According to a Bloomberg article, Toyota is in apparent talks with GM to offer a version of its Prius hybrid car to the American automaker.
The report quotes anonymous sources who report that Toyota President Akio Toyoda and GM’s Fritz Henderson will meet in Michigan in August. A GM version of Prius could be built in California where GM is ending assembly of the Pontiac Vibe as part of its bankruptcy filing.
Toyota is considering the California plant as a Prius production site after shelving plans to make the gasoline-electric car in Mississippi, two people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg earlier this month.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
IMAX Theater at Stonecrest, "Transformers II" are hits
Critics have universally panned "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," taking issue with the script, the acting and some have questioned the need for pair of racially insensitive robots -- and all of the sexual innuendo.
I think the critics have it mostly wrong. Apparently, you do, too.
After five days, the movie has raked in more than $200 million domestically and is well on its way to the $400 million club, the kind of U.S. business only eight films in history have done.
And the thing is, this movie isn't directed at the critics. It's directed at the pre-teens and teens who will enjoy all the shots of Megan Fox bent over motorcycles or in white jeans that appear painted on; kids who will enjoy the Animal House humor and the reefer jokes. They're not for those of us with 401Ks and a need to check the dependent box on our 1040s every spring.
Taken in that context, I'd say the movie hits its mark -- with a bullseye.
Tuesday afternoon, I took my son and his friend to see the film. The kids are both nine. I actually thought all the sex talk and sex play -- and there was a lot of it -- might be a little much. Then I thought maybe all the violence -- and there was an awful lot of it -- might be a little much. Many, many people die, and die spectacularly. The special effects in this one, particularly a huge U.S. warship going down after being slapped by a bad robot, are eye-dropping.
Both kids loved it. My son told me he's not sure if he loved (the critically praised) "Star Trek" or Transformers II more. But one thing he did like better: seeing the robots in IMAX. We saw Star Trek at Phillips Place, on a regular surround sound screen.
I'm not sure how Transformers plays in normal theaters, but in the IMAX at the Stonecrest Theater on Rea Road, it is spectacular. You walk in the theater and there's hardly any room for that brown curtain to cover part of the screen. The screen runs wall to wall and nearly floor to ceiling. You have to sit back a little to take it all in.
You remember the first time you saw a really good HDTV picture, when everyone had square TVs? That's kind of like the feeling you get walking into the IMAX for the first time. Everything is sharper, bigger.
The experience isn't as mind-blowing as at Discovery Place, where you're laid back and the IMAX screen nearly wraps around you, but it's close. The sound is amazing. And loud. The images are crystal clear and huge.
The only part I really hated was paying $37 to get in. That's $15 for adults and $11 for children. At the 12:20 matinee.
So after I bought the kids two Cookie Dough candy boxes for $8 total -- and those little things are devilishly good -- I was set back darn near a car payment.
At that point, I probably would've enjoyed "Fried Green Tomatoes." But Transformers was what I expected. A light, if somewhat predictable story with great special effects and a few loud out loud funny moments.
I could've done without the two jive talking robots, who claimed they couldn't read (a little too stereotypical). I was surprised this movie got past all the screeners and nobody ever said, "Hey, you think we might be upsetting folks for no reason here?"
Thankfully, those bots don't dominate the screen time, and thankfully this movie wasn't as bad as I was led to believe.
Critics “forget what the goal of the movie was. The goal of the movie is to entertain and have fun,” Rob Moore, vice chairman of Paramount told the Associated Press. “What the audience tells us is, ‘We couldn't be more entertained and having more fun.'”
According to Paramount's exit polls, 91 percent of the audience thought the sequel was as good as or better than the first “Transformers,” which got far better reviews.
All I know is on Imax, Transformers II, for me, was mindless fun, a nice getaway on a hot Tuesday afternoon: exactly what I wanted it to be.
I think the critics have it mostly wrong. Apparently, you do, too.
After five days, the movie has raked in more than $200 million domestically and is well on its way to the $400 million club, the kind of U.S. business only eight films in history have done.
