Reality Bites
Fire in the Sky is a 1993 alien abduction melodrama based on the true story of Travis Walton, a forestry worker who was allegedly abducted for five days in 1975 after an alien encounter in Arizona’s Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. More »
Intelligence officials released five “home videos” of Osama Bin Laden recovered from the Al Qaeda leader’s compound after he was killed by U.S. forces on Sunday. We know what you’re wondering: None of them, so far, are sex tapes. More »
Is your life really your life, or is it actually the dream of a butterfly? Or is it a complex computer simulation indistinguishable from “real” reality? Don’t worry, it’s just a glitch in the Matrix. It happens when they change something. More »
Many have tried and failed to bring a 3D desktop interface to an otherwise 2D operating system, but that certainly hasn’t stopped others from trying. The latest example to crop up comes courtesy of none other than Microsoft, which recently received a patent for what it describes as a “method and apparatus for providing a three-dimensional task gallery computer interface.” In other words, it’s an interface intended to help you better manage multiple tasks, which the patent suggests could be done in a 3D environment with a floor, walls and a ceiling. Apparently, you’d be able to group multiple windows at various spots in the “room,” which would let you rely on your spatial memory to easily find a given task — with the room getting deeper and deeper to accommodate more tasks. In the patent’s claims, the only means described for navigating around that room is a set of icons that would adjust to suit the 3D environment, although it certainly seems like it could easily be adapted to accommodate gesture controls as well. Hit up the source link below for plenty more line drawings where this one came from.
Microsoft patent details a 3D desktop interface with a room for your windows originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 May 2011 12:51:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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There is a rumor that Keanu Reves is in talks with Warner Bros. over the possibility of taking the role of Kaneda in the American film adaptation of the classic Manga, Akira.
I’m sure you’ve no doubt heard that Google was nice enough to finally release an update to Gingerbread that gives Nexus S users the ability to video-chat using the native Google Talk app. Pretty sweet of them. Even if only 4 percent of people in the world are actually running Android 2.3 Gingerbread on their phone’s and even less actually own the Nexus S.
So what about the rest of us? Well, you could either be a sad panda and wait around for – oh say, 4 more months for your carrier to push out the Android 2.3.4 OTA. Or you can take matters into your own hands and flash a handy zip file that installs the all new and improved GTalk app with video chat onto your phone.
There is a catch however. One, you need to be rooted. Two, you need to already be running a Gingerbread ROM (doesn’t matter which version). If you’re one of those lucky people then watch this video to see exactly what this Google video chatting business is all about. Or, if you hate looking at my face (like I do), you can always just follow the steps below:
[Via XDA]
On September 1, 2009, a 19-year-old woman from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada was the victim of a random shooting. Charlotte Dawn Jolly was shot and killed on the streets of Saskatoon while she was out celebrating her birthday with friends. The suspect was 16 years old at the time, and cannot…
Physicists have long studied the nature of the universe. But some go a step further into the unknown (and probably unknowable), contemplating what lies outside the boundaries of our universe. More »
Canada asked the U.S. to help plan against a nuclear threat during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, plus aid in everything from mail screening to troop transportation, diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks reveal.
Researchers from Queen’s University in Ontario Canada this week unveiled a prototype of their “paperphone,” a smartphone that has a flexible e-paper display instead of an LCD/TFT touchscreen.
As much as we all love Portal 2, I know that every single one of you has, at one time or another, wished in your heart of hearts that the game were a little bit more like a Logan’s Run-meets- Super Fly 1970s sci-fi action exploitation extravaganza. It's a story that's just begging for that kind of treatment.
While the folks at Valve are unlikely to grant you your greatest of wishes in playable form, one of the studio’s artists, Tristan Reidford, whipped up a completely amazing ’70s-style movie poster featuring the game’s various characters. While your immediate reaction might just be to make it your desktop background, you can actually do yourself one better and put it on your real life, non-computerized wall, as the poster will be going on sale in the Steam store in a couple of weeks.
