Crave

(Credit: Take-Two Interactive)

No one can argue with the fact that last year's BioShock was a milestone in interactive storytelling as far as a video game is concerned. 2K Games was able to create such a unique setting and mood all while engaging us in a thrilling narrative like nothing we've seen before. Naturally, an experience like this seemed ultimately destined for the big screen, and now Variety is reporting that Universal Studios will be the company bringing the underwater city of Rapture to a theater near you.

But perhaps the biggest news to come out of all this is who Universal has lined up to direct the dystopian drama. Gore Verbinski, famed director of the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, has signed on while accomplished screenwriter John Logan (Sweeny Todd, The Aviator) is in talks to write the script.

It would appear that all the pieces are in place for BioShock to break the curse of disappointing movies adapted from video games. Even more encouraging, Verbinski says that BioShock has the strongest narrative of any game he's played, which is why he wants to bring it to the silver screen. Just promise us there won't be any CG Big Daddies and you're already headed in the right direction.... (Read more)

(Credit: IceTech)

Lord knows I love getting boxes full of goodies, especially when they contain a hodgepodge of MP3 players and speakers. Apparently, the Almighty One also believes that Crave readers need a little more God-fearing in their lives, because my latest shipment included an MP3 player in the shape of a cross...that you wear around your neck. There's even a a little silver (read: plastic painted silver) cross charm at the end of the lanyard ribbon. Sadly, the Teo MP-301 (1GB) does not come preloaded with Christian rock and gospel music, because that might actually make it worth its $48 price tag. As it stands, it's one of the cheapest-feeling MP3 players I've had my hands on.

On the plus side, the chunky electronic cross, which brings to mind the boxy wooden variety, packs plenty of features, such as a voice recorder, an FM radio, and a built-in speaker. However, good luck figuring out how to use all of them through the convoluted interface--it's one of those players that has a dedicated volume button--singular--so you have to press that and then use two other buttons to actually adjust the levels. (Is it just me, or does that make no sense?) The quirky (and tiny), two-tone split screen leaves something to be desired as well. But--hey--it looks pretty rockin' when worn and could be quite useful for fending off vampires and other evil beings. Better yet, if you have a teenager who's been ... (Read more)

(Credit: Carrera International)

Long before RC toys began terrorizing household pets, there was the slot car. They still exist today, of course, but have become more of a hobby akin to model trains than something that would occupy kids for hours on end, pre-Nintendo.

But now that Speed Racer has been resurrected--"the movie event of the century," as Craver Caroline McCarthy puts it--the venerable slot car may make something of a mild comeback. Carrera is coming out with a new package that includes a Mach 5 (of course), a Racer X Street Car, 20 feet of track, and endless bouts of nostalgia, according to Gadget Lab. Scoff if you will, but it sure beats that lame flash drive.

(Credit: Thales UK)

Thales UK released photos of the new Watchkeeper UAV maiden flight in Northern Israel after permission to publish the pictures had been blocked for three weeks because of political considerations, according to industry press reports.

The Watchkeeper, a fully autonomous (including automatic takeoff and landing) unmanned aerial vehicle, is expected to assume reconnaissance and target acquisition duties for the British military by 2010, according to Thales.

The robo-platform comes equipped with day/night electro-optic sensors, laser-target designators, and advanced synthetic aperture radar. Information and images collected are transmitted to a network of mobile ground control stations and remote viewing terminals where operators can control missions. It's unarmed but does include a "de-icing capabilit."

Permission to publish the pictures had been blocked by the U.K. Defence Equipment & Support organization since the April 16 maiden flight, according to Flightglobal.com, "due to sensitivities linked to local elections held across the U.K. on 1 May."

The 450-kilogram Watchkeeper, based on the Elbit Hermes 450, will be built jointly by the Israeli company Elbit Systems and the French-owned Thales UK. Starting price was 15 million pounds (more than $29 million) but has reportedly risen to 17 million pounds a pop (more than $33 million), and despite 2,100 lucrative jobs, a good portion of that money will be flying away offshore. There's one reason to be sensitive.

(Credit: Jake Gordon/Flickr )

We're not much for touch-typing, preferring instead to use a highly advanced version of the two-finger method we call the, uh, three-finger method (left and right index fingers, plus the right thumb). Still, anything even slightly out of the ordinary on a keyboard can throw a major roadblock in the way of our productivity.

