Filed under: Culture, Survival horror, Dead Space

We named Electronic Arts sci-fi survival horror title Dead Space the best PC action game of 2008. If you also enjoyed the game you might be interested to know that the comic book web site Newsarama has posted up the entire first issue of the Dead Space comic book mini-series for free.

Published last year before the game was released the six-issue mini-series from Image Comics serves as a prequel to the game’s storyline so if you have yet to play the game you might want to hold off until you do so before you read the comic. The entire mini-series has now been collected in a hardcover collection and is now on sale.

First issue of Dead Space comic released online for free originally appeared on Big Download Blog on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Meta (about Joystiq)

Civilization Revolution (Xbox 360)
I’m getting old. There was a time when a 12-hour game of Civilization was just fine; however, now I have “responsibilities.” Despite having as much trepidation about Civilization Revolution as anyone else who had played the Civ series from its inception, it was a blessing to find out that this console version wasn’t just “Civ Lite,” but a totally new series that retains all the strategy and addiction of its inspiration. Fast-paced and smart, Civ Rev is an actual revolution for the franchise. Having soaked up more of my time this year than any other game, Civ Rev deserves to be acknowledged for bringing a massive experience into a digestible 3- to 4-hour package.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: Alexander’s Picks of 2008

Best of the Rest: Alexander’s Picks of 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

We’re not exactly sure how we feel about an external lung (okay, we’re completely grossed out, but we’re a bunch of pansies when it comes to this stuff anyway), but a Welsh company is looking to introduce one such device in order to aid those with breathing problems. Haemair’s Respiratory Aid and Prosthetic Lung would theoretically be worn around the belt and incorporated with a “complete prosthetic lung that will employ no electrical or mechanical parts.” By being external, it enables it to be easily maintained, and the simple reversibility is important for “treating emergency and acute cases for which the device might be needed for no more than hours or weeks.” As of now, the company is still developing the final product, but just as soon as it can establish that maintenance-free operation is feasible over the long-term, consider the game decidedly “on.”

[Via medGadget]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Haemair envisions external prosthetic lung and respiratory aid originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Gadgets, Government/Legal, Safety, Tech, UK

We all know the drill. You see a speed camera, you slow down, you look at the camera, you check your speedometer and look for the camera again. But in the UK at least, reports now indicate that nearly half of the 1,000 speed cameras installed are entirely inactive.

Because many of the cameras installed in the UK during the 1990s failed to meet transportation department criteria for deployment, some 40% were immediately decommissioned. However, the boxes that house them are still there, even though many of them are empty altogether. Motorist groups are lobbying to have the inactive devices removed, citing them as a dangerous roadside distraction, but the government insists that whether they’re in use or not, the visible presence of the camera boxes keep drivers’ speeds in check.

[Source: The Daily Mail, Photo by SHAUN CURRY/AFP/Getty]

UK police admit almost half of all speed cameras are off originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Meta BD

You’ve seen our awards for the best PC games released in 2008. Now our sister site Joystiq lends their considerable authority to the fray as they give our their top 10 best games, console or PC, that were released in the last 12 months. As you check out the titles that they have given their thumbs up to you will notice quite a few games that were released on the PC platform as well as a couple of titles that are scheduled to have a PC release in 2009.

We don’t want to spoil Joystiq’s party by revealing their picks but we think you will agree they hit the nail on the head in this case. Check it out now.

Joystiq puts many PC games in their top 10 for 2008 originally appeared on Big Download Blog on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: PC, Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Meta (about Joystiq)

Bionic Commando Rearmed (PS3)
I was initially turned off by the art direction (3D models in 2D), but, fueled by nostalgia, this game grew on me incredibly fast. It’s a bit of a blind leap, but I’m willing to call this my favorite remake of all time — right now (phew, I saved myself there). GRIN stayed true to the source material, but also expanded Rearmed, making it the better game; most notably, by adding improved weaponry and terrific boss battles. It’s a relief to not have to side with the cynic in me. See, remakes can be profitable and remarkable.

Oh, and one more thing, I vote for the PlayStation 3 version. The superior D-pad tips the scale for me.

Continue reading Best of the Rest: James’ Picks of 2008

Best of the Rest: James’ Picks of 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Plants/Manufacturing, Toyota

One of the key improvements in automotive manufacturing efficiency over the past three decades may soon fall victim to America’s current economic turmoil. Toyota made “just-in-time manufacturing” a common term and it has since been adopted by the entire industry.

Unfortunately, in order for just-in-time to work, assembly plants need a stable supply base that can reliably deliver the right parts at the right time, every time. If a company’s suppliers are in danger of shutting down due to lack of funds, they cannot reliably function without an inventory bank of parts. The net-net is that if one or more automakers goes belly up in the coming months, numerous suppliers are likely to follow that company down the drain. Since most suppliers provide parts to multiple automakers, the effects will cascade. If Toyota, Honda, Ford and everyone else have to start stockpiling parts, this will raise costs at a time when they are desperately trying to cut expenses.

Even though suppliers have tried to diversify and line up as many customers as possible, price pressures from every automaker over the past decade have put most suppliers (especially smaller ones) into a tenuous position. The interconnected nature of the industry means that everyone feels the pain, and companies like Toyota are going back to the drawing board to analyze and modify every step in the production chain.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Just-in-time supply lines could fall victim to financial crisis originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

The FCC’s chief gives the greenlight to end his pursuit of filtering of the internet’s red light district

iRex’s Digital Reader 1000S didn’t exactly do a whole a to to distinguish itself when it debuted alongside its two other 1000 series counterparts a few months back but, judging from Engadget Chinese’s hands-on of the unit, it seems to at least hold its own against your average e-book reader, even if it may not be able to justify its premium price tag ($749). On the upside the 10.2-inch, 160 dpi display appears to deliver as expected, with it provided a fairly comfortable reading experience, although some small text may have you reaching for the zoom function. Unfortunately, the device as a whole seems to be a tad on the sluggish side, and there is that small matter of the price, which puts the iRex well above the likes of the Kindle and some other upstart e-book readers. Still undecided? Hit up the link below for a closer look.

Filed under: Handhelds

iRex Digital Reader 1000S gets the hands on treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Filed under: Internet Tools, MobileMe

It hasn’t been all roses for MobileMe. After a rocky start in 2008 things have started to settle down in MobileMe land, and it appears that Apple is about to add at least one feature that was promised when the service rolled out.

Loyal TUAW reader Dave has noticed a little change on the Apple MobileMe page that says the ability to easily make large file transfers is coming soon. The hint is on the lower right of the page:

Soon a new feature in iDisk will make it simple to share files too big for email. iDisk will automatically send a message with a simple link. The recipient will just click the link to download the file.

As it is now, you can place things in your public folder, and other Mac or PC users can see that folder if they know your MobileMe user name. You can also give out your password (not a great idea), allowing others to cruise your private folders, then drag and drop large files to their own desktops. Users can also send files to you the same way.

Other solutions have stepped up to fill in for the feature, like FileChute which works very well. Apple isn’t giving a date, but the fact that the feature is on the way should give some New Year’s cheer to MobileMe subscribers everywhere.

Addenda: Some readers say the message has been there for a few months, so don’t get too excited that this feature is imminent. It is, however, greatly desired.

TUAWEasy file transfer may be finally coming to MobileMe originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments