Thursday, February 18, 2010
Metal Gear Arcade 3D: Konami announces first playable version
Metal Gear Arcade 3D: Konami announces first playable version: "
Konami’s hit game series Metal Gear Solid is finally getting an arcade treatment: Aptly named “Metal Gear Solid Arcade 3D”, the game was first shown during the E3 last year in the US. Konami has now announced [JP] it will bring the game cabinet to the AOU 2010 expo tomorrow in its full glory. And, for the first time, the title will be playable.
Vaguely described as an “tactical online action game”, MGS Arcade’s main selling point are the cool 3D glasses players will need to wear (Konami calls the things “head controllers”). The company promises an extra-intense gaming experience, enhanced by sound in 5.1. Gameplay-wise, players will need to cooperate and communicate with each other over mics in order to complete missions in the game.
Unfortunately, Konami isn’t saying yet when exactly MGS Arcade will be released. But at least there’s a special site [JP] dedicated to the game, which includes a placeholder for a trailer that I think will be online tomorrow. We’ll update this post then, but for now the screenshot will have to do.
"
Konami’s hit game series Metal Gear Solid is finally getting an arcade treatment: Aptly named “Metal Gear Solid Arcade 3D”, the game was first shown during the E3 last year in the US. Konami has now announced [JP] it will bring the game cabinet to the AOU 2010 expo tomorrow in its full glory. And, for the first time, the title will be playable.
Vaguely described as an “tactical online action game”, MGS Arcade’s main selling point are the cool 3D glasses players will need to wear (Konami calls the things “head controllers”). The company promises an extra-intense gaming experience, enhanced by sound in 5.1. Gameplay-wise, players will need to cooperate and communicate with each other over mics in order to complete missions in the game.
Unfortunately, Konami isn’t saying yet when exactly MGS Arcade will be released. But at least there’s a special site [JP] dedicated to the game, which includes a placeholder for a trailer that I think will be online tomorrow. We’ll update this post then, but for now the screenshot will have to do.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
TUAW How To: Downgrading your 3.1.3 iPhone to 3.1.2
TUAW How To: Downgrading your 3.1.3 iPhone to 3.1.2: "
Filed under: Apple
Last week I downloaded (but did not install) the iPhone OS 3.1.3 firmware for my 3GS. I wanted to have a copy of the firmware on hand, but didn't want to upgrade right away. I checked 'Do not ask me again' and clicked Download Only. I thought that was the end of the matter.
Unfortunately, this Sunday, I plugged in my iPhone and left the room to grab some tea. When I returned, the iPhone was 50% of the way through the 3.1.3 firmware upgrade procedure. It did something I had no idea that it would do: it upgraded me without asking.
How frustrating! What's more, I didn't have a copy of 3.1.2 on-hand to downgrade to because iTunes automatically deleted the old firmware files and I was using default Time Machine settings; Time Machine does not normally back up ~/Library, the folder that contains the iTunes ipsw files.
Fortunately, I had several resources. First, because I had jailbroken my phone and registered my device signature with Jay Freeman's caching service, I knew I could downgrade my phone. As Jay and I discussed in this LiveChat from a few months back, Apple no longer allows you to freely downgrade your iPhone software. All firmware installations must be verified with Apple's signature servers.
By jailbreaking your phone and registering your device signature with Jay's system, you'll be able to bypass Apple's verification system and return to the firmware you prefer -- or at least to the earliest firmware whose signature you have stored on the caching site. To make this happen, you must both register your device and update your /etc/hosts file. Jay's site has complete instructions on how to comply.
Second, I could grab a copy of old firmware from sites like Felix Bruns' http://www.felixbruns.de/iPod/firmware/ and iClarified's http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=750. These sites provide Apple download links for old firmware releases. I downloaded a fresh copy of the 3.1.2 ipsw (iPhone software archive) and installed it onto my system. Using a standard option-restore trick, I was able to put that firmware onto my iPhone. iTunes verified the upgrade with Jay's server and installed it onto the device.
Note: If you receive the 'The iPhone could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (3004).' error, make sure to quit iTunes and flush caches at the command line:
If your device updates properly, you will receive a 1015 error and your unit will now enter a semi-permanent recovery mode, the mode in which your device shows an iTunes logo and will not boot further. To proceed, you'll need to use iRecovery. Download a copy from this site. (It requires libusb, so read the entire post before running.) Run iRecovery from the command line and supply the -s flag. Wait for the ']' prompt, and do not type anything until you see that prompt appear.
