Gizmodo: Newton

$200 Xbox 360 Getting Motion Control for Christmas?

Mark Wilson — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:45:00 EDT

It's a rumor, but it sure is a juicy one. According to an Xbox360Fanboy source close to Microsoft PR, the $200 Xbox 360 Arcade (the SKU with no hard drive) will be sold in a bundle with a motion controller and a few motiony games during the coming holiday season. The possibility is certainly not all that crazy, as we've seen plenty of evidence supporting the Xbox 360 "Newton" motion controller, and everyone wants a piece of the Wii's big, hungry fanbase. Our guess is that if this rumor pans out we'll hear more around the Tokyo Game Show in October. [Xbox360Fanboy]

Intel Germany CEO Spills on Atom-Based Mini-Tablet iPhone

matt buchanan — Wed, 14 May 2008 18:49:28 EDT

Through the fabulously true-to-life magic of machine translation comes word from ZDNet.de that Intel Germany CEO Hannes Schwaderer has confirmed an upcoming, larger (more tablet-y?) "version of the iPhone" based on Intel's Atom platform. Supposedly, the beefier unit size isn't due to the Atom chipset, but to the previously rumored bigger 720x480 display.

This adds to past rumors of a mystery Apple device making use of Atom, though Schwaderer's supposed semantic choice calling it a "version of the iPhone" seems odd, given that Atom is designed more for UMPCs than traditional mobile devices. Also, too much bigger and it's not much of a phone-sized gadget anymore—more like a mini-tablet or as Jesus has called this particular phantasm, the Son of Newton. As always, we'll believe it when see it. [ZDNet.de via MacRumors]

Xbox 360 Spring Update Bringing 80 New Functions?

Mark Wilson — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:03:00 EDT

Our ground PONG-snorting buddies over at Kotaku have gotten their hands on a potentially legitimate list of new functions coming with the annual Xbox 360 Spring Update. In the list we see more confirmation of the Newton motion controller, as well as hints at a news/weather service, more hard drive game data caching and four-person video conferencing. Microsoft has denied the list by saying, "We don't comment on rumors or speculation, but what we can tell you is we've never seen this list before." Honest denial or tricky wordplay? You can decide for yourself with the list after the jump.

