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Former Microsoft VP brings Halo to the Atari 2600

admin — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:26:00 +0000

Sometimes you just can't stop a man and his dream. In this case, the man is Ed Fries, the former vice president of Microsoft's game publishing division, and the dream is a version of Halo for the Atari 2600. That actually started out simply as a way for Fries to learn to program for the 2600, but quickly turned into a full-fledged, Adventure-style game that made its debut at this past weekend's Classic Gaming Expo -- in cartridge form, no less, and with a label that'd look at home in any shoebox full of 2600 carts (check it out after the break). Just as impressive as the game itself, however, is the story behind it. Here's just a sample:

It's around this time that I discovered the existence of what I call "Magic Land". I was working on a bug with the boss encounter and accidentally found myself completely outside the 64 room map. I was wandering through memory that was never intended to be interpreted as part of the map but the code was doing the best it could to interpret what was being thrown at it. Strange, misshapen monsters attacked me in even stranger ways as I wandered through this bizarre land that I had unintentionally created. I left a bug or two in the final game to allow others to find and explore this strange landscape as I did.

Oh, did we mention you can play it right now? Hit up the source link below and prepare to forget that Halo Reach even exists.

Continue reading Former Microsoft VP brings Halo to the Atari 2600

Former Microsoft VP brings Halo to the Atari 2600 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:26:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Xbox 360 250GB Limited Edition Halo: Reach bundle revealed

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 03:23:00 +0000

The Halo series is no stranger to special edition Xbox 360 hardware, so it should come as no surprise that the latest entry, Halo: Reach, is also privy to such treatment. What makes it special, however, is that it's the first special edition based on the new model -- 250GB HDD, built-in 802.11n WiFi, a silver (presumably matte, based on the picture) finish, and custom, Halo-inspired sounds. The $399 price tag also nets you two special edition wireless controllers and, naturally, a copy of the game itself. Look for this September 14th, and really, if you're not into glossy black (and we feel ya, brother), this might be in your best interest to pick up.

Gallery: New Xbox 360 250GB Limited Edition Halo:Reach bundle revealed

New Xbox 360 250GB Limited Edition Halo: Reach bundle revealed originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:23:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Galaxy Beam: world’s first Android projector phone on sale in July

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:41:00 +0000

Ah, here we go, Samsung's other cellphone with an integrated projector just got an official launch date. The Galaxy Beam (codename: Halo) with its 3.7-inch Super AMOLED display is now slated to hit Singapore in July. That means that the European and broader launch across Asia should be just around the corner if Samsung's claims from Feburary hold true. At launch, the world's first Android phone with a built-in DLP pico projector will be served version 2.1 of Google's confectionary delight. Specwise, we're talking 7.2Mbps HSPA data on 900/1900/2100MHz and quad-band GSM/EDGE, Bluetooth 3.0, 802.11n WiFi, an 8 megapixel autofocus camera with flash (front-facing VGA) and HD video recording, A-GPS, FM Radio, and an 1,800mAH battery. Memory is confusingly listed as "4Gb + 2Gb + 1Gb + 16Gb MoviNAND" made worse by no mention of microSD though it was definitely there when we went hands-on with Beam at Mobile World Congress. Specs after the break.

Continue reading Samsung Galaxy Beam: world's first Android projector phone on sale in July

Samsung Galaxy Beam: world's first Android projector phone on sale in July originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 06:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reminder: Original Xbox games lose Live support tonight at midnight PT

admin — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:12:00 +0000

Just a heads up for those who long for Halo 2's embrace: as of midnight PT tonight, Microsoft is pulling the plug on Live support for original titles. As of this publication, you have a little less than seven hours (as of this writing) to get in a few more rounds of Capture the Flag and Oddball with your friends of old, before having to go out and pick up an used copy of Halo 3 -- at least there's 400 MS points in it as a consolation prize.

Reminder: Original Xbox games lose Live support tonight at midnight PT originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox Live termination ends in a consolation goodie bag for Halo 2 owners

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:12:00 +0000

As Microsoft prepares to pull the plug on online gaming for the original Xbox, it's decided to act benevolently toward the undoubtedly grief-stricken Halo 2 loyalists and has rewarded them all with some consolation prizes. A free three-month Xbox Live membership awaits, accompanied by 400 MS points and a place on the Halo: Reach beta, should you wish to accept it. For a console that's nearly a decade old, it's understandable that online gaming support would've had to end at some point, so you might as well just transfer all your energies into being a good guinea pig / tester for Microsoft's latest cash cow. Steve would just love it if you did.

Xbox Live termination ends in a consolation goodie bag for Halo 2 owners originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung Beam (Halo) Android projector phone hands-on

admin — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:30:00 +0000

Well here it is, Samsung's pico projector phone live and in the flesh here at Mobile World Congress. And surprise surprise it's running Android 2.1 with a TouchWiz 3.0 skin just as we heard. The only difference is the name: Halo is the codename, the official product name announced today is Beam. As a smartphone with integrated pico projector it's very impressive. However, as you can see from the pictures and video (it's coming), the 6 lumen brightness struggles even under the semi-controlled lighting demonstration set up here on the show floor in Barcelona. Samsung tells us that the TouchWiz implementation is nearly identical to what you'll find on Bada with "very small" differences. Unfortunately, the people we spoke with on the show floor weren't able to articulate exactly what those were. To us, having only used the two devices for a short period of time, they do look identical. Beam features a nice pass through trick that allows it to project the image seen by the 5 megapixel camera through the TI pico. Not sure how we'd use that in real life but it's a neat trick nonetheless. Now click into the gallery and prepare to be amazed at just how thin a smartphone with integrated projector can be while we wait for the summer launch.