As our own Ryan Davis histrionically pointed out over Twitter this morning, yes, there are a few spoilers floating around inside that poster. We're going to drop the main poster below If you haven't played yet, so maybe don't stare at it too hard? As for me, I know I'll be grabbing one as soon as they go on sale.
As a Googler I often take my work home with me—in a good way. With two young boys at home, life is always busy, so my husband and I are always looking for ways to save time, get organized and enrich our lives in simple ways. Because the products I beta test and use in the office have become an integral part of my own family life, for Mother’s Day this weekend I’d like to share some favorite tips, including a few from other Googler parents.
Capturing and sharing memories
Communicating and entertaining
Organizing and planning
I hope these tips inspire moms (and dads) to celebrate your family this weekend. Here’s hoping you can save time and energy to focus on having fun with your kids!
Posted by Cathy Cheng, Webmaster Manager and proud mom of Kai (3 years) and Jin (10 months)
Washing your hands regularly can help you stay healthy. But could it also get you sick?
Windows: We’ve shown you how to add a second layer of encryption to Dropbox, but if you’re looking for a simpler way to secure your synced files, free app SecretSync encrypts any Dropbox files you want before sending them to the cloud. More »
Saskatchewan teachers were back in the classroom Friday following a one-day strike in support of contract demands.
ASUS: Eee Pad Transformer delays due to demand, not component shortages originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 May 2011 10:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Android/Chrome: No one likes texting on small, autocorrect-prone phone keyboards. Texty connects your phone to Google Chrome, letting you send and receive SMS messages right from the extension bar. More »
The House of Representatives Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade continues to seek answers regarding last month’s breach of the PlayStation Network’s security. The one it got yesterday from Purdue professor and security expert Dr. Gene Spafford is troubling, to say the least, if the situation he detailed actually played out as described.
Spafford told the subcommittee that, according to security mailing lists he subscribes to, “individuals who work in security and participate in the Sony network” had learned “several months ago” that PSN was hosted on servers running “very old versions of Apache software that were unpatched and had no firewall installed.”
The professor continued, “they had reported these [issues] in an open forum that was monitored by Sony employees, but had seen no response and no change or update to the software.” The timeframe for these events was “two to three months prior to the incident where the break-ins occurred,” according to Spafford.
It’s important to note that his account of the situation and information is second-hand. Still, the potential for this testimony to cause the subcommittee, headed by representative Mary Bono Mack (R-CA), to demand more answers from Sony — and, more specifically, the individuals mentioned by Spafford — does exist.
Sony could not be reached for comment.
PSN servers were ‘unpatched and had no firewall installed,’ security expert testifies originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 May 2011 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Video store Blockbuster’s Canadian operations have been placed into receivership by an Ontario court after the chain missed payments on its debt.
Video games don’t have the greatest history of pandering to the tastes of women. That’s probably because so many game devs are frustrated nerdy dudes working out their own issues via XML. This explains why so many female game protagonists are smoking hot redheads who want to hook up with the nerdiest NPC in the game. It also explains why women in video games tend to be… busty.
Think we’re kidding? Go to your cabinet now and pick a game. Any game. Fact is, just like how every technological advance is popularized by porn, every step in the evolution of gaming is marked by the diligence of programmers with the sexual maturity of 12 year old boys, working day and night to put breasts into games whether they need to be there or not.
Sexist? Often. Sleazy? Probably. But it’s possible that the insistence on increasingly realistic breasts in games helped usher in the more adult themes we’ve come to take for granted in gaming over the decades. Or at least we’re telling ourselves that to assuage our guilt. Here are the 40 greatest boobs in video game history.
This was the reward you got for beating 1986′s Metroid in record time. Nowadays it would be ‘Achievement unlocked: basement dweller!’
Eve is who you got to hot tub with in 1987, when you beat Leisure Suit Larry. It’s primitive, but in the 80s people could only see in 8 bits and 4 colors.
By the early 90s it got a lot easier to pander. Witness the birth of cosplay.
Yeah, there’s a reason 12 year olds packed arcades into the late 90s. Now soliciting joystick puns.
