2010 FIFA World Cup Final Gets a Google Doodle
File this under: cool Google doodles. The company has decided to get themselves into the 2010 FIFA World Cup final (Netherlands vs Spain) mood by creating a special Google doodle just for the occasion. Continue reading for a video preview.
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2010 FIFA World Cup Final Gets a Google Doodle
Nasa, with nothing better to do anymore, chimes in on the Jabulani debate
And now Nasa hates the Jabulani. Wonderful. I suppose Nasa has nothing better to do now that it has less money than your little sister has in her piggy bank. The former space agency says that the ball becomes “unpredictable” at speeds greater than 44 mph, and that the high altitude that many of the games were played only exacerbates the problem.
Meanwhile, I’ve just read this thorough report on the ball that comes away with this:
So the Jabulani ball isn’t supernatural, and certainly not impossible, it might just take time for players to adapt to its behaviour. Like Ronaldo with the knuckleball, adept players might even learn to exploit its unique characteristics.
I think it’s safe to say nobody has any idea what’s going on anymore. Adidas says this, Nike says that, Fifa says this, Nasa says that, Player A says this but Player B says that.
My suggestion is that we go back in time and use the ball that they used in the very first World Cup. That, or whatever George Best used to kick around at Manchester United.
Let’s see if we see the same complaints in two years’ time when the Euros kick off.
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Nasa, with nothing better to do anymore, chimes in on the Jabulani debate
Nike’s World Cup Pinball Game Goes Digital with LED Screen and Flippers
Whenever we see a pinball machine in a bowling alley or movie theater lobby, we quickly drop in some quarters and play a round or two for nostalgia's sake. We say nostalgia, because, sadly, these classic machines aren't as prevalent as they once were. Nike, surprisingly enough, could give them a much needed population boost, though. According to Geekosystem, the shoe company recently unveiled a digital LED pinball machine at its Madrid store to promote the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Essentially, it's just a screen, built into a housing that's designed to look like a pinball machine. But, judging by the video (after the break), the experience looks pretty close to the real thing. Best of all, since it's digital, you can change the machine's theme with each round, too.
Check out the flipper action after the jump. This probably doesn't signal a pinball revival, but at least it keeps alive one of our favorite games -- even if it is a hybrid version. [From: Geekosystem]
Continue reading Nike's World Cup Pinball Game Goes Digital with LED Screen and Flippers
Filed under: Video Games, Summer Fun
Nike's World Cup Pinball Game Goes Digital with LED Screen and Flippers originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
All the Fourth of July iPhone Game Sales [Dealzmodo]
People celebrate the Fourth by cooking burgers and watching fireworks. Apps, apparently, celebrate by going on sale. TouchArcade heroically rounded up all the iPhone games that are discounted this weekend, including Oregon Trail, Pac-Man, FIFA '10 and dozens more. More
FIFA’s Promise to Reexamine Tech Misses the Mark
After steadfastly adhering to a no-tech policy, FIFA's flighty leader Sepp Blatter has acquiesced that -- in the midst of an escalating international furor -- soccer needs to once again "reopen the file on technology." His "technology file" grows increasingly more full, though, because FIFA has repeatedly investigated the use of goal-line cameras, video replays and sensor-equipped balls. With each investigation, the organization effectively resolves, "The human aspect of football is essential to this sport."
That devotion to humanity seems particularly comical considering Blatter's Twitter apology to fans of Mexico and England. And, despite his assertions, Blatter again shied away from incorporating instant replay, declaring that FIFA's goal is to "protect refereeing."
Speaking to the Associated Press, referee Howard Webb dismissed Blatter's protective sentiments, and asserted, "I'm open minded about anything that makes us more credible as match officials." Blatter also announced, to the chagrin of El Tricolores, video aid wouldn't help to correct erroneous offside calls like the one which penalized Mexico.
Continue reading FIFA's Promise to Reexamine Tech Misses the Mark
Filed under: Cameras
FIFA's Promise to Reexamine Tech Misses the Mark originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
FIFA to Consider Goal Line Tech, But Not Offsides [Blockquote]
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has acknowledged that referee mistakes were made and that FIFA will "take on board again the discussion about technology." But he's not going far enough. More
FIFA apologizes for Lampard’s World Cup no-goal, will discuss the introduction of goal-line technology at next meeting
Fifa President Sepp Blatter has apologized (!) for the terrible referring that led to Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal against Germany on Sunday. Even bigger than Sepp Blatter admitting fault, which is huge in and of itself (it’d be like Apple saying sorry over the iPhone 4 fiasco), is the news that Fifa will once again investigate the possibility of goal-line technology at a board meeting on July 1.
