Could your PS3 also be your Dreamcast?
(Credit: CNET)A whopper of a leak shot across the Internet Tuesday, reporting of a Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) meeting that discussed the possibilities of rereleasing classic Sega games as compilation Blu-ray Discs and downloads of PS2 games on the PS3. While we discussed this trend--and even suggested a few great franchises to pursue--when the God of War Collection was announced, an even more surprising and exciting bomb was dropped in these purported meeting minutes:
From the wording of supposedly leaked August 6 SCEA meeting notes found on several forums including NeoGAF, it sounds like both PS2 and Dreamcast games will soon be available over PSN, much like PS1 games are already. That is big news. With PS2, PS1, and Dreamcast titles under their belts, it could be argued that the PS3 would have a Virtual Console that, while not as retro as Nintendo's, would be nearly unbeatable in offering the best of the late '90s and early '00s. After all, back then, the Dreamcast and PS2 were the biggest, bitterest rivals in town. It hasn't been confirmed that these notes are real, but they certainly seem too detailed and logical to not be. ... Read more
(Credit:
Sarah Tew/CNET)
On her way back from the airport the other day, our photo editor Sarah found a Kindle in the back seat of a New York City taxi cab. Being the honest person she is, she asked me if there was any way to get it back to the owner.
Well, it's actually not that easy to track down the owner of Kindle, especially if that person has a fairly common first and last name, as the owner of this Kindle does. We actually e-mailed him at the Kindle address that's registered to the device but it doesn't appear that you can get your @kindle.com e-mail unless you have the device.
Addtionally--and rather tragically--the person who bought this Kindle never inputted his personal information into the device. The link to "edit personal info" can be accessed from the "Settings and Device Information" tab when you click the menu button from the Kindle's home screen. On this Kindle, the box is empty.
Lesson 1: If you own and Kindle or another device that allows you to enter your personal info into it, do it, because while a lot of people would just deregister a lost Kindle and make it their own without ever trying to track you down, there are some people who want to return stuff that doesn't belong to them.
Lesson 2: Get a protective case for your device. The naked Kindle Sarah found has a small gash on the front (we're not sure if it got stepped on, sat on, or what) and it really does ruin the reading experience.
Now, we thought of calling Amazon and asking customer service reps for some possible info on the owner, but we've heard that Amazon doesn't like to give out info on Kindle owners. In fact, the New York Times recently wrote a story about how one owner of a lost Kindle pleaded with the company to brick his device so the person who found it couldn't use it. However, Amazon will only deregister the device to prevent your account from being accessed, but it won't keep someone from reregistering it. (The article talks about how there should be some way to authorize use from one owner to the next in the case the device is lost or sold.)
Coincidentally--or not--Ars Technica wrote a very similar story a week earlier. (Good headline I'd like to use someday: "Did the Times rip off the stolen Kindle story?")
But I digress.The purpose of this column isn't about ribbing Amazon or the Times but about taking a shot at finding this Kindle's owner.
Here's a hint. The device's name is "John's Kindle." So, if you're a John who lost your Kindle recently in New York, e-mail me through the link in my bio and we'll see if your last name matches up to the one on the device.
If you're name isn't John, and just want to comment on losing a Kindle, an iPhone, or another device you cherished, feel free to comment. We'd like to hear about your loss whether it has good ending or not.
In 2007, Kia Motors America and several design firms devised a taxi that could display its destination and indicate whether a passenger was interested in splitting a fare.
(Credit: Candace Lombardi/CNET)You got a better idea on how taxis should work? New York City is all ears.
On Tuesday, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) put out a request for information on how it can improve its taxi technology.
The TLC, in conjunction with the Design Trust for Public Space, staged an elaborate display at the New York International Auto Show in 2007 of taxis with innovative ideas on sustainability and design. Now it seems that the TLC wants to ensure that the public is aware of its interest in tech beyond hybrids.
The city's contracts with service providers for its tech tools program--referred to as the Taxicab Passenger Enhancement Program, or T-PEP--expire in about two years. The TLC seems to be shopping for options on how "to enhance the technology systems in each taxicab for the benefit of passengers, drivers, and owners alike," according to the announcement.
... Read moreMTI (also known as Mark Licea) joins the show today to replace Justin Yu, who's on vacation to Boston. We cover everything under the typical 404-sun: strippers, Playboy, Mexican-Korean truck food, Twitter, and Sweet Lou Bakalar.
That's one machine I crave.
(Credit: NBC Universal)Every one knows that the economy is in the tank. For a lot of people out there, that means spending hours every day listening to past episodes of the 404. For some it means that instead of using that Harvard degree, they are using the assets their momma gave them. In related news, Playboy has posted its entire back catalog online. Warning: This is totally NSFW. You can check out all the previous back issues of Playboy magazine online with a Silverlight-enabled browser.
Also, last Friday was the final broadcast of the landmark series Battlestar Galactica. Wilson, being the only fan of the show on The 404, has plenty to say--most of which seems to bore the hell out of Jeff and MTI. The show will be missed, and while the finale hit most of the right marks, there were a few things that gave plenty of pause--like the second ending. Check it out on iTunes or Hulu. Promise you're going to love Number Six in a red dress.
There's a food truck in Los Angeles driving around, Twittering, and making Korean-Mexican tacos? Finally, Sweet Lou Bakalar, Jeff's father, gives us his insight on the current state of texting and television buying. Stay tuned tomorrow for Eric Franklin!
Episode 304
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(Credit:
Ford Motor)
When it comes to taxicab design, there are two basic templates: the big boats out of Detroit like the Crown Victoria and the quainter, more bulbous look of the London taxi. It's that latter form factor that prevails in the new concept car--er, taxi--from Ford Motor.
In fact, underlying the hackney concept vehicle is a van straight out of Ford's European fleet, the Transit Connect. The automaker has been selling that van in Europe since about 2003 and plans to bring it to the U.S. in 2009. The taxi version is just one possible configuration; Ford is primarily pushing it as a handy conveyance for small businesses.
What makes the Ford Transit Connect taxi concept a truly 21st-century vehicle, rather than a throwback to a bygone automotive era, are some high-tech amenities. The vehicle has an in-dash computer for the driver (GPS, Bluetooth, etc.) and a touch-screen entertainment center for the passenger.
For more, see "Photos: Ford's boxy, high-tech taxi."
Peugeot H2O concept fire engine
(Credit: Peugeot)
Porsche Cayenne S ambulance
(Credit: Porsche)We've shown you the taxis of the future. Could some of the following complete the city fleet?
DeputyDog, a blog about "stuff," has put together a list of the nine most interesting municipal-vehicle ideas.
It includes a German police car made from a Mercedes, New York cops on Segways, a Porsche Cayenne ambulance, a Ferrari 250 GTE that was used by the Italian police in the 1960s, a Lamborghini Murcielago and a Peugeot H2O fire engine concept car.
Can you imagine giving some poor guy in a Honda a speeding ticket when you're driving a Ferrari? Now that's something that should be considered a sin.
(Credit:
Tech Digest)
When we first heard of the "Taxi Hailer," we thought it was a joke. After all, it's basically just a flashing light, not some kind of state-of-the-art wireless dispatcher. But it's apparently been officially sanctioned by the London cabbie association, and some early street tests indicate some success.
Tech Digest says the credit-card-sized device has a "super bright" amber light that can be spotted easily on packed city streets, day or night. The Taxi Hailer site even features a video of it in action.
We'd use one of these in New York City if it guaranteed a cab in the pre-theater evening rush. At that hour, even The Donald would have trouble hailing a taxi.
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