Category: News
Apple registers iPhone4N.com domain?
Update 1 at 5:24AM EST:. After I posted this story, MacRumors pointed out that the iPhone4N.com Whois record raises questions as to whether Apple is really behind the registration. First, the registrar used was Go Daddy, not MarkMonitor (Apple’s usual choice). Guess we’ll have to wait and see if anything official is announced.
Original Story: Apple released the iPhone 4 in 2010 and the iPhone 4S in 2011. Now, all the talk is about Apple’s upcoming iPhone 5. But Apple did make an interesting domain name purchase this week: iPhone4N.com.
According to Whois records, Apple registered the domain on May 1, 2012.
It’s unknown why the company registered the domain name.
It may be nothing more than a defensive tactic to protect its intellectual property, except, a number of iPhone 4 variations like iPhone4Q.com and iPhone4W.com are still available for anyone to register at the time of this story.
Apple already owns the domains iPhone.com, iPhone4.com and iPhone4S.com. Apple got its hands on iPhone4S.com after filing a complaint with the World Intellectual Property Organization. Back in July 2011, Apple acquired iPhone4.com for an unknown amount of money. The company acquired the domain iPhone.com for an undisclosed amount in 2007. It’s rumored Apple paid over $1 million to acquire the name.
Talking about this story: BillHartzer.com
(Image of iPhone 4S via Apple.com)
Samsung files trademark application for Galaxy Variant smartphone with USPTO
On April 26, 2012, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. submitted a trademark application for the Galaxy Variant (Serial Number: 85609690) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The “goods and services” in the filing cover: Mobile telephones; Smartphones.
The newest application was filed nearly two weeks after the company submitted trademarks for the Galaxy Metrix, Galaxy Velvet and Galaxy Legend smartphones, all of which were filed on April 13.
Over the last year, Samsung has filed what seems like dozens of application for new smartphones. While many have hit the market, others have yet to materialize.
Today, Apple Insider reported that Apple ceded its spot as the world’s top smartphone vendor in the first quarter of 2012 to Samsung.
At the time of this story, Samsung has made no announcement regarding the Galaxy Variant.
Talking about this story: Phandroid, Softpedia, Geeky Gadgets, ITProPortal and MobileSyrup.com
(Photo of Samsung announcing the GALAXY Note via Samsung.com)
Microsoft Corporation registers domain names for ‘Xbox Summer Stadium App’
Microsoft has picked up two new domain names this week hinting at an upcoming ‘Summer Stadium’ app for the Xbox.
On April 30, 2012, Microsoft registered the hyphenated domains, xbox-summer-stadium-app.com (Whois) and xbox-summer-stadium-app.net (Whois), through the internet brand protection company MarkMonitor.
With baseball season in full swing, now is as good a time as any to release a stadium app for the Xbox. But it’s unknown at this time whether the app will be used for sports or music concerts taking place this summer.
MLB.com has a number of apps, including At the Ballpark which offers mobile check-in, social media, offers, rewards and exclusive content. It also provides other information like current game details including team schedule, ticket information and sales and promotional event listings.
At the time of this story, Microsoft has not announced anything about the Summer Stadium app for the Xbox.
Currently, the domain xbox-summer-stadium-app.com does not resolve to a web page, while xbox-summer-stadium-app.net redirects visitors to Bing.
(Image of Xbox Live via Xbox.com)
ZeniMax acquired ‘Weapons of Revenge’, other Dishonored-related domain names
ZeniMax’s Bethesda Softworks unveiled www.RevengeSolvesEverything.com earlier this week, in what may possibly become one of many marketing web sites for its upcoming Dishonored game developed by Arkane Studios.
Digital design firm ROKKAN was the initial registrant of the domain revengesolveseverything.com which has become Dishonored’s tagline, and after some digging around, I managed to uncover other revenge-related domain names that ROKKAN acquired on behalf of ZeniMax Media.
Two names in particular that ROKKAN purchased last year have had some recent web activity: WeaponsofRevenge.com (Whois) and RevengeatHand.com (Whois). Both names transferred to internet brand protection agency Corporation Service Company this week and weaponsofrevenge.com now redirects visitors to Bethesda’s home page on www.bethsoft.com.
ZeniMax also acquired ArmasdeVenganza.com (Whois), the Spanish version of “Weapons of Revenge”.