Xbox LIVE 1. Option to delay sign-in to Xbox LIVE upon booting console (to allow user to set Online Status). 2. Option to promote Child Account from Family Settings. 3. Disallow Child Accounts (over 18) to override Family Settings by launching Privacy Settings through a title. 4. Option in Family Settings for Child Accounts to enable child-oriented/non-mature advertisements. 5. Introduce a group chat (4) for Private Chat and conferences through Video Chat. 6. Support to indicate media being watched to gamercard status (video content from Marketplace only). 7. Extend height for Bio field in Personal Profile, easier navigation through text. 8. More fields present in Personal Profile - recent achievements, interests, games, movies, links, custom section. 9. Compact Personal Profile for new fields (navigating to field will open it up). 10. Mandatory option to delete duplicate titles from gamercard (excludes Games for Windows - LIVE). User disconnected from Xbox LIVE when booting any title until action complete. 11. Option to remove payment information from gamertag. 12. New payment methods for international users. 13. Download History on Account Management better organized - games, genre, type, download date, miscellaneous. 14. Long descriptions of items on Marketplace can be scrolled using right stick. 15. Better organization of free content on Marketplace. 16. Option to 'ping' when testing connection. 17. Allow re-connection to Xbox LIVE if Ethernet cable is re-inserted whilst powered on. 18. New strip colors available to developers, staff gamercards. 19. New corner icon available to ambassadors. 20. Re-introduce Messages button for Inside Xbox updates only. 21. Option to store up to 10 messages permanently on server (excludes invites, status messages). 22. Increase character limit for text messages between friends only. 23. Option to disable invites from non-friends or all players. 24. Option to disable invites from titles not on gamercard (excludes demos). 25. Option to have smaller items moved up in Active Downloads. 26. Automatically re-connect to Xbox LIVE if disconnected unexpectedly (set intervals). 27. Option to download gamer picture (if available) from a gamercard being viewed. 28. Display random tips to replace static text on Xbox LIVE and Games blades. 29. New button on Marketplace for optional dashboard features - uses Storage Device memory. 30. Option to donate Microsoft Points to anybody with a Windows Live ID. 31. Option to purchase Membership for charities (includes benefits). 32. Integrate file-sharing for selected titles on Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows - LIVE. 33. Disable notifications to friends of user repeatedly signing into service (set period). 34. Option to see 'snippet' of text message in notification. 35. Windows Live Mail integration - includes support for Xbox LIVE Vision. 36. Web feeds integration - text, images, audio. Includes support for specific item codes on Marketplace. 37. Option to display gamer picture or standard picture as display picture in Windows Live Messenger. 38. Support for headset, Xbox LIVE Vision in Windows Live Messenger. 39. Support for limited 'winks' that display on dashboard interface. Option to disable 'winks' and 'nudges' added. 40. Notifications separate from Windows Live Messenger to Xbox 360 notifications. 41. Disable multiple languages from being used in any Xbox LIVE editable fields.
Games
1. Option to delete titles from gamercard with 0 gamerscore and 0 achievements (excludes some titles that will be re-added to launch another title).
2. Organize My Games at the Games Library section better (includes disc-based titles) - sort by genre, platform (Games for Windows - LIVE), percentage completion.
3. Support to display friends leaderboards for disc-based titles.
4. Show dates of an achievement unlocked when comparing.
5. Preload Games Library upon dashboard bootup for faster access.
6. Game updates now shown as items in Memory, increased amount of updates on Storage Device.
7. Option to delete game updates, removed 'cheat code' as no longer needed.
8. Support for more titles to display banner when accessing guide in-game.
9. Option to re-introduce awarded gamer pictures from titles that do not have their own re-introduce feature (requires saved game).
10. Disable gamer pictures from being awarded from trials.
11. Support for titles to store installation data on Storage Device for faster loading.
12. Synchronization to achievements offline/online that were deleted and then re-added from developers.

Media
1. Option to hold LT and RT for rewinding/fast-forwarding video content.
2. Option to delete individual music tracks from storage device.
3. Option to rip music CD at different quality.
4. Copy non-protected files (pictures, music, videos) from USB storage devices, CDs and computers to proprietary storage devices.
5. Support for menu, top-menu features on video content downloaded from Marketplace.
6. Section added for audio delivered through feeds (podcasts). Option to stream, download to Storage Device.
7. Support added for video titles/description to gamercard status.

Dashboard/Miscellaneous
1. Option to navigate quickly out of several menus back to respective blade home (applies to Games, Media, System).
2. New blade trim styles added.
3. Introduce expanded Inside Xbox as a portal to news, weather, entertainment, help and community features.
4. New sounds for various functions (notifications, blades, navigation).
5. Calibration options for display/sound.
6. Calibration options for motion sensor devices.
7. New effects for Xbox LIVE Vision and dashboard background.
8. Disable changing of Theme when on Memory to prevent 'hanging'.
9. Preload recent, limited items upon dashboard bootup on Memory.
10. Faster loading of Themes section on guide.
11. Option to see what items will not work offline due to DRM license changing from Memory.
12. Option to automatically associate new DRM to items downloaded for free.
13. Indicate 'charging' status on guide when Play & Charge kit is connected.
14. Option to change text colors on guide to better contrast some backgrounds.
16. Language improvements.
18. Word censor updated for fields.
19. Privacy Settings/Family Settings updated for new features.
20. Voice, picture messages can be read at Xbox.com (Gold accounts).

[Kotaku]

More Xbox 360 Wiimote Details: Code Name 'Newton'

Jason Chen — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:50:00 EDT

After MTV News broke the news on Microsoft designing a Nintendo Wii-like Wiimote for the Xbox 360, 8bitjoystick felt it was time to give up their secrets as well. Not only do they confirm that the project exists, but they can give up the codename for it: Newton. Jesus was kind enough to mock up a version of the controller based on MTV's sketch.

