BMW announces super 7-Series
 BMW and supertuner-partner ALPINA have created a high-performance model for M-starved 7-Series customers - the BMW ALPINA B7. The heart of the 2006 BMW ALPINA B7 is a supercharged version of BMW's 4.4-liter V8, delivering 500 hp through a 6-speed automatic transmission. The 500 hp V8 makes 516 ft-lb of torque at 4,250 rpm, hustling the big sedan from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds. To go along with the extra power, ALPINA upgrades the rest of the 7-Series with the B7 aero kit, a sport-tuned suspension with Active Roll Stabilization, and 21-inch ALPINA wheels. The BMW ALPINA B7 will be released in July, but only 200 B7s are coming to the U.S. in 2006.
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Katamari minigame rolls into town
 The Japanese Katamari Damacy website has a cute flash-based minigame where, you guessed it, you have to roll stuff up into a ball. Sure, it doesn't capture the toy-like feel of the 3D game, the weight and momentum of your katamari isn't as realistic, but for a free webgames, she ain't bad. Read more..!
PlayStation 3 costs $800, sez Merrill Lynch mob
 One of Sony's investment firms lets loose some juicy gossip. Reportedly Sony's PlayStation 3 is going to cost them $800 per unit at launch (they list $900, but apparently Lynch financial analysts can't add their own totals). $800 per unit? Doesn't sound unreasonable considering what Sony's trying to get crammed under the hood of this thing; Lynch calls it an "expensive and difficult-to-manufacture product" because of the Cell processor and Blu-ray drive, which account for the lion's share of the backend parts costs (see above). Granted, most of this analysis comes off as estimation and prediction. Caution pdf link. Read more..!
Apple Bluetooth worm Inqtana burrows wirelessly
 Apple users who's already patched their Bluetooth box with last June's OS X security update 2005-006, don't have to worry. But, if you're one of the few out there who don't meet the aforementioned criteria, watch out. Apparently there's a new Bluetooth worm out called Inqtana that actually propagates to vulnerable OS X machines wirelesslessly, and moves on to the next. Sounds like F-Secure and Symantec don't believe Inqtana is anything more than a proof-of-concept worm right now (kind of like the Leap / Oompa Loompa OS X trojan going around right now), but being that it could easily be modified and turned into something a little more dangerous to your data and the fact that you should be updating your computer more than once every year, sounds like you should just take the two minutes and go get that Apple fix. Read more..!
New Google widgets for your homepage
 That is, your Google homepage. It's not just for weather and news feeds any more, Google has rolled out a bunch of kooky widgets for your personalized Google homepage. Relive the 90's with the gigantic Google "eyes," just like that goofy Win95 app you used to have. Or how about a free text message? There are the couple of requisite clocks, and some puzzles, calendar, dynamic emoticon, and more newsie feed stuff. Looks all like good things, but with my teeny screens I'll never use a third of them. Read more..!
 We've seen the cutesy guitars from Hello Kitty, now through a post-Grammy auction on eBay for this pink guitar, is Daisy Guitars, a company full of pink and glittery guitars. It's like all your Josie and the Pussycats or Jem fantasies come to life. There are star-shaped guitars, butterfly guitars, and a big red heart-shaped guitar. You can bid for the pink guitar shown here, from Daisy's Rock Candy collection, on eBay. It is signed by Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Kelly Clarkson, Ellen DeGeneres, Queen Latifah and more and proceeds benefit the GRAMMY foundation. Or head over to DaisyRock and check out all their girly creations. Read more..!
Lotus Arts de Vivre: Velvet Elephant Evening Shoes
 Not just any slippers will do, they must be these velvet "evening shoes". Here's your chance to live vicariously through your shoes. Resplendent in black velvet and blue satin, these "evening shoes" feature handcrafted gold embroidery of an elephant, (sorry, no donkeys available for the Democrats.) These "evening shoes" are best paired with a silk robe and brandy sniffer. Head over to Vivre to get a pair for $225. Read more..!
Think the Xbox 360 doesn't fit in with your home theater? Think again
 Check out this installation done by Diversified Technologies, which combines an Xbox 360, Windows XP PC and a high definition video switcher and distribution system to play music, movies and pictures throughout the house. Although they are not streaming video from the PC because it isn't running Media Center, the Zektor video switch and Audio Authority distribution system display content from the 360 or satellite source to any of the connected TV's. Thats certainly an interesting approach, however one has to wonder about all the heat the 360 puts out, not to mention whether it has space for the hard drive on the side in that slot. That aside, the 360's smooth interface and wireless controllers make it ideal for this sort of application. Read more..!