And the thing is, this movie isn't directed at the critics. It's directed at the pre-teens and teens who will enjoy all the shots of Megan Fox bent over motorcycles or in white jeans that appear painted on; kids who will enjoy the Animal House humor and the reefer jokes. They're not for those of us with 401Ks and a need to check the dependent box on our 1040s every spring.
Taken in that context, I'd say the movie hits its mark -- with a bullseye.
Tuesday afternoon, I took my son and his friend to see the film. The kids are both nine. I actually thought all the sex talk and sex play -- and there was a lot of it -- might be a little much. Then I thought maybe all the violence -- and there was an awful lot of it -- might be a little much. Many, many people die, and die spectacularly. The special effects in this one, particularly a huge U.S. warship going down after being slapped by a bad robot, are eye-dropping.
Both kids loved it. My son told me he's not sure if he loved (the critically praised) "Star Trek" or Transformers II more. But one thing he did like better: seeing the robots in IMAX. We saw Star Trek at Phillips Place, on a regular surround sound screen.
I'm not sure how Transformers plays in normal theaters, but in the IMAX at the Stonecrest Theater on Rea Road, it is spectacular. You walk in the theater and there's hardly any room for that brown curtain to cover part of the screen. The screen runs wall to wall and nearly floor to ceiling. You have to sit back a little to take it all in.
You remember the first time you saw a really good HDTV picture, when everyone had square TVs? That's kind of like the feeling you get walking into the IMAX for the first time. Everything is sharper, bigger.
The experience isn't as mind-blowing as at Discovery Place, where you're laid back and the IMAX screen nearly wraps around you, but it's close. The sound is amazing. And loud. The images are crystal clear and huge.
The only part I really hated was paying $37 to get in. That's $15 for adults and $11 for children. At the 12:20 matinee.
So after I bought the kids two Cookie Dough candy boxes for $8 total -- and those little things are devilishly good -- I was set back darn near a car payment.
At that point, I probably would've enjoyed "Fried Green Tomatoes." But Transformers was what I expected. A light, if somewhat predictable story with great special effects and a few loud out loud funny moments.
I could've done without the two jive talking robots, who claimed they couldn't read (a little too stereotypical). I was surprised this movie got past all the screeners and nobody ever said, "Hey, you think we might be upsetting folks for no reason here?"
Thankfully, those bots don't dominate the screen time, and thankfully this movie wasn't as bad as I was led to believe.
Critics “forget what the goal of the movie was. The goal of the movie is to entertain and have fun,” Rob Moore, vice chairman of Paramount told the Associated Press. “What the audience tells us is, ‘We couldn't be more entertained and having more fun.'”
According to Paramount's exit polls, 91 percent of the audience thought the sequel was as good as or better than the first “Transformers,” which got far better reviews.
All I know is on Imax, Transformers II, for me, was mindless fun, a nice getaway on a hot Tuesday afternoon: exactly what I wanted it to be.
Rockers R.E.M. releases live digital EP
R.E.M. will release a live digital EP, entitled Reckoning Songs From The Olympia, through iTunes and all digital service providers on July 7th, 2009.
The EP features live versions of four songs from the band's beloved second album Reckoning that were recorded during R.E.M.'s "working rehearsals" at Dublin's Olympia Theatre in July 2007. The track-listing is "Harborcoat," "Letter Never Sent," "Second Guessing," and "Pretty Persuasion." In its five-star live review, Q magazine said: " Eleven new songs are played each night, while the remainder are a changing complement of oldies that pointedly contextualize the virgin material." ( http://remhq.com/news_story.php?id=585).
The EP will give fans a preview of what's to come when the band release R.E.M. Live At The Olympia as a two-CD set this fall. R.E.M., which is singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, and bassist Mike Mills, performed a special five-night residency — dubbed "working rehearsals" — at the fabled Irish venue to test out new songs for their 2008 studio album Accelerate, which was produced by Grammy-Award winning producer Jacknife Lee and topped multiple charts its first week of release.
Reckoning Songs From The Olympia comes on the heels of the 25th anniversary of Reckoning, which was released on April 9th, 1984. On June 23rd, the band released a deluxe edition of the album, featuring a bonus disc with eight of its 10 songs recorded live in Chicago in 1984, to celebrate the occasion.