Enter the following commands:
After, you will return to the command line. Reboot your phone by pressing the home and sleep buttons for 10 seconds, per the instructions on the site, and your iPhone should boot back to standard 3.1.2.
Note: Be aware that this method does not downgrade your baseband. It remains at the 3.1.3 setting.
Thanks Jay Freeman, Sjoerd (aka WiFone), and Paul 'PhoenixDev' Griffin
Filed under: Apple
Last week I downloaded (but did not install) the iPhone OS 3.1.3 firmware for my 3GS. I wanted to have a copy of the firmware on hand, but didn't want to upgrade right away. I checked 'Do not ask me again' and clicked Download Only. I thought that was the end of the matter.Unfortunately, this Sunday, I plugged in my iPhone and left the room to grab some tea. When I returned, the iPhone was 50% of the way through the 3.1.3 firmware upgrade procedure. It did something I had no idea that it would do: it upgraded me without asking.
How frustrating! What's more, I didn't have a copy of 3.1.2 on-hand to downgrade to because iTunes automatically deleted the old firmware files and I was using default Time Machine settings; Time Machine does not normally back up ~/Library, the folder that contains the iTunes ipsw files.
Fortunately, I had several resources. First, because I had jailbroken my phone and registered my device signature with Jay Freeman's caching service, I knew I could downgrade my phone. As Jay and I discussed in this LiveChat from a few months back, Apple no longer allows you to freely downgrade your iPhone software. All firmware installations must be verified with Apple's signature servers.
By jailbreaking your phone and registering your device signature with Jay's system, you'll be able to bypass Apple's verification system and return to the firmware you prefer -- or at least to the earliest firmware whose signature you have stored on the caching site. To make this happen, you must both register your device and update your /etc/hosts file. Jay's site has complete instructions on how to comply.
Second, I could grab a copy of old firmware from sites like Felix Bruns' http://www.felixbruns.de/iPod/firmware/ and iClarified's http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=750. These sites provide Apple download links for old firmware releases. I downloaded a fresh copy of the 3.1.2 ipsw (iPhone software archive) and installed it onto my system. Using a standard option-restore trick, I was able to put that firmware onto my iPhone. iTunes verified the upgrade with Jay's server and installed it onto the device.
Note: If you receive the 'The iPhone could not be restored. An unknown error occurred (3004).' error, make sure to quit iTunes and flush caches at the command line:
sudo dscacheutil -flushcache.If your device updates properly, you will receive a 1015 error and your unit will now enter a semi-permanent recovery mode, the mode in which your device shows an iTunes logo and will not boot further. To proceed, you'll need to use iRecovery. Download a copy from this site. (It requires libusb, so read the entire post before running.) Run iRecovery from the command line and supply the -s flag. Wait for the ']' prompt, and do not type anything until you see that prompt appear.
Enter the following commands:
] setenv auto-boot true
] saveenv
] /exitAfter, you will return to the command line. Reboot your phone by pressing the home and sleep buttons for 10 seconds, per the instructions on the site, and your iPhone should boot back to standard 3.1.2.
Note: Be aware that this method does not downgrade your baseband. It remains at the 3.1.3 setting.
Thanks Jay Freeman, Sjoerd (aka WiFone), and Paul 'PhoenixDev' Griffin
TUAWTUAW How To: Downgrading your 3.1.3 iPhone to 3.1.2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Rumor: AT&T will carry 3G iPad in stores
Rumor: AT&T will carry 3G iPad in stores: "
Filed under: Retail, Rumors, Apple, iPad
Here's an interesting rumor I hadn't considered yet: sources inside AT&T are telling Boy Genius Report that AT&T's retail stores are planning to carry the 3G versions of the iPad. It's not unexplainable, given that AT&T is the partner for the 3G service, and so I guess they have a vested interest in selling the devices. Still, when you think of "tablet computer designed for consumption of media and minor household tasks," you don't really think of AT&T. In fact, without a phone on it at all, it's just strange to think that the iPad would have a place in AT&T stores anywhere.
But if the 3G versions will make money for the phone company (and we'll bet they will), they might as well sell them. If the rumor is true, and the AT&T store is closer to you than the Apple store, you might as well check there on release day (remembering that 3G iPads will be released after their WiFi-only cousins). In the meantime, let's all hope their 3G network holds up under the increased strain.