Jake also says that Microsoft has recently licensed patents from Gyration, maker of those gesture mice we all know and don't really care about. Nintendo did the same back in 2001 in order to help develop their own Wiimote.

The 360mote will also receive signal from an LED sensor bar (like the Wii), but one-ups the Wiimote by having a microphone on board for Xbox Live chat. He doesn't have many other solid points of data—there are guesses about it using the standard rechargeable battery pack and what colors it will have—but he does think the target date of late '08 looks very likely. [8bitjoystick]

Plug-'n'-Play USB Virus Makes MacBooks Fall to Pieces

AddyDugdale — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:23:24 EST

Behold, a video of the Newton Virus. Back in 2005, Troika, the British-based art collective that was behind the Heathrow Terminal 5 sculpture that some of you recently described as a "disco turd," created a virus for Macs, called Newton. It came on a little USB key that looked like a cross between a malevolent Apple and Pac Man and was aimed at, well, people like you or I, who spend far too much time fiddling around on their computers. The video, made this year, is part of the Design and the Elastic Mind show currently running at MoMA in NY. [Troika and Dezeen]

Macworld Rumor: Mac Tablet Not Coming This Year, First Macworld Spyshots Appear

Adrian Covert — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 15:33:10 EST

Apple Insider has sources who say the Newton-esque tablets Apple are working on will not be announced at Macworld 2008. The unnamed tipsters say there are challenges in the development stages similar to problems which arose with the iPhone last year. And as proof that the Macworld madness is nearing, Apple Insider also received a gallery of spyshots, including a Macworld display banner that reads "2008...There's something in the air." What ever could it be?

iPhone Mod Thinks Differently

Haroon Malik — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 05:00:00 EDT

With iPhones selling like hot cakes that have web browsing, call making and photo taking capabilities, it is hard to make your device really sit out from the crowd. Well, Mark over at Geek Technique has given his iPhone a rather striking retro black paint job, topped off with the old technicolor Apple logo. We think the Newton/iPhone love child looks rather dashing; don't believe us? Check out the gallery below:

If it were not for the fact you have to take an aerosol can to your iPhone to reach the desired effect, we would be on board for the redesign to our Jesus phone's casing. As it is, we think we shall give it a miss. Mark has a step by step run through of how he arrived at the end product over at Geek Technique. If you're feeling brave/stupid, give it a whirl and send us the pictures of your remorseful face when it all goes horribly, horribly wrong. Just like that time you unwittingly agreed to a threesome—horribly, horribly wrong. [Geek Technique]

Newton Sugar Creamer Set

Mark Wilson — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 10:42:26 EDT

Tonfisk Design has created something unnatural. Combining both the cream and the sugar into one, multifunctional breakfast utensil, Tonkfish is using such "bi-condiment" devices to take the coffee world by storm.

We believe the Newton set works by placing the sugar bowl on a bar. Since the creamer can only pour in one direction, the bowl can rotate to keep perfect, upright balance while you defy its loyalty by adding long time arch nemesis "cream" to your coffee instead.

But for $68 we can find better ways to make our sugar jealous. – Mark Wilson

Product Page [via popgadget]

"Helio's iPhone Prototype"

Mark Wilson — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 10:15:16 EST

We're gonna go out on a limb and call bullshit. Wait, let's go with "rumor". Yeah...that'll work. – Mark Wilson

Helio's iPhone Prototype [flickr]

Newton Museum Winds Up on eBay

gizmodo.com — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 14:20:31 EST

Are you a Newton fanatic who just can't let go? Want to get your hands on every Newton model ever made? Now's your chance, because unfortunately the (virtual) Newton Museum has closed. John Venzon has decided to sell off his massive PDA collection on eBay. You won't just scoop up Newtons and eMates (what an awesome failure), either—you'll grab all kinds of accessories like cases, cards, and cables, oh my! Even software is included so you can kick it wirelessly with that huge-ass Newton in hand. The auction ends Monday, December 26, 2005 at 5:00 PM Pacific Time. Would you really need all these Newtons? Not really, but they're just cool to have.

Newton Museum auctions collection on eBay [Macworld]

eBay Auction