Ubisoft Tries A Different DRM For Its Game

Ubisoft is trying a new kind of digital rights management for its PC games: you’ll have to be connected to the Internet all the time.

The company is touting that there are benefits to this new DRM. All game saves can be accessed  from any PC and you won’t require the disc in the drive to play.

Brent Wilkinson, Director, Customer Service and Production Planning at Ubisoft told Game Spy “If you own a hundred PCs, you can install your games on a hundred PCs.”

However, not everyone is excited about this development.

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GoldenEye Lives! Teaser Trailer Released

GoldenEye 007 (N64) is arguably one of the most important modern video games. A fast, 3D, first-person, twitchy shooter with great multiplayer, it is the spiritual granddaddy of all the great FPSs we play today. Its success paved the way more complex and powerful consoles like the Xbox 360 and PS3. And now GoldenEye is back as a lovingly crafted mod for Half-Life 2.

Although GoldenEye: Source (this particular mod) has been around for half a decade, the teaser trailer above is for the latest version that includes more maps, characters, and weapons all for the purpose of experiencing the sweet nostalgia of stalking your buds through the Facility with the Golden Gun. And while nostalgia is great, GE:S makes the game so much better than it ever was because it’s running on tech that was pure speculation back when this Bond was originally released in 1997.

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“That Name Is Ours…” Fujitsu On The iPad

You knew we’d be hearing something from Fujitsu! Earlier this week we told you how Apple was taking Fujitsu to court over the name iPad. Apparently Fujitsu owns the name and Apple wants it. But that didn’t stop Apple from making a big announcement yesterday with a new device called the iPad. So what gives?

The story is actually quite confusing. Fujitsu has been selling a Windows point-of-sale device to retail outlets since 2002 called the iPad. It applied for a trademark but it has stalled in the courts because of a company called Mag-Tek. Mag-Tek  has been selling a pin entry keypad device under the name IPAD for years. This past June Fujitsu re-applied for the iPad trademark. Of course before this all gets settled, Apple comes storming into the room with no US trademark at all claiming the iPad name.

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Walmart Will Not Carry Google’s Nexus One

Technical error. That’s what Walmart says it all boils down to after the Nexus One showed up with a “coming soon” tag on company’s retail website. Here’s what a spokesperson told the Christian Science Monitor.

“Sorry to disappoint but we have no plans to carry Nexus One in Walmart stores or online at Walmart.com at this time. Due to a technical error, this item erroneously was displayed on our site. We’re working with our partner Let’s Talk to have it removed as quickly as possible, and apologize for any confusion.”

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iPad Books Only Available in the US…For Now

If you’re an Apple fan living outside of the US you’ll be disappointed to hear books for the iPad will not be available to you. A quick check of Apple’s retail site clearly states iBooks are only available in the US. In fact if you visit any Apple site outside of the US you don’t even see the eBook feature on the device.

We shouldn’t be surprised as Apple’s press release states “iBookstore will be available in the US at launch.” Give it time folks. Give it time.

@Doggy: I Want More Steak

If you toddler can tweet, why not your dog?

Mattel is introducing Puppy Tweets, a device that will send updates to Twitter about your dogs activity. It’s a plastic tag with sound and motion sensors that attaches to the collar. The tag has pre-determined updates that are triggered when certain conditions are met.

If the tag senses a lot of motion, you may see this tweet: “I finally caught that tail I’ve been chasing and…OOUUUCHH!”

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iPad Could Be A Magazine Delivery System?

Mag+ from Bonnier on Vimeo.

All it took was this concept video to convince me there’s a future for the iPad… as long as Apple copies this idea from Finnish media firm Bonnier. A research project with partner BERG, the Mag+ imagines the magazine eReader of the near future while taking a smart shot at the eBook readers of today.

Based on the assumption that buying and reading a well-published magazine is a unique and worthwhile experience that is currently ignored by the digital world, the Mag+ creates a full-colour, photo-heavy, content-focused, and rather linear reading experience. It makes the argument that you just can’t enjoy a magazine if it’s missing layout and photos and if the content is limited by only the infinity of the Internet.

In their own words:

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Apple Introduces the World to The iPad

The rumours and speculation can finally come to an end. Apple has finally announced its mystery device…the iPad. Steve Jobs unveiled the unit at Apple’s press event in San Francisco this morning.

The device is only half an inch thick, weighs 1.5 pounds and is roughly the same size as a Kindle. As predicted, the IPS display is 9.7 inches diagonal and is capable of displaying HD video. The iPad can be charged and synced via USB and claims to have a battery life of…10 hours.

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Playstation 3 Exploit Published

Infamous iPhone hacker George “Geohot” Hotz  has let the cat out of the bag. Earlier this week he posted on his blog that he had found a way to hack the Playstation 3 without a modchip. He promised he would post the exploit code online. Sure enough, it’s now available.

“Hopefully this will ignite the PS3 scene, and you will organise and figure out how to use this to do practical things, like the iPhone when jailbreaks were first released,” Hotz wrote on his blog. “I have a life to get back to and can’t keep working on this all day and night.”

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Reading Stand That Attaches To Bike Offers Free Injuries

Quick story: I dislocated my elbow cycling because I lost focus for one second. One moment I was upright and next my left arm was in agony. So obviously, I’m curious why someone would want to buy the Performance Bike Caddy. Wouldn’t you want all your attention on what’s happening in front of you?

The steel stand offers a place for reading material, or even an Apple iPad (or whatever is announced tomorrow). It’s not unlike the stands you find at the gym on stationary bikes.

While I think the caddy is meant for training on rollers or stationary bikes, the item description reads “Trying to find time to catch up on your reading and training? Do both at one time with the Performance Book Caddy! ”

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