Source - Natrium42


I am currently developing DSerial which is going to be a debug cable and more. It has an integrated 8051 microcontroller that can be programmed for specific applications. USB, serial and I/O ports allow using this device for a range of ideas. An obvious application would be a debug console and perhaps even GDB support. Serial port allows to connect GPS receivers, motor controllers and other gadgets equipped with UART or RS-232 serial port. 18 I/O lines enable electronics enthusiasts to connect various projects that could use the power of two ARM CPUs. Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) is useful for a range of sensors and simple oscilloscope projects. There’s also a 2D tilt sensor (optional) that could be used in homebrew games like Marble Madness clones (please make this ).

I haven’t tested the hardware yet, but below are some pictures of the current state.

Screenshot via comments: ...

Source - Natrium42


I am currently developing DSerial which is going to be a debug cable and more. It has an integrated 8051 microcontroller that can be programmed for specific applications. USB, serial and I/O ports allow using this device for a range of ideas. An obvious application would be a debug console and perhaps even GDB support. Serial port allows to connect GPS receivers, motor controllers and other gadgets equipped with UART or RS-232 serial port. 18 I/O lines enable electronics enthusiasts to connect various projects that could use the power of two ARM CPUs. Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) is useful for a range of sensors and simple oscilloscope projects. There’s also a 2D tilt sensor (optional) that could be used in homebrew games like Marble Madness clones (please make this ).

I haven’t tested the hardware yet, but below are some pictures of the current state.

Screenshot via comments: ...

We're not quite sure why you'd want to download tracks to your iPod Nano from an expensive mobile phone operator-run music store rather than the cheaper, iPod-friendly iTunes Music Store, but US start-up Wingspan Investment Partners says it will let you do so this Summer for a mere $199.

Its iLoad-c will fit onto the back of a Nano and connect the device to music stores run by Verizon, Sprint/Nextel, Cingular and T-Mobile, ready to buy and download songs over the air - with the extra GPRS usage levy that implies. It's a novel idea, and one that makes almost instant musical gratification a possibility. Wingspan's iLoad-c mock-up implies the device has its own screen and controls which interface with the music stores.

How the company proposes to get past the services' DRM remains to be seen. Cingular's mMode Music Store, for example, uses Windows' WMA format, so the iLoad-c will have to convert the music content into AAC format, and WMA's DRM instructions into their FairPlay equivalents before transferring the track to the Nano.

A potential infringement of the notorious Digital Millennium Copyright Act? Possibly, but Apple's reluctance to sue RealNetworks for employing a similar DRM-translation approach suggests not.

Wingspan also alluded this week to the iLoad-c's Wi-Fi support, which could, with a little ITMS reverse engineering, allow the device to tap into the Apple music store directly, saving the company the need to do all the DRM handling. Of course, that limits iLoad-c's applicability to home WLANs and Wi-Fi hotspots.

So far, all Wingspan has on the iLoad website is some graphical mock-ups and a Flash animation showing how the system might work. We look forward to seeing the device in the flesh this summer.

http://www.iload.com/index.html ...

Weekly Special: Square-Enix's Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII for PlayStation2™ at US$ 29.90 only - offer valid for 1 week

From the publisher: 3 years after the conclusion of Final Fantasy VII, a mysterious organization suddenly appeared and started to attack residents of the town. They are called "Deep Ground Soldiers", who were stuck in the underground of Midgal city because of the Meteo incident. The game's main character, Vincent Valentine seemed to be connected with this series of events but the reason was unclear. What happened underground over these past 3 years? Why was this tragedy happening? When the world is surrounded by darkness, Vincent's gun will compose requiems...

The main character in the game, Vincent, is a sharpshooter, and so the main weapon in the game is the gun. Many different types of guns will appear in the game, and the player has to utilize them effectively according to the situation. Besides having different types of guns in the game, it is also possible for the player to add on certain parts to the guns to enhance their capabilities. This ability to freely assemble the guns is sure to enhance the entertainment value of the game to no small extent.

Square-Enix's Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII is now available at discounted US$ 29.90 only.

This weekly special is valid for exactly 1 week (if not sold out earlier) and this time limited to a maximum purchase of 2 units per customer. As a small restriction, please also notice that you cannot use any further discount coupons along with this special offer.

More info --> http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-...9-en-84-n.html ...

Source - Joystiq

Super Princess Peach marks a big plot reversal for the world of Super Mario Bros. Bowser, in his infinite wisdom, has kidnapped Mario, leaving Princess Peach little choice other than to fight her way through scores of Bowser's minions in an attempt to free the red-clothed plumber. Key differences in gameplay from previous Mario platformers include emotional superpowers (obviously feeding off the stereotype that women can be more emotional than men), an umbrella used as a weapon (Peach isn't heavy enough to kill enemies by jumping on them) with a bunch of mini-games along the way.

Planet Gamecube (80/100) by Unknown - this review gives the impression that Super Princess Peach is a quality Nintendo platformer, but one that's a little on the easy side. In fact "the easiness is really the only thing that should dissuade a purchase, but it's not so easy it's terrible". According to the self-described "hardcore Mario fan" reviewer, the game doesn't reward skilled players as much as he/she would like, but we're pretty sure the majority of players won't care about this.

