A look at gadget, game and geek happenings in the week ahead.
Rovio partners with 20th Century Fox for Angry Birds Rio
Rovio has teamed up with 20th Century Fox to make a new edition of Angry Birds which sees a crossover with characters from the upcoming film Rio.
In the newest edition of the smash hit mobile game, the cast members of Angry Birds are kidnapped and taken to Rio, where they escape and set out to save the other birds which have been captured.
The game will be based on Rio, created by the makers of Ice Age, about a domesticated macaw who never learned to fly.
This version of Angry Birds will feature 45 levels and new levels will be added through app updates. It will be available from March 2011.
Twitter speaks of freedom of speech after Egypt cuts internet connectivity
Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and company lawyer Alexander Macgillivray posted a blog entry, noting the importance of the open exchange of information globally.
This blog post comes after Egypt cut off its internet connection ahead of protests against its president, Hosni Mubarak.
Activists had been using social networks as a means for communication and organisation. Pages were set up on Facebook to inform people where protesters were gathering.
The move has drawn criticism worldwide, including from US President Barack Obama.
Twitter’s blog entry points out that, while Twitter does remove tweets that are either illegal or spam, it said Twitter does “keep the information flowing irrespective of any view we may have about the content.”
Twitter emphasises that freedom of expression is a human right, regarded as such by “almost every country in the world” and that it will protect this right for its users.
Sony wins restraining order against PlayStation hacker
Sony has won a case which prevents a PlayStation 3 hacker from posting how he hacked the console online.
The hacker, George Hotz, must take down the information on the hack from the internet and must hand over his computers to Sony within 10 days.
Sony initially filed for a restraining order after information was posted on how to access secret security codes which authorises licensed games to play on the console.
Using these codes, gamers can run unofficial software on the console, including pirated games.
Hotz’s lawyer said he was disappointed with the result and it did not “end the question of personal jurisdiction” of Hotz. Hotz originally argued that, because he did not have ties to north California, where the action was brought to, he was not subject to the suit.