Breath Test Pen for alcoholism, not halitosis
 Sometimes it's hard to tell when you've had too much booze, and that's where the personal breathalyzer comes in. Thankfully UK retailer Boys Stuff knows that most people interested in such products probably spend all of their money on hooch and can't afford one of the nicer models, so they're offering a "budget-conscious" alternative with excellent portability but questionable accuracy ("The place and method of operation may affect the test's result by up to 5%," claim the Boys). The Breath Test Pen indicates your sobriety level by flashing the normally-green LED red after an alcohol-filled puff, letting you know that it's time to "stop" and call a cab, and is presumably set at the .08 blood-alcohol level threshold common to both the US and the UK. If you're still not convinced that this $35 device is for you, they'll throw in a UV sunburn tester at no extra charge(no joke, it really does that). Read more..!
Atari Jaguar emulator roars onto PSP
 A real effort is being made to bring a Jaguar emulator to the PSP. In fact, I believe that Virtual Jaguar will be the first Jaguar emulator of any kind on any console. You can find out more specifics (along with installation instructions) over at the Virtual Jaguar website. The initial version is a bit on the slow side, so it'll be interesting in hearing how the developers have handled all of the button-mapping issues as the Jaguar controller still holds the record for most console controller buttons ever. Read more..!
'Flying Car' prototype brought to you by: Terrafugia
 At the moment, this vision is still confined to the dream world, but Terrafugia is planning to bring an example of such a vehicle to the EAA AirVenture Conference in Wisconsin this July. The flying SUV, dubbed the ‘Transition Personal Air Vehicle' (PAV) is designed for 100- to 500-mile jumps using its retractable wings. (Check out the website for a Quicktime demonstration.) The Transition PAV will be powered by premium unleaded fuel, and fly at up to 12,000 feet. Terrafugia plans to have a fully operational prototype ready by 2008, and production vehicles by 2010. The company hopes that the two-manned vehicle will be classified so only a light sport aircraft license is needed to drive (fly?) it. Read more..!
Look! Up in the sky... It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...
 EA has released the first screenshot of Superman Returns: The Videogame. Little is known about this title, other than that it will coincide with a film release. Early reports suggest that the game will take into account that Superman is nearly invincible—a bonus when going up against giant missile-launching robots. Instead of managing a health bar, players must focus on keeping Metropolis and its citizens in tact. Read more..!
Apple killing 15-inch G4 PowerBook?
 According to reports, Apple has already stopped selling the 15-incher through some channels, such as a B2B program and some versions of Apple's online store for K-12 educators. Seemingly the 15-inch MacBook Pro is now shipping, and it doesn't make sense for Apple to continue selling last year's model any longer. Read more..!
Capcom Puzzle World to bring gems 'n' bubbles to the PSP
 Capcom's Puzzle Fighter is coming to the PSP. But the super-deformed gem smasher (shown above) won't be alone--Capcom Puzzle World will be bringing ad hoc multiplayer editions of Block Block and three versions of Buster Bros. to the party as well. Set for release in Q2 of this year. Read more..!
 Freak Software, purveyors of fine, freaky OS X apps. One little OS 9 app, but a total of ten apps, one widget, and three games. Not too shabbby! There's even some useful stuff in there, like the Freaky Trash Manager (great idea), Freaky Tuner (for instruments needing tuning), and a really cool app called FSCalendar that gives you a hidden calendar in the menu bar. Looks like most are free, with the developer charging for just a few of the more useful apps. Read more..!
Capcom goin' mobile 'n' global; Okami in US this summer
 Following the internationally minded Gamers' Day event from Konami, Capcom also broke out the titles and release dates for its own Gamer's Day event in Las Vegas. Japanese-flavored games like Okami (which finds a U.S. release date in the third quarter of this year) have yet to find success in the West, Capcom management is seeking to shake things up by injecting Western sensibilities into Japanese titles earlier in development, entering the American mobile market with 10 games by the end of 2006, and getting their traditionally arcade-centric teams to interact more with marketing in order to improve software sales. Here's a lengthy interview with "Capcom's new boss in the States," Mark Beaumont, who shed a bit of light on Capcom's rationale for supporting the Xbox 360--despite its unpopularity in Japan (with Lost Planet and Dead Rising)--and its history of "launching franchises during previous transition periods." For the rest of GameSpot's coverage of the Gamer's Day event, just follow the link. Read more..!
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-Lytir1
