Bionic Commando Rearmed Officially Revealed – Screens and Features

Yesterday, the world of video games was rocked by the arrival of a new Bionic Commando trailer, something that showed anything but the next-gen version of the game (which Capcom announced a little while back for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC). Bionic Commando Rearmed has now been confirmed as a downloadable game this Spring, for the same three platforms. Full details about this newly disclosed title can be found below.

The official announcement reveals that Bionic Commando Rearmed is indeed a makeover of the classic 8-bit game, originally released some 20 years ago. Rearmed will be available for digital download from Xbox LIVE Arcade, PlayStation Network this Spring, with the PC version becoming available at the same time. As the trailer itself shows, the intense 2D side scrolling action is back, while shooting and grappling have remained the main attraction. Bionic Commando Rearmed features stunning new visuals, new weapons, online rankings, a reworked musical score and even a 2-player co-op mode, as if the overall improved game wasn’t enough to get fans excited.

The title will also provide cross-game interoperability, as completing parts of Bionic Commando Rearmed will unlock new content and provide secret insight into characters and plot of the new Bionic Commando sequel coming later in 2008, according to the official Capcom report.

The renowned Japanese developer has confirmed the game’s main features as follows:

• Classic Bionic Commando gameplay focused around the use of the bionic grappling arm
• 2-player co-op mode
• Total modern visual revamp, including dynamic shadows, particle effects and environmental damage
• Reworking of musical score
• Cross-game interoperability – complete specific parts of Bionic Commando Rearmed to unlock new content and hints for the Bionic Commando sequel
• In-game art designed by one of Capcom’s most talented artists, Toshiaki Mori

“The release of Bionic Commando Rearmed allows us to deliver to fans of the original game a remake they have been clamoring for, while also introducing the series to a whole new audience,” commented Ben Judd, Producer of both the Bionic Commando projects. “And with GRIN taking care of development, we can ensure that there is real consistency across both the Bionic Commando titles.”

Fans of Bionic Commando now have two reasons to be happy, one of which will unfold this Spring via PSN and XBLA for consoles, and of course PC, as Capcom and GRIN are set to release Bionic Commando Rearmed, a revamped version of the NES platformer released 20 years ago. What’s the other reason? The next-gen version of course. That one’s going to take a little more time and resources to develop but surely things are coming along with that installment too.

Check out these superb Bionic Commando Rearmed screens below!

Linux, Firefox, TV Recording and Possibly ISO Loader on the PS3

The PS3 is once again put to the test by homebrewers, who have come up with the PS3 Megabox Homebrew project, which practically implements every improvement that Sony could ever dream of, with their firmware updates. Keep in mind that this neat package won’t even require a Linux installation, since you can run the software from your USB drive or even a DVD.

Basically, we’re dealing with a tweaked open source software, Freevo, turned into this new Megabox, that features every bit of functionality you lacked on your PS3, from “VOIP to P2P, Firefox, 3D Linux gaming, TV recording plus emulation “, according to the folks over at Kotaku.com. This non-installing version of Linux comes with a brand new skin and a media center interface that would make any other rivaling device envious. What to find out its best feature? It’s totally free, so all of this functionality is available for your console right away.

You should know that Megabox is in beta phase for now, which pretty much means that it can be buggy, so be warned, before you try it. Here’s the list of features it brings to your PlayStation 3 console, courtesy of Kotaku.com:

Video:

1-Reproduction of almost all the video formats, including the MKV.
2-Reproduction in Streaming (from Internet or the local network)
3-Encoder and decoder of DivX, DVD, TDT and others
4-Recording to CD’s/DVD’s etc. (you need an external USB recorder)
5-Possibility of using compatible digital cameras with Linux.

Audio:

1-Reproduction of all the formats. (Local and streaming.)
2-Encoder and decoder of CD’s and other formats.
3-Recording of CD’s/DVD’s etc… (you need an external USB recorder)

TV/Radio: (compatible with multiple models and types of USB TV devices)

1-Reproduction of TDT, TDS, TDC and IMAGENIO. (You need an USB capture device.) “one in each pack MegaBOX PS3 will be included”
2-Radio and TV streaming on the Internet.
3-Recording of TV programs “to the hard disk of the PS3, external Hard disk or on a CD/DVD with the possibility of programming the hour and date of recording.”

