GOOGLE EARTH 5.0 SHOWCASES IMAGES OF MARS

Google Earth 5.0 is a fun and free way to waste time, and now it’s even better with the updated Mars in Google Earth, a 3D mapping tool that lets astronomy buffs and armchair astronauts roam the Red Planet.
You now can view antique maps of Mars from over a century ago, as well as the latest images from today’s Mars spacecraft. In addition, you can go on virtual flybys with NASA’s Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and get guided tours of the planet from Public Radio’s Ira Flatow and Bill Nye, the Science Guy.
For a quick tutorial of the new Mars in Google Earth features, check out this Google overview.
Below is a brief summary of the highlights:
To travel to the Red Planet, go to the top toolbar and click “Mars.”

This flies you to the Mars, where you can explore current maps or travel back in time to see antique maps by astronomers Giovanni Schiaparelli, Percival Lowell, and others:

For a present-day look at Mars, select images from a variety of modern spacecraft, including the Phoenix and Beagle2 landers and the Opportunity and Spirit rovers:

Conspiracy buffs will want to try the zoom tool. It’s great for exploring mysterious imagery like the Face on Mars:

A guided audio tour helps you find your way around the planet. You can pause the tour to explore areas of interest like the Valles Marineris, a vast system of canyons that’s 1860 miles long:

You can even see satellite images being taken by the NASA THEMIS camera onboard the Mars Odyssey spacecraft.

Mars in Google Earth is a lot of fun! (Sorry, no GPS navigation yet for the Red Planet.)

ROCKSTAR GAMES ANNOUNCES 'WINTER 2009' RELEASE OF MAX PAYNE 3

With Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg failing to impress as the big screen iteration of videogame anti-hero Max Payne, ever-controversial software developer Rockstar Games has this week announced it’s preparing its hard-hitting franchise for yet another all-action outing.
Presently in production at Rockstar’s Vancouver-based studio in Canada, Max Payne 3 has been issued with a scheduled release of “Winter 2009” and will be available on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Games for Windows, according to an official statement.
“We’re starting a new chapter of Max’s life with this game,” enthused Sam Houser, founder of Rockstar Games. “This is Max as we’ve never seen him before, a few years older, more world-weary and cynical than ever.”
While little is presently known about Max Payne 3’s narrative or gameplay structure, an early poster image suggests adult themes typical of the series thanks to a heavily scarred Max sporting a greying beard and blood spattered liberally across his face and neck.
The only nuggets of information dropped by Rockstar see Max emroiled in a world of corruption, turmoil and intense violence as he leaves New York behind and drifts “from bad to worse” on a search for truth that involves being double crossed and trapped in a city filled with violence and bloodshed – staples of the first two series offerings.
“We experience the downward spiral of his life after the events of Max Payne 2 and witness his last chance for salvation,” added Houser.
Developer Rockstar Games is best known for its often controversial but critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto games, along with similarly highlighted offerings such as Manhunt, Manhunt 2, and Bully (a.k.a. Canis Canem Edit).

NEW YOUTUBE APP FOR WINDOWS MOBILE AND NOKIA SYMBIAN S60

Expanding the on-the-go reach of its hugely popular video-sharing Web site YouTube, search giant Google Inc. has this week introduced a mobile application specifically for Windows Mobile and Nokia Symbian Series 60 (S60) handset devices.
Beyond expanding the user base of the YouTube application, an official announcement posted to the Google Mobile blog promises “up to 90%” faster start-up times, searches and video loads, while improved access is likely via the addition of a specific YouTube icon to the host phone’s home screen.
“Our goal is to provide you with a great YouTube experience wherever you want to watch videos – whether it’s on your computers, on your television, or on your mobile phone,” outlined Dave Stewart of YouTube’s product marketing team.
“While YouTube has been available for many mobile phones for over a year, today we’re taking a big step forward with a new version of our mobile YouTube application,” he added.
In terms of mobile video performance, the application automatically detects the user’s assigned network capabilities and selects the highest available streaming quality, which Google claims will provide videos that “will look sharper,” and sound that’s “clearer than ever.”
Other enhancements include improved optimised streaming over Wi-Fi and 3G to support an even wider range of networks, while buffering is similarly pushed in order to ensure video playback is possible even in areas where coverage is weakened.
With Google trumpeting that it has “worked really hard to make video playback ‘just work,’” the YouTube application requires no configuration beyond its initial installation and alerts its users whenever updates or improvements become available for the mobile platform.