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Space

NASA Probe Spies Possible Polar Ice Cap On Pluto 60

Posted by samzenpus from the coldest-of-the-cold dept.
astroengine writes: As NASA's New Horizons spacecraft rapidly approaches Pluto for its historic flyby in July, the dwarf planet is gradually sliding into focus. And in the latest series of observations beamed back from the fringes of the Kuiper belt, surface features are becoming evident including the stunning revelation that Pluto may possess a polar ice cap. "As we approach the Pluto system we are starting to see intriguing features such as a bright region near Pluto's visible pole, starting the great scientific adventure to understand this enigmatic celestial object," said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington D.C. "As we get closer, the excitement is building in our quest to unravel the mysteries of Pluto using data from New Horizons."
DRM

Submission + - New Sony Patent Blocks Second Hand Games (ign.com)

Submitted by silentbrad
silentbrad writes: From IGN: "... the patent application was filed on 9 December 2012 by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, and will work by linking individual game discs to a user's account without requiring a network connection meaning any future attempt to use this disc on another user's console won't work. The patent explains that games will come with contactless tags that will be read by your console in much the same way as modern bank cards. When a disc is first used, the disc ID and player ID will be stored on the tag. Every time the disc is used in future, the tag will check if the two ID’s match up and, if not, then the disc won’t work. The document goes on to explain that such a device is part of Sony's ongoing efforts to deter second-hand games sales, and is a far simpler solution than always-on DRM or passwords. It's worth noting that Sony has not confirmed the existence of the device, and the patent doesn't state what machine it will be used in, with later paragraphs also mentioning accessories and peripherals. ... There's also the issue of what happens should your console break and need replacing, or if you have more than one console. Will the games be linked to your PSN account, meaning they can still be used, or the console, meaning an entire new library of titles would need to be purchased?
Games

EVE Online PVP Tournament Streamed Live 101

Posted by Soulskill from the enemy's-gate-is-down dept.
infinitevalence writes "Every few months the good Viking programmers of the north organize and present one of the most geeky e-sports out there. Thanks to them, for three weekends in a row we get to watch player-controlled spaceships fight it out for accolades and unique in-game items available only to the first, second, and third place winners. This year CCP has all of the content live online and streaming in HD for your viewing pleasure. So find a drink, whip up some snacks, watch the shiny explosions, and listen to the soothing words of player experts as they walk you through the action!"

Comment Tipping point? (Score 0) 220

by williamhooligan (#29669127) Attached to: AT&T To Allow VoIP On iPhone
Is this because the proliferation of Skype has reached the point where the revenue from the potential lost subscribers outweighed the revenue from people going over their 'free minutes'? Sounds unlikely, but very cool if so. Now, if only someone Spotify would make their iPhone client use the business model of the desktop version (ad-supported) instead of requiring a full, paid-for subscription.

Everybody Loves the Wii 185

Posted by Zonk from the uber-software dept.
1up is reporting on Ubisoft's enthusiastic adoption of the Wii platform. They'd previously only had two titles announced for the system (Red Steel and a Rayman game), but now claim to have seven different titles in production. From the article: "Ubisoft North America President Laurent Detoc ... praised the Wii several times during the panel, stating that he expects it to have 'a large audience and market.' He also stated that he personally felt that in a time when fewer and fewer games appeal to him, the Wii offers plenty of enjoyment. 'The first time I picked up that sucker I couldn't stop playing it.'" Ars Technica is also reporting that EA is gung-ho about the system. From that article: "EA not only indicated that they are taking the Wii and DS seriously, but the company also hinted that they will follow Nintendo's guidance and release games at or near the $49.99 price point. Nintendo has urged developers and publishers to respect the $49.99 price point, believing that it reflects a value advantage over other consoles. EA did not offer a firm commitment to that pricing, contrary to reports elsewhere."

Comment Redundant (Score 1, Funny) 162

by williamhooligan (#13665368) Attached to: TPM Security Chip For Your Cell Phone
"could even limit which software the owner installs on his cell phone"

Oh, they needn't bother then - WAP already does a stellar job of limiting software downloads by dint of gradually eroding the soul until you give up and just pretend that you're playing that $4 copy of space invaders you just spent $20 trying to find whilst staring at a rotating hourglass. You even get the RSI from typing in the URL - it's the full experience right there.

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