Software:

1-FireFOX. (with all plug-ins for its perfect operation.)
2- System P2P
3-System VoIP and mail.
4-emulation of games of almost all the platforms. (Reading of ROM’s from any unit, even from local NETWORK.)
5-Gaming for LINUX in 3D
6-Possibility of launching PS3 games directly from MegaBOX.
(In the future possibly ISO loader)

Appearance:

1-Skins Manager is used so that you modify to your taste the appearance of MegaBOX on your PS3 (Necessary knowledge of XM)

Components needed:

1-Playstation 3 sixaxis (PS3)
2-Any compatible PS3 device

Screen Resolution:
1-1280×720 (720P)

The iPod Touch Receives Some Major Software Updates – You’ll Even Have Mail!

There simply can’t be a Macworld without some sort of iPod-related announcement, but not every such event can bring about some breathtaking novelty. Nevertheless, the company from Cupertino has brought a pretty interesting set of new features to the iPod touch, adding five mobile applications — Mail, Maps, Stocks, Weather and Notes, as well as other new features, such as Web Clips, a customizable home screen and the ability to watch iTunes Movie Rentals.

The Mail feature on the iPod touch is a HTML email client that fetches email in the background from most POP3 or IMAP mail services and displays photos and graphics along with the text of the email. What’s really important to note here is that users can configure Mail for Google’s Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, .Mac Mail or most POP or IMAP based mail services in a relatively fast and easy manner.

The Maps service on the iPod touch features the ability to automatically find the user’s current location using nearby Wi-Fi base stations (no GPS, as there’s no such module in Apple’s player), and use it as a starting or ending point for directions or to find local points of interest. Users can get real-time traffic conditions, and view maps in map or satellite view, or a hybrid view which combines map and satellite views, so you can see major street names overlaid on satellite imagery.

Next on the list of updates, the Stocks and Weather services allow users to access live stock and weather reports, while Notes allows them to jot down information on-the-go using the intelligent keyboard.

Moreover, the iPod touch home screen can now be customized, allowing users to reorder and add new icons, with support for up to nine different home screens which they can easily flick between. With the new Web Clips feature, one can create custom icons on the home screen for his/her favorite websites, as well as easily track the respective pages.

“These amazing new mobile applications make iPod touch not only the best iPod, but the best Wi-Fi mobile device in the world,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “With its revolutionary touch interface and software, plus its stunning 3.5 inch screen, iPod touch is evolving into the first mainstream Wi-Fi mobile platform of the 21st century.”

Yes, Mr. Jobs might have a point, but the biggest problem here is the price. Thus, those users who actually want to take advantage of the apps mentioned above will have to cough up an extra 20 US dollars for the software update, which is not exactly that small a price, considering just how expensive Apple’s touch-enabled player is in the first place.

What’s New in Microsoft Land: 7-11 January, 2008

The 2008 International CES gave Microsoft a chance to announce the new titles it added to the Games for Window initiative on Monday. Based on the success that it had in its first year, the Redmond-based giant decided that it was a worthy investment to continue it, so it will continue the momentum for Windows based gaming in 2008 as well.

“Games for Windows truly thrived in 2007. We went from two titles in 2006 to a continually growing portfolio of over 60 titles here at CES 2008. […] We delivered on our promise one year ago to reinvigorate the PC gaming space and bring the best portfolio of games to Windows. And this is just the beginning. With our partners, we will continue to drive the resurgence of Windows-based gaming”, said Kevin Unangst, senior global director of Games for Windows, in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft.