Remember what we said earlier about redheads? Here’s your proof.
The thing is, Joanna never does this in the game. She’s too busy breaking and entering and killing Datadyne honchos to seduce anyone.
If video games had a ‘jiggle’ era, it was almost certainly initiated with Tomb Raider. I also blame this game for the popularity of Daisy Dukes.
Speaking of redheads, what is it with fantasy games and demons with human breasts? I’m pretty sure demons aren’t mammals.
After Mortal Kombat, fighting game makers decided large, barely-covered breasts were the best defense in a fight. This sounds like bad advice for real life. Unless guys want to try using their nuts as a shield.
When you play Mortal Kombat, you’re going see some cleavage. It’s in the company handbook.
You’ll also see sideboob. No it doesn’t make any sense to us either.
Soulcalibur saw Mortal Kombat’s ante and raised it considerably. Where Mortal Kombat had unrealistic scantily clad-ness, Soulcalibur had… well, gratuitous and unnecessary are words that come to mind. Note that Ivy’s weapon of choice is a whip with blades on it. And a bikini. There’s Christian subtext, I’m sure of it.
Two questions: 1) how is that outfit so form fitting?; 2) No seriously, how do you make navel-conforming cloth?
Judging by her outfit, Seong Mi-Na clearly went to the Miss Manners fetish academy for creepy western men.
Ok, now they’re just pandering. Come on guys.
At least her bustier straps are leather. That’s a little actual support. Because overflow is a problem and really, underwire is bad for working out. And I’m sure that’s exactly what the devs were thinkings.
You’d never know it but she’s the world’s oldest woman. The secret is competing in The King of Iron Fist Tournament, and pandering to desperate nerds.
Tekken is the king of weird fetish fuel. Michelle here is wearing a bikini and an Indian headdress. She’s at the Tekken tournament because she got lost on her way to Coachella
This is just… really blatantly pandering. No shame at all.
This is probably the basis of 50% of all Comic Con costumes.
Final Fantasy has pioneered the existential angst + gratuitous TnA school of storytelling.
Q: Conan, what is best in life?
A: To crush your enemies. To see them driven before you. To holy crap how could anyone sword fight in that?
I can’t help but think Bloodrayne is looking you in the eye and saying ‘my blades are up here idiots!”
I really wish they hadn’t let John Millius consult on the Ninja Gaiden series.
You think this game is about vampires, but she’s wondering what, exactly, is the matrix?
F2P is l33t for ‘NSFW’.
Dead or Alive (to Tekken): you see, the problem is that you haven’t really considered how little clothing is needed in life or death combat.
Tekken: What’s ‘clothing’?
Dead Or Alive (to Tekken): See what we mean?
Tekken: oh I see. Volleyball really is the most dangerous game.
Apparently, in the future gentleman’s clubs still don’t feature readings of Hume.
This is the other 50% of all Comic Con costumes.
I promise this is saved by context. Miranda is doing it on purpose.
Tifa is the existential crisis version of Lara Croft. The only thing desperate devs love more than redheads is clinical depression.
Isabela is actually an exceptionally well written character. But her designer really needs to check out non augmented bodies from time to time. Because those… aren’t breasts.
It’s not difficult to be the most practically-dressed female character in a Soulcalibur game.
And once again, we have a ridiculously form-fitting jumpsuit. Thing is, it isn’t even necessary. We’re more interested in unlocking the Wave Beam.
Sometimes you can only marvel at design decisions. “How much support and protection does this offer?” “None.” “Excellent. Now could you rastafy her by 30%?”
You’d think it wouldn’t be possible to shoehorn gratuitous breasts onto the playable character in a FPS. You’d be wrong. We can’t cure cancer but by god we’re going to put boobs into a genre that normally won’t let you see shoes. Our civilization will last forever.
This is an example of the Mortal Kombat team showing restraint.
You have to admit: 30+ years of boobs R&D have made spectacular manboobs possible.
These are the greatest boobs ever put into a game ever. And no, you cannot have my brain bleach. I just drank all of it.