Update: Video is now after the break.

Gallery: Samsung Beam hands-on

Continue reading Samsung Beam (Halo) Android projector phone hands-on

Samsung Beam (Halo) Android projector phone hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Samsung i8520 ‘Halo’ Android 2.1 phone with 3.7-inch Super AMOLED and pico projector (updated)

admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:19:00 +0000

While Samsung is desperate for us and the world to focus on its very first Bada device -- the Wave S8500 -- we found something a bit more interesting for Google fans. Tucked away in the depths of a spec sheet is Samsung's unannounced i8520 phone running Android 2.1. After quizzing a team of perplexed executives of increasing rank, a VP from Samsung's mobile division finally told us that it'll be revealed as the "Halo" tomorrow when the show floor opens. Looking at the spec sheet then, the i8520 Halo packs a 3.7-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display (bigger than the Wave's 3.3-incher), 8 megapixel autofocus camera with flash (VGA on the front), 720p / 30fps video encoding / decoding, DivX and Xvid playback support, Bluetooth 2.1, standard 3.5mm headphone jack, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, A-GPS, 16GB of internal storage and microSD expansion, stereo speakers, DLNA support, and -- get this -- a DLP pico projector integrated. The spec-sheet also lists a "Specialized Projector UI" as one of the features, suggesting it'll look a little different when you toss it up onto the big screen. This quad-band GSM / EDGE phone with tri-band UMTS 900 / 1900 / 2100 will ship in Q3 to Europe and Asia with a chance for a US version at some point later. We'll bring you more tomorrow just as soon as we get through all this paella.

Note: Even though the i8520 clearly seems to run the same UI as the Bada-powered Wave, we've been assured by multiple people in Samsung -- including a VP in the Mobile division -- that it is, in fact, running Android 2.1. That ties in nicely with the fact that Bada's graphical representation comes through as a new cut of TouchWiz, so it makes sense these guys would want to port the same look and feel to other platforms. Also of note is the fact that we couldn't confirm from the company that it's got a projector on board, but there's plenty of evidence to suggest it does: the so-called Specialized Projector UI, the fact that the 14.9mm girth is likely thick enough to swallow the necessary optics, and -- of course -- the big DLP logo on back. We'll bring out the final details just as soon as we know 'em.

Update: Images confirm it, Halo is a projector phone!

Gallery: Samsung i8520 'Halo' Android 2.1 phone with 3.7-inch Super AMOLED and pico projector

Samsung i8520 'Halo' Android 2.1 phone with 3.7-inch Super AMOLED and pico projector (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HTC leaking bad intel, playing dangerous game of counter-espionage?

admin — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:14:00 +0000

Leaky faucets? Hate 'em. Leaked gadgets? We love those dearly, but a rather compelling accusation is giving us pause over some of the juiciest: those from HTC. The claim is that HTC has made a "controled [sic] leak of some devices," incorrect infos revealed by the company itself, designed to throw us all off the scent. It's a strong accusation that we'd be inclined to ignore if not for the source: Eldar Murtazin from Mobile Review, who has brought no shortage of undisclosed bits of information to light himself. Eldar says that HTC has been trying to make people think the Halo is a smartphone, but it's actually yet another Android tablet. What's the truth? Can we handle the truth? Who does the Smoking Man work for?

Filed under: Cellphones

HTC leaking bad intel, playing dangerous game of counter-espionage? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 Jan 2010 08:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Huge stash of HTC Android codenames found within 2.1 ROM

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:39:00 +0000

digg_url = 'http://digg.com/tech_news/Huge_stash_of_HTC_Android_codenames_found_within_2_1_ROM'; You know that leaked HTC Sense ROM with Android 2.1 underneath? Well, somebody did some digging and found a wild stack of HTC Android handset codenames buried within. It starts in the realm of the familiar, with mentions of Dragon, Passion, Dream and Hero, but then it starts to get a little wild. Here's the full list: Bahamas, Bravo, DesireC, Dragon, Dream, Espresso, Halo, HeroCT, HeroC, Hero, Huangshan, Incredible, Legend, Liberty, Memphis, Paradise, PassionC, Passion, Sapphire and Supersonic. Pretty wild, right? There's no telling what exactly this list implies, other than the fact that Passion and Dragon are indeed on the books, and that HTC's naming department can really let the superlatives fly, but we're sure all will be made clear over the next year or two.

Huge stash of HTC Android codenames found within 2.1 ROM originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jabra’s HALO now ready to make stereo Bluetooth look a little less ridiculous

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:54:00 +0000

By its very nature, stereo Bluetooth gear is never going to look quite as cool as its wired equivalent -- but if we look back on the early days, we're making progress. Jabra's new over-the-ear HALO should appeal to some with its relatively convenient folding design, and as an added bonus, it kinda looks like you're wearing a futuristic hair beret when you slip it on. How can you argue with that? Following an announcement earlier this year, the HALO's now available at Best Buy locations for $130 promising 8 hours of music playback, 13 days of standby, seamless transition between calls and tunes, and an innovative corded mode with a 3.5mm jack. It's tough to say whether you'll get odd stares wearing these day in and day out -- but if you're not willing to find out the answer to that the hard way, we certainly are. Selfless, we know.

Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio

Jabra's HALO now ready to make stereo Bluetooth look a little less ridiculous originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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