[via MacRumors]
Filed under: Retail, Rumors, Apple, iPad
Here's an interesting rumor I hadn't considered yet: sources inside AT&T are telling Boy Genius Report that AT&T's retail stores are planning to carry the 3G versions of the iPad. It's not unexplainable, given that AT&T is the partner for the 3G service, and so I guess they have a vested interest in selling the devices. Still, when you think of "tablet computer designed for consumption of media and minor household tasks," you don't really think of AT&T. In fact, without a phone on it at all, it's just strange to think that the iPad would have a place in AT&T stores anywhere.
But if the 3G versions will make money for the phone company (and we'll bet they will), they might as well sell them. If the rumor is true, and the AT&T store is closer to you than the Apple store, you might as well check there on release day (remembering that 3G iPads will be released after their WiFi-only cousins). In the meantime, let's all hope their 3G network holds up under the increased strain.
[via MacRumors]
TUAWRumor: AT&T will carry 3G iPad in stores originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tuesday, February 16, 2010
The retro game revival continues with Sonic 4: leaked screens and video
The retro game revival continues with Sonic 4: leaked screens and video: "
It wasn’t too long ago that I whined that these days, old-school de-makes of games are better than the new-school re-makes they’re meant to promote. It’s not really a problem, since these old-style games are fun as hell, but it’s kind of embarrassing for the industry. As far as I’m concerned, the more retro throwbacks the better. That’s why I was pumped to hear that they’re doing a Sonic the Hedgehog 4, totally in the old style.
There was a video a little while back, but it didn’t show much. This one is much more revealing. There’s more info over at 1up.
"
It wasn’t too long ago that I whined that these days, old-school de-makes of games are better than the new-school re-makes they’re meant to promote. It’s not really a problem, since these old-style games are fun as hell, but it’s kind of embarrassing for the industry. As far as I’m concerned, the more retro throwbacks the better. That’s why I was pumped to hear that they’re doing a Sonic the Hedgehog 4, totally in the old style.
There was a video a little while back, but it didn’t show much. This one is much more revealing. There’s more info over at 1up.
Apple bans hackers from App Store
Apple bans hackers from App Store: "
Filed under: Apple Corporate, iPhone, App Store, Jailbreak/pwnage
Two users with jailbroken iPhones say that they've been denied access to the App Store from their iPhones by Apple. When user sherif_hashim tried to connect, he was greeted with the image at right, which he explained via Twitter:
'Your Apple ID was banned for security reasons', that's what i get when i try to go to the app store, they must be really angry :) )))) and guess what my apple ID was, 'sherif_hashim@yahoo.com', what a fool was me not to notice :) )), can't help laughing, they are babies :) ))'
Sherif Hashim recently found an exploit in iPhone OS 3.1.3 to unlock 05.12.01 Baseband for iPhone 3G and 3GS, which was later confirmed by the iPhone Dev-Team.
Hacker iH8sn0w was the second to report being banned, saying on Twitter:
'@sherif_hashim lol, they did that to my ih8sn0wyday[@t]googmail.com too. (right after I posted XEMN)...'
iH8sn0w is the user behind Sn0wbreeze, the jailbreaking tool for Windows. It should be noted that these users aren't typical jailbreakers. One has publicized an exploit and the other maintains a jailbreaking tool. Plus, they used their handles in the account emails, which wasn't the best choice. We'll see if the issue becomes more widespread.
[Via 9 to 5 Mac]
Filed under: Apple Corporate, iPhone, App Store, Jailbreak/pwnage
Two users with jailbroken iPhones say that they've been denied access to the App Store from their iPhones by Apple. When user sherif_hashim tried to connect, he was greeted with the image at right, which he explained via Twitter:'Your Apple ID was banned for security reasons', that's what i get when i try to go to the app store, they must be really angry :) )))) and guess what my apple ID was, 'sherif_hashim@yahoo.com', what a fool was me not to notice :) )), can't help laughing, they are babies :) ))'
Sherif Hashim recently found an exploit in iPhone OS 3.1.3 to unlock 05.12.01 Baseband for iPhone 3G and 3GS, which was later confirmed by the iPhone Dev-Team.
Hacker iH8sn0w was the second to report being banned, saying on Twitter:
'@sherif_hashim lol, they did that to my ih8sn0wyday[@t]googmail.com too. (right after I posted XEMN)...'
iH8sn0w is the user behind Sn0wbreeze, the jailbreaking tool for Windows. It should be noted that these users aren't typical jailbreakers. One has publicized an exploit and the other maintains a jailbreaking tool. Plus, they used their handles in the account emails, which wasn't the best choice. We'll see if the issue becomes more widespread.
[Via 9 to 5 Mac]
TUAWApple bans hackers from App Store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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