The EP features live versions of four songs from the band's beloved second album Reckoning that were recorded during R.E.M.'s "working rehearsals" at Dublin's Olympia Theatre in July 2007. The track-listing is "Harborcoat," "Letter Never Sent," "Second Guessing," and "Pretty Persuasion." In its five-star live review, Q magazine said: " Eleven new songs are played each night, while the remainder are a changing complement of oldies that pointedly contextualize the virgin material." ( http://remhq.com/news_story.php?id=585).
The EP will give fans a preview of what's to come when the band release R.E.M. Live At The Olympia as a two-CD set this fall. R.E.M., which is singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, and bassist Mike Mills, performed a special five-night residency — dubbed "working rehearsals" — at the fabled Irish venue to test out new songs for their 2008 studio album Accelerate, which was produced by Grammy-Award winning producer Jacknife Lee and topped multiple charts its first week of release.
Reckoning Songs From The Olympia comes on the heels of the 25th anniversary of Reckoning, which was released on April 9th, 1984. On June 23rd, the band released a deluxe edition of the album, featuring a bonus disc with eight of its 10 songs recorded live in Chicago in 1984, to celebrate the occasion.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Will Buick's new ads help change brand perception, sell cars?
A few weeks ago, I wrote about Buick's new sports sedan, the eye-catching LaCrosse. I think it's a car that could really turn GM's fortunes.
Buick has long appealed only to old folks, right? Well, here's a car that goes straight after the Lexus/Acura-driving crowd and, to my 42-year-old eyes, it's the best looking design on the market right now.
The car is set to hit showrooms in the next two weeks -- full of techno gadgets like bluetooth and an available mile-per-hour meter that registers in the windshield so you don't have to look down to see how fast you're going (we've got to include that, right, because this is a blog about games and gadgets).
I have read some places where people questioned the opening ads (as seen above) for the LaCrosse and Buick's excellent Enclave crossover, which I think is the best-looking SUV/crossover on the market right now along with Toyota's Venza. I liked the new message in the spot of having a hip young movie director, however quirkly, really falling in love with Buick, the old man's brand.
"You've changed," he says as the appropriately titled "Here Comes The Hotstepper" plays in the background.
I think that's a great message to put out now. Buick's reliability ratings are up and the new LaCrosse has gotten plenty of positive press for almost everything except its smallish 13 cubic foot trunk. As I said before, I think this is a car that can help save GM, along with the upcoming Chevy Cruze hybrid and the electric Volt. The LaCrosse is the kind of car, if it drives and maintains as well as it looks, that will attract foreign car buyers and younger buyers to the brand (especially if there are some incentives attached).
One of these days, I'm going to trade the old Honda, and for the first time in my life, I think I might consider the old man's brand. It's like guy in the commerical says, Buick has changed.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Apple sells one million new iPhones over the weekend
Even in a down economy, people still appear to like Apple's iPhone.
The company's new iPhone 3GS model debuted last weekend, for $199 or $299, and Apple reports it sold one million of them in the first three days. It also said that six million customers downloaded the new iPhone 3.0 software for older iPhones in the first five days of its release.
The Palm Pre, in comparison, sold about 100,000 in its first weekend.
Click here for a speed comparison between the iPhone 3G and 3GS.
The company's new iPhone 3GS model debuted last weekend, for $199 or $299, and Apple reports it sold one million of them in the first three days. It also said that six million customers downloaded the new iPhone 3.0 software for older iPhones in the first five days of its release.
The Palm Pre, in comparison, sold about 100,000 in its first weekend.
Click here for a speed comparison between the iPhone 3G and 3GS.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Glass Joe is back and Wii Punch Out rocks
“Punch Out” ( ***1/2): Glass Joe is back. This was one of my favorite games on the old 8-bit Nintendo machine, and playing this boxing title with the Wiimote is realistic and fun. The premise is simple: You see your guy's hands and some big lug in front of you, and you trade blows. If you have a Wii Balance Board, you can also incorporate your feet into the gameplay; very cool. The new “3-D look” didn't really do much for me – it still pretty much looks like it used to. But that's fine. It's still one of my favorite titles of the year.
