split

This week on preGAME we build our very own racetrack and then give it a spin live on the show! Today we're giving you a double dose of racing action with ModNation Racers and Split/Second. Joining us on the phone to talk about ModNation Racers will be Dan Sochan, producer on the project.

Before we hit our live demos, we'll discuss some of this week's top gaming headlines. First up, Halo: Reach has been officially dated. September 14 is when you'll be able to play the prequel to the Halo trilogy that follows a team … Read more

I've now been an iPad owner for exactly four hours. First impressions? It's heavier than I thought, and I'm furious with iTunes for hanging--repeatedly--during my initial sync attempts. (Weird workaround: After successfully syncing my iPhone, the iPad started syncing normally.)

Newspaper apps? Fantastic. JamPad? Dazzling. Netflix? I think a tear escaped my eye. But you know which app I'll probably end up using the most? The ingenious 99-cent Desktop, which divides the iPad screen in half so you can run two apps at once.

Well, OK, not apps, but any of the 10 "applets" built into Desktop. These include a Web browser (complete with thumbnail-enhanced bookmarks, a nice touch); an e-mail composer; Google Maps; unit and currency converters; a calculator; a dictionary; and a weather monitor.

So think of it: when your iPad is pulling desk duty (resting in one of these five cheap/DIY stands, no doubt), you can keep, say, a browser and calculator running all the time. Or a unit converter and iPad stat monitor. It's your choice, and Desktop gives you the option of dividing the screen side-by-side or top-to-bottom. (You can also run any tool full-screen if you prefer.)

Great idea, right? Just one problem: Desktop lacks a few tools it desperately needs, and a few of the tools it has aren't fully baked.… Read more

GetPDF's utilities let you do specialized things with PDFs without requiring Adobe Acrobat. Splitter Merger is an example. It's a handy tool that can split a PDF file into smaller files or save just selected pages or parts as new PDFs. It can also merge two or more PDFs into one document that preserves the look of the original file. You can preview its changes in Adobe's free Reader.

This compact tool opens with a trial nag screen and the developer's typical interface, an efficient dialog with clearly labeled fields and controls. Although it lacks a … Read more

A-PDF offers a wide range of highly specialized, affordable PDF tools that save time by automating and simplifying specific tasks. A-PDF Size Splitter splits PDF files into smaller PDFs. Why would you need it? E-mail file size limitations, for one reason; Size Splitter makes quick work of splitting huge PDFs into exactly the right size documents for file or bandwidth restrictions, or for legal restrictions on maximum file attachment size.

This program has the family look of A-PDF's fairly staggering array of PDF utilities, with a plain but businesslike dialog-based interface. There's a PDF-based Help file that can … Read more

If you take a look at the new KitchenAid French Door bottom freezer fridge, you might think that the only changes are the chrome details and full color LCD screen on the newly contoured doors. You might, but you'd be wrong.

Open those lovely doors, and you'll find a larger fridge capacity (2 cubic feet more than previous models), shelves that extend an additional three quarters of an inch, and advanced LED lighting so that you can see everything you cram inside. The fridge also features an in-door water and ice system and a convenient tilt-out ice door. … Read more

Unfortunately for iPhone owners, it appears that features included in the new Apple iPad OS won't be compatible with Apple's phone.

According to Engadget, Apple's updated human interface guidelines describe new User Interface(UI) elements, split view and popovers as "iPad-only" features. Though this shouldn't come as a surprise since those UI elements were built for larger displays, it may mean that developers are going to have a tough time making some apps work on the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.

Even more interesting is the fact that the new SDK shows support for … Read more

Medieval CUE splitter is an easy-to-use tool for breaking long audio files into smaller, songlike chunks. It has a simple layout and fast results; its only drawback is the rare CUE file format it uses.

The program's interface is nothing spectacular; in fact, it looks and feels rather sterile. However, its commands are clearly marked, and we had no difficulty navigating it or understanding its controls. This program's biggest problem is that it doesn't support every audio format. While it's compatible with MP3, WAV, and other popular formats, these files need to have a CUE text … Read more

Traffic Rush is a fun, fast-paced, cartoony arcade game in which you must direct traffic at a busy four-way intersection--much like other "traffic control" games. The touch interface is easy and natural, with you swiping vehicles to speed them up or tapping them to temporarily stop them. You have to choreograph a colorful collection of trucks, motorcycles, and various passenger cars, all with different speeds (and sound effects), and the number of vehicles--and, inevitably, close calls--increases as the game progresses. Your game ends when you fail to avert a crash, and you're given your score, average vehicle … Read more

Eight years after merging with Time Warner, AOL has finally been given a date for when it's being spun off to once again be its own company. We also talk about clean coal in China, the next versions of Adobe's Flash and AIR platforms, as well as the news that Microsoft's next version of Internet Explorer isn't quite ready for a public peek just yet.

Two small housekeeping notes: Thanks to everyone who wrote in last week to provide feedback on the CNET News Podcast. It's much appreciated. Also, there was a problem with Monday'… Read more