way for me to reach out and connect with my fans," Cattrall said. "I am thrilled to be able to entertain my fans by giving them turn-by-turn directions to make their trips more fun and exciting."

On the road, Cattrall throws some candid, sassy and sexy advice to help drivers find their way. For example, in addition to saying, "At the end of the road turn left" or "Take the second right," Cattrall also lets drivers know what she is really thinking, saying "This is the city, darling. Anything goes" or "Don't touch my Manolos," leaving drivers wondering, "What will she say next?"

"Celebrity voice downloads are one of the many features TomTom offers to our customers to personalize their driving experience," said Jocelyn Vigreux, president of TomTom Inc. "With Kim Cattrall's voice helping them to navigate their trip, TomTom customers will not only travel safely and with less stress, but will also be amused along the way."

TomTom portable navigation devices guide drivers with audible, turn-by-turn instructions and 3D maps and work right out of the box and with no additional fees or services required.

TomTom's portable navigation devices offer 70 preloaded voices in 36 languages, and now drivers can have Kim Cattrall navigate them to any location, including specific points of interest. Cattrall's voice is available for download immediately for $12.95 and €9.95. Go to http://www.tomtom.com/plus/services/voices.php or TomTom HOME to see and hear a complete list of voices and easy-to-download instructions.

Remember playing something like TMNT arcade, and Bebop and Rocksteady would grow increasingly red, tempting you to throw in quarter after quarter because every moment seemed like the moment they would be defeated? This punching bag works under the same philosophy, though it turns from red to a sickly yellow, as if your opponent is leaking bile or slowly wetting all of their clothing. Also, it lights up where you punch it, making it appear* that you have lightning powers.

* Sorry, your mom wanted us to tell you that you never had lightning powers. Also, she said that you owed her $5 from that time you borrowed money to beat Rocksteady and started crying because your lightning powers weren't helping. [stefangross via boingboing]

Norway is ostensibly big on neutrality, even when it gets them invaded and pulverized, so not surprisingly it hates Apple's FairPlay DRM, which only lets songs play on iPods. It even has a law requiring that consumers be able to use digital media with whatever device they choose, which FairPlay obviously pees all over. After a lovely chat with Apple in February, not much has changed, so gentle Norway is going to play war against Apple over FairPlay for the rest of hapless Europe.

If Apple doesn't respond to the allegations by Nov. 3, Norway will take Apple before its very diplomatic and wussy-sounding Market Council as the first test case to force Apple to bust open FairPlay. If Norway is for siriusly about taking on Apple, iTunes-loving Norwegians better enjoy its full DRM'd bounty while they can, especially if any ruling about FairPlay extends to movies and TV shows—guess what's slathered all over them? Why?

Likelier actions from Apple than handing over the FairPlay keys: shutting down the iTunes Store in Norway, pulling everything with DRM, or a blitzkrieg into Oslo. [Yahoo! via Ars Technica]

Looks like Apple's finally addressing one of the major complaints lodged against the iPhone: Speaking at the Flash on the Beach conference in Brighton, an Adobe representative today confirmed that iPhone will finally be getting Flash support.

"My team is working on Flash on the iPhone, but it's a closed platform," Flash Magazine quoted Adobe's senior director, engineering, Paul Betlem as saying, during a town hall presentation. The specifics of the project are still largely under wraps, and Apple is no doubt calling most, if not all, of the shots here.

Still, seeing as how Adobe's platform is nearly ubiquitous on the Web, any news on the subject is good news for iPhone owners.

A large touch-screen and
a cool spinning controller
are not quite worth price.

—Tim Gideon

For the full-length, free-verse iriver Spinn review check out PCMag.com.