“The Legendary Starfy” ( **): This big Japanese hero is another Mario-like character, albeit one shaped like a star, who swims, jumps and bounces through a maze-like world defeating enemies. Starfy can morph into a dragon, a seal, a ghost or a chicken. It's well-done, but I just didn't really get it.
“Let's Tap” Nintendo Wii ( ***): Place your Wiimote on a flat, stable surface and simply tap it to make onscreen characters sprint, play songs, swim or paint. It's another one of those simple collections of minigames that will hook you quickly. Great family fun.
“The Legendary Starfy” ( **): This big Japanese hero is another Mario-like character, albeit one shaped like a star, who swims, jumps and bounces through a maze-like world defeating enemies. Starfy can morph into a dragon, a seal, a ghost or a chicken. It's well-done, but I just didn't really get it.
“Let's Tap” Nintendo Wii ( ***): Place your Wiimote on a flat, stable surface and simply tap it to make onscreen characters sprint, play songs, swim or paint. It's another one of those simple collections of minigames that will hook you quickly. Great family fun.
Cool, a live game show that you play on Xbox 360
Microsoft recently launched on Xbox Live a beta version of a massively multiplayer online game, “1 vs 100,” based on the TV game show of the same name. It's a bold new move for video-gaming, offering a live game show played on the console that engages the entire family.
Selected players receive entries to win prizes like a 52-inch plasma TV, $3,000 cash and Microsoft Zune music players.
Each episode is a two-hour game show that features real-time play between players. A host conducts the action. There's a featured player called The One who tries to win the game outright by eliminating all 100 members of The Mob by answering questions correctly.
When you sign in to play, you are assigned to The Mob, or to be The One. (Your Xbox Live avatar appears on screen when you're selected, which is cool.) If you're picked as neither, you can play as The Crowd.
The game tracks your answers, and the more correct ones you get, the better your chances of being selected to “come on down!” – to coin a different game-show's phrase. But if you get a question wrong, you're no longer a member of the Mob (or The One), and are sent into The Crowd. Don't worry, though, you can still play – and win stuff – from there.
Live games are going on each day; you can check www.xbox.com for the schedule.
I think Microsoft has a big hit on its hands with this, and I can't wait to see what other types of live community-based games might be coming next.
Selected players receive entries to win prizes like a 52-inch plasma TV, $3,000 cash and Microsoft Zune music players.
Each episode is a two-hour game show that features real-time play between players. A host conducts the action. There's a featured player called The One who tries to win the game outright by eliminating all 100 members of The Mob by answering questions correctly.
When you sign in to play, you are assigned to The Mob, or to be The One. (Your Xbox Live avatar appears on screen when you're selected, which is cool.) If you're picked as neither, you can play as The Crowd.
The game tracks your answers, and the more correct ones you get, the better your chances of being selected to “come on down!” – to coin a different game-show's phrase. But if you get a question wrong, you're no longer a member of the Mob (or The One), and are sent into The Crowd. Don't worry, though, you can still play – and win stuff – from there.
Live games are going on each day; you can check www.xbox.com for the schedule.
I think Microsoft has a big hit on its hands with this, and I can't wait to see what other types of live community-based games might be coming next.
Friday, June 19, 2009
iPhone 3GS in action (videos)
Here's one showing the new iPhone 3GS against the older 3G.
This video is made from the new iPhone's video camera (not bad).
This video is made from the new iPhone's video camera (not bad).
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Here's what the Panthers look like on Madden 10
EA Sports sent me some screen shots of several Panther players from the upcoming Madden 10. What do you think?
Overall the Panthers are rated an 83 overall as a team, which leads the NFC South.
Next gen screen shots:
Here are some shots from the Nintendo Wii version
Overall the Panthers are rated an 83 overall as a team, which leads the NFC South.
Next gen screen shots:
Here are some shots from the Nintendo Wii version
Demo for NCAA Football out today
EA Sports NCAA Football 10 drops July 14, but the company put out a free demo on Xbox Live and the PlayStation store today. The demo shows off new features like:
§ Defensive Keys—Prior to the snap during the pre-play, hold the left trigger while pressing the analog stick in the direction you think will stop the run. If you think the offense will pass the ball, press upward. Or, you can press the icon associated with a receiver (X, Y, A, B, LB, RB) to spotlight that individual. This will focus the defense on making sure that the chosen offensive player does not make a play.