The CES attendees will be delighted to be able to play some of the most expected and most important games of 2008 like “Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures” (Funcom, Eidos Interactive), “Conflict: Denied Ops” (Eidos Interactive), “Frontlines: Fuel of War” (THQ), “Space Siege” (SEGA), “Turning Point: Fall of Liberty” (Codemasters). I know how difficult the wait must have been, but bare with me, it get’s better: renown publishers Atari Inc., Capcom, Eidos Interactive, LucasArts, Microsoft Game Studios, SEGA and Stardock bring the new over 60 titles to the table. If you want a sneak peak at the titles, here are some of the bigger ones: “Alone in the Dark” (Atari), “Bionic Commando” (Capcom), “Conflict: Denied Ops” (Eidos Interactive), “Empire: Total War” (SEGA), “LEGO Indiana Jones” (LucasArts), “Microsoft Train Simulator 2″ (Microsoft Game Studios), “Sins of a Solar Empire” (Stardock), “Space Siege” (SEGA) and “Tomb Raider: Underworld” (Eidos Interactive).

“Games for Windows-branded titles were among the most popular Windows-based games purchased as gifts this holiday”, said Bob McKenzie, senior vice president of merchandising for GameStop Corp. “Microsoft’s efforts to revive Windows-based gaming have helped grow the category.”

I’m certain that all that gaming left you craving for the good old controller, but try to pull yourselves together and see what Tuesday had to offer: enterprise search power like few have seen before. Microsoft announced on the 8th of January that it would make an offer to acquire the Norwegian Fast Search & Transfer ASA at a price of about 1.2 billion US dollars overall, or 19 Norwegian kroner per share.

Enlarge picture”Enterprise search is becoming an indispensable tool to businesses of all sizes, helping people find, use and share critical business information quickly”, said Jeff Raikes, president of the Microsoft Business Division. “Until now organizations have been forced to choose between powerful, high-end search technologies or more mainstream, infrastructure solutions. The combination of Microsoft and FAST gives customers a new choice: a single vendor with solutions that span the full range of customer needs.”

Wednesday Microsoft explained in detail what the Windows XP SP3 changes would be and mentioned that there was more to a release than what met the eye. The basic “everything released so far will be included” was backed with the announcement and the full disclosure of the modification impacting the Distributed Computing Environment/Remote Procedure Call, or DCE/RPC in short. It’s true, if you were to look at it while not working in the domain and with a hefty background information to help you, you’d most likely be looking at it like you’d be looking at the insides of an alien, or at a book written in Aramaic.

“We have received a few inquiries about the full disclosure posting [over Windows XP SP3 - DCERPC Changes], where a range check was added in Windows XP SP3 for the Terminal Server RPC function RpcWinStationEnumerateProcesses. The speculation stated that this change was to hide an overflow condition, potentially leading to an exploitable vulnerability in previous Windows versions. In reality, this update to the Terminal Service RPC interface definition was made to better adhere to our own RPC best practices”, explained a member of the Security Vulnerability Research & Defense team.

Thursday saw Microsoft Corp. sign a cooperative agreement with the Library of Congress that will fundamentally change the way the latter’s visitors will experience U.S. history. According to sources at Microsoft, the technology innovation effort of the two will electronically expose the Library’s immense collection of artifacts, dating back to the early days of the pilgrims and even beyond that, to those that will choose to visit the Thomas Jefferson Building in Washington, DC, and will allow some immersive interactive experience to them.

The joint effort’s result will be revealed through interactive kiosks in the Jefferson Building and on the Internet, through applications delivered through a well-defined web infrastructure. “Microsoft is helping to put a vast array of the Library’s unparalleled educational resources literally at the fingertips of students and lifelong learners alike, both onsite at the Library of Congress and virtually through the Web”, said Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington. “The Library of Congress and the causes of inspiration and creativity will benefit immensely from this act of generosity and expertise.”

Enlarge pictureFriday had some bad news brought to the world, with the public announcement of the retirement and transition plan for Jeff Raikes, the President of Microsoft Corp.’s Business Division. The transition is to be lasting nine months, so he will be completely retired in September 2008 and, by that time, he will have had every opportunity to transfer the management of the division to his successor.