Other names ROKKAN acquired in the same batch include:
http://whois.domaintools.com/beatsofrevenge.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/codeofrevenge.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/revengeiscertain.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/revengestartshere.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/soundsofrevenge.com
http://whois.domaintools.com/trustrevenge.com
It’s unknown whether any of these domains will be used in further Dishonored marketing efforts, but you may want to keep an eye on names like WeaponsofRevenge.com and RevengeatHand.com as Bethesda steps up its online marketing tactics and the game’s release gets closer.
Google finally launches Cube, play your way through a cubic Google Maps world
Back in January, Google released a teaser video for a Google maps-based game that was set to be released in February. But February, came and went and the game wasn’t released. Now, Google has finally quietly launched the game online at www.playmapscube.com.
Travel through New York, Tokyo and many other cities and learn all about the Google map features. You can even bike your way through San Francisco as fast as possible and Google recommends you pay attention to the biking layer on the map to see which roads are safer.
To play, you navigate the marble by using your cursor. As you finish each level, your time is recorded.
I stumbled upon the newly launched game after checking the web address which Google registered (Whois) earlier this week. The website went live in the past 24 hours.
The game is split up into eight levels.
Level 1 has you maze your way through the busy streets of Manhattan to reach your friends at the Brooklyn Bowl.
Level 2 has you in San Francisco on two wheels, biking your way to four different landmarks.
You’re finding your way through Paris traffic to the Eiffel tower on Level 3. Google recommends you pay attention to the traffic layer to see which roads are fast and which will grind you to a halt. If you take a busy route, your marble slows.
On Level 4, you’re in the London Underground trying to get to the Big Ben during rush hour. Google points out the subway lines are connected by color and you need to find the fastest combination possible.
Visit Tokyo on Level 5. You need to find your way through the complex streets of the city, visiting all the tourist locations while paying close attention to the road network.
Dine in Las Vegas on Level 6. You must visit all the six reviewed restaurants in central Las Vegas in the smallest time possible.
Go indoors finally on Level 7. Find your way through the Mall of America and collect all of the Google Offers on each of the four floors.
On Level 8 you step it up a notch using your knowledge of the previous levels to find your fastest route to your objective in the ever changing cubic city.
At the time of this story, the fastest total time is 2 minutes 45 seconds.
Talking about this story: Techmeme, Engadget, TechRadar UK, VentureBeat, 36kr, NevilleHobson.com, netzwertig.com, Tech2, SlashGear and Gizmodo
Ubisoft Entertainment registers “Rayman Legends” domain names [UPDATED]
Last year, it was rumored that Nintendo would show off a new line of games at E3 for the Wii U (then referred to as “Project Cafe”).
One of those games in the list by Ubisoft was a game called “Rayman Legends”.
Now, that game looks to be more official according to two new domain names registered by Ubisoft this week that include RaymandLegends.com (Whois) and Rayman-Legends.com (Whois).
Though nothing official has been announced, this may be another title slated for Nintendo’s Wii U, as Ubisoft has said it has big plans for the console.
Earlier this week, a marketing survey hinted at a Rayman Origins sequel of mythic proportions.
[Updated on April 27, 2012:. Ubisoft has confirmed Rayman Legends. The game is currently in development from Michel Ancel and his team in Montpellier.]
Talking about this story: Attack of the Fanboy, G4 TV, Joystiq, PlayStation LifeStyle, Adrenaline, Cinema Blend, Computerandvideogames, Eurogamer.it, Eurogamer.net, Eurogamer España, InsideGamer, Game Rant, Gamezone, LEVELUP, MeriStation, Multiplayer.it, Neoseeker, Nintendo WiiX, Play3DS-Live, TheSixthAxis, VG247, Videogamer.com
Underworld 5 to be called Underworld: Battle? Sony Pictures registers domain
Though no official word is yet available on Underworld 5, it’s pretty certain the next film is in the works given the success of Underworld: Awakening which has been the highest-grossing film in the series so far.
While it’s purely speculation, it appears the next film could be called Underworld: Battle, according to a new domain name registration this week by Sony Pictures.
On April 24, 2012, Sony Pictures registered UnderworldBattle.com (Whois).
