Archive for November 25th, 2009
Video game online network Machinima.com has raised $1.7 million in funding from previous backer MK Capital. According to reports, this is being considered an add-on to Machinima’s previous round in November, with the possibility of upping the amount to $2.5 million if needed.
- In: Tek Oh!
- Tags: Headline, Machinima, machinima.com, video games
Unless your gloves are made of human flesh, in which case oh my god, then you probably have to take them off when you need to make a call or launch an app on your fancy iPhone or myTouch. I tend to use my nose when it’s too cold to take off my gloves, but only when no one’s around. I suppose I could just sew in a couple strands of conductive thread, as described in this little project, but then… oh, wait. There’s no downside at all.
Chevy Volt’s UFO noise to be driver-controllable
25, Nov 2009
You wouldn’t think quieter cars would be a problem, but then again, you’re probably not blind. Hybrids and electrics make so little noise that they pose a serious risk to blind people, who often use the sound of a car passing to determine whether it’s safe to cross the road. Nissan’s Leaf, it was announced, will make a “beautiful and futuristic” noise at low speeds so that unaware pedestrians won’t get run down.
Good, but any noise, however beautiful, may become a bother if you hear it all the damn time. So Chevy has stated that its noise, “a series of low horn audio signals,” will be driver-controlled. I have to say, I’m glad of that, because “a series of low horn audio signals” sounds like it’d really bug me.
- In: Tek Oh!
- Tags: electric vehicles, Headline, Volt
Awards: Best of Black Friday
25, Nov 2009Black Friday is just two days away. If you have what it takes to wake up at the crack of dawn, brave the crowds, and spot the best deals, there are plenty of savings to be had. Here’s a quick list of some of the best deals from the most popular product categories being [...]
- In: Tek Oh!
- Tags: bf09, CrunchDeals, Deals, gg09feature, gift guide 2009, Headline
Yahtzee semi-likes Modern Warfare 2
25, Nov 2009Another week, another Zero Punctuation. Not surprisingly, this week has Yahtzee taking on Modern Warfare 2. In a nutshell, he finds the gameplay a mixed bag, co-op fun as hell, and the plot and controversy beyond ridiculous. That sounds about right.
- In: Tek Oh!
- Tags: CrunchArcade, Headline, Videos, zero punctuation
Gift Guide 2009: Best Gifts for Nostalgic Gamers
25, Nov 2009
The nostalgic gamer — you know the type. Maybe you are the type (I’m definitely the type). The nostalgic gamer is in his or her late twenties to early thirties, was brought up on the Nintendo Entertainment System, and sometimes longs for the good old days when controllers featured only a few buttons (at most). Here’s a list of gift ideas for the nostalgic gamer.
- In: Tek Oh!
- Tags: CrunchArcade, gaming, gg09gaming, gift guide 2009, Headline
The 5 Rules of Black Friday
25, Nov 2009Black Friday is almost here. It’s a great time to score some deals, but don’t go at it willy-nilly. Follow these 5 simple Black Friday rules to avoid the scams and wasting time.1. Doorbusters are stripped-down crap
What we call doorbusters, stores call loss leaders. These items are heavily advertised and retailers will lose money on them. Because of this, [...]
I’ve never hidden my disdain for Metacritic (and GameRankings, but mostly Metacritic), the Web site that aggregates review scores for video games (and movies and so forth). It’s an insane concept: let’s round up all of these ostensibly separate opinions, throw ‘em in a blender, and come up with a single, solitary number that conveys a game’s entire worth. Balderdash, I say. Review scores aren’t a standardized measurement—a 9.2 over at IGN doesn’t mean a 9.2 at Edge, or an A over at 1UP.
- In: Tek Oh!
- Tags: Headline, metacritic, video games
Steam to come pre-installed on Alienware PCs
25, Nov 2009
After a clean OS install, Steam is the third thing I load on the PC, after only Chrome and Photoshop. It has became the center of my gaming life and now Dell has worked a dell with the company to have the digital delivery manager pre-installed on all Alienware systems. Just think, Steam is non-spyware or bloatware software pack that will probably be installed on the Alienware rig anyway. Maybe Dell is starting to get it.
Psystar, she is dead
25, Nov 2009
Apple has been given a permanent injunction against Psystar, preventing the company from selling Hackintoshen and their Rebel EFI software. The company has been accusing of “trafficking in circumvention devices.”