§ Defensive Player Assist—By holding A (on 360) or X (on PS3) on defense your player will be put under CPU control so you have time to read a play and decide the best course of action.
§ Enhanced Defensive Lineman Moves—With new animations, take control of your defensive linemen using the right stick to fight pass blocks and put pressure on the quarterback.
§ Gameplanning—There are six defensive and five offensive individual game planning options, or you can globally set your offense and defense. Each option changes the way your team will perform. For example, be aggressive and try and strip the ball every time and you run the risk of getting more facemask penalties.
§ Player Lock—Player lock allows you to lock on to a specific player in order to control that position during the play. When you lock on you'll get a whole new camera angle that puts you closer to the action.
§ Set Up Plays—Set up plays allows you to run one play in order to set up another. When picking a play, you will notice that some plays have a chain link between them, which indicates that one play can set up the other. Every time you use one particular play throughout the game, you are setting up for the play that is chain linked to it. Once the play is 100% set up (as shown in your playbook), the defense is at its highest likelihood to fall for that play action.
§ 1000 new animations like throw out of a sack, new shotgun snaps/hand-offs, WR/DB interactions, tackles, double team run blocks, catches, broken tackles, and slipping in bad weather.
You can also log into teambuilder.easports.com to create custom teams that can be shared and used in-game when the full product launches on July 14th. TeamBuilder is an all-new, online create-a-school feature that gives gamers the capability to upload logos and numerous customization options for uniforms, fields and rosters.
§ Defensive Keys—Prior to the snap during the pre-play, hold the left trigger while pressing the analog stick in the direction you think will stop the run. If you think the offense will pass the ball, press upward. Or, you can press the icon associated with a receiver (X, Y, A, B, LB, RB) to spotlight that individual. This will focus the defense on making sure that the chosen offensive player does not make a play.
§ Defensive Player Assist—By holding A (on 360) or X (on PS3) on defense your player will be put under CPU control so you have time to read a play and decide the best course of action.
§ Enhanced Defensive Lineman Moves—With new animations, take control of your defensive linemen using the right stick to fight pass blocks and put pressure on the quarterback.
§ Gameplanning—There are six defensive and five offensive individual game planning options, or you can globally set your offense and defense. Each option changes the way your team will perform. For example, be aggressive and try and strip the ball every time and you run the risk of getting more facemask penalties.
§ Player Lock—Player lock allows you to lock on to a specific player in order to control that position during the play. When you lock on you'll get a whole new camera angle that puts you closer to the action.
§ Set Up Plays—Set up plays allows you to run one play in order to set up another. When picking a play, you will notice that some plays have a chain link between them, which indicates that one play can set up the other. Every time you use one particular play throughout the game, you are setting up for the play that is chain linked to it. Once the play is 100% set up (as shown in your playbook), the defense is at its highest likelihood to fall for that play action.
§ 1000 new animations like throw out of a sack, new shotgun snaps/hand-offs, WR/DB interactions, tackles, double team run blocks, catches, broken tackles, and slipping in bad weather.
You can also log into teambuilder.easports.com to create custom teams that can be shared and used in-game when the full product launches on July 14th. TeamBuilder is an all-new, online create-a-school feature that gives gamers the capability to upload logos and numerous customization options for uniforms, fields and rosters.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
DirecTV offers bonus U.S. Open golf coverage
Golf fans who have DirecTV are in for a treat. The satellite company is offering free bonus coverage Thursday-Sunday.
There will be three additional channels (702-705) in addition to the national feeds on ESPN and NBC.
DirecTV offered this type of bonus coverage from the Masters and will also offer it during the British Open and the PGA Championship, covering all of golf's four major championships.
This weekend, a "Mix Channel" will show the network feed and all three bonus channels on one screen. The first bonus channel will follow a group of golfers around the course (Hello Tiger!). Another channel will focus on a particular area of the course. A third will provide live updates, highlights and interviews.