“Since 1981, I’ve had an incredible journey here at Microsoft. Given the success of our business and the depth of leadership we have in place today, the time is right for me to leave the MBD business in the capable hands of our new generation of leaders. I remain committed to Microsoft and will work full time between now and September when I retire. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to working closely with Stephen and the MBD leadership team to ensure a smooth transition”, Raikes revealed. The successor mentioned is Stephen Elop, the former COO at Juniper Networks. Best of luck to him, he’ll have big shoes to fill.

CES 2008: Delphi’s USB Hub Connects Your iPod to Your Car

Even if we’ve mostly talked about the toys the biggest names in the industry unveiled at this year’s CES, there were quite a lot of other, smaller companies that have also showcased their products at this major fair. And one such company is Delphi, who has announced the development of a hub to accommodate multiple vehicle systems or consumer interfaces.

“A single USB port that serves as an interface between the vehicle’s electrical system and external consumer equipment enabling passengers to download MP3 music files from pen-drives and iPods and listen to music files stored on those devices through the vehicle’s audio system may not satisfy all passengers,” says John Yurtin, Connection Systems Component Specialist, Delphi Electrical/Electronic Architecture.

“Some passengers might want to play video games, look at pictures stored on photo cards or listen to music through headphones without bothering other passengers. Delphi makes this possible with a hub that allows automakers to locate a variety of consumer interfaces – standard USB ports for iPods and MP3 players, video and audio jacks for games, DVD players or camcorders, or SD slots for photo cards – throughout the vehicle” he added.

Automakers determine the number, locations and variety of consumer interfaces included in the vehicle. Interfaces are typically on the dashboard, inside the glove box, on the console or in the rear seat passenger compartment. Delphi’s E/EA engineers help automakers ensure the reliability and viability of these consumer interfaces with innovative solutions for sending high-speed data throughout the vehicle while minimizing EMI (electro-magnetic interference).

Multiple consumer interfaces can accommodate audio/video, telematics and global positioning exchange data. They are USCAR-30 compliant and all Delphi consumer interfaces employ industry standard I/O interfaces used to connect peripheral devices to computers. Delphi’s consumer ports are standard equipment on several makes and models of automobiles.

However, advanced connectivity solutions to accommodate multiple ports or connection of multiple vehicle systems are in development targeted for model year 2010, which means that we’ll probably have to wait for a while longer before these things become widely available.

CES 2008: Verbatim Rolls Out New, Improved Blu-ray Media

The Verbatim company is one of the world’s best-known manufacturers of various storage media, and, much as just about every other big name in the industry, it has come prepared at this year’s CES with a bag full of goodies, namely six new BD products scheduled to begin shipping in the first half of 2008. The new products include 4x BD-R discs, Single-sided Double-layer (DL) 2x BD-R and BD-RE discs, Mini BD-R and BD-RE discs and 1-2x BD-R LTH TYPE discs.

According to its own statement, due to the increased availability of recorders, players and camcorders that support BD technology, Verbatim sees 2008 as the “Year of Awakening” for blank Blu-ray discs. And in order to meet the future market demand, the company has designed several new products, each of them targeting a different market segment.

Thus, for the users demanding decreased recording times, Verbatim has announced the 25GB 4x BD-R media, which allows users to record an entire disc in approximately 23 min and will arrive at some point in Q1, 2008. Furthermore, the company has also announced a couple of high-capacity disks, namely the 2x BD-R DL media, which will arrive in Q2, with the 4x BD-R DL to follow at a later date (but also in 2008). With two recording layers on a single side, users can record up to 50GB or about 4 hours of HD-quality video on a single disc without having to flip or change the disc. Verbatim is also planning to release 2x BD-RE DL in 2008 as compatible hardware becomes more available.

Another interesting announcement is related to the media designed especially for camcorders. Measuring just three inches (8cm) in diameter, Verbatim’s new 7.5GB Mini BD-R/RW discs combine with a BD-compatible camcorder to provide approximately one hour of continuous video capture time on a single side when high-definition (1920×1080i) is used. The Mini BD-R/RW discs will be available in Q1 2008.