At the time of this post, Sony Pictures has not made an announcement about Underworld: Battle, but the domain does redirect visitors to the Sony Pictures home video page for Underworld: Awakening, which is set to be released on DVD and Blu-ray on May 8th.
While Underworld 5 would be no surprise, it looks more likely that UnderworldBattle.com is part of Sony Pictures’ online marketing campaign for the release of Underworld: Awakening on home video, and less likely the title of the fifth film in the series.
The name could also hint at a new video game, as well.
At this point, we’ll just have to wait and see if Sony Pictures announces anything official.
Talking about this story: /FILM and WhatCulture!
Activision files trademark for The Blast Furnace game, privately acquires domain
Activision Publishing, Inc. filed a trademark application on April 18, 2012, for “The Blast Furnace” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The goods and services in the trademark filing (Serial Number: 85601232) cover “computer game software” and “Entertainment services, namely, providing an on-line computer game”.
In addition to the trademark filing, it appears Activision has privately acquired the related domain name, theblastfurnace.com (Whois), through the internet brand protection company MarkMonitor. Activision is a client of MarkMonitor.
In March 2012, the domain name <theblastfurnace.com> was registered to domain investor Frank Schilling’s Name Administration Inc. In April, the name transferred to DNStination, Inc., the Whois privacy service provided by MarkMonitor.
I’ve reached out to Frank Schilling via e-mail to see if any details about the transaction can be shared and I will update this story if I hear back.
At the time of this writing, Activision has made no announcement regarding “The Blast Furnace”.
[Update 1 at 8:30pm EST:. After a little digging on DomainNameSales, the online marketplace that features premium domain names from Frank Schilling's private collection and other investors, it appears the domain name sold for anywhere between $10,000 and $20,000 USD. The sale was reported on April 19, 2012.]
Talking about this story: VG247, @supererogatory, NowGamer, Lazygamer, Strategy Informer, games.on.net, HardGamers, Gamestrend, Hardgame2.com, gameswelt.de, GamePro, Multiplayer.it, Shacknews, MCV and allgamesbeta.com
Activision files trademark for Skylanders Sidekick: First look at new characters
Activision’s legal department has filed a trademark application for “Skylanders Sidekick”.
On April 18, 2012, Activision submitted the filing (Serial Number: 85601600) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The “Goods and Services” in the application cover, “Games and toys, namely, action figures, collectable toy figures, collectable toy figures having radio frequency identification (RFID) chips or tags, action figures having RFID chips or tags”.
No first use date is noted in the application. But, there’s a good explanation for that.
While nothing has been officially announced about “Skylanders Sidekick”, I did find Frito-Lay sell sheets online that describe a program taking place in June that partners with Skylanders to deliver an exclusive offer. The promotion allows consumers to redeem a free “Skylanders sidekick” character with purchase.
The screen shot above was taken from the presentation and shows the sidekicks and their names: Mega Stealth, Super Trigger, Big Grunt, and Mighty Fin. However, according to the slide, the real names are to-be-determined.
Earlier this month, Activision and Frito-Lay announced a multi-phased promotion extending through May 5, 2012.
The promotion with the Sidekick characters appears to be part of Phase 2. According to the sell sheets, the in-store timing is June 18th – July 13th 2012.
Below is another screen shot from the presentation for the lobby/perimeter kit.
Talking about this story: darkSpyro, VG247 and Nintendo World Report
Crowdstar files trademark applications for Aquarium Party, Fish Party video games
According to recent trademark filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, social gaming company Crowdstar has plans to release one, possibly two, new games around the initial success of its Happy Aquarium game that it launched way back in September 2009.
On April 17, 2012, Crowdstar Inc. submitted a trademark application (Serial Number: 85600513) for Aquarium Party.
Days before the Aquarium Party filing, Crowdstar also filed a trademark application (Serial Number: 85596416) for Fish Party.
The “goods and services” in both filings cover:
Downloadable computer game software for use on wireless devices and computers; computer-game software, video game software, and computer game application software; interactive-video-game programs; electronic game software and electronic game application software that may be accessed via the Internet, computers and wireless devices; computer software to enable uploading, posting, showing, displaying, tagging, blogging, sharing or otherwise providing electronic media or information regarding the fields of virtual communities, electronic gaming, entertainment and general interest via the Internet or other communications networks with third parties
As of today, Crowdstar has made no announcement about Aquarium Party or Fish Party.
