General
Lian Li’s PC-T1R Spider case crawls towards a release
Custom computer cases that look like spiders aren’t generally the sort of thing that are available to public, but Lian Li’s new PC-T1R case is one big exception to the rule, and it’s now edged a bit closer to a release. Previously only seen in a teaser video , a nearly final version of the case has now landed in the hands of the folks at techPowerUp , who have provided us with our first hands-on look at it. What’s more, the site also says that the case should sell for “around €150″ (or just over $200) when it’s released, and that it will be available in black in addition to red
Talkin’ Windows Phone 7 Series gaming with Microsoft at GDC
We already got a look at Microsoft’s little XNA show-and-tell as relates to Windows Phone 7 Series, but our colleague Andrew Yoon over at Joystiq had a chance for longer sit-down with Xbox Live general manager Ron Pessner and XNA Game Studio manager Michael Klucher at GDC today, and he’s been kind enough to share the interview with us.
Spring Design Alex still not available for pre-order, ‘early spring’ ship date still planned
The first week of March may have brought warmer weather and an awesome episode of the Engadget Show , but unfortunately we’re still missing a Spring Design Alex pre-order page.
ZMP RoboCar G soon to be available to researchers
You may not be able to buy Honda’s sci-fi-styled 3R-C electric three-wheeler anytime soon, but it looks like you will be able to get behind the wheel of ZMP ’s new RoboCar G this year — if you’re a researcher interested in working on next-generation vehicles, that is. According to the company, the vehicle will be available on a limited basis starting in November, and it will be able to be equipped with a whole range of sensors that will either help the driver, or let it be operated as a computer-controlled “robot vehicle.” No indication of a price, or any word of availability to the general public — although you may just be able to talk your into getting one for yourself if you can foot the bill. Exceedingly brief video after the break
EU launches preliminary antitrust probe against Google
Now that Microsoft’s browser selection story is all but settled, it looks like the European Union is gearing up for a new antitrust probe, with its crosshairs aimed generally in Google’s direction. According to the search giant’s Senior Competition Counsel Julia Holtz (via its European Public Policy Blog), complaints from three European internet companies — legal search group EJustice.fr , price comparison site Foundem.co.uk , and German-based Microsoft subsidiary Ciao.de — have prompted the European Commission to launch a preliminary, fact-finding probe. The charges?
Nokia VP: N97 taught company some tough lessons
It’s unusual for a company to publicly admit its shortcomings — particularly a company as big, proud, and resolute as Nokia generally seems to be — but an All About Symbian / Mobile Industry Review joint interview with Anssi Vanjoki, vice president of markets, at MWC last week painted a very different picture with regard to Espoo’s views on the maligned N97 . Though he says that the phone absolutely met the company’s goals for sales volume and revenue, it was a “tremendous disappointment in terms of the experience quality for the consumers and something [they] did not anticipate.” This isn’t a sob story, though: he uses the opportunity to note that they’ve completely closed the gap on software quality for the flagship device, launching new firmware first in Norway where the response has been positive