Each of the extra channels will be offered in both standard- and high-definition and are fully produced with their own production crew and announcers. Customers with interactive receivers can view all four channels in the Mix and use their remote to listen to any channel’s audio or tune directly to the full-screen channel. The Mix also features a real-time leader board to keep tabs on all the action.
The interactive services, available by pressing the red button on the remote, include a look at the top five leaders; the full leader board, with the ability to select any golfer for in-depth, hole-by-hole stats; a five-question, daily trivia contest on the history of the event; and a “Tune To” menu item that allows the viewer to tune directly to the Mix Channel (701) and any one of the four channels (702-705), including the main network feed.
There will be three additional channels (702-705) in addition to the national feeds on ESPN and NBC.
DirecTV offered this type of bonus coverage from the Masters and will also offer it during the British Open and the PGA Championship, covering all of golf's four major championships.
This weekend, a "Mix Channel" will show the network feed and all three bonus channels on one screen. The first bonus channel will follow a group of golfers around the course (Hello Tiger!). Another channel will focus on a particular area of the course. A third will provide live updates, highlights and interviews.
Each of the extra channels will be offered in both standard- and high-definition and are fully produced with their own production crew and announcers. Customers with interactive receivers can view all four channels in the Mix and use their remote to listen to any channel’s audio or tune directly to the full-screen channel. The Mix also features a real-time leader board to keep tabs on all the action.
The interactive services, available by pressing the red button on the remote, include a look at the top five leaders; the full leader board, with the ability to select any golfer for in-depth, hole-by-hole stats; a five-question, daily trivia contest on the history of the event; and a “Tune To” menu item that allows the viewer to tune directly to the Mix Channel (701) and any one of the four channels (702-705), including the main network feed.
A dilemma for iPhoners, or those that want to be
The new iPhone 3.0 software is out for existing users and it is good. The internet moves faster. You can cut and paste. You can turn the phone sideways to type email (finally) and there's a neat voice recorder now included that allows you to leave a tape recorder at home. It all works seamlessly, like many Apple products, and all of a sudden I'm not hearing so much about the Palm Pre anymore.
The new software, combined with a Mobile Me account from Apple, allows you to track where your phone is at any time. You can even have it display a message and/or beep to help you find it.
If need be, you can even wipe its data remotely, removing all your emails and sensitive information.
This was a brilliant addition.
But here's the thing, there's a new iPhone coming this week and it does everything better.
The battery lasts longer. The camera is sharper and autofocuses. It also takes video, which the current phone does not. AT&T is making it harder on current users by widening the window for available plan discounts to get the new phone for as low as $199 (16 gig version) if they re-up for two years.
Now, users whose contracts won't expire for three more months are eligible.
If you're thinking of jumping and getting a new iPhone, the new version is $199 or $299 (32 gigs). The current iPhone is now $99, and with the new software, it does everything better than any other smart phone out there -- except the new iPhone 3GS.
And one of the biggest bugaboos about the current model is battery strength. It ain't good. The new model improves on that -- greatly.
So what are you guys going to do? Stand pat, enjoy the new software and wait on the next iPhone revision, which would probably be more of a quantum leap than this; or go grab a 3G-S now?
The new software, combined with a Mobile Me account from Apple, allows you to track where your phone is at any time. You can even have it display a message and/or beep to help you find it.
If need be, you can even wipe its data remotely, removing all your emails and sensitive information.
This was a brilliant addition.
But here's the thing, there's a new iPhone coming this week and it does everything better.
The battery lasts longer. The camera is sharper and autofocuses. It also takes video, which the current phone does not. AT&T is making it harder on current users by widening the window for available plan discounts to get the new phone for as low as $199 (16 gig version) if they re-up for two years.
Now, users whose contracts won't expire for three more months are eligible.
If you're thinking of jumping and getting a new iPhone, the new version is $199 or $299 (32 gigs). The current iPhone is now $99, and with the new software, it does everything better than any other smart phone out there -- except the new iPhone 3GS.
And one of the biggest bugaboos about the current model is battery strength. It ain't good. The new model improves on that -- greatly.
So what are you guys going to do? Stand pat, enjoy the new software and wait on the next iPhone revision, which would probably be more of a quantum leap than this; or go grab a 3G-S now?
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