Moreover, the company points out the fact that its 25GB BD-R LTH Type discs feature a new technically advanced organic dye in the recording layer that can be burned at speeds of 1x and 2x. By switching from the more expensive inorganic layer used with current BD-R to the new organic layer, manufacturing costs can be reduced. Verbatim will release 2x BD-R LTH Type media in the Spring of 2008.

Well, it looks like Verbatim will provide the media, so all we need right now is an inexpensive Blu-ray burner and we’re good to go. And since Sony’s got one such device in store (just 200 US dollars), it seems that we’ll be “Blu-raying” all through 2008.

We are just a few, but there are many of you, Softpedia users, out there. That’s why we thought it would be a good idea to create an email address for you to help us a little in finding gadgets we missed. Interesting links are bound to be posted with recognition going mainly to those who submit. The address is.

TwinMos Intros the Mobile Disk F2 USB Flash Drive with Fingerprint Authentication

As you might have heard over the past few months, there seems to be an epidemic of data losses/thefts/misplacements out there, affecting not only normal individuals, but also large organizations (sometimes even government-related ones). This is the reason why secure data storage and transport solutions are once again in the spotlight, much like the Mobile Disk F2, which has just been announced by memory manufacturer TwinMos.

Thus, much like its predecessor, the Mobile Disk F1, the F2 version comes packed with a built-in fingerprint reader, which allows users to better protect their data. Actually, the available storage space (1GB – 32GB, depending on the model) can be divided into two sections, a public one and a protected one, the sensitive data being accessible solely when the authorized user swipes his/her finger over the sensor.

And since the fingerprint authentication system is, after all, its main point of attraction, it’s important to note that the engineers from TwinMos have incorporated a scanner module that delivers a 508 dpi image resolution as well as 256 gray levels (8-bit ADC). Unfortunately, the company doesn’t provide any kind of information regarding the sensor’s authentication-related specs.

As the company informs us, the Mobile Disk F2 is guaranteed to work with Windows 2000/XP/Vista, which means these are the only operating systems supported by the included Carry it Easy +Plus Bio software. However, the drive will most likely work with other operating systems as well (Linux, Mac OS), although it’s rather unclear whether the biometric authentication features will still function at normal parameters.

Unfortunately, TwinMos is yet to release pricing or availability information for the Mobile Disk F2, but this thing will most likely be more expensive than other comparable solutions. Only further testing will prove whether it’s worth paying the respective amount or not.

We are just a few, but there are many of you, Softpedia users, out there. That’s why we thought it would be a good idea to create an email address for you to help us a little in finding gadgets we missed. Interesting links are bound to be posted with recognition going mainly to those who submit. The address is .

CES 2008: Pioneer’s “Project Kuro” Concepts Bring 9mm-Thick Displays, Absolute Black Plasma Panels

The International CES from Las Vegas is not only the place where most companies showcase their latest developments, but also a very good launchpad for future technologies, which, at some point, will become an integral part of commercially-available products. And in order to prep us for great things to come, Pioneer has unveiled two very interesting concepts, namely the extreme contrast concept, which will challenge the contrast ratio debate by producing the industry’s first plasma that is absolute black with no measurable light emitting from the television, as well as an advanced design concept that is the world’s thinnest 50-inch display, only nine millimeters (mm) in thickness.

As Pioneer’s statement reads, the “extreme contrast concept is the industry’s first plasma that can achieve absolute black with no measurable light emitting from the display when reproducing black.” And for those of you who don’t know exactly what this means, it’s important to note that the contrast ratio is defined as the ratio of the luminosity of the brightest color (white) to that of the darkest color (black). A high contrast ratio is desirable to recreate ideal picture quality, which translates, in the case of television, into the following rule: the truer the black, the more accurate the color.

Pioneer has succeeded in reproducing absolute black by achieving zero-idling luminance in more than six million cells. As they inform us, the display is so black that even when it is on with no image displayed, the television is invisible when you walk into a completely dark room.

The second important concept unveiled by the people from Pioneer is that of a 50-inch flat panel display that has a width of just around nine millimeters (mm), resulting in a picture that “appears to be floating on a wall, creating an experience for consumers where the television becomes simply a canvas for great entertainment”, as the company puts it. In addition, its extremely light weight (18.6kg/ 41lbs) allows the television to be easily wall mounted.

Unfortunately, none of these concepts will be available in 2008, but I sure hope that the next CES will bring the first commercially-available products that incorporate these technologies.

We are just a few, but there are many of you, Softpedia users, out there. That’s why we thought it would be a good idea to create an email address for you to help us a little in finding gadgets we missed. Interesting links are bound to be posted with recognition going mainly to those who submit. The address is .

Tips for Using PHP in Safe Mode

Internet Service Providers use the PHP safe mode in order to control security issues on shared servers. When PHP runs in safe mode many features determined by the actual configuration directives will not be available.

Practically, the safe mode implements many restrictions and for this reason many popular PHP scripts will not work at all or they could be installed, but their functionality will be limited. On the other hand, PHP safe mode will disable functions that could be used to create damages to the server or websites content.

When PHP is installed as an Apache module, its settings can be changed with the help of Apache configuration files (.httpd) and .htaccess files. To enable or disable PHP safe mode for the entire web server you can use the php.ini file. This file allows you to modify many aspects of PHP configuration, including the safe mode directives.

If you own a web server, then you have access to all PHP and Apache configuration files, but, if you have more php.ini files instances, the one you are looking for can be found with the help of the next PHP script, which will show you the path to the loaded configuration file:

CODE
<?php
php_info();
?>

Then, you must find the line corresponding to safe mode options and set the desired value (On or Off) for safe_mode. If you are having an account on a shared web server then your ISP must configure the safe mode directive for PHP. On free web hosting accounts (where the safe mode is present) there could be alternatives to enable functions or other limited PHP directives. When adequate permissions exist, a php.ini file identical with the default one can be added in the PHP script directory or in the root of your website after you perform the desired modifications.

If you do not have access to the main php.ini file in order to get a copy, the function ini_set will help you to enable or disable PHP directives directly from your scripts. From practice, results the fact that even you succeed in enabling some of the PHP directives disallowed in safe mode, the best results will still be obtained by disabling PHP safe mode, if this is the server side application requirement. Fortunately, beginning with PHP version 6, the safe_mode not longer exists. In conclusion, you should always choose a hosting service providing flexibility in PHP directives configuration.

Download Windows Vista Codecs

Natively, Windows Vista supports a wide range of formats and standards, allowing users to streamline file management to a maximum. But, there are scenarios in which Vista, in the configuration it ships by default, is unable to handle some file formats. Case in point: camera RAW file formats. Professional photographers will tell you that universal standards, such as JPEG, do not even come close to satisfying the need of capturing and having available as much information as possible in a single digital photography. This is where RAW comes in. The RAW file formats are proprietary standards, intimately connected with SLR cameras (varying with make and model) that offer superior image quality to mainstream formats.

“One of the features we added in Windows Vista was a platform to support for decoding camera raw images in Windows Photo Gallery (and later Windows Live Gallery), Windows Explorer, and Win32 & WPF applications. The camera IHV community has done a great job supporting this effort by creating codecs that enable raw files for various cameras. The Microsoft Professional Photography website just posted a page where you can download Codecs for Windows for your camera”, revealed Kam Vedbrat, a Microsoft lead program manager, who worked on the Aero User Interface of Windows Vista.

Microsoft has been hard at work to ensure that Windows Vista (and sometimes Windows XP ) supports a wide range of RAW file formats. In this context, the Redmond company has collaborated with camera manufacturers, such as Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Pentax and ArdFry, to produce a wide range of codecs designed to be integrated with the Windows operating system. Following the implementation of the codecs, users will be able to manage digital images saved in RAW file formats directly from Vista and XP.

“Windows Vista attempts to solve these problems by providing an extensible platform that allows support for these (and other) new file formats to be added to Windows by the owner of the file format. This support comes in the form of a codec, which users will get from their camera manufacturer, either by downloading it, or provided with a new camera body. The Photo Gallery will even detect the presence of these files and help you download a codec when it exists”, Microsoft added.