It’s getting harder for Fifa to ignore calls for goal-line technology. (And to be clear, that’s all I’m asking for right now. I’m not asking for NFL-style instant replay for every single moment on the pitch.) The international players’ union, FifPro, has called for the introduction of goal-line technology—hard to organize international tournaments if the players are upset!
Even UK PM David Cameron has called for goal-line technology.
Said Blatter:
It is obvious that after the experiences so far at this World Cup it would be a nonsense not to reopen the file on goal-line technology. Yesterday I spoke to the two federations [England and Mexico] directly concerned by referees’ mistakes. I have expressed to them apologies and I understand they are not happy and that people are criticizing. We will naturally take on board the discussion on technology and have the first opportunity in July at the business meeting.
I need to pinch myself: Blatter actually makes sense!
So the drama continues, but at the very least it looks like Fifa may be turning around.
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FIFA apologizes for Lampard’s World Cup no-goal, will discuss the introduction of goal-line technology at next meeting
Archaic FIFA Taints World Cup With Devotion to Human Error
In 2004, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) awarded South Africa the privilege of hosting Africa's first World Cup. Based on concerns -- both legitimate and ethnocentric -- over crime, violence and inadequate facilities, some observers immediately proclaimed the tournament doomed. But the World Cup, which is now in its 80th year, is currently enjoying enormous success and international amity, as fans intermingle and jubilantly deafen one another with the already legendary vuvuzelas.
The tournament has undoubtedly been indelibly tainted for a host of nations, though, because of FIFA and its outmoded, ignorant and infuriating devotion to neo-luddite ideology. U.S. fans continue to deservedly bemoan two inexplicable and unjustifiable disallowed goals, one of which occurred when a referee mysteriously waved off a score, even though replays glaringly depicted Slovenian players fouling, hugging and head-locking their U.S. counterparts. During the very next U.S. game, a sideline official negated another goal, an offside ruling that replays -- again -- have clearly disproved.
Continue reading Archaic FIFA Taints World Cup With Devotion to Human Error
Filed under: Cameras
Archaic FIFA Taints World Cup With Devotion to Human Error originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Video: World Cup’s England-Germany proves once and for all that FIFA needs goal line technology immediately
Dear Fifa,
Please wake up and smell the coffee: we need goal line technology, and we need it now. England’s Frank Lampard just had a 100 percent legitimate goal stricken from the record by some dunderhead linesman. DOES HE EVEN HAVE EYES? The integrity of the sport is at stake here. I’m not asking for instant replays for outfield play or anything, but I want a camera on that goal line, or a chip/sensor in the ball, and I want it now~!
FIFA says it will investigate the Jabulani ball after the World Cup. Maybe it should investigate itself while it’s at it?
Villa seems comfortable on the ball…
Sitting here watching Uruguay’s Luís Suárez bury the ball (his second goal = !!!) into the back of the net, I’m thinking to myself: “Boy, he sure didn’t seem to have any problem controlling the Jabulani.” But never mind, for FIFA, world soccer’s generally inept governing body—remember, this is the same body that refuses to allow goal line technology!—has finally come out and said it: “FIFA is not unreceptive about what has been said about the ball.” The organization now plans to talk to players, team officials, and the ball’s manufacturer, Adidas, after the tournament. The question is: is the ball crocked?
The funny thing is, if there’s anyone “to blame” about the Jabulani, it’s FIFA itself! Adidas can’t sit in its laboratories and create a ball out of think air. FIFA sets standards and regulations and the various manufacturers meet these standards. The Jabulani meets FIFA regulations, so to blame Adidas for the ball would be like blaming a French Press from making too delicious coffee: that’s what it’s designed to do!
And it’s not like the Jabulani is new, having been used in Germany’s Bundesliga since last December. (There’s even been a Pro Evolution Soccer Bundesliga Jabulani patch since March!) Granted, I don’t read Kicker every day, but I don’t recall any big controversy coming out of Germany because of the ball.
I don’t want it to sound like I’m defending Adidas—I patently don’t care one way or the other. It’s not like I’m a stock holder or anything. If the ball is crocked it’s crocked, so be it. I merely think that complaining about the ball is a time-honored tradition. And if the Jabulani has been in use since December, then the onus is on FIFA to explain why it allowed the “flawed” ball in the World Cup in the first place.
Perhaps there’s a failure somewhere in this mess, but I’m not exactly sure blame lies with the Jabulani itself.
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FIFA says it will investigate the Jabulani ball after the World Cup. Maybe it should investigate itself while it’s at it?