Dell turned a few heads earlier this month with the European keyboard layouts for the latest Vostro laptops. While the U.S. model we reviewed seemed normal enough, our friends across the Atlantic found that some Vostro 1310 and 1510 models had a bizarre bottom row of letter keys, all shifted one key to the right. For example, the "z" key (or "zed" over there) sits not between the "a" and "s" keys, but between the "s" and "d" keys on the affected models.

After one Vostro user noticed the weird layout on his new laptop and posted photos to Flickr, Dell jumped in and now says:

"There is no way to say it...we made a mistake and want to apologize to affected customers...All affected customers will receive an updated keyboard. They will have two options: we can send the keyboard and required BIOS update directly to them, or they can choose to have a field technician replace the keyboard onsite."

(Credit: Nyko)

Time's running out: You've got only two more days to get the Wii Fit and offend mom on Mother's Day--or at least pre-order one, as it's not available until May 19. And to make up for the tardiness of the misguided gift, there's even a way to add insult to injury with a rechargeable battery.

Nyko will be shipping its "Energy Pak" for the "Wii Balance Board" on the same day the fitness game is released to provide maximum sweat time, according to Gizmodo. The recharging brick plugs into the bottom of the board so mom will barely miss a beat in her marathon workout sessions, ensuring that she'll curse your name with every aerobic step. And remember, don't forget to include the scale.

RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330

(Credit: Sprint)

Just a quick heads up to all you Sprint customers: The RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 is now available for purchase. Yes, that's right, the Curve can now be yours for just $179.99 with a two-year contract and after rebates and discounts. Like Verizon's version, the Sprint Curve features Bluetooth 2.0, a 2-megapixel camera, and integrated GPS with support for Sprint Navigation. However, unlike Verizon, you can access Sprint's various multimedia services on the Curve, including Sprint TV and the Sprint Music Store. The sleek little smartphone is scheduled to arrive in our office today, so be sure to check back early next week for a full review.

Finally, on a somewhat related note, there are rumors floating around that the RIM BlackBerry 9000 will make its official debut on Monday, May 12. Oh, a girl can dream.

If you bought a replacement power adapter for one of Apple's Powerbook and iBook notebooks--and you managed to hang onto the receipt for all these years--you'll soon be eligible for a refund.

Bloomberg notes that Apple has settled a lawsuit filed in 2001 over the tendency of power adapters sold with Powerbooks and iBooks to spark or overheat. Apple recalled some power adapters in 2001, but some customers felt the company didn't come clean about the full extent of the problems.

Cash refunds of between $25 and $79 will be issued by Apple to owners who bought a replacement adapter when their original one failed. The settlement still has to be finalized, and details of how to claim your refund will probably be released after a final hearing in September.

(Credit: Reprodepot.com)

Standard black laptop cases: boring. Fancy laptop cases: expensive. Sewing your own laptop/iPod case: Probably totally inconvenient, but in the end perhaps rewarding--if, that is, you like bobbins and seam rippers, or even know what they are.

Still not convinced? You probably can't buy a laptop case in crazy tattoo-inspired fabric (see below), but you could make one. And because this is a family friendly-ish blog, you'll have to click through to some of the other, ahem, interesting fabrics you could pick. Of course, sewing your own will require a few hours of precious time and owning a sewing machine. Or maybe, if you're lucky, you could sweet talk a crafty friend into sewing a case for you.

Wouldn't your laptop look fierce in this?

(Credit: Reprodepot.com)

If you do decide to get all crazy creative, Reprodepot.com is selling this Amy Butler pattern, which includes instructions for both laptops (adjustable for most sizes) and some MP3 players (namely: iPod Classic, iPod Touch, iPhone and the Zune).

Via Craftzine

(Credit: Crave UK)

Boldly going where few other tech journalists bother to travel, we at Crave UK make sure to check out as many new phone makers as possible--because you just never know. Only yesterday we plunged into the depths of sweaty London to see MWg's latest handset, the MWg Zinc II.

You're probably thinking who the potatoes is MWg? It stands for Mobile Wireless group, and it used to be O2 Asia--but O2 ditched it, so now it's gone solo and is coming up with some pretty interesting Windows Mobile handsets. The Zinc II is a compact handset that runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional--and it's quite a looker. Check it out here.

(Source: Crave UK)