IGN (78/100) by Craig Harris - again, a feeling that the game is too easy is the reviewer's main criticism of the game. For example "Nintendo goes completely out of its way to spoon-feed the player, going so far as to nearly spell out the solution to every boss battle before the player enters the fight." We'd imagine that would get annoying, fast.

Gamespot (72/100) by Ryan Davis - this review brings up something that was at the back of my mind since the mentioning of "emotional superpowers". "There's something rather sexist about the idea that Princess Peach's big secret weapon is that she can get really overly emotional at the drop of a hat" (emphasis added). We've got to ask our female audience; what do you feel about this feature? The review concludes on the note that Super Princess Peach is a great introduction for rookies to the world of 2D platformers, but if you're looking for the next Super Mario Bros. you better wait until Mario Bros DS is released. ...

Source - Joystiq

Super Princess Peach marks a big plot reversal for the world of Super Mario Bros. Bowser, in his infinite wisdom, has kidnapped Mario, leaving Princess Peach little choice other than to fight her way through scores of Bowser's minions in an attempt to free the red-clothed plumber. Key differences in gameplay from previous Mario platformers include emotional superpowers (obviously feeding off the stereotype that women can be more emotional than men), an umbrella used as a weapon (Peach isn't heavy enough to kill enemies by jumping on them) with a bunch of mini-games along the way.

Planet Gamecube (80/100) by Unknown - this review gives the impression that Super Princess Peach is a quality Nintendo platformer, but one that's a little on the easy side. In fact "the easiness is really the only thing that should dissuade a purchase, but it's not so easy it's terrible". According to the self-described "hardcore Mario fan" reviewer, the game doesn't reward skilled players as much as he/she would like, but we're pretty sure the majority of players won't care about this.

IGN (78/100) by Craig Harris - again, a feeling that the game is too easy is the reviewer's main criticism of the game. For example "Nintendo goes completely out of its way to spoon-feed the player, going so far as to nearly spell out the solution to every boss battle before the player enters the fight." We'd imagine that would get annoying, fast.

Gamespot (72/100) by Ryan Davis - this review brings up something that was at the back of my mind since the mentioning of "emotional superpowers". "There's something rather sexist about the idea that Princess Peach's big secret weapon is that she can get really overly emotional at the drop of a hat" (emphasis added). We've got to ask our female audience; what do you feel about this feature? The review concludes on the note that Super Princess Peach is a great introduction for rookies to the world of 2D platformers, but if you're looking for the next Super Mario Bros. you better wait until Mario Bros DS is released. ...

Source - Joystiq

Super Princess Peach marks a big plot reversal for the world of Super Mario Bros. Bowser, in his infinite wisdom, has kidnapped Mario, leaving Princess Peach little choice other than to fight her way through scores of Bowser's minions in an attempt to free the red-clothed plumber. Key differences in gameplay from previous Mario platformers include emotional superpowers (obviously feeding off the stereotype that women can be more emotional than men), an umbrella used as a weapon (Peach isn't heavy enough to kill enemies by jumping on them) with a bunch of mini-games along the way.

Planet Gamecube (80/100) by Unknown - this review gives the impression that Super Princess Peach is a quality Nintendo platformer, but one that's a little on the easy side. In fact "the easiness is really the only thing that should dissuade a purchase, but it's not so easy it's terrible". According to the self-described "hardcore Mario fan" reviewer, the game doesn't reward skilled players as much as he/she would like, but we're pretty sure the majority of players won't care about this.

IGN (78/100) by Craig Harris - again, a feeling that the game is too easy is the reviewer's main criticism of the game. For example "Nintendo goes completely out of its way to spoon-feed the player, going so far as to nearly spell out the solution to every boss battle before the player enters the fight." We'd imagine that would get annoying, fast.

Gamespot (72/100) by Ryan Davis - this review brings up something that was at the back of my mind since the mentioning of "emotional superpowers". "There's something rather sexist about the idea that Princess Peach's big secret weapon is that she can get really overly emotional at the drop of a hat" (emphasis added). We've got to ask our female audience; what do you feel about this feature? The review concludes on the note that Super Princess Peach is a great introduction for rookies to the world of 2D platformers, but if you're looking for the next Super Mario Bros. you better wait until Mario Bros DS is released. ...

Sony may be ready to admit that the launch of its next-gen console, PlayStation 3, will be delayed.

An unnamed Sony spokesperson has admitted that problems finalising the specs of Blu-ray - the new media format that PS3 will use - could well cause the console to miss its predicted May launch.

Rumours have been circulating for some time about a possible PS3 delay but Sony has always remained adamant that it would be ready for a spring release.

"Sony has not begun taking orders yet, which means it would be difficult for the company to begin sales in May," said Hirokazu Hamamura, president of Japanese games magazine Famitsu.

If this is true it should be interesting to see how long Sony holds out before making an official announcement about a change of date.

PlayStation 3 is still awaiting an official UK release date ...

Multi-discipline motorsports enthusiasts can now take their off-road racing simulations with them when they go off-road. THQ today announced that MX vs. ATV Unleashed: On the Edge for the PSP has shipped to retailers. The first installment of THQ's MX series to appear on a handheld, On the Edge features not only the titular motocross bikes and all-terrain vehicles, but also features more rides including dune buggies, monster trucks, and golf carts. The PSP version of MX vs. ATV (the original first appeared on PlayStation 2 and Xbox in March of 2005) also features a new outdoor freestyle mode in addition to new tracks and vehicles